“The great ice bird, ardeidae glacies, is most closely related to the heron. It is believed that fewer than a hundred of them live throughout the world. Three are known to exist within the territory of the United States, and though no account of their mating activities exists, the females produce small clutches of eggs every few years. Vanishingly few survive to adulthood. It is believed the current climate is simply too warm for their kind.”

~ Bek Trent, M.A.S.O

Zien stood back from the rush, just within the entrance to the nightwings’ caverns. Her ears were perked, listening, and Comet hunched by her side, dark eyes focused on the comings and goings of her kin. Zien’s violet eyes shone.

“And so,” the leader of the tree wolves purred, “the myriad pieces of our quest come together. The dragons have returned to the earth. Now we must only safeguard their and the humans’ lives until the four of them are ready to take their places. Hess, and the Zara, must fail…”

Comet crooked an ear. “The wolf?” the nightwing questioned slyly.

Zien shook her head slowly. “She is nothing like I have seen before…and the human, too. I had thought that the dragons would be the only ones that mattered, but I believe I may have been wrong. The ability to take good from evil, light from darkness, and much more, I think, sits with Silver. She is more than a beastspeaker and guardian of the dragons. The Zara has made this obvious.”

“But her heart is not clear.”

“No,” Zien agreed softly, “it is not. For that, I fear she will suffer. Hatred is poison to her, and her kindness and power both are too great. She has much to learn about magic, and no time…”

Comet whistled, looked sideways at her. “They must wait to go after the Stone. The dragons are too young, and we cannot risk losing the humans now. Either of them.”

“We can give them weeks, and only weeks,” Zien purred, “the fate of the world rests on their shoulders. For now, send your messengers, Comet. We will have the vampires as allies soon enough.”

“Such confidence has led to the death of many a srinn, Zien.”

“Then I will die believing in our success,” the alpha of the tree wolves rumbled, violet eyes sparkling. “There is only life. One path lies before us. Only one. And we will take it.”