Run and Touch the Sky

by Melissa Giorgio

  I was too overcome with emotion to say anything else. Mom hugged me once more and told me to come down when I was ready. It was as if she knew exactly what I was feeling. I needed a moment to process her words.

  I’d thought she wanted to keep me home to protect me, and meanwhile she and Dad were convinced I was meant to do something great. I shook my head. Me? What could I possibly do?

  There was a tap at my window, and then Goose was there, pressing against the glass while grinning. I’d been so preoccupied with my thoughts that I hadn’t even heard him land in the yard. He was tall enough now that, when standing on his hind legs, his head reached my window on the second floor.

  “Hey, you!” I said, opening the window so I could hug him. “Perfect timing as usual, Goose. How’d you know I needed a dragon hug?”

  He honked and gestured impatiently for me to come outside. Normally I’d just climb out the window and onto his back, but not in a dress. I didn’t want to give the guests who were starting to assemble on the lawn a view of my underpants on my birthday.

  When I opened the front door, Trey was there, a wrapped present tucked under his arm. “Neri! Happy Birthday!” He hugged me with his free arm, laughing when I maneuvered away from him to snatch the present. “Go ahead, open it.”

  “I hope it’s something good!” I said, shaking it as I went down the walkway to find Goose. There was a satchel next to the dragon’s body, which he nosed toward me. “Did you get me something too?” Peeking inside, I saw it was more shells and rocks, brightly-colored beautiful things that Goose must have traveled down the coast to find because I’d never seen ones like them before. “Goose, I love them!”

  He honked loudly and then shot Trey a smug look. Trey rolled his eyes in response. “Don’t gloat, Goose. Especially when I was the one who fetched the satchel and put all the shells and rocks inside of it. That’s half the work right there!”

  Goose snorted.

  “Now, boys, don’t fight,” I said. “I love you both equally, remember?” Tearing the wrapping paper off Trey’s gift, I gasped. He’d carved me a dragon with a girl on its back; the details were so exquisite that there was no denying it was me and Goose. Trey had been carving for years, but he’d never given away any of them, always claiming he wasn’t good enough. More than once he’d chucked a carving into a fire, much to my disappointment. I always wanted to put one in my room next to my shells and rocks.

  I stared at my best friend, speechless. Nervously, Trey asked, “Do you like it?”

  “It’s gorgeous!” I threw myself into his arms, knocking us both down. Goose joined in on the fun, resting his maw on top of me so it was impossible for me or Trey to get up.

  “Looks like the party’s already started.” Nicolas’s face appeared next to mine, his eyes dancing as he carried something large and bulky in his arms. “Why’s Goose trying to squish you? What did Trey do now?”

  “I gave Neri a gift and she attacked me!” Trying to shift, Trey cursed. “And now the present is digging into my stomach and it hurts! Goose, get off!”

  “Come on, Goose.” I patted the dragon on the side of his face and he reluctantly got up. Seeing Nicolas, Goose started grinning.

  Nicolas took a step back. “Whoa, down, Goose. I don’t want to be tackled. Especially when I’m carrying this.” He hefted the saddle up higher so we could all see it.

  I jumped to my feet, excited. “It’s done!”

  “And just in time. We weren’t sure he’d get it done by your birthday, but…” Nicolas trailed off, looking shy. “Happy Birthday, Neri. From all of us.”

  “What do you mean…?”

  “Everyone in Meradell chipped in,” Nicolas said. “For this saddle, and for whatever ones you’ll need in the future. We don’t want you to worry about this. Just go out there and fly with Goose.” Nicolas stepped forward to place the heavy saddle in my arms. “Run and touch the sky, Neri.”

  Everyone was trying their hardest to make me cry today. Pressing my lips together, I nodded and managed to whisper, “Thank you.” Then I turned and buried my face against Goose’s shoulder. He covered me with one of his wings, giving me the privacy I needed as I fought to control my emotions.

  “Touch the sky,” I repeated to Goose. He snuffled quietly in response, his blue eyes bright as they searched my face. “What do you think, Goose? Think if we fly far enough, we can reach it?”

