THE SECOND REALM: ORANGE — A shelter among branches

She looked for somewhere to stay and found a leafy orange tree. The moment she asked permission to live in it, a crowd of laces descended from the branches to inspect her. They all spoke at once. Skyblue could make out the words “wings,” “scales,” and “enormous,” but not a single complete question.

Several wound themselves around her forelegs and tried to lead her toward their respective groups. Some pulled to the right, others to the left. The dragon stood firm, increasingly astonished by this hospitality.

“Just a moment. First, I’d like to know who’s speaking to me.”

She could not make them listen. When they found they could not drag her along, some lost interest and went back to their games of “You come here—no, you instead.” Others kept insisting until Skyblue carefully withdrew her paws.

“Right now, I need to rest.”

She had to say it several times.

At last, she was able to embrace the orange tree. She felt Ernesto’s embrace and a closeness no distance had managed to erase. A branch gallantly lowered itself, leaving an orange within reach of her mouth. In the movement, she thought she recognized her old friend’s laughter.

“Good night,” she whispered.

Inside the tree, she opened Evarista’s satchel. She found herbs and vegetables with flavors she did not yet know how to name. She ate slowly, gave thanks, and asked for her parents’ blessing before lying down. She sent her love to them and to Ernesto, then fell asleep feeling she was not alone.

Again she dreamed of the blue beings with crystalline bodies. They welcomed her as though she belonged to their family. This time, she noticed a young man beside Aurora. Their eyes met for a few seconds that seemed endless. Something about him was deeply familiar, though she could not place it.

When she woke, his gaze remained with her, clearer than the rest of the dream. She tried to understand it and, when she could not, decided to wait. Outside, an entire realm seemed busy introducing itself.