Alina's eyes swept across the playground.
The flyers were still in the air. Drake with Sable and Lucien, Felix with Rocky, the fairy girl with her twin, the insect boy with three smaller children clinging to him. But they were tired. Their wings were slowing. They couldn't stay up much longer.
"FLYERS!" Alina shouted, cupping her hands around her mouth. "LAND NEAR THE PRINCIPAL! ON THE STONE! NOW!"
Drake heard her.
He was exhausted. His new wings ached. His arms were sore from carrying Sable and Lucien. But he turned and flew toward the principal's chair, his eyes scanning the ground below for a safe place to land.
Felix followed, his dragon form gliding through the air with more grace than Drake's frantic flapping. Rocky clung to his back, his stone face pale but determined.
The fairy girl landed beside them, her delicate wings folding. The insect boy dropped to the ground, his three passengers tumbling off his back and collapsing onto the stone.
Alina counted them.
