Bree flung her head back as she surfaced beside Lyra, a pink egg-shaped rock the size of her head in her hands. Her strawberry blonde hair whipped into the air, falling in long waves down her back. For the first time, she and Lyra weren’t identical. This was horrible, and it was Peter’s fault.

“I can’t believe you got your hair cut into an angled bob just because he couldn’t tell us apart,” said Bree.

“I'm not bald like mommy, and Peter likes it,” said Lyra.

A half-hearted giggle burst from Bree.

“What? You got a full-body wax for Jacob.” Lyra’s teasing, almost lecherous tone drew nearby eyes.

Bree blushed. “No… I did it for me. I like how it feels, the kiss of the sun and moons and the wind's caress on my skin.”

“It reminds me of the prison.”

“Hey!”

“You can go long above and bare below,” said Lyra, “but I don’t want the reminder. I don’t want to remember waking up in the surgery every time I look in the mirror. Bree, if Daddy had come ten minutes later, you’d be dead.”

“That’s not fair! We both knew the blue door was death for me, and I’m glad Daddy showed up when he did. But my hair? Why didn’t you tell me yesterday before we went to the salon?”

“How could I? You and Jacob were all giggling and goggle-eyed and teasing each other. Oh, and that bet?”

“I still don’t believe he—”

“I can’t believe you paid up! Especially after Mommy's lecture back on the mountain!”

“Really? How often have you snuck off in the middle of the night?”

A full-body blush crept through Lyra’s tan. “We kept each other company when we had guard duty.”

“A stampeding herd of stegosaurus could have come through the camp, and you wouldn’t have noticed.”

“Maybe, but nobody got hurt, so who cares? I heard Jacob scream like a baby through his waxing. Is he as smooth as that pretty pink rock you’re fondling? Was it worth it? Tell me, did he stay in his room because he’s sunburnt in awkward places or embarrassed to be hairless?”

Bree shrugged and glanced toward their hotel. “I like the look and how it feels, and he didn’t care what anyone said yesterday. No… Jacob stayed in the boys’ room because he didn’t feel well.”

Lyra’s eyes were bright and teasing as she asked, “Did you wear him out? Or was he unable to play because of his sunburned and waxed skin?”

“Maybe, but… I don’t think so. Jacob was fine when he walked me home from the club last night, but about two A.M., he started running a fever, aching everywhere, and had a weird purple rash.”

“Did you get Aunt Sera?”

“No,” said Bree, “I went to their door, but… um… they were… busy.”

“At two in the morning?”

“They’re newlyweds.”

“Peter didn’t look good this morning either. We should go check on the guys,” said Lyra, taking Bree’s hand and pulling her towards the shore.

“Why? It’s just a reaction to being waxed for the first time.”

“If it was just the rash, I’d believe you, but Peter too? Waxing isn’t contagious, and what about the purple spots and the other stuff?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Think. Do you remember the sickness that swept over the farms when we were Essie’s age?”

“Are you talking about the summer every kid in town got the purple spots, and half the kids in the county slept naked in Jelray Park for a week?”

Lyra nodded.

“I’ve never itched so bad, and the food was awful; I never want to see another toasted mint cheese sandwich.”

“The boys were worse!”

“Gods, that was embarrassing. Jimmy O’Rorke kept teasing me about my pretty parts—”

“Until Miss Rigdom, I mean Mom cursed him out and told him to return to the boy’s side.”

“He had purple spots everywhere!”

“And they glowed in the dark…” Lyra swore and pointed to the turnabout and parking area on the forest side of the beach. “We need to get out of here!”

Bree’s eyes followed Lyra’s finger as she asked, “What? Why?” Her vision locked on a score of children exiting a bright green hadrosaur-drawn school bus. Little kids did not belong on Jelray Beach. Signs everywhere directed anyone under sixteen back toward the family beach near the city. She gawked as two more Porto Primary School busses stopped and unloaded children. The children cried, and some threw tantrums, but all shed their clothing, dropping it into a fire pit on the forest’s edge. Everyone had luminescent purple splotches on their skin. Oh, shite!

Marching feet pulled Bree around, her eyes seeking while her mind prayed she was wrong. She pulled on Lyra’s hand, yanking her attention away from the buses and toward a dissonant chorus singing in time and growing louder with each step.

Left, right, left, right,

Hear our mighty roar!

Enemy loves are dino dames,

We'll show them what we're for!

Their girls are like Velociraptors, swift and full of pride,

But we’ll outpace their every move, with honor as our guide!

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Left, right, left, right,

Hear our mighty roar!

Enemy loves are dino dames,

We'll show them what we're for!

