Onyx Storm
by Rebecca Yarros
Contents
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
Overview
Rhiannon leads a diminished flight to defend the Medaro Pass as a wave of wyvern approach in stormy conditions. She orders an intercept far from the cliff, trades kills with Feirge and the others, and then regroups into a shield to protect panicked civilians when several wyvern break through.
Summary
From Rhiannon’s point of view at the entrance to the Medaro Pass, she assesses the evacuation line after a violent windstorm abates and rain begins. With Violet, Imogen, and Quinn absent, she worries about their reduced strength but commits to holding the pass for the civilians. Feirge confirms that both dragons and wyvern had been grounded by the storm, and Rhiannon notes no civilians fell during the squall.
Spotting a horde of wyvern rising in the valley, Rhiannon orders Riot to launch in a thorn formation to intercept far from the cliff and assigns Drift, under Bragen, to guard the evacuees. With Baylor sighting seventeen wyvern, Rhiannon justifies keeping the gryphon unit near the cliff for maneuverability and rune support, then shifts her flight into a vertical formation to maximize kills.
Feirge engages first, dodging blue fire and executing a steep dive to seize a wyvern from above, shredding wings and snapping its neck near the mountainside. As Aotrom and Ridoc pursue another target, a curl of green wyvern fire nearly catches them, but they outrun it. Feirge tears into an additional wyvern, ripping its throat, while Rhiannon searches for squad positions amid the chaotic dogfight.
Ridoc demonstrates his signet by making contact with a wyvern mid-flight; its scales blanch, it seizes, stops flapping, and plummets to the rocks, apparently breaking apart on impact. Sawyer finishes another kill below, confirming the intercept is working but remains costly and disorganized in the rain and tight terrain.
When Rhiannon looks back to the pass, she sees that seven wyvern have slipped through. Cat (with Kira) has pinned one, Maren ignites a wing with a crossbow rune, and Bragen and Neve chase separate targets up the cliff. Four wyvern remain poised to strike panicked civilians.
Prioritizing the evacuees, Rhiannon orders an immediate regroup into a shield formation despite their losses, emphasizing the squad’s collective strength over individual prowess. The scene closes with the unit moving to block further civilian casualties in the rain as the defense consolidates.
Who Appears
- Rhiannonnarrator; leads the defense at the Medaro Pass, issues formations, and orders a regroup to shield civilians.
- FeirgeRhiannon’s green dragon; executes multiple aerial kills and relays status among units.
- Violet Sorrengailally; absent from the pass and in danger elsewhere, motivating Rhiannon’s concern.
- Imogenally; absent from the fight, noted as one of the missing powerful squadmates.
- Quinnally; absent from the fight, counted among missing strength.
- Ridocrider; flies Aotrom, uses his signet to disable a wyvern mid-air, causing it to fall.
- AotromRidoc’s brown dragon; evades green fire and supports Ridoc’s maneuver.
- Sawyerrider; flying Sliseag, completes a wyvern kill and stays engaged after past injuries at Basgiath.
- SliseagSawyer’s dragon; participates in the intercept.
- Marenrider; fights near the cliff, uses a crossbow rune to set a wyvern’s wing on fire.
- Catrider; contests Rhiannon’s orders but pins a wyvern at the cliff.
- KiraCat’s gryphon partner; immobilizes a wyvern beneath her.
- Bragenrider; commands Drift to guard evacuees and pursues a wyvern up the cliff.
- Neverider; pursues a wyvern up the cliff alongside Bragen.
- Gamlynally (Ridoc’s surname); Rhiannon calls for his focus during the engagement.
- Baylorspotter/ally; reports sighting of seventeen wyvern.
- Veirtally; consulted for Baylor’s count.
- Cathally; provides status that dragons were grounded by the windstorm.
- TairnViolet’s dragon; last seen flying Teine toward the cliffs before the storm.
- Marbhdragon escort; accompanies Tairn and Teine.
- Teinechained storm wielder; being transported by Tairn, not active in the fight.
- Evacueescivilians on the cliff and in the pass; their protection drives Rhiannon’s regroup into a shield.