The Lost Heir

“Starflight had been acting so weird since the NightWings gave him back. Suddenly it seemed like he wanted to argue with Tsunami about everything.”

Starflight has always had a nervous disposition, but his secret interactions with Morrowseer have worsened it. Since the dragonets don’t know what happened, they are confused and resist this change. Although they don’t realize it yet, Starflight’s behavior foreshadows his mission later—becoming the dragonets’ leader and supporting Blister. Because this pressure goes against his beliefs and loyalties, Starflight will constantly quietly struggle with this dissonance. This line also uses indirect characterization; Starflight’s irritability and argumentative tone signal a psychological shift that Tsunami notices but cannot yet decode. His friction with Tsunami mirrors her friction with her birth identity; both dragonets are reacting to new forms of alienation.

“‘Who are you?’ he [Riptide] demanded.

‘I’m a SeaWing,’ she [Tsunami] said hotly. ‘Just like you, so no need to get hostile.’

‘A SeaWing who doesn’t speak Aquatic?’ he growled. ‘Not likely. What are you really? How did you make yourself look like a SeaWing?’”

Although Tsunami desperately wants to find her tribe, she doesn’t fully understand what it means to fit into SeaWing society. Her first clue is when she misunderstands Riptide’s attempts to communicate with her in Aquatic; as she begins to realize just how much she doesn’t know, she is hurt that Webs withheld this knowledge from her. Without it, she will never be considered a true SeaWing. Riptide’s suspicion is conveyed through rhetorical questioning, and his repetition of “SeaWing” with doubt-laden qualifiers underscores the tribal gatekeeping at play. The emphasis on visual and auditory language here reinforces the novel’s recurring use of language as a litmus test for identity.

“She [Tsunami] glanced at Anemone. ‘So—we were saying—alone—?’

‘Oh, no, Anemone never leaves my side,’ Queen Coral said. She reached over and lovingly patted the little dragonet’s head. ‘I finally got a living daughter, and I’m keeping her that way.’

‘By watching me every second,’ Anemone said. She widened her eyes at Tsunami, who wondered if she’d imagined a hint of sarcasm in her sister’s words.”

Tsunami is overjoyed to meet her birth mother, Queen Coral, even if the queen isn’t exactly how Tsunami imagined her. Anemone’s existence is startling, but Coral’s insistence on control (the harness) is a red flag that Tsunami doesn’t yet know how to interpret. Anemone’s sarcasm hints at their future positive relationship but also at the cognitive dissonance between Tsunami’s idealized expectations of her Adoptive Family Versus Birth Family and the flawed reality. The queen’s possessiveness is conveyed through ironic diction (“lovingly patted,” “keeping her that way”), juxtaposed with Anemone’s sarcastic tone, hinting at emotional repression beneath the maternal affection. The use of third-person free indirect discourse—“Tsunami […] wondered if she’d imagined”—creates ambiguity, mirroring her conflicted view of her new family.

“Moray said[,] ‘That’s why the schools have all changed their curriculums again to be sure the dragonets have enough time to read everything you’ve written. It’s the most important subject they study.’

‘You can’t be serious,’ Tsunami burst out. ‘More important than how to fight the war?’”

Tsunami is slow to come to terms with her birth mother’s flaws; although she enjoys The Missing Princess, which Coral authored, it is difficult for Tsunami to accept Coral prioritizing her writing over her duties. Making Coral’s work required reading is strange enough, but Tsunami is aghast that such frivolities supersede the very real war. This reinforces the symbolism of story as legacy, emphasizing that Coral cares more about curating her image than with being queen. Tsunami’s outburst marks a rare moment of true ideological dissent, and the hyperbole of Coral’s curriculum decision serves as satire—Sutherland is critiquing egotism masked as cultural production.

“‘That reminds me,’ said the queen. ‘Whirlpool, Tsunami needs lessons in Aquatic. Can you believe she never learned it, poor thing?’ She tapped her claws on the stone in front of her. ‘Such a sad upbringing.’ Her face was sympathetic, but her stripes were flashing, and Tsunami wondered angrily if she was saying something different to the Council, knowing Tsunami couldn’t understand.”

Betrayed by Webs, Tsunami turns to her birth family to assimilate into SeaWing society, thus developing the theme of adoptive family versus birth family. Although on the surface Coral appears supportive, her use of Aquatic despite (or because of) her awareness of Tsunami’s incomprehension indicates that she considers Tsunami an outsider. This is confirmed later when her use of Aquatic during the banquet confrontation proves Coral’s complicity in treating the dragonets as prisoners, despite Tsunami’s protection. These examples highlight the symbolism of language as identity and the theme of Intrinsic Culture Versus Belonging.

