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.

The majority of eggs bred in the Ruda Clan are given away to other clans to raise. However, Minato is an exception. Daughter of Nephele the Astute and Ziv the Argentine, Minato's egg was kept and raised solely by the clan leader, Alexandros the Unmoving. Minato is quiet, calm, and diplomatic. She doesn't let stress get to her and fights fiercely, which means it's no wonder that she was chosen to lead the clan should it ever find itself without a leader. Although she is more than ready for it, she hopes to never have to, as she considers Alexandros her father.