As they flew across the lawn, Chase tossed the skin to her. She stretched her arms toward it, drawing it in close after catching it.
Her skin! Her legs took her swiftly even as she cried out in joy, caressing the skin. Tears, human tears, rolled down her face; a wave of longing surged in her soul. Green and blue images of the salty depths flooded her spirit and she trilled loudly, bidding her distant cousins to come to her aid. They knew these waters and could show her the way to the seas.
In the darkness at the water’s edge, she ripped off the human clothing, foreign to her even in their skin, and slipped her own luxurious sealskin over her feet and onto her shoulders.
Allie Jo stumbled forward, crying. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I thought he was your uncle and I wanted to help you. I—”
Tara held Allie Jo’s face in both her hands. “You are good,” she said, and kissed her lightly on the cheek.
Chase loped over, stopped in front of her. Tumbling currents of confusion rolled off him, but they did not obscure his heart from her.
Tara grabbed him fiercely. “Thank you,” she said. Wetness touched her cheek as she hugged him, and she realized tears flowed from his eyes as well.
“Hey!” The sweaty blobfish man hobbled from the tunnel, followed by Clay, who jogged after him, yelling into his walkie-talkie.
Tara’s face hardened as she looked at the man and remembered his plans for her. She squeezed Chase one more time and kissed him on the cheek.
Overwhelmed with joy, she flashed them a big smile and dove into the water.