Striped Dragons come in a dazzling array of colors complemented by an intricate pattern of stripes. These bright colors and patterns help attract their favorite food, insects. Because their prey is so tiny, striped dragons must spend a large portion of their day eating. The color of the offspring is usually determined by the dragon’s mate.

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.

Firnen is the youngest dragon, and one of the first in the rebirth of the New Riders clan. He is Arya's own dragon, and mate to Saphira Bjarskular, the dragon of Eragon. He hatched after the death of Galbatorix, and his egg was recovered from the ruins of his castle in Uru'Baen. He and Saphira met after Arya was crowned queen of the elves after her mother Islandzadi, former queen of the elves, died in battle. He and Saphira are now separated as she and Eragon find a safe place to raise the new dragons. Firnen, as well as Shurikan, is one of the only known dragons to have his eye color different than the color of his scales.