I threw up again, even though there was nothing left inside of me. I was hollow.
Broken.
“It’s not your fault,” Trey said softly. “Maya told you to go, and you listened to her. Don’t you see, Neri? She knew it was going to get bad. She told you to go to save you. She saved your life. Yours and the dragon’s.”
The hatchling. It was staring up at me, its eyes wide and unblinking. Instead of fearing me as I screamed and cried and threw up, it was unwaveringly by my side.
“Its mother is dead,” I murmured, my already aching heart tearing into shreds. Poor, brave Aster. The hatchling would never know her. How cruel. How unfair. “What about the other eggs?”
He shook his head sadly.
No mother and no siblings. I pulled the hatchling into my arms. “You poor thing.”
“Neri.” Trey put his arm around my shoulders.
“We can’t let anything happen to it, Trey,” I said. “We have to protect it.”
“Of course.” His response was immediate. “Whatever we have to do to keep it safe, we will.”
Even though I was crushed by my grief, Trey’s words filled me with hope. That somehow, not today, nor tomorrow, nor even next week or next month, I would survive this.
I clung to my best friend and sobbed for my sister.
I’d climbed the mountain to find her, but after all my effort, and Maya’s too, I’d lost her anyway.
***
Time passed as we sat there mourning Maya and Aster. It wasn’t until the dragon started squeaking that I blinked, coming back to the present. I’d been thinking about my final moments with Maya, a moment I knew I would replay in my mind for the rest of my life. Could I have done something differently? What if I’d grabbed her hand and forced her to come with me?
So many questions I would never have the answers to.
When the hatchling shifted restlessly, I mumbled to Trey, “It must be hungry again. I gave it some melonberries earlier, but it probably needs meat. And water.”
“Should we start walking?” He stood and held out a hand for me. “The sooner we get to Meradell, the sooner we can feed it.”
I let him pull me to my feet. The dragon’s squeaks rose higher in pitch and I glanced at it, startled. That was a new noise. “What’s wrong?”
A shadow crossed over the sun before a roar filled the air. Trey and I exchanged startled looks, and then he was pushing me toward the trees, yelling, “Go! Hide! I’ll be right behind you!”
Maya had said the same thing. I wasn’t losing my best friend the same day I’d lost my sister. “I’m not going anywhere without you!” I grabbed him by his coat’s sleeve and yanked him forward. We both took off at a run, but it was in vain.
Senia dropped down in front of us, growling. Her golden eyes were flashing dangerously as she stalked toward us slowly and menacingly. Was she going to kill us?
The hatchling let out a loud cry and Senia paused, blinking. Some of the rage left her eyes as she stared at the gray bundle I was carrying. “Is that…?”
I had to swallow two times before I could answer her. “It hatched this morning.”
Senia came closer, sniffing the air. “He.”
“What?”
“That hatchling is male,” Senia said. “So you can stop calling my nephew ‘it.’”
I stood still as Senia approached, lowering her face so she was eye level with the hatchling. He looked up at her, blinking his dark eyes in wonder.
“You saved him,” Senia said.
“I…” I broke off. “I wish I could have saved everyone.”
“Nerine.” The dragon waited for me to look at her before continuing. “You could not have saved everyone in that cave. I… I should have saved my sister and yours.” To my utter astonishment, Senia lowered her body to the ground and closed her eyes. “Forgive me.”
“Senia…” I couldn’t say anything else because I was crying too hard. Trey hugged me again, and the hatchling made small noises of distress.
When I was finally able to control myself, I whispered, “I don’t blame you.”
Senia inhaled deeply, her entire body shaking. She was in so much pain, just like me. Kneeling in front of her, I placed the hatchling on the ground. He looked at me and I nodded encouragingly. Turning his attention back to his aunt, the hatchling teetered up to her and squeaked.
Senia’s eyes opened in surprise and a glimmer of a smile tugged at her lips. “My nephew.”
He watched her expectantly.
