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.

When water dragons mature, they lose their legs and the ability to survive on land, entering the water permanently. They are adept swimmers and eat whatever fish are in the lake they live in. They tend to inhabit the same lake for their entire lives, although a few live in the ocean and swim all over the world.

Bellucilla has an emptiness inside her, gnawing and ever present. She feels both free and enslaved by the water, longing to walk with the land dragons. Although the others actively try to make her feel as she is part of their clan, she can't help but feel alone. She is waiting for another Water Dragon to enter to clan. Perhaps a constant companion will resolve the loneliness she feels. Bellucilla and Hesekiel have one child, but upon learning Hesekiel did not intend to make her his life partner she handed the egg over to someone else.

She is one of the hunters in the clan, catching fish and the birds that fly too low. The fish are one of the main food sources for the young hatchlings and everyone is thankful for her contribution.