Page 113 of Ruby
For now, the shore wins.
“You are community now,” Wroahk says, whale song rising from the depths. “Community does not scatter when afraid.”
I am not afraid.
I am—
Afraid.
Afraid of needing this too much. Afraid of being left behind when the sky opens for her and not for me. I can’t leave her. Of course I can’t leave her… but as I stay, it cannot be with fear in my chest.
I work through that fear, pulling it out note by note as the sun moves slowly downward, determined to be rid of as much of itas I can before I return to my community… my mostly wingless aerie.
***
I don’t make it back into the settlement for long before the winged one intercepts me, eyes intent and strides purposeful.
“I need your help,Bird-Man,” she tells me, spiked pink plume shaking with her fervor. “Your language, specifically.”
After a hushed conversation, mostly comprised of my skepticism, and a short coaching session, Kira announces she is ready. She strides back into the main camp and I follow her, wishing she had chosen a smaller group to practice.
“Maybe some more practice would—” I get out before she cuts me off.
“I have excellent vocal control,” she declares, as if preparing for battle rather than attempting harmonic speech.
I already regret agreeing to this as she strides in front of the group, wings flared, eyes wild.
The group… or at least the ones of them I have met so far are gathered around the fire.
The wind is minimal. Optimal conditions.
Kira plants her feet in the sand and inhales dramatically.
I brace.
She begins well. The first tone is low and nearly stable. Not precise, but impressively close for someone whose species was not shaped by the air. The harmonic almost aligns.
Then she inhales in the center of the glide. The phrase fractures.
The second half spikes upward in sharp defiance. I close my eyes.
Eli makes a choking sound beside me. Ani freezes for half a breath before her expression collapses into laughter.
Kira beams at me. “That sounded right.”
“You know the translator told you otherwise, Kira,” Ree chortles.
I choose my words carefully. “You have just informed the clouds that you challenge them to ritual combat for dominance of the spawning grounds.”
There is silence.
Then Ani laughs openly. Eli folds over herself. Even Ree’s mouth curves upward.
Kira points at me. “No. That is not what you taught me. Wroahk won’t give a shit about that.”
“You separated the crescendo,” Ani says between laughs. “You split the harmonic structure.”
“I breathed,” Kira protests.
