A Fun Deleted Scene
In Which Koriana Is Fiery Perfection
One of the most difficult things about writing for me is that sometimes I have to kill my darlings. And I’m not talking about characters (this time, anyway…). I’m talking about scenes that I worked on for days or weeks, pouring out my heart and talents to craft something awesome. And sometimes even ‘awesome’ needs to be left on the editing room floor.
BUT, that doesn’t mean I get rid of them entirely. I have a lovely little file on my computer for these scenes I love but could not use. Maybe one day they can be repurposed, or maybe I’ll just go back and read them for my own pleasure. Today, I present one of these scenes to you!
NOTE: this scene has spoilers for the first 7 chapters of Songflight (book 1), but nothing major. And you should be able to enjoy even if you’ve never read the book.
In the original version of Songflight, when Alísa ran from her father’s clan to find the dragon Graydonn, she actually made it to his mountain home without being waylaid. I decided to go with the version I published instead for three reasons:
I wanted to show the beginnings of Alísa’s powers as she called for aid,
a few betas felt it was unrealistic for her to make the two-day journey with zero problems on the way, and I ended up agreeing,
in this version, the other dragons should have figured out that Alísa was a Singer just by her calling up the mountain, yet they didn’t. Hello, plot hole!
Despite its failings, this version still holds a place in my heart for its tension and Koriana’s badassery against her alphas. Enjoy!
Meeting Koriana - a cut scene
Alísa studied the snow-capped mountain with a tremble in her heart. It seemed far bigger than it had only a few hours before, when she had tied herself into a tree to catch a few hours of sleep. Now that she stood in its shadow, she felt insignificantly tiny, like the slightest breeze would knock her over.
What if Graydonn didn’t come when she called? What if she had been wrong and this wasn’t his mountain? What if his clan responded before he could? What if she’d been wrong, and her father correct? What if—
She shook her head. She’d been over this already—thinking it through for the hundredth time would only lead her back here, waiting until she found the courage to call to the dragon who somehow displayed the Maker’s goodness.
She breathed low and deep and forced herself to stand tall. It was time to draw the attention of her family’s powerful enemies.
“G—G-Graydonn,” she called as loud as she could up the mountain. “I’m here. It’s Alísa, the w—woman who set you free. P-p-please, I want to s-s-speak with you!”
Silence. Ear-splitting, heart-clenching silence.
Perhaps he couldn’t hear her from his cave. Would she have to climb the mountain to reach him? Somehow, that felt like a worse move than the trek she had already made.
She scanned the mountainside for movement or any shadow that might be a cave. Nothing. The mountain was entirely too tall with too many crags and changes of incline to afford her a good view.
Maybe she should try again.
Or maybe this was a gift, one last chance to turn back.
She growled at herself. A gift from whom? The Maker gave me the gift that led me here, would he now send me away? After everything he’s shown me?
Alísa steeled herself and breathed deeply. “Graydonn! It’s Alísa!”
A thunderous roar erupted from the mountain, shaking her to the core. It was closely echoed by another, smaller than the first but just as ferocious. Two shapes dove down the mountain toward her. Fear stabbed her through the heart as the sunlight glinted off red and black scales.
Not Graydonn!
“Branni, give me strength.” She forced herself to stand tall and unmoving, to show none of the fear twisting her stomach into knots. There was nowhere to hide, but perhaps the approaching dragons would be intrigued by a courageous slayer woman. She bent her knees slightly as the giants dipped into tight circles in the air above her—fainting now would mean death.
“’Woman’?!” The deep, throaty voice of the red male, F’renn, entered her mind. “This is merely a child who cannot speak.”
The black male’s creaking voice joined in. Crakil. “A child who thinks she can order dragons about.”
“She plays a dangerous game.”
F’renn landed with a thud that nearly shook Alísa off her feet. He breathed a torrent of fire into the air above her head. Alísa ducked as it dissipated five feet above her, covering her in uncomfortable and frightful heat.
