The guardian tromped away, crushing pavement with each heavy footfall, and Helen ran back to Scotty.

“What the hell?” he said.

“Sorry. It was just a faint,” Helen said. “You all right?”

“Just a faint? You nearly killed me!”

“Oh shut up. If we were going to kill you, we would have done it already. Mouth like yours, we might still change our minds.”

Scotty stopped complaining.

“Are you all right or what?” Helen asked again.

“Yeah, fine,” Scotty said, both watching Sprite hang onto the guardian’s back. “Think she can do it?”

“If anyone can stop it, it’s her.”