Page 99 of To Fight and To Fold

Her stomach flipped as Starspark dove upwards, arcing them over a tall branch, and then lower to swoop under one. The wind blew her hair back, and exhilaration filled her as Starspark flew through the course, between rocks and vines and over hills. Aaryn gripped tightly and tried to direct him the best she could, but Starspark was all instincts. He thrummed beneath her with elation and Aaryn whooped in delight.

…Right up until Starspark got a little too into it, and spun. As his wings expanded and he turned his body, Aaryn was suddenly upside down, weightless, and her grip slipped off of his scales.

They weren't flying too incredibly high, but it still stung when Aaryn landed. Even more so that she landed in a dip between two small hills. She splashed into the puddle that had formed, and sat up, spluttering.

"Starspark!" she squeezed out between lungs that were too tight from the impact.

"Andddd that's why we use the harness," someone said, and Aaryn jerked her attention to the side, where a spectator had unknowingly watched. An Awakened with her dragon, both wearing matching, amused expressions.

"I didn't expect him to do that," Aaryn wheezed, and then laughed as Starspark nudged his snout into her back apologetically. "It's okay," she told him.

"Otherwise, you two did pretty well," Lucille said. Aaryn had briefly been introduced to her, and seen her in action on the Playground.

"Thanks," Aaryn said, and accepted the hand she offered. She pulled Aaryn to her feet, and Aaryn stood there, dripping sadly and a little guiltily.

"I'll keep this between us," Lucille said with a chuckle. "We all start somewhere, and I know how much it hurts to wait for the fun part," she said, motioning to the course.

"You will?"

She nodded, grinning. "Go get changed. Starspark can watch Moonglide and I go through the course."

As much as Aaryn would also like to watch, she didn't want Thea to find her soaking wet from her sins. She'd never live it down.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. We'll be here," she said.

Aaryn turned to Starspark, her pretend glare softening at his big, round eyes. "It's okay, buddy. I'll be right back. Stay with Lucille, okay?"

He made a rumbling noise in the back of his throat, and settled down onto his haunches. Aaryn couldn't help but laugh, and kissed him on the snout before she backed away. "I'll be so fast. Thank you, Lucille!"

Lucille waved her away and Aaryn headed for the transportation runes. In moments she was walking the Heart, surprising herself with her familiarity already. Even without Thea's guidance she knew just where to go, what paths to take, to find Thea's home again.

It was a wonder that weeks ago, she'd been practically afraid of this place. Now she knew better.

Amongst the emotions Aaryn had experienced in her first days with the druids, regret was not one of them.

In fact, Aaryn found that she didn't miss the castle very much at all.

She hadn't known she was allowed to want some of the things that were so freely given here—the training, the flying, her time with Starspark. It was more beautiful here than she could ever imagine. And rife with magic.

She changed and tossed her wet clothes in with the pile of dirtied clothing before slipping back out. Thea would be none the wiser.

As she closed the door behind her, the high-pitched squeals of laughter and delight reached her ears. A small group of kids were approaching, bouncing toward Thea's house.

They stared with wide eyes as they found Aaryn instead.

"Hi there," she said, offering a small wave. "Are you looking for Thea?"

They stood upright, and each of them hid their hands behind their back with a flutter and crinkle of paper. Aaryn spied the colorful marks of drawings on them.

Is this where Thea had gotten her art decorations?

The tallest one nodded. "We had art today! We wanted to show her," he said.

Aaryn smiled. "She's with Vaelen right now, but I think she'll be back soon. Would you like me to tell her to come find you when she's done?"

They nodded excitedly, hopping around with the energy only kids could muster.