A New Beginning

Chapter 9

Tessa's POV:

I spread my wings wide as I dropped off the end table. My wings slowed my fall by a lot, and I landed on the carpet without too much of a bump. Dirk wasn't far behind me as we raced towards the window sill. The sun was starting to rise! And we certainly weren't about to miss it!

Even with a strong jump up towards the window sill, I needed three wingbeats to get to the edge. Dirk whined below; he hadn't tried jumping while using his wings, and the window sill was higher than the end table.

"I'm coming, Dirk. I didn't expect you two to be up so early. The sun isn't going to rise for at least five minutes. Even Tasha and Keegan just went outside."

Aeria picked up my brother and put him on the window sill beside me. We both were examining the spot where we had seen the sun rise yesterday. From the brightness near that spot, I was pretty sure it was going to appear in the same place again.

I stood up on my back legs, using my hands against the glass to help me balance. The extra height let me see a bit more of the backyard. Mom and Dad were sitting on a big piece of driftwood in the middle of the yard as they also watched the sky brighten.

The faintest stirring of the sun's call meant that the Morning Song was approaching. I unfolded my wings in growing excitement – I could hardly wait! Dirk was also eagerly watching the horizon, shifting his weight from side to side restlessly. Mom and Dad were almost motionless; apparently, they had more patience than we did.

The sun began to peek over the horizon, and I began to pace on the spot in anticipation as I felt the call building. The sun became visible, and the faint whisper became a stronger pull that was rapidly growing stronger.

The time for the Morning Song had come!

Dirk was just as eager as me, and he began flapping his wings enthusiastically. I started singing as my own wings tried to match the sun's rhythm. My flapping didn't quite seem to fit the smooth flowing cues, but they were the best I could do at the moment.

Mom and Dad were perfectly following the Morning Song's guidance as they flew in complex patterns through the air. I was envious, but it didn't stop me from my own dance and singing. Even if they weren't quite right, they were my contribution as I welcomed the sun.

Eventually, the song ended, and I slowly folded my wings. I was tired, but not as tired as I had been yesterday. Dirk had even managed to flap the entire time, although he had flopped down as it ended, looking exhausted.

I tilted my head as I asked him, "Are you that tired?"

He flicked an ear tuft at me, and his mindvoice reflected that he was as tired as he looked. "Yeah... Using our wings for this long is hard – but I would do it again. It was worth it. Make sure I don't ever sleep through the sunrise."

"I promise," I replied, "and don't let me sleep in either."

He sent back a wordless confirmation. I looked out the window and saw Mom on Taureen's lap, getting her scales oiled. Dad was eating some fruit from a bowl beside them. I shook myself off and looked around the room as I walked up to the edge of the window sill.

Now that I knew my wings could slow my fall, the height no longer bothered me. Aeria was putting down some sort of small device on the coffee table as she got to her feet. I eyed up the floor before scanning the distance between me and the coffee table.

If I could use more than one wingbeat to jump farther up, could it also make me go farther? I didn't see why not. It had worked when I had been hopping around on the floor yesterday. One wingbeat let me go farther then. I wondered how many wingbeats it might take to get to the coffee table.