Another one of her nephews dashed out into the square from the direction of her parent's house. He shouted at the younger child, "Come on, quick!"

"What is it?" the younger one called from his perch on her back.

"It's Grandma. She's sick and Papa wants us all to come."

Serali broke off what she was saying to Breck. My mother!

Her nephew slid down her tail and raced off. Serali restrained in impulse to dash after him. She turned to Breck.

"I'm sorry, I need to go. I'll talk with you about this later."

"Of course. What's wrong?"

Serali didn't wait to answer. She stood up. Then with a powerful leap and a thrust of her wings she was in the air and flying away from town. As soon as she was completely out of sight, she landed and shifted into human form. Not caring what her immediate arrival might give away, she jogged back to the village. Her mother had been ill often in the last few years. Each time it got worse, and last time the healer had said the next illness would probably be the last.

Now as Serali drew near her parents' home, she was filled with apprehension. She had known, of course, that she would out-live her entire family, but she didn't want to face it so soon. What would life be like without Mama there? Serali was quite independent, but she still wanted to know her mother was there if she needed her.

But now she was at the door and she had to face the worst of the consequences of being raised by humans, the fact that no matter how long her loved ones lived she would still outlive them. She hesitated, then entered without knocking. There was nobody in the front room, so Serali walked through the room and into the hall. Rella was coming out of Marilla's room with her two sons.

Pushing past her startled sister-in-law, Serali went into the room. Her father, her brothers and her sisters were standing around the bed where her mother lay, looking terribly old. Serali came forward and knelt next to the bed. She took her mother's frail hand in hers.

"Mama…" She stooped, not knowing what to say. All of the sudden her secrecy seemed pointless. As if her family would reject her if she told them she was a dragon. Of course they wouldn't! They loved her. "Mama, I… I love you, and I've been keeping a secret from you. I wanted to tell you…"

"Ah Serali, I know you love me, I love you too. And don't worry about your secret. I already knew."

Serali was speechless.

"My dearest…" her voice was thin and weak, but still carried the warmth of her love. "I knew you were different when you were born. I was only a little surprised when I realized how different."

Falio looked puzzled. "Marilla, what are you talking about?"

Marilla shook her head, a barely perceptible motion. "She'll tell you in her own time. But my time is short." She stopped again and coughed.

Serali released her hand and left, her sibling filing out after her. Falio needed to be alone with is wife.

They sat down in the front room. The silence was almost deafening, but nobody could think of anything to say. At last Falio emerged from the room. His expression spoke without words.