Chapter Forty-Four

Summary

• The chapter begins with a tense moment where characters Sloane, Dain, and Cibbe all attempt to save Luella, who ends up slipping and falling into clouds below.
• There is blame and guilt among the group, with accusations flying about Luella's fall.
• The protagonist, Violet, is injured and cannot move due to a dislocated shoulder. Dain helps her to her feet after acknowledging her injury. Meanwhile, the gryphon Cibbe is grievously wounded, mourning for its fallen flier, and Maren mentions the bond between gryphons and their fliers.
• Tensions rise among the characters as Cat vehemently blames Violet for dropping Luella, but is stopped by Maren, who defends Violet.
• Dain protects Violet from Cat’s wrath with a stern warning, and the confrontation is defused.
• Violet is distraught about not saving Luella, while the group continues to deal with the immediate aftermath of the fall.
• Dain proceeds to pop Violet's dislocated shoulder back into place against her protests that she needs to help their friend Ridoc first, since he is also wounded and in danger.
• Ridoc, despite being weak from his injuries, insists that the others leave to safety.
• Mysterious wingbeats heard in the mist are revealed to be from a Wyvern, a dangerous creature.
• A Wyvern appears, seizing Cibbe and disappearing into the mist, leaving the group in shock.
• As a battle ensues in the obscured environment, Violet uses her skills and injured arm to wield power to engage the wyverns.
• Clever use of the clouds and a lightning-like power eliminates four Wyvern threats.
• After the threats are neutralized, the group discusses the implications of their encounter, realizing that riderless wyverns mean someone knows about their movements, signaling a larger threat.
• The chapter concludes with the disturbing realization that the Venin, dark wielders who control wyverns, now know the group’s whereabouts and intentions, potentially bringing greater danger upon them.