The ghostly howls of Kin rise like steam from beside the massive elder tree. Away on the knoll, Asha watches with bated confusion as Nakino and Relmoon lift their heads skyward to issue a dissonant, mournful cry.

RAAARRRRRR….

ROOOORRRR……

When False-Kin are slain, it is customary for true Kin to announce their passing to all nearby — An ancient tradition that is not so much a dirge but a proclamation that the threat has passed. As Asha hears their cries, unbidden instincts engage. Compelled to join them, she raises her head into the air.

SKEEEEEEE…..

When the Redaga stops convulsing, Relmoon lowers his head and licks his chops clean of blood. With the fight over, he scans the surrounding area to see precisely who he’s saved. Roughly three wings away is Nakino, the Grandfather Tree’s healer. As Relmoon’s gaze falls onto him, his head returns to a level position. He looks flustered, bug-eyed in shock as blue blood drips from a talon-length laceration across the side of his muzzle. Relmoon exhales in relief — he survived the fight. Losing a healer on the eve of frostwing would be an unimaginable loss for the flock.

He then recalls the Redaga was moments away from pouncing another Kin. He turns to look up the side of the incline and spots none other than the Farlander herself, lying on the opposite side of a felled tree trunk, her head tucked in the grass and rocking gently back and forth. He growls under his breath at the sight of her. Still, she’s alive. Recognizing what she must be going through, he decides to check on Nakino.

“Son-Of-Yzori,” he speaks in a cool voice filled with faint relief. He moves to stand by his side and inspect the wound on his left foreleg. “Are you alright? Tell me what happened.”

Nakino growls in pain and holds his muzzle against thick fonds of grass to slow the bleeding. “False-Kin ambushed us,” he croaks. “She hid in the tree and used raven’s thistle to mask her scent. We couldn’t smell her until she landed behind us. We were trapped and couldn’t flee.”

Relmoon grunts. Ever since he smelled the butchered pack of Litsha, he knew the False-Kin had to be responsible. But something besides prey has piqued his curiosity. “Raven’s thistle,” he echoes. “I didn’t know that could mask scents.”

“In large enough quantities,” Nakino explains. “This is the only part of the flock’s territory where it’s established enough. The False-Kin—”

GRRRR…

From the side of the knoll, a strained growl rises over their conversation. Nakino looks up and gasps, concern surging over his other party member.

“Oh, Asha!” he cries, straining to rise to his talons. But as soon as weight is applied to his injured leg, he feels a stinging pain that sends him tumbling back to the ground. “Agh!! Skunkscent…!” he growls, gritting his fangs in pain.

“Save your strength,” Relmoon says, brushing his wing gently against Nakino. He turns away and frowns, silently wishing it hadn’t come to this. “I’ll check on her.”

As he walks up the incline toward Asha, a wry thought enters his head. ‘Now we’re even,’ he thinks to himself. The realization he’s saved the despicable outsider from Ellyntide fills him with perverse glee. Petty as it may be, no longer can Kuro claim to be the only Kin to have saved this child of the Goddess from certain death. And when the stories are told of the foul visitor who took the form of Kin, they’ll surely mention his name — not Kuro’s.

Still between the grass and shrubs, Asha’s head is bobbing back and forth. Her eyes are clenched, and her talons curled against the ground. Despite her distressed state, Relmoon doesn’t seem concerned by it.

“Princess Asha Eloise Lordanou,” he announces in a dry voice as he approaches. “Are you alright?”

…

…

…Princess Asha Eloise Lordanou?

That’s who I am, right?

I open my eyes to see Relmoon standing before me with a rankled expression and his muzzle covered in Dragon’s blood. What’s he doing here? Was he the one who knocked the Redaga out of the sky? His plumage is the same color, but…

Pain forces my eyes shut. As if my wounds from the fight weren’t bad enough, I must contend with a splitting headache. Ugh, what the hell happened to me during the fight?

“It seems you’re alright,” Relmoon suggests with a hint of impatience.

“Yeah…” I trail off, still puzzled by the crimson Kin’s sudden appearance in the middle of nowhere. “Relmoon, what are you doing here?”

“Saving your lives,” he huffs, fluffing his chest feathers. “I was returning to Flat Rock from the edge of Felra and heard alarm cries. I flew to investigate and found you and Nakino fighting that dreadful False-Kin.”

