“Wait.” Stella moved the box back and forth and then in a circle. “The bird’s following the box.”

“Put my bracelet in,” Luna urged.

Luna’s bracelet was nearly identical to Stella’s, except the back of hers said MORI: FOR THE BIRDS.

Memento mori again.

The bracelet clicked into place, and the second bird shot into the air, this time with green eyes. The two birds spun in a circle around each other before flying toward the closed door.

“I wonder how they’re flying,” Nicole asked. “Drones are usually loud as hell.”

“I wonder where they’re trying to go,” Luna said, hopping up. She opened the door, but they didn’t make any moves to fly out of it.

“Slow your roll, small wonder,” Stella said. When she stood up, box in hand, the birds moved forward as she drew closer. “Oh, I get it. They’re tethered to the box. They’ll lead as long as the box is moving with them. Shall we journey to the underworld?”

“I’m not sure if we have time for this,” Alex said. “We don’t know where they’re going or how long it will take to get there.”

“Maybe we should split up,” Nicole offered. “Just in case, so we’re not all late.”

Luna said, “It’s my bracelet. I’m going.”

“Guess that means I’m going too. It’s Nicole’s box so she should probably come with,” Stella said. “And someone needs to stay behind to fill Harlow and Francis in when they wake up.”

“Guess that leaves me.” Alex looked at Luna, who said, “I’ll be super careful. I’ve definitely gotten being a daredevil out of my system.”

Tablets and satchels full of their presents, Stella, Nicole, and Luna set off without Alex. The birds flew a steady few feet ahead, and just as Stella concluded, if the box stopped moving, the birds paused.

“They’re kind of freaking me out,” Nicole said. “I don’t see an engine of any kind. But aeronautics isn’t my thing.”

“Jewel has a whole tech company. I know they make more than apps. It probably came from there.”

“Thanks for the tidbit, little bit,” Stella said.

Luna glared at her. “You know, you tell people they can only call you Stella.”

“And?”

“So stop calling me little! Or any other nickname you come up with about my size. My name is Luna.”

Stella pretended to consider it. “Do you want to know why I do it?”

“Because I’m sh—um, I’m not tall?”

“No. Well, yes.” Stella smiled as sweetly as she could manage at her. “But it’s also because I don’t have any siblings. It’s just me and my parents all the time. I’ve always wished I had someone like you around. So, I’ve decided to adopt you. We’re sisters now. Me, you, and Nicole.”

“What—”