There was a town square on the other side of the door. People crossed the square going about their business but when Alcor stepped through the door, they stopped and stared. “Everyone thought we would bring back an egg.” Kellin whispered to both of them. “They’re not expecting to see a full-grown Airwolf. Try not to feel too uncomfortable.”

“But didn’t you know the egg was close to hatching when you lost it?”

“We didn’t lose it. It was stolen and, no we didn’t know.” He shook his head. “The hatching of a thunder egg is not like a normal egg. The Egg only hatches when it is ready.”

“A chicken’s egg only hatches when it’s ready.” She pointed out. “I don’t see how they’re different.”

“Do I have to explain to you how Alcor is different from a chicken?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Obviously, I can see the difference.”

He laughed and then continued. “It’s hard to explain. A thunder egg reaches a certain growth and after that it can hatch at any time.”

“So, Alcor’s egg had reached its full growth. Then didn’t you expect it to hatch soon?”

“No, it’s not that simple. After it reaches full growth, it could be years until it actually hatches. We don’t know exactly why they hatch when they do but we do know they won’t hatch unless they feel safe. We thought the egg was lost in the middle of the forest and that’s not a safe place for an egg.”

She chuckled. “You had no idea I would find it and bring it some place safe. I guess you really were surprised to see him in the barn.”

“Shocked is more like it.” He said with a slight smile. “Come over here. I’ll show you one of my favorite places.” He passed by a large fountain in the middle of the plaza. It was in the shape of a galloping herd of sky horses. Then he walked to a little shop that lined the square.

Kellin stood under the shop’s awning as she looked over the fountain. There was a window beside him filled with breads, cupcakes and all sorts of treats. Her mouth watered as her eyes drifted over the goodies. “Let’s go inside.” He motioned to her.

She followed without hesitation but Alcor had to stay outside. He was too big to fit through the door. “I can see why you like this place.” She said as she inhaled the sweet scent of baking pies. The small shop was stacked with cakes, pies, sweet breads and too many muffins to name. There was a girl behind the glass counter which was full of candies and truffles. She smiled when they walked in. “Can I help you with anything?” She had short wavy hair and a friendly smile. “Oh, Hi Kellin. I didn’t know you were back already.”

“Yeah, our assignment was cut short.” He said while looking directly at Gwinn. “This is our new…uh, Rider, Gwinn, and this is Morwena. Her family has the best bakery in town.”

Morwena nodded. “You bet we do. Would you like to try something?”

“I would like the usual.” Kellin said.

“I thought you might say that.” She reached behind the counter and pulled out a twisted sticky bun. She put it on a plate and, handed it to Kellin. His eyes lit up and he smacked his lips together as he took the plate.

When he reached over Gwinn noticed something interesting. There was a furling sitting on top of the counter. It was so small she had not seen it before. “Oh.” She said with surprise. “You have a furling.”

“Yes, my family has many talents. We can bake and speak furbble.” Morwena said with pride.

“Hello,” Gwinn said to the furling. “You’re very lucky to have a home in such a sweet place.”

“I know. I get all the leftovers.” It chirped.

Gwinn laughed. Morwena looked at Kellin with a puzzled look. “I thought you said she was a Rider.”

“She is but she can talk to furlings too.” Kellin said.

Now it was Gwinn’s turn to be confused. “Can’t you speak to furlings?”

“No, not very well.” Kellin shook his head. “Most people can only talk to one of the special animals really well. Morwena and her family are gifted with furling speech. I can speak to the sky horses like the other Riders, but you…”

Gwinn sighed and finished his sentence. “But I’m different.”

“Yeah, but it’s not a bad thing.” Kellin rushed to say.

“Don’t worry. I’m used to it.” She assured him. “I’ve never been like most people. I would be worried if someone called me a normal person.”

“You can really speak furbble?” Morwena asked trying to bring them back to a happier conversation.

“Yes, and I…” Gwinn paused reached in her pocket and pulled Merith from its depths. “I have a friend for you.” She placed Merith beside the other furling and they began chirping together.

“Hal let you take her?” Kellin said with surprise.

“Well, not exactly.” She twisted her mouth. “He’ll be furious when he realizes that she’s gone but I just couldn’t leave her there.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I’m glad I won’t be there when he finds out.” He bit into his sweet roll and chewed it happily.

