Sheepstealer

Sheepstealer was a wild dragon that lived on Dragonstone prior to and during the Dance of the Dragons, known for his independence, cunning, and avoidance of human contact. He was one of the three wild dragons on the island, alongside Cannibal and Grey Ghost, and was considered more approachable than the Cannibal but still dangerous and unpredictable. His exact hatching date is unknown, though he was already of significant size by the time of the war, indicating he had lived for many years without a rider.

Sheepstealer was named for his habit of preying on livestock, particularly sheep, which he regularly took from nearby flocks. His coloration was described as a muddy brown, allowing him to blend into the rocky terrain of Dragonstone and making him difficult to track. Unlike other dragons raised in captivity, Sheepstealer had grown entirely in the wild, developing behaviors that prioritized survival and caution over aggression. He typically avoided humans and was not known to attack without cause, though he would defend himself if threatened.

During the Red Sowing in 130 AC, when individuals were encouraged to attempt to claim riderless dragons, Sheepstealer was successfully bonded by a young woman known as Nettles. Rather than attempting to dominate the dragon through force, Nettles approached Sheepstealer gradually, bringing him freshly killed sheep each day until he accepted her presence. This method of taming, based on feeding rather than Valyrian bloodline or command, was highly unusual and demonstrated that dragons could be bonded through patience and familiarity rather than lineage alone.

Once bonded, Sheepstealer became an active war dragon for the Black faction. Nettles rode him during several campaigns, including operations in the Riverlands alongside Prince Daemon Targaryen. Though not as large or powerful as dragons like Vhagar or Caraxes, Sheepstealer’s independence and resilience made him a reliable mount in prolonged campaigns, particularly in regions where supply and control were limited.

Late in the war, suspicions arose regarding Nettles’s loyalty, leading to orders for her arrest. Forewarned of the danger, Nettles fled with Sheepstealer into the Mountains of the Moon in the Vale. The two were not seen again in any confirmed account. Reports and local legends suggest that a dragon continued to dwell in the mountains for years afterward, though these accounts were never verified.

Sheepstealer is believed to have outlived most dragons of the Dance of the Dragons, making him one of the last surviving dragons of that era. His fate remains unknown, and no confirmed record of his death exists. He is remembered as a unique example of a dragon that lived outside Targaryen control for most of his life and as one of the only dragons ever bonded through non-traditional means. His story stands apart from other dragons of the period, reflecting both the adaptability of dragonkind and the limits of human authority over them.