baby dragons whose scales are much more shiny and iridescent in order to hide in their parents’ hoards
absolutely excellent top-notch thought here, but now you’ve got me wondering what’s trying to eat them
you misunderstand, this isn’t ‘I look like the ground so predators walk right past me’ camouflage, this is 'I look like the savannah grass so I can pounce on unsuspecting prey’ camouflage
they’re hiding in the hoards to bite the hands of unsuspecting humans who sneak past mama
Perhaps the shininess also makes them more endearing to adult dragons, increasing the likelihood of adoption if something happens to mama.
maybe dragons collect hoards to camouflage their babies