The windstorm raged below them, howling like baying wolves with a ferocity that tore at the very fabric of the sky. The sun, a blazing orb of deep orange, hung low on the horizon, painting the churning clouds hues of crimson and gold. Dust and debris that whirled into the air above the body of the storm caught the last rays of light in shades of pink and orange.

  Then, like stepping through a curtain, they crossed into the eye. The roar vanished, swallowed by a silence so thick it pressed against her ears. Lori shivered, the sudden stillness more jarring than the storm’s fury. Jangles’ wings steadied, and his flight grew smooth as glass. Below lay the darkness of twilight, a deep dark blue and black well of night. The storm circled all around them in the distance, lit by the setting sun in ribbons of red and orange, and below them held nothing but darkness.

  A sudden whip of sound startled her, but it was only Jangles flapping his wings to steady himself. Without the constant winds to provide lift, he would have to beat his wings to keep altitude.

  They soared through the silent heart of the storm. The sky above shone clear, and the first stars twinkled faintly in the twilight above the churning chaos that surrounded them. She glanced back at her father, who gave her a reassuring nod. How could he be so confident?

  Lori quickly checked her notes and the time by the last rays of golden light of the setting sun. The quiet gave a false sense of achievement. They were not safe yet, not by far. The darkness below held more danger than the storm. Lori peered ahead and below into the blackness. There was nothing to see, no lights in homes, no features at all in that pool of darkness. She bit her lip as she tried to figure out exactly where they were. They were above the plain, they had to be. But if she did not land the dragon now, they might crash into Wayahee Hill instead of landing on it.

  The sun dropped below the horizon. They had lost the light. Lori’s hands sweated in her gloves. Her mouth went dry. Fear overwhelmed her as she realized she couldn't aim Jangles at a mountain in the dark. Instead, they would hold their position and spiral down onto the plain where there were no cliffs or buildings to crash into.

  She took a breath and nearly blew the signal to begin his spiral descent, when a faint red glow flickered ahead, so small Lori almost missed it. She blinked, leaning forward. Then it swelled, blooming into a beacon that pulsed like a living thing against the dark.

  Lori squinted at it through her goggles. The red glow sat high enough that it had to be coming from the hilltop of Hakitaw. It grew in size and brightness until she could make out a shape to it, and it looked like a glowing red handprint.

  A red hand.

  “Dad! Do you see that?” Lori’s voice sliced the silence.

  Ford leaned forward and smiled over her shoulder. “Redhand. He made it.”

  Lori had no way of telling Jangles to head for the glowing hand, but she was sure he would understand when she signaled for him to turn a few degrees toward it.

  Jangles nodded vigorously, letting her know he understood.

  They continued their gentle descent in the calm darkness. The red hand glowed with a slow pulse of light. As they grew closer, Lori signaled ‘land at discretion’, and Jangles began gently circling the beacon.

  The hand not only guided them, but provided enough light for Jangles to see the ground, which lay open and inviting after so long a journey. There was no one there, and there were no buildings too close.

  Jangles circled the landing area once, then began his descent, and the sudden shift in altitude caused a stomach-churning lurch. In the back of her mind, Lori hoped Bing wouldn’t start vomiting.

  The open expanse below rushed up to meet them with unsettling speed. The exhaustion from their long journey took its toll on Jangles, and his wings faltered as he tried to stabilize himself. The passengers were jostled violently side to side, the harnesses straining against the sharp, unpredictable movements. Lori winced and tightened her grip on the handles as the altimeter rapidly decreased.

  Jangles wings flapped violently to slow his descent as he landed, and his hind legs hit the ground with a thud. He collapsed onto his forelegs throwing the passengers forward, his claws gouging the earth. The impact jolted Lori’s bones, gnashing her teeth, and she could feel the weariness in every shudder of Jangles’ frame. They had landed, but the journey had nearly beaten him, his fatigue shaking his wings as he slowly folded them.

  The passengers took a moment to quietly assess their surroundings and Jangles caught his breath. The tranquil darkness had been softly pushed back by the eerie illumination of the red hand, casting long, wavering shadows across the small open space. The air sat heavy and still. Lori's eyes scanned the edges of the darkness seeking any sign of movement. She took off her gloves and let her sweaty hand feel the cool night air. Her eyes adjusted to the red light, and she could barely see that there where structures just beyond the light’s reach, buildings that she could not make out.

  “Everyone dismount.” Lori ordered, and she slid down the side of the saddle, her hand on the pistol as she circled to Jangles right side. She leaned close to him. “Keep an eye out, would you?” She murmured.

  “I am,” Jangles said, breathing so hard he could barely speak.

  It was easier for her father to dismount on the right side, and Jangles crouched down to squat as Ford swung his good leg over. Lori helped him down and waited until he stood solidly on the ground. She took her side-by-side shotgun from a gear bag and handed it to her father. He opened the chamber to be sure it was loaded and snapped it shut.

