Chapter 32 #2
Archie contemplated this for a moment.
“I suppose,” he said, in the tones of someone grudgingly making a huge concession, “that’s almost as cool as being a bear.”
Honey had often seen Finley smile, but there had always been something a little reserved about it. Now, however, he broke into a broad grin, showing startling rows of sharp, saw-edged teeth. He flung himself at the other boy, sweeping him up in a fierce, relieved hug.
“I said almost. ” Archie struggled to get free, without success. “Don’t get all mushy.”
“It still means a lot.” Finley released him. “Thanks, Archie.”
Claire had gone a bit quiet—not that she wasn’t always quiet, but Honey thought there was something even more hesitant about her posture. The girl eyed Finley, chewing on her lower lip as though debating with herself.
“Finley,” Claire burst out, apparently reaching a decision. “You said your mom and dad are different types of shifter?”
Finley nodded. “My dad’s a sea dragon, but my mom’s a great white shark.
It was kind of a big deal at the time, since sea dragons and sharks are traditionally enemies.
But everyone could see that they were true mates, and eventually most people came round to the idea.
There are still some traditionalists who aren’t too happy about me, since they think only a sea dragon should rule Atlantis, but they don’t have much power these days. ”
“You don’t look like a great white shark, though,” Claire said. “Is that because you’re half-dragon?”
“Maybe,” Finley said, sounding a little cautious. “It’s kind of complicated. Some people think I’m a megalodon shifter, which means… something special to shark shifters. But I’m a strange color, so other people think it’s just my sea dragon blood that makes me so big.”
“What do you think?” Honey asked.
“I don’t really know.” Finley spread his hands. “How would I tell? I’m just… me.”
“And we like you just the way you are.” Estelle slung an arm around Finley’s neck. “Except when you hog all the dessert, you pie-stealing pig.”
Finley sighed. “Estelle, it was one slice. ”
“Well, it was my slice.”
“I thought you’d left it for me. Anyway, we were four years old. Let it go.”
Estelle tightened her grip. “Never.”
Putting Finley in a head-lock, Estelle scrubbed her knuckles over his scalp in a vicious noogie. Finley struggled, yelling for help, and Archie and Flora happily piled in—though on whose side, it was difficult to tell.
Claire didn’t join in. As she hung back, watching the others wrestle, Honey could see the longing hidden behind her shy manner.
“Claire,” she murmured, pitching her voice for the girl’s ears alone. “Are your parents different types of shifter?”
Claire hesitated, then nodded.
“Is that why you’re shy about your shift form?”
The girl looked down at her shoes. She nodded again.
“It’s okay. You can keep things private, even at camp.” Honey crouched, putting herself more at the girl’s level. “But you and Finley have something in common. If you did want to talk about it, I think he’d understand.”
“He doesn’t feel the same way about his animal, though,” Claire mumbled. “He’s proud of his.”
“And you aren’t?”
Claire dug the toe of one shoe into the ground. “It’s just… not what I was expecting. Ever since I was born, people always said I was just like my mom. So I thought…”
“You were going to be the same sort of shifter?” Honey checked that the other kids were still in sight, but not paying attention. “What is she, if you don’t mind me asking?”
In a tiny voice, Claire whispered, “Chameleon.”
Honey had to admit that would have matched Claire’s personality. She was so good at fading into the background, sometimes even Honey forgot she was there.
“I can see how that would be a surprise, if your animal wasn’t what you thought,” she said. “When did you find out?”
“Not long ago. I shifted for the first time at Christmas.” A slow blush crept over Claire’s face. “In the middle of our big family dinner, in front of everyone. All my cousins and aunts and uncles. Everyone .”
For a girl as shy as Claire, it must have been torture to suddenly find herself the center of attention. Honey was beginning to see why she was so reluctant to shift again.
“That must have been a big shock,” she said gently. “So if you’re not a chameleon like your mom, do you take after your dad?”
“Sort of.” Claire cast her a quick, darting glance. “It’s easier to show than explain. Do you… do you want to see?”
“Now?” Honey said in surprise, and got a small but certain nod in return. “I would love to see your shift form. But only if you’re sure that’s okay.”
Claire’s gaze flicked to Finley, who was now half-laughing, half-protesting under a pile of his friends. There was apprehension in her young face, but also a new determination.
“I think I’m ready to show everyone.” A flicker of worry crossed her expression. “Just… tell them not to laugh.”
Whatever her animal was, Claire apparently couldn’t transform her clothes like Finley and the other mythic shifters. She retreated behind a bush to get undressed in privacy.
“Hey, Honey!” Archie called. “Where’s Claire going?”
