* * * Epilogue * * *

  Tessa’s POV:

  I did a double-take when I spotted a familiar green shape flying toward me in the park with Dirk close behind.

  With a grin, I called out, “Abby! You’re back!”

  “She had to pretend she wasn’t feeling well,” Dirk told me, “but Tran brought us here earlier than planned.”

  She landed beside me with a huge grin. “The poor guy was practically beside himself with worry when I didn’t even get up to eat a sunburst berry. I feel kind of bad for tricking him like that, but it’s also kind of funny.”

  “Give him a few months to learn your tricks. Although, if you return to him this time, he’ll probably bring you here every day if the weather is nice.”

  “I worked way too hard to get to this point. I’m not about to back out now, especially after smelling that crawler in the training rooms. Besides, sleeping in a tunnel almost seems like punishment after sleeping under a heat lamp. And the fruit! And let’s not forget about those oilings—”

  I burst out laughing. “Alright! Alright! I get it. You’ve discovered the perks of living with the Kymari. Just wait until you get to go on patrols and find live crawlers.”

  “I can’t wait until I hunt down a sicora. None of my siblings have even seen one.”

  “I’m sure you’ll get to snarl at one eventually, if you hang around.”

  “Oh, I fully intend to. The only downside is this harness and the lack of an afternoon nap.”

  “But it looks so nice,” I said, nudging a shoulder strap with my nose.

  “It’s annoying, but at least it doesn’t bind anywhere. Since I’m here, what do you want to do first? I don’t think we have long before we leave.”

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  “What about a swim in the creek and then checking if the Ply-Ball players are around? Or we can visit your family.”

  “I already gave most of my family a hug. A couple of my brothers are coming from the far side of the park. I thought about meeting them halfway, but I don’t want Tran to worry if other Kymari send him pictures of me so far away during my first visit.”

  “Good. Let’s dunk you in the creek instead. If your body going below the water’s surface doesn’t catch his attention, nothing will.”

  She jerked to a halt and stared at me. “He can tell?”

  “There’s a tracker bead in your harness, and it’s just as accurate as my permanent one is. But don’t worry. He knows that we can swim and dive very well. Just don’t stay down too long.”

  “Alright…” When I snickered, she raised her ear tufts in a challenge. “It would be mean to make him worry after he’s been so nice to us.”

  “I await the day that you and Dirk finally talk to him.”

  “I can’t wait!” Abby exclaimed gleefully. “I bet his expression will be just as priceless as when Dirk and I wouldn’t leave his shoulders.”

  “You even surprised Taureen and Aeria,” I said, grinning at the memory. “We all thought you’d go with them until you adapted to the Kymari lifestyle.”

  “It just didn’t seem right. They already had Tasha and Keegan.”

  “That’s kind of why I went with Soranto so early.”

  “It was harder to go with Tran, but we’re getting along really well. I don’t think I could have done it if Dirk hadn’t come with me.” She gazed at my brother with adoring eyes.

  “Ah, we were going for a swim, right?” I asked, trying to get them back on track. I didn’t want to be subjected to their attempts at poetry. I had thrown a berry at Dirk during his first—and, so far, only—attempt to practice his poetry skills within my hearing.

  “A swim sounds good. I miss the creek.”

  Immediately, I jumped into the air. “I’ll race you!”

  Abby grumbled something about impatient scarlet dragonets under her breath, letting me waste my energy as she followed at a more sedate pace. Dirk snorted at my invitation and flew beside Abby instead.

  I wove between branches almost effortlessly as I quickly left the duo behind. With a cheerful whistle, I flew a few loops out of sheer happiness. My flight was almost as carefree as my lifestyle.

  After my little adventure with Soranto, our routine had quickly returned to normal. Things were so much more fun now that I could speak freely with Soranto, Adeline, and Maria. I still took great delight in discovering where Soranto hid the treats, forcing him to become more and more creative—a challenge he thoroughly enjoyed.

  My brother and best friend were smitten with each other and shared the dream of hunting crawlers and sicora on a regular basis. If something didn’t work out, or if they changed their minds, Taureen had confirmed they could return to the park or move in with him.

  That left us free to play and enjoy life, while taking some time to keep this planet free of crawlers and sicora.

  So far, it was a great beginning for all of us.

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