Senia pulled herself into a sitting position. The hatchling made one of his happy noises when he saw her tail and he leapt forward, landing on it. Huffing, Senia pulled it out of the way, but the hatchling chased after it. When he caught it, he started batting it with his front feet. Trey and I watched, laughing softly.
Maya, I wish you could see this. I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand and asked Senia, “What now?”
She was silent for a long moment. “I will take him home. To his father.” I could see how much that hurt her, how little she wanted to hand the hatchling over to Aristo. I didn’t blame her. Until the previous night, when I’d spoken with the gray dragon, he’d been ready to give up on the eggs.
I knew in my gut that Senia should be the one to raise the hatchling.
Or me.
I blinked in surprise as I realized how much I wanted to take care of the dragon. “Why can’t he just stay with me?” I asked boldly. When Senia and Trey both turned their attention to me, I shrunk back, hugging myself. The hatchling was still playing with Senia’s tail, chirping happily to himself as he wrestled with it. The longer I watched him, the greater my urge to pick him up and run down the mountain.
“Neri, you can’t keep a dragon in Meradell,” Trey said gently. Then he mulled it over, frowning. “Can she?”
“No, of course not.” Senia flicked her tail to the side and the hatchling chased after it. “You don’t know the first thing about dragons.”
“But I could learn—”
“No,” Senia said over me. “He will stay in the mountains.”
Seeing how distressed I was, Trey asked, “But we can come and visit the two of you, right?”
“I don’t think that would be wise, considering what happened this morning with your sister.” When I started crying again, Senia’s face softened. “This isn’t goodbye forever, Nerine. When the hatchling is older, we will visit you. I owe you that much.”
It wasn’t enough, but what choice did I have? Senia was right; I had no idea how to raise a dragon. And where would I keep him? In my bedroom? What a fool I was to even consider such a thing.
“Can I say goodbye to him?” I asked.
“Of course.” Senia used her nose to push the hatchling away from her tail and toward me. When he saw me, his eyes brightened and he ran over, tripping and falling on his face at my feet. Chuckling, I picked him up and hugged him tightly.
“Be good. Be brave. And don’t forget me, all right?” I had no idea if the hatchling understood anything I said, but he did squeak worriedly as he watched me. Maybe he did know this was goodbye.
After planting a kiss on the top of his scaly head, I put him back on the ground. Trey patted the hatchling on the head and said, “Take care, little guy.”
The hatchling stared at the two of us in confusion as we stepped back, away from him. As Senia stood, I turned around. I didn’t want to watch them fly away.
I didn’t want that to be my last image of the hatchling.
The hatchling started making noises of distress as he realized what was going on. Each cry broke another piece of my heart until all I had left were thousands of sharp shards. I covered my face with my hands as behind me, Senia flapped her wings sharply. Wind buffeted against our bodies as she took flight, taking away my one final piece of hope.
I thought I could do this without Maya—if I had the hatchling to care for. But without him, what did I have left?
I fell to my knees as the hatchling’s cr
ies echoed across the mountains and in my ears.
And I cried for everything I’d lost that day.
Part Two
Chapter Fourteen
Time stuttered to a stop. If it weren’t for Trey, I would have remained where I was, lost in my grief. Somehow he got me up and walking. We didn’t speak as we descended the mountain. At least, I don’t think we did. If he said anything to me, I didn’t hear it. My body had gone numb to everything.
I blinked and we were in the forest, the mountains rising behind us like sentinels. Then we were in Meradell, traveling down the streets we’d walked a thousand times before. Everything seemed foreign to me and I shied away from anyone who wanted to make conversation.
Then we were in front of my house and Mom was opening the front door as if she’d sensed us standing outside, too afraid to take those final steps forward.
I can’t do this. I’d gone up that mountain to bring Maya home, and instead I was supposed to tell Mom that my sister was dead?
