Chapter 44
THREE WEEKS LATER…
“I don’t wanna go hoooooome!” Flora wailed. “I wanna stay at camp forever!”
She wasn’t the only one in tears. The whole central square was thronged with campers clinging to counselors or each other, making their goodbyes and promising to keep in touch.
“I’ll miss you too.” Honey patiently handed the wombat shifter yet another tissue. “But I’m sure your moms are missing you even more. Aren’t you looking forward to telling them all about your adventures?”
Flora sniffed soggily. “I guess.”
“I’m sad that summer’s over, but I’m also glad to be going home,” Claire said. “I can’t wait to show all my family what I can do with my shift form now.”
“Show ‘em Disco Leopard first,” Estelle told her. “Disco Leopard is the best .”
“This isn’t goodbye forever, Flora,” Finley said “We’ll see each other again.”
“Right,” Beth agreed. She looked around at the rest of the pack. “We’re all coming back next summer, right?”
Everyone nodded—or almost everyone. Honey noticed Archie hanging back, oddly subdued. He’d been unusually quiet ever since Zephyr’s farewell speech at the camp closing ceremony. He hadn’t turned into a bear even once today.
“Archie?” she said. Leaving Rufus and Finley to continue attempting to console Flora, she went over to the boy. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah,” Archie muttered. “It’s just… I don’t think I can come back next year.”
“Why not?” Estelle said, overhearing. “You know Zephyr’s wouldn’t really ban you, no matter what Conleth said. You didn’t get in that much trouble over the frog thing.”
“He should have,” Beth muttered.
“It’s not that.” Archie shoved his hands in his pockets. “I only got to come to camp this year because my sister gave my mom the money for it. I don’t think she’ll be able to do that next year. I mean, she doesn’t have a car any more, and I don’t see what else she could sell.”
“If it’s just money that’s the problem, I’m sure we can work something out,” Honey told him. “There’s special support available for families who can’t afford the full fees.”
Archie shot her an offended look. “That’s charity. My mom says that’s for people who really need it, not us. We do just fine on our own.”
“Well, there are other options too,” Honey said gently. “Staff discounts, for example. Non-shifters are allowed to work here now, after all. Let me talk to Zephyr, okay? He can discuss it with your mom.”
“Okay,” Archie said, looking happier. He gave her a tight, slightly sticky hug. “Thanks, Honey.”
“You’re coming back next year too, right, Iggy?” Flora asked.
Ignatius rolled his eyes, though Honey was certain his air of peeved resignation was entirely fake. “As if I have any choice. Unless I magically learn to shift before next summer, my uncle will insist on it.”
“Are you sure about that?” Honey asked. “I thought he might hold something of a grudge against the camp, after all that’s happened.”
Ignatius shrugged. “Oh, he does. But a dragon never admits to defeat. He wouldn’t want anyone to find out that he lost a dominance confrontation.
Especially not against someone who’s not even a dragon.
If he didn’t send me back next summer, the other clan alphas would wonder why.
They all know that he’s invested heavily in this place. ”
Flora wiped her nose on her sleeve, untouched tissue in her hand. “Everyone comes back next year, no matter what. It wouldn’t be the same without you guys. Come on, pinky promise.”
One by one, the campers hooked fingers, exchanging solemn oaths.
“You too, Honey,” Flora said when everyone else had promised to return. She held out her crooked pinky. “Promise you’ll be here next year. You and Buck.”
Smiling, Honey hooked her finger around the girl’s. “I promise. And I swear for Buck, too.”
“I don’t like the sound of that,” Buck growled, coming back from loading bags into the waiting bus. “What are you getting me into this time, woman?”
“It’s too late,” Estelle informed him. “Honey’s already promised she’s coming back to camp next year. And she’s your mate, so that means you have to be here too.”
“I’m never getting mated,” Archie muttered, heartfelt.
“You are going to be our counselor again next year, aren’t you, Buck?” Beth asked.
Buck grunted. “We’ll see. Buses are ready to go, kids. Make your final farewells and get out of here.”
With another heartbroken wail, Flora flung herself at Buck, hitting him squarely in the abs. He made a small, winded oof .
“I’m g-gonna m-miss you, Buck!” Flora got out between sobs, arms wrapped round Buck’s waist. “I’m gonna m-miss your grumpy faaaaaaace!”
At that precise moment, Buck looked considerably more alarmed than grumpy. He hesitated, then quickly patted the wombat shifter on the back. Once.
“There now,” he said gruffly. “No need for all that. We’ll see you next summer.”
“There’s the final call,” Honey said as Leonie’s whistle split the air. With some difficulty, she peeled Flora off Buck. “Off you go, everyone, before the bus leaves without you.”
