Owen always enjoyed waking up to the warmth of Claire's body, but sometimes, he forgot that she was a dinosaur now. He still wasn't too certain what his feelings about this change were, exactly. It was confusing and terrifying and completely out of left field. He had never dealt with this kind of situation before, and he wasn't quite sure how to process it. First of all, was it morally wrong to love Claire as a dinosaur? Moonwatcher said it wasn't, but Moonwatcher was Moonwatcher, so that wasn't much to go off of. Obviously, Claire still had a human mind, but if Owen was still in love with her, he'd have to love the rest of her too, and what then? Was it okay to love a dinosaur body just because it belonged to Claire? Why did he even need to consider this in the first place? He was just unlucky, he supposed. Most people would never even SEE a dinosaur, much less DATE one.

(But Claire isn't a dinosaur.)

Was she? Was it more hurtful to deny that she had changed at all, to imply that existing as a dinosaur was something to be ashamed of? Or would she be happy if he considered her human? It was hard to say.

(Just ask her.)

Now, that, he would not do. He had already struck out too many times, and he couldn't risk upsetting her again.

(But she told you to be honest, to communicate.)

Shit. That was true. But what if he fucked it up, like he fucked up everything?

He rolled over, hoping to get a glimpse of her sleeping face, but felt something prickling in his shirt. Claire had placed her paw on his chest, beneath his clothing. She was still fast asleep. Slowly, Owen reached up to remove her claws, but she sensed the shift and groaned quietly. He froze in place as she lifted her head and yawned, revealing a set of sharp teeth before her jaws snapped shut. She clapped her beak a couple of times, looking around the room with droopy eyelids. When her gaze fell upon Owen, he realized that his face showed apprehension, and he replaced it with a smile.

"Morning, Clairebear."

"I had a dream that I was scratching trees in a dark forest. They smelled like green apples. What do you think it means?"

"Uh-"

Her eyes went wide.

"Shit, did I claw you by accident?"

She removed her paw from his shirt, wincing as her claws got tangled in his chest hair. He sat up quickly.

"You didn't hurt me. It was just a dream."

She examined his chest with dilated pupils, and detecting no injuries, breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good. Let me know if any of my . . . pointy bits get in the way."

"I will."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

As they got out of bed, he pulled his sleeve down to cover a small scrape.

***TSJWFKFEW***

"Good, good . . . a little closer . . ."

I was inches away from the new piglet. It grunted nervously.

"You doing okay?" Owen asked.

"Somewhat . . ."

"You can back up, if you want."

I gulped. A bead of sweat trickled between my eyes.

"I don't want to lose my progress."

"You won't. If taking a breather will help, y-"

"I'm staying."

"Okay, okay . . . You wanna try the gun?"

We hadn't used the gun since before the pig incident. I wished he'd stop asking.

"No. I don't think so."

"Alright. You about ready to finish up?"

"Mhm."

He opened the exit gate. I watched as the piglet scampered away. When the door shut, I realized that I had been holding my breath.

"That was great, Claire! You're really improving!" Owen cheered.

I noticed that Moonwatcher was using a calculator. I turned and looked up at her, trotting over to her side of the catwalk.

"How much progress did I make?"

She batted her eyes.

"Hm?"

"Any progress?" I repeated.

She grinned and turned the calculator upside down.

"I got it to say 'BOOBS'."

It was my fault for asking.

I shook my head and turned to Gunnar, Zia, and Franklin, who were playing cards near the control board.

"You three seem really invested in my training . . ."

Zia shrugged.

"I mean, now that there's boobs involved . . ."

Gunnar smiled down at me, not noticing that Franklin was peeking at his hand.

"You did great, Claire! Really top notch! I'm proud of you!"

"Thank you, Gunnar."

As I turned away, I heard him whispering to Zia.

"Is she supposed to catch the pig or no?"

Well, even if they're slow on the uptake, I love my friends. Fortunately, Owen was a little more invested than they were. He clomped down the metal staircase two steps at a time and entered the paddock.

"I have a surprise for you."

He put both arms behind his back.

"Pick a hand."

I pointed to his left hand. He opened it, revealing nothing.

"Aw, try again."

He adopted the pose once more, and I pointed to his right hand. He opened it. Again, nothing. He clicked his tongue.

"You have such rotten luck, Claire . . ."

I quirked a brow and started circling him. He kept his back turned to me.

"Owen . . ."

"You're just gonna have to keep guessing, Claire . . ."

