It didn't take long to return to Dragons Moon. The air at the landing site was tense with uncertainty and anticipation as Akie, her family, their dragons, and their furry river otter companion set foot once more on the surface of Lua dos Dragões.
Hah. River nearby, yes, giant otter friend Akie?
"Just over the rise there," Akie replied, pointing in that direction.
Show me you can?
"Of course."
"We heard from CIS," Mason, one of the tower techs reported. "Phon Ton will be arriving day after tomorrow to evaluate Dragons Moon."
"Until that evaluation is complete," Akadeanna responded, nodding to Mason, "any further work on the tower has to be put on hold."
"But…" Judith, another tech, protested.
"Until we know what we're dealing with here," Akadeanna retorted, pointing at the ground, "we don't dare risk the safety of passengers or cargo if Lua dos Dragões accidentally joins the gestalt."
"After all that work,…" Bradley, one of the construction engineers, muttered.
"I haven't given up on the tower yet," Akadeanna insisted, glancing back at the construction site. "We know the moon is telepathic. We just don't know how skilled its ability is or how strong. Shards, it could even be higher than a T1! We could do irreparable harm if it suddenly joined a gestalt."
"So, what do we do, Akie?" Mason muttered.
"Phon Ton Anaciliact is enroute. I'm going to suggest to Prime Reidinger that he dispatch Talent testers so that we can attempt to ascertain Lua dos Dragões' Talent level and if it possesses abilities beyond just telepathy."
Mason turned white as a sheet. "Bloody hell! What if it's also a teleporter or a telekinetic?"
"If it is," Akadeanna spoke, laying her hand on Mason's shoulder, "this Talent facility could become the most powerful station in the FT&T. That's why we need Phon Ton as well as the Talent testers. After that, we need to determine the moon's level of intelligence and see if we can find ways to broaden its education. Petaybee has already learned how to speak audibly to the residents there. If we can figure out how to get Lua dos Dragões to do the same, it will make our job that much easier."
What if we read to it? Luna suggested.
Gasping, Akadeanna whirled to face her daughter.
Isn't that how we teach children? We read to them?
"Sweetheart, that is absolutely brilliant!" Akie sighed, wrapping her daughter up in a heartfelt bear hug.
"What's going on?" Vance demanded, puzzled by what had transpired. "What's brilliant?"
"Lua dos Dragões," Akie replied, pulling back to smile at her daughter. "We read to it… just like we read…"
"To our children!" Judith exclaimed, eyes lighting up.
"The communion cave!" Vance gasped, staring at his wife. "Where I found you!"
Grinning broadly as he turned his gaze to his daughter, he added, "Brilliant is right! Sweetheart, that's inspired!"
Now, Mom? Luna wondered, meeting her Kibble's gaze. I'd like to try.
Akadeanna didn't say a word; just smiled and nodded. A heartbeat later, Luna was astride her dragon, strapping herself in. With a powerful leap, Artimeth was airborne, soaring into the skies of Lua dos Dragões before vanishing between.
"Vance, when Luna gets back, take her to the communion cave," Akadeanna directed as she turned toward the river. "Meanwhile, I'm going to show my little friend here what sort of river Lua dos Dragões has… see if it will be suitable for his family."
"Just be careful," Vance replied, planting a tender kiss on his wife's cheek.
Akadeanna took off at a run, heading out over the plain and the nearby hilly ridge to the river she knew lay beyond. Sky clung tightly to her shoulder, managing to keep his balance in spite of the motion. Moments later, the river finally came into view.
Hahhhhh!
"Sky, what is it?"
The Petaybean river otter leaped off Akie's shoulder, scampering along the river bank.
Dream!
Sky was moving so fast, in fact, that he would soon leave Akie behind! That meant only one chance. Recalling what Vornath had taught her and Luna, Akie shifted to her dragon shape, taking wing. At least in this form, she could keep up with the very determined river otter.
For nearly a mile, Akie kept watch over the frantically scampering little Petaybean otter. Abruptly, he came to a halt on a small promontory, overlooking a short fall and a cascade of rapids just below. Gently, Akie alighted next to the motionless river otter, reverting to her human form once more.
