Vampire Dragons are members of the undead. They sustain themselves by drinking the blood of others. It is said that they are only “alive” at night, and seem dead or asleep during the day, as they cannot endure sunlight for long periods of time. Vampire Dragons can only reproduce by changing the eggs of other dragons, puncturing the shell with their fangs and injecting venom that kills the baby inside.

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.

She Who Pierces Hearts takes to the skies only when the moon is new and the stars glitter unsteadily.  She hunts humans, much to the dismay of the more kindly disposed dragons in the weyr; unbeknownst to them, however, she chooses her prey with great care.  Her fangs only find those who have hurt their spouses or children, and more than one lawman has discovered a wanted fugitive lying at his door, completely drained of life.  She Who Pierces Hearts is fond of He Whose Heart Is Safe, but does not know how to show her affection other than to bite him on the head, albeit gently.  She also wishes that she could mingle among the other females freely, but her need to return to the safety of her dark nest during the brightness of day makes her friendships few and far between.