I rolled my eyes.

"Left hand."

He smiled.

"You know, I think I feel something in there . . ."

He opened his palm, revealing a keycard. My face brightened.

"I thought it might make going back and forth easier. I don't want you to have to depend on me to let you in."

I smiled, but suddenly, I felt something twinge inside of me. It was another violent impulse. When I shut it out, my head began to ache.

"Claire? You okay?"

I placed a paw over my frill.

"My head hurts . . ."

"Oh, jeez, I didn't think you'd react this badly. Should we get you to a doctor?"

We both screamed as Moonwatcher popped up between us.

"Actually, that would be irresponsible. Nobody knows how Claire's anatomy works. She has two stomachs, I've heard. But based on the readings I'm getting from this device that measures Claire's stress levels-"

"Odd way to phrase it, considering this is information we already know . . ." Owen pointed out.

"Not everyone was around for that exposition. Anyway, the thingy says she's under a lot of stress. Luckily for you, we just opened up a new spa, and Iris has expressed interest in taking a day off. You guys can go with her."

"Who will look after Maisie?" I asked.

"I'll do it," Owen volunteered, "I'm not really into the whole 'spa' scene."

Moonwatcher slapped his back a little too hard.

"Great! Setup done, onto rising action."

"Uh-"

"Well, a very laid-back rising action. This is gonna be a bit of a crawl, and we probably should have paced ourselves so that it came after a major event to give people a chance to unwind, but even if it's an unearned period of rest, it'll be good for character growth."

I glared at her.

"Are you still writing about us?"

". . . No? . . ."

I narrowed my eyes.

". . . Maybe? . . ."

I sighed and nodded to the gate.

"Just show me this spa of yours."

I forced myself to avoid commenting on her malicious laugh.

***TSJWFKFEW***

I entered a peach-colored building with Iris by my side, following Moonwatcher's (poorly communicated) directions. Maisie's old nanny wasn't looking too good- I mean, she was a very strange-looking hybrid to begin with- but she seemed to be exhausted on top of that.

"Maisie's been a handful, huh?"

"No more than usual," she sighed.

"Does it help having Owen look after her from time to time?"

It was strange to see a scaly creature show such fondness in her visage.

"It gives me a much-needed break, but it's still a full-time job. Even when I had Benjamin and Mr. Mills helping me, taking care of Maisie was an uphill battle, the little devil."

I batted my eyelashes (I still had those) with surprise.

"Eli used to take care of Maisie?"

"Not very often," Iris replied, "Mostly, he'd just watch her while dinner was being prepared. I mean 'watching' in the loosest sense of the word, by the way. He'd usually be reading the paper or doing business at his desk. Maisie would beg him to play, and he'd tell her that he preferred to be 'a quiet dinosaur that sits alone'. She let him be a cycad."

Okay, that was a little funny.

I snorted.

"Of course, we assumed that he was doing honest work," she continued, "None of us could have guessed what he was really up to. He was always so charming, so bright. The most dangerous thing in the world is evil veiled with a smile."

I thought about the Eli I had met all those years ago. Where had that man gone? Did he even exist in the first place? An image of Eli sobbing in the middle of the night flashed through my mind. There was always a chance that he was faking these glimmers of humanity, but why put on a show when no one was watching?

"Iris?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think that Eli was ever good?"

She paused before answering.

"Perhaps, but a good man would never do what he did. If he was capable of-"

The way she choked indicated that she had been told about Lockwood's demise. If she had heard the story from Moonwatcher, she was aware of every gruesome detail, the poor woman.

"Well, I don't think a person can go from human to monster unless a part of them was always monstrous, let's put it that way," she finished.

I found myself agreeing with her fully until she added:

". . . which is why I'd like to discuss your relationship with Maisie."

Oh, shit.

I gulped.

"Iris, you know that I'd never hurt-"

"I was there when you had your little accident," she interrupted tersely, "I saw what you're capable of. Maisie still has nightmares about it, and I don't think she's told me about everything you've done."

I tried to hide my guilt, but she saw right through me. My tail gravitated between my legs instinctively, but I held it back and instead turned my head away. Iris sighed and touched my shoulder.

"Claire, I only have Maisie's best interests at heart. I know this isn't your fault, but I can't risk putting her in danger. I have nothing against you as a person otherwise, and I'm glad you're making an effort to heal."

I felt a surge of anger pulse through my veins. As I drowned it out, another stabbing pain shot through my skull. Iris watched me with concern.

