White foam swirled over my limbs as I sat in the foreshore. Water submerged me waist down, a feeble attempt to bury my transformation with the ocean. Every time I looked down, I glimpsed my red scales through the swishing waves.

A gust of wind expelled from my lungs. I couldn't process what had happened. Dragons shouldn't even be real. How could I have become one?

A realization crashed onto me, like the whole island compressed my shoulders.

Now I'll never get home.

I'd never see Lani again. I'd never grow up and become the journalist my parents wanted me to be. Because I was a dragon, a mythical beast that shouldn't exist. I flopped backward into the sand. A wave surged over my face. My lungs inhaled on impulse, and air filled them up.

I gasped. Wait...

Though submerged underwater, oxygen continued to flood my lungs. A spark of excitement jolted through me. Imagine all the swimming I could do, without a care as to my skin pruning up and my muscles aching, without worrying about what food I'd eat.

But was that what I wanted?

Tears formed at the corners of my eyes. I loved the ocean, but I didn't want to leave my family for the rest of my life.

"Oh dear."

Terror shot through me. I'd forgotten about Virgo's imposter, my captor on this island. A part of my brain begged to fly away, but fear paralyzed my limbs.

The sea swished. The woman waded toward me, worry engraved in her brow. Slowly, I moved my feet backward, but my balance shifted to the side, and I plopped into the water. A dainty face loomed over me, brown eyes looking me up and down.

This is ridiculous! a voice in my head screamed. You're larger than she is!

That didn't stop me from shaking. Every nerve, every muscle vibrated. She was alarmingly close. In one motion, she could stab me.

"You're Kiara, I presume," the woman said.

My throat constricted, any words strangled. My eyes refused to blink, to stop watching her for a fraction of a second.

The woman sighed. "The dragon brain must be pretty bad." She cleared her throat, her back straightening. "Hello, friend. I am Virgo, a Star Guardian. You have nothing to worry about. I will take care of you. Can you please try to tell me your name or anything you remember about yourself?"

With all my strength, I threw myself backward into the water. My feet grappled for leverage in the wet sand, pushing against the shifting surface.

"I will not hurt you, I promise," Virgo soothed. "I want to help you, if you'll let me."

I flipped onto all four limbs. My arm shot forward, but my feet didn't move fast enough, and I face-planted in the sand. I shoved myself up, and my legs propelled me into the ground again.

I stumbled a few frenzied paces at a time, balance swaying so that I kept falling forward, until dry ground crunched under me. I swiped the back of my paw across my sand-caked face, glancing over my shoulders. Virgo stood in the waves, white dress plastered to her skin. My limbs locked in place as my chest heaved, breath stabilizing. She made no movement forward, no attempt to chase or attack me. Pity alone glittered in her eyes.

It was a trap. My elbows unbuckled, feet racing forward, but I collapsed.

"I don't recommend you return to the forest," the woman's voice called.

I sensed her approaching, and I twisted onto my back. She now stood between the ocean and the beach, part of her feet on wet sand, the other half on dry.

"W-what do you want from me?" I stammered.

She seemed surprised, so surprised that she took a step forward. I scooted in the opposite direction, back scraping the granular turf.

"You speak English," she said.

I paused in confusion. Of course I spoke English, that was how I spoke to her the previous day.

"Yes..." I began.

"You can understand me," she said.

I gave a single nod. This had to be some sort of trap. My brain screamed at me to run, but my body was too tired.

"Did...did I do anything to...hurt you?"

My thoughts were a jumble. I didn't know what to make of her calm and caring demeanor. Once again, I was certain this was a trick question. Yet there was an earnest curiosity behind her words. Even though she had plenty of opportunities to attack me, she'd only shown concern.

So far.

"You...locked me in a tunnel," I said.

Virgo's brow twitched. "No, I put you down there to protect you."

"From what?" I scoffed.

"This island." She started forward. My muscles tensed, ready to spring into the forest. She planted herself several strides away, close enough that we didn't have to shout, but far enough that if she lunged for me, I had a shot at escape. "I guess I should have told you this before. This island is cursed."

"Cursed?"

"Tell me, did you see any spiders in the forest yesterday? Perhaps a tiny white one with bulging red eyes?"

I willed myself to recall yesterday's events. Perhaps I came across one inside the cave. It was dim inside, and I ran most of the time while awake, so I wouldn't have seen it.

A memory surfaced from the bottom of my mind. In my mind's eye, I saw a spider skittering across a tree branch.

"Yes!" I said. "I think I saw one while sitting in a tree."

