Holiday dragons are a very mysterious breed. They are only seen during winter, and even then it is hard to catch a glimpse of one. They are responsible for the general cheer that spreads during the holidays. In essence, they are the “Spirits of Winter.”

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.

When Solaire was young, the bitter cold left her wings brittle, leaving her crippled and unable to fly. Her pack, viewing the incident as a sign of weakness, left her behind to die. However, her mother, refusing to leave, stayed with her young one and raised it on her own. Neither of them cared for their pack's betrayal, the latter feeling profound pride for the hatchling, the daughter she cherished to whom winter hadn't been kind. As the months passed, Solaire grew. Winter gave way to summer, and the youngling was no longer young. She had heard so many stories of her kin's flight on the shortest day and longed to join them. "Moon Chasers" they called them, for they brought the night so soon. Frustrated, she flapped her fragile wings; if the winter wouldn't accept her as its child, then the summer would have to. And high she flew! For solstice comes twice and she—who now chases the Sun—flies higher on the longest day, an old Moon Chaser flying close behind her.