“They always come back in the end. You’ll see.” Wolf Boy hesi-
tated. “Mind if I ask you something?”

Sonja shook her head.

“What’s wrong with your fingers? They’re always jiggling about.”

“It started when my Talent was stolen. I think they miss playing.
I guess it’s sort of an expression of how I feel inside.”

They walked side by side into the Ancient Gardens. In the
dark, the giant flowers were big creepy shadows. A breeze whistled
through their leaves. Sonja grabbed at Wolf Boy’s fur cape and
whispered, “What if one of those enormous ants attacks us?”

“Don’t worry,” he replied, laughing. “Remember, I eat insects.”

At that precise moment, a ladybug the size of a cat buzzed out
of the grass.

Sonja shrieked. The insect flew toward her, flapping frantically.
Wolf Boy jerked Sonja out of the way. “It’s only a ladybug!” he
yelled.

The ladybug disappeared over the flower tops.

Wolf Boy’s arms tightened around Sonja’s waist. She looked up
at him. His green eyes flashed. “You look nice when you’re not
talking.”

“Is that a compliment?” Sonja asked, confused.

He touched the end of one of her curls. “Your hair. It’s sort of
pretty. You should let it grow down to your feet like Alexandria.”

Sonja’s face turned bright red. “That’s ridiculous,” she said,
pulling away. She felt her heart pounding against her ribs.

“Oh, well. Forget I said anything.” Wolf Boy trudged off into
the meadow. ♦