“She just needs a private moment,” Honey called back.
Since the last thing Claire needed was to emerge to find a circle of goggling onlookers, she pointed down at the lake shore, where water lapped over smooth pebbles.
“Tell you what, let’s have a competition, boys against girls.
Who can build the highest tower of rocks in five minutes? ”
“WE CAN!” Flora and Estelle yelled together, and took off at top speed. Finley and Archie followed, hot on their heels. Beth and Rufus, drawn by the commotion, came swooping down, and soon all the campers were scuffling around with their hands full of pebbles.
“It’s just you and me now, Claire,” she called softly. “You can come out whenever you’re ready.”
For a moment, she thought Claire had lost her nerve. Then two worried, emerald green eyes peered round the bush. Belly to the ground, ears pinned back, a snow leopard slunk into view on soft, tentative paws.
Or not quite a snow leopard. In the shadow of the bush, Claire’s spots were the usual pale, mottled gray, surrounded by black rosettes.
As she stepped out into the sun, however, they shimmered, changing color to match the grass under her paws.
A breeze stirred the bush behind her, and her spots rippled as well, shifting through hues of subdued greens and browns.
“Claire,” Honey breathed, entranced. “So your dad’s a snow leopard?”
Claire’s spots darkened to muted, muddy tones, as though she were embarrassed. She dipped her round, furry head in a nod.
“And your mom’s a chameleon.” Honey smiled, holding out a hand. “I think that makes you a chameleopard.”
Claire’s whiskers perked up a little. A little tentatively, she rubbed the side of her head against Honey’s hand. Her fur was so dense and plush, it felt like touching spun clouds. As Honey stroked the chameleopard, her spots rippled again, shifting from shy browns to tones of purple and mauve.
“Your animal is wonderful,” she told the chameleopard sincerely. She leaned in, pressing her cheek against Claire’s soft, spotted one. “Just like you.”
All Claire’s spots flushed bright pink. She pressed her forehead into the crook of Honey’s neck for a moment, whiskers tickling her skin. Then Claire pulled away, glancing in the direction of the other campers.
“Do you want to show them, too?” Honey murmured.
Claire’s tail flicked, her spots whirling into worried blues for a moment. Then they steadied to a determined orange. She nodded.
Honey raised her voice. “Kids! Come over here. Quietly, please.”
“Is there a snake?” Archie yelled, loud enough to scare off every snake in a ten-mile radius. He charged over, competition forgotten. “Or a cool bug, or a skunk, or—hey, is that Claire?”
Claire crouched low as the rest of the kids caught sight of her too. Her spots blushed, turning rose pink.
“Hey, neat!” Estelle exclaimed. “That’s awesome, Claire.”
“I wish I could turn different colors,” Flora said enviously. “No one would ever be able to ignore me.”
“Nobody can ignore you now,” Beth pointed out.
“I’ve met octopus shifters back in Atlantis who can do something similar to this,” Finley said, examining Claire’s spots with interest. “Their skin changes color in response to their emotions. Is that the same for you, Claire? Or can you control it?”
Claire’s rosy hues had started to shimmer, gold flashing around each rosette spot. Now she seemed to concentrate, going still. A moment later, a dazzling wave of rainbow colors swept across her spots, from red at her forehead all the way to deep purple at the very tip of her tail.
“You’re so pretty, Claire,” Beth said. Rufus nodded agreement, golden eyes bright.
“Yeah, yeah,” Archie didn’t look nearly as impressed as the other kids. “I guess that’s nice and all, but come on! Let’s see your claws. ”
Claire obligingly extended a paw. Razor-sharp claws slid out from her fluffy toes.
“ Cooooooool, ” Archie breathed, then added, “But mine are still bigger.”
“In your dreams,” Estelle told him. “Anyway, it’s not a competition.”
“This is so great!” Flora charged for the privacy of a bush. “Now we can all shift together!”
“Uh…” Finley’s eyes flicked to Estelle. “I think I’ve had enough shifting for today, actually.”
“Oh, come on, Finley,” Archie wheedled, already kicking off his shoes. “I wanna fight your shark!”
“Archie, he could like, eat you in one bite,” Estelle said.
“Yeah, but he’d have to get me in his mouth first.” Archie pulled his t-shirt over his head. “I can totally win. Double-dog dare you to wrestle, Finley. Or are you chicken?”
Without bothering to take off his shorts, Archie poofed into fur. The bear galloped away, taunting Finley with his round, spandex-clad backside.
Estelle nudged Finley. “Go kick his butt. Otherwise, we’ll never hear the end of it.”
Finley hesitated. “Are you sure you don’t mind?”