I gaze past Relmoon and spot the Redaga lying motionless at the bottom of the incline. A fatal wound is visible on her neck, with fresh blood flowing into a small puddle in the grass. A few yards to her left is Nakino, lying in the grass and cleaning the wound on his left foreleg with a muzzle full of coarse bluestem grass. He stops to gaze up the incline, and his face fills with relief. I smile and tip my wings to him.

So, Relmoon saved us. I suppose I better thank him. As I clear my throat to speak, he looks up from preening his chest. I locate my voice and tell him, ”Um, thank you, Relmoon. You saved our lives.”

His eyes turn away, and he exhales flatly, “I did only what any worthwhile Kin would have done.”

Um, okay. A simple ‘You’re welcome’ would’ve sufficed. But instead of continuing his arrogant routine, Relmoon decides to help me again. He steps forward and lowers himself, resting his flank gently against my side. “We need to get you up, Farlander. Lean against me.”

As I’m in no condition to refuse, I do as he says and push my weight against him. As he rises, I rise alongside him, hissing gently as I flex sore muscles and still-fresh wounds. My eyes shut in pain, temporarily forcing me to rely on my other senses. Relmoon’s scent is crisp to a fault, like a cloud of snow blown directly into my face.

“You used the gift,” he casually remarks.

My eyes open. “Come again?”

“The gift that Keuvra grants all Kin,” Relmoon explains as we stand fully upright. He pauses to let me catch my breath, then steps away. Freed from his side, I squirm a little on my bruised foreleg but remain upright. “Didn’t Kuro teach it to you?”

I shake my head. “She’s never mentioned anything about a gift.”

Relmoon rolls his eyes. “Of course, she didn’t. I guess it’s up to me.” He sighs, beckons with his wings to follow, and slowly walks down the incline toward Nakino.

Grimacing through untreated wounds, I put one talon before the other and join him by his side. “Did I use the gift to act like a feral?”

Relmoon nods. “When Azurrel granted Lithans the Gift of Communication, it dulled our feral sensibilities. We became stunted, more prone to rely on slow decision-making instead of lightning-quick instincts. But when Keuvra deified, he granted Kin the Gift of Regression — the ability to temporarily suppress the Gift of Communication and become feral once more. When Kin do so, we become faster, and our fighting skills are enhanced.”

So I really was feral back when I first transformed into a Lithan. And this explains why I couldn’t talk or think straight during the fight. That’s incredible! Who knew you could just turn off a gift from the deities?

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Relmoon continues, “With training, It’s possible to regress and retain the ability to speak more easily. Kin who achieve this become exceptionally strong.”

“I take it you’re one of them?”

“Of course,” he smirks a toothy grin, possibly the most genuine smile I’ve ever witnessed from Relmoon.

He seems like one of the strongest Kin in the flock, so that doesn’t surprise me. It’s a shame I only had enough time to learn how to hunt because being able to control my feral emotions would be super helpful. When Relmoon preyed on the Redaga, he made it look easy! At least I won’t have to worry about other Dragons when I return to Ellyntide.

As we reach the bottom of the incline, Relmoon stops unexpectedly. He turns to me and pleasantly remarks, “You must be preparing to fly home soon.”

I stare at him momentarily, too confused to think of a worthy response. First, he explained regression, and now he’s initiating small talk! I thought Relmoon hated my guts! Why is he being so friendly all of a sudden?

I push aside my dismay and tell him, “I’m planning to leave tomorrow, actually.”

“Oh, really?” His eyes go wide in surprise. “Before I flew here, I passed the crossing to the Farlands.”

“Seriously?!” I exclaim with equal surprise. “How are the winds? Is it still safe for me to leave?”

The elders warned me that the zone of calm winds, the perilously slim section of winds I flew through to reach Felra, would eventually disappear for the season. Terrified at the prospect of being stuck here until spring, I’ve asked almost every Kin I’ve met if they believe I’ll be able to make the crossing so late in the season. While everyone agreed that I would, nobody has visited Archer’s Landing to confirm if it’s safe.

“Oh, yes,” Relmoon nods. “I was flying high enough to feel calm winds against my feathers. But I must warn you, Farlander. They will not blow for long. You must leave tomorrow and not a day later.”

