Dusky is a very small, fragile-looking male SilkWing who appears in The Flames of Hope. He has lavender scales covered with dark-blue and turquoise speckles, enormous dark eyes, tiny claws, and two distinctive antenna, and four butterfly like wings. He is noticeably undersized for his age, which makes him look especially vulnerable. Personality-wise, Dusky is quiet, gentle, trusting, and easily frightened, often speaking in a soft little voice and startling awake because of the trauma he has experienced. He was orphaned and forced to work as a construction apprentice under Lady Bloodworm, leaving him lonely and wary. Despite this, he isn't cruel or bitter toward other dragons. He can actually be surprisingly brave and firm when something matters to him, and after learning about the Scorching, he develops a fierce hatred of the humans responsible.

Dusky's most important relationship is with Luna, whom he immediately becomes attached to. He sees her as someone safe and desperately begs her not to leave him behind; Luna becomes protective of him in return, eventually treating him almost like a younger brother or little companion and risking herself to rescue him. He also forms a sweet friendship with Cricket, who comforts him when he's scared and reassures him that it's okay to be frightened. Whitespecklooks after Dusky at the refugee camp and wishes he could adopt him, while Bumblebeebecomes another close friend—Dusky loves Bumblebee's fierceness, and they eventually have sleepovers together. His relationship with Freedom is more complicated: she initially finds him annoying and calls him names, but Dusky nevertheless finds her funny, brave, and interesting, eventually regarding her as a friend, and has romantic feelings towards her. His memories of his father are particularly precious to him; his father genuinely loved and cared for him, making his loss especially painful. At the end of the book, Dusky is finally reunited with his mother and begins a safer life in the LeafSilk Kingdom.