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.

Seasonal dragons take on the characteristics of the season during which they are born. Thus, eggs that are laid in spring match the pink flowers and green buds of spring, and those that are laid in the summer grow to depict the bright green of the forest trees and the yellow of the sun. Eggs laid in autumn display the bright colors of leaves falling from trees, and those that are laid during winter take on the appearance of the icy snow.

Snowscape was found as a hatchling by Vedri, half-buried in snow and ice in the middle of a blizzard. The elder winter dragon took her back to the cave, where various adults fawned over her and nursed her back to health. Snowscape recovered with time, though she retained a harsh cough throughout her adolescence. She developed an irrational dislike of ice and sleet as a result, and was the dragon to suggest that a new base be started in a different region. She still loves snow, though, and will spend much time watching it fall outside.