by Ben Cass
Ellie nodded. “Good. You deserve it. You’re staying with him while he sleeps, I assume?”
“For now, yes.”
“Okay.” Ellie leaned over to hug her sister. “Have fun in here. Don’t behave yourself.”
Jen rolled her eyes as Ellie stood up and left the barn. She moved over to take Ellie’s place next to Doyle, who was still sleeping soundly. She hesitated, and then shrugged.
Oh, why not? Jen carefully maneuvered herself on top of him, rested her head on his chest, and pulled his arms around her. She felt his muscles tighten, holding her close so she wouldn’t fall.
“I can definitely get used to this,” she said softly to herself.
ELLIE closed the barn door behind her, a small smile on her face. She decided she would text her friends and arrange for them to come to her. Theonus stood by the house, his head raised up to the second floor. Ellie couldn’t quite make out what was happening, but it looked like somebody was leaning out of the window. Theonus’s head moved from time to time, and he lifted a paw up and put it down in different positions.
He must be talking with Kira. While Ellie had been bathing him, Theonus had told her how he’d developed a way to communicate with Kira, using head and eye gestures along with his paws.
“Wiler sign language, huh?” Ellie had joked. “That could be a fun course.”
She started walking toward the house, watching as Theonus finally lowered his head and turned around, heading back toward Ellie. She waved at him. I wonder if he can hear me from there?
The reply was immediate. Of course I can. You’re not that far away, you know. The Wiler chuckled, the sound again making Ellie smile.
“What about if I speak?” she asked.
Still yes. It’s fainter, true, but still clear.
“That’s because you have those big old Dumbo ears,” she teased, laughing. “I don’t know how you survived listening to Jen and Doyle make out.”
Theonus sighed. The sounds weren’t the problem. Those actions, though. So disturbing.
Ellie raised an eyebrow. Theonus was almost right in front of her, and he stopped walking and sat down, his head blotting the sun from her vision.
“What actions?” she asked curiously. “I could hear things, but it didn’t make sense.”
Your sister was very...enthusiastic. They made such a mess of that wall. I’m still surprised she left his clothing on. Those thoughts...so unladylike.
Ellie crossed her arms. “That’s it? That’s all you’re going to tell me?”
I’m too traumatized to talk about it.
Ellie swatted his leg. “You’re a tease. You know that?”
I’m a teaser, I turn them on. Leave ‘em burning and then I’m gone.
Ellie groaned. “Did you seriously just paraphrase ‘Dancing Queen’?”
His tail thumped on the ground. Of course. It’s a fantastic song! Kiamada doesn’t have music like that, or at least, it didn’t.
He lowered the rest of his body to the ground, resting his head on his forelegs, humming the chorus to “Dancing Queen”. Ellie came up and leaned against his face, gently petting it.
For all your curiosity, Theonus said, you were bothered by them making out.
She planted a big kiss on his cheek. “Why do you say that?”
Because you were. He sounded like he thought the reply was obvious. Your scent gave it away. You were happy for Jen, but also bothered by it. Why?
Ellie picked up a random twig from the ground, twirling it around her fingers. The rough bark felt different, somehow. More...alive? Weird.
“I don’t know, Theonus,” she said, studying the twig.
I think you do.
Ellie sighed. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”
Not in the least. It’s bothering you, and you need to release it from your system. You are Tayamu, Ellie. Emotions are particularly strong for female Tayamu, and you don’t want this affecting you negatively. The longer you keep it inside, the worse you will feel.
She tossed the twig onto the ground and put her hands on top of her head. “Doyle keeps plenty of stuff inside, and look how he is.”
The Wiler snorted, a deep rumble coming from his throat. Sure. Hasn’t slept in nearly a week, wracked with guilt over keeping secrets, not knowing what to say to Jen after all this time. He’s doing great.
Ellie sighed. “It’s stupid, Theonus, and I know it. Okay? I’m not bothered. I’m just being stupid. It’s just hormones, I’m sure.” She raised an eyebrow. “Can I claim to be extra-hormonal right now? Is that part of Changing?”
