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.

Dark green dragons, once they mature, appear to become an entirely different species. However, this isn't true. Rather, they burrow underground and get nutrients from their vines. These vines are sometimes referred to as Dragon Grass. These dragons are very violent, and will use their vines to capture, kill, and eat anything that moves, as well as nearby plants. Luckily, their range is limited and they cannot use magic. Dark green dragons tend to be easy to spot since they usually kill all plants around them and thus are usually surrounded by a large clearing.

The Ruda Clan represents only a fraction of dragons living in their area. Lone dragons and other clans live nearby and the Ruda Clan must interact constantly with them. Currently, the Ruda Clan is at peace with the other clans around them, and a common practice among these clans is to exchange offspring in a gesture of goodwill and friendship. Xanthe the Herbaceous is one of these dragons. As an egg, she was sent as part of this practice to the Ruda Clan, where she would be raised as one of their own. Never once treated as an outsider, Xanthe is fully aware of her origins and her loyalty lies with the dragons who raised her. Intelligent and capable, Xanthe would fight anyone for the sake of the clan. Even her own parents.