Zonaton Read Online Free PDF Page A

thought those were some of the prettiest. Feldarc, right?"
                Correct.
                "What do they want with them? They're not much good for anything other than to use in construction."
                She felt a blankness. Zonaton didn't know.
                "Have you seen these people before?"
                Yes. Once.
                "What happened?"
                They tried to attack us.
                "Why?"
                Because we did not want them here tearing apart our world.
                "Our world? They're not from here?"
                No. They are from another world. Which one, we do not know.
                "Were they looking for feldarc back then?"
                Yes.
                "What do you mean, they were tearing apart this world?"
                They were digging massive holes in the ground. Setting off explosive charges within the mountains to carve out tunnels in their search for the rock.
                "What did you do to stop them?"
                We warned them. When they did not heed us, we attacked. We prevailed and drove them away.
                "Well, they're back now." She lifted her chin from where she was resting it on Zonaton's shoulder. "What are we going to do?"
                Leave them. Watch them. Wait.
                The mind pictures he sent to her were as easy to read as printed words.
                "I thought you didn't like strangers stripping the planet. Why not send them away now?"
                We do not prejudge based on past behavior. They could be here on an exploratory mission. But if they begin to do harm again, we will stop them again.
                "Without a warning?"
                A thread of humor wove through her mind. He found her question amusing.
                "They probably know you're already watching them, don't you think?"
                The geron swiveled his head around to look at her. If such a thing was possible, she would swear he was smirking with that hard beak of his.
                I am hungry.
                She laughed and lightly punched him in the arm. "You're always hungry. But I'll be honest. So am I."
                Climbing aboard his back, she bent low over the long neck and grasped a double handful of skin folds. The geron launched himself into the night sky, effortlessly finding the air currents to keep them aloft.
                They circled the crater near where the strangers had landed, keeping high enough to where the two of them would be invisible against the ceiling of stars. Emmala buried her face into the ruff to protect herself against the cold. Despite the freezing temperature this high up, she was toasty. Zonaton's body radiated heat, and the scales covering his hide helped to keep her insulated.
                The circular range of mountains rose majestically above the flat plains, resembling a jagged crown that encompassed much of the planet's surface. Far away she spied the pale glow of lights that were the villages. Somewhere down there her parents lived in the home she used to share with them many years ago. But her life now was with Zonaton, and always would be. She didn't want it any other way, and she could not imagine living without having him beside her. Sleeping with the double thump of his immense heart singing its lullaby in her ears. Letting him keep her safe and happy, although there were times he risked himself to protect her. It was during those times she feared more for his safety than for hers.
                Their cave was dark when they landed. As soon as his feet touched the ground, she slid off his back and started to stroll toward the irregularly-shaped entrance.