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.

Canopy dragons love to soar above the tropical jungles, and other densely forested areas. Their billowing, layered wings create generous lift that allows them to ascend effortlessly over the warm jungle. While their unique wings do not make them the fastest flyers, they are champion gliders. To further this end, dexterity, maneuverability, and grace are all judged by the females when selecting their mates from the males that can accurately complete the exhausting and elaborate courtship dance between the close growing branches of the upper canopy.

Diffractive Underling is actually his cave's oldest dragon, but by no means is he the most mature. His favorite pastimes are frolicking with the cave's hatchies and showing off his gliding expertise to the adults. His mate, Nder, is significantly younger than him and much less a joy to be around. Their first egg died. Their second egg turned an unnatural sickly green and hatched differently than normal. He doesn't mind, however. Living with Vampire Dragons has desensitized all but the newest dragons in the cave to dead eggshells littering the floor, and Diffractive is perfectly happy to play with any hatchies in the cave - normal or not.