274 The North

"Good, good," said Li, nodding to Tia and to himself. He held her close to him, making sure the vines attaching him to the Vukanovi were secure. "Tia, how about we go back inside with the others?"

Tia shook her head and yawned. "No. Want to stay here. With just papa." She blinked a few times as she smiled and stared straight down, her sight scanning across the sheer length of the mountainside. "And like seeing this. Very new. Never see big rock so close before."

"Mountain," corrected Li. 

"Mountain," nodded Tia. "Very, very big. Like it. Maybe, if I grow up and find new home for papa and me, it will be on mountain."

"Is the cottage not enough for you?" asked Li, a little worried. After all, perhaps the small confines of the cottage did restrict her somehow, considering she was a dragon and all.