Swallowtail Dragons are graceful and quick flyers, much like their namesake bird. They are capable of precise aerial acrobatics, and can reach very high altitudes. Because of this, humans observing these dragons are often astonished at how large they are when confronted up close. A Swallowtail’s diet consists of insects and small mammals plentiful in temperate forests. These dragons are also made remarkable by their paper-thin wing membranes, which allow light to pass through, creating an astonishing effect on starry nights.

Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons 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. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.

Aiva is built for speed and agility, and uses these assets to the fullest. She is very proud of the fact and spends a lot of her time showing off by doing complex aerobatic maneuvers and pulling out of free falls at the last possible moment to whiz over the treetops creating enough wind to almost strip the leaves clean off. This dangerous play has made her the desire of every male in the area who all try in vain to catch her during the courting flight. Often she will allow none to catch her, leaving them all panting in her wake as she streaks off laughing at their ineptitude. But very occasionally she will choose one strong male who has shown his worth in keeping up with her even after an hour or more of grueling flight at a harrowing speed. Only the best will do for her offspring.