"I'm fine," I breathed.

She nodded slowly.

"I don't have a problem with you seeing Maisie, but if anything happens . . . I won't hold back."

"Iris, I-"

"Don't think I won't defend her with my life. You're not the only one with a sharp set of teeth."

(Holy shit! Is Iris actually threatening me right now?!)

I felt my claws twitching, out of my control.

(I could take her on, no problem. She doesn't stand a chance in a real fight.)

I tried not to let my excitement show.

(Imagine how it'll feel to pierce through that thick hide and get to where the tender stuff is. She acts so tough, but she'd change her tune if I cracked her shell open.)

I was starting to lean forward, my mind's eye igniting with red splatters, but Iris suddenly turned around and walked up to the spa's front desk. She rang the little bell.

"I do think Maisie needs someone like you," she admitted, "I don't intend to scare you off. I'm just being cautious."

I shook my head quickly.

"I'm not scared."

That was technically true.

"I'm glad you care about Maisie as much as I do," I continued, "If I were in your place, I'd be worried about me, too."

I realized that that was precisely the wrong thing to say.

"I mean-"

"I know what you meant," Iris assured me gently, "If there's one person I trust to take care of Maisie, it's you."

I laughed nervously.

"I guess Maisie's kind of starved for parental figures, what with the only people close to her being murderers . . . or murder victims . . ."

Iris winced.

"Yes, well, concerned though I may be about your violent habits, in my heart, I know that you love Maisie as much as I do."

"Owen loves her, too."

She gave a noncommittal hum.

"Yes, but Owen doesn't know how to parent her. He gives her too much ice cream and treats her like a princess. In moderation, that would be fine, but but she's starting to act entitled . . . and she grew up in a mansion, remember."

I nodded.

"Iris, it's very kind of you to trust us with Maisie. I know you raised her, and I'd never dream of crossing a line there-"

"It's okay, Claire. Now that Benjamin is no longer with us, Maisie needs a guardian. You'll do better than most, I suppose."

Bit of a backhanded compliment, but that was okay. I needed to stay on good terms with Iris, or I'd never be allowed to see Maisie again. It wasn't worth getting upset over a little sting like that.

(Or getting violent.)

"Thank you, Iris," I said with a wince, "I just wish we could have sorted this out under better circumstances."

SCRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

We turned and saw Moonwatcher dragging her hand down a chalkboard. She twinkled her fingers cheerfully.

"I got my nails done. Are you ready for a day of complete relaxation?"

My headache suggested that I was definitely not, but I nodded anyway.

"Good! Step right this way!"

She led us through an open doorway. Iris took no notice of my worry, but I was starting to wonder if I had made a potential enemy.

***TSJWFKFEW***

"And this here's the massage room, which concludes our tour!" Moonwatcher chirped.

"Why are you suddenly speaking in a Boston accent?" I asked.

She huffed.

"Nowhere in the text does it say that I DON'T have a Boston accent, but now you've ruined it for me. Also, I just smoked a butt full of crack."

I gawked.

"First of all, what? Second, don't you mean 'buttload'?"

She blinked.

"Well . . ."

I turned away hastily.

"Thank you, Moonwatcher. I think we can find our way from here."

"But don't you wanna-"

"I think I see Zia. Hi, Zia!"

I waddled away as fast as my scaly legs could take me. On the other side of the room, I gave Zia a quick hug.

"Start talking to me. Hurry. Moonwatcher's being weird."

She looked over my shoulder. I did too. Moonwatcher was stroking a stock photo on the wall, mouthing something that looked like "hairlines lapicide". Iris backed away from her slowly. Zia hummed.

"Yeah, best to avoid that. How about we go sit next to that dolphin-looking chick?"

She was referring to the large hybrid I had seen on the very first day I left the lab. I still didn't know where I recognized her from, but I had a feeling that the explanation would make me question my sobriety again. She perked up when she saw me.

"Hey, Other Claire! What have you been up to?"

"I-"

"Just kidding!" she chirped, "I read all about it! Tell me, how excited are you to be back together with Owen?"

Oh, Moonwatcher was an absolute turd.

"I'm getting along just fine, thanks," I replied flatly, "Can I ask you something? Where do I know you from?"

She gave a squawking laugh.

"Didn't your world have a Zara?"

My jaw dropped.

"Zara? . . . I mean, yes, I knew a Zara, but she died."

The reptile's mouth twitched.

