Claire Summers's Arc

Chapter 7 of 7

The rescuer pressed the gauze tighter, but the pull from the water was too strong. Claire shoved his hand away. "Wait," she gasped. She crawled toward the shimmering pool. The cave walls leaned close around her. The river glowed brighter as she neared, as if it knew her name. The nest rose to meet her. Curling ribbons of water lifted from the surface, forming a delicate dome of swirling currents. Inside it, soft lights pulsed like a heartbeat. Then the river broke open. The colossal scaled creature surged up, emerald plates dripping, yellow eyes fixed on her belly. "Claire, get back!" the rescuer shouted. He scrambled forward, knife out. But the creature did not strike. It lowered its huge head and made a low, wet sound — almost a question. Beneath Claire's skin, the eggs answered. They rolled toward the surface like they wanted out. She understood then. She was the last nest. The spike under its jaw had hurt it badly, and there were no others. If she cut the eggs out here, the species ended tonight. If she kept them, something in her ended instead. Claire turned to the rescuer. His hand was shaking on the blade. "Not all of them," she said. "Take half. Leave the rest in the water." She pulled up her torn shirt. He stared at her, then at the creature, then nodded once. He cut carefully. Slimy, pearl-colored eggs slid into his palms, glowing soft greens and pinks. He set them gently into the swirling dome. The creature curled around them and sank. The pull in her chest finally loosened. Claire sagged against the rescuer's shoulder, half her burden gone, half still moving inside her. "You stayed," he whispered. She closed her eyes. "So did you."