Crakil landed opposite F’renn. He stood eight feet at the withers, while F’renn was over ten feet tall. All her escape routes could easily be cut off by either beast.
Alísa breathed slowly, trying to keep from shaking. They’re just trying to intimidate me. It was working, but she couldn’t let them see it. Her only hope now was to stand strong.
“I m—mean no d-disrespect. Graydonn t-t-told me to c-call. P-please, just tell him I’m here. He can d-decide whether t-t-to c—”
“We will decide, vermin!” F’renn roared in her mind.
Crakil thumped his tail on the ground. “The daughter of Karn deserves nothing but death!”
Her eyes flitted back and forth between the two dragons. How did they know who she was?
“I am n—not my f-father. I saved—”
“Nor are hatchlings their parents,” Crakil growled, “yet Karn still murders.”
“Let him feel the weight of his errors!”
Alísa dodged to the right as fire erupted from F’renn’s mouth, its hungry flames missing her by mere inches. She scrambled to get up and run, but Crakil released his own torrent before she could stand. She braced herself.
Maker, shield me!
Something forced Alísa to the ground and pinned her there. Darkness and heat surrounded her, and the rush of flames rumbled above her, yet there was no pain.
I’m alive!
“Praise the Maker we got here in time.”
Graydonn! His name filled her mind alongside his words as his body shielded her from the fire. Alísa gripped the grass beneath her and breathed in slowly, inhaling a warm, oily scent lightly flavored with smoke.
Another roar sounded, higher-pitched than either of her two attackers’. A full, female voice entered her mind, broadcasting to all in the space.
“How dare you attack my son’s rescuer!” Koriana.
Crakil hissed. “You forget your place, scout.”
The darkness lifted slowly, and Graydonn’s kind but urgent voice entered Alísa’s mind again. “Stand, and stay out of Crakil’s sight. We will protect you.”
Alísa crawled out from under him between his two left legs. She stood shakily and backed up against Graydonn’s side, hoping closeness meant safety.
Graydonn kept his eyes fixed on Crakil and his wings lifted, ready to cover her at the next sign of hostility. He emanated courage and protectiveness. Alísa clung to the emotions, desperate to feel brave herself.
Koriana crouched between Alísa and F’renn, her mouth wide open in a toothy snarl. Her eyes flashed like bright yellow lightning against her storm-cloud scales. While Graydonn’s emotions stayed steady, Koriana’s emotions roiled in a dangerous mixture of bravery, anger, and defiance that reminded Alísa of Kallar.
F’renn snorted smoke at the dragoness. “You have no authority in this matter. Karn has killed too many of our kind to let her live.”
“Including my mate,” Koriana hissed. “But the faults of the father are not the faults of his offspring. She has proven this. What harm can a female slayer bring to you?”
F’renn roared in anger, but Koriana’s eyes only glowed brighter.
“You know the grief and rage I already hold, alpha—do not add to them. You do not want me for an enemy.”
F’renn huffed, a flash of fire escaping his nostrils. “I have twenty dragons at my command—I can afford to destroy one dissenter.”
A strange mirth flowed with the dragoness’ response. “And lose your fastest dragon, your greatest scout, and the alliances I’ve forged for you? Try it.”
F’renn growled low as he considered her words.
“F’renn?” Crakil sounded far too eager to attack them and be done with it.
F’renn huffed smoke. “At the first sign of trouble, the girl will die.”
Koriana slapped her tail on the ground. “So be it.”
F’renn glanced at Crakil and sliced his tail through the air. Crakil hummed an irritated sound and thumped the ground as Koriana had. Snapping warning jaws at Graydonn, he leapt into the sky, shaking the ground as he pushed off. F’renn glared at Alísa, his bright green eyes pulsing with hatred, then launched after Crakil.
Alísa breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed against Graydonn, then straightened quickly, breathing an apology. What was she thinking? The immediate danger had passed, but she still stood in the presence of her clan’s sworn enemies.
