[3] The books are set in the far future, on a desert planet called Austar IV, which has a history and climate similar to that of Australia.
He eventually succeeds after having been badly injured during the day's work, as one of the hatchling dragons was "miscounted", thus no one would notice if it was missing, though it is eventually revealed that Sarkkhan had purposely given him the opportunity to steal the hatchling, knowing that Jakkin was literate and could read the breeder's chart posted on the door.
Akki, a girl at the nursery, eventually discovers his secret, and helps him, building a strong relationship in the process.
After a full year of training and growing, Akki arranges a way for Jakkin and his beautiful red dragon to get to the pits.
The red dragon’s first battle is hard won, and as it turned out too late for Jakkin, Sarkkhan was watching the fight.
Although Jakkin does not know what would be best for Austar, and he does not want to leave Heart's Blood, he eventually agrees in order to rescue Akki.
After going to bars with Sarkkhan and drinking chikkar, a man dies in front of Jakkin, telling him to be careful of the Rebel Hideout.
Leaving in the truck, they witness an explosion that destroys Rokk Major's pit, and kills Sarkkhan.
Pursued by the Wardens, they are forced to leave Golden behind in a cave which they had sheltered in during Dark After, using Heart's Blood's body as a door and heater.
Threatened by the sighting of a strange helicopter, the two decide, rather than fight, to try and hide by taking refuge in the labyrinth of caves inside of the mountain.
Austar IV isn't the planet it once was, and when Jakkin and Akki finally return to the dragon nursery, their homecoming arouses mixed emotions.
Akki's insistence that she return to the Rokk to finish her training and begin new experiments drives a chasm between her and Jakkin.