By sunrise, Mara had already made her decision.
Rook had to disappear.
Not forever.
Just long enough for the village to forget.
She lifted a wooden floorboard beneath her bed and revealed a narrow chamber underneath the cottage.
It had once been used to store potatoes.
Now it became Rook's home.
Mara placed a blanket inside.
Then a bowl of water.
Then half a loaf of bread.
Rook stared at the bread.
He sniffed it.
Then sneezed.
Mara laughed.
"You don't like bread?"
Rook shook his head.
"You're going to be a difficult child."
He crawled into her lap.
For the next two years, Mara built her life around a secret.
She learned what Rook could eat.
She learned that he hated cold rain.
She learned that he loved sunlight.
She learned that when he was frightened, he hid his face beneath her shawl.
And she learned something else.
Rook understood everything she said.
He couldn't speak like a human, but he recognized her voice.
When Mara came home, he ran to her.
When she cried, he stayed beside her.
When she laughed, his tail moved so fast it knocked over chairs.
To Mara, he wasn't a monster.
He was her little boy.
She taught him words.
"Home."
Rook repeated the sound.
"Home."
"Mother."
"Ma."
Mara smiled.
"Good."
One evening, she held up a wooden spoon.
"Spoon."
Rook stared.
"Spoon."
Rook growled.
"No, Rook. Spoon."
He finally copied her.
"Spoooon."
Mara laughed.
Rook proudly puffed out his chest.
Then the window shattered.
Mara screamed.
A stone rolled across the floor.
Attached to it was a note.
Mara picked it up.
Three words were written on it.
WE KNOW, MARA.
Her blood went cold.
She looked toward the floor.
Rook was already standing.
His tiny wings spread.
A faint orange glow appeared inside his mouth.
"No."
Mara rushed toward him.
"Don't."
Rook growled.
"Rook, look at me."
He stared at her.
"People are scared because they don't understand you."
The glow faded.
Mara pulled him into her arms.
"Never hurt them."
Rook lowered his head.
Outside, voices whispered.
Mara moved toward the window.
Through the darkness she saw several figures standing across the road.
Among them stood Gideon Voss, the village elder.
He was holding the note.
And beside him stood Mrs. Bell.
Mara's heart sank.
Gideon raised his voice.
"Mara!"
She didn't answer.
"We know what you're hiding."
Rook pressed himself against her leg.
Gideon continued.
"Bring the creature outside."
Mara looked down.
Rook looked up.
She knew what would happen if she opened that door.
So she did the only thing she could.
She grabbed the lantern.
Opened the back door.
And whispered,
"Run."
Rook didn't move.
"Rook."
He shook his head.
"Run!"
Still nothing.
Mara pointed toward the forest.
"Go!"
The dragon finally stepped backward.
His eyes filled with confusion.
Mara's voice broke.
"Please."
Rook ran.
He disappeared between the trees.
Mara shut the door.
Then she turned around.
Gideon and the villagers were already breaking through the front door.
Gideon looked at the empty room.
"Where is it?"
Mara stared at him.
"I don't know."
Gideon smiled.
"You just made a mistake."
He lifted the wooden note.
"We found the entrance to your little secret."
Behind him, someone pulled up the floorboard.
And beneath it was Rook's empty bed.