I exhale as nearly all the weight is lifted from my wings. “I understand. Not a day later than tomorrow. Tonight will be my final night in Felra.”

Relmoon smiles again, surpassing his record for a genuine smile set just moments ago.

Relmoon and Asha walk alongside each other as Relmoon shares a heartfelt smile. [https://www.sarlain.net/img/m3/ch57-1.png]

This is great news! All my time learning to hunt and teaching herbalism won’t be in vain. I can fly home to Ellyntide, defend our Island, and get this mess sorted out, all while hunting my own prey. The news lifts my spirits and puts a spring in my step just long enough to remind me that I’m still injured from the fight. The bruise on my right foreleg shouldn’t slow me down tomorrow, but the injury under my left wing might. Nakino needs to look at it, but how can he with Relmoon hanging around us? Even though I’m leaving tomorrow, he can’t know about my purple-colored blood.

As we approach the healer, he looks up from tending to his wounds. “Oh, Asha…” he exhales, letting his wings relax. “It’s good to see you up. Are you alright?”

“I’m fine,” I say, lying through my fangs. “Nothing you can’t take a look at later.” I stare into Nakino’s face, hoping he realizes the double meaning of my words.

He opens his muzzle to say something, then quickly shuts it. “Ah,” he says after a moment’s contemplation, flashing the smallest amount of concern. “Well, I’m glad that you’re safe. If it weren’t for Relmoon, we’d be prey for that mud-eating False-Kin.”

Relmoon ignores the compliment to ask instead, “And yourself, Son-Of-Yzori? How are your wounds?”

“I need to rest, but the bleeding on my leg has slowed,” he says, examining the laceration up close. Blood has soaked the black feathers surrounding the wound, giving them a thick, oil-stained appearance. “Give me a claw’s mark on the sun, and I’ll be ready to fly.”

Relmoon gazes at the sky, then nods in acknowledgment. “Very well. We will butcher the False-Kin, fill ourselves, and bring the scraps to the Grandfather Tree. Communal prey is becoming scarce.” He steps away from Nakino, then faces me with an alluring gaze. “Come with me, Farlander. I will teach you how to butcher this miserable creature.”

Before I can say anything, he turns and begins walking toward the body of the Redaga. I bound after him, again confused by his sudden, outgoing nature. If Kuro were here, I’m sure her feathers would bristle angrily. Is that why he’s being nice to me? Because he thinks I’ll tell Kuro?

If that’s the case, then he’s underestimated me. I’ll always be loyal to Kuro, far more than I’ll ever be to Relmoon.

Still, as we tread over the dead grass of the clearing, I can’t help but feel a little comfortable around Relmoon. Kuro sure hates him, and he was vehemently against me joining the flock. But maybe he’s not so bad? He has a steadfast loyalty to Keuvra and the flock, but I have my loyalties to The Goddess and my Kingdom. Maybe I’ve misunderstood him like the flock misunderstands Kuro?

If that’s the case, why does Kuro hate him so much?

As I catch up to Relmoon, an uncomfortable realization dawns on me. If I leave tomorrow and find a way to return to normal, I’ll never learn why the two Dragons who saved my life hate each other so much. It’s one of those vexing questions that will bother me for the rest of my life. I’ve never asked Kuro about it because it’s a sensitive subject for her. But if Relmoon is in a good mood, maybe I can ask him instead?

As we approach the Redaga, I gather my strength. Kuro would be furious if I asked her this question, but what about Relmoon? Will he be civil and tell me the truth?

“Relmoon,” I speak up, my voice frail from anxiousness. “Can I ask you something?”

Stepping over a log, he gives me a curious stare. “You may.”

“Why do you and Kuro hate each other?”

Relmoon tilts his head bemusedly. “Why do we hate each other?”

“Yes,” I say, trying to sound firm. “Before I leave Felra, I have to know.”

“And why exactly must you know?” he asks in a foreboding voice. It feels like Relmoon is staring down at me for the first time.

But I won’t allow him to intimidate me. “Because Everyone says Kuro is difficult to get along with, but I gave her a chance, and she’s always been kind to me.”

Relmoon watches me for a heartbeat before breaking into an uncontrolled chuckle. After catching himself, he continues, “Well, that is not surprising to hear, Princess Asha Eloise Lordanou. Kuro is nice to everyone at first.”

