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.

Xena is rather slight for her breed yet her strength does not suffer because of this. Her shield is still almost unbreakable. She lives in very cold climates protecting any unguarded nests or hatchlings she comes across, until one of the parents arrive back. She is paid by having a cut of the food that the dragons bring home. Xena's only distinguishing feature is a dent in her shield where a hunter threw a shard of another Guardian Dragon's shield. The hunter had foraged this from a decaying dragon corpse. She was first sighted and tagged by a warrior of a snowy tribe who reported back to the chief that he was beaten by a huge blue monster who was protecting the other monster's nest.