Page 36 of Fallen Nocturne

Her wings beat frantically, but they find no lift. She drops like a stone, without control or even a fleeting moment when her body seems to understand what it is meant to do. My wyvern twists helplessly in the air before striking the sand below with a heavy thud.

I’m already running down the path before Landon can stop me. “Coral!”

The little wyvern’s already climbing to her feet when I reach her. Sand flies from her scales as she shakes herself. She looks embarrassed more than hurt.

“Again,” Landon calls from above. “She needs to try again.”

Coral’s head snaps up at his voice. She chirps and immediately scrambles toward the path. Her claws scrabble on stone as she climbs. The determination hasn’t left her eyes. She wants to try.

And so we do it again and again.

But she falls.

Her wings beating uselessly, the cartilage too weak to catch the air. Each time we do it, Coral climbs to the edge with less enthusiasm. Her steps grow slower and her chirps quieter. By the tenth attempt, she won’t even approach the cliff edge. She plants her feet and refuses to move, making a sound that breaks my heart.

“Coral?” I kneel beside her, touching her snout gently. “What’s wrong?”

She won’t look at me. Her wings droop against her sides brokenly.

Landon descends the path, his expression grim. He doesn’t say anything as he watches Coral huddle against my legs, trembling.

“She’s exhausted,” I say. My throat feels tight. “We pushed too hard.”

“Maybe.” His voice is careful. Our bond tells me something is bothering him.

I look up at him. “What is it?”

He doesn’t answer right away. His jaw tightens as he looks at my wyvern. “Let’s get her back to the stable. Have the keeper examine her properly.”

Fear coils in my stomach. The walk back feels endless.

Coral moves slowly beside me, her head low. Other wyverns and their riders watch as we pass. Alys is among them, seated on Nightshade. Her expression is unreadable as she takes in Coral’s drooping wings and halting steps. Nightshade doesn’t bother taunting Coral today.

The keeper is ready to receive us the moment we arrive.

“Tarian, I need your opinion on something,” Landon says quietly.

The keeper’s eyes move from Landon to Coral. His expression doesn’t change but something in his posture stiffens.

“Put her here,” he says, gesturing to an examination platform. It takes both Landon and me to coax Coral onto it. She doesn’t want to stand still.

“Easy, girl,” Tarian murmurs. His scarred hands move over her wings, stretching them out and moving the joints.

Coral whimpers at each touch. She keeps trying to press against me, seeking comfort.

“Shh, it’s all right.” I stroke her head, running my fingers along the ridge of her skull. “Stay put. Let them look at you.”

She settles slightly but her body remains tense. Her eyes dart between me and Tarian. The keeper presses against her cartilage with careful fingers. He is quiet as he examines her. But his eyes tell me what I need to know.

Something is wrong with Coral.

The keeper steps back. He wipes his hands on his tunic and finally looks at Landon.

“My lord. She may never fly,” the keeper says quietly.

“What?” I gasp.

Landon’s expression is pained. “I suspected that. Her wings… the structure isn’t right. The cartilage should have calcified by now and hardened. But hers is still too soft, too flexible. Without that rigidity, she can’t generate lift.”