He needed a way to see her. He didn’t know how to make that happen, so he decided to try the only thing that made sense. If he used his own pockets and she tried to follow, he’d know where she was.

Will got a Binder portion out and held it high. Swoop fluttered close and he threw the piece into the air. He backed up a bit, expecting to be hit again by the girl at any moment, but nothing happened. Maybe she was waiting for something. Maybe she was watching to see what he did. It would make sense that she’d be used to hiding. Will thrust out his hand and Swoop spiraled open a pocket. He jumped inside and called to his bird.

“Close it now,” he said.

Instantly the pocket puffed away. Swoop came to his shoulder, and Will stepped backward a few times. He took the slightest moment to look up the rocky edge. The thing above was unmistakeable now. It crawled downward and navigated the rocks as if they were nothing. Soon, it’s enormous figure would be seen by the others.

From about twenty yards to his left, a pocket began to open. Will ran toward it. He had to make this count. As he moved that direction he noticed that it couldn’t have been his mother’s. She and Hubrin were still a good distance away. This had to be the girl.

Will ran as fast as he could. He had to take advantage of fact that inside the Voidside things were quicker. The girl had moved away to open her pocket, but hopefully it wasn’t enough. As Will got to the opening, he jumped forward and opened his arms and legs wide. He must have looked terribly awkward, but it didn’t matter, it was the only idea he had, and he was going to try and make it work.

It wasn’t necessary. He slammed into something he couldn’t see and went tumbling back into the outside world. He shot his head upward and saw the girl appear out of nowhere. She was on her back, but she rolled over and began to get to her feet. Her eyebrows tilted and her red lips snarled.

“Wait,” Will raised his hand toward her. “Listen, you’ve got to get out of here.”

The girl stood, and her lizard found it’s place on her arm, but she hesitated and didn’t disappear.

“Look above you,” Will said. “It’s coming down, and when it get’s here we’ll all be in trouble.”

The girl looked up and flinched. Will looked as well. It wasn’t much longer and the creature would be down.

“The Sarat,” the girl said.

“Yes, we blocked it out of the cave, so I guess it came over.”

The girl gave a quick look at the lizard that clung to her arm. “It wants it’s home back,” she said.