"Yes, so did I. But not for long, obviously . . ."

I took another look at her. Now that I knew who she was, her new form seemed particularly cruel.

"It seems like there's a bitter irony in your design. You're a mosasaur-pteranodon, right?"

"Yes, and actually, that's kind of how it works. For some of us, anyway. See, I came back as a hybrid because I was killed by two non-dinosaurs, which counted as one whole dinosaur, I suppose. That was back when the virus hadn't adapted, mind you, so animals such as yourself and your friends were rare. I knew at least two not-killed-by-a-dinosaur hybrids. Vivian and my husband, god rest his soul."

I gulped.

"Oh, Zara, I'm so sorry. Alec was a good man."

She snorted.

"Not Alec. Vic."

I snickered.

"Gee, I hope you don't mean Vic Hoskins."

She didn't laugh along with me. My smile faded.

"Do you mean Vic Hoskins?"

She nodded.

"We were married for several years. We had two beautiful children."

This world was pretty fucked-up already, but as far as unexpected developments go, this one took the cake.

"Zara, Vic Hoskins was a very bad man where I came from . . ."

She was visibly uncomfortable, shifting awkwardly in her spa chair.

"I know it sounds strange, since you haven't been around, but . . . he changed."

I gulped.

"Zara, this is really concerning. I don't think Vic Hoskins was exactly husband material. You could have been putting yourself in danger."

She glared at me.

"Well, if you must know, Vic wasn't the dangerous side of our relationship, in the end."

She snapped her wings against her side and rolled off of the chair, slinking away angrily.

"I'll see you later."

She snarled at Zia.

"By the way, thanks for replacing me in the children's alphabet song. I'm a bloody war hero!"

She lumbered away, sobbing heavily. Now that her massive body was out of the way, I noticed a second hybrid on the neighbouring chair.

"Wow, you really pissed her off. You should probably apologize."

"What did I even say?"

She grunted.

"Well, if you'd bothered to do your research, you'd know that Zara was the one who killed Vic. She didn't mean to, of course, but Real Claire's sister made her do it."

My jaw dropped.

"Not Karen! Karen would never do something like that!"

The dinosaur scowled at me.

"Oh, she would. And then she killed Real Owen and Real Claire."

"No . . ."

"Yes. That's how our royalty- two of my best friends- died."

I lowered my head in shame.

"I'm sorry, I just . . . I don't know if I can bring myself to believe that it happened."

"Neither do I."

I nodded slowly.

"I should have been more considerate . . . I don't think we've been properly introduced. My name is Claire Dearing."

She stared at me flatly.

"Vivian . . . Krill . . ."

I winced.

"Oh, right . . ."

She shrugged.

"I don't expect you to remember Isla Nublar's most boring bisexual, but there you go."

I smiled sheepishly.

"I didn't recognize you like this. You seem pretty cool, though. You're a hadrosaur, right?"

"Acristavelafrons. Hybrid. Randomly chosen combination, like your friends."

Franklin raised his paw.

"I actually got raptor blood in my mouth."

"You're part Utahraptor, not Velociraptor."

He retracted his claw.

"Oh."

She waved her front foot dismissively.

"I've given up on figuring this shit out, but feel free to speculate. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go console my friend. Maybe my daughter can put her to sleep. When she whistles at a specific frequency- You know what, it'll take too long to explain. Have a nice day."

We watched her leave in silence. After a pause, Zia turned to me.

"You seem to have bad luck with the locals."

Before I could reply, Gunnar came barreling around the corner.

"I heard you guys were going to the spa, and I thought-"

He caught a glimpse of our expressions.

"Is . . . is this a bad time?"

We shot each other concerned glances. Gunnar shrunk away.

"If I'm being the awkward fourth friend, you can tell me . . ."

Zia sighed.

"No, it's not that. Claire just sent a widow away crying because of the husband she ate."

Gunnar nodded sagely.

"Ah . . . I see . . ."

He blinked twice.

"Actually, I don't see. What you just said doesn't make much sense to me."

I grumbled and pushed past him.

"You and me both, pal. I'm gonna try to find a staff member to get us started with . . . whatever we're supposed to be doing."

I made my way down the hall, fuming. I didn't know if it was just bad luck like Zia said, or if this conflict was by design, but I sure didn't like it. As I rounded the corner that led to the lobby, I almost crashed into a large, metal leg. Eli jumped with surprise and looked down at me.

"Claire! . . ."

