Treemist- Thank you ^_^ And I know, it will be over soon! But you still have the sequel to look forward to. :)
Chapter 50: Carnations
Isobel was walking through the little forests of the park, picking flowers along the way. She found plenty of carnations. A viceroy butterfly on one of the carnations she had picked. She smiled warmly as it fluttered its wings slowly. Very carefully, she brought her finger close to its antennae, but it startled and flew up towards the trees. By watching it fly away, Isobel saw a pair of dark eyes watching her menacingly. She flattened her ears. "What, Clopar?"
Clopar hopped down from the tree. "You must come back."
Isobel held on tightly to the carnations. "I'm staying."
Clopar eyed the flowers. "What are those for?"
"None of your business." Isobel snapped.
"You have to come back on account of those people." Clopar said, unfazed. "Those 'friends' are nothing."
Isobel laid the carnations down and got face to face with Clopar, glaring up at him. She was angry, fire flashing in her emerald eyes. She spoke harshly in Atlantean. "Go back. You should not be here."
Clopar narrowed his eyes at her, also speaking their second language. "Then despair shall find you."
Isobel backed away. This was an awful curse. "Lies. I am safe from you. You will lose this fight you are trying to start."
A vicious snarl crossed Clopar's lips, his own fangs showing. "If you were not the king's daughter I would kill you here and now."
Isobel's heart beat harshly, but she managed a cool smile. "You may be able to form into a viper, but the cobra always wins."
Clopar growled and quickly formed into a three-horned viper. Isobel was swift and transformed as well. They lunged at each other, hissing and striking. Clopar came close to sinking his fangs into Isobel's hood, but she arched back and spat venom into his face. Clopar yelped and quickly formed back.
"You will come back!" Clopar shouted as he darted into the woods.
Isobel formed back, and shakily picked up her carnations. The fur on the back of her neck was bristled, and she glanced behind her shoulder before heading to the zoo.
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Isobel found her way back to Marlene's habitat. The inside was now clean, and Private was almost finished with the banner. Isobel set the flowers in a vase with water. She glared into the water.
Julien came up beside her. "Why so angry?" he said in a joking way.
"I'm not." Isobel looked away.
He looked concerned at her, but did not question further.
Isobel shook off her ordeal, and then remembered that she was nervous about meeting Marlene.
"Skipper," Kowalski said, "Marlene was due here at 945. It is now 948."
"She'll be here any minute!" Skipper signaled everyone to hide.
Everyone hid, and finally Marlene came in, carrying her bag and a few parcels.
"Surprise!" Everyone shouted.
"Yay! Sur- ow!" Mort fell over again.
