Peep zipped here, there, everywhere, popping runaway glimmers into the message tube. “Got one—oops, lost three!” Peep chirped, flapping so fast the whistle gave a tiny peep-peep of its own.

More tomorrows bobbed past, bumping Ori’s nose, tail, and satchel with soft plinks. Ori tried to scoop them into neat rows, but the cave felt full of mistakes. “They trusted me,” Ori said, voice small. “What if I let everyone down at once?”

Peep skimmed back, panting hard. “Then we chase every last one together,” Peep said.