Bleeding Moon Dragons are mostly nocturnal creatures. When outside in the sun, the small red spatters on their back grow and spread, making the dragons appear to “bleed.” It is said that the darker the shade of red, the more aggressive the dragon. Their tail barbs contain a powerful neuro-toxin which they use to subdue their prey. They are solitary creatures except when mating, preferring to dwell in the caves in mountains or other high places. Their large wingspan makes them fast flyers as well as fast runners, but they prefer to glide instead. Males are very competitive and will try almost everything to impress females, who will choose their mates based on speed and performance. Juveniles tend to form bachelor groups once fledged.

Dragons are highly-intelligent reptilian creatures that—from a human perspective, at least—appear to live forever. Many different varieties of dragon exist, each with their own unique qualities, habitats, and behavior. Adolescence in dragons 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. In Galsreim, dragons and humans coexist peacefully.

Thanks to her harsh treatment at the claws of her cruel stepmother Queen Levanaclaw (quite literally, as the older dragoness once gave her a batch of scars as 'punishment' for being "the fairest"), Winterdancer refuses to use the neurotoxin Bleeding Moons are famous for. As a result, too much of the toxin has accumulated in her system, causing strange behavior and hallucinations. She mostly keeps to herself because of this, preferring to keep the company of non-dragon animals. She has yet to learn that her 'cousin' Seleneshimmer still lives, though unbeknownst to each other they both hope for the same goal, the downfall of the Queen.