Moonfall, #2
The Ballad of Falling Dragons
by Sarah A. Parker
Contents
Chapter 83
Overview
Raeve wakes to Gruffin ravaging a bag of carcasses and discovers Essi slipped out to find food. Spotting Essi limping back with a slain snow wyrm, Raeve sees crowls stalking her through the Mists. Recognizing the lethal threat, Raeve arms herself and leaps out to intervene, escalating immediate stakes.
Summary
Raeve jolts awake as a wet carcass hits her face and finds Gruffin tearing into a bag of bodies, flaring wings and tail poised like a weapon. Irritated and uneasy, Raeve searches for Essi and discovers a parchment lark message explaining Essi left to fetch food for the hungry blue beast.
Startled by Essi’s uncharacteristic absence, Raeve studies the window as the Mists part, revealing Essi limping across the plains toward the wall, dragging a dead snow wyrm. Concern spikes when Raeve spots a white crowl tracking Essi’s trail and a larger beast joining it, their howls scraping the air.
Raeve recalls that crowls typically hunt in sizable packs and favor isolated fae, heightening the danger. The realization that Essi is injured and exposed forces immediate action; Raeve arms herself, pulls on boots, and vaults out the window before hesitation can set in.
As Raeve charges to intercept, the Mists close and shift around the pursuit, underscoring the urgency. The scene ends with Raeve committing to protect Essi from the approaching crowls, transforming domestic unease into imminent, predatory threat.
Who Appears
- RaevePOV protagonist; wakes to Gruffin’s havoc, finds Essi’s note, spots crowls hunting Essi, and rushes out to save her.
- EssiReclusive fae; slips out to hunt for Gruffin’s food, returns injured with a snow wyrm, stalked by crowls.
- GruffinSmall blue beast; rips into carcass bag, triggering Raeve’s search and indirectly prompting Essi’s dangerous hunt.
- CrowlsPredatory beasts of the Mists; track injured Essi, signaling a lethal, escalating threat.