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.

Mint colored dragons are the most peaceful of all dragons; they only eat plants unless they scavenge meat from an already dead animal. They also have no ways to attack others or defend themselves. They are much smaller than other forms of dragons since they only double in size when they mature. Mint dragons are unable to use magic and cannot fly since they lack wings. Their looks have given rise to the common insult of calling dragons "large lizards."

Buddha Would Drive Dorkface is the illegitimate child of a Buddhist mint. His father, Bodhisattva, once went on a pilgrimage where he met Buddha's mother, Sally Sullivan Dorkace. Sacred Sally was master in her own right, and the two had many long discussions about religion and philosophy. They shared one forbidden night together, from which Buddha was born.

He knows he has a half-sister, whom Buddha has met once. Bodhisattva's mate had forgiven him for his affair, and they invited young Buddha to stay with them for a while and learn of his Buddhist heritage. He has since devoted himself to dragonitarian work, and is well-known for making rounds to take vegetarian meals and new stories to seniors.