Balloon Dragons are so named because they are filled with a gas that makes them almost lighter than air, similar to balloons. However, they are not prone to bursting, as they are covered in tough skin and can deflate themselves if necessary. In addition, they generally are slow moving. They use their gas bladders to float to the tops of trees, where food is more abundant. They can shift their weight from their backs to their fronts, allowing them to reach leaves and fruit.

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.

Shootin Ballons, or Hootin Ballous, or just Hootin is a delightful and spontaneous dragon with the ability to make anyone smile. He is figuratively bursting with positivity, always in a good mood and eager to have fun. He's legitimately clever as well, with a sharp but light sense of humor that can get almost anyone laughing, including his more prickly mate, Starfish. For as positive and up-beat as Hootin can be, he has a hard time dealing with more serious situations. In such cases, he will usually try to float away or, rather, get out of the way, realizing his bubbly personality isn't always appropriate.