  With her father standing sentry, Lori helped the others get Bing down. He still stood shakily and leaned against Jangles for support. They didn’t need her help, so Lori retrieved two lanterns from her gear and lit one, then took Devin aside.

  Lori lit one of the lanterns and handed it to him. “I need to look for a place for Jangles to hole up. I need you to look around, see if there’s anything for me to worry about.”

  Devin nodded as he took the lantern. “Sure thing, Lori, but I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.” He inhaled through his nose a few times, smelling the air.

  “Well, look anyway. Is he here?” Lori nodded toward the floating, glowing red handprint.

  “He’s here. I can smell him and Wakiye,” he tapped his nose with a smile, then looked around the darkness.

  Lori blew out her cheeks. “Thank goodness. I thought he had crashed or something.”

  “No, he’s been here for hours.” Devin winked at her. “He didn’t have a balloon rescue to slow him down.”

  Lori barked a laugh as Devin disappeared into the night. She turned her attention to Jangles, caressing his muzzle and stroking his neck. “You did wonderfully, Jangles. You got us here. Can you stand?”

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  “Yep,” he said as he started to get up.

  “No, stay down. Rest. I’ve got to find you someplace to sleep for the night.”

  Jangles was too tired to argue, so he nodded and relaxed with a big sigh. “I’m glad Wakiye made it.”

  Lori smiled. “I never doubted him.” She chuckled. “His name in Redhand’s language means ‘Lucky Bird’.”

  Jangles gave a soft chuckle. “He was named well, I guess.”

  The silence clung like damp cloth, a terrible stillness that gripped the town. No rustling grass or leaves, no wind, no distant animal cries or dogs barking. It made Lori’s skin crawl. Just the oppressive quiet of a dead town holding its breath.

  Out in the darkness, a faint, flickering glow emerged, piercing the velvet black. A solitary lantern, its light spilling softly from a window, cast a warm, inviting glow that stood in the silent night.

  Lori turned to her father, her eyes narrowing with determination. “Stay here, Dad,” she instructed firmly. “I’ll check it out.” She set the lantern down and checked her revolver, ensuring it was loaded and ready, the weight reassuring in her hand.

  The lantern’s glow flickered in the distance. Lori jogged, her footsteps silent against the hard packed street. The night’s silence pressed in around her, amplifying every sound, every heartbeat.

  Lori crept toward the light. The warm glow emanated from the window of a thunderbird way station’s office, casting soft light across the shadowed street. Lori moved carefully, her pistol ready. The massive barn loomed in the black night, an enormous structure built to house thunderbirds and spacious enough for Jangles to find rest.

  Reaching the window, she pressed herself against the barn’s weathered wood, and risked a quick glance into the office. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light inside, scanning for any movement or signs of life. The flickering lantern illuminated the room’s sparse furnishings. Lori saw Redhand, the old chief, sitting up straight in a chair, fast asleep. The lantern on the desk beside him cast a warm glow over his weathered features.

  She chuckled softly to herself, relief washing over her. It was good to see Redhand safe and sound. Lori almost tapped on the window, but stopped and decided to let the old man sleep.

  Lori jogged back to Jangles and the rest of the group. “Dad, Redhand is in the waystation.”

  Ford nodded, and Lori could see a little relief cross his stoney face.

  “Everybody, follow me.” Lori said, and she patted Jangles as he struggled to his feet. “Redhand found a waystation for us.”

  Jangles nodded. “Good, I’m hungry.” He slowly lumbered off.

  Lori picked up the lantern and walked beside her father as they moved toward the barn. Lori looked back and saw Selene helping her father, who was moving very slowly, Ebeneezer walking slowly behind them. She took one last look at the glowing red handprint, and was thankful for it. Redhand may well have saved their lives by putting up that red beacon. She had little confidence that she would have been able to land safely tonight.

  Lori kept a firm grip on her father's arm, guiding him through the uneven terrain. The lantern lit window grew closer, offering a promise of refuge.

  As they approached, Lori scanned the area for any sign of Devin. The absence of his familiar figure gnawed at her nerves. "Devin hasn't returned yet," she murmured to her father, concern etching her features.

  As they reached the massive sliding barn doors, Lori handed the lantern to her father, who took it with the hook of his right arm. She pulled open the heavy wooden doors, revealing the dimly lit interior of the barn. The familiar smell of straw and leather greeted them.

