Canopy Dragons love to soar above the tropical jungles and other densely forested areas. Their billowing, layered wings create generous lift that allows them to ascend effortlessly over the warm jungle. While their unique wings do not make them the fastest flyers, they are champion gliders. To further this end, dexterity, maneuverability, and grace are all judged by the females when selecting their mates from the males that can accurately complete the exhausting and elaborate courtship dance between the close growing branches of the upper canopy.

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.

Jacob is Thomas's sort-of brother—but only because no one is certain whether or not they're related. He's also Thomas's self-proclaimed caretaker; his maybe-brother is very well known in Recila's Cave for being blindly obedient, and Jacob has taken it upon himself to make sure that no one uses it to hurt Thomas—he also forces his maybe-brother to eat, go to sleep, and generally take care of himself.

Jacob acknowledges that this is far more difficult than one would think, especially considering Thomas has no inclination to help himself, but he perseveres.