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Deimos and Hope soared above the vast prairie until they reached a homestead with a patchwork quilt of grazing tracts.
“Our first stop, milady,” Deimos said, taking her hand to escort her. “This is the home of Kizu, another dragon shifter. He mainly raises Nova Auroran animals, but he started keeping cattle recently, too. Kizu, old friend!”
“Deimos. Good to see you! What brings you out here?”
“I have an honored guest with me. This is Hope Oliver. She’s an animal expert from Earth.”
“How do you do?” Kizu said.
“Very well, thank you. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Kizu looked at Deimos with eyebrows raised and a glint in his eye, silently asking if his interest was solely professional. Deimos ignored it, which Kizu considered confirmation that pleasure was involved.
“I’m taking Hope on a tour of farms in the region so she can help us understand what’s making our cows ill. Would you have time to show us around?”
“Of course. I’ll take you to the dromedons first. The cows are on the other side.”
Kizu led them to a field the size of three football fields, with creatures the height of giraffes who had the heads of horses, with curly manes and tails. Their coats shimmered in the light like opalescent sequins as they lifted their necks to eat the trees’ leaves.
“These are dromedons which are more similar to your horses than cows, Hope. They’re used for racing and are shorn like sheep for their gorgeous coats. Their meat is a delicacy, but most people wouldn’t think of eating them,” Kizu said.
One craned her neck down and licked Hope’s hand.
“Looks like you’ve made a friend,” Kizu said. “That’s Gevinia. She’s usually shy.”
“Aren’t you a healthy girl,” Hope said and patted her neck?
“And over there are the cow pastures. Let’s walk,” Kizu said.
The heads of the dromedons followed them like a procession of weeping willows.
Hope’s enchanting effect on animals made Deimos treasure her all the more. He always believed that animals could read a person’s soul.
“Hello, my beauties,” Deimos said to the cows as they got to their pasture. “Feeling well today, I hope?”
Hope took note of the grasses and plants in a small notebook. The pasture was blanketed with the same amethyst grass that Deimos used. Its combination of proteins and minerals was known for improving the cows’ digestion. The soil was the same umber loam beneath Deimos’s ranch.
“They’re doing well here?” Deimos asked.
“Yes, thankfully.”
“Well, if other cows in the region are thriving under similar conditions, then hopefully, Deimos’s herd can fully recover,” Hope said.
“Here’s hoping.” Deimos laughed at the unintentional pun.
“Hope springs eternal, as they say,” Kizu riffed. “Do you have time to stick around for dinner?”
“We’d love to, but we have a busy day ahead of us. Later?” Deimos said.
“Please keep us informed about how your animals are doing,” Hope said.
“Absolutely. A pleasure meeting you. Deimos, let’s talk soon,” Kizu said.
They said their goodbyes and jetted off on their bikes.
“So, what did you think?” Deimos asked Hope.
“I think I want a pet, dromedon,” Hope said, laughing.
