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There, on the grassy island aves lapping gently at the shore, was my trashcan, battered and rusted, my promise to Shazah was gone, no doubt pecked clean by birds on the world The enorh was…I hurried over to it and knelt on the ground, inspecting it

I plucked a long, thick silver whisker from the dark brown faux fur and held it up for the others to see "He was here!" I exclaimed excitedly

My excitement evaporated It was only proof that he’d been here a few o, when I’d tossed it in Which, Shazaed to my feet, turned my face up to the sun and called, "I see you, Yi-yi I’ but I proain"

There was no reply

I spun in a slow circle thinking ers, and frankly, they were three of the strangest people I’d ever knoo ancient, immortal shapeshifters, one Fae queen Maybe the Nine smelled bad to hiht normal compared to them "They’re my friends, Shazam They won’t hurt you It’s safe to co

I called for him I said his name over and over I crooned and cajoled and finally burst into our thehty fur-beast lived up in the air…"

When I glanced at Ryodan, his shoulders were shaking and he was doing his best not to laugh

"I was a teenager," I said with a scowl "It’s a great song The meter works, it rhymes, and the melody is indisputably catchy"

"I’ll take it over Ani away to stare out over the lake His shoulders were still shaking Bastard was still laughing

I whirled away and resu, flattering Trying everything I’d brought raw fish inthe a fresh wave of nausea If he was up there, forcingto be hell to pay

Finally, I turned to the others and said, "You have to go back home He may never come out with you on the island" I refused to believe he wasn’t here It ht take weeks, maybe even months, to convinceyou alone here," Ryodan said "I’ll make myself unseen"

"Shazam won’t be fooled," I replied irritably "He’s far more brilliant than you He’s a hundred ti we’ve ever seen"

"Why don’t you tell ht food and blankets in case we needed to spend the night We’ll eat and you can tell ether"