Part 281 – Becoming Skye

Ambrose closed his eyes and listened to the pounding inside his head. It pounded in the dull steady rhythm of a hammer striking nails into a wall.

I can’t.

I can’t.

I can’t.

Hungry.

Tired.

Hurts.

Cold.

Too warm.

Hungry.

I need.

I need.

Barbara…

He closed his eyes and fell asleep.

***

The snowstorm ended two hours before sunset.

And it was now night.

Estrella flared her wings into a long stretch before settling them against her sides. She blew smoke rings to pass the time.

She smiled as she remembered the time she had tried to create colored smoke rings. That had been a disaster in every possible way. But she had been much younger then.

“Mother?”

She crawled down the cliff and crept over to her son. Are you ready?

Sammy transformed into his midnight blue dragon self. Yes. The plan is we will search our chosen cities. Whoever finds him, rescues him. Then, return here.

Not here. Return to my cliff up there.

Of course. Are you certain you wish to do this?

She tilted her large head.

Would you rather stay home and—

Sammy. I’m fine. I can do this. I must do this for his sake and for Barbara’s. And, of course, as a final touch of revenge.

Of course.

Shall we become skye?

He bowed his head in respect. I will let you go first.

She spread her powerful wings and rose up into the night sky.

Sammy waited a few minutes before following suit.