Why Andarna Did THAT So Quickly In Onyx Storm & What It Means For The Irids

Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros.

Andarna is one of the most important characters in The Empyrean Series, and Onyx Storm takes her on an emotional journey — and reveals new things about Fourth Wing‘s seventh breed of dragon in the process. After Iron Flame‘s ending, one of Violet’s primary goals in Onyx Storm is to locate the mysterious seventh breed of dragon. While little is known about Andarna’s kind, Navarre believes they could hold the answer to eradicating the venin. After all, they left the Vale more than 600 years ago — meaning they were likely around when the venin were defeated centuries ago.

The search for Andarna’s “family” takes Violet and her friends to the Isle Kingdoms, and it proves an emotional experience for Andarna herself. The young dragon wants to know her kind, but she’s faced with ridicule and difficult choices upon meeting them. Known as the irids, they don’t approve of her bond with Violet. They believe she represents humans’ failure to change. She finds an advocate in one of them — Leothan — but he convinces her to leave Violet and join the irids. Fortunately, she returns at the end of Onyx Storm, but her thought process through all of this isn’t really explained.

Andarna’s Reason For Leaving Violet In Onyx Storm Explained

Andarna Wants To Know Her “Family”

Custom image by Yailin Chacon

Although Navarre sends Violet to find the seventh breed of dragons for their own purposes, Andarna has a simpler reason for embarking on this journey. She wants to know her “family,” and she wants to understand why they left her behind centuries ago. Andarna desires a sense of belonging that she simply doesn’t have in the Vale, as there are no dragons like her there. However, being raised among the Empyrean makes it difficult for the irids to see eye to eye with her. Everything from her attitude towards humans to her scorpiontail makes her an outsider to them.

She believes the irids can give her a community and help her understand who she is.

When Andarna is rejected by the irids, she shuts down, isolating herself from Violet and Tairn and becoming uncharacteristically despondent. She takes their rejection to heart, and that’s why she agrees to go with Leothan when he appears to fire Aretia’s wardstone. Although Andarna loves Violet and Tairn, she’s a teenager who doesn’t know her place in the world. She believes the irids can give her a community and help her understand who she is. Once she realizes that breaking her bond with Violet won’t kill her — and isn’t necessarily permanent — she goes to learn about herself and her kind.

Why Andarna Returned To Violet After Just 10 Chapters In Onyx Storm

She’s Absent From Chapter 54 to Chapter 64

Andarna leaving is one of the saddest moments of Onyx Storm, but her absence in Violet’s life is relatively short-lived. She returns to Violet at the end of the book, meaning she’s only gone for a total of 10 chapters. Andarna reappears while Violet is locked in combat with the silver-haired venin, Theophanie. Needless to say, there’s little time for a heartfelt reunion. Chapter 64 of Onyx Storm doesn’t explain why Andarna chooses to come back, but readers can speculate.

The found family she finds in Violet, Tairn, and Sgaeyl is probably the closest thing to a sense of belonging she’ll have.

From their initial meeting, it’s obvious Andarna doesn’t fit in with the irids any more than she does with the Empyrean. She’s a combination of both groups, and the found family she finds in Violet, Tairn, and Sgaeyl is probably the closest thing to a sense of belonging she’ll have. She may realize this after spending time with the irids, resulting in a prompt return. It’s also possible she learns of the danger Violet and Tairn are in. When she leaves, the wardstone is set to protect them. If she discovers they’re rushing into battle, she may change her mind.

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros slanted to the side with a red and blue background

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It seems unlikely, but it’s also possible that Andarna learns everything she needs to know from the irids between leaving and Onyx Storm‘s final battle. Given how different they are, this seems like the least probable explanation — especially with so little time passing. However, there are theories that time could pass differently for the irids, which might explain why Andarna returns to Violet so quickly.

How Long Was Andarna Really Gone For In Onyx Storm?

It Doesn’t Seem Like More Than A Week Passed

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros in front of a clock with lightning strikes
Custom Image by Simone Ashmoore

It’s not entirely clear how much time passes between Andarna leaving and Onyx Storm‘s final battle, but it doesn’t seem to be much more than a week. Violet states that she’s in bed for three days after Andarna departs, and then there’s another two-day jump after Mira barges into her room. The book doesn’t say how long it is between then and Xaden’s nightmare, but it’s unlikely that more than a few days passed. And Violet and Xaden rush off to Draithus quickly after learning the Sage has Mira, so really, Andarna isn’t gone long.

Given Andarna’s manipulation of time in Fourth Wing, it’s possible that irids experience time differently than other dragons and humans.

This seemingly supports the notion that she changes her mind during her journey with Leothan — or perhaps after returning “home” and realizing she doesn’t belong there. However, given Andarna’s manipulation of time in Fourth Wing, it’s possible that irids experience time differently than other dragons and humans. If this proves true, Andarna could have spent a lot of time with them on the island, even though barely any passed for Violet and Tairn. Only the next Empyrean Series book can confirm why Andarna returns so quickly, but the timing does seem off.

Fourth Wing, Onyx Storm, Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros

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There’s also the possibility that Andarna never actually broke the bond when leaving, although Violet’s reaction to her departure seems to debunk this. But Violet’s second signet still works, even with Andarna gone. This seems questionable, but perhaps Andarna is already on her way back to Violet when she enters Xaden’s nightmare about the Sage.

What Andarna’s Return Means For The Next Empyrean Series Book

Violet’s Second Signet Can Grow Stronger & The Irids Will Still Be Important

The covers of Fourth Wing, Onyx Storm, Iron Flame, and a book with a fiery 4 on it
Custom Image by Ana Nieves

Andarna’s return at the end of Onyx Storm will be incredibly important for the next Empyrean Series book, as she’s a huge asset in the fight against the venin. For one, the signet that Violet gets from Andarna is sure to be a game-changer. The irids call her power “dangerous” during their first encounter with them, and Violet has already shown how dream walking can be useful. Given more time with Andarna to hone this ability, Violet could master it — and potentially use it to communicate with Xaden, gather information, and interfere with the enemy’s plans.

There’s no release timeline for the fourth Empyrean Series book, but Rebecca Yarros has said she’s taking a break before writing it.

Additionally, the irids are likely crucial to defeating the venin, and Andarna may hold the answers Navarre needs — whether it’s because she learned them during her brief time with the irids or because she’ll uncover them later on. Without Andarna, Violet and the others have no chance of learning how the irids are connected to the venin’s prior defeat. With Andarna back in the fold, there’s hope.

Fourth Wing, Iron Flame, Onyx Storm book covers dragon background

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Yarros’ world-building continues to expand from novel to novel, and there are several side characters who are reintroduced throughout Onyx Storm.

Andarna will be a huge support to Violet and Tairn in the next book as well, as both are likely to have a hard time after Xaden’s departure. It’s not clear if Tairn and Sgaeyl had to break the mating bond for him to leave, or if they’re simply spending long periods of time separated from one another. Either way, this is certain to drain them. And Violet won’t fare much better without Xaden by her side, meaning Andarna will need to be there for her family in Onyx Storm‘s sequel.