"Dragonfruit" by Makiia Lucier, Chapters 28-35 : Thinkmap Visual Thesaurus

Hanalei slipped her hand in his, and he held on tight, a moment’s solace before he let go, afraid he would crush her fingers.

Only when they teetered under the weight of their bounty did Liko and Bayani move on, heading to the beach.

Hundreds of eyes peered out at them. White eyes and yellow ones, a few disconcerting red.

Two tentative hearts beating—baby dragons in their shells.

lag

He pointed first at Moa, then at poor Catamara, who lagged behind, clutching at his side.

Hanalei pictured Vaea lying prone from a spider bite.

Hanalei beckoned them over, calling out, “She won’t hurt you!” and found she had to repeat her words for the poor boy’s sake.

It took some coaxing, but they managed to get him on the seadragon.

They glowered at one another, and Sam felt his heart crack.

“She would hate this limbo. We have to try.”

Only Sam stayed awake, keeping vigil, and so it happened that he was the only one who saw when his mother’s eyes opened at last, near dawn.

The building sat on the far edge of the palace complex, separated from other offices by a copse of flame trees.

They rode through the heart of the city, twin princes on their kandayos, garnering stares and double stares along the way.

Jejomar straddled the dragon and held the frill gingerly in his hands.

Sam looked at Hanalei, who smiled gamely, and said, “Where is that list of yours, Sam? You will have to dust it off.”

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