Page 5 of Sanctuary with a Dragon
As I gazed into the distance , the sun was barely rising in the far east. The world was still and quiet, and even though snow covered the ground, I wasn't cold. My thick feet—talons? claws?—handled the ice surprisingly well. And my feathers insulated me so well that I was barely able to feel the cold breeze as it blew flurries around my apartment complex in pretty patterns.
I guess ravens had a natural cold protection. Handy.
I turned, scanning the horizon. My vision wasincredible.I could see much further and so much clearer than I could with my human eyes, and I had 20/20 vision!
I felt something... A call from the mountains, but it was a call I couldfeelrather than hear. I closed my eyesto zero in on the feeling. It felt... warm, and bright... and powerful.
For a moment, I was afraid. This was clearly supernatural. If I, a supernatural being now, was feeling this call, then I could bet my Gran’s rare coin collection that the call was coming from another supernatural.
Did I dare go toward it?
What if it was someone like a witch or wizard, and they were trying to draw in other supernaturals and suck the life energy from them?
I didn’t know! I wasn’t a supernatural. It was possible, at the very least.
But...
The call felt... familiar? Like, not familiar in theoh, I know youkind of way. But familiar in the Ishouldknow you kind of way. And, it felt... lonely.
And powerful.
Right now, I could very much use a powerful supernatural to help me understand what the heck was happening, and how soon I could make it go away.
So... I was goingtowardthe powerful call from the mountains.
I sucked my head into my neck.
Okay. Yep, I was doing this.
The mountain range I felt it coming from was a good distance away. I didn't know exactly how far ravens could fly in a day, but I thought it might be something like a hundred miles. Sadly, those mountains looked farther than a hundred miles, so thatmeant I’d be flying for several days, and I would have to find shelter for the night before I began again.
I took a moment to absorb the quiet of my surroundings, thinking about the supernatural world Gran had mentioned in her letter.
I didn’t know how it was possible they’d kept such a world a secret. I mean, I’d never met anyone who’d evenseemedthe tiniest bit magical.
I frowned in thought. Well, maybe Craig Jessup in the fourth grade. He’d clearly been an ogre.
I choked on my raven laughter, then sighed. Okay, time to focus.
I couldn’t remember for sure how a raven flew. Ithoughtthey soared a lot, like hawks and eagles. And I knew hawks and eagles could ride air thermals. If I could find an air thermal, my hope was that I would be able to rise high and coast to conserve my energy. And I wouldneedto conserve energy. Even in my human body, I hadn't exactly been the poster child for good health.
My heart rate, which had been slow and steady, started thumping harder as I contemplatedactuallyjumping off my roof. Was I seriously about to launch myself off a rooftop and hope instinct kicked in before gravity won? Wasthatmy entire plan?
I groaned.
Great plan, Everly.
It sounds like a good way to get yourself killed.
Yet, did I have any other choice?
I mean,yes,I could live comfortably in my little apartment... for a few days. I’dmaybebe able to turn on a tap to get water, andmightbe able to open a box of crackers or something so I didn’t starve. But that would only last for so long before it became untenable.
So, it was either throw myself off this roof, or starve and forever remain a raven.
I scoffed. The choice was obvious. I had to do this.
Without thinking about it too deeply, and without giving myself any more time to panic spiral, I took a deep breath, ran a few fumbling steps—and jumped.