“Riptide nodded, looking down at the stone under his talons. ‘Weak and cowardly,’ he said. ‘That’s how he’s always been described to me.’

Tsunami reached out and touched his wing with one claw. ‘That doesn’t mean you’re anything like him,’ she said. ‘It’s not fair to punish you for what he did.’”

Riptide is a tricky character in this novel; Tsunami bonds with him because of their outsider identities, and he is the first to accept her as she is, despite her ignorance of SeaWing customs. However, his many secrets complicate their relationship. Still, Tsunami empathizes with him, considering him innocent until proven otherwise, rather than guilty by association. Ironically, she can only do this because she is an outsider and because she knew Webs before she learned the SeaWings’ opinion of him. Tsunami’s gesture—“touched his wing with one claw”—is small but symbolically intimate, reinforcing her choice to connect despite tribal prejudice. This interaction subtly critiques inherited blame and suggests Tsunami’s emerging moral autonomy.

“Riptide said, ‘Try this one: I. Will. Protect. You.’ Stripes flashed along his side, and he gestured at the same time.

‘I don’t need protecting,’ Tsunami said.

‘I know,’ he answered, ‘but knowing you, you’ll probably need to say it to someone one day.’”

Unlike Whirlpool, who dismisses Tsunami and is not interested in helping her acclimate into SeaWing society, Riptide makes an effort to meet Tsunami halfway and teach her Aquatic, giving her the tools she needs and accepting her as a SeaWing. His choice of phrasing, “I will protect you,” also indicates a clear understanding of Tsunami’s personality (contrasting Whirlpool’s generic rote repetition of Coral’s stories). Thus, this scene highlights the symbolism of language as identity and the theme of intrinsic culture versus belonging.

“The other dragon’s wings began to press her down toward the rock floor again. Whoever it was knew how to fight like a SeaWing; they had all the advantages of this world. So use something they haven’t seen before. Tsunami thought of how Glory used distraction whenever she fought Kestrel. Tsunami’s scales couldn’t change color, but she bet she could still be pretty distracting.”

Until now, most of Tsunami’s focus has been on assimilating into SeaWing society—the influences from the other dragonets are considered detriments rather than benefits. However, during this ambush, Tsunami realizes the strength of diversity; she may lose if she uses conventional SeaWing techniques, but her opponent wouldn’t expect her to incorporate strategies from other tribes. In this way, the themes of adoptive family and belonging entwine in a positive way, a connection that develops further later on.

“‘Mother,’ Tsunami interrupted firmly. ‘Someone just tried to kill me.’ Queen Coral sat up, scattering drops of ink from her claws. ‘What? Who dared?’

‘I don’t know, but they must be here now,’ Tsunami said. ‘Somewhere in the palace. We should gather everyone and —’

‘The eggs!’ Queen Coral yelped. ‘The eggs must be in danger!’”

At this point, Tsunami gradually becomes disillusioned with her birth mother. Having just nearly died, Tsunami fully expects that her mother would be concerned for her well-being and with finding her attacker. However, Coral’s panic about her eggs—while eventually understandable and well founded, if misplaced—indicate her own flaws and self-centeredness, which will influence Tsunami’s perspective as the story develops. The queen’s abrupt shift from concern for Tsunami to fear for the eggs shows a misalignment of priorities, revealed through pacing: The interruption of her ink-scattering gesture with the word “What?” creates a beat of genuine shock, but the next line pivots rapidly to her own anxieties.

“‘Flooded?’ Tsunami echoed. ‘Do you mean—the caves? And the beaches? Where my friends are?’

‘Oh.’ Queen Coral waved her claws dismissively. ‘I’m sure they’ll be all right. Can’t they swim?’

‘Not like we can,’ Tsunami said. ‘I’m going back to check on them.’”

While Tsunami has never truly forgotten the dragonets up to this point, she needed distance from them. Her SeaWing family has distracted her, but the reminder of danger re-focuses her priorities on her adoptive family, signaling a turning point in the theme’s development. This is further emphasized by Coral’s lack of interest or concern in their well-being, showing that if she truly welcomes Tsunami, that goodwill does not extend to her companions, highlighting the dividing line between in- and outsiders within SeaWing society.

“‘Me?’ Sunny’s voice was filled with delight. ‘You want me to do something important?’

‘Really important,’ Tsunami said. ‘That’s the very last female dragonet Queen Coral may ever have. Somebody wants it dead, and we’re going to make sure that doesn’t happen.’”

