Page 24 of Sobek’s Joy

“No I’m not.” Rose burst from her hiding spot, arms raised. “I’m right here. I’m a panther.”

Her fingers had sprouted claws again, sharp and curved. Her teeth looked longer, more pointed. Not quite a shift, but close enough to make Sobek’s protective instincts slam into overdrive.

He glanced toward the stairs. Rudy was still upstairs, singing loudly off-key to some pop song about broken hearts.

“Rose.” Sobek crouched down, meeting her eyes. “Remember your breathing?”

“But we’re playing panthers.”

“And panthers breathe. Slowly. In through the nose...” He demonstrated.

Rose’s excitement dimmed slightly, but she copied him. One breath. Two. Her claws receded to regular fingernails, though her canines stayed sharp.

“Good. Keep breathing like that.” Sobek kept his voice low and calm. “When we play, we stay in control. Yes?”

“But it’s more fun when I’m all growly and bitey.”

“More fun. More dangerous.” Sobek tapped her nose gently. “You are strong, little panther. That means you must be careful.”

Rose processed this with a furrowed brow. “Daddy says I’m perfect the way I am.”

“You are perfect. And powerful. Those things go together.”

“Oh.” Rose considered this revelation. “Okay. I’ll be careful-powerful.”

“Good girl.”

She beamed at the praise, then immediately tackled Sobek’s leg with renewed energy, claws safely retracted.

Timothy appeared at Sobek’s elbow, drawn by the commotion. “Can I play?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t wanna be a panther, though.”

“What do you want to be?”

Timothy’s expression went very serious. “What you are.”

Sobek’s breath caught. Timothy didn’t know what Sobek was…not really. But the child’s instincts recognized some kinship, some form of shared nature.

“Then you’re what I am,” Sobek said carefully. “And we’ll play together.”

Rose had already moved on to “hunting” the couch cushions, pouncing with theatrical growls. Jack appeared in the doorway, drawn by the noise, book still in hand.

“What’re you guys doing?”

“Playing,” Rose announced. “Sobek’s playing with us. You have to play too.”

Jack looked torn between his book and his sister’s enthusiasm. “I’m at the good part...”

“Jack.” Sobek straightened to his full height. “Your sister wants to play. Your brother wants to play. They are asking you to join in.”

It wasn’t really a command, more of a strongly worded observation. But Jack perked up anyway, setting his book aside with exaggerated care.

“Okay, but I’m the alpha wolf, and nobody can argue.”

“I’m still a panther.” Rose insisted.