Mina could feel his readiness—​through Pixit’s thoughts, she could sense the strength in his muscles and wings. His instincts were telling him It’s time! so loudly that she was itching to fly too.

Jyx was protesting. “Hey, we’re ready to fly! How are we going to collect lightning if we can’t reach the clouds? And what about electricity lessons? Someone needs to teach us how to spark!”

Her words had zero impact. “Come inside,” Professor Dano said, “and we will discuss why the phrase ‘collect lightning’ is incorrect. Lightning is the result of electromagnetic discharge, when positive charge is drawn to negative charge between the cloud and—”

“Yeah, I get that. Remember my parents were lightning guardians? Heard all that before. The time for lectures is over!”

“It’s over when I say it’s over,” Professor Dano snapped.

Tilting her head back, Mina looked at the sky. Other storm beasts were circling the towers, silhouetted against the sun. She held her hand up to shield her eyes. Professor Dano wasn’t going to be swayed by Jyx’s pleading.

But there are other ways to argue. She remembered the letter she’d left propped on the kitchen table for her parents to read.

Nice weather, she commented to Pixit.

«Yes, it is.» She tasted his curiosity, sweet and fluffy like lemon pie. She knew he could sense that an idea was taking shape.

It would be sad to spend the day inside.

«Yes, it would be. Very sad.»

Both of them looked back at Professor Dano. He’d picked up their textbooks from the shelves by the field and was herding Chauda and Jyx toward the open doors. Inside looked damp and shadowy.

«My wings are not too immature.»

She trusted Pixit—​and the opinion of the school doctors—​but the problem was Professor Dano. He didn’t seem to want to admit they were ready. She knew she couldn’t convince him with words, even if she could find the right ones to say, but there were other ways to be heard. If he sees with his own eyes . . .

Pixit radiated excitement, with sparks jumping off the tips of his wings, as he read the idea in her mind. «Let’s fly!»

He bounded across the practice field, stretching his wings out to either side and pumping them up and down. She heard Professor Dano calling after them, and Jyx cheering. She felt wind in her face and had to squint to see—​ahead of them was the wall of one of the three towers.

Pixit ran faster. His claws scraped the dirt. His wings pumped harder. And then—​she felt him lunge up into the air. And then thump down. Professor Dano called out to them to stop, but both Mina and Pixit ignored him.

Faster. And faster.

Wings up, down, up, down, up, down.

Another leap!