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."

Taken in when left out in the cold by her dragon mother, Shentau grew up with her egg-brothers Andulvar, Airenar and Andemonar and her egg-sister Kristau. Anhoffter and Brydiau (parents to her egg-brother Andemonar) and Achubiaeth and Chwithau (parents to her egg-brother Andulvar) occupy the positions of uncles and aunts. Although she has no memory of any other clan matriarch but Zyrieen, she maintains the gentle nature of her race, preferring to stay in the background with the hatchlings. She is technically the second in command of domestic affairs, but is usually referred to as 'Brydiau's shadow', due to her general lack of assertiveness. She also returns Airenar's affections, and has agreed to mate with him.