Dragons are creatures with nearly unlimited life spans. They can survive for long periods of time, and no one has found a dragon that has died of old age. Adolescence 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. Once they hit adolescence, hatchlings change quickly, maturing to their full forms in only 2 years.

Dragons don’t communicate with each other verbally, but they will growl to scare off predators and frighten prey. Young dragons will emit an extremely high-pitched squeal when they are frightened. To communicate, they use telepathy with each other and to speak to other creatures.

Ridgewing dragons live just below the snow level on the upper slopes of mountains. They are a friendly, playful breed and enjoy dancing in wind currents near their homes or plummeting down into valleys from great heights. Their wings, by far their most striking feature, grow in fin-like ridges along their backs. While their bodies lack markings to blend better with their surroundings, a ridgewing’s wings have bright markings in the colors of the flowers that grow in their mountain habitat. Occasionally different-colored individuals can be found, but they are rare because their striking coloring offers little protection.

Riley is the king of the Stellarian clan. The Stellarian clan is the dragon clan in control of the local skies; Known to some as the Fierce Sky Warriors, Riley spends most time training the young Stellarians in the art of combat. In battle, he is fierce, yet he is also very just and kind. He is extremely young for a king, and this sometimes leads him to make hasty judgements or foolhardy decisions. Riley's middle name comes from the fact he loves to 'air-surf' in the strong gales that form over his territory whenever storms brew.

Riley's position as King is often threatened by the Ember dragon, Vulcan Imperia Stellara, who seeks to usurp Riley's power over the clan.