The Sunspire hummingbirds

Saleem liked the cut of her jib, and he smiled slightly to show his agreement. He would learn how to bite harder than it had, and he would learn so well that nothing would dare to attack him again. Perhaps he could learn so well that he could kill it the next time he saw it. Encouraged by this new idea, he supposed he could suffer through one day of whatever his mother wanted, so long as it meant lessons with father soon after.

Why did you bring us here, to this place? he asked, blue eyes looking around to see what might be of use here.