Chapter 29

The narrator wakes restless and ventures into the snowy village, where she witnesses Líri the Moonplume attempting to attack her before Rygun intervenes, herding the dragon away. The destroyed bridge and Líri's hostile behavior reveal that the narrator has somehow lost the dragon's trust despite their previous bond.

Unable to sleep despite exhaustion, the narrator lies with Kaan, troubled by a memory she glimpsed of Elluin being torn from Kaan against her will. She decides to investigate a distant screech she hears, quietly dressing and slipping out into the snow-covered village. Moving down to the river, she witnesses Líri diving through the clouds, herded by Moltenmaw riders. When Líri's gaze locks with hers, the Moonplume attacks, breathing blue flame that destroys the bridge the narrator stands on. Rygun launches from his mountain perch and intercepts Líri multiple times, preventing further strikes and herding her toward the burrows despite her resistance. The village awakens to the chaos, and the narrator realizes with dread that she has somehow lost Líri's trust completely, leaving her unable to understand what she did wrong.