The cat glanced up, startled out of the hunt. Tess would have known those eyes anywhere.

“That’s Nine!” Tess said. “That’s her face, that’s her tail, those are her eyes!”

“Tess,” Jaime said.

“IT’S HER,” Tess roared, over the screeching of the feathered creature. Tess had to save the cat, had to, had to free her from his place, from this creature, whatever it was. Nine was brave and strong, but she couldn’t be a match for this sad and angry thing.

But the creature had noticed the cat now and had a new enemy. They circled each other warily. Tess yanked off her pack, searched. Held up the pair of wire cutters Aunt Esther had given them. Just in case.

“Tess!” said Theo.

“Are you sure it’s her?” Jaime said.

“Yes,” Tess hissed, going to work on the wire, sawing at it, squeezing with everything she had. Jaime grabbed at the edges of the cut wire and pulled to make a hole. As soon as it was big enough, Tess crawled through.

“No!” said Theo, “Let Nine come this way!”

But Tess wasn’t listening. She waved her arms. “Hey! I’m right here!”

The creature whipped around, then around again, unsure who was the bigger danger—or the tastier meal—girl or cat.

Girl.

The creature lunged at Tess. The cat jumped, her own vicious claws unsheathed. She raked them against the creature’s back, feathers flying. The creature screamed. The cat ducked and dodged, heading for Tess.

“Nine!” said Tess. She had just gathered Nine into her arms when a man in a green uniform came out of the building carrying some kind of weapon.

“Here!” said Theo. “Tess!” He and Jaime had their arms stuck through the hole in the fence. Tess dived for them. Theo and Jaime hauled her back through.

“Nine! Nine, come on!” said Tess, reaching for her cat.

The man shouted, “Hey! Who’s there?”

His weapon was a crossbow. At least it looked like one. She had only seen them in movies.

Nine hissed. The creature snapped. The man took aim. Shot. The ginormous creature squawked, then drooped to the ground. Tess grabbed for Nine’s collar, pulled.

And someone else—Jaime? Theo?—hauled Tess up by her collar and pushed her.

“Nine!” Tess said, reaching for the cat.

“Go!” a rough voice said. “All of you!”