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The giant shadow screeches so loudly that my hair blows off my shoulders. Show off.

Ramona listens, thankfully, just as the roc steps into the light.

Little sapling, you returned, a deep male voice fills my head. Ramona’s eyes widen to saucers. She heard him too.

I roll my eyes at the ridiculous nickname that I will apparently never outgrow.

“I missed you too, Taman.”

Why did you bring a human to our nest?

Well then. Jumping straight to the point. “This is Ramona, she is my… friend.”

Taman clacks his beak.

I continue, “I came here to introduce her to you.”

Another clack. Oh, he’s still mad. Opita and Tofina warned me secretly at the Summit that Taman was furious that I left the Forest.

“Perhaps show off your flying skills.”

Taman turns his head away, dark russet red feathers standing up on his neck.

Ramona crosses her arms, sits into a hip, and gives the roc a look I know all too well. “It’s fine, Leaf. We can fly on another roc if this one is too old and tired.”

Taman freezes before slowly turning his head around. He steps forward and dips his neck so that his large brown eyes are in line with ours.

You dare speak to me like that, you fledgling human?

Oh fuck. “She didn’t mean it like that.”

“Oh.” Ramona scoffs and takes a step closer to Taman, chin held high, staring down the bird like she isn’t the size of one of his talons. “I meant it.”

Taman squints his eyes then abruptly snaps his wings out. He turns his harsh gaze to me. I should like to feel the winds with my rider once more.

“With her as well,” I insist.

Taman doesn’t respond, which I take as a yes.

I gather the saddle from its spot hanging along the wall and prepare Taman for flight. My body snaps into the routine like I wasn’t gone for years. I hoist Ramona onto the saddle first, then hop up behind her and grab the reins.

“You better hold on tight,” I whisper into her ear. “Taman seems to have a little bit of aggression he needs to work out.”

Ramona pales.

Taman launches from the nest, and in two wingbeats, he’s vertical, ascending from the shadows of the lower level of the Aviary. Riders hoot and holler at us as we pass.

“The Prince has returned!”

“The Heir!”

“Taman flies again!”

“The Sky Legend has taken flight!”

Taman’s feathers puff out at the last one, and he decides to spiral a few times in response.

Ramona, to her defense, is actually holding on well. Though I did add an additional waist harness to keep her attached to the saddle.