Shadow and Ciaran were not a part of the original plot. In fact, I think it was in the second round of edits that she and Ciaran finally made it into the story and it wasn’t until the third that her role was more defined.
Yes, she was Ciaran’s dragon, but there was a depth to the minor supportive character that captivated my heart as I wrote her. She is unlike the other dragons and has a tender heart. She is selfless and displayed a depth of faithfulness to Ciaran and Tully.
As a young dragon she witnessed the trauma Ciaran went through and was there when he lost his uncle. As dragon and dragon rider, the two have a symbiotic relationship, but it isn’t until Ciaran faces a crisis that their relationship finally changes.
Through out the novel, Shadow consistently shows patience, acceptance and a soft spirit. She is perhaps one of my favorite characters (part of how she ended up on the cover), because in some ways, she seemed to connect everyone and played a quiet but vital role that pulled pieces of the story together.
Let me know your thoughts about Shadow. I’d love to hear them.
(Picture created with Canva)
K. M. Wray 