Jemma was the first person Vera saw when they made it back to the meadow. She had a new sketchbook open on her lap. Vera was surprised to see the girl keeping company with one of Mimi’s brothers while he watched over the gates. Partly because the girl was always nervous around the brothers, but also because she expected the girl would be under lock and key.

“Hey, Jemma.”

“Vera! That spider was terrifying. Are you okay?” Her insider information about Vera’s experience in Zerzura was unnerving.

At least she seems to be warming up to all of us. “Yeah, I think the zombie was scarier, though.”

“I’m going to go talk to Braxas,” Kale whispered into her ear and then smoothly escaped.

“Did you know that Seb is a tiger?” Jemma asked. “He looks just like those shadow tigers.”

“He’s not a tiger and not transparent,” argued the brother who must be Pili. She needed to ask Jemma how she kept the twins straight.

“I know, I know. You guys morph into animals. You aren’t animals who morph into beings,” recited Jemma.

“There’s a difference?” asked Vera.

“Don’t ask a dragon that question or they’ll probably gut you,” warned Pili.

“Wait, dragons can change form?”

“You didn’t think Braxas could fit in Mother’s bed in his natural form did you?” asked Pili.

“Uhhh. That was not something I’d thought about.” She frowned. “What do you morph into, Pili?”

“He’s a hawk,” Jemma volunteered.

“But your brother’s a tiger?”

“We can morph into whatever we want, but once we pick, that’s the form we keep for good. Cats and birds are the best choices. And those are what we are most familiar with in Heliopolis. Except for my sister, who chose an Earth cat—that made some fun waves back home.”

“Speaking of cats,” said Vera. “Have either of you seen the weaver recently?”

“Who?” asked Pili.

“Marianna,” Vera clarified.

“Don’t think I know her,” he replied.

“Is Maiden-Mother around?” Vera asked. “She’d know.”

Jemma tapped a pencil against a blank page. “I think she just goes by Mother.”

“Yeah, that’s too weird for me,” Vera replied and got a look of confusion from them both.

“She had a meeting with some of the university staff,” said Pili.

“Okay, I’ll see if she’s seen Marianna.” Vera started off.

Jemma called, “Oh Vera, I finished that drawing you asked me to do.”

“Perfect. Can I get that from you in a while?

“Sure thing.” She ducked her head, pencil moving across the page.

“Didn’t your mother ever teach you that waking a dragon is a dangerous thing to do?” Braxas glared at Kale through one eye.

“If she did, I don’t remember.”

“Well, I’m telling you now. Go away.” Braxas closed his eye.

“I need a favor.”

“I don’t do favors.”

“Even if it involves protecting Mother?”

Braxas sighed and opened both eyes. “What do you want?”

“A spider recently reminded me that dragons are good at killing things that are hard to kill.”

“It’s one of our best qualities.”

“I want your oath that you’ll kill me when I’m beyond saving.”

“How would I know when that is? You two-legs all seem chronically insane to me.”

Kale wanted to point out that he didn’t have two legs, but decided it wasn’t worth the debate. “If you fear for Mother’s wellbeing.”

“I could eliminate you now,” Braxas suggested. “Then we wouldn’t need to worry about it.”

“Trust me, I’ve considered asking that of you.”

“Why don’t you?”

“In the end, because I’m selfish.”

“I understand.” Braxas nodded. “I should’ve returned to my pride a long time ago, but I’m still here. Following after a witch.”

“I will not give up fighting for my mind until I’m sure the world is no longer falling apart. That’s the last good thing I can do for Vera.”

“I wonder how she’ll feel about your death.”

“She cannot love me, so she will move on,” said Kale.

“I’ve seen how she looks at you. You’re sure about that?”

“I watched Alalana take away her ability to fall in love. It’s the only reassuring part about all of this. Maybe someday she’ll get it back and give her heart to another.”

“I would not be okay with that if it were my witch.”

“I won’t be around to hunt that man down, so it will be fine. What about you? What will happen when you can no longer ignore the summons of the pride and have to leave Mother?”

“I’m considering kidnapping her and hiding us in a cave somewhere.”

“Does she know this?”

“I’ve mentioned it. She seems to think I’m joking.”

Kale knew the dragon was not. “What’s stopping you?”

“She would despise me for taking her away from her people when she believes they need her.”

