Jet's eyes were full, and she brushed a shining drop away. "But what will we do? They will throw us out...how can we raise her properly?"

"They are going to throw you out along with me?" Ebony asked, stiffening as his blood began to boil.

"No, no," Jet said, "Obsidian said I could stay, but of course I will not - I cannot, with you gone!"

Ebony clutched the precious egg tighter to his chest, and he clutched his wife closer to him, but he knew what had to be done. "No, beloved. Our child must not be raised as I must now live, on the run," he said sadly. "You must stay here and raise her."

Jet's jaw dropped. "Without you?? Me, stay here?"

"My love, my love, we cannot risk our unborn child to the heat of the desert and the fury of Saliss that awaits me out there," Ebony pleaded, though the thought of travelling without his wife and child sank into his breast like lead.

"But," Jet began, then stopped.

Ebony took her claws in his gently. "I cannot risk you either, love. You are not fit for the cruelty of the desert. I risked you once to bring you here and I never shall again. Our child shall not be without her father for long, I promise that as far as it is in my power. I will come back for you both as quickly as I can...and when I return...I pray that I may be carrying the ember," he finished quietly.

"And that wretch Dertharion, by the scruff of his ear!" the normally gentle Jet snarled. "How I would like to get my claws into him!"

Ebony sighed as the outburst served only to remind him of his situation. How had his life of many years been broken completely by the events of a few days?

The hopeful part of his brain pointed out, "If it was broken in a few days, it can be fixed in a few days!"

The pessimistic side of his brain replied with a snort.

Ebony shook himself out of his mental argument, glancing outside the hut. The morning sunlight was already deepening into afternoon colors. It was time to say goodbye. He looked from the egg to Jet, and Jet to the egg, fixing their images in his mind. Please, let this be the right decision...he pleaded.

Jet saw the look in his eyes and lunged at him, resting her head on his chest. "I know you have to go," she mumbled into his scales, "but I can't bear it." Then, suddenly, she drew back, raising her chin. "No. I have to bear it.

She looked at him. Though her eyes were moist, they were full of determination. "Goodbye, my love."

He hugged her to him one last time. "Goodbye. Please give my farewells to my- Obsidian's people. Tell them that I will reclaim what I lost." Regretfully, he set the egg down, and, with one last stroke of its smooth shell, he went to the opening.

"I will tell them," Jet said, her voice strong. "And I will take care of our baby."

Ebony glanced back at her, but his vision turned strangely dim, and he could only see her silhouette. "I love you, Jet." With that, he slid from the house and flapped away as fast as he could. He headed for the forest edge, branches snapping and twisting from the force of his mad rush. It seemed as if the speed should ease his pain, but his heart still ached no matter how hard he pumped his wings. Calm down, he said to himself, this isn't going to be fixed in an instant. He slowed down, weaving with more care through the webs of vines and tree limbs. Ahead of him, the jungle stretched, and, beyond that, a vast desert awaited him.