Page 134 of Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes

“Well, we don’t know if it’s a him,” said Brynne.

“Only one way to find out if it’s got Boo’s soul,” said Aru.

She reached into her pocket, pulled out a packet of Oreos, and waved it in front of the baby bird’s face. Immediately, it squawked and cheeped, flapping its wings until the end of the hall turned hotter than a furnace.

“Okay, okay, we believe you!” said Aru happily.

Baby Boo chirped again, then shook out his feathers. Mini held out her hand, and he hopped onto it, nestling happily in her palm….

“Ow! Ow! Ow!” said Mini, doing a little jig. “Hot baby! Very hot—”

Brynne blew on Mini’s hands, but that only made the flames around Baby Boo rise higher. He gave a delightedchirp!

“I got him,” said Brynne, taking the chick. “OWWW!I do not got! Help!”

It was somehow the best and worst game of Hot Potato between the Potatoes. It ended with Aiden and Rudy fighting over who got to hold the chick longer.

“You already had your turn!” said Rudy, trying to wrench Baby Boo out of Aiden’s hands. “Gimme!”

“You tried to feed him a diamond!” said Aiden.

“I was just showing it to him! Everyone loves shiny things!”

“It’sirresponsible,” said Aiden, bouncing Baby Boo in his hands.

“Why are you the worst?” grumbled Rudy. “He’s going to like me more anyway when he grows up.”

“I guess Boo left his pigeon form behind,” said Aru, eyeing the chick’s scarlet fluff.

“But whatishe now? Some kind of…fire bird?” asked Mini. She looked worried. “How will we ever be able to tell if he has a fever? Are there veterinarians for magical creatures? What about food and—”

Cheep…zzz.

Boo had fallen asleep in Aiden’s hands.

Mini smiled. She reached out to stroke his head, then yelped and blew on her burned finger. “I guess we can worry about it later.”

“Speaking of later,” said Aru, “there’s something we need to do.”

She pulled out theIO(F)Ufrom Agni, then told them about what her mom had learned and Sheela’s prophecy. Brynne’s eyebrows shot up her forehead. Mini stared at the ticket, her mouth wide open.

“So…maybe we can get the weapons back?” asked Mini.

“I don’t know for sure,” said Aru. “But we only have ten days until the full moon, when the Sleeper and Kara can open the labyrinth. It’s our only chance.”

“Do you know how to find Agni?” asked Brynne.

“Nope.”

“Do we have a backup plan?” asked Mini.

“Nope.”

“Do we have…anyplan?” asked Aiden.

“Nope,” said Aru. “So, you with me, or no?”

“Yes, obviously,” said Mini immediately.