And they were falling. This wasn’t the first time a dragonfly had put them in the sky but it was the first time there were dragons flying around, circling Kits and Kaia as they plummeted toward a lush green canopy. Wind whirring in her sensitive ears, Kaia let out an involuntary adrenaline-fueled shriek. On the contrary, Kits burst into laughter. It wasn’t even nervous laughter. It was honest giddiness. That dork was having fun. Fun! When they were about to be eaten by dragons! Or die from the fall!

The way the dragons flew, their massive wingspans formed updrafts that caught Kits and Kaia and spun them in unpredictable directions. It wasn’t a straight shot down and it was taking a lot longer than if they’d fallen through dead air.

“What are you laughing about?”

“We’re in Ellindris’ world!” Kits shouted over the wind. “Remember? I told you I met a dragon that one t—”

A silvery teal dragon flew beneath them, spun, and caught them on its belly. Kits and Kaia were small in comparison to the dragon. There wasn’t much to do except roll with the momentum as it corkscrewed through the air. The dragon’s maneuvers tumbled them toward its chest then along its arms and eventually Kits and Kaia wound up on their knees inside its grip. Through the dragon’s talons they got a dizzying view of tree tops transformed into a blur of undistinguished green-brown hues as they rushed past.

They caught their breath and clung. The dragon’s grip loosened ever slightly as if it feared holding too tightly might hurt them. Then it spoke in a language that utilized two pitches at once, one so high it was shrill and one so rumbly and low it might as well have been a drumbeat. Kits and Kaia’s translation spell worked its magic between beats of the dragon’s wings that brought them higher and higher over the sunset horizon.

“Say again?” shouted Kits though the wind wasn’t nearly as bad as when they’d first arrived.

Kaia noticed they were away from the rest of the dragons now. After it caught them this one must’ve flown out of the maelstroms’ range. Also, Kaia didn’t know how she knew this but based on its voice she assumed this dragon was male. Probably a nuance of the translation spell they’d never had the opportunity to notice before. Anyway, for the moment it didn’t matter. All she could do was inhale and exhale and try not to think about how high above the trees they were. She wasn’t exactly afraid of heights but she’d feel a lot better if their fates weren’t up to the whim of a creature who could decide to drop them at any moment. Or eat them. Kaia was still afraid it—he—might eat them. They were small enough in comparison for him to just pop them into his mouth. Chew. Swallow. Just like that. Unsettling thoughts she couldn’t get out of her brain kept looping. She imagined the pain of the chomp, of dragon fangs piercing skin then muscle then bone and there was probably saliva and the idea of slipping down an actual throat afterward and digestion… eckgh! She hoped her kindred knew what she was doing. Trust Kits to make friends with something that potentially saw her as food. Jeez.

“As you flew I heard you say a familiar name,” repeated the dragon. The translation spell didn’t change his voice. Because he was speaking a booming two-toned language the words boomed and echoed as they would have in his own tongue. The only difference was Kits and Kaia could understand him. It was almost earsplittingly loud but somehow his timbre also sounded kind. “I am Kurventhor, mate of Dragon Queen Ellindris! Which means I am Dragon King. Alas I mustn’t brag. You know Ellindris, wee hatchling?”

“Yeah,” said Kits. “Last time I was here we kinda had an argument. But then she breathed fire at me and we made up.”

Kurventhor’s laughter shook the sky.

“Thanks for catching us,” added Kaia nervously. “We weren’t flying. We were falling.”

“How’s your egg?” asked Kits.

“Egg?” asked Kaia.

Kits smiled toothily at Kaia and didn’t elaborate. Then turned her face up at Kurventhor. Since he was so big and cradling them at his chest he seemed a long way away. Kits craned her neck far enough for Kaia to feel it stretching uncomfortably through their soul link.

“Don’t give us whiplash,” grumbled Kaia as she rolled out her own neck to relieve some of the tension. Kits ignored her. This Kaia also felt through the soul link because it was deliberate. Kaia sighed. Typical. But she felt better about the situation now that she’d defaulted to her normal mode of being annoyed at her kindred.

“Ah,” said Kurventhor. “Our egg is why Ellindris is not in flight with the rest of the thunder.”

“She’s keeping it warm?” asked Kits.

“She is.”

“How long’s the incubation time?” blurted Kaia. She had no idea why she wanted to know but now that she’d asked she really wanted the answer.

“Oh,” said Kurventhor. “A century or so.”

“Can we visit?” asked Kits.

Kaia made bug eyes at her.

Kits shrugged as if to ask what else they were supposed to do when a dragon was carrying them around.

Kaia didn’t have a response for that. She resigned herself to the fact they had even less control than usual and hoped Kurventhor remained friendly. Now she had time to notice he had cold scales. They were pearlescent and beautiful the way teal markings vined through them but they didn’t match the warmth of his voice. Maybe on this world dragons kept all their fires inside them.

“Of course!” Kurventhor flew them enthusiastically to where Ellindris had nested, the ruins of a stone castle.