Page 47 of Suncatcher

“Is your mother still around?”

“I do not know where she is, or any of the others. I see her only each year at the Meeting.”

“Meeting?”

“Yes. When we meet.”

Pearl chuckled again, taking another puff off the glowing cigarette, and Driz’s insides fluttered and shifted. “What happens at these Meetings?”

“It is a way for our kind to come together. Because otherwise we would not. Young are introduced. Anything that needs saying is said. And it is a chance for some to mate.”

Pearl’s hand paused halfway to her mouth before she took her next inhale. “And you? Do you take that chance?”

Driz shook her head. “I have never found a request appealing. Partly because it happens in flight, and I do not want to rely on anyone else’s wings. I would not mind so much if I could be the…What I mean is, I did try—”

Driz cut herself off. The hot sting of Mist’s rejection filled her again. She did not want Pearl to know about that. About how she was wrong in that way too.

“What did you try?” Pearl asked, her voice soft and coaxing.

“I made a request once. But she did not accept.”

“She?”

Driz nodded, shifting uncomfortably and unable to look at Pearl. “Her name is Mist. I know we could not truly, practically mate.”

“But you wanted to,” Pearl said, something akin to longing in her voice, and Driz nodded again. “I’m sorry she said no. She missed out.”

Driz tilted her head, unsure she understood. “Have you ever…?”

“Mated, as you call it? Sure.”

Driz’s whole body flushed. “With women?”

“Only with women.”

Pearl dropped the end of the cigarette, crushing it into the sand with her boot before picking it up and tucking it in her pocket.

Driz’s body and mind stopped working. All she could do was stare at Pearl. She imagined her on her back, above her, pressed into her arms, tumbling through the sky beneath the stars.

“Well, I should get home and sleep a little before dawn,” Pearl said. So casually. Like she hadn’t just shaken the ground beneath Driz’s feet.

Driz managed to nod. Pearl stepped into her, climbing Driz’s front once more, and it was the best thing Driz had ever experienced. She pulled Pearl closer.

Pearl was more relaxed on the flight back, turning her head to take in the landscape as Driz flew her toward home. Pearl shifted and pleasure rushed to the tips of Driz’s wings.

The world was quiet as they landed in the ravine. When Pearl looked up, Driz could have drowned in the soft smile Pearl gave her.

“Thanks for showing me your collection,” Pearl said.

“Thank you for coming with me. For flying with me.”

“It was better than last time.”

Yes, it had been. “I have something for you,” Driz said, her wings twitching nervously as she reached into her pocket. She pulled out the necklace.

“But that’s one of your favorites.”

“Yes. I want you to have it.”