This chapter is inspired by a discussion of the last chapter with Sineater and MariaShadow, who pointed out that the boys were nakey…and a suggestion as to what to do about it…

Scott stood his ground between the Djinn and the men he was rapidly coming to view as family.

The Djinn may have solidified into human form, but as she moved Scott could see the smoke moving around her. He didn't know much about them – Djinns tended to keep to themselves and rarely got involved in other mythicals, although they were known for getting involved with humans from time to time – but there was something about this person that was compelling, even if he didn't fully trust her yet.

He sat down and snorted a little flame around her. Tanusha merely vanished and reappeared in front of him.

'Peace be with you, Tanusha.'

With a completely unnecessary shake of his shoulders Scott turned human again and invited the Djinn to sit with them.

Tanusha stared at the four men before her. Her form solidified until she was standing in front of them. Her body was covered with layers of clothing – baggy dusty red trousers tucked into soft leather boots, a silk tunic in a rich red with pale yellow trim with a matching belt and scarf. There were bands of gold in the shape of snakes around her upper arms and in a band around her head on top of her long brown hair.

She cocked an eyebrow at them. They stared back, completely unaware of what she was implying.

'So, I take it you realise the four of you are naked?'

The four men looked at each other, baffled. Scott and John donned clothes when they visited the mainland – it was obvious that humans required clothing – but back home they hadn't really considered it. Virgil was new to being human and Gordon being a Selkie meant he had a fur coat but he wasn't wearing it, he was using it as a pillow…

'I see. Have you never thought about wearing them whenever you're human?'

'Not really. They are a necessity for visiting the mainland but why would we need them here? There are no humans.'

Tanusha made a funny noise at the back of her throat before turning her back on the group.

'Being clothed is a vital part of being in human form. You should really think about wearing them all the time when in this form.'

They looked at each other. Gordon snorted in derision. No way he was wearing clothes, they were too restrictive.

Tanusha sighed heavily and kept her back to the men. It was John who suddenly understood.

'We embarrass you by our nakedness?'

'Not embarrassed, not really. It's…how to explain…'

'I understand. You are more 'human' that the rest of us here, so I think I understand that our current state of being is more of a problem than you than for us. Do you want us to get dressed?'

'Yes please.'

She listened to them moving to leave and sighed. She had important things to discuss – time sensitive things, and she spoke.

'Wait. I can – I can gift you the ability to be clothed whenever to change back to being human. If you are willing to accept this gift from me.'

'A gift?'

'A Djinn can bestow gifts on whoever they want, and I think that you will all benefit from this one. But you have to agree to it.'

They all looked once more to each other and then to Scott, who shrugged. It certainly wouldn't hurt to be clothed all the time rather than traipse up to the cave they currently kept their clothes in. Plus it might also stop them needed to replace them so regularly.

'I agree. It sounds like a great idea. What will they look like?'

'They will reflect your true selves. Do you all agree?'

'Yes.'

'Yes.'

'Yes.'

'So be it.'

Tanusha snapped her fingers.

Scott looked down at himself. He was dressed similarly to the Djinn, only his clothes were shades of blue and silver. John likewise in yellows and oranges. Virgil was more muted in golden brown the shade of his lionself and accents of green. Gordon was pale yellow and pale orange, a surprise to the Selkie who assumed that he would be in a rich but dull brown.

She turned to face them.

'Thank you. These clothes will stay with you every time you are human.'

There was a chorus of thanks and she settled between Scott and Gordon before she carried on.

'Now – I was serious about the danger you are in.'

'Tell us.'

'There is a Djinn who is coming for you. He is a very powerful one, one that no one has been able to defeat.'

'What does he want from us?'

'Your island. There is something here that he is after and he will not stop to get it, even if that means killing each and every one of you.'

There was silence.

'And there is nothing we can do?'

'There is one thing.'

'What?'

'I stay with you. I train you. I teach you how to defeat him.'

'Why – why would you do that? For us?'

'Because…because that Djinn is family. Because he killed my father. Because I am your only hope.'

'And?'

'And because I know what he wants.'

'And what is that?'

'He wants you, Scott.'