You can claim whatever you like, as long as you let it out. Why were you bothered?
Ellie turned away from him. “What if she leaves me?”
There was a pause, and then Ellie stumbled forward as Theonus’s head nudged her from behind. She turned around to see him quirking an eyebrow.
Why would she do that?
Ellie spread her arms wide. “I know she wouldn’t, Theonus! That’s my point! I’m being stupid! All these freaking changes are just messing with my head!” She wrapped her arms around her waist, squeezing. “I just have this little, tiny voice in the back of my mind telling me she’s going to get so involved in her life with Doyle that I’m going to be on my own soon.” Ellie held her hand up, shaking her head. “And don’t tell me it won’t happen, because I know it won’t. It’s stupid, but I can’t get it out of my mind.”
Theonus jerked his head toward his back. I’ve found a good run often clears the head.
Ellie smiled widely. “Well, if you insist,” she said. She started to climb up, but reconsidered and stepped back.
What is it? Theonus asked.
She studied the angle of his leg. “Doyle bounced up onto you like it was nothing,” she said. “I’m just trying to figure out if I can replicate it.”
First lesson of being Tayamu: don’t try to figure things out. It’s fine to have a plan for certain things, but Tayamu often have to react in the heat of the moment, and they don’t have time to analyze the situation. They have to just do what needs to be done. So just run and jump. Don’t try to figure out how to do it.
She snorted. “Much easier said than done. I prefer to think things through. I don’t know how to act without thinking.”
I can help with that, if you like.
Ellie shrugged. “Sure. What should I do?”
Theonus’s mouth moved into something that looked like an evil grin. Run.
“Run?” Ellie repeated dumbly. “Run where?”
Wherever you want.
“Why?”
Theonus suddenly leaped to his feet and snapped his jaws at her, scaring her half to death. Run, Tayamu! Run!
She didn’t need to be told again. Ellie took off, tearing away from the giant Wiler, who was now moving after her. Don’t let me catch you! he warned. It will be unpleasant for both of us!
“What the hell?” she called over her shoulder. “What is wrong with you?”
Nothing is wrong with me, Ellie. You have the problem.
Ellie tried to run in a serpentine fashion, remembering that from some dumb movie she’d seen, but Theonus didn’t care. Within a matter of steps, he was on her, his mouth opening wide. Ellie caught a quick glimpse of his tongue as it suddenly surrounded her, rolling her up like a sleeping bag, tucking her into his mouth.
She gagged; she was inside the Wiler’s mouth! She could feel the saliva of his tongue coating her body, her skin getting slimy. The strong smell of wood filled her nose. Before she could freak out, Ellie found herself suddenly back in the sunlight, her body tumbling onto the ground as Theonus spit her out.
She stood up, soaking wet, and glared at Theonus. “Seriously?” she demanded, slinging her arms down, casting the disgusting dog spit off of her.
Theonus just looked at her. Run, he said.
Ellie stared at him in disbelief. He was kidding. Surely he wouldn’t....oh shit! Tongue! She rolled to the side instinctively, avoiding t
he Wiler’s mouth, and came quickly to her feet. She hadn’t even thought about it. His head lunged forward again, but Ellie moved out of the way, doing a backflip.
Ellie looked down at herself, stunned. “How did I do that?” she asked, confused.
You reacted instead of thinking, Theonus said. Now run, Tayamu.
Ellie suddenly grinned. She could do this. She could outrun the Wiler. Ellie took off, pushing herself like she had on the track, when she and Doyle had shattered every world record known to mere mortals. Ellie tore across the property, smelling the grass and flowers, feeling the bright sunlight. It seemed warmer, as it had that day on the track. The breeze caressed her skin, almost teasing her. Ellie thought if she could just focus her ears a little more, there would be a voice talking to her.
Tayamu are one with Nature itself, Theonus told her. You are starting to feel it, aren’t you? Use it to your advantage. Don’t think; just do!