Sunny is an oft-overlooked and underestimated character. The others, including Tsunami, generally sum her up by her name, and her lack of traditional SandWing traits sets her apart. Tsunami purposely seeking her aid is thus significant—not only is Tsunami trying to make up for previous conflicts with her group, but doing so also demonstrates that she values Sunny, giving her a chance to shine. This results in Sunny’s character development; caring for the egg unlocks her own protective instincts and determination.

“She was surprised at how warm and happy she felt to be back with her friends again.

This was how she’d expected to feel among the SeaWings—like she was coming home.

So why don’t I?”

Here, Tsunami returns to the themes of family and belonging with a changed perspective. Before, she assumed that blood relations trump adoptive ones and that culture is an intrinsic, inherited trait. Her experience with the SeaWings teaches her that neither assumption is true; despite their bickering, the dragonets offer her a place to belong better than her birth family could. Tsunami is just starting to understand this, but her feelings will be confirmed later.

“‘Starflight,’ Tsunami said sharply. ‘What are you doing? You don’t speak for all of us.’

‘Oh?’ said Blister. She narrowed her eyes at Starflight. ‘Then who does?’

‘We each speak for ourselves,’ Glory said before Tsunami could answer.

[…]

‘And we haven’t decided anything,’ Tsunami said firmly.”

Starflight, who struggles with his NightWing mission quietly in the background throughout the novel, finally reveals the secret that he has been carrying since his conversation with Morrowseer. The dragonets are taken aback by this, having overlooked his struggles until now; his out-of-character behavior triggers their resistance, antagonizing Blister. The moment reflects the fragility of trust and the cost of secrecy among allies. This interaction highlights the theme of War and Power, connecting the small-scale SeaWing succession politics with the large-scale ongoing war.

“‘I don’t know for sure if I can do any of that,’ Anemone said. ‘I’m scared to try. I don’t want to try. Every time an animus dragon uses her power, she loses a bit of herself.’ Tsunami’s sister held out her talons as if they might not really be hers. ‘Albatross was a prince and a hero at first, but they didn’t know about the price of animus magic then. Building the pavilion turned him evil.’ She slipped one talon into Tsunami’s grasp. It felt colder than ice and hard as stone. ‘I don’t want that to happen to me.’”

Although Tsunami and Anemone have not known each other long, their experiences with flawed parental figures and trauma have bonded them. Because of this, Anemone shares her deepest secrets with Tsunami—that she’s an animus and that she desires freedom. Her complicated position as an animus weapon of war highlights the symbolism of animus magic as self and power: Her magic is dangerously tied to herself, but its potential as a powerful tool means that it can be used improperly by others or as a tool of self-empowerment. This vulnerability contrasts with her status as a royal and deepens her character arc.

“She is clever, Tsunami thought, glancing at Blister. Why does that make me more nervous about her instead of less?”

Blister is the second of the warring SandWing sisters. Her intelligence makes her a more terrifying antagonist than Burn. She is also proficient at politicking and manipulation; the dragonets struggle to counter her war and power games. Her sharpness is paired with an unsettling charisma, making her threats more insidious. More sinisterly, Blister secretly works with Morrowseer and the Talons of Peace, thus further discrediting the peace movement.

“Tsunami glanced up uneasily at the canopy overhead, where a dragon-sized gap now yawned in the green leaves. A bolt of sunlight shone through, and she couldn’t help but worry what else might find its way through the protective cover. Had Blister thought about that at all before she struck? Surely she wouldn’t deliberately endanger her allies…but maybe she didn’t care about them enough to treat their defenses cautiously.”

Tsunami isn’t impressed with Blister from the beginning; the queen watches the dragonets sleep and consistently manipulates both Starflight and Queen Coral to get what she wants. More subtly, Blister disrespects her allies; although Coral calls her “Queen Blister,” Blister does not return the courtesy. Her destruction of the palace canopy to ambush Webs only emphasizes her callousness and disregard for her “friends” and foreshadows the danger of the SkyWing attack in Part 3.

“Tsunami had never thought about Webs leaving behind a family until she met Riptide. Even then, she hadn’t pictured him abandoning a wife and baby dragonet. Maybe he really did care about the prophecy more than anything, if he was willing to give up so much for it. She would not have made the same choice, herself.”

Tsunami’s character arc involves understanding the complexity of family and what that means for her. Although she initially views her Talons of Peace guardians negatively, Kestrel’s murder and Queen Coral’s flaws force Tsunami to reevaluate her memories and perceptions of her guardians. Meeting Riptide and learning about Webs’s past also gives him depth and allows her to empathize with his sacrifices, further complicating their relationship.

