Zonaton by Linda Mooney

you the way gerons love. The answer remained unspoken and unheard, kept locked inside her heart and mind where he couldn't hear it. Instead, she gave a little shrug of her shoulders. "Because I would love to fly."
                I take you flying every day.
                "It's not the same thing." She gave him an impish grin. "You know what I mean."
                Yes, I do. But having wings and being able to fly is serious. It is not always meant for fun.
                "Really? You're telling me you've never flown just for the pure enjoyment of it?" she teased. Her remark was on target. There had been many instances in the past where they had traversed mountain tops and skimmed plateaus or low-lying areas on the planet simply to sightsee.
                Well...maybe once.
                "And I wish I had scales like you."
                Oh?
                She sighed dramatically. "Clothes can be a hindrance. You're always having to repair or replace them. But scales grow naturally. They overlap so the rain doesn't make your skin wet and cold. And if you lose one, another grows in its place. Plus, they cover your secret places." Holding out a lock of her long hair, she arranged it so it covered the tip of one round breast. "Maybe I can use my hair instead of wearing clothes, and save them for when I need to go into the village."
                Hair is not effective when the wind blows. Nor will it protect you from the cold and wet.
                She flipped the long strands over one shoulder. "Yeah. You're right. But you have to admit that there is one thing about being a geron that is the best part."
                Which is?
                "It's when you make fire come out of your mouth."
                More correctly, it comes from the back of my throat. And before it gets to my throat, I must belch it up from my stomach.
                "Plus, don't forget you're strong."
                As are our females.
                She cocked her head at him. "So male and female gerons are the same?"
                To a point. They cannot make the fire.
                That part she didn't know. "But other than that, you're alike?"
                Zonaton mentally smiled at her. They bear children. Our males cannot do that.
                He had her there, and Emmala laughed. The score was even.
                She saw him lift his wings, and knew what was coming next. She didn't have enough time to seek cover when the geron shook himself, sending droplets of water flying everywhere. Emmala shrieked as the cold liquid came in contact with her bare skin. "You did that on purpose!" she accused with a grin, wiping droplets from her face.
                Yes, I did. What do you intend on doing about it?
                Laughing joyfully, she jumped up and ran over to him to throw her arms around his damp neck. Squeezing hard, she planted kisses all over the side of his beak.
                "I'm going to hold on to you until you beg for me to release you."
                She wasn't prepared for the solemn gaze he gave her, or his reply.
                Then you will never let me go, because I will never want you to.
                It was a moment she would always remember.
     

Akrim
     
     
                Why was I summoned here?
                Because we sense you are coming to the end of this life, Zonaton. Furthermore, we have not seen any preparations coming from you.
                He stared in shock and disbelief at the Elders' pronouncement. I must disagree with you. Why must I make preparations when I have not felt any of the signs which point to it?
                We must disagree with you. The signs are there. We have seen them. But we took into consideration