Dragons are creatures with nearly unlimited life spans. They can survive for long periods of time, and no one has found a dragon that has died of old age. Adolescence is usually marked by the growth of a hatchling’s wings, although not all breeds of dragons grow wings and some breeds have other traits that indicate the beginning of maturation. Once they hit adolescence, hatchlings change quickly, maturing to their full forms in only 2 years.

Dragons don’t communicate with each other verbally, but they will growl to scare off predators and frighten prey. Young dragons will emit an extremely high-pitched squeal when they are frightened. To communicate, they use telepathy with each other and to speak to other creatures.

White dragons are pacifists and specialize in extremely strong healing magic. The only limit of this magic is that it can’t bring back the dead. They only eat plants and never kill living things.

Tsuru takes his name from the white crane, a symbol of peace, healing, and the martial arts. Though an excellent healer, Tsuru also seeks to learn as much about physical combat as he can. Though he has never, and would never, kill any sort of animal, he feels that by mastering the arts of physical combat he is more able to turn away any physical force directed at him. Both through his martial training and his innate personality Tsuru is remarkably centered and peaceful even for a white dragon.