Split Dragons use their sharp teeth and wings to hunt large animals and rarely eat plants. They are intelligent dragons who enjoy mental challenges, preferably alone; Split Dragons are normally solitary except during mating season. When mating, many dragons come together in a group to raise their eggs and hatchlings. These groups tend to be very noisy—reminiscent of a thunderstorm—and last only until the hatchlings are capable of surviving on their own.

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.

Two-headed dragons are unique enough to deserve a separate classification from ordinary dragons. They have two necks, two brains, two mouths, but one stomach and one main body. The two heads usually work together, but there are times when they will fight each other, snapping back and forth. Their unique anatomy prevents them from breeding with single-headed dragons.

Ayla and Halin O'Keeglan consider themselves pretty much geniuses. Any problem that arises for them or their family they manage to solve quickly, which is no surprise, since they have two heads to think with. Real problems aren't the only ones that keep their brains busy: what causes storms, how did all these different dragon species come to be: all out of one mutual ancestor or magically created, what is magic anyway, do stars really influence life on earth, and a whole range of other subjects.

Ayla and Halin spend hours and hours on end discussing these topics, forgetting about day-to-day matters, just thinking about the world. Fortunately all their offspring have made it to healthy adulthood despite some neglect on the mother's side. Ayla and Halin's mate Cyonide has grown used to their discussions over the years, simply leaving the food he's brought them in front of them to be eaten when they've grown tired of their debate.