Mara stood and stretched out sleep-stiff joints as the first rays of the sun began to cut across the grasslands, turning the reddish tips of the kala grass to bright gold. A morning gecko sang out nearby, a light, trilling sound that drifted across the plain. 

Her skin prickled. Something was coming. 

Mara dropped low, palm flat to the earth. Head tilted to the side, she listened to the breeze drifting through the kala grass, all of her senses wide and aware. Whatever the threat was, it wasn’t near, she concluded; she would finish her patrol of the grasslands and return to the Singing Mountain as scheduled. 

It was time to move. 

“Come on, Loli,” she said, nudging the rancor with her foot. The big beast shifted in place, like a small child pretending sleep. “Time to get up.” 

No. Don’t wanna, the rancor grumbled. 

“It’s time,” Mara said firmly. 

Loli uncurled, slowly lifting herself to her full height, rising up and up until she was obscured by the morning fog. 

Mara grinned. “You’re getting so big,” she said, scratching Loli’s side. 

Hungry, Loli complained. 

“We’ll find you a hosho nest,” Mara told her. “The blue ones you like.” 

The rancor extended her arm and Mara swung herself up onto the rancor’s arm, bracing herself on the hide as Loli lifted her upward until she could reach the saddle straps and pull herself onto Loli’s back. The rancor grumbled again as Mara patted her side affectionately. 

The morning mist still hung over the grassland, though it would burn off in less than an hour. Mara clicked her tongue and Loli ambled forward, moving carefully. As soon as she warmed up, she would pick up speed, loping across the grasslands just for the joy of it. 

Hosho? Loli asked.