“…At first?”

“Oh, yes,” he nods. “And it seems nobody has bothered to tell you that she and I were once mated.”

I nearly trip over myself. “What?!”

“If you must know,” he says, settling into the grass before the Redaga. “We were paired with each other on couple’s night. She was as sweet as a dew flower back then, and quite ferocious. We decided to spar with each other at the end of a long walk under Maki’s glow. It was a fierce fight, and we traded blows back and forth. But in the end, she misjudged a pounce, giving me the upper hand. I forced her into a gracious yield.”

I stare into the distance, unable to believe the words I’m hearing. Kuro and Relmoon, together on a date? It seems impossible to be true. Admittedly, I’ve never heard of this ‘couple’s night’ before. But what else could it be besides something romantic?

The crimson drakon continues, “Kuro was the only Kin who could match me in a spar. She loved the challenge, and so did I. After the gathering ended, she chased me around for days, begging me to move into her den. So, I did.”

They… really were mated, weren’t they? That’s what happens when you move into a den, right? Why else would she chase someone for days?

“But soon…” Relmoon drifts off. He pauses to fold his wings tightly against himself. “Something in her changed. To this season, I don’t know what it was. The way she looked into my eyes… I can’t explain it. She was no longer the sweet Sister who wanted to stand by my side. Eventually, we got into a fight at White Mountain. We tore each other to pieces, and one of us would have died if Kuro’s Grandmother hadn’t intervened and protected her. The elders banned us from sparring, though I’m sure you’ve noticed every Brother in the flock trying to get my revenge.”

I stare at the ground, too shocked to speak. Everything he says makes perfect sense. Why they hate each other so much. Why every boy in the flock tries to fight her. Why didn’t I think of it before?

“Even poor Nakino has a Kuro story,” Relmoon says, looking over his shoulder at the timid healer.

I spin around to face him. “You do?”

Across the way, Nakino’s face fills with unease. “I-I was also paired with her on couple’s night. Things started off fine, and she was very nice to me, but… well, I guess I did something wrong because she became very upset with me. After she finished screaming, she flew from the Grandfather Tree. She left me there all alone.”

I grit my fangs and shake my head in disbelief. “Why… why would she do that?”

“Kuro is simply cruel,” sighs Relmoon, rising to his talons. “A bully at best and heartless at worst.”

I spring to my talons and nearly scream, ”Then why is she kind to me?!”

“Because she’s using you, Princess Asha Eloise Lordanou.”

As Relmoon’s words echo across the clearing, a cold wind from the north blows around us. Kuro’s…. using me? Why? In a bitter voice I ask Relmooon, “What use would she have for me?”

“I can think of many things,” Relmoon says, pacing around me. “To certain members of the flock, you are a fascinating creature. The stories of your visit to Felra will be told long after you return home. Perhaps Kuro simply wants to be the Kin mentioned in those stories.” As Relmoon turns to step toward the Redaga, something comes over him. He chuckles quite heartily and adds, “Well, no longer can she claim to be the only Kin who saved your life.”

I release a long sigh. Somehow, I doubt fame is something Kuro’s interested in. But she does have an intense interest in the Farlands, so I know there’s some truth to Relmoon’s suggestion. But what does acting nice to me have to do with being mentioned in stories? It doesn’t make sense.

I thought I would gain some insight into Kuro’s behavior, but Relmoon’s story has only left me with more questions. Why did she break up with him? Just how much conflict was in their relationship? I’m only in Felra for one more day, but could she betray me, too? I wanted to know the truth about Kuro and Relmoon, but this is an uncomfortable truth to accept.

Still, I’m thankful to have learned it. As Relmoon stands over the Redaga to examine it, I step forward and tell him, “Thank you, Relmoon. I hope you weren’t uncomfortable sharing your story.”

“It’s quite alright,” he sighs, a faint smile creeping across his muzzle. “Now, let us forget the past and teach you how to butcher this pitiful creature.”

As Relmoon begins his lecture on the Redaga, I find concentrating difficult. My mind is stuck elsewhere, too busy contemplating the ramifications of what I’ve learned. With only a day left before I return home, it seems like everything I’ve accomplished is hanging in the balance.