Chapter 21: An Understanding
Julien wanted to reply with, "If you can be reaching my head!", but it finally clicked in his brain that there are some things better left unsaid. Isobel let him back up. She crossed her arms and took a step back, collecting herself. She took a breath. "I forgive you." A small smile quirked up the corners of her mouth. She knew deep inside that Julien and the penguins were not what she had said.
Julien relaxed as well. "So…where to now?"
"Back to the surface." Isobel decided. She pointed to a pathway around a bend.
Together, they walked towards the pathway. Isobel peeked down the way first, and then began walking up the slope. Julien followed, eyes darting.
There was silence for a bit, and then Isobel asked him, "So do you still want to know how I do those things?"
Julien nodded. "I suppose."
"It's the gypsy in my veins." Isobel was quiet. "My mother passed it down to me. She knew the ways of magic and transfiguration like I do. This is the best way I can explain it."
"Trans..tran..the thing." Julien said. "What do you mean?"
"I can change into a cobra." Isobel said.
"Just like in the city." Julien said under his breath.
"Yes, just like them."
"How did-" Julien was confused.
"Oh, yes." Isobel smiled. "And some of us are more 'feline' than cobra." She stretched out her hand, revealing small claws. "And the fangs, those are cobra. Venom and everything."
The continued walking. Julien discreetly checked his upper teeth, trying to see if he too had this trait. But they were flatter, just lemur teeth.
Finally, there was a stream of sunlight coming down from a tunnel above their heads. Julien and Isobel could see the trees in the park. The beginning of the tunnel was a couple feet above them.
"You can climb, right?" Isobel asked.
"Psh!" Julien seemed as though her question was unnecessary. "Can I climb? You are looking at the most expertest climber in all of New York!"
He jumped for it, and completely missed. He turned to Isobel and chuckled nervously. "Eh, hehe."
"Watch out." Isobel smirked. She lowered herself to the ground and aimed for the nearest ledge. She sprang up and caught it effortlessly. She climbed up a bit, and then looked back down, smiling triumphantly. The early evening sun grazed her ears. "Well, come on." Her voice was like it was when she first spoke to Kowalski.
Julien stared for a moment, and then shook his head. He jumped again, this time catching the ledge. He climbed up some more.
"Beatcha there!" He scaled past Isobel.
Isobel laughed. "Yeah, right!" And she scurried up.
At nearly the same time, they emerged from the tunnel and into the light. They were both laughing, their competitive sides flaring up a bit at the fact that they had not beat each other. They stood, knowing best that it was time to go back to the zoo.