---
The Fairy froze in the air, then darted down so quickly that Bat Bat had to lean back to avoid being clipped by the blur of wings.
Leaf rested her hand on the lid and said, "Open."
The tiny Flesh Fairy looked at the box, then at Leaf, then tilted her head as if offended by the size of the problem. She landed near the iron corner, placed both tiny hands on the edge, and hissed in concentration. Nothing happened.
Bat Bat covered her mouth immediately. Not because she was shocked. Because she was trying very hard not to laugh.
A second Flesh Fairy landed beside the first.
Then a third.
Then all five.
They hiss-clicked to each other, pressed their little hands against the lid, and pulled together with the grim collective seriousness of creatures doing something far too large for them and refusing to admit that fact.
The lid shifted.
Bat Bat failed.
The laugh came out of her in a burst so bright and delighted that even Auri's mouth moved faintly at the edges.
