Cath

Cath is identified as a Red Swordtail.

At the first-year assembly, Cath appears behind the dais as Dain’s Red Swordtail, leaning over Dain’s head, swinging his swordtail, and blowing hot steam over the crowd during Dain’s intimidation display.

Dain describes Cath as capable of being nasty when riled.

After the negotiations near Xortrys, Cath keeps watch while the other dragons, gryphons, and riders sleep in the field, using his red swordtail as a visible warning to lingering onlookers.

Cath’s bond with Dain includes mental contact close enough that Dain says Cath is inside his head and would know if Dain hid a lie about dragons protecting the Vale and the hatching grounds. Dain also says a rider can block out a bonded dragon, though formal teaching on that skill comes after Threshing.

Violet treats Dain’s bond with Cath as the reason Dain cannot simply leave the Riders Quadrant, comparing it to her own refusal to abandon her place there.

After Dain joins the Aretian side, Cath’s bond becomes a practical loyalty check. Violet argues that Cath is enough to vouch for Dain, and Xaden later tells the Assembly that Cath vouches for Aetos.

Cath channels enough magic to make Dain’s lesser magic and signet stronger than they would be with a weaker dragon.

Cath can execute a controlled running-landing maneuver with Dain, diving in, leveling with the field, slowing without fully stopping, and carrying Dain through the transition before Dain jumps.

Cath can relay information and requests through dragon channels during battle. During a wyvern attack, Dain uses Cath to pass a request through Gaothal for Cianna to wield wind, and Cath later reports the number of wyvern in the clouds.

After leaving the Continent for Deverelli, Dain loses ordinary mental communication with Cath along with the other riders who are separated from their dragons’ usual communication range or conditions.

Cath alerts Dain as soon as Sloane disobeys orders and crosses the wards, bringing Dain to the northern field in time to provide power for Sloane’s transfer before flying toward Draithus.

During the battle at Draithus, Cath reports that the city’s dragons had to hunker down in Theophanie’s windstorm and places Riorson and Durran near the walls. He later fights above the northern wall with Glane and a line of gryphons, picking off wyvern trying to pass the city toward the valley.

Cath informs Dain that Tairn chose Violet and that the small golden dragon also chose her, giving Dain the report he relies on when confronting Violet after the dragons leave for the Empyrean meeting.

Cath stands with the red dragon den’s side of the six-dragon ward-raising ritual at Basgiath, waiting near the top of the wardstone chamber beside Marbh while Dain stands in front of him.

When Marlis demands dragon eggs in Unnbriel, Cath lands hard on the wall with the other dragons, adding to the visible pressure in the plaza as the bargain is rejected.

Cath stays active over Draithus despite dangerous winds and orders to remain grounded, launching below Imogen before descending near Cuir after the fight around the wounded dragon.

During Xaden’s shadow outburst at Draithus, Cath and Dain are cornered by a wyvern until Xaden’s shadows tear out the wyvern’s heart and free them from the immediate threat.