The man beside them had frozen at the sound.
He was looking up at the barrier with an expression that was no longer just appreciation. Whatever he was feeling, it was deeply personal, mixed with a sense of wonder.
"Storm dragon," he said.
The words came out softly, almost to himself first, then louder as he turned to the group.
"That's what that is. A storm dragon." He looked back up at the barrier. "They live in the storms. Hunt in them too."
"The sand and the wind are their natural environment, the same way the desert floor is natural for the Chilopodas." He paused. "I've seen one once. At the tail end of a storm, just before it passed out of sight"
"The back half of it was visible for maybe three seconds before it was gone." He shook his head slowly. "It was enormous. It had scales that looked like they were made from compressed sand, and you could barely tell where the dragon ended and the storm began."
"Is that why they warn against walking in a storm?" Melody asked.
