Overwhelmed by the wounded Moonplume's cries and by violent flashes of memory, Raeve paces until she can no longer resist the pull. She runs through the sleeping city and into the jungle, following Rygun as he circles a distant ledge high above Dhomm. Realizing the creature is hidden there, Raeve leaves her boots behind and begins climbing the cliff.

As Raeve ascends, more fragments strike her: she remembers riding a feathered beast through terrible heat while a mutilated Moonplume trailed behind her and died. The vision nearly makes Raeve fall, and Rygun repeatedly swoops close as if trying to steady or warn her. Raeve regains her grip, reaches the top, and notices a torn black mesh mask large enough for a dragon, which deepens her sense that something in her buried past is surfacing.

Beyond the landing patch, Raeve finds the Moonplume trembling in shadow. The beast is badly abused, with welts, burned flesh, torn wings, a damaged saddle, and untouched food and water beside it. Raeve's anger gives way to grief, and as rain begins to fall, Raeve speaks to the creature about her own hidden scars and the pain that never truly leaves.

Step by step, Raeve confesses what the encounter makes her understand: Raeve believes she once failed her own Moonplume, Slátra, and that guilt has remained buried inside her. When Raeve finally touches the injured beast, the cold feels strangely familiar and right, as if the meeting was meant to happen. The moment hardens Raeve's resolve, and Raeve promises that no one will ever hurt the Moonplume again.