“I went for a walk this way three days ago.Keith told me the view from this hill is into the next bay.Hopefully, that will work for our purposes.It’s best not to fly from the same spot all the time.”
“I agree,” Tawera said.
The climb became more of a scramble, but they clambered over the rocks and higher to the peak.The tiny bay beyond was not appropriate for a boat landing, but it suited their purposes.
“Let’s leave our clothes here,” Nyree said.“They should be safe enough in this crevice and stay dry and undisturbed.”
“As long as nothing eats the food,” Tawera said as he removed his clothes and footwear.He folded his T-shirt and trousers and handed them to Nyree.She gathered her clothes and placed them all in her bag.
“Ready?”she asked, standing back after securing their possessions inside the crevice.
Tawera inhaled and released his breath on a loud sigh.“Ready, but I don’t have the same exhilaration I normally associate with a full moon flight.”
“Maybe it’s the weather,” Nyree said.
“I’ve never had this peculiar sense before.”
“Perhaps it’s because this is your first full moon since we broke the curse.”
Tawera shrugged and stood back to give himself room.He hoped the more he shifted, the easier it would become.
He’d been so wrong.
This shift troubled him worse than the previous one, and he had to force back his panic and regather his thoughts.It was only Nyree who pulled him from utter terror and chaos.She moved into the narrow tunnel of his vision.Her dragon lips moved as if she were speaking to him, but he didn’t comprehend.
Yet he heard her emotions—if that were possible—and sensed the urgency emanating from her.
Her will prevailed.
The last half of his shift proceeded with such force, it left him panting and weak.
“Are you well?”Nyree’s concern slipped into his mind, once again helping him to center and push away the worst of the pain.
He forced himself to take slow and even breaths until his nerve endings ceased their violent complaints and merely quivered.It took long moments before he dared to move a muscle.
“Tawera, can you fly?Should we return home?”
Nyree thinking of him instead of others.“No, you need to fly.It will help you stabilize and decrease the effect of the moonlust.”
“But what about you?”
“I’ll wait here until I can move.I must fly too, even if it’s painful.”
“Has this happened before?”
“Never.I’ve never had problems with shifting or flying before, never suffered this agony.My gut says if I try to avoid flying and shifting, the symptoms will become worse.”
“This is not a common phenomenon,”Nyree said.
“Have you ever heard of a warrior encased in a stone curse?No, me neither,”he muttered.
Nyree nuzzled his neck, taking care to graze his black scales with gentle pressure instead of causing him further pain.“I get your point.”
“Fly.Enjoy the full moon.You need to steady your dragon.Let me worry about myself.”
“No, I—”
“Please, Nyree.Just do as I ask.”