She glanced over her shoulder, seeing Theonus jogging behind her, and put on a burst of speed. The giant dog started to recede into the distance, and Ellie laughed. She was doing it! She was outpacing Theonus!
Really? His voice popped into her mind. Are you sure?
Ellie glanced back again, and quickly slowed. The Wiler was gone. He’d been in the middle of the field, with nowhere to hide, so where had he...
The hair on the back of her neck suddenly stood on end. Something was wrong. Something was...Ellie bolted away, running faster than she had, as Theonus quickly materialized out of thin air just fifty feet away, running at full speed, the beams of light shedding from his body like water from a submarine.
Her mind flashed back to the barn, to Doyle’s voice. Wilers have this...ability, I guess you could call it...to bend light so you can’t see them.
“You sneaky bastard,” she muttered, a small grin on her mouth. She could hear the panting of the Wiler’s breath as his head lowered again, reaching for her.
No, she thought. Once was enough!
Ellie made a sharp turn, going back the way she’d come. Theonus, however, wasn’t able to turn as sharply, gaining her a few precious seconds.
Time for a snack! Theonus sounded amused.
“Hell, no, it isn’t!” Ellie yelled over her shoulder. Something tugged in her mind, and she went along with it, not really thinking about it. Ahead of her, a long stretch of earth tore itself free, curling up to form a huge ramp, the C-shaped structure almost thirty feet long.
Ellie aimed right for it, her body taking over from her mind. She raced up the ramp, legs and arms pumping, until she reached the top, finding herself nearly upside-down.
She was also ahead of Theonus.
Ellie flipped into the air, somersaulting with a grace she knew would have won Olympic gold, and landed on his neck. She quickly sat down, holding onto the fur.
YES!!! Theonus yelled in her mind. She could hear the pride oozing out of his voice, and started laughing. He kept on running.
No matter what happens with Jen and Doyle, you will always have me, Ellie, Theonus said.
She leaned down and kissed him. “That’s more than enough, Theonus!”
Chapter Twenty-Six
The sun had set on the day, but Groverton’s downtown was just getting started for the night. The Festival of Lights was the traditional signpost heralding the upcoming end of the school year and start of summer. While still several weeks away from vacation, the youth of Groverton were already buzzing in anticipation of their freedom, and the Festival was a chance for them to let off some energy.
Maddie walked down Main Street, which was blocked off to traffic, smiling at the little kids running by, ice cream or cotton candy in their hands. She’d arranged to meet the Evans twins at Riverside Park, where most of the action was. There were bounce houses and street performers and food trucks and an assortment of activities and booths. The Festival was like a giant yard sale, but with fun things to do, too. Thousands of feet of lights strung up through downtown and around Riverside Park, lighting the place up.
The Festival had started off as a town function, but over the years had transformed itself into a fundraiser for the middle/high school. About half of the booths were manned by students or teachers—sometimes both—while the other half were people selling their assorted goods.
This would be the first time they’d gone to the Festival without Ellie, which bothered Maddie. Ellie said she wasn’t feeling well enough to go out, but she’d love for them to come over later. Apparently, her cramps had gotten worse, and she was really tired. Given what they’d seen her go through at the house the other day, Maddie didn’t want to think about how Ellie must be feeling. If she was missing the Festival, she must not be feeling good.
They’d arranged to drive over to Coach Doyle’s house later, and Maddie was looking forward to it. Ellie said Jen and Doyle were officially a couple now, which made Maddie happy for Jen. She deserved a good guy.
Maddie turned down 2nd Street, glancing down at her phone. Abby had just texted. We’re here.
Maddie’s fingers flew across the screen. Just turned on 2nd. I’ll be there in a few minutes. Where are you?
Her phone dinged quickly. Fried chicken truck. Where else? LOL.
Maddie smiled and looked toward the park, which was only a few hundred feet away. Her eyes searched for the obnoxious plastic chicken wearing a chef’s hat, and found it quickly. The truck was parked at the very front of the line.
