CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Summary

• The chapter starts with students in the Riders Quadrant attending Threshing, an event on October first where first-year cadets are tasked with entering a forested valley for the chance to bond with a dragon.
• The protagonist is worried, as she does not feel a connection to any of the dragons she has studied about, unlike her peers. Nonetheless, she enters the Threshing field with her classmates.
• The Professor explains the process, mentioning that dragons 'call' to their prospective riders. He also warns his students not to form groups during the bonding process, as they are more likely to be attacked than bonded.
• The narrative then follows the protagonist as she explores the valley in search of her potential dragon partner. She comes across various dragons, but feels no specific connection with any of them.
• The protagonist overhears fellow students conspiring to kill a smaller, weaker dragon they deem 'unrideable' and 'useless.' She understands that if this dragon cannot breathe fire, it would have no self-defense against these warriors.
• Overcome by the unfairness of their intent, she steps into the open and speaks against them, putting herself between the 'weaker' dragon and the group of three sword-wielding students.
• Xaden, another student, appears with his dragon, Sgaeyl, and warns the group of bullies to reconsider their actions.