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.

Black dragons are warriors. They are strong and capable in battles of force, but also ample magic users, capable of devastating opponents with their spells. Their bright eyes give them excellent night vision, which is why they generally hunt during the night.

Gari was found as a hatchling in the middle of a clearing by the clan leader who was passing by on the way to the Chiyo territory. Gari had seemingly been thrown off of a high ledge and the leader had the suspicion that the hatchling was violently abandoned by a separate clan. She was dehydrated, malnourished, had three broken ribs and her front right foreleg was broken from the fall. The clan leader immediately took the traumatized hatchling into the clan where she made a full and happy recovery and found her soul-mate, Tatsuya.