The iridescent scales that peppered Thisbe’s arms and legs caught the dim light. Fifer saw that the scales lay flat now, but she had seen them stand up before. She took a moment to study them, wondering how they felt, then tentatively ran her forefinger over Thisbe’s forearm. The scales’ edges were sharp, but not enough to cut her. They were admittedly beautiful, like natural jewelry—almost beautiful enough to tempt Fifer into drinking some of the dragon-bone broth, which had caused them to appear. Not that she had access to it, so it wasn’t really an option. Besides, would any human really want to have permanent scales? Did Thisbe hate them? Resent them? Or . . . maybe she loved them. The dragon-bone broth had definitely given Thisbe some otherworldly, mystical powers, though they appeared to be small and as yet undefined. Fifer nibbled on her lip, reluctantly admiring the scales. When Thisbe stirred, Fifer took her hand away and turned again toward Simber, gauging his level of crankiness. He still seemed extra mad.

Eventually Thisbe groaned and sat up, not quite sure what had happened. The look on Fifer’s face made her afraid to ask, but she did anyway. “Where are we? Is Sky here?” Thisbe winced and looked all around, feeling guilty. This was all her fault. The grim silence confirmed that Sky was nowhere to be found in this depressing place.

Once the last of the waves created by the volcano’s emergence ricocheted off the shores of the distant mainland, the lake around them became eerily still. Hordes of insects gathered and buzzed just above the surface. Occasionally a mysterious ripple stirred the water.

On the mainland, a thick layer of mist hovered over a city of ancient ruins. Kaylee clambered partway up the volcano and peered toward it. “No people over there,” she reported. “At least none that I can see from this distance.” But she spotted all sorts of bushes along the shoreline bearing colorful fruit, a stark contrast to the rest of the world. “There’s potential for food if we need it,” she added. “I don’t know about this water, though.” She wrinkled her nose at the dank lake and sniffed her sodden clothes. “We shouldn’t drink it unless we get really desperate, and even then we’ll have to boil it.” There was nothing resembling firewood anywhere on the rocky volcano.

“Maybe there’s a well on land,” Carina said, pointing to the ruins. “Or a freshwater river.”

“We’rrre not going anywherrre,” said Simber in an angry growl. “We’rrre staying herrre all togetherrr until this volcano sinks and takes us with it.”

Fifer glanced nervously at the stone cheetah and stood up. “It’s going to be fine,” she declared with confidence she didn’t feel. And though it felt natural to be in this leadership role, her voice wavered. “It’s just a small setback.”