I wake up the next morning from an awesome dream.
I was swimming with my [kin] in Otter form. I felt just such a sense of belonging. Pa, Aunt Linda, and my grandparents were watching me. They all looked so happy for me. Then I woke up.
I tell Pa about my dream with a grin on my face. He smiles. "I'm glad you had such a good dream [my Nori.]" "Me too."
I head to work and I can't help but grin as I do. That was, by far, the best dream I've ever had. When Jimmy notices me, he smiles.
"Somebody's happy." "Yeah. I had a really good dream last night."
Of course I can't tell him about it.
I look at today's paper and, when I find my article, my grin broadens. I really like the way it came out.
I see a piece of paper on my desk. It's a note from Jimmy.
He said that he really liked my article. He felt like I wrote it as if I knew the otters personally.
If he only knew!
Not like I could tell him that but it's kind of...startling how close he is to the truth. I don't dare write him back. I don't feel too sure what I can say without blowing my secret identity out of the water.
Later, after work's over, there's a call for help.
A kid's trapped somewhere. The fit is tight so only I can rescue him.
Lousy time to be claustrophobic. But a hero's got to do what a hero's go to do.
I shift into an otter and, somewhat nervously, enter the tunnel. I have no choice.
As I look around, I feel more and more nervous. But I know I have to keep it together.
It feels like forever before I find the kid.
"O-Ottergirl? Is that you?"
I nod and gesture for him to follow me. The sooner I get out of here, the better.
He seems nervous as he follows me. On my way out, I feel something hurt me. I'm not too sure where I was hurt yet but it hurts really bad. Finally, we get out.
"I'm not hurt but Ottergirl's b-bleeding. She c-cut her tail."
That's where I'm hurt?
No.
Please don't say it's bad.
I twitch it nervously. I clench my teeth then I get a good look at my tail.
There's a pretty deep cut that covers almost the whole thing. I can tell it's going to scar. How am I going to tell my [brother] about this?
It hurts really bad. I just barely manage to shift back into a girl. I can't bring myself to say anything. The pain feels like way too much to handle. Though, after a while, words do come out from behind my clenched teeth.
"[Tail hurts.]"
I can't seem to make myself speak English right now. My pain filled eyes recognize Jimmy before Pa takes me to get medical attention.
Knowing I'll need rest, I close my eyes, but I feel Pa take me in his arms and fly away. I don't even know where he's taking me.
Right now I'm in far too much pain to care.
Clark's P.O.V
Nori's tail is bleeding really bad.
I wrap it in my cape and, since I don't really think I should take her to the Watchtower Medbay, I fly to Smallville feeling nervous. I feel like Nori should be around family.
I know Ma has the necessary items to take care of the wound. I just was hoping that they'd never have to be used for Nori. That wound's going to leave a scar.
She already has a scar on her tail.
I notice she's shaking a little bit. Bad dream.
When I land, I wake her up.
She looks at me with fear in her eyes. So much fear.
As I sing a few lyrics from her no-fear song, she looks down.
"How do you know that Pa?"
I hear pain and fear in her voice.
She eventually looks up, once we're inside, and I notice her eyes are full of tears. Some of them are even running down her face.
In a voice only I can hear, she tells me, in Otter, that she's scared. She asks me how she's going to tell her [brother] about this.
I don't really know what to say. But I wish I knew the answer to her question.
I carefully remove my cape from her tail. As her wound's tended to, I notice her wince. Nori I'm sorry that you got hurt. I'm so sorry.
She falls asleep that night and, for most of it, she fitfully tosses back and forth. Despite all my powers, it seems like the only thing I can do is hold my daughter as she cries. I find myself hoping that's enough.
Though I did arrange a private visit tomorrow (which we're taking off) for Kara, Nori, and I to the otter exhibit. I tell her this and a half smile appears on her face.
"I think that's good. But I wasn't looking forward to telling my [brother] what happened to my [tail.] Even though I know that I have to. Do you think he'll still like me Pa?"
She says the last sentence just below a whisper. I smile. "He's your [brother] Nori. I'm certain he will."
Just before she falls asleep, she thanks me.
"Not a problem [my Nori.]"
I think she heard me, because a smile appears on her face. Sweet dreams Nori. Given what you've been through, you more than deserve to have them.