Arielle and Garrick gasped when they saw them.
Garrick was about to issue another warning but Arielle shushed him.
The cave breathed around us, coming alive in a different way. The time continuum rippled too, powerful and alluring.
The more I connected with this new ability of mine the deeper I felt, drawn to the stories within the threads.
I didn’t even need to see what lay beneath to know how precious these threads were.
All sorts of dragons had indeed passed through here. And within the mass of threads, I sensed the pulse of the one I was looking for. It was faint but somewhere here. I just had to follow the connection.
“That way,” I whispered, pointing ahead.
I led the way and Arielle and Garrick followed.
The cave hummed beneath my feet with every step I took.
I lifted my hands and let the threads rise.
I let my awareness stretch, searching, searching. We kept walking.
Then the pulse grew stronger.
It brushed against my senses and my heart stumbled. Warmth unfurled through my chest, spreading outward until my fingers trembled.
I was close. I could feel it stronger now.
The threads shifted, rearranging themselves as if responding to a call I hadn’t consciously made.
Then I saw it. One strand in the sea glowed brighter than the rest, its glow the color of a stormy sky.
I stepped toward it and wrapped my hand around the middle of the thread.
It thrummed then it hummed as if recognizing me too.
“This is it,” I said, holding it up.
“You did it.” Arielle breathed, glancing back at Garrick, who stared at me intrigued.
“Welcome, Daughter of the Hourglass,”the voices from the other day returned, startling me.
“What in the hells was that?”Garrick snapped, looking around frantically.
“Garrick, please.Shhhh.” Arielle swatted him in the arm.
I regained my focus.
“Ask of us what you seek,” the voices continued.
“Reveal to me,” I whispered.
“As you wish.”
The thread ignited. Light flared around us and images came into view, flickering until they steadied at my will.
We stood in the past. And before me rose a dragon of gray and white scales. It was massive and terrible and beautiful. Silver veins traced the ridges of its wings and its eyes were pale as frost, intelligent and endless.
It lowered its head and looked right at me. I swore it could see me.
