I stood in the parking lot outside the Ranger station in Yosemite Valley, looking at Akasha. Her words were still ringing in my ears.   

“An Emissary?” I asked. Anton had told me stories of when he was an emissary for the High Court. Why would we be receiving an emissary? I thought it was too soon for the High Court to have taken notice of us. I turned and looked at Anton.  

“My Lord,” Anton looked at me, “It is not uncommon for Courts to send Emissaries to assist other Courts. Often, one Court will send an Emissary to another to further its own interests or to provide aid in the hopes of receiving a similar favor in the future.”  

“Oh,” I said. The thought of owing someone a favor down the road left a sour taste in the back of my mouth. Akasha looked up at me, blinking her wide eyes at me.   

“We don’t have to accept him,” Akasha said in a soft voice. “We can send him back.”  

I looked at Anton. He blinked in surprise. “You... can. It is not unheard of. They may consider it an insult, though. I would recommend you meet with him and see what he wants, my Lord. 

I nodded to Anton. “That sounds like good counsel to me. Thank you, Anton.”  

Anton nodded. I felt that presence drawing closer to us. Closing my eyes, I could see him moving along Highway 140, quickly approaching. Opening my eyes, I met Akasha’s steady gaze. I turned and looked at Sydney, Anton, and Amika. We moved as a small group towards the edge of the parking lot, away from the crowd of rangers.   

The group of rangers broke up into smaller groups and dispersed. Some moved towards vehicles. Others went to the horses tied off at the edge of the parking lot. A few started walking towards some parked ATVs. We got a few furtive glances as they departed.   

An older Honda Civic pulled into the parking lot. It was beat-up. Rusted. The paint job faded from years of sitting in the sun. The engine sounded rough, but functional. The man behind the wheel cut off the engine, opened the door, and got out. He looked young, maybe in his early twenties—sandy blonde hair streaked with black and bronze. Then his eyes met mine, and I knew what he was. There was a weight to his stare.   

The man stepped away from his vehicle, walked over to our group, and dropped to one knee at a distance of five feet. He lowered his head, speaking to the ground at our feet.  

“I am Jacob. Emissary of the Court of the Black Heart. My Lord sends his greetings and offers his assistance through me.” He raised his head to meet my eyes. There was a flicker of something there. Nervousness. Apprehension. Uncertainty. “How may I serve?”  

I looked at Jacob, and I was not sure what to do with him. “A family is missing in the park. You can help us find them.”  

“My Lord?” Jacob looked confused. “People go missing all the time. What makes this special?”  

I raised an eyebrow as I looked down into his confused face. “The difference is that we are here,  and we can help. So, we will.”  

Jacob’s confusion only seemed to deepen. “Jacob. Take your car back down Highway 140. Drive up to Olmstead Point. We will make our way up the trail and meet you there.”  

“My Lord?” Jacob stood. He looked even more confused. “That road is a winding road that goes all over the park before it gets up to Olmstead Point. But that is a long hike.”  

“It is,” I nodded. “You can wait for us there. We will discuss what comes next.”  

Jacob still looked confused, but he got back in his car, revved the engine, and pulled out of the parking lot. Without looking back, he got back onto Highway 140.  

Stars twinkled overhead as the sun finally slipped below the horizon. Akasha pressed herself against my side as her arms slid around my waist. She nuzzled her face into my chest, then looked up at me.  

“You don’t trust him.” She made it a statement, not a question.  

“No,” I answered her, my voice low. “Do you?”  

Akasha shook her head. “Something about him feels off.”  

“What now, my Lord?” Anton asked, moving subtly closer to us. Sydney leaned against my side, resting her head against my shoulder. Amika stayed close to Anton, one arm around his waist, her head on his shoulder. Amika watched us, her eyes noticing every detail.  

“Now we go find that missing family,” I answered simply. Anton nodded. Amika looked confused. I turned to Amika. “Amika, can you take Sydney back to the house, protect her? Watch over her.”  

“As you wish, my Lord,” Amika said as she stood up straight and stepped away from Anton. I felt Sydney’s body tense against mine. I turned to her and saw the tightness in her jaw—the glitter of anger in her eyes.  

“We are going to fly, Sydney. We need our hands free.” Sydney started to open her mouth to protest. I put a finger to her lips, stopping her. “Please. Go with Amika.”  

Sydney’s face softened. She pouted, but she walked to Amika and took the other woman’s hand. The two ladies walked from the parking lot towards the street, back towards the house. I watched them go for a minute more as they disappeared into the shadows along the street.   

“Any idea how to find them?” Anton asked. I nodded and closed my eyes. I let my mind drift to that place. The map of Yosemite. All the rocks and boulders moved slowly around us. I moved across that map to the north-east. I saw all the Rangers moving in a cluster. Some moved faster than others as they made their way along the trails out of the valley.   

