Hellfire Wyverns are so named for their foul tempers and fiery visages. Their social structure places all females above all males, due to superior physical characteristics and violent dispositions. Forced subservience of the males causes them to become vicious, petty, antisocial, and passive-aggressive compared to the aggressive and social females. However, orphaned hatchlings raised by foster parents of another species can develop surprisingly even tempers and mellow dispositions, proving that their defining unpleasant nature is, in fact, a learned behavior.

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.

In spite of her instinct to drive away all offspring, lest they try to overthrow her regime, Deyna decided to raise a daughter. She couldn't let the males gain freedom by outliving her. Shani would also be another pair of eyes and ears—and another set of claws—to help ensure the males' continued obedience. Or so she thought.

Shani was raised to have her mother's venom and strength of will. She was taught that the males could and must be controlled, for if they were not they would surely kill her.

Shani was strong-willed, and full of hatred. But she knew her mother was physically stronger than her—she hated Deyna for that. She began to talk of rebellion when among the males, and began mating frequently with one called Diggory.

When this resulted in an egg, however, Shani's plans were thwarted. Shani and Diggory managed to escape Deyna's fury with their lives, but not before she had thrown the egg over a cliff.

They now live unhappily, shackled together for the security it brings.