HE GASMAN spit out his regulator and screamed, “Angel!” His face and arms were on fire, and he felt like he was going to barf. Under water. How would that even work?

Suddenly, the sharks were right there, mouths wide open, full of blood and chunks of something, and stretching, reaching, snapping at—

Just water, because Angel was holding up her hand in the universal “Stop shark attack” gesture. She was frowning sternly at the sharks, one hand on her hip.

“Oh no you don’t!” she gurgled loudly, right at the three huge man-eaters.

They stopped, and if they’d been on dry land, they would have skidded. As it was, they came to an abrupt, surprised stop, inches away from the three bird kids. Angel shook her finger at them, in the universal gesture for “Bad! Bad shark!”

Gaz, Ig—you guys back away really slowly.

Gazzydid hear that part of Angel’s message, so he touched Iggy’s hand and, gently, they let themselves drift backward. Gazzy put the regulator back in his mouth, feeling like his lungs were about to burst from lack of air.

Looking sheepish, the hammerheads slowly turned and glided back to their group. Once there, they joined in the feeding frenzy again.

Gosh, they were big,Angel thought to Gazzy and Iggy.

Gazzy nodded, trying not to cry from the pain in his face and arms.

We need to get you out of here, Angel went on sympathetically.You got stung by something. Can you do a burst out of the water to get airborne?

Gazzy had felt a lot of pain in his life, but this was different—a horrible, searing sensation, as if someone were holding a lit match to his face and arms. Under water. He nodded bravely to Angel, hoping he wouldn’t shriek when the warm air made the burning feel worse.

Okay, then, Angel commanded Gazzy and Iggy.Hunch down, gather your strength, then burst up through the water as hard as you can. As soon as you’re in the air, snap your wings out. Okay?

On any other day, Gazzy would have said, “Who died and made you Max?” But, all things considered, he could barely think straight. He was thankful that Angel was taking charge. He managed to nod again, then concentrated on balling up his muscles.

One! Two! Three!

Gazzy’s face mask was filling with tears, but he hunched down and surged toward the surface. When he broke through the water, he stretched out his wings, pushing down and pulling up as hard as he could.

He rose in the air slowly at first, then powerfully and fast, relief beginning to wash over him.

Only to collide hard with something huge, right above him.

Oof!Gazzy let out a strangled cry—it felt like his face and arms were splitting open—then he felt himself falling.

And this time, he didn’t think he’d manage to save himself.