Page 5 of Homecoming

The orca alphas looked at her with interest.

She grinned. “Enough about me. The shots I need are going to be on a jet ski, a paddle board, and surfing. Then, swimming, snorkelling, and scuba diving. Are you four up for that?”

Thera muttered as she looked down at her new camera, “They had better be.”

Skaay laughed. “Miss Aeryn, do you have any skills that we need to be aware of?”

“Oh, I control wind and waves.” She smiled brightly.

The orcas laughed, but Thera looked at her seriously. “Thanks for this opportunity.”

“No problem. After this, it is trekking through the jungle and zip lining all over the place. We can use our drones.”

Thera giggled. “This is like the best holiday present ever.”

“I am glad I could find something you like.” She pulled her hair back into a bun and fastened it with hair pins. The glasses slid into place, and she fluffed out her dress.

Thera asked, “Why are you still hiding if you are willing to be out and about?”

“Because casual exposure is the kind of thing that will get me into a photo database looking for my features.”

Thera blinked. “You are joking.”

“Nope. That’s how he found me the first time. He insisted on courting me, but I was twenty at the time. I disappeared, and I heard he was still looking, but I wasn’t able to face settling down. I wasn’t done yet, and I knew it.”

Thera nodded. “Ah. Got it. That’s the same reason I couldn’t come back here until I knew the time was right.”

Orc frowned. “You weren’t ready?”

“I wasn’t ready. Dad still needed me, and it took me two years of dealing with my grief to come to the conclusion that I was ready to find someone to touch my soul.”

Kayak smiled. “And other places.”

Thera snorted.

Aeryn chuckled. “Well, this is your loot to do with what you please. So, are you willing to participate? You will be compensated for your time as a photographer and the charters.”

The guys grinned, and Thera made happy sounds as she tucked the cameras into their travel bags. Kayak helped, and soon, they were all geared up, and he said, “So, tomorrow morning?”

Aeryn nodded. “Dawn?”

“How about before dawn? There is a wandering island that would be fun to get shots against. It’s a little far out, but I am sure we can find it.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Maybe on the second trip out. Tomorrow, I just want to do the active stuff.”

Kayak nodