Rain was slowly coming to. He groaned like he was in pain, but as I floated in to check, he recognized me and waved me off.

“I had someone like that. A girlfriend. We could talk all night. My ex-girlfriend, now,” Byron said.

“We’re not girlfriends, though,” Cassie said, hurrying to protest. “I like boys and she really likes boys. I really want to clarify because I don’t want me being horrible with words to tank any chances she has with—”

“Stop,” Rachel said. “You’re rambling, and you get mad at yourself when you get carried away.”

“Stopping,” Cassie said.

Rain worked his way to a sitting position. The silence hung heavy.

“Good?” Byron asked.

“I’m goddamn sore, and even more tired than I’m sore. It’s dark out? What the hell day is it?”

“Same day. We woke you up early,” Byron said. “Once you’re fit to ride, we’ll see if we woke up the others, or screwed with them.”

“Okay,” Rain said. “Water?”

“I’ve got broth for nutrients and shit,” Rachel said.

“My suggestion,” Cassie said, happy.

“I’ve put my lips on the rim, I don’t know if you’re a pussy about that sort of thing.”

“You can’t say that,” Cassie said. “Pussy.”

Rachel sighed, heavy. “When I say pussy I mean the lame-as-shit, wimpy-ass, useless-for-anything joyless dead-behind-the-eyes cat, okay?”

“Good,” Cassie said.

“There’s probably backwash in here too,” Rachel said. “People are pussies about that too.”

“I’ll wait,” Rain said.

“My parents pack everything,” I told him. “They’ll have water.”

“We going?” Rachel asked.

“Go,” I said.

“Yips! Up! Get going!”

As soon as Yips was off the ground, the three dogs were running. I flew alongside, leaning on the Wretch. My hands were cold. Again, I felt the aches and pains.

“Depending on what follows, we might go back, see if we can find any capes who aren’t tied up with other things,” I said.

“What else were you thinking?” Byron asked.

“Power copiers to copy Precipice and get his emotion power, or see if there’s a Heartbroken or someone else with a power that’s subtle enough.”

“Amias,” Cassie said. “He’s young, though.”

I winced.

“I don’t think we know any power copiers who work that flexibly,” Byron said.

“Any power that was subtle enough would work,” I said. “If they want to stay locked up, then let’s make the conditions as unpleasant as possible, and see if they crack.”

“Ahh,” Byron said.

“They’re locked up?”

“Essentially,” I said.

“My power helps,” Rain said. “You want to help them?”

“The way I see it, it helps when you’re doing something. Makes your mistakes more pointed, so you learn from them. But if you’re doing nothing at all, then—”

“Regret,” Rain said. “Doubt. Self-loathing.”