“They do need her.”

“That is why we are both still here. And I will help you all fix this cluster mess so she can be free of her responsibilities.”

“I am doing all I can to see that happens sooner than later,” said Kale. “But I need to make sure Vera is safe from me while I do.”

“You have my oath. If you become a danger to her, I’ll see you dead. If you heal this world so I can take my witch from here, I’ll see you dead before we go, if you wish it.”

“Thank you, Braxas.”

“Oh, it will be my great pleasure.” The dragon smirked, lowered his head to the ground, and resumed his sleeping position.

A young boy sat on the floor outside the computer-lab-turned-conference room. Raised voices floated through the cracks of the closed door. Vera opted to wait until the meeting was over rather than intruding. The boy noticed Vera and gave a toothy grin. He selected one of his chicken toys—of all things—and brought it to her. Vera accepted it with a smile. She shook it back and forth and clucked softly, which made the boy giggle. Then he rammed his chicken into hers, and she dropped it just as the doors open.

“Vera?”

“Mitch.” Vera accepted a warm hug from the head of the Monroe coven. The leaders of the other covens filed out. A couple acknowledged her. Most did not. Behind them was a group of various world leaders, including the ones she’d met earlier. “Fun meeting?”

“Everyone’s on edge being bound so closely to Earth.”

“It’s not like they can unhook themselves and just become their own world,” said Vera.

Mitch didn’t respond.

“Are they actually suggesting that?” Vera didn’t think that was possible.

“Some think they can find a way, but Mother won’t hear it.”

“Hey, buddy.” Mitch swooped the young boy up. He used his toy chick to peck Mitch’s nose.

“Well, that explains the chicken figurines,” said Vera.

“This is Leah’s son,” Mitch said.

“He’s gotten so big.” He’d been a baby the last time she’d seen him.

“He’s going to be three soon. And he loves chickens.”

“I love chickens too,” Vera confided in the boy. “I have a chicken named Eggbert.”

“Bert,” repeated the boy, wiggling to get down. When Mitch set him on his feet, he dug into his pocket and pulled out yet another chicken. He held it up to show Vera proudly. “Bert.” The chicken toy had only one eye.

“Bert is his favorite,” Mitch told her.

“I thought Marianna adopted him?”

“I’m not sure who adopted him way back when, but they brought him back a couple of months ago—all rehabilitated. He was wandering around the barnyard one morning like he’d never left. Scared a couple of the younger kids with his eye missing and mangled beak, but he’s been well-behaved around the nests. Luke here has taken a shine to him and vice versa. Bert would sleep in the nursery if we’d let him.”

“I’m so glad Marianna was able to break him of his egg habit. I always felt bad that I got him hooked on those.”

“Saved his life, though,” said Mitch. “And it all worked out well.”

Vera tried to give the miniature Eggbert back, but Luke shook his head. “Your Bert.”

“Are you sure?” Vera asked.

He nodded bashfully and hid his face in Mitch’s leg.

“Don’t be too excited,” said Mitch. “I think that’s his way of making a trade. His toy for your chicken. We’ve been telling him that Eggbert belongs to you, and he’s never happy about that.”

“Would you like to share him?” Vera asked. “Bert can’t live where I live, so you can take care of him, and I’ll take care of this guy.” She held up her mini Bert. “Maybe I can visit sometimes, but Eggbert has to live with you forever. Is that okay?”

Luke beamed.

Mitch chuckled. “I think you just made another friend, Vera.”

“Does Luke come to all the meetings with you?”

“No, we wanted to see how the world-thread would react in the new meadow.”

“And?”

“No change. We figure all the threads will be reborn, and life will go on as before.”

“Is that a good thing? For everything to go on like nothing’s changed?”

“Mother doesn’t seem to think so, and I’m inclined to agree with her. So we’ll keep gaining supporters and see if we can’t change the world’s opinions.”

Maiden-Mother emerged from the conference room, looking tired, and spotted Vera. “Oh, good. I’d hoped to talk to you and Kale before I head back to Summartir.”

Mitch said good-bye and headed for his home.

“Looked like you had a good turnout. Were you pitching the exchange program?”

“We were. And the turnout is thanks to you. We now have a representative from the alchemists and nymphs too.”

“Airlea?” Vera guessed.