I continued to the north and east, following the trails. The rocks grew smaller. More spaced out. Then I found a rock that seemed out of place. Large enough to be man-shaped. Off the path. I could sense his panic. Him. I couldn‘t say how or why, but he felt human and male to me. Further from the trail, I found two more human rocks, further off the trail. The terrain was rocky and steep. Dangerously so. I panned back, zoomed higher. The Rangers were so far away. Hours at least. They did not have that much time.   

My eyes flashed open. The sudden adjustment made me feel dizzy. Akasha’s grip around my waist tightened, grounding me. I saw in her eyes the knowledge of what I had seen. I turned and looked at Anton.   

“You saw them.”  

I nodded.  

“Which way?”  

“North and East. Near Snow Creek Trail. Where it skirts the canyon above Tenaya Creek. Almost to Olmstead Point. They were so close. We need to fly.”  

Anton nodded. Akasha stepped back from me, unzipped her sweatshirt, and handed it to me. She reached behind her, unclasped her bra, slipped that off her shoulders, and gave that to me as well. She stood there for a moment, her eyes watching mine as I felt my heart thumping hard. The soft light of the stars made her chest glow in the dark. She smiled at me. I watched her wings unfold from her back and stretch out. She shook her head, rolled her shoulders, and stretched her wings. She gave a soft, contented sigh. Her eyes were glowing amber pools that watched me with a mischievous grin.  

I took Akasha’s sweatshirt in my hands and walked up to her. I loosely tied the sleeves around her neck, so the bulk of the shirt hung in front of her body, hiding her breasts. She laughed at me.   

“Protecting my modesty?” Akasha said with a soft laugh.  

“If we run across Rangers while we get that family back, they might respond better if your... assets are covered,” I whispered. “Also, I think a little more clearly when you aren’t flashing me.”  

Akasha laughed hard. She reached up and gently cupped my cheek.   

“It is sweet that you still react strongly to me. Since you see me naked every day.”  

I blushed under her darkening gaze. Then Akasha turned and looked at Anton. He met her gaze, a soft blush creeping up his cheeks. Akasha laughed.  

“Do you, as well, find it hard to think when I am unclothed?”  

Anton nodded, his blush darkening.  

“Perhaps we can find a backless bra you can wear for these excursions?” I asked. Akasha turned back to me and laughed again.  

“If you wish it.”  

“No,” I blushed as I saw that dark heat in her eyes, “I mean, yes. If we are going to be running into people, perhaps it would be a good idea?”  

Akasha laughed again as she helped me pull off my sweatshirt and t-shirt. “Come now, lover, we need to go rescue that family.”  

Anton had already peeled his layers off. I rolled my shoulders and felt my wings unfurl from my back. The sensation was utterly relaxing. I stretched them out, felt the soft breeze brush across that leathery skin. The cool air felt invigorating on my chest and back. I took my sweatshirt and tied it around my waist. I folded and tucked my t-shirt and Akasha’s bra in my back pocket.  

Anton was standing just a little bit from us, rolling his shoulders. A look of frustration on his face. His eyes were closed, and the muscles in his face clenched. For a moment, it looked like he was trying to take a shit. Anton inhaled deeply and slowly exhaled. That look of concentration still on his face.  

I walked over to him and put my hand on his shoulder. Anton’s eyes flashed open. He looked embarrassed.  

“My Lord,” Anton said in a soft hush, “I do not know why this is so difficult for me.”  

I smiled at him. “Take a deep breath, Anton. You are trying too hard.”  

Anton closed his eyes and did as I asked. I closed my eyes and could sense his mental block.  

“Anton, you spent so many years believing you were not Dragon enough. But you are. The High Court treated you like a second-class Dragon. You aren’t. Breathe Anton. Inhale. Hold. Exhale. Let go. Your wings are already there, just let them out.”  

I felt a shudder run through Anton’s body. His shoulder tensed under my hand. Then his wings unfolded with a soft sigh. I opened my eyes and met Anton’s steady gaze. Anton stepped forward and hugged me, burying his face in my throat for a moment before pulling back.  

“Thanks,” he said softly, his eyes glassy with unshed tears. “I didn’t realize how much I needed to hear that, my Lord.”  

I took a step back from Anton. My hand was still on his shoulder. “I’m proud to have you by my side, Anton.”  

“Glad to be here, my Lord.”  

“Shall we go find that family now?”  

Anton nodded. “Lead the way, my Lord.”  

Anton took a step back, giving me a little bit of room. I crouched down, tensed my legs, drew my wings back, and then leapt up into the air as hard as I could. I flapped my wings hard, propelling myself up into the sky. I heard Akasha and Anton shooting up towards me. The powerful flaps of their wings in the air below me.   

I flapped my wings, hovering in the air some hundred feet above the ground, getting my bearings. Then I turned north-west and flapped hard, shooting off in the direction where I knew that family waited on the cliffs over Tenaya Creek.