“She begged me and I just couldn’t say no to that face.” She scratched the furling’s fuzzy head with her finger. Merith purred. “See, she’s happy here.”

Kellin shook his head but his mouth was still too full. “I’m glad you brought her.” Morwena said. “We don’t have as many furlings around as we used to and Toho likes her.” She scratched Merith under the chin and the furling purred even more.

“It looks like I’m outnumbered.” Kellin said swallowing. “But, I’m not going to be the one to tell anyone you stole a furling.”

“I didn’t steal her. Hal doesn’t own her. She’s a living being. She chose to come with me.” Gwinn said with a bit of heat rising in her voice.

“All right, I still don’t think he’ll be happy when he finds out. I’m sure she is better off here. That Inn would be a terrible place to get stuck.”

She relaxed. “It was…I mean it would be.”

Morwena could sense some tension. “Would you like to try one of our swamp buns?” She asked pulling another roll out of the counter and changing the subject.

“Swamp buns?” Gwinn looked at her suspiciously.

Morwena laughed. “I forgot you’re new here. Don’t worry there’s nothing swampy in them. The buns are just so gooey everyone started calling them swampy and, the name stuck but I promise they’re really good.”

Gwinn took the bun from Morwena’s outstretched hand and bit into the gooey bun. It was still warm and soft and the flavor burst into her mouth. There was a hint of fruity sweetness and it was incredibly gooey. They were right to call it a swamp bun and, it was one of the best things Gwinn had ever tasted.

Morwena nodded with a knowing smile as she watched Gwinn take her first bite. “I’ve never met anyone who didn’t like them, but enough about the buns. You’re a new Rider? How did they find you? Do you have a sky horse yet?”

“Not exactly.” Gwinn said between mouthfuls.

“What is that supposed to mean?” She looked at Kellin hoping he could explain.

“We came back early because we did find the egg.” Kellin told her.

“Well, that’s good but what does it have to do with Gwinn’s horse?”

“Let me finish and I’ll tell you.” He said. “We found the egg but, it had already hatched. The Airwolf was full grown and, he had already chosen a Rider and that person was Gwinn.”

Morwena dropped the spatula she had been holding and her mouth dropped open. “The Airwolf is here? You really saw it?”

Kellin chuckled. “Yes. He is amazing.”

“Would you like to see him?” Gwinn said after finishing off the swamp roll and licking her fingers.

“Of course, but I’m sure you have other things to do.” Morwena said.

“But he’s right outside.” Gwinn said.

“What?! There was an Airwolf sitting outside my shop this whole time and you two didn’t say a word?”

“Uh….” Gwinn shrugged. It never occurred to her to tell Morwena that Alcor was waiting outside.

Morwena rushed to the shop window and looked out. Sure enough there was an Airwolf sitting outside watching the people passing by. Her jaw dropped even lower. “I don’t believe it. I mean I do but I don’t. He is amazing, beautiful actually. I never thought I’d get to see a real Airwolf in person.”

“Would you like to meet him? I’m sure he’d like to meet anyone who called him beautiful.” Gwinn asked.

“Could I?” Morwena clapped her hands together excitedly.

“Sure.” Gwinn went outside. People were passing by and staring openly at Alcor. He was soaking up the attention. Gwinn cleared her throat. “I hope you don’t mind if I tear you away from your audience.”

He turned his broad shaggy snout to face her. “I’m just sitting here. They’re staring at me.”

“Right, well I have someone for you to meet.” She pointed to Morwena. “This is Morwena. She’s a baker and, she talks to furlings.”

“And I think you’re beautiful.” Morwena added. She studied him and looked him over in wonder.

He sat up straighter. “Oh, I like her.”

“I thought you would.” Gwinn nodded and involuntarily let out a huge yawn.

Morwena covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, you must be tired after your long journey. Kellin you should be ashamed of yourself. She needs to rest.”

Kellin’s cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”

“No, you didn’t.” Morwena scolded him. “You should take her to the Riders’ quarter right now.”

“I’m fine, really. Don’t be mad at him.” Gwinn yawned again. “Well, maybe I am a little tired.”

“I thought so. Go on then. I’ll watch over your furling.”

“I should’ve taken you there first. I’m sorry. You must be exhausted.” Kellin apologized.

“It’s really no big deal. I didn’t even have to do chores today. I’ve been through more exhausting days than this.” She assured them both.

