Rook ran until his legs hurt.
He didn't understand.
He had never been outside alone.
The forest became darker with every step.
Behind him, he could still hear his mother's voice.
"Run."
So he ran.
Then he stopped.
He looked back.
Mara wasn't coming.
Rook turned around.
His wings opened.
He flew.
For the first time in his life, he rose above the trees.
Below him, the village looked tiny.
He saw the roof of his home.
He saw people surrounding it.
And he saw Mara standing in the middle of them.
Rook began flying back.
Then he heard her voice.
"ROOK!"
Mara looked toward the forest.
"Don't come back!"
Rook hovered in the air.
Gideon saw him.
"There!"
The villagers screamed.
"Monster!"
"Kill it!"
Rook's eyes narrowed.
Fire appeared in his throat.
Mara saw it.
She ran toward him.
"No!"
Gideon raised a torch.
"It's going to burn us!"
Rook landed between Mara and the villagers.
He spread his wings.
For the first time, the people of Bellweather saw his full size.
He wasn't enormous.
But he was frightening enough.
Mara stepped in front of him.
"Rook, no."
His fire glowed brighter.
"Look at me."
Rook stared at her.
"They're afraid."
He growled.
"I know."
Rook looked at the villagers.
Mara touched his face.
"But you don't hurt people because they're afraid."
His fire slowly disappeared.
Gideon stepped forward.
"You see?"
He pointed at Rook.
"It understands us."
The crowd grew louder.
"Monster!"
"Burn it!"
"Kill both of them!"
Mara's eyes filled with tears.
She whispered,
"Rook… fly."
Rook shook his head.
"Fly."
He refused.
Mara pushed him gently.
"Please."
Rook finally backed away.
Then he looked at her one last time.
Mara smiled.
"Be good."
Rook flew into the forest.
The villagers watched him disappear.
Gideon turned toward Mara.
"You protected that thing."
Mara answered quietly.
"He's my son."
Gideon slapped her.
Mara fell.
Rook saw it from the sky.
His body turned instantly.
He began diving.
But Mara screamed toward the mountains.
"NO!"
Rook stopped.
She pointed away.
"Don't come back."
Rook hovered.
Tears ran down his face.
Then he flew.
That was the last time Rook saw his mother standing.
By nightfall, the villagers had dragged Mara outside the village boundary.
She could barely stand.
Gideon looked down at her.
"You chose a monster over us."
Mara lifted her head.
"No."
She looked toward the forest.
"I chose my child."
Gideon walked away.
Mara was left beneath the cold rain.
She closed her eyes.
Far away, Rook curled beneath a giant pine tree.
He held the old red scarf Mara had tied around his neck when he was small.
He pressed it against his face.
"Ma."
The forest gave no answer.
Then, from miles away, came the faintest sound.
Mara screaming.
Rook's eyes opened.
And this time, he didn't listen to her command.