Chapter One
Freddie Atherton tried to listen to his teacher, Mr. MacLeod, but he couldn't stop looking at the door in the classroom.
Today was the day, after all. The day he'd finally meet some humans.
When his inner dragon spoke up, it was still hard for Freddie not to jump in his seat—they'd only started talking with one another in the last year and a half, and it was weird to have a second voice inside his brain.
His dragon said,There are lots and lots of humans on Stonefire.
Doing his best to concentrate, so he could talk with his inner beast but hopefully not attract the attention of the teacher, he replied,That's different. They're mostly old, and mum and dad's age. I've never met a human my age before.
Freddie had just turned ten a few weeks ago. A big year, since it meant he would learn to fly soon.
His dragon flapped his wings inside his mind.They can't be that interesting. They can't even fly.
We can't either.
But soon.
A male cleared his throat right next to him, and Freddie did his best not to gulp. No one ever wanted Mr. MacLeod to clear his throat at them. It was heaps worse than even his mum shouting at him.
Still, he knew better than to avoid eye contact. The first time he'd done so, Freddie had cleaned the classroom for a week all by himself.
Meeting Mr. MacLeod's dark eyes, he said, "Yes, sir?"
"What's the final check you need to make before you jump into the air?"
Freddie should know this. He really should. His mum was always going on about being careful.
Too bad he hadn't really paid attention.
Lying would make things worse with Mr. MacLeod, so he shook his head. "I don't know, sir. I was talking with my dragon."
His beast growled.Don't blame me.
Mr. MacLeod spoke before he could answer his beast. "While we need to build a good relationship with our dragons, you can't forget the outside world. If you're flying and too busy talking with your beast to notice an airplane in the sky, you could die. You need to learn balance."
"Balance, or I'll die?"
Mr. MacLeod didn't miss a beat. "Exactly."
Freddie nodded, hoping it'd be enough for the teacher. Ever since Mr. MacLeod's babies had been born, he mentioned all the time how they could die. Seriously, every day. If Freddie were to walk funny, he could run into a tree, crack his head, and die.
It would be funny if Freddie weren't the one getting the most reminders.
His dragon laughed, but this time, he ignored him. Freddie spoke again. "I'll try my best, sir." He decided to be more honest, even if it got him another reminder about dying. "It's just difficult. The humans are coming today. Do you know when?"
Every student in the class turned toward Mr. MacLeod. It was one of those rare times when you'd be able to hear a bug walking on the windowsill.
Not that there was one there, now, though. Maybe even the bugs were waiting for the teacher's answer.
Mr. MacLeod walked to the front of the room, crossed his arms over his chest, and looked at each of them in turn. "I know all of you are curious about the school children coming today, and they should be here soon. However, we can't waste the morning hours. The more we cover, the sooner you can shift and start flying."
Normally, dangling the promise of flying would get all of the students to sit, nod, and ask for Mr. MacLeod to continue.
Not today, though. The humans were loads more interesting. "But Mr. MacLeod, none of us will be able to focus on new stuff. Maybe you should give us a quick lesson in humans. You know, so we don't scare them or something."
Mr. MacLeod raised his brows. "You should've had lessons about human etiquette already with Miss Lawson. Were you not paying attention during her lesson?"