ROARRR!!

Kuro’s voice reflects off the smooth slope of Flat Rock as we approach the stone mountain from the north, our wings heavy with ice and exhaustion. As we’ve already reached the edge of the forested island, it’s not long before a response sounds from the aerie.

SKREEAK!

RARR!

Still leading our flock of four, Kuro pounds her wings to summon a final burst of speed. Instead of angling for one of the clearings that pepper the island, she stills her wings to fall into a dive towards the center of the aerie. Landing there is forbidden due to the unpredictable winds around the rock, but clearly, Kuro doesn’t care today. Unwilling to let her escape my sight, I follow after her and descend into the clearing at a more leisurely glide. As the bottom level comes into view, I see that Kuro has already landed and is on her way to Frecci’s den. Kin have gathered in the snow, gazing skyward to see what all the commotion is about.

A cloud of snow is thrust into the air as I approach the ground, working as hard as possible to provide a soft landing for our precious cargo. When I’m mere feet from the ground, I let go of the log, giving it a soft landing into an oversized snow drift. For once, I’m relieved to be one of the smallest adults in the flock. I land, ignoring the questions from curious onlookers, and make my way to Frecci’s den.

“What do you mean she’s at the Grandfather Tree?!” Kuro’s voice thunders as I bound over the snowdrifts.

“Kuro, she…” Frecci trails off as she notices me slip into the den. She’s standing in the back by a denfire, organizing a pile of samples from her store room. She ruffles slightly and continues, “That’s where they took her. Frida’s wings were in terrible shape; she was in no condition to fly up here. She told us she was ambushed by Moth and another . I don’t know if she’ll—“

GROOWLLL…

Kuro snarls and whips around, nearly smacking her tail against me. As she moves past without saying a word, I can see a certain resolve in her eyes — Frecci’s account was all the proof she needed. She wants Relmoon’s neck.

“Kuro, wait!”

I reach forward and rest a wing against her flank, causing her feathers to shudder. Baleful emotions are tempered, but not before Kuro raises her lip to reveal rows of razor-sharp fangs hungry for the taste of blood.

“Frecci,” I say, swiveling my head to face her. “I found a rare ingredient, one I can use to make a treatment for the illness.”

Her eyes widen. “Really?”

“Yes. I want to take it to the Grandfather Tree, but I’m not allowed there. I need someone else who can vouch for me and convince Sefri that I’m safe. She has to listen!”

Perhaps expecting some kind of objection, Frecci’s eyes dart between Kuro and me. When it never arrives, she asks, “How do you know this treatment will work?”

“Trust me,” I say, taking a step forward but keeping my wing planted against Kuro. “It’s a treatment from the Farlands. The way it works…”

Quickly, I spout off the abridged explanation of the elixir, the one from that Nortanian book Sofl translated. As I explain the procedure to combine all the ingredients, Kuro’s feathers start to relax.

“And this special ingredient…” Frecci trails off and gazes into her stock room across the den. “Really, it’s nowhere to be found in the flock’s territory?”

“Trust me,” Enyll responds, shaking his wings of ice as he enters the den. “It’s a long flight away.”

I nod in agreement. “It’s not in the flock’s normal territory. At least, that Nakino or I are aware of.”

Nakino stores a few lichens in his den, but none are the devil’s matchstick. Despite my efforts with him, the flock is broadly unaware of the restorative properties of lichens.

Frecci exhales a long sigh and stares at the ground. “I could take the log to Nakino. Asha, I’m—”

“No,” I say. “It has to be me. I have experience making the treatment, and the process is very delicate. If I don’t make it, then it might not work! We can’t waste the lichen!”

That was a lie — I didn’t even know the elixir existed until Sofl found it — but it was necessary. Kuro has an insatiable bloodlust that can only be satisfied by Relmoon’s neck. And when she arrives at the Grandfather Tree and discovers what’s happened to her sister, she’s going to relapse into blinding rage. I need to be there to…

…

Well, I don’t know what I’m going to do.

I have a sneaking suspicion that Kuro will fly off in search of Relmoon, and she won’t stop pursuing him until he’s dead. Kuro is dear to me, a closer friend than anyone I’ve ever known. But do I really want to help her hunt down her ex-boyfriend? Then again, what if she encounters the rest of Relmoon’s flock? Could she really survive a fight against all of them?

Could I… live with myself if Kuro is killed?

…

No matter what, I have to be with her at the Grandfather Tree. I have to try to convince her it’s a bad idea to attack Relmoon. There must be another way to deal with his flock that doesn’t risk Kuro’s life!

Frecci’s tail sways anxiously. “Asha, I don’t think it’s a good idea for me to join you. I’m… not one to sway the branch. If Sefri gets upset, I don’t know if I can argue in your favor.”

“Then I’ll do it.”

A gravelly voice intrudes the conversation, and a cool scent drifts into the den. I crane my neck around to see an elderly drakon standing at the entrance, his tawny plumage outlined in a pale gray light shimmering from snow drifts.

“Bonello!” Kuro retreats a step in shock.

“Blue skies, Asha,” The chevil of Flat Rock dips his wings in greeting. He enters the den, dragging his long barbels across the surface of the snow. “This treatment you speak of. Are you certain it will work?”

After taking a second to gather my composure in front of the leader of Flat Rock, I incline my head. “As certain as Maki will eclipse Jade.”

Bonello looks intrigued. He raises the top of his wing to his face in contemplation. “Asha,” he rumbles. “Once, I believed there was much wisdom we could learn from each other. It seems my trust in you was well-placed.”