"You climbed one of the trees?" Virgo's fingers slipped between the crosses of hair in her brown braid. "Oh, dear."

I shifted. The way she said 'oh dear' twisted my stomach in knots. "Is there something wrong with climbing trees?"

"That's where most of the curses remain. I've eliminated most of the ones on the ground, but that's forced most of the curses into the treetops." She paused for a moment, as if debating whether to ask me something. Slowly, her jaw unhinged. "What...what were you doing in the tree, anyway?"

Should I tell her? If she truly was a threat, I didn't want to alert her to my suspicions.

Tell her like it is, a voice inside me commanded. Make her feel bad for making you scared of her and for locking away your freedom.

I recoiled internally. That...was a first. I glanced at Virgo, who watched me intently.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah. I'm fine," I mumbled.

Quit mumbling! the voice said. It makes you seem timid.

My hand flew to my head. Blood pounded through it as my heart rate sped up.

"Kiara, is something wrong? What's going on?"

Stop being a weakling and answer her!

I fell backward. A cry flew from my lips as pain jabbed my wing. Virgo dropped onto her knees, then rolled me onto my stomach.

What are you doing? the voice bellowed. Don't let that woman touch you! You can take care of yourself!

Stop it, I thought. I sniffed back the tears collecting in my eyes. Stop it. Please.

Oh. I see. Now we're crying. Though the voice was only audible inside my head, I sensed it rolling its eyes.

"Your wing doesn't seem broken."

I snapped out of my thoughts. Virgo's tender hands moved over my injured appendage.

"It's caught under your body, bent at an angle," she continued. Gently, she stretched my wing away from my body and flipped me over. "It should be fine with some rest."

I nodded, head spinning from the commotion.

No! We can't rest. We need to get home to Lani! the voice declared.

Lani.

Lani!

"I-I need to get home," I sputtered. "I need to return to my sister."

Virgo stared down at me, eyes glittering with sorrow. "I'm so sorry. But you can't. Not right now."

Realization seared inside me like angry, red coals. The strain in my muscles released. I turned to dead weight sprawled on the sand.

"You're right. I'll never get back. I'll never be normal again." Tears stung my already dry cheeks. I didn't even try to hold them back.

"I didn't say that," Virgo said.

"You might as well," I spat. "I'll never get home."

"What makes you think that?"

Anger surged through me. Was she blind?

"Because I'm a dragon!" I yelled. "D-R-A-G-O-N! I can't go home in this state. If I'm not shot the moment someone sees me, I'll be sent to a zoo!"

Virgo's brown eyes regarded me. It took several deep breaths before I comprehended what happened.

"I-I'm sorry," I stammered. "I don't know what's gotten into me, or what's wrong with me, or..." I brought a paw over my eyes. "I just want to go home."

The dam inside me broke. Tears poured forth, oceans of them, bursting from a well deep inside that I didn't know existed. My chest spasmed, spittle dripping from my mouth, as my body squeezed every one free, every last tear of terror, frustration, or homesickness.

Every tear ached for Lani. Every tear ached for home.

The tears slowed with my breathing. The well was wrung dry, abandoned. A hollowness settled in its place. It was the knowledge I'd never return. Why was it so difficult? The truth was in plain view, yet I couldn't bring myself to accept it. Not now.

My lungs inhaled. Five seconds in, seven seconds out. Again. Five seconds in, seven seconds out.

The last tear stained the sand.

I looked up at Virgo. Her cheeks were gaunt with pain, like she shared my sorrows.

She doesn't know what I'm experiencing. Bitterness stirred in my already constricted chest. I didn't need her artificial sympathy.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I should've worked harder to get rid of that curse. This must be so hard on you. Especially with the dragon brain."

"Dragon brain? What..." I didn't have the will to finish. Fortunately, Virgo bobbed her head, already understanding my question.

"It's a side effect of the gadron spider bite. Essentially, you experience potent emotions, inclinations toward certain things, and some people hear voices in their heads. I'm assuming you are experiencing the latter, along with the first two."

"I think so," I said quietly.

You think so? You ought to know so!

I cringed. It was back again.

Virgo's lips upturned slightly. "Look, all hope is not lost. You may need to stay here a day or two to make sure your wings are strong, but then, we'll get you home."

"But how? I'm not exactly a human right now." I paused, squinting at her. "You wouldn't happen to be able to change me back, would you?"

For the first time since meeting her, I sensed a glint of mischief in her eyes. "No, but I know someone who can. You're going to meet the Gemini."