A New Beginning: Passing The Torch

Chapter 33

Tessa's POV:

I sat on Aeria's shoulder as she leaned against the house. The sun was just starting to rise, not that we could see any hint of its location through the thick clouds and steady rainfall. We remained dry under the roof overhang while we waited.

Once the Song called us, we would brave the rain since there wasn't nearly enough room to fly under the overhang. We could fly inside, but it was far more natural outside. The air itself even felt different. It was worth getting wet to fly under the open sky.

Mom and Dad took off as the call got stronger, heading to the middle of the backyard. Dirk and I followed readily enough. The raindrops splattered against my scales and smoothly rolled off.

The worst part about the rain was that it got in my eyes. Having a raindrop actually hit my eye while flying was very uncomfortable. Keeping my eyelids mostly closed helped some, but not much.

The Morning Song began, and we eagerly responded. It wasn't possible to ignore the rain – it was part of the new day – so we incorporated it into our song and dance. The smell of the new grass and growing things became more vibrant as we started singing.

The sound of the rain hitting the leaves before plopping down onto the grass simply accented the melody we sang today. It was the sound of a peaceful day, one of relaxation and restoration. Our dance was slower and flowing, reflecting the steady rainfall that fell out of the sky.

The Song had a surprisingly gradual finish. When it ended, we swooped through the door that Taureen held open. The rain may have had an excellent purpose, but it was still wet and cold. I didn't like being cold.

All four of us crowded underneath the main heat lamp as well as the second smaller one that Taureen had temporarily brought into the living room. I rubbed my chin and neck against the warm sand. Some of the grains stuck to my damp scales, although they would fall off shortly as I dried.

Aeria came out of the kitchen with bowls of fruit. "The rain is supposed to last most of the morning before clearing off. The forecast for tomorrow is the same."

"Hmmm... In that case, I think we should go to the main park on the third day," Mom said. "Tessa and Dirk have never joined the flock during the Morning Song. It should be an interesting experience."

My ear tufts perked up, suddenly intent on the conversation. I would get to fly with Abby and the other fledglings!

"We can do that," Taureen agreed easily.

I trilled happily as I rubbed my chin against the sand again. It was warm – unlike the rain.

It didn't take long for us to warm up enough that breakfast became more tempting than the heat lamps. After a cleaning and an oiling, we were set to start our day.

Work didn't stop just because it was raining. They used something like an umbrella to shield us from the rain when going between buildings or crossing the streets, although many places had extended their long awnings above the sidewalk to protect those walking there.

Dirk, Mom, and Taureen had the joy of tracking ktari in the training center today. That left Aeria, Dad, and me to wander the streets and check out buildings. We even got to visit the port area outside the city and watch a spaceship land. It had already been checked by one of the other bonded dragonets.

Rhay and Sadria were present, as they always were during our 'shift', although I wasn't sure why since we weren't really working. It was still nice to have them along. They tended to talk with Aeria more than Taureen did with Tran and Vick, although that was just a reflection of their personalities.