Wait, what?! Does he already trust me? But I didn’t even have to argue with him or anything!

When he and I first met, Bonello’s jollity quickly gave way to painful memories and mistrust. But something changed between our first meeting and the gathering where I pleaded to be admitted into the flock. He was one of the voices that spoke up in favor of my admittance, a powerful vote that held considerable sway over the elders of White Mountain. If it wasn’t for Bonello, I may have never become a member of the Snowfell Flock.

Perhaps that’s why he has faith in my treatment. When Bonello vied for a Farlander in front of the entire flock, he put a piece of his reputation on the line. But lately, my image in Felra has been tarnished. The whispers about me never stop — I’ve been accused of causing starvation and harboring a plague, all the while having a target painted across my tailfeathers for the simple crime of existing.

Clearly, a problem with my reputation is a problem with his reputation.

It’s in Bonello’s best interest that I redeem myself in a big way, and developing a treatment for the illness is just the ticket. It occurs to me that if Bonello had never vied me in front of the flock, he wouldn’t be helping me right now. Well, fine! I’ll take whatever help I can get!

“There’s so much more I know,” I assure him, in case there are any lingering doubts. “Treatments, how to attack airship-prey… This is just the beginning of my relationship with the flock.”

…Wait, what am I saying!?

The beginning of my relationship with the flock? Asha, you’re still flying home in the spring, right? My feathers wince ever so slightly. With my wing still resting against her, the only Kin who seems to have noticed is Kuro.

Bonello releases a long growl in satisfaction. “Today, the treatment of our Kin. Tomorrow, the return of our warm hunting grounds. Let us fly to the Grandfather Tree. I will speak to Sefri and guide her to warm winds.”

Oh, right. I promised them their old hunting grounds too, didn’t I? Ugh, I was really hoping they’d forget about the promises I can’t possibly keep! Damn it! I’ll just have to worry about that in the spring!

“Bonello,” Frecci says, motioning with her talon to the dried samples on the ground. “It would be best if I stayed here and continued my work. A trip to the Grandfather Tree would risk the illness.”

“Understandable,” Bonello says, tipping his wings. He turns to me and says, “Now, then. Daughter-Of-Kelani.”

He turns out of the den and beckons with his wings to follow. After holding it there for the entire conversation, I refold my wing from Kuro’s side. Instead of acknowledging me, she stares at Bonello with a firm face. I wonder what she’s thinking about? Does she also understand the veiled reason why Bonello is helping me? Either way, I’m glad Kuro listened to reason and calmed down. I hope she remains calm as we arrive at the Grandfather Tree.

A crowd of Kin has formed beneath a stale, overcast sky. Fledges and their parents are standing on the cliffs above us, speaking idly as they wonder aloud what could have stirred the elder from his skyward perch on top of the aerie. As Bonello marches through the snow, the crowd begins to hush, anxious to hear what their Chevil has to announce.

When he reaches the center of the clearing, Bonello raises his head and draws his wings open. “Brothers and sisters! I bring good news! Daughter-Of-Kelani has discovered a treatment for the illness that plagues our siblings at the Grandfather Tree. She has created it before and knows it will work. Their suffering will soon come to an end.”

Murmurs of surprise roll through the crowd. Just as it was the last time there was an impromptu gathering in the aerie, all eyes are fixed squarely on me. Back then, a few days removed from my life as a Princess, I found the flock’s attention intimidating. But standing here in Flat Rock today, I feel more at ease in front of Kin than ever before.

Bonello goes on, “As you are aware, Asha has been targeted by former members of this flock who wish to spread lies and mistruths about her. Some of you may even believe them! To that end, I will accompany her to the Grandfather Tree to ensure her treatment can be used without interference.”

Okay, I don’t have to guess any longer: Bonello is definitely trying to repair my image in the flock. And in doing so, he’s once again putting himself on the line for me. Um, Gust? Can you hear my thoughts? You’re certain the elixir is going to work, right?

Despite my trepidation, Bonello’s arguments seem to have worked. The crowd is talking amongst themselves, and everyone agrees with what he said. Once again flanked to my sides, I sense Kuro and Enyll relax their feathers.

“Warm currents!” a fledge shouts from the second level.

“Yeah!!” another one adds. “Please save them, Asha!”

As I gaze across the aerie, the adults nod and tip their wings in agreement. What happened to all the animosity about me? Did they really change their minds just because Bonello trusts me?

After a few more words of encouragement, Bonello finishes his speech and beckons us to join him on the wing.

ROOARRR!!!

I unfurl my wings and leap into the air with Kuro and Enyll close behind me. When we pass the tree line, I circle around and drop into the clearing to once again snatch the lichen-crusted log with my front talons. As I grab on and prepare to leave, I raise my head to discover a heartwarming sight: Hatchlings and fledges from across the aerie, waving and tipping their wings at me in encouragement! They’re supporting me! It makes me feel warm and content in a way I’ve never quite felt before. Is this how Mom feels when she steps before a large crowd of Animals? I wish I could say ‘thank you’ to every single one of them, but we’re already on the wing, so a cry of acknowledgment will have to suffice.

SKREEEEAAAKKK!

The smell of fresh snow greets my nostrils as I rise above the trees and wing after my friends. Snow is on the horizon, and it won’t be long before flurries begin falling. Will we make it to the Grandfather Tree before the snow starts? What about Frida or all those battling the illness? Are we really going to save them today?