Cadence

Not wanting to live where he wasn't wanted, Sempre Piu Cadence Adagio Chinook left the Zephyr Dancer tribe he was born in after learning that the shading of his okapi stripes would keep him from ever becoming a full member of the tribe. For a while afterwards, he travelled Plateau, but lone dragons on the Plateau often find themselves prey for Talonok flocks and Cadence realized that without a clan or at least companions, he was either going to starve or be killed by Raptorik.

It was during this point that he met Stallone. The guardian approached Cadence after the skydancer had finished giving a musical performance and suggested that the two work together. Stallone would make sure that Cadence was safe and fed and Cadence would attract dragons and keep them distracted while Stallone liberated the contents of their pockets. While not thrilled with stealing, Cadence decided that it was a better alternative to dying and agreed to the plan.

Stallone and Cadence's partnership lasted for nearly a year before Cadence, believing that he was now strong and smart enough to take care of himself, dissolved the distasteful partnership and struck out on his own again. It was a short-lived trip. Two months after leaving Stallone, Cadence was attacked by a Raptorik flock that easily overpowered him and was only saved when a brave peacock firebird swooped in to help him drive off the Beastclan warriors. Although still badly outnumbered, Cadence was able to make use of the surprise and uncertainty caused by the firebird's arrival to overpower a few Raptorik and send the rest into scattered retreat. Afterward, the firebird led the battered and starved skydancer back its roost, a haphazard tower on the edge of the Zephyr Steppes.

It was the dragons of the tower, the Summer Squalls, who took Cadence in, nursed his wounds, and gave him a home, but it was Stallone who convinced him to stay. The guardian had come to the Squalls since his break with Cadence, but refused to tell his former partner why when confronted. Instead, Stallone issued a challenge, telling Cadence that if he was so convinced Stallone was up to something and if he wanted to know why, he was going to have to stick around and find out for himself.

Publicly, the two keep up the appearance of a friendly rivalry, but Cadence is still convinced the former thief is up to his old tricks. And while Stallone has a caustic wit that he turns with equal severity on everyone, several dragons have noticed he saves his most barbed comments for the Zephyr Dancer.