He hobbled to the side. I noticed a piece of orange plastic on his right tire. They had booted him. We stood staring at each other for a while before he had the nerve to continue our encounter.

"I'm here for a wax . . . what about you?"

I snuffed.

"You don't even have hair, Eli."

He shifted his wheels awkwardly.

"Well, I still have a bit of stubble- it's kind of hard to see- but I didn't mean that kind of wax."

I narrowed my eyes. He shrugged.

"Moonwatcher thought it would be nice. I mean, if I'm already drinking gasoline, what harm is there in . . . car stuff . . ."

A long, awkward silence followed. Eli's head hung low, and his gaze met mine with a sincerity that could very well have been genuine or manipulative. I wasn't sure which.

"Can we talk? . . ."

I shrugged.

"What's there to talk about?"

He avoided my gaze.

"I don't know. I just figure you'd have a thing or two to say about our last encounter."

"Not really."

He swallowed, eyes drifting away once more.

"Oh, okay . . . It's just that . . . a lot happened."

"Well, if you have something to say, feel free," I offered brusquely.

He twiddled his claws.

"Right, um . . . Did you mean what you said? That thing about me never giving up?"

I chuckled quietly.

"Yes, Eli, I did, but that doesn't count for much, given our history. Christ. Here I was, expecting an apology . . ."

His eyes went wide.

"Oh . . . shit . . ."

"Yeah. Not sure why I got my hopes up."

"I can still apologize, if you want . . ."

"The moment's gone."

As I turned away, he rolled after me, but he was soon stopped by the boot. He jolted, then lifted his leg a little before putting it back down. He stared at the orange plastic as he spoke.

"Even if it's too late, I still owe you an apology . . ."

"I'm listening."

"Should I go chronologically?"

"It's up to you."

He took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry I lied about the dinosaurs. I'm sorry I put you in danger. I'm sorry I kept you locked up. I'm sorry I tried to take Maisie from you. I'm sorry I called you names. I'm really, really sorry that I tried to get you to murder Maisie and Owen, and I'm sorry if I forgot to mention anything."

I quirked a brow.

"No, that just about covers it, but I'm not the only person you should be apologizing to."

"Fair enough."

He waited. I stared at him as he held his breath with anticipation.

"If you're expecting me to apologize back, you're gonna be disappointed . . ." I said.

"I don't expect you to apologize."

"Good, because I already said that I was sorry for telling everyone about-"

"I know. This isn't about that. I'm ready to move on . . . I forgive you."

Suddenly, I understood.

"Eli . . . I don't think I can forgive you for what you did."

"What? Why not? I forgave you . . ."

I scoffed.

"First of all, what you did was worse, and it wasn't an isolated incident. Second, were you really just saying that you forgive me to get me to forgive you back?!"

"No! Of course not!" he snapped.

"So you're saying that you really, actually, honestly forgive me?"

"Well, I'm still mad at you, but I was hoping we could move on and put the past behind us."

I shook my head slowly.

"Eli, you haven't made up for what you did to me."

"But I'm trying, Claire! I'm really, really trying!" he protested, "I don't know what you're expecting, but nothing I try seems to ever be enough for you! I can't very well be a hero when I'm locked in a cage, but even then, all of my kindness is ignored, and you treat me like shit even when I'm trying my best not to be! I just don't know what you're waiting for! I can't very well go back in time and undo what I did!"

"Well, this is going to sound clichéd, but you should have thought of that before betraying me."

His face softened for a moment, then he turned around and growled quietly.

"You're impossible."

"I'm being completely reasonable. Where's Moonwatcher?"

He looked over his shoulder.

"She left me alone, as usual. Don't know when she'll be back. I'm not exactly her favorite client, in case you haven't noticed."

"I've noticed."

"Ah. Then you know that you're getting special treatment."

"If you can even call it that . . ."

"Hmph. That's fine. I guess I've forsaken my right to a happy life by making one mistake."

"That's exactly how it works, if you replace 'mistake' with 'murder'."

He didn't reply. I churred impatiently.

"Where is Moonwatcher? . . ."

We were both quiet for five minutes, at least. Then, Eli sighed with exasperation.

"Are we just gonna sit here in silence until Moonwatcher gets back?"

"Looks like it."

"Come on, Claire. Let's not keep acting this way."

I scoffed, unfolding my arms.

"You make it sound like this is just a petty grudge, but you're a criminal, Eli! I don't want to have this discussion right now . . . or ever!"

