Here is the full story of why Xandra talks in chirps rather than in words: Xandra

Despite always having her nose in a book, Xandra is an effective clan leader, loved and respected by her varied brood. Blood or not, she looks at most of the younger dragons as her children and all of the others as colleagues, experts in their own path.

Xandra is interested in everything. Being a Nature dragon, she's studied plants and animals, of course, but also magic, engineering (with Yophiel's help), music, and whatever else she can find a book about. Any of the others, young or old, is welcome to join her in her studies, though usually only Reko has the patience to listen to an entire lecture.

With Elric here, Xandra finally has someone to talk to at length about plants. Reko isn't jealous, because his primary interest in plants is how they taste. Besides, it frees him up from translating duty to get some work done.

Corbin's return has changed the clan almost as much as his departure did, and Xandra has become even more reserved. A breakthrough in her nature research led to Corbin's bonds, but the clan leader is aware that her former partner's continued presence angers many of the militant dragons who opposed him. She can but trust that the Gladekeeper knew what she was doing when she returned the former clan champion.

Xandra, after calming her mate and re-establishing order to the clan, did what she'd been working towards for years: Opened an academy for the clan's youth to study how nature and magic intersect. Despite the horror of the rebellion, when Morrigan signed up, the Fae let her in without any questions.

The revelation of Shadow as an ancient Gaoler and the appearance of her mate has made Xandra much more comfortable with Corbin's continued presence. Seascape's foster daughter is still welcome to take classes at the academy whenever she wishes.

{xandra enjoys looking like a shrub; she thinks it's funny}