  Goose grinned. Definitely.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  After the food and the cake and a giant pile of presents from what felt like everyone in Meradell, I changed out of my dress—only slightly smudged with dirt thanks to Goose—into trousers and a loose linen shirt. Remembering how chilly it’d been in the mountains at the beginning of summer, I pulled on my coat as well.

  Goose and Senia were waiting for me in the yard. Mostly everyone had gone home, although my parents were surrounded by relatives and their closest friends. They waved when they saw me looking. “Don’t stay out too late,” Mom called.

  I nodded. A year ago, I would have rolled my eyes and deliberately disobeyed them. Now, I just wanted to make their lives as easy as possible.

  Trey and Nicolas were standing apart from the others, Trey working on his third slice of cake. Crumbs stuck to his fingers and his lips, and there was icing on his chin. I rolled my eyes at him. “What?” Trey asked. “Did you want some?” He offered me a tiny morsel and the look in his eyes told me he was hoping I’d pass on his offer.

  “No, thank you.” I’d eaten a small slice earlier, the butterflies in my stomach preventing me from eating too much.

  Trey shrugged. “More for me.”

  “Neri…” Nicolas pulled me aside, away from everyone. Over his shoulder Trey shot me a look, asking me with his eyes if he should intercede, and I responded by giving him a tiny head shake. Satisfied, Trey resumed eating his cake.

  Things had changed between the two boys. They weren’t exactly the best of friends, but they were definitely friendlier than they’d been that day on the beach when we’d taught Goose how to fly. I don’t know if they’d given up fighting for my sake, or because of what had happened with Maya, but I appreciated it. Although I wished we could have gotten along with Nicolas before Maya had passed away. It would have made all of our lives easier.

  “Is something wrong?” I asked Nicolas. Behind me I could hear Goose huffing impatiently. He was wearing his new saddle—it fit perfectly—and now he was itching to take to the skies. His desire to be in the air was affecting me, and I found myself bouncing from one foot to the other as I waited for Nicolas to speak.

  “No, I just wanted to say… Be careful.” He looked worried, like he knew something I didn’t.

  “Nic?” I was confused. It wasn’t like this was my first time back to the mountains since Maya’s death. What was he so scared about?

  He exhaled loudly and ran a hand through his blond hair. “Look, Senia would kill me if I ruined her surprise, but just… Whatever happens, it’s all right. And if you need to talk about it, come and find me. No matter what time it is.” With a wave, Nicolas left to speak with my parents, leaving me standing there with my mouth open.

  “I’m not the only one who thinks that was weird, right?” Trey asked, joining me.

  “You were eavesdropping?”

  Trey shrugged. “He was being mysterious. I wanted to know why.”

  “Trey…” Shaking my head, I said, “You have cake in your hair, you know.”

  His expression brightened. “Leftovers for later!”

  “You’re disgusting!”

  Sobering, Trey said, “Have a good time, Neri.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to come?” I asked timidly. It felt weird—and wrong—to go into the mountains without Trey by my side.

  “Oh no.” He glanced at Senia. “I’m fine here.”

  “Did she threaten you?” Fuming, I turned to Senia, my hands on my lips. “Did you threaten Trey?”

  The dragon let out a loud yawn, he
r teeth sparkling in the sunlight. “Are we ever leaving, Nerine, or do I have time for a short nap?”

  “I’m going, I’m going!” After exchanging a quick hug with Trey and brushing cake crumbs off of my shirt, I climbed up on Goose’s back. The saddle creaked underneath me and I frowned. It would take some getting used to. There were stirrups for my legs, but no reins, so I wrapped my arms around Goose’s neck. He flapped his wings excitedly, waiting for his aunt to take flight.

  I held on tightly as Senia took to the skies, Goose right behind her. The wind whooshed around us as the dragons circled higher and higher. As Meradell rapidly shrunk below us, my party guests waved and cheered. I would have waved back if I weren’t squeezing Goose so tightly.