"I said I was sorry . . ."

"I know."

He bit his lip.

"So you really won't forgive me? . . . Ever?"

"I never said that . . ."

"It kind of sounds like that's the way things are going right now. If there's nothing I can do to change your mind, why should I even bother?"

"Because it's the right thing to do?"

He opened and closed his mouth.

". . . Okay, fair enough, but I don't want to get my hopes up if you're unwilling to give me a second chance."

"So don't."

He groaned.

"Come on, Claire. Just tell me what I can do to win back your trust, and I'll do it."

I glared at him.

"That's not how this works. I can't just forget about what you did."

"You don't have to forget. I just want you to know that that's not the kind of person I want to be. What can I do to make up for my actions?"

"I don't know."

He tossed his head.

"Claire, I know I did something horrible, and believe me, it's eating away at my conscience, but I can't keep living like this, and you're the only person who's ever come close to understanding me."

"I hope you're pulling that out of your ass . . ."

"I don't have an ass anymore. But even if I did, this is genuine. This is real."

"Why the sudden change of heart?"

He straightened up, balancing on his wheels.

"Because I have a choice to make. I can live my life as a prisoner, change my ways and set myself free . . . or die. I have nothing left to lose. It's time to swallow my pride and admit that I was wrong. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me, but it seems like you're not willing to believe that I can be good."

"No . . . I guess not."

He seemed hurt by this admission. His pain soon turned into confusion as a giant, purple swan waddled into the room. We both stared at the creature with wide eyes. It blinked.

"Are you . . . from Asterpara?" I asked.

Eli was shocked that I was speaking to such a strange animal, but luckily for me, she spoke back.

"Yes, I am."

"Ah . . . H-have you been helped?" I stuttered.

She ran her wing down the back of her neck.

"I . . . I was wondering if Elkay was around. I'm an old . . . friend."

"Where do you know her from?"

The swan gulped.

"Uh, well . . . we used to go to Chuck E. Cheese's together. She got lost in the play area once. She was in balls, deep."

A pause.

"That's a lie. We were lovers. I thought we could hook up."

Eli's mouth was still hanging open. He shut it when Moonwatcher came skipping around the corner.

"Hi, Serena. Elkay told me all about you. No, she's not here right now, but I'm sure we'll find her soon enough."

"She's lost?" the swan honked.

"Ran away. No one knows where she is. Not even her family. None that I've asked, anyway."

The swan clicked her tongue.

"Seems they've been having bad luck lately. First Cecilia, now Elkay."

Moonwatcher froze.

"Elkay's sister is missing too?"

"She was."

"But you found her?"

"Unfortunately, yes. Seems she travelled to another world to look for Elkay."

Moonwatcher pursed her lips.

"So, she went missing after Elkay? . . ."

"I guess you could say that. I thought Elkay was just visiting the other world, but if she's gone too, it'd be accurate to say that her sister went missing after, I suppose."

"Ah, yes. And what happened to her, exactly?"

"She's dead."

Moonwatcher was petrified. Her mouth opened and closed a couple of times before she could get any words out of it.

"That's impossible . . ."

"Not at all. That's the risk you take, going undercover as a mortal creature."

After a pause, Moonwatcher rotated on her heels. When she was facing me, she clenched her teeth.

"Well, the good news is, we found out who the apatosaurus was."

"And the bad news?"

She put her hands on her hips.

"Cecelia's DEAD!"

Eli backed away slowly, using his wheels as clumsy feet, unable to roll with the boot attached.

"Does this mean we're cancelling my parole? . . ."

"That's exactly what it means," Moonwatcher replied icily.

He lowered his head with disappointment.

"Ah."

Eli followed Moonwatcher as she left, hobbling awkwardly. Before limping out the door, he turned to look over his shoulder.

"I hope you change your mind, Claire."

When he was gone, the swan hummed.

"Friend of yours?"

I stared ahead blankly.

"Definitely not."

***TSJWFKFEW***

Late that night, Serena waddled across the island, making her way back to the portal that led to Asterpara. She froze as a nearby bush rustled. When a shadow emerged from it, she sighed with relief.

"Oh, it's you . . ."

"You weren't supposed to come here . . ."

She pulled her head back.

"Elkay said I was always welcome to drop by."

"Yes, well, you've outlived your usefulness . . . but not for long."

"What do you m-"

***TSJWFKFEW***

The next morning, Maisie combed the beach, wondering where all the pretty purple feathers had come from.