After they had washed their muddy hands, Luma and Ella ran to the kitchen table.
Mom had prepared a feast! Cucumber and carrot sticks, little cherry tomatoes, a whole bowl of salt and vinegar chips, two chocolate mousses for dessert, and, of course, a plate of peanut butter sandwiches.
“Yum!” Ella said, sitting down.
Luma didn’t really feel hungry at all. It felt far too odd to even think about eating without Timir hovering under the table waiting for his half.
She looked toward the kitchen door and…
“There you are!” Luma grinned, hopping off her chair.
“Woof!” Timir woofed.
Luma’s grin vanished as she got closer to him. His pupils were entirely diamond-shaped, not even a flash of circles at all!
And then he did something very naughty, even naughtier than the time he stole the treat bag from the dog trainer when they went to the puppy-training class.
Timir leaped onto the kitchen table.
He snarled at the plate of peanut butter sandwiches, kicking it with his back paws, and then chomped down on the edge of the bowl with the chips.
“Timir!” Mom shouted. “Drop that at once!”
Timir let out a funny growly whine and tried to carry the chips away.
He did not, however, get far. The bowl was far too big for his little teeth to hold. It slipped out of his mouth and tripped him over.
Timir did two somersaults, before landing on his back.
“Timir!” Luma cried, kneeling down beside him.
A small flurry of bubbles burst out of the heart charm.
“Oh no!” Luma quickly moved so they were hidden from Ella and Mom and then one more bubble appeared, larger than the rest, and Luma was sure she could see herself in it, almost like her reflection, but not quite … her hair was in two braids instead of one and her top was blue instead of white.
Luma frowned as the bubble landed on Timir and popped.
Timir gazed up at her.
Luma sighed with relief to see Timir’s eyes were normal.
“Luma?” he said. “What … where am I?”
Luma quickly scooped Timir into her arms. “I’m going to take him to my room for a bit,” she told Mom and Ella.
“Yes,” Mom said, rather crossly. “I think that would be best.”