“No, Airlea went back home. Her sister Delia is here now. I think those two are mixing it up for people back on their mountain.”

“Good for them.” Vera was thrilled for the nymphs. “We may have recruited a soul-eater village, a spider, and a giant to the cause today as well.”

“I’ll send someone to speak with them,” said Maiden-Mother.

“Just don’t send them to the White City,” warned Vera. “Rhena doesn’t live there, and your ambassador will get eaten if they enter the city.”

“Noted.”

“So,” drawled Vera. “What’s everyone think?”

“Right now, everyone is worried about ensuring the safety of their people.”

“What about making sure humans are safe?”

“The university staff and I are addressing that concern as well.”

“You really think it will work?” Vera was afraid to hope.

“I’m not sure, but we have to start proving to the world that siphons are not what they once were.”

“Are there any volunteers for the program yet?”

“A few. An alchemist prince, for one. And Mimi’s brothers. Some leaders are going to make secret selections from their most trusted young adults. Other realms have not been informed yet. We’re trying to get as many people as we can on the side of saving Earth before we approach the more volatile realms.”

Vera yawned. “Now we just have to stop Suzie’s network from sabotaging it all.”

“How’s that going?”

“I may have figured out what Suzie was and know someone who could help. Have you seen Marianna recently?”

“Who?”

“The weaver,” said Vera.

“Where is she from?” asked Maiden-Mother.

Vera thought the witch was joking at first, but she wasn’t. “Summartir.”

“You met her there?”

“You really don’t know who I’m talking about?”

“I haven’t met every witch,” Maiden-mother explained. “Especially not the younger ones.”

“She’s not young,” replied Vera. “Kale said she was there when you guys were trying to break the locks on Nibiru a few months ago.”

“The old woman?”

“That would be her.”

“I assumed she was a friend from somewhere else. I’d never met her before.”

“She lives in a bright purple house that slithers around your forest,” Vera informed her.

“She’s a witch?”

“She lives in Summartir, so I thought so. But I just learned about the Fates, and I’m beginning to think she’s one of those.”

“The Fates are a myth,” claimed Maiden-Mother.

“So were kirin until recently,” Vera pointed out. “But at least you’ve heard of the Fates.”

“Of course. Although, I’m not sure how much of our stories about them are correct.”

“Like how Zerzura’s dwarves are a mash-up of Earth’s dwarves and Bigfoot,” Vera said.

“Actually,” began Maiden-Mother, “Earth’s Bigfoot is a mash-up of abominables and dwarves, if you want to be specific.”

“Based on that, we have no idea what the Fates really are.” Vera bit her lip. “Except if Marianna is one of the Fates, we do because we know one. We just didn’t realize it.”

“Then you and Kale are headed to Summartir to look for her?”

“I’d hoped you might have an idea of how to find her, but since you didn’t know she existed, I guess that’s a no.”

Maiden-Mother looked down the hall. “Kale has found her before?”

“He always sent a messenger and then she showed up when he needed her to.”

“So you send a messenger.”

“I didn’t want to waste time waiting on a messenger.” Vera got an idea. “I bet Kale could keep up with a butterfly, though.” It would lead them to the weaver.

“When you find Marianna, let her know that the High Triad would like to meet her, officially.”

Vera saluted. “Will do.”

“Where is Kale, by the way?”

“He said he needed to talk to Braxas.”

“That’s a terrifying idea.”

“Right?” Vera smiled. “Hey, I’m gonna go say hi to Mimi and get a messenger. I’ll see you later?”

“Hopefully with good news.”

“Like a list of secret agents working for my dead foster mom?”

“That’s the news I’ll be hoping for,” said Maiden-Mother.

“You know, Noah was not a bad guy,” said Vera suddenly.

Maiden-Mother cut a face.

“Clearly, he was misdirected,” Vera clarified. “But he was also trying to do the right thing in his own way. I don’t think Suzie let him see the big picture of what would happen.”

Maiden-Mother smoothed her dress. “Is there a reason you’re telling me this?”

“I don’t want whoever else is working for Suzie to be assassinated, or whatever you guys are planning for them. Not if we can help them instead.”

“How about you get us a lead, and I’ll promise to talk with the crew I’ll be sending out to track them down? But I can’t make promises.”

“Okay.” It was the best Vera could ask for.