The ship lurched and Alex lost his balance. He caught himself as lightning lit up the rocky scene, just yards away. “Go now!” he cried. “We’re going to hit! Watch out for the rocks!”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Ms. Octavia wrapped her tentacles around Henry’s and Crow’s wrists. The three climbed to the top of the railing, and at the octogator’s signal, jumped into the water. Samheed grabbed Kitten and shoved her into his pocket. He helped Fox to the ledge, then held his hand out to Sky. She glanced at Alex. Samheed did too.
“You okay?” Samheed asked.
Alex nodded. “Go. Hurry!”
Sky pressed her lips together. She took Samheed’s hand, and they jumped.
“Now you, Florence.”
Florence gathered as many supplies as she could hold. “Climb on my back,” she said.
“I’m fine. I’ll jump after you.”
“Simber will break me in two if I don’t take you. You know that. Besides, if I step over the side, you’ll go flying when I let go of the ship.”
Alex hesitated. He couldn’t see how close they were to the danger, and there was no time to argue. “We don’t know how deep it is here, and you sink like a rock. I’m better off swimming on my own.”
“Alex.” Florence would have none of it. “Grab on. If it’s not deep, I’ll get us both on land faster. And if it is deep and we keep sinking, let go of me.”
Alex frowned and lurched toward the statue. “All right, fine. Let’s go.” He took one last look at the pirate-ship deck, thinking about all the conversations he’d had here, and wondering how in the world they were going to get home if this ship was destroyed or lost at sea. But he couldn’t tackle that problem right now. He let out a defeated breath, and as Florence bent down, he moved to grab on to her neck.
Alex’s hands barely skimmed the warrior’s broad shoulders before his world turned upside down. With a deafening crash the ship struck the rocks, and with a thousand cracks it split asunder. Mage, statue, and hole-plugging whale went flying headlong through the stormy sky and dropped into the sea.
Home Again
After flying nonstop for days with Carina on his back and Sean in the makeshift hammock below, Simber glided over the lagoon and the jungle trees toward Artimé’s welcoming lawn. It was a sight for sore eyes indeed.
The cheetah was relieved to see that his presence and strange cargo were recognized by Artiméans on the lawn, who had gathered, pointing, and now began to prepare a space for Simber to land. Simber lowered the hammock to the ground and then touched down over and around it, careful not to step on any part of Sean. He folded his wings for the first time in many days. Carina slid off. She stumbled and fell on the grass, her stiff muscles unable to support her properly at first.
Mr. Appleblossom, Ms. Morning, and Gunnar Haluki came running to greet them.
“Simber, what happened?” cried Claire, helping Carina to her feet. “Where is everyone else? Is Sean okay?”
“Could you be verrry kind and untie the rrropes frrrom my legs?”
“Of course!” Claire said. She and Mr. Appleblossom began working the knots to release Simber from the hammock ropes so that he could step aside and make room for Sean to be assessed. Others crowded around to help Carina and hear the news. Someone ran off to get Meghan.
“Sean’s leg is brrroken and he’s in trrremendous pain. He needs medicine quickly. Carrrina is okay, I think, but she’s prrrobably exhausted frrrom rrriding on my back forrr a few days. Everrryone else on the ship is fine, but we had some trrrouble and the ship can’t move fast.”
Once Simber was freed, he stepped aside to reveal Sean, his face ghastly gray and twisted in pain. “Hurrry! Take him inside,” Simber said, a bit louder than he’d intended. It had been a frustrating trip, longer than he’d hoped, and Sean had cried out many times.
Meghan came running over as several Artiméans lifted Sean and carried him into the mansion.
“What happened?” she exclaimed. She followed closely behind. Carina, who now stood on shaky legs, gave Simber a silent hug and a kiss on the neck, and slowly walked to the mansion as well.
“Did you find Sky’s mother?” Ms. Morning asked Simber. “Tell us everything!”
“Yes. We’ve got herrr.” The cat shook his head slightly, dazed. “A lot happened.”
“I noticed you came home from the wrong way,” Mr. Appleblossom said, pointing to the east. “The opposite direction, if you will. I wonder what adventures you’ll reveal when we have time to listen to your tale.” Mr. Appleblossom winced a little at the imperfect rhyme, but left it hanging there all the same, as the moment was urgent.
“Yes,” Simber said. He arched his back and took a few steps gingerly, testing the ground. “It’s quite a storrry.” Simber looked up, as if suddenly remembering something. “But firrrst, is everrrything herrre all rrright? We got yourrr seek spell, Clairrre.”
“Oh,” Claire said, her voice troubled. She glanced toward the mansion, but Carina had disappeared inside. “I—well, I’m glad to know you got the seek spell. It’s—everything is fine. I mean, it’s not fine, but we’re not in danger.”
Simber regarded her. “I’m sorrry it took so long forrr me to come,” he said quietly.
“Don’t worry, Sim,” Ms. Morning said, resting a hand on the cheetah’s neck. “I would have sent more spells if it was really urgent. I just thought if you were nearby, well . . .” She tilted her head toward the mansion. “We need to talk to Carina. Right away.”