I crested the top of the hill and let out a whoop as I pumped my fist. I did it!
Breathing hard, I bent and rested my hands on my legs. I was hot and sweaty, and my chest ached from exertion, but that did nothing to lessen my jubilation. I’d made my first trek up the steep hill without stopping once to rest, and it felt good.
I walked a few feet and lay on my back on a small patch of coarse grass to smile up at the blue sky. Soft footsteps came toward me, but I didn’t turn my head to look at my companion as she flopped down on her belly beside me. I reached out and scratched Kaia’s head, and she emitted an aggravated growl.
“Hey, you didn’t have to come with me,” I told the sulking lamal, who had been accompanying me on my daily outings since my return to Faerie three days ago. She pref