Maddie made her way over, waving to people as she passed them, and found her friends, who were already tearing into their food. Olivia saw her and waved, and Maddie waved back. The chicken smelled good, so she got in line for her own meal.
They stood together for a while, eating at one of the pop-up tables near the truck. There was a DJ playing some classic rock music, and several adults nearby were happily dancing to the tunes, much to the embarrassment of their children.
Maddie and the twins finished their food and threw their trash away, then washed their hands off in the portable sink attached to the food truck. “Man, I’m stuffed,” Abby said, patting her stomach. “I couldn’t eat another bite.”
Her twin laughed. “Sure...until we find dessert.”
Abby shrugged. “Well, duh. Dessert doesn’t count. I meant I couldn’t eat any more regular food.”
Maddie laughed and looped her arms through her friends’, and they walked off together, watching kids in the bounce houses laughing and playing happily without a care in the world. Ah, the good old days, before AP classes and college applications!
“Remember when we fit in those things?” Maddie asked, gesturing with her chin. Abby laughed.
“So much fun!” she said. “Remember how we’d all team up on Ellie, and fall down at the same time, sending her flying up?”
They all laughed hard; it had always been fun for them, but not Ellie, who wasn’t a fan of being launched into the air. They walked toward the people selling things in their booths, the sound of the river just beyond a soothing backdrop.
Maddie and the twins went past the booths and stood by the river, where the dunk tank was set up. Maddie raised an eyebrow; there was no tank at all. Instead, a small gangplank had been constructed and extended about six feet out over the river, the water about five feet below. She examined the setup, seeing the target at the end. A plastic seat dangled from an iron arm, hanging over the river, several feet away from the wooden plank.
“Are they getting dropped into the river?" Abby asked, echoing Maddie’s thoughts.
“Looks like it,” Olivia said, pointing. “See the straps on Coach Silvers?”
The old coach was sitting on the plastic seat, dressed in a track suit, straps encircling her waist. Maddie’s eyes traced the gears on the metal arm, seeing the seat would be lifted up mechanically. Three people were in the water, ready to help the dunked person if necessary.
It was a good setup. If Coach got sent in, the current wouldn’t be able to take her away, and she wouldn’t be in danger of drown
ing. The river was slow and lazy today, and Maddie knew from past experience that, while the water was a little cool still, it certainly wasn’t dangerously cold or anything. It wasn’t even deep right there, maybe only five or six feet. The people in the river had water up to their shoulders, but they might have been crouching, too. It wasn’t particularly wide at this stretch, either; only about fifty feet across here, widening out some as it wound around the town.
She watched as Mike Morris handed some money over and accepted six baseballs in a bucket. He bounced one in his hand, grinning.
Silvers laughed loudly. “Ah, Morris. If you could actually pitch, I might be nervous.” Mike wound up and threw the ball, missing the target. One of the people in the water quickly retrieved the ball, dropping it into a bucket that was hanging from the wooden plank.
“Morris, that was terrible." Silvers rested her hands behind her head. “I might as well take a nap.”
Mike quickly threw two more balls, and both missed the target completely. Silvers yawned, patting her mouth with her hand. “Now I see why you run track!” the coach called out, taunting him with a grin.
The fourth and fifth balls followed, both missing the target. Mike threw his head back, laughing at himself.
“One left, Morris! Maybe you should just stop and avoid embarrassing yourself entirely!”
Mike’s eyes flicked over to Maddie, and he smiled widely. “A good player knows when he needs to be benched,” he called out to Silver. “I’m going to the bullpen.” He turned and held the last ball out to Maddie. “C’mon, gorgeous. Dunk the old bat for me.”
Maddie raised her eyebrow. Did he just call me gorgeous? What’s up with that?
Mike bounced the ball in his hand. “Maddie, we both know you can throw better than I can. Would you please come over here and dunk her?”
“Oh, Morris, that’s just sad,” Silvers called out. “Don’t let him sucker you in, girl. Let him finish humiliating himself.”