  He snorted at me, giving me a look that I translated to, You still think I’m going to drop you?

  “It’s not that!” I yelled over the wind. “We’ve never gone this high before! Don’t be mad at me for being scared!”

  “You will be fine,” Senia said, gliding next to us. “Just hold on.” Without another word, she flapped her wings and took off for the mountains.

  “That’s horrible advice—ahhhh!” I screamed as Goose followed his aunt, flying faster than he’d ever gone with me on his back before. “I don’t like this!!!”

  Later, when I recounted the story for Trey, my parents, and Nicolas, I’d tell them how beautiful the mountains looked in the spring sunshine, and how the peaks were still covered in snow. I’d mention how the forest was a burst of green, and flowers were beginning to bloom along the mountain trail.

  What I wouldn’t mention was the fact that I was lying. I’d kept my eyes closed the entire time, only opening them when Goose touched down on the ground.

  I slid off his back with a groan. Chuckling, Goose curled his body around mine, waiting with me until my heart slowed and my legs stopped shaking. Better? his blue eyes asked.

  “Can we walk home?”

  He honked and shook his head.

  “You’re mean,” I complained as I pushed my hair out of my face. I should have tied up it beforehand, but I found I didn’t have the energy to care what it looked like. If I could just sit here for the rest of my life, I might recover from that flight.

  Goose leaned over and started chewing on my hair. Squealing, I pushed his face away and jumped to my feet, moving away from him in case he tried to do that again. “No eating my hair, Goose!”

  The dragon let out a loud huff of laughter. But it’s so delicious.

  “My hair is not food! Why are you even still hungry? You ate an entire cake by yourself at the party!”

  Senia thumped her tail against the ground impatiently, interrupting our bickering. “Are you done yet?”

  Eyeing Goose warily, I said, “Yes, yes. I’m ready. Let’s go.”

  When Senia headed toward Aster’s old cave, my heart plummeted. I walked fast, trying not to look too hard at the spot where I imagined my sister had died. My throat closed up and I nearly turned around, ready to beg Goose to take me home. I’d rather face the skies then this cave.

  But my dragon touched the small of my back with the tip of his nose and hummed softly, letting me know he was there. After planting a kiss on his forehead, I mustered my courage and continued forward.

  We traveled through tunnels so dark, I had to cling to Goose and trust he would guide me safely through without crashing into any walls. Then we’d emerge into the sunlight and I’d have to squeeze my eyes shut until they adjusted to the brightness. We climbed up steep inclines and down twisting spots that made me dizzy. At one point Senia had us walking over a narrow naturally-formed bridge that extended between two mountains. I’d taken one look over the edge and had crawled on my hands and knees to the other side.

  “We would have caught you if you’d fallen,” Senia said after I’d cleared the bridge, wheezing.

  “I was trying to avoid falling in the first place!” My legs were like jelly and when I tried to stand, I ended up collapsing. Goose watched me, concerned. “Where are you taking us, Senia? If scaring me to death is your idea of a present, then no thank you. I want to go home.”

  “You’re going to quit now when you’ve come so far?” Senia flashed me a mysterious smile. “It’s just right around this corner, Nerine.”

  “This better be the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen, Senia!” With my legs finally working, I hobbled after her, Goose falling behind as he sniffed every new crevice curiously. Senia’s never brought him here?

  I rounded the corner to find an enclosed space with a large overhang that blocked out the wind. In the very center of the space was a shallow pool of water encircled by a ring of identical, rounded tan-colored stones. Even though I didn’t have an ounce of magic running through my veins, I knew instantly that this place reeked of magic.

  Staring at the ruby dragon, I wondered, Why did she bring me here?

  “This is a scrying pool,” Senia said.

  I startled.

  Maya… She was supposed to bring me here. She’d mentioned it the night she’d died.

  “Senia—I can’t. I can’t be here.” I backed up, crashing into Goose, who caught my coat between his teeth, keeping me upright.

  “Nerine, it’s all right.”

  “No, it’s not. Maya…” A tear slipped down my cheek. “I was supposed to come here with Maya.”