In a final babble of tearful goodbyes and last minute hugs, Flora, Claire, and Archie joined the kids heading for the parking lot. Honey kept waving right to the end, until they were out of sight at last.
“And there’s my ride,” Ignatius said, looking up as a dragon swept overhead—not Lord Golden, but a smaller, green-scaled beast. “I’d better go too.”
“Is that your mom?” Honey asked. “I’d like to meet her.”
“No, just one of my uncle’s betas. My mom wanted to pick me up, but my uncle needed her to do something overseas.” Ignatius slung his backpack over his shoulder. He gave them all a stiff, awkward nod. “Well… goodbye, then.”
“See you, kid,” Buck replied. “You sure you going to be all right?”
Ignatius considered this for a moment. Then he dipped his chin in a nod.
“Yes.” His eyes flicked to Rufus. “Yes, I think I am.”
The griffin shifter grinned back at him. He bumped Ignatius with his shoulder.
“Rufus says,” Finley started.
“I know,” Ignatius interrupted. The slightest of smiles cracked his aristocratic reserve. “See you all next summer.”
“Yeah, whatever.” Estelle gave Ig a dismissive wave as he headed off. She lowered her voice. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m gonna miss having him around. It’s been kinda nice not being the only person who can’t shift.”
“Estelle, you two fight all the time ,” Beth said. “You didn’t even say goodbye properly!”
“Well, obviously.” Estelle rolled her eyes. “I don’t want Ig to think I like him or anything.”
Finley looked round at the now mostly empty square. “I guess I should go find Moira and Ragvald. We’re taking the Sea Gate back to Atlantis. Estelle, is your mom coming to pick you up?”
“No, she’s busy with some horse thing,” Estelle said, pulling a face. “I’m getting a lift with Beth.”
Honey checked her watch. “What time is your mom due to arrive, Beth?”
“She should have been here already,” Beth said, frowning. “It’s not like her to be late. Hang on, I’ll see if I can sense her. If she’s turned onto the road up to the camp, she should be within my range.”
Beth closed her eyes, her face settling into a look of intense concentration. For a long moment, she just stood there, head cocked as though trying to make out a faint, faraway sound... and then, without warning, she shrieked.
“Beth?” Honey said in alarm, but the girl was already pelting toward the parking lot. Exchanging a puzzled glance with Buck, Honey followed, along with the others.
The reason for Beth’s excitement soon became obvious. A big, boxy vehicle was bumping up the road toward the camp, sending up a cloud of dust.
Honey knew what it had to be, even before the vehicle got close enough for her to read the words painted along the sides. She could tell from the way Buck stiffened; the sudden tension in the mate bond.
“You okay?” she murmured.
He didn’t respond for a moment, his eyes fixed on the approaching vehicle.
“Yeah.” His hand found hers, gripping tight. “Come on. I want you to meet everyone.”
All four firefighter kids had already rushed to meet the crew truck, waving their arms and hollering. It stopped in front of the camp. Through the settling dust, Honey could make out the logo and words on the side: THUNDER MOUNTAIN HOTSHOTS.
“Dad!” Estelle yelled, pelting for the truck as the doors opened. “ Dad! ”
A handsome man in dirty, soot-stained firefighter gear jumped down from the truck to catch her in his arms. His white-blond hair wasn’t quite as colorless as Estelle’s silvery locks, but the family resemblance was unmistakable. Estelle clung to his neck, babbling at a mile a minute.
“Mom! Dad!” Finley exclaimed, as two more firefighters emerged—a pale, lean woman with braided gray hair, and a towering, grinning black man. “Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?”
“And spoil the surprise?” Finley’s dad swept him up in a bear hug. “What would be the fun in that?”
Rufus had rushed to greet another pair of firefighters, obviously his own mom and dad. He hugged them both in silence, eyes shining.
“Whoa, Rufus, slow down,” Rufus’s dad said, his mouth crooking. He was stocky and muscular, with the same tawny hair and golden eyes as his son. “You don’t have to tell us everything that happened at camp all at once.”
Rufus seized his mom’s hand. He tugged at her, pointing at Honey.
“Okay, okay,” the tall blonde woman laughed. She let Rufus pull her over. “Hi, you must be Honey. I’m Edith, Rufus’s mom. He’s told us a lot about you in his letters home.”
Honey shook the woman’s hand, feeling the strength in that firm, confident grip. “Good things, I hope.”
“Of course. Though we would have known you had to be a special person anyway.” Edith’s open, beaming smile widened. “Buck! Oh Buck, we’re all so happy for you!”
“Congratulations,” Rufus’s dad said, coming over to join them. He shot Honey a sidelong glance. “At least to you, Buck. I think we should be offering you our condolences, Honey.”