Hah! Dream place! he sighed, glancing all around.
"Dream place?" Akie wondered, kneeling beside him. "You mean, you saw this place in a dream?!"
Home show! Sky sighed, captivated by the view. New home for Sky and his family!
Home show? Wait, what?! Petaybee showed Sky this place?!
Giant otter friend Akie help bring Sky's family to new home? he asked, his earnest gaze pleading with her for help.
"But, Sky, we don't know if you and your family can live off the food you'd find here."
Please?
Could Dragons Moon communicate across interstellar space to another sentient world? Could Petaybee have told it about the otters and what had happened to them? Could Dragons Moon have asked Petaybee to send the otters, so that they could make a new home here? It didn't seem possible, and yet… Tears in her eyes, Akadeanna nodded.
Admiral?
Doctor?
I need an analysis of the flora and fauna of Lua dos Dragões.
Specify.
Can the Petaybean river otters survive on the food they can find here?
We don't have any data on the river otters.
Can you do a detailed scan of my location?
There was a momentary pause, then, We have two readings at your 20.
Ignore my readings. The second contact is a Petaybean river otter.
There was a very long pause before Akadeanna heard, Given your little friend's bioanalysis, there are plenty of fish, reptiles and plant life that they can easily subsist on. What's this all about?
Petaybee told Sky about Lua dos Dragões.
The planet knew about Dragons Moon?!
Hey, they're both telepathic… which suggests they each have an incredible range… without generators to amplify the signals!
FT&T is gonna love this!
Big otter friend Akie help Sky?
Yes. Scanners indicate your kind should have no trouble surviving here. The trick now will be transporting your families here.
The ground and the air around Akadeanna and Sky vibrated, and from it, the two heard, "They come."
In the next startling heartbeat, nearly a hundred Petaybean river otters materialized on the ground around them!
Hah! Sky exclaimed, scampering up to the nearest river otter and rubbing noses with it. Family here!
The otters gamboled and danced around, celebrating their arrival. Leading the way, Sky headed for the shore of the river where a muddy slope led down to the edge of the water. Without hesitation, Sky slid down the embankment, performing the neatest dive you could ever witness into the gently swirling river waters. Seconds later, he surfaced with a fish in his mouth, rushing ashore with it. Scurrying up to one of the females, he offered the fish to her. She gobbled it down with great gusto!
Sky's mother likes fish! Sky cheered, leaping all over the place in glee.
Soon, the other otters were sliding down the muddy embankment with great abandon, diving into the river, surfacing seconds later with their own fish; which quickly disappeared down their little gullets.
For nearly half an hour, Akadeanna watched the goings on, savoring the joy the river otters were displaying. Out of nowhere, Sky appeared, leaping up to Akie's shoulder, rubbing his damp face against her cheek.
Sky thanks big river otter friend Akie, he said, his eyes full of gratitude. Sky and Sky's family love new home.
I only brought you, little friend, Akadeanna chuckled, hugging Sky's head to her own. Your new home brought the rest of your family to you.
Then Sky offers big, big, big thanks to new Home!
Once again, the ground and the air vibrated. This time, they both heard, "Elara."
Friend Akie hear?! Sky stammered.
A second time… "Elara I."
Akadeanna gulped down a lump in her throat the size of a small asteroid. The moon was telling them its name?!
More vibrations. "Elara welcomes otter family!"
Sky did a back flip off of Akie's shoulder in joy!
Hah! Home talk to us! River otters like new home! Like Elara!
Bouncing and weaving, Sky and his river otter family made for the river, most likely to start setting up the burrows for their new homes on Elara.
Just as the last of the otters disappeared from sight in the river, Vornath circled down to a landing beside Akadeanna.
They seem very happy, her dragon observed.
They do, indeed, Akadeanna chuckled, patting her dragon on the neck as she climbed up her proffered forearm and belted herself into place astride Vornath's neck ridge. But there is still much we have to learn, my friend, about Elara. Best see how Luna's doing.
With that, Vornath took a running start before leaping skyward, heading off in search of Akadeanna's changeling daughter.
