CHAPTER 127

"I need to find that one that fell," Dana told her, then picked up her laptop and slid it into her messenger bag. "See if we can pull any data off of it."

"Let's go!" Quetzalli pointed her stick over the jungle in the general direction the drone had fallen. While the dragon was no good to her in tracking the drones over any distance, once they were close enough, she could pinpoint any internal circuitry that still carried a current. "Are you interested in hearing how hail is formed?"

Dana almost said no, but nodded instead. "Sure am." If Quetzalli started on weather formations, it meant that Dana wouldn't have to hold up her part of the conversation.

They began the long trek down the trail that took them to the jungle floor. This area was burned into Dana's mind, she had traveled it so many times. She was also grateful that she didn't get tired, because the trip back up took time and energy, and she sometimes had to do it a few times a day if her luck with the drones was bad.

They wandered through the jungle for a bit. The trip was made easier today by a series of trails that the centaurs had established and maintained for themselves. From experience, Dana knew that the trails traveled the base of the cliffs and went to a set of waterfalls. She had no idea where the water actually came from, as the entrance to the greenhouse from inside of it was simply a wall of glass windows that went all the way up into the sky and extended out toward the horizon. For all she knew, if she walked along the glass, she might inevitably come back on the other side.

Quetzalli was deep in discussion about how updrafts could trap water droplets when a small cluster of centaurs came around the corner. They were carrying assorted baskets stuffed full of plant matter, and Zel was leading them.

Zel broke away from the group and came close. "I didn't expect to run into you today!"

"Well, you did, so you can guess what that means." Her lip twitched.

"Lost another one?" Zel smiled and put a hand on Dana's shoulder. "I really do appreciate the help you've already given to us. Just because you haven't found success doesn't mean the effort hasn't been noticed."

Dana nodded. "It doesn't make me feel better, though. I wish I could do more."

"There will be plenty of time for more. Hi, Quetzalli, how are you today?" Zel bowed to the dragon.

"Right as rain." Quetzalli bowed back. "Are you excited for your ceremony?"

Zel nodded. "I'm a bit nervous, I'll admit. My aunt will be taking over as head shaman once I am officially the leader of the Herd. It sounds like you've all been a bit busy at the house, I hardly see Mike anymore."

"He's apparently headed for the Underworld." Dana filled Zel in on what she knew, and Zel paused her long enough to instruct the other centaurs to continue about their tasks.

Once Dana was finished, Zel chuckled. "That man is always getting into trouble. I wish I could do more for him, but I'm going to be busy enough down here."

"I figured as much. Running things must keep you busy."

"It does. But it's nice to feel like part of the herd again." Zel smiled and then leaned toward Dana. "And you need to take better care of yourself. Your eyes are already grey."

In response, Dana's stomach growled.

"Well, guess I better get going then. See if I can find this drone before I need to snack. I'll see you around."

"You had better." Zel gave Dana a hug and then looked at Quetzalli. "And you're coming to the ceremony, right?"

"I wouldn't miss it." Quetzalli bowed, and Zel departed, stopping long enough to pick up her basket before galloping away.

They continued onward, and Dana checked the map a few times to make sure they were on the right course. It had been almost an hour since they departed the cliffs, and when they stepped into a small clearing, Quetzalli's arm shot forward, her finger pointing up into the tree.

"It's up there," she said.

"Thanks." Dana looked where Quetzalli pointed, but still couldn't see it. She pulled her computer out and attempted to connect. Once connected, she used the camera to try and pinpoint its exact position by walking around until she spotted herself.

When she finally spotted it, she groaned. It was quite a ways up, which meant she would have to climb. She took off her bag and set it on the ground and then scrambled up the tree.

It took her a bit to get up. The branches didn't allow for a lot of space by the trunk, and she kept getting tangled in vines. It also didn't help that the trunk of the tree was covered in thick thorns that occasionally stuck her. Still, once she was high enough, the drone was within reach. A slender branch was stuck in one of the rotors, so she climbed out onto the tree branch and worked to free it.

The branch creaked beneath her, and when she finally freed the drone, she tried to crawl back toward the trunk with it.

The branch snapped, causing her to lose her footing. She fell out of the tree and landed on the ground with a thud.

"Are you okay?" asked Quetzalli.

"Yeah, I'm good." Dana stood and held up the drone triumphantly. "Got it!"

Quetzalli's eyes widened in horror, and Dana followed her gaze to see that her forearm now had an additional joint in it. Her ulna had snapped and was pressing up beneath her skin.

"Ah, shit." She dropped the drone and grabbed her wrist and gave it a yank. The bones crunched back into place and she could feel them mending beneath the skin. A powerful wave of hunger rolled through her, and she took a deep breath and sat down on a nearby log.

"Are you better now?" Quetzalli asked.

"Traded one disaster for another. Hand me my bag?" She held her hand out, and Quetzalli picked up the laptop bag and handed it over. When the dragon bent over, her breasts pushed together in a way that made Dana think of cake. Something with thick, creamy frosting and blueberry filling…