kind of had to.” She held out the goat. “Um — maybe we can share it?”
“Really?” Qibli said. “That would be great. I’m going to need more practice to figure out how to hunt here. The land is all folded and squiggly. Too many hiding places. Give me a big flat desert and some half-asleep sunbathing lizards any day.”
Moon guessed it wouldn’t take him long to master hunting in the mountains. His eyes were darting across the landscape below them and he was storing away observations in neat stacks in his mind. He was also trying to gauge whether she meant it about sharing the goat, and whether she’d like him better if he was self-sufficient or if he accepted her offer with appropriate gratitude.
“I can catch my own food,” Carnelian said stiffly. She swung away, broadcasting offended thoughts. Moon winced.
“Nice work, Moon,” Tsunami called. “We’ve caught a few things, too. Let’s take all this back to the prey center and eat there.” Another SeaWing, this one a blue-green adult dragon with a scar on his side, had joined them with a net, which was now full of squirming fish. He hefted it in his talons and nodded to Tsunami, who tilted her wings and soared back toward Jade Mountain.
The others followed her, one by one, with Moon flapping slowly at the back. The goat was heavy; it smelled of meat and the blood that had left dark red streaks on her claws. But the thought of going back into the prey center was enough to make her lose her appetite. The noise, the memory of everyone staring at her … She was tempted to get lost on the way.
If you are always cowering in a cave alone, you’ll be wasting your powers completely, the voice muttered.
Easy for you to say, Moon shot back. Clearly you don’t get splitting headaches every time you walk into a crowd.
Why has no one taken care of you? the voice wondered. Even if the skills are lost, there must be scrolls about coping techniques.
No one thinks I need scrolls like that, even if they do still exist, Moon pointed out. If anyone found out what I can do, I’d probably be thrown out of the tribe. I’d definitely be thrown out of school. I’d probably be thrown off the peak of Jade Mountain, or into the ocean. This is not a popular power to have right now, is what I’m trying to say.
You don’t need to be popular if you’re powerful. The voice chuckled. Then it stilled for a moment, and added musingly, Although perhaps a little more popularity would have been helpful in my situation. Another thoughtful pause. In any case, listen and perhaps I can help.
I’m listening.
Imagine the sound of ocean waves.
I’ve never heard ocean waves, Moon admitted.
What? the voice demanded. Were you raised under a mountain? Fine, then — some other repetitive, soothing noise.
Moon caught a wind current and tilted her wings, shifting the goat’s weight between her talons. Would rain work?
Yes. Exactly. Fill your head with rain.
Moon thought of all the long, lonely days and nights she’d spent hidden in her fern burrow, listening to the rain patter on the leaves all around her. Watching the raindrops slowly drip from the ends of the curled fronds onto her tail. Wishing she could hear the approaching whoosh of her mother’s wings instead.
You tragic little dragon, the voice said sympathetically.
I’m not a tragic little dragon, Moon protested. I’m lucky. I didn’t have to grow up on the volcano. Mother saved me.
Mmmmm. She seems to have a lot of opinions about what’s best for you, none of which involve finding out your preferences first. Before Moon could defend her mother, he went on. Now hold on to that falling rain sound, and then imagine that you’re taking each voice you hear and slipping it inside one of the raindrops. Do that as you enter a cave full of dragons, and after a minute all their insignificant mental howling will be drowned in the downpour.
Moon concentrated for a minute.
The voice chuckled in her mind again. Oh, it
“Really?” Qibli said. “That would be great. I’m going to need more practice to figure out how to hunt here. The land is all folded and squiggly. Too many hiding places. Give me a big flat desert and some half-asleep sunbathing lizards any day.”
Moon guessed it wouldn’t take him long to master hunting in the mountains. His eyes were darting across the landscape below them and he was storing away observations in neat stacks in his mind. He was also trying to gauge whether she meant it about sharing the goat, and whether she’d like him better if he was self-sufficient or if he accepted her offer with appropriate gratitude.
“I can catch my own food,” Carnelian said stiffly. She swung away, broadcasting offended thoughts. Moon winced.
“Nice work, Moon,” Tsunami called. “We’ve caught a few things, too. Let’s take all this back to the prey center and eat there.” Another SeaWing, this one a blue-green adult dragon with a scar on his side, had joined them with a net, which was now full of squirming fish. He hefted it in his talons and nodded to Tsunami, who tilted her wings and soared back toward Jade Mountain.
The others followed her, one by one, with Moon flapping slowly at the back. The goat was heavy; it smelled of meat and the blood that had left dark red streaks on her claws. But the thought of going back into the prey center was enough to make her lose her appetite. The noise, the memory of everyone staring at her … She was tempted to get lost on the way.
If you are always cowering in a cave alone, you’ll be wasting your powers completely, the voice muttered.
Easy for you to say, Moon shot back. Clearly you don’t get splitting headaches every time you walk into a crowd.
Why has no one taken care of you? the voice wondered. Even if the skills are lost, there must be scrolls about coping techniques.
No one thinks I need scrolls like that, even if they do still exist, Moon pointed out. If anyone found out what I can do, I’d probably be thrown out of the tribe. I’d definitely be thrown out of school. I’d probably be thrown off the peak of Jade Mountain, or into the ocean. This is not a popular power to have right now, is what I’m trying to say.
You don’t need to be popular if you’re powerful. The voice chuckled. Then it stilled for a moment, and added musingly, Although perhaps a little more popularity would have been helpful in my situation. Another thoughtful pause. In any case, listen and perhaps I can help.
I’m listening.
Imagine the sound of ocean waves.
I’ve never heard ocean waves, Moon admitted.
What? the voice demanded. Were you raised under a mountain? Fine, then — some other repetitive, soothing noise.
Moon caught a wind current and tilted her wings, shifting the goat’s weight between her talons. Would rain work?
Yes. Exactly. Fill your head with rain.
Moon thought of all the long, lonely days and nights she’d spent hidden in her fern burrow, listening to the rain patter on the leaves all around her. Watching the raindrops slowly drip from the ends of the curled fronds onto her tail. Wishing she could hear the approaching whoosh of her mother’s wings instead.
You tragic little dragon, the voice said sympathetically.
I’m not a tragic little dragon, Moon protested. I’m lucky. I didn’t have to grow up on the volcano. Mother saved me.
Mmmmm. She seems to have a lot of opinions about what’s best for you, none of which involve finding out your preferences first. Before Moon could defend her mother, he went on. Now hold on to that falling rain sound, and then imagine that you’re taking each voice you hear and slipping it inside one of the raindrops. Do that as you enter a cave full of dragons, and after a minute all their insignificant mental howling will be drowned in the downpour.
Moon concentrated for a minute.
The voice chuckled in her mind again. Oh, it
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