They think they’re Triceratops, armored to the core,

But our resolve will pierce through, forever we endure!

Left, right, left, right,

Hear our mighty roar!

Enemy loves are dino dames,

We'll show them what we're for!

Their hearts beat like a T. rex, fierce and full of might,

But we'll stand tall, brave and strong, and conquer in the fight!

Left, right, left, right,

Hear our mighty roar!

Enemy loves are dino dames,

We'll show them what we're for!

Their wiles like a Pterosaur, soaring in the sky,

But we’ll remain grounded, our spirits flying high!

Left, right, left, right,

Hear our mighty roar!

Enemy loves are dino dames,

We'll show them what we're for!

Together, we march with valor in our veins,

Their dinosaurian charms won’t bind us in chains!

Left, right, left, right,

Hear our mighty roar!

Enemy loves are dino dames,

We'll show them what we're for!

Soldiers! Grim men, women, and raptors equipped for war. They led a long line of camouflaged hadrosaur-drawn transports.

“Jelray Beach,” whispered Bree. Then, more loudly: “Why is this called Jelray Beach?”

“Oh, no…,” whispered Lyra.

Bree towed Lyra as she sprinted toward the hotel. She plowed through the humid air and rocketed past their towels and clothes. I’ve got to get to Jacob. I can’t afford to get stuck on the beach surrounded by soldiers. Oh, gods! The hotel is right there… She slid to a stop a meter before the sidewalk.

Peter and Jacob stumbled out of the hotel, slung between Sera, Dax, and Mom. Dax held up a hand and roared. Traffic stopped. The soldiers stumbled to a halt. Everyone got out of the way as the five moved forward. Every eye followed the group, but they didn’t look at the towering wall of obsidian muscle. No, the two pale men with luminescent purple spots were the center of attention.

Jelray.

The word was on every lip and in every mind. Gasps, a half-panicked susurration crashed in waves through the crowd.

Jelray.

Were these two men young enough to survive? Such a shame. Would they choose to die? Death was better than becoming a mage. How many more adults would meet their doom on this beach?

Jelray.

At least the little ones would live. Yes! Their children would make it through the week.

Jelray.

But, oh, those poor young women—they’re such beautiful twins. Those must be their boyfriends. Their hearts must be breaking! Losing their loved ones at such a young age. Such a shame.

Bree's heart cracked, and tears washed away her sight as she caught Jacob in her arms. “I’m so sorry!”

“It’s not your fault,” said Jacob.

“Move,” said Dax. “We need a place near the water and away from the soldiers.”

Bree wiped her eyes and gazed forlornly at Keeva. “Mommy, what are we going to do?”

“We’re going to do what your Uncle Dax and Aunt Sera say and move toward the shore,” said Keeva as she loosened the ties on her clothes.

Bree said, “But what about—”

“Jacob and Peter will be fine,” said Aunt Sera, “they’ll be sick for a week, heal up, and everyone will call it the miracle of youth.”

Dax said, “The Sallies are caring for Wendy, her daughters, and their boyfriends. They’re in the crowd behind us somewhere.”

“No,” stammered Bree, “what about Daddy, Essie, and Gath?”

Keeva said, “Cove and I had Jelray—"

“What,” said Bree, “about Essie and Gath? Had they been born when Jelray went through Tansy?”

“Yes, of course,” said Kee, “They’re only six years younger than you.”

“Did they catch it?”

Keeva shook her head and shrugged. “Cove would know.”

Sera whispered, “They’re mages. A week or two of sun, and they’ll be fine.”

Lyra scoffed and tossed her hands. “Essie? She’s like you, mommy! Can you see her spending a week or more naked with thousands of strangers? She’ll die of shame!”

“Like me,” Keeva said. She shivered and wiped the sweat from her chest. She drew a deep, cleansing breath, pasted on a smile, folded her clothes, and tucked them into her pack. “Essie will do what she must. As for me, I am a Thrieg Blessed Educator. Right now, there are thousands of scared children sick with a disease they’ve been taught to fear, terrified that their parents will be burning in pires when they get home and that they’ll spend their lives in orphanages. I can help bring a little normalcy to their world.”

“But not if you’re dressed,” Lyra sighed.

“There is a time and place for everything. I sat in the park with our class during your illness. I will attend to these children during their time of distress.”

“Essie and Gath?”

“They are with my husband.”

Dax chuckled.

“What,” asked Keeva.

“Cove is not a warrior. Our daughter will defend him.”

Everyone on the beach spun, their eyes facing the city as gunfire erupted from a hundred places.

Bree turned, her eyes following a cracking near her feet. A scaled head peeked out of the egg-shaped stone by her foot.