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."

Ineng Makahiya is the first Mint dragon of these caves. Her master has fussed and worried over how she would fit in with the rest of her clutch mates. He needn't have bothered. Makahiya is treated with deference and respect by all the dragons in the cave, even grumpy Alab never bullies her. Which really mystifies her master.

To any casual observer Makahiya looks like any ordinary Mint dragon. Weak and seemingly insignificant. And yet no dragon dares cross her for she possesses an ability with which she has risen in prominence and influence over all the other dragons. An ability denied to most of her clutch mates. An ability that allows her to treat with impunity even the mightiest and most foul tempered dragon in the caves. An ability she has used to bribe and cajole her way to the top.

She is....SMALL.

Small enough to fit in a hidden hole, known only to herself, that leads directly to her master's extensive meat locker and wine cellar.