Dragoncrest Cliffs Alligatorfish

Swordfish remained quiet for a long time after Quennell answered his jokes. The other boy’s tone was grave, worn. It did not feel good to hear him speak that way. The redtail began to curse the bear for what it had done to them, for what it had destroyed. He felt anger rise to the back of his throat, hot like a flame.

When Quennell asked him about his dreams, Swordfish inhaled.

They’re real nice, he lied.

All he could see were the fathomless dark eyes of the Shardik. The image of their blood stained in the snow was imprinted in his mind. He did not know that he would ever look at the plush white of winter the same way. It had been tainted.

Dreamin’ of the waves. An’ the feel of the sun just before it gets real big in the sky, ya know?