Next to me, Trey was speaking. It was all white noise to me; I rubbed at my ears, wondering if there was something wrong with them. But, no. Now Mom was wailing. That I heard.
I shut my eyes, wishing I could fade away. I wasn’t strong enough; I couldn’t do this.
Tears. So many tears. Neighbors gathered in front of our house, hugging Mom, hugging me. Someone ran to fetch Dad from work and then he was there, taking in the scene while wearing a stunned expression.
Throughout it all Trey remained by my side, his arm snaked around my waist as he all but held me up.
It was hot. I was dizzy. Thirsty.
And so tired.
My vision was going spotty and I swayed to one side. Trey caught me, then lifted me in his arms and barked at everyone to get out of his way. He carried me inside my home, which was mercifully cooler, and upstairs to my bedroom. After laying me down on my bed, Trey brushed my hair from my face. I caught his hand, wrapping my fingers around his wrist. “Don’t go.”
“I won’t,” he promised. Then he slid into bed with me and held me while I cried myself to sleep.
***
When I woke, my room was dark. Trey was sprawled on his back, fast asleep as he breathed noisily through his mouth. I watched him, wondering if that was what had woken me. I’d been dreaming about Maya; she was at the top of the mountain, waving down at me. I was climbing and climbing, but no matter how hard I tried, I could never reach her. Giving up on me, she’d turned and disappeared farther into the mountains.
No wonder my cheeks were wet with tears. As I brushed them away, I heard it again.
A very familiar squeak.
My heart leapt with excitement despite myself. It couldn’t be. There was no way.
But.
When I heard it again, I jumped out of bed and raced to my window. My room faced the front yard and I peered desperately into the grass, searching for…
There!
That hatchling was sitting in the middle of the lawn. When he spotted me, he started running back and forth excitedly.
I flew out of my room, down the stairs, and out the front door. The dragon met me halfway, jumping into my open arms.
“You…” I gasped, laughing and crying at the same time. “How did you find me? And what about Senia? She’s going to be furious!”
The hatchling didn’t seem to care about any of that as he nuzzled me contently.
“You… wonderful dragon.” Hugging him tightly, I brought him back inside, creeping upstairs and back into my room. I had no idea if my mad dash outside had woken my parents, but I hoped not. Let them have a few hours where they weren’t plagued with constant grief.
Back in my bedroom I put the dragon on my bed before lighting a candle. The dragon walked over to Trey and butted him with his head. Startled, Trey opened his eyes and yelped, nearly falling out of the bed.
“Neri!” he said in a whisper after I’d hushed him.
“What?” I crossed my arms over my chest. “You aren’t about to suggest that I’m responsible for this, are you, Trey? Because up until five minutes ago, I was asleep.”
“There’s no way a baby dragon walked down the mountain, through the forest and Meradell and somehow found you here.” The dragon was gnawing on Trey’s shirt and my best friend pulled the fabric away. “Stop that.”
The dragon made a rude noise.
“He did,” I insisted. “He found me and I’m not leaving him outside. He might get eaten by a stray animal!”
Trey gave me a skeptical look. “Considering he just walked down a mountain to find you, I think he’d be all right outside.” He raised his hands when I started to protest. “I’m not telling you to put him outside! What kind of monster do you think I am?”
“I don’t think you’re one at all,” I said quickly. “Trey.” I waited until he was looking for me. “Thank you for today. And for the days to come. I… I don’t know how I’m going to get through this.”
“You won’t be alone.” He reached for me with one hand, the other petting the dragon. “I’ll be with you every step of the way. Until you get tired of me, anyway.” Trey looked down at the dragon. “I guess he’ll be sticking around, too. What should we name him?”
Before I could answer, a dragon’s roar shook the house. Then Senia’s face was at my window, scaring both Trey and me. I wasn’t sure which one of us shrieked louder.
The dragon, meanwhile, squealed happily when he saw his aunt.
I raised a hand hesitantly. “Hi…?”
Senia’s nostrils flared. “Did you kidnap my nephew?”
