"Try to help Gala not worry so much," said Candle. "Tell her we’re going to take good care of you."
"Okay," said Luma.
Just then, something heavy and hard hit the ground near Stiletto.
Everyone stopped in their tracks. Luma gasped and threw herself against Candle.
Spinning, Stiletto threw light in the direction of the noise. A block of stone, big as a human head, lay in the street barely three meters away.
Suddenly, Stiletto heard a clatter of approaching claws and caught the smell of vinegar in the air. A quick glance at her flash-brain screen confirmed the evidence of her ears, and she whirled around.
Two blips had disengaged from the unseen crowd of Skilla and were charging directly at Candle and Luma.
Without a word, Stiletto fired her warflower, shooting a crackling bolt of
