for this hc i think it would be general vampirism! (fun fact: i was inspired by my albino nightwing oc that i might write about soon!) i also think that if the nightwings went back to the nightwing kingdom it would be rebuilt in a victorian-steampunk style.
Not sure if this is an already used headcannon but..... vampire nightwings? What do you think?
As in, vampirism as an explanation for their powers (mind reading, future sight) or just a general thing they do?
They're very connected to the moon (to the point where full moons decide their powers) and that moreso reminds me of "moonblinking" from the Guardians of Gahoole books. I could definitely see hypnotism happening in the volcano-era, to raise dragonets up to be obedient soldiers - and vampirism - a form of cannibalism - might pop up out of necessity since there isn't much prey to hunt on the volcano. The whole bat-vibe they have going on definitely also plays into that.
Maybe in the ancient times, before tribes were formed, their ancestors did prey on other dragons? And, assuming that animus magic and mind reading/future sight (and potentially leafspeak?) come from a similar "magical origin" and is passed down in their family bloodline (😉), maybe the pre-nightwings acquired their powers by consuming the blood of other dragons that had "magic"?
It's an interesting headcanon to think about, not something I have done before this ask though 🤔