“Of course not! He found his way here!”
I could tell she didn’t believe me. “Nerine, I know this is a difficult time for you—”
“She’s telling the truth, Senia,” Trey said, interrupting her. I blinked in surprise. Trey used to be so scared of Senia, but now he was glaring at her as he angled his body in front of me and the hatchling. “He just showed up. He wants to be here. He wants to be with Neri.”
“He belongs with his brethren.”
“Why can’t he be with both?” Trey insisted stubbornly. “Keeping him from Neri like that—you’re hurting both of them.”
Senia took a moment to consider that. Both Trey and I held our breaths, but when she shook her head, we exhaled in disappointment. “I’m sorry. He’s too young to be traveling like this. I can think of a thousand ways he could have died on his way here.”
“But he didn’t,” I said, a note of pride creeping into my words.
“But he could have,” Senia shot back, clearly not at all proud of what her nephew had done. “Nerine, I know you are grieving, but think for a moment. He’s the first dragon to hatch in over two hundred and fifty years. He is precious.” She paused, glancing at the hatchling on my bed. He was nuzzling my arm, making small, happy squeaks. “He’s hope.”
Hope. I shut my eyes, knowing Senia was right. How could I expect to keep the hatchling from his family? How could I be so selfish? “I’m sorry.”
Senia’s expression softened. “We will figure this out. Not right now, but soon. I won’t keep you from him. I promise.”
After nodding, I knew I couldn’t watch her take the hatchling away from me for the second time in the same day. I stood to leave the room—I could hear my parents stirring—but paused in the doorway. “What’s his name, Senia?”
“A dragon’s name is very important,” Senia said. “It’s not something to be taken lightly.”
“Give him a good one,” I said fiercely. “One deserving of him.”
“I will,” she promised.
I escaped into the hallway, the dragon’s squeaks of distress hitting me like stabs from a knife. I can’t keep doing this.
I can’t keep saying goodbye.
I wished the dragon hadn’t shown up. But that was a lie. Even a few stolen moments with him were precious. Come back, I thought as I heard Senia take off, her powerful wings ripping through the air. Come back so we can show Senia we b
elong together.
“Neri?” Mom stepped into the hallway, her face pinched with grief. “What’s going on?”
Sighing, I followed her into her bedroom and explained to my parents everything that’d happened on the mountain. When I’d finished, the sun was beginning to rise, bringing us another day without Maya.
Our family would never be the same.
Chapter Fifteen
That next day, once word spread of what had happened, there was an endless parade of people in our home. Relatives and neighbors and friends, each one bringing a basket of food and stories of Maya. My sister had touched more lives than any of us had realized and at first we were grateful to hear about her, but eventually it became too much. By the afternoon I’d locked myself in my room, while my parents escaped by going on long, solo walks throughout the city.
Even worse than the stories were the questions about the funeral. In Meradell, we sent our dead out on a raft into the ocean, usually the same day they passed away. We believed it was the deceased’s best chance at finding peace. With Maya’s body still in the mountains, I worried she would never obtain that peace if we didn’t act quickly.
To the best of my knowledge, Nicolas remained in the mountains as well. No one had seen or heard from him since that horrible morning. Trey had left him to search for me; he said Nicolas had been inconsolable after Maya had died.
“I’m sorry I left her,” Trey confessed to me, his voice tight with pain. “I shouldn’t have, but I was so scared for you. I needed to find you.”
I told him I didn’t blame him. “It’s all right. Nic is with her. He wouldn’t leave her alone.”
And I was right. Two days after I’d returned home, the council members organized a party to send up into the mountains to retrieve Maya’s body. Dad and Trey both volunteered, but I stayed home with Mom, knowing she needed me.
I also knew I wasn’t ready to face the mountains or the dragons again.
I remained in my room that day, buried under my covers despite the sweltering heat. When they finally returned, it was dark out and the chirping of crickets filled the air.
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