Page 84 of Suncatcher

“You were always a reckless, curious whelp,” Torrent snarled. “Always disregarding the laws. And now your actions have killed my blood. I should have left you to die with your own.”

The words embedded like the bullets in her flesh. “I did not kill him,” Driz protested.

“Look at you,” Torrent sneered, and Driz’s clothes constricted around her, rough against her skin as eyes pinned it there. “I hope they kill you soon too, so you do not infect anyone else with your ideas.”

Torrent dove from the ledge, heading away, into the heartland of canyons.

The crowd stared at Driz with a mix of vague interest and disgust, lingering on her shoulder.

“The edge of the plains is no longer safe,” the speaker said. “We will retreat into the canyons. I will call another Meeting when I find a good location.” She looked at Driz and her lip curled. “You are blighted. Do not follow.”

And with that, the Meeting was over.

A few left right away, but most glanced around, wondering if they should mate again. A second Meeting so soon was unprecedented.

Driz stood there, struck heavy and numb. She noticed Drain, the male who always asked her. He avoided her eyes and edged over toward someone else.

Not even her solitary people wanted Driz anymore.

She did not attempt to stay, turning her wings toward the cave which sheltered Pearl. Toward home.

It took too long to reach it. Driz fought the tears that burned her eyes until the faint glow of Pearl’s fire came into sight. As she flew, all her recent wounds seemed to reopen.

Pearl was waiting for her, immediately drawing her in for a hug. Driz sagged, inhaling her hair. The floral aroma had faded, leaving just the natural scent of Pearl. Driz loved that, and she shook in Pearl’s arms.

“Tell me,” Pearl murmured.

Driz didn’t know what to say, or how to explain. “I do not want to be hated,” she finally answered, the tears spilling harder from her eyes. She was an outcast to goyles and a monster to humans.

“What did they do to you?” Pearl demanded, a harsh edge to her voice.

“My mother’s child is dead. And she thinks it is my fault.”

“How’s that possibly your fault?”

“It was humans.”

Pearl was silent for a moment. “It wasn’t…?”

“No. The speaker said a town to the south, and Salt Bluff is east. But either way, that does not matter to her.”

“I’m sorry, Driz.” Pearl cupped her damp cheek and pressed a soft kiss to it.

“No one asked me to mate,” Driz admitted, that fact hurting more than she’d thought it would.

Pearl stiffened against her. “And you wanted to mate?”

“No. I probably would have said no. But to not be asked, I felt rejected.”

“Probably?”

Driz pulled back so she could see Pearl’s face, and her confusion returned. “Would you have been upset if I said yes?”

“Of course I’d be upset!”

“Why?”

Pearl’s expression pinched with several things at once before she pulled back and turned toward the fire. “Was Mist there?” she asked the flames.