A cave-going dragon named Lavendulan resents being born wingless. She loses her family in a deliberate yet random attack, and she receives wings as the result of an intercessor who saves her life. The burden of existence takes on a new meaning as she learns how to live a different kind of life with strange new dragons and even stranger responsibilities. Eventually, circumstances necessitate a return to the dreaded caves to face the dragon who inadvertently caused all of Lavendulan's problems in the first place.