Shadow Walkers are a strange breed that possess the ability to slip between the planes of reality, becoming immaterial. This allows them to hide in the shadows, either hunting from the concealment of near invisibility or evading enemies. Though they become corporeal to mate or to eat, they spend most of the rest of their lives walking in the shadows. Shadow Walkers are wary creatures, though on dark autumn evenings when the leaves fall to swirl in the chill, rain damp air, they may be seen drifting out from the shadows.

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.

Having led a long and lonely life, Keaka knows nothing of his past and has yet to see another Shadow Walker like himself. Keaka patrols the perimeter of the cave of the child of dragons, slipping past the Earth dragon Baron Nashor's watch unnoticed. His steps are nothing, like the shadows. Keaka means no harm, he is only curious about the child raised among dragons and has heard rumor that she dwells in a cave with an increasing number of dragons and wonders how he would approach them and become family too. His only escape from loneliness is passing through Nu'uanu Valley to view the Ridgewing known as Lady, who enjoys doing impressive acrobatic stunts in the valley for all to see. He has fallen in love with her and the way she carries such confidence and passion in what she does. Pueokakea is an Albino dragon who dwells in the valley and has seen Keaka ogling her friend, but every time she approaches, he quickly recedes back into the shadows. She only wishes for him to meet Lady.