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.

Guardian dragons have large shields on the end of their tails. Although the shields appear to be heavy, they are light, yet nearly unbreakable. Guardian dragons use their tail-shields, as well as their wings, to deflect attacks and protect others. Often, they will guard the eggs and hatchlings of a nest while others are away. They are generally peaceful, and will not retaliate unless necessary. They have no need to forage or hunt, as they are fed by those they protect.

To Hecter always fell the important tasks, tasks he shouldered without complaint, without hesitation. If a threat was detected, he was the one to investigate. If calamity fell upon the dens of the dragonflight, he was the one to clear the boulders or mudslides away, if hatchlings got a little overzealous in play, it was Hecter's firm but gentle claw that separated them and enforced a peaceful resolution.

Hecter always prided himself on vigilantly protecting the grounds of his dragon kin. Very little ever escaped his notice, nothing ever crossed into his territory that he did not know about...but watching the beautiful skywing Queen Celestine follow Tangel'o the Mage about gave him the unnerving sensation that he was missing something important.