At home Sunshine stands blinking at the front door holding my rucksack in his beak. I sit on the porch glad to see my griffon's okay, but my mind is numb. Danny sits with me. He's gone silent. He does that when something goes terribly wrong. He hasn't said a word since we pulled him off his patrol and Charlie explained in rational terms what we think has happened to Geordie. I can't stand waiting for Charlie to finish his conference with Courtney. My hands have gotten the shakes.
Sunshine drops the rucksack on my knee. He carried my rucksack all the way home. I don't get it. It's just some dumb rucksack. I stare into dark grey clouds. This is it. I'm looking hard but can't see past the grey.
Sunshine nudges my shoulder with his beak.
The whooshing of griffon wings. Charlie and Hotaru ar
