Ember Dragons have a great affinity for hot environments. While they themselves are not hot to the touch, their tendency to lurk amongst smoldering ashes has caused many to believe they are fire-starters. Their dully glowing markings serve many purposes: acting as a means of identification between individuals, as an important part of mating displays, and as a way of showing aggression. The long, low build of the breed makes them ungainly in flight, and the thick fleshy membranes of their wings hinder them further. As such, it is rare to see an Ember Dragon take to the air. Ember Dragons are also not particularly sociable; females tend to be defensive, whereas males are more aggressive. Once they have settled with a particular group of dragons, Ember Dragons are incredibly loyal and will defend their pack by any means possible.

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.

Jonathan is a rather antisocial dragon. He doesn't really like to be around others, preferring to keep his own company. This shows in his tendency to respond to attempts at communication with either noncommittal grunts or monosyllabic answers. He comes off as being very cold, despite the heat that comes with being an ember dragon. He is also quite paranoid and mistrustful of others, which feeds into his antisocial tendencies. The only exception to Jonathan's dislike of others is Jasper, who is his best friend and mate. Jonathan is extremely protective of Jasper, and will react with extreme violence to any perceived attempt to harm her.