For a long time, neither Kyp nor Atticus spoke.

‘Say something, Kyp,’ said Atticus finally. ‘Please.’

But Kyp didn’t know what to say.

‘What are the ankle-snatchers going to do with us?’ he asked instead.

‘We’re of little interest to them now. They’re hoarders, nothing more. Look at the walls. See how they’re ripped where others have tried to escape? Do you see what covers the floor? When a metamorph reaches the end of its life it becomes an object again, nothing more.’