“‘We’re not trying to end the war,’ Blister said in her slithering voice. ‘We’re trying to win it. I hope you can see the difference.’”

Blister craves power: Her only true allies are those who can match her intelligence and manipulative skill; all others are merely vassals. Thus, Blister doesn’t care about the casualties of the war (e.g., Anemone “losing herself” from using her animus magic); she only cares about winning by any means necessary (e.g., Anemone’s animus powers as a secret weapon, winning over the dragonets of destiny). If she valued others like the dragonets do, she would end the war, even if she loses it, to prevent more casualties; however, because she prioritizes victory, she will continue the war until she wins, no matter the consequences. This quote distills the moral core of the series—winning is not the same as doing what is right.

“‘You [Riptide] have a very bad habit,’ she said, ‘of not telling me some critically important things.’”

Although Tsunami tries to maintain a positive relationship with Riptide, she cannot condone his repeated secrets, betrayals, and lies. His positive treatment of her may be genuine, but his repeated offenses break her trust and create distance; by the time he confesses, she is no longer willing to forgive. Having learned that time helps with these feelings, she hopes for his character growth, but for now, he does not belong in her chosen family. Their bond fractures under the weight of unspoken truths, showing that loyalty must be mutual to last.

“As they watched, Queen Coral began flinging her scrolls over the edge into the water. After a moment, Anemone joined her, and the queen paused to touch her daughter’s head affectionately.

She can be a good mother, Tsunami thought sadly. And a good queen. She wondered if there was any version of Pyrrhia where they could have grown up as a family, she and Coral and Gill and Anemone and Auklet, normal and happy, with no one trying to kill anyone.

Too late now. She had this other family, not at all normal, and they needed her more than anyone.”

Throughout the story, Coral is a flawed queen and mother, preferring to curate her legacy through stories instead of developing relationships with her subjects and prioritizing her unhatched eggs over her living daughters. However, faced with the SkyWing attack, she is able to refocus on reality. Her sacrifice of her publications indicates her potential and willingness for growth, which highlights the symbolism of eggs as change. It also reflects the possibility of emotional restoration, however partial. Although she will never be Tsunami’s real family, this helps reinforce Tsunami’s sense of belonging with the dragonets and helps her leave the SeaWing kingdom on a bittersweet note.

“‘I have to help them,’ he called, lashing his tail toward the fighting SeaWings.

‘But they’ll put you back in prison,’ Tsunami protested. ‘They’ll punish you because we escaped.’

‘Maybe,’ he said. ‘Probably. But I have to help if I can. This is my home.’”

Tsunami planned to include Riptide as part of her chosen family. However, as signaled by the symbolism of language as identity (e.g., his fluency in Aquatic), his allegiance ultimately lies with the SeaWings; no matter how society views him, the palace remains where he truly belongs. This contrasts with Tsunami’s path, as she eventually moves on.

“‘I’m trying to be more like you, you know,’ she said to him. ‘I’m trying to stop and think and use my head and all that smart stuff, but it drives me a little crazy sometimes.’

Starflight stumbled on a tree root and turned to stare at her. ‘Be more like me?’ he echoed. ‘Why would you want to do that? I wish I were anything like you! Especially brave.’

Tsunami brushed his wings with hers. ‘You’re all right the way you are,’ she said.”

Deciding that she belongs with her adoptive family, Tsunami finally attempts to make amends. This contrasts with her earlier conflicts, highlighting her character growth and shift in perspective. Her acknowledgement of Starflight’s tactical skills (including thinking before acting) shows her maturity. Starflight’s arc also resolves as he, too, admires her strengths. While they have opposite personalities, they are stronger together and balance each other. Their mutual respect symbolizes the group’s evolving interdependence.

“‘I know who might help Webs with the poison,’ Tsunami said.

[…]

‘The RainWings,’ she said. Glory twisted around to give her a sharp look. ‘Think about it,’ Tsunami went on. ‘They have venom, too, obviously. They must know something about what to do when you poison the wrong dragon.’

[…]

‘Are you—are you sure?’ Glory said. ‘That’s what we should do next?’

‘Absolutely,’ Sunny said.”

Similarly to Starflight, Tsunami makes amends with Glory. While she and Glory once shared a common antagonist in Kestrel, their bickering and vying for leadership drove a wedge between them. Glory, who faces constant prejudice and discrimination as a RainWing, is also insecure about her role in the prophecy. By suggesting the RainWings, Tsunami shows Glory that she is valued and reinforces her belonging in the dragonets’ adoptive family.