She could probably trust Graydonn, but Koriana?
And who knew how many other dragons dwelt in this mountain? She couldn’t let her guard down for even a second.
Graydonn lowered his head to her level, his amber eyes soft with concern. “Are you hurt?”
She shook her head, barely able to look him in his soul-searching eyes. Could he see through her as it seemed?
“I’m sorry I wasn’t fast enough to get here first. I never would have forgiven myself if they’d harmed you, my friend.”
His sincerity rolled over her like a gentle breeze. Her shoulders relaxed and she gave him a small smile.
“Thank you for saving me.”
She regarded Koriana. The dragoness had lowered to her belly and now stared back at her with almost otherworldly yellow eyes. Alísa pushed against the fear threatening to swallow her. This dragoness had risked her life and position in the clan for her. If Graydonn could be trusted, then certainly so could his mother.
“And you too, K—K—K—” Not now! “K-K-K-Koriana. Thank you.”
The dragoness stretched her neck forward, and Alísa fought not to take a step back. Koriana’s head was easily three feet long from nose to ears—she could snap a human in two with those powerful jaws.
Koriana’s rich alto voice entered Alísa’s mind. “You saved Graydonn, little one; I will allow none to harm you.” She inclined her head toward her body. “There is a spot for you at the base of my neck, between the spines. Be quick, before more wrath rains from the skies.”
Alísa exhaled slowly, then crept to Koriana, keeping her eyes trained on the dragoness’ toothy snout. She’d expected to end up in a dragon’s cave, but now F’renn and Crakil flashed through her mind. They were exactly the kind of dragons her father was trying to protect her from. How many of the other dragons were like them? Could Koriana and Graydonn truly protect her?
Well, it’s a little late to turn back now.
Alísa stopped at Koriana’s forelegs. Laying down, the dragoness’ withers were just below her own shoulders. Not even as tall as a horse. This should be easy. Right.
What was the protocol for mounting a dragon? Should she grab a spine to pull herself up? Or step up using Koriana’s foreleg?
“Step on my muzzle and I’ll lift you up.”
Koriana reached her snout to Alísa, stopping only inches away from her legs. Alísa clenched her shaking hands, hesitating at the large, inhuman face.
Koriana pressed a wing to Alísa’s back, gently but firmly guiding her forward. “The sooner you’re out of sight, the better, little one.”
Alísa breathed in slowly. They aren’t going to hurt me. I can do this.
She placed a foot on Koriana’s muzzle, slowly and carefully putting weight on it before grasping one of the spines running down the ridge of the dragoness’ back. Koriana lifted her head smoothly until Alísa could swing a leg over her back. A comforting heat radiated from the scales as Koriana breathed, each expansion of her chest allowing warmth to seep through the cracks in her armor.
Koriana faced forward. “Stay low and hang on tightly.”
Alísa grasped the spine in front of her, her fingers easily gripping the slight ridges. Koriana gathered her legs beneath her, and launched into the air.
Alísa’s stomach dropped and she closed her eyes against the stinging wind. The heat of adrenaline clashed with the harsh cold slamming into her face with each wing-stroke. They rose higher and higher, until the climb finally ended, and she cautiously opened her eyes.
Koriana’s powerful wings spread wide, steadily gliding with the strong wind currents. They were three-quarters up the mountain now, the sun glinting off the snow and ice as they rounded the slopes. Green hills stretched out before them, rolling for miles in all directions. The Prilune Mountain range broke the view south with its white caps, each peak too tall and bunched together to see into the lands beyond.
Another dragon flew past in the opposite direction, trumpeting as it passed. Alísa pressed herself against Koriana’s back, her palms sweating. She flew through enemy territory now.
What have I gotten myself into?
And there you have it! I hope you enjoyed this cut scene as much as I enjoyed revisiting it. If you want to see how this scene changed and ended up, check out chapters 7-8 of Songflight! 🎶 🐉
Until next time,
