Aiden lowered the camera. He rubbed his thumbs along its sides. It wasn’t sleek or modern, but that wasn’t a bad thing in Aru’s opinion. She could tell that for Aiden, the camera was like a blanket or teddy bear (or, in Aru’s case, a pillow inthe shape of a fried egg named Eggy). Kinda dumpy-looking, but obviously loved.
“It’s a Hasselblad that belonged to my dad,” said Aiden. “It’s from 1998, back when he wanted to be a photographer. A mechanic in the Night Bazaar modified the internal mechanism of the SLR and converted it into your modern digital SLRandadded a Bluetooth chip. That way, the photos don’t have to be developed butautomatically get sent to my phone, to check out, and to my laptop, for editing.”
Aru and Mini just blinked at him. Aru hadno ideawhat he’d just said.
“That’s … good?” offered Mini. “Especially that he gave it to you?”
“Yeah,” said Aiden, but then the corners of his mouth tugged down. “He said it was a present, but I think he just didn’t want it anymore. He doesn’t want a lot of things anymore.”
A loud squawking made the three of them look up.
Aiden looked through the camera. “Uh-oh.”
Suddenly, ringing so loudly in their minds that both Aru and Mini clapped their hands over their ears (as if thatwouldmake a difference), came Brynne’s voice:GET TO THE DOOR!
No longer was Brynne a distant speck in the sky. Now she was zooming back toward them, and she wasn’t alone. The monster swanwas hot on her heels, squawking loudly.
“RUN!” Aiden shouted.
They raced to the hanging door.
“Vajra!” called Aru.
The lightning bolt had been lying on the ground, waiting for her command. Now it transformed into a glittering hover-board, long enough to hold the three of them.
“Woo-hoo!” Aru said.
Getting Vajra to transform was no easy feat. But at least Aru was getting better at it. Allshe had to do was keep her focus. They jumped on, and Vajra zoomed toward the bright blue door. Aiden held out the key.
Behind them, they heard loud squawking from the other bird. Aru risked a glance over her shoulder and saw Swan-Brynne flying as fast as she could toward the door.
“Faster, Aiden!” yelled Mini, as he tried to jam the key into the lock.
“I’m going as fast as I can!”
Finally,the key turned. The door swung open. The three of them tumbled onto the floor. Vajra swung backward, and the force of the lightning bolt slammed the door shut.
“Oh no! Brynne’s still out there!” said Mini.
Aru, her chest heaving, jumped to her feet and threw open the door. “I’m sure she—”
Swan-Brynne flew straight into Aru. Both girls wereknockeddown. Aru hit her head,hard, against the floor.It hurt like anything. There was another flash of blue light as Brynne transformed back into a girl. She was breathing heavily. Her eyes were red and … teary?
Aru’s sarcasticThanks a lot!died on her lips. “Brynne?”
“Did you try to leave me behind?” she asked. Brynne was gripping her mace so hard that Aru felt bad for the weapon.
Mini was the first to recover. “No? That’s why Aru opened thedoor….”
Brynne lowered the mace. She took a deep breath. “I knew that.” Then she raised her chin and crossed her arms. “Well, go on. Say it.”
“It wasmyidea, too. I’m not saying thank you—”
Brynne looked shocked. “Thank you?That’s what you thought I meant?”
Now it was Aru’s turn to be confused. “What’d you think I was going to say?”
“No jokes about turning into a bird?”
