Talon picked up Sean in his gentle, giant arms. Simber, Alex, Carina, Henry, and Ms. Octavia followed, while the rest of the party headed back to the ship or to the beach to get some rest.

Talon’s bed was a feather-stuffed mattress under a canopy of palms, whose leaves had knitted together naturally to form a waterproof ceiling and walls on three sides. The bronze giant set Sean gently on one end of the bed, leaving plenty of room for others to rest comfortably in other corners of it if they so desired, as it was quite the largest bed Alex had ever seen.

Talon showed Henry around his castle, as he called it, pointing out other things that would make the team more comfortable throughout the hours ahead. Henry, Carina, and Ms. Octavia went to work making things cozy for Sean. Carina shooed Simber, Alex, and Talon away to the lagoon, where the fire had been before the eel destroyed it.

They talked as they walked, Simber clearly warming up to Talon after all that had happened.

“We’ll help you sorrrt thrrrough the wrrreckage once we’ve all had a good sleep,” Simber said to Talon.

“It’s very kind of you to offer, thank you.”

Something told Alex that Talon wouldn’t actually mind having to do all the cleanup work himself. He seemed like he might get bored at times.

Talon added, “I’m just grateful that Karkinos wasn’t hurt. The eel could have cracked his shell. Oh, Karkinos . . .” He hesitated, like he wanted to say more, but closed his lips instead.

“That would have been terrible,” Alex agreed. He turned to Simber. “Did you think the eel seemed bigger, Sim?”

“Rrremarrrkably so.”

“And then everything that happened with Lhasa,” Talon added, shaking his head as if he were trying to understand it all. “Simber, will you explain what happened? How did that tiny kitten bring Lhasa back to life? I have so many questions. Is she a god?”

Simber offered a rare grin. “She is not, to my knowledge, a god. Though it turns out she is a most unselfish feline. Perrrhaps she’ll tell herrr storrry. I see she’s gatherrred therrre with the otherrrs.” He looked at Alex. “You know I don’t need to sleep, but I am prrroperrrly bushed rrright now. Arrre you holding up all rrright?”

Alex nodded. “I’m fine. Just tired and sore. I think it’ll be nice to sleep out here tonight. Look,” he said, pointing, “Sam has our fire going again. I bet he used an origami dragon to start it. He’s always looking for reasons to use those.”

Talon listened to their conversation with a curious look on his face. “Your magic is very strange and interesting,” he said. “I should like to know more. Our dragon, Pan, can light fires too, but she doesn’t come on shore, so her skill isn’t very useful to us.”

“You have a dragon?” Alex asked as they reached the fire. “A real one?”

“A coiled water dragon who rules the sea,” Talon said. “She comes around now and then.”

Alex couldn’t believe it. What else was here? He didn’t want to leave.

They sat down. After the long, eventful evening, Lani and Samheed, bickering once more, said good night to the others and headed back to the ship, where Sky, Crow, Copper, and many of the others already had gone.

Alex leaned up against Simber’s side. Fox dozed, curled up but quite far back from the fire—he didn’t want to become kindling. Kitten played pounce with a tiny sand bug, while Lhasa lounged just above the ground nearby, watching Kitten play. Florence stoked the fire, and Talon settled in. It was time to hear Kitten’s story . . . as told by Simber.

And Fox.

The Tale of Kitten LaRue

Talon watched the playful kitten with amusement. “I should ask Vido the rooster how such a tiny thing can do such a large deed. Tell us your story, Kitten.”

The kitten looked up from the bug she was chasing and saw that all eyes were on her, except for the sleeping Fox’s. “Mewmewmew,” she said.

Immediately Fox jumped to his feet, bleary eyed. “She says she is so happy to be here with you all today, and you are her very special friends—” Fox stopped abruptly when he saw Simber. He lay down again and put his paws over his nose. “Sorry. I forgot.”

Talon tilted his head, looking from Fox to Simber. A smile played at his lips. “If it’s all right with you, Simber, I’d like to hear Fox’s interpretation, and then yours.”

Simber stared at Talon, saying nothing.

“There, there,” Alex said, reaching back to pat Simber’s neck. “Just close your eyes and pretend it’s not happening. Just this once.”

“Good grrrief,” the cat growled, but didn’t object.

“You are kind to humor me, fine cheetah,” Talon said. He turned to Fox. “Continue, if you please.”

Fox pushed his nose up from the sand. “Me?” His fearful eyes darted from Talon to Simber and back again.

“Yes, of course,” Talon said.

“Go on, Fox,” Alex said. “Simber’s not going to do anything.”

Fox cautiously got to his feet. “Well.” He cleared his throat. “As I was saying, Kitten is so happy to be here with you all, her very special friends.” He glanced at Simber, who lay with eyes closed, a pained expression on his face, and then continued. “She feels especially thankful for, um, the shiny guy, whom she considers to be her best friend, except for Fox, of course. Ahem.”

Kitten hopped. “Mewmewmew!”