The next morning arrived the way mornings always did in the sanctuary—gradually, then all at once.
Light crept through the ironwood vines first. Then birdsong from the ridge. Then, with the inevitability of water finding its level, the sounds of six snakelings who had been patient for approximately as long as snakelings were capable of being patient, which was until roughly dawn.
"They're ready," Jade announced from the entrance of the alcove, in the tone of someone delivering a formal report. He had arranged his siblings behind him in what was clearly meant to be an orderly line, and had achieved something that was orderly only if you were grading on a very generous curve. Ripple was pressed against his side. Sterling had Onyx's tail wrapped around his wrist. River was at the back, watching everything. Siddy was technically in the line but had interpreted "line" as a flexible concept.
"Ready for what?" Alex asked, though he already knew.
