Blacktip Dragons are a small, shore-dwelling breed that tend to nest on sheer ocean side cliffs. They live in groups under a dominant female, who prevents her subordinates from breeding. During the mating season, a group of Blacktips can be very noisy and smelly indeed; males produce a distinctive musky odor and loud, low-pitched honking noises in an attempt to woo the alpha female.

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.

Salt Dance is Alpha Saltiness's honored first child, and is third-ranked in the Blacktip Cove group. His shy, quiet nature makes it easy for him to gain others' trust, as they feel he won't pass on their secrets. So he knows that his father is afraid of being kicked out of his comfortable spot as Alpha Saltiness's mate, and Subordinate WhiteSalt wants to overthrow Saltiness, if only for a few years so that she can successfully raise a child. Salt Dance is tempted to assist WhiteSalt with her plans, if only to let her know he is capable of being her mate. Saltiness's son wants to take WhiteSalt as his mate, but if she is not alpha he knows that will be next to impossible. Perhaps, though, his privileged position as Saltiness's first child will gain him the necessary rank to take WhiteSalt as a mate and bring her rank up to a second, sub-alpha.