It’s fair enough.
I deliberately chose to arrive out in the open. I need to give all of the powerful beings who are coming to this meeting the chance to see me. To see that I am not a monster.
Up ahead, Theo quietly approaches the other two children, his footsteps a little wobbly on the sand but no less indicative of his wolfish nature.
He stops at a distance, but Emika is quick to greet him. “Do you want to play?”
A smile breaks through Theo’s serious countenance, and he gives a quick nod.
“Here,” she says. “This is my second-favorite shovel. I’m sorry, but Elijah already has my favorite one.”
“That’s okay. Where should I dig?”
“Here,” she says, pointing. “This spot is where I make the best castles.”
Theo busies himself, filling a bucket while Emika tips out the one she already prepared.
“You’re a dragon,” he says to her.
“You’re a wolf,” she replies, smiling sweetly at him. “Elijah is sort-of a fury.” Her brow crinkles. “Or maybe a god. His parents don’t know yet.”
Elijah gives a shrug as he focuses on patting the side of the mound Emika made.
“Hey, wanna see my wings?” Emika suddenly asks.
If she didn’t have their attention before, she certainly has it now.
“Yes, please,” Elijah says, sitting back on his heels.
After standing up, Emika shrugs her shoulders like Elijah did.
Her wings extend with a rush of power that floods the air so intensely it reaches me where I stand.
My eyes widen at the breadth of her wings.
The fierce, blood-red color of them.
They’re so large that she topples backward, landing on her butt.
She’s laughing hard. “They’re too big for me.”
Elijah breaks into a smile.
Theo has wide eyes. He shakes himself. “Wanna see my wolf?”
“Yes, please,” Emika says, retracting her wings and leaning forward with Elijah, both in apparent anticipation.
A crimson wolf appears at Theo’s side, an eerily powerful sight. It stands as tall as he is and its body appears insubstantial. I can see the beach behind it.
“Oh, I love him,” Emika cries, reaching for the wolf’s face.
Theo immediately steps back and the wolf jumps back with him, steering clear of her hand.
“Careful,” Theo says. “His magic will bite you.”
Emika retracts her hand. “Oh. That’s sad.”
Theo’s shoulders start to slump, but Elijah interjects. “Wanna see my eyes?”
