'SITO, SWEETIE, ARE YOU FEELING better?' Sian sat huddled next to the dragon's muzzle, stroking it while shielding him from the dense rain. He hadn't spoken to her since bringing them out of the leap, and it terrified her. His life light flickered oddly but no amount of her energy would soothe it. She couldn't hear any of his thoughts, blocked out by something.

The scales beneath her hands felt clammy when they should be warm and solid. The dragon breathed shallowly. It took ...