Among the Cotai, riders lost their mounts—it happened. Either through injury or illness, it happened. While he knew Vahn felt as if he was the first boy to ever lose a dragon, and would carry the hurt as such for a long time, he also knew boys in general, especially as they were growing into the men they would become.
The Hatchings would be upon them soon, with the new opal-eyed dragon pups screeching from high Cliffside nests, and the spring festivals would arrive as well; in time, Vahn would forget his hurt, or store it away in a hidden part of his heart to nurse in secret hours. He would see his friends take to the skies and long to ride with them again.
Salt Over Shoulder 