But I didn’t want to do it! I didn’t want to upset her! I had to do it to save the farm… to save Gideon and everyone else, even the dragons!
The hurt was so sharp that for a moment she could almost feel what she had felt that night, the storm of Desta’s angry, terrified thoughts and how she had forced herself to ignore them. Thinking about it made Lucinda feel as if she had a chunk of ice in the middle of her chest where her heart should be. I’m so sorry, she thought. I’m so sorry, Desta…!
Carrot Girl sad?
It surprised her so much she gasped. Desta? Is that you? The dragon-thoughts were faint, like a voice you could only hear when the wind was blowing the right direction, but at the moment that was just the direction it was blowing. Desta?
Sad why?
How could she explain such things to a dragon-and a young dragon at that? Especially when they might only have moments. Carrot Girl is sad because… because she made Desta sad. Didn’t want to. Had to. But still sad. Carrot Girl sorry. Carrot Girl so very, very sorry …!
There was a long pause, and Lucinda was certain she had lost the fleeting contact. Then:
Carrot Girl make better.
What? What can I do to make it better? I’m going away now for months and months! Lucinda did her best to convey the feeling of time-moons waxing and waning, one after another. Gone long. What can I do?
Come back soon. The thought came with a tickle of dragonly amusement. Next time bring more carrots-millions of carrots! The thought was of a pile as high as the sky.
Laughter like a stream of warm, smoky bubbles floated through her mind. Then the touch was gone and Lucinda Jenkins was alone in her own head once more.