Starflight realizes Peril could move the burning rocks without being injured. The dragonets agree they can hide until they get an opportunity to rescue Sunny and escape. As they discuss the plan, Peril becomes visibly disturbed as Clay mentions helping all his friends. Peril offers to take them to a secret cave that only she knows. On the way to the cave, Tsunami tells Clay to “stop making [Peril] mad” (205). When Clay responds cluelessly, Tsunami calls him a “handsome idiot” (205) and promises to explain it to him later.

Peril asks them about their post-escape plans and Tsunami again interrupts Clay for sharing too much detail. Soon, they pass the queen’s banquet hall where Sunny hangs in a birdcage. The dragonets yearn to rescue her, too, but they know they’ll be caught. Peril directs the dragonets to race ahead of her and to be careful to remain unseen. She takes a little while to catch up to them, explaining she had “to wait for the queen to look away” (208).

At the end of the tunnel, the dragonets arrive at the waterfall and realize that they must climb a perilous cliff face to get to the cave.