Mina grinned and glanced at Pixit.

«There were jewels. I didn’t miss.»

She repeated that to the others, and Ferro high-fived Pixit, hand to paw.

Zek thought for a moment. “I was mean to Ferro once,” he said finally.

“Just once? Not daily? Oh, wait, actually mean?” Ferro frowned. “I don’t remember that.”

“You didn’t know it was me,” Zek said. “I told people you wore burned underwear. Said you had Brindle spark on them and then you wore them, on purpose. I thought it would be funny. But you didn’t think it was.” He was staring at the wall as he talked.

“I didn’t,” Ferro said quietly.

“Sorry.”

“I had no idea that was you.”

“Yeah.”

There was an awkward silence.

Mina said, “Our storms are killing people. And I think the prime minister knows and is refusing to do anything about it.” It was easier to say this time, especially after what everyone else had just volunteered. “I know this because I crossed the mountains, talked to outsiders, and then confronted the prime minister, accidentally, and I would have been expelled, but Professor Dano saved me.”

All three guardians and their beasts stared at her, every mouth open.

“We’re going to need a lot more detail than that,” Jyx said.

And so Mina told them everything: Professor Dano assigning the old storm-guardian books, the disaster in the thunderstorm and the crash on the other side of the border, the three search-and-rescue-team outsiders from the outpost, and word for word what she’d said to the prime minister and what had happened after.

It was the longest she’d ever spoken in her life, and it made her feel like she wanted to crawl out of her skin, hide under her bed, and let the shell she’d left behind continue talking. But she knew it needed to be said, so she didn’t stop.

“Wow,” Jyx said when she’d finished.

“You are way cooler than I thought you were,” Ferro said admiringly.

“You really did that?” Zek asked. “I don’t think you’re lying,” he added quickly. “I’ve heard rumors about guardians causing storms, I think we all have”—​beside him, Ferro nodded solemnly—​“but I didn’t know you were brave.”

“Just because she’s quiet doesn’t mean she isn’t brave,” Jyx said, throwing her arm around Mina’s shoulders. “Really glad you didn’t get expelled.”

“Is it true?” Ferro said. “About the ten-year storms? And people dying?”

Mina nodded.

“So why did you tell us this?” Zek asked. “What do you expect us to do?”