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.

Kigyo may have been raised in a small mountain lake, but she fell in love with stories of the sea. As she neared maturation, she begged for aid in reaching the sea, and was finally granted her wish by a passing Red who believed that following one's heart was the greatest adventure. Odd for a dragon of the water to become friends with one of fire, perhaps, but become friends they did on the long, winding journey to the sea. The elder Red followed the waterways, stopping frequently to allow the youthful Blue a chance to refresh her wind-dried hide.

Now Kigyo enjoys an unfettered life, free to travel between the continents at her heart's desire. She always stops at least twice a year at the volcanic islands her fiery friend calls home.