“Are you sure he’s not a rain beast you painted yellow? Keep trying. The rest of you, let’s fly.” Vira jumped onto Loon’s back, and with a single massive flap of his wings, he rose into the air. Wind whooshed out beneath him. “You can join us when you’re ready to be one of us, Mina.”

“Awesome!” Jyx said as the wind knocked her back. Hurrying, she clambered onto Chauda. “Ready?” she said to her beast. Chauda snorted back at her. “Oh. Right. Mina?”

Mina smiled, albeit weakly. “It’s okay.”

“You sure? We’re supposed to be doing this together. Best friends—”

She didn’t want to keep Jyx from the air. Already they’d been waiting for Pixit to grow strong enough. It wasn’t fair to delay her any longer. Mina shook her head. “Best friends don’t hold each other back. Besides, we’ll concentrate better alone.”

“If you’re sure?”

“I’m sure.” Mina faked a smile.

“Join us as soon as you can.”

“Lean forward as your beast runs,” Vira instructed from the air, where Loon hovered. “Your weight position is important if you want a smooth takeoff.” Huffing, Chauda thundered forward, and Mina watched as Chauda and Jyx lifted off, shakily but steadily rising.

Jyx whooped and punched the air.

“Once you’re airborne, stay in formation,” Vira ordered. “You’ll be tempted to soar all over the place, but trust me—​you don’t want to see how mad Professor Werrin will get if you go flying off beyond the borders of the barren lands. That’s one school rule you do not want to break. Understood?”

“Clear as day!” Jyx said, and then she grabbed for Chauda’s neck scales as Chauda wobbled in the air. “Whoa!”

“Keep a tight grip,” Vira called to her. “You fall, you die.”

They should use safety harnesses, Mina thought. Tie themselves to the beasts the way she and her family harnessed themselves to the fence during wind days. She wasn’t sure why the lightning guardians didn’t, especially the students. She thought back to the stationmaster who’d called other lightning guardians reckless. Maybe it was because of pride? Or maybe it was trust, in themselves and in their beasts. Still, it wasn’t very responsible.

«Is Jyx going to fall?» Pixit asked.

Mina realized her musing had leaked into Pixit. She’ll hold on, she reassured him, and Chauda won’t let her get hurt. Don’t worry. Just try to make my fingers spark so we can join them, okay? She worked to keep her mental voice as light as possible.