- Now it's time for the officers to try to thin the ranks of new recruits. Only the best and bravest for the British Air Service.
- The first intimidation factor comes from lupine tigeresques—yes, gigantic wolf tigers. We're not sure we would make it, but Deryn does. A bunch of other recruits don't stop running until they're out of there, though, which seems like a perfectly appropriate response to us.
- The next intimidation factor comes from another beastie: this time, it's a giant jellyfish thing, otherwise known as a Huxley ascender, a jellyfish that works like a giant balloon.
- The thought of going up in that thing thins the ranks even further, but when the flight captain asks for volunteers, Deryn steps up.
- After buckling into the harness, Deryn rises over London in the Huxley.
- At first, she's having a great time, but then the Huxley starts getting nervous, and Deryn sees why: a storm is coming.
- She doesn't want to throw out her panic flag for fear of losing face, but she knows she needs to get out of the air before that storm arrives.