  Inside the waystation, the barn's spacious interior was designed with thunderbirds in mind, with large stalls, each lined with fresh bales of straw and equipped with sturdy wooden dividing walls. Overhead, pulley hoists hung from the rafters, for removing the massive saddles from the thunderbirds' backs. The walls were adorned with an array of tack and other tools, neatly hung and easily accessible. The earthy scent of straw melded with the faint traces of leather and smoke from the lanterns. Two doorways led further into the structure, one opening into the office where Redhand rested, and the other into what Lori hoped was a pantry stocked with provisions. The dim lighting and the warm, comforting smells created an illusion of safety for the weary passengers.

  As the group entered the waystation, they saw Wakiye peacefully asleep in one of the stalls, dead to the world. The massive creature’s feathers rose and fell with each deep breath. Lori immediately put her finger to her lips, signaling for silence. Everyone moved as silently as possible, their steps light and deliberate.

  Ford and Ebeneezer quietly made their way into the office to check on Redhand. Selene guided her father, Bing, to a seat on a nearby bale of straw, her touch gentle and comforting.

  Lori entered the second door and was relieved that it was the pantry. Redhand had already been there, she saw by the grains scattered on the floor when he had fed Wakiye. She spotted several strips of dried venison hanging on the walls, and grabbed as many as she could carry.

  She set them down on the floor where Jangles could eat as she unsaddled him using the barn’s pulley hoists. She made a quick job of it, more concerned with getting the burden off her dragon than for finesse. Jangles had wolfed down the venison before Lori even finished raising the saddle. She carefully wiped his eyes, nose, and mouth with a rag, removing the sand and grit. Then, she guided him to a large stall and told him to go to sleep. Jangles protested that he wasn't tired, but as soon as he collapsed on the bed of warm straw, he fell right to sleep. Lori stroked his belly until he

  Lori lowered the saddle to the ground, pulling on the hoist ropes. As she worked, she watched Selene tenderly care for her father who sat looking deathly sick on a bale of straw. Lori worried, not just for Bing's recovery but also for Devin, who had yet to return. The thought of facing the Ma'at-jer without Bing's sorcery would be a serious problem, knowing they would have to confront the threat with whatever resources they had. She had not expected Bing to be here, but now that he was, Lori knew they would need him.

  Once Lori lowered the saddle to the ground, she sifted through the contents, gathering food for everyone. She found a round of cheese and a tin of biscuits, and decided that would do for now. She made her way back to the office and found that Ebeneezer had already provided tea and biscuits. His little teapot, silver with green flowers, with matching teacups and saucers, sat on a desktop while he and her father chatted and ate. Lori had forgotten that Ebeneezer had that magic derby hat from which he pulled all sorts of things, including that teapot that was always filled with hot tea somehow. Lori wondered how it never spilled when he put his hat on his head.

  She opened the door of a pot belly stove in the corner of the office, arranging kindling and logs inside. She struck a match and soon had a small fire crackling, making a cozy atmosphere amidst the quiet darkness outside. Lori filled a coffee pot with water and ground coffee beans, and set it on the stove to brew. The rich aroma of coffee soon filled the air, mingling with the scent of burning wood. She stood for a moment, hands on her hips, watching the flames and feeling a rare sense of peace.

  Lori walked over to Selene, who was sitting beside Bing, gently dabbing his forehead with a damp cloth. She sliced off a chunk of cheese with her knife and handed it to Selene. "How is he doing?" she asked.

  Selene looked up, her expression weary but hopeful. "As bad as he looks, I think he’s doing a lot better than when we first rescued him," she replied. "He was barely conscious then, and now at least he's resting more peacefully.” She accepted the offered cheese and took a bite.

  Lori nodded as she sat down and cut herself a slice and popped it in her mouth. "That's good to hear. We'll need him strong if we're to get through this." She chewed on the cheese as she asked, “I’m guessing you never got my telegram?”

  Selene shook her head.

  Lori sighed and ate another bite. “Just my luck.” She leaned back against the wall. “Can I let you in on a little secret?”

  Selene nodded as she took another offered cut.

  “I don’t have a clue what I’m doing.” She casually cut another slice and tossed it in her mouth.

  Selene giggled. “I don’t either.”

  Lori chuckled. They ate their fill of the cheese and some of the dried biscuits. The silence of the place felt heavy. Through the office window, the red glow from the magical floating handprint was gradually fading, but still faintly visible, casting an eerie light through the office.

  Lori took out a deck of cards and laid them out on the strawbale between herself and Selene. With practiced movements, she shuffled and dealt the cards, each flip precise and smooth, revealing her skill and familiarity with gambling. They used chunks of cheese and bits of hard tack as makeshift poker chips, the small stakes adding a light-hearted touch to the otherwise heavy silence. Selene's eyes grew heavy as the game progressed, and eventually, she drifted off to sleep, her head resting on her arm. Lori leaned back against the wall, shuffling the cards absentmindedly, her thoughts drifting as the eerie light from the magical floating handprint continued to cast faint shadows through the office window.

  Lori closed her eyes for just a moment.