  The dragon’s expression softened. “I didn’t know that. I apologize. I hadn’t meant to cause you any pain. But this pool shows you what you need to see. I thought…”

  There was a lump in my throat, making it painful to swallow. “You think I’ll see Maya?”

  “I don’t know what you’ll see, Nerine.” Senia nodded toward the pool. “I wanted you to have the chance. But we can leave if this is too painful for you,” she said as another tear fell.

  I held out my hands. “No. Wait. Give me a moment.” Breathing in deeply, I looked at Goose. He was still holding my coat between his teeth, but he let it go to make a soft, inquiring sound. “What do you think, Goose? Should I take a look?”

  He nudged me toward the pool, giving me my answer.

  “We’ll give you some privacy,” Senia said as I joined her by the pool. “Just kneel down and stare into the waters. It might take some time for an image to appear. Calm your mind, and wait for it. We’ll be right on the other side.”

  I nodded. When the dragon turned to leave, I reached out, touching her on the neck. “Senia. Wait. I… Thank you.”

  “Good luck, Nerine.”

  Good luck, I mouthed to myself. At least now I knew what Nicolas had been warning me about. He’d known I was coming here, and he probably figured, like I had, that I’d see Maya. How would I feel after seeing something like that?

  Since I lost Maya, I kept thinking how I’d do anything, anything, to have one more moment with her. And now this pool of water might grant me that wish…

  Could I do this?

  Should I?

  I knelt, squeezing my eyes shut. “I can do this.”

  I opened my eyes and waited.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Even with the rocky overhang, wind still crept into the enclosed space, making my hair—with a good chunk of it damp thanks to Goose chewing on it—dance around my face. Oddly, the wind didn’t disturb the surface of the pool and peering into it was like looking into a mirror. My sad reflection with red-rimmed eyes stared back at me.

  I could almost hear my sister scolding me for crying on my birthday. Of all the days you could have picked to be sad, Neri! I stuck my tongue out at my mirrored image and settled more comfortably against the cold, rocky ground. Sitting cross-legged, I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the smooth rocks that circled the pool. Unlike the ground, they were warm to the touch. Weird. I itched to pick one up and stash it in my pocket to add to my collection, but I knew Senia would notice it missing and make me put it back, even if I told her I wanted it as birthday present.

  How long am I supposed to sit here? What if the poo
l didn’t work for me? Everyone, including me, expected me to see my sister, but what if I didn’t? I tapped a finger against a rock, wishing Senia had given me better advice on what to do. Calm my mind? It was racing, filled with doubts and fears; how exactly was I supposed to be calm? Maybe if Senia had warned me, I could have prepared myself before we’d arrived.

  Or maybe I would have been too scared and told Senia I wanted a different present.

  “Stop,” I told myself. Senia had given this a lot of thought, and I wouldn’t be ungrateful. Whatever happened, whatever I saw or didn’t see, I would still thank her for bringing me here.

  With that in mind, I focused on my breathing as I stared into the water. It was so clear, I could see straight to the bottom. It wasn’t very deep; if I plunged my hand into the water, I could touch the rocky surface, but something told me that would land me in all sorts of trouble. It might be even worse than stealing one of the rocks.

  I wished Trey were here. He would have probably grown bored about five minutes ago and started walking around the pool, balancing himself on the rocks. Or maybe he would have pulled out a piece of wood and started carving. The one he’d done for my birthday, of the dragon and the girl, was his finest work yet. He could open a store and sell them if he wanted. Or he could take them to other cities and sell them there.

  Trey had always wanted to go exploring and see the world beyond Meradell. I’d been interested, too, but now I had Goose. I couldn’t leave Meradell with him. The world outside was too dangerous for dragons. If staying put meant keeping Goose alive, then I’d do it without hesitation. But what about Trey? Would he still go? Since Goose had arrived, we hadn’t talked about our future. I hoped Trey wasn’t changing his plans because of me.

  It was hard to think too far ahead when I was trying to live through each day. I had my parents and Goose and Trey. For now, that was enough.