But if she had Clay and Turtle as friends, and then Turtle got himself killed by Queen Scarlet or accidentally set on fire, well, then she’d survive OK, because she’d still have Clay.
It occurred to her that this was a rather morbid train of thought to be having about a new friend.
“Yes,” she said decisively, making him jump. “Let’s go. You walk in front, so I don’t whack you with my tail by accident. But don’t move too slowly, or I might accidentally step on you.” She ducked into the cave again to let him by safely.
Turtle had an “I am now sensing this was a terrible idea” expression on his face, but he took the lead without arguing and managed to walk fast enough that Peril wasn’t annoyed.
The roar echoed from above again.
Together — more or less — Turtle and Peril headed straight for it.
Text copyright © 2015 by Tui T. Sutherland
Border design © 2015 by Mike Schley
Illustrations © 2015 by Joy Ang
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First edition, October 2015
e-ISBN 978-0-545-85540-2
Assassin Page 5