"Ranking is not everything," she reminded them gently, looking around at all the little faces. "You all did your best. That is what matters. Whether you came first or eighth or anywhere in between, you tried, and you learned, and you grew."
Drake nodded dramatically, his whole body moving with the gesture.
Boo nodded even more dramatically, floating up and down in the air.
Then Boo suddenly straightened, as if a revolutionary thought had just struck him like lightning. His eyes widened. His mouth opened. His tail went still.
"Yes, yes," he said wisely, lifting one finger in the air like a philosopher about to change history forever. "Anyway... we are first."
The room went quiet.
Drake froze mid-tail swing.
Alina blinked, confused.
Sir Santo slowly turned his head toward Boo, his silver-gold eyes curious.
"First?" Felix repeated flatly, one eyebrow rising.
Boo nodded proudly, his expression serious. "Yes. First... from last."
