BACK TO THE BEGINNING — The village’s gaze

One morning, the trees of her village appeared in the distance.

Skyblue flew down.

Her heart was beating fast. She was surprised to find herself nervous. She had crossed seven realms, visited her home planet, and seen the light of the Source; even so, she cared how they would look at her when she returned.

She acknowledged the uneasiness without fighting it.

A dragon guarding his tree lifted his head. He looked at her blue scales, her travel-worn satchel, the expression on the newcomer’s face.

“Skyblue?”

“Hello.”

Others came closer. Some greeted her with curiosity; others looked her up and down, searching for something familiar. Skyblue heard murmurs about her new colors.

The urge to explain herself rose at once. So did a small voice that wanted to leave them all astonished.

She recognized it.

She smiled, answered the first few questions, and went on toward her parents’ tree.