“Still,” Morwena said. “You look tired and it has been a long day for you.”

Gwinn was at a loss for words. She didn’t know how to react to this person. No one had ever cared whether she was tired before. She had been beyond tired working at the Inn but the Cuthberts had never cared. They just gave her more chores.

“Come on. I’ll show you the way.” Kellin said. She was too tired to argue. He led her through the cobbled streets of Aerion. There were more fountains and more statues but she didn’t stop to look at them. It was growing dark and it would be better to view them in the light. They finally came to a tall building. There was a vivid blue awning over the double doors and a lantern on each side. The lanterns were hung on interesting holders. A long paw stuck out of the wall and clasped the handle of the lanterns and soft amber light glowed from them. “This is the Riders’ quarter where all the Riders sleep. You’ll have a room here.” He opened the door and walked through.

Gwinn held back. Alcor frowned at her and gave her a pathetic whine. He couldn’t fit through the door.

Kellin stopped. “I’m sorry. You’re too big to stay in the Rider’s quarter.”

“Isn’t there someplace we can stay together?” Gwinn asked.

“No, you can’t stay in the stables and there is no room big enough to house him in the city.” He frowned at them.

Gwinn frowned too. “I guess we’ll have to sleep apart.” Alcor whined again and, she rubbed his head. “It’s only for a night. I’ll see you again in the morning.” She went inside with Kellin as he watched them with a frown.

There was a woman standing behind a counter. Gwinn noticed a small statue of a horse and Rider sitting on top of the counter with papers shoved beneath it. The woman wore dark-rimmed glasses and, she peered over them as they walked in. “May I help you?”

“She needs a room.” Kellin said. “She’s a new Rider.”

She rustled through some papers behind the counter. “I did not receive any notification.”

“It was an unexpected thing. She only got here today.” Kellin added.

“Mm hum.” She took off her glasses and looked at Gwinn with a scrutinizing eye all the way from her toes to the streak in her hair. “She doesn’t look like a Rider.”

“I know. I told you. It was unexpected.”

“Are you sure she has been approved by the Board? I wouldn’t like to get in trouble for admitting someone who wasn’t approved.”

“She is a Rider. She is the only Rider of the only Airwolf. You have to admit her.”

The woman raised her eyebrows and looked at Gwinn again. She felt uncomfortable under the scrutiny. “Well, I guess we can’t let her sleep on the streets. Follow me.”

Gwinn followed her through a long hallway and up a staircase. They passed several doors along the way. Then came to a door that looked exactly like all the others. The woman opened the door. “This is the best we can do on short notice. We weren’t prepared for a new rider.”

Gwinn walked inside. The room was bigger than she had expected. There was a cabinet for her things a desk and a large fluffy bed. She stopped and stared.

“You don’t like it?” The woman asked.

“This is all for me?” Gwinn asked in disbelief. She had never had a room of her own before. Even at the convent she had to share sleeping quarters with the other children. This was beyond anything she had expected. She had woken up this morning in a barn after all.

“I told you we didn’t have time to make it up. If you don’t like it, we can get you a different room later.”

Gwinn shook her head. “No, it’s fine. It’s nicer than any place I’ve ever stayed.”

“Then you haven’t stayed any place nice.” The woman snorted. Gwinn frowned and the snide remark faded from the woman’s mouth. “Well, I’m Mona. If you need anything, I’ll be at the front desk.”

Kellin tapped her on the shoulder. “They’ll probably want to start your training in the morning so you should get a good night’s sleep.” He turned to leave.

“Training?”

“Yeah, your training, as a Rider. You can’t just ride around the kingdom without some kind of training. It’s not as easy as it looks.”

“Ugh.” She groaned.

“Get some rest.” He said before leaving.

What have I gotten myself into? Train to be a Rider, but I hate Riders? I don’t want to turn into one of them. She flopped down onto the mattress. “All I wanted was to be with Alcor and now I’m stuck in this unfamiliar place with these strangers.” She pulled the pillow underneath her head and scrunched up into a ball. The mattress was soft but, it still felt strange. She was used to sleeping on a bed of straw. Gwinn flipped over and tried to get comfortable but it was the same and she missed Alcor. She had grown used to having the big furry beast next to her and it felt odd to sleep without him. She turned over again but sleep eluded her.