Dorsal Dragons are so named because they have large fins along their backs that can be raised and lowered at will. They use these fins to regulate body temperature; they raise them to cool off when they become overheated. The bright colors on the fins double as a means of attracting mates.

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.

Niki is considered an evil dragon to those that don't know him and most dragons run away from him because he had killed another dragon before. But the few dragons that actually gave him a chance know that he is very sweet and kind. Niki spends most of his time sitting in the cave while staring at the hatchlings and happy couples, longing for a mate and some young of his own. He loves to look at the nighttime sky, he loves how bright the moon is and will stare at the moon for a few hours before he falls asleep. The only dragon Niki fears is Milly Ashenscale, and the reason for that is because when Niki was a hatchling, he was attacked by Milly. Ever since then, Niki stayed far away from Milly and worked on his fighting skills so if any other dragon attacked him ever again, he would be able to defend himself.