Artimeth is near, Vornath declared, veering off in the direction of the hot springs. With a chuckle, she added, She likes the bathing pool!
In short order, the pair reached their destination, Vornath landing nearby. Once Akie removed her queen's harness, her dragon joined Artimeth in the pool while she scurried up to the second pool and the path to the communion cave.
As Akadeanna passed behind the waterfall and entered the cave, she could hear Luna's voice. Who was she talking to? The same bioluminescence lit Akie's way down the long passageway to the central chamber. She gasped when she finally reached it. The central fountain bubbled away, the stalagmite flora and fauna just as she remembered. Luna was sitting nearby, leaning against a wall, a book in hand. Right next to her daughter was another stalagmite, but this one was shaped like a little child, lying on her stomach, chin propped on her hands, giving every indication of paying close attention to what Luna was reading. When Akie saw the cover, she couldn't stop the grin that spread from one ear to the other… "The Littlest Dragon", one of Luna's favorite stories!
Rather than disturb Luna, Akadeanna quietly eased herself to the rocky floor a short distance away, leaning up against the wall while Luna continued to read. Somehow, she could tell Elara was listening. Akie couldn't fight the tears that came to her eyes. The scene playing out before her was so beautiful and tender, she found herself wishing she could take a picture of it to remember this moment. Unexpectedly, the bioluminescence of the wall right next to Akie began to swirl and shift, resolving itself into an image of Luna and her stalagmite child watching Luna read! The central fountain was even framed in the shot! Now all she needed was a camera!
Quiet footsteps drew Akie's attention. She spotted Vance coming her way. She held up her hands, signaling for quiet. Vance nodded, making a great show of tiptoeing closer. He let out a quiet gasp when he finally saw the image on the wall next to Akadeanna.
Please tell me you brought something to get a picture of that! Akie silently begged.
Vance nodded, pulling out his holorecorder. With it, he snapped a shot of the wall image then switched the device to video record mode, carefully recording Luna and her stalagmite audience.
In time, Luna finished the story, slowly closing the book as she smiled at the child. The chamber reverberated, sounding every bit like "Thank you."
You're welcome! Vance and Akie heard Luna silently reply.
Happy tears in her eyes, Luna got to her feet and ran to her parents, hugging them both.
"Elara seems to like you, sweet one," Akie commented, returning the hug.
"Come again?" the chamber vibrated.
Vance gasped. "Shards! Just like Petaybee!"
Can I, Mom? Luna quietly asked.
"Akadeanna read also to Elara?"
This made the threesome gasp, staring at each other.
"Benden, too?"
"Sharding hell!" Vance whispered. "It wants me to read to it?!"
"Your choice, love," Akadeanna quietly replied, planting a tender kiss on his cheek. "Elara?"
"Akie?" they all heard the moon answer.
"I have a story that I would like to read to you tomorrow," Akadeanna explained, smiling at the memories it produced. "Will that be alright?"
A moment's pause, then, "Yes."
What story, Mom? Luna inquired.
One you probably have never heard, dear one, Akie silently replied. Why don't you come with me tomorrow and you both can listen.
Vance?
I've got some stuff to take care of before Phon Ton arrives, he replied, ducking his head. And we still need to get the Talent testers down here ASAP, so I'll have to beg off… this time.
"Elara will wait," the chamber resonated.
Clearly, Elara was more intelligent than anyone first thought. Akie couldn't help wondering what the testers would uncover once they began to explore Elara's Talents.
Bright and early the next morning, Vornath, Artimeth, and their riders returned to the hot springs, dropping off their riders before sauntering into the bathing pool. Akie and Luna made their way up to the middle pool, following the path that led around the pool and behind the waterfall to the communion cave located behind it. This time, it was Akadeanna's turn to sit and read to Elara. The little child stalagmite hadn't moved, but Akie was intrigued by how lifelike it seemed. Taking a seat where Luna had read from yesterday, Akie pulled out the book she was going to read from and opened it to the first chapter of the story.
"Lessa woke, cold," Akie began out loud, Luna assuming the same pose as the child. "Cold with more than the chill of the everlastingly clammy stone walls."