Moonfall, #2
The Ballad of Falling Dragons
by Sarah A. Parker
Contents
Chapter 34
Overview
Raeve plunges after freeing Líri, begs the wind-spirit Clode to blunt her fall, and narrowly survives when Líri catches and tosses her into snow. Confronted by a territorial Moltenmaw family, Líri shields Raeve and cues her to mount. The shared trust holds, and Líri launches skyward with Raeve aboard.
Summary
Raeve plummets through cloud after leaping from Líri’s perch, scrambling to shape Clode’s language to buffer her fall. Clode’s gusts jolt her off course toward jagged peaks, leaving Raeve breathless and certain she will die.
At the last moment, Líri snatches Raeve midair and flings her into deep snow. As Raeve recovers, a massive blue Moltenmaw buck approaches, guarding a fresh kill and rumbling a warning. Líri coils around Raeve, tail across Raeve’s chest, and postures defensively despite being outmatched.
The buck’s threat escalates, his venomous prong exposed, but Líri keeps Raeve close and nudges her left shoulder to make space. Raeve realizes Líri wants her to mount, climbs between Líri’s shoulders, and the dragon expands her wings to appear dominant.
Two more Moltenmaws arrive—a dam and a fledgling—and begin feeding while the buck stands guard. The sight of the family visibly unsettles Líri, who keens in pain and backs away, maintaining her protective stance over Raeve rather than escalating the conflict.
Overwhelmed, Líri whips around and launches into the sky with Raeve still mounted. The moment cements a fragile trust: Raeve relies on Líri for survival, and Líri chooses to protect and carry her despite danger and distress.
Who Appears
- RaeveFalls after freeing Líri, calls on Clode to slow descent, mounts Líri, and survives.
- LíriSaves Raeve from death, shields her from a Moltenmaw, cues mounting, and carries her skyward.
- ClodeWind-spirit ally; blasts air to buffer Raeve’s fall, struggles to hold her midair.
- Moltenmaw buckLarge territorial male guarding a fresh kill; warns and postures against Líri and Raeve.
- Moltenmaw damArrives with fledgling, feeds at the kill while the buck keeps watch.
- Moltenmaw fledglingYoungling that joins feeding; its presence underscores the family dynamic that unsettles Líri.