The air around us warms almost instantly.
“I’ve missed that,” I say.“Definitely the best part of being bonded to a fire dragon in Iceland.”
I warmed the air before we were bonded again.
“Not as often, and not as well,” I mutter.
As we reach the plateau, the humans who have already gathered are freaking out.“What’s going on?”
Norm’s there, Phileas beside him.“Liz!”He waves, as if I didn’t hear his shout.
“Hey.”I land smoothly—much better at flying than I was at first.Worlds ahead of Gullveig.I will grant her that it was a little more difficult at first, and I did make my first flight after being launched out of lava like a pop rock out of a can of soda, but still.
“Did you hear?”Norm’s eyes are bright, and he’s exuding the same kind of shaky-energy that Fluff Dog gets when he hasn’t seen me all day.
"Hear what?That my mom’s being executed?”I can’t imagine that would make him excited, but he’s a little odd.Who knows?
Norm’s face falls.“No—I’m so sorry about that, by the way.”
“Oh.”I glance around.“What then?”
Hyperion lands next to Axel.He’s usually the first one here.I’m surprised he’s just arriving.The humans say the Australian government has extended an invitation to us.It’s blasted on all their media channels.
“An invitation?”
“Someone videotaped one of your presentations,” Norm says.“One of the humans who wasn’t bright.”He bites his lip.“It went viral—popping up in new places before the government could shut it down.The people of Australia voted—they’re all welcoming us to live there.No attacks, and no fighting, as long as we promise not to attack.They’ll let the local humans who wish to bond one of us bond us.They’ll also work with us to provide whatever sustainable food we need, and they said they have vast tracts of uninhabited land.Look.”
He swivels the iPad around.
“How are you even getting a signal here?”
“Are you really worried about the logistics of that?”Norm shakes his head.“It’s so nerdy that I don’t even understand most of it, but you just brought one percent of the American nerd population to Selfoss.You didn’t think they’d be able to get around a few military firewalls?”
I guess he’s right.I snatch the iPad and start scrolling.
Article after article.
The funniest one was released by the Australian Prime Minister in response to the United States’ outrage.One US general reportedly called Australia’s offer, “the dumbest thing to come out of Australia since drop bears and Vegemite.”He went on to say that, “Australia will regret inviting the dragon freaks to their barren little island—or they would if they survived it.”
Australia’s Prime Minister fired back in the best possible way.“Vegemite, drop bears, and photos of snakes and spiders were all designed to keep idiots exactly like General North away from our barren little island.And if the dragons are freaky, that’s better for us.Have you ever heard of the platypus?What about wombats, kangaroos, or koalas?We’ve always been a haven for uniquely beautiful animals.”
For some reason, I find myself crying.
It’s been months since the world has shown me anything truly beautiful.It feels way overdue.I’m nodding as I bawl this time.
You’re happy, Axel says.I always thought the leaking was a symptom of a system malfunction when humans were overly upset.
“Yes, it is that, usually,” I say.“But sometimes we cry when we’re happy, too.”
“So will we all be moving to Australia?”Jean asks.“Because it’s only been a few days, but so far, IhateIceland.”
“It’s not so bad,” Norm says, but he shivers as he says it.
“People told me it was gorgeous.”Jean waves her arms around.“It looks like Sauron’s playground.With snow.”
I laugh.“Yes, I think we’re going to Australia, which I think may be where they filmedLord of the Rings...”
We may travel to Australia to bond humans,Hyperion says.But we won’t leave Eyjafjallajökull until we’ve recovered the heart.
