Guardian Dragons have large shields on the end of their tails. Although the shields appear to be heavy, they are light, yet nearly unbreakable. Guardian Dragons use their tail-shields, as well as their wings, to deflect attacks and protect others. Often, they will guard the eggs and hatchlings of a nest while others are away. They are generally peaceful, and will not retaliate unless necessary. They have no need to forage or hunt, as they are fed by those they protect.

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.

The first dragon to be born into the Somatra Weyr, Examina is the daughter of two dragons whose pairing was not approved of by many. As such, she has grown up to be very open-minded about love and accepts it in all of its forms. She is independent and free-spirited and a strong fighter. She loves Cxat, a magi dragoness, and though she keeps secret that this is the dragon she loves, she doesn't care who knows that she can love either a male or a female. Though Cxat is sometimes worried that other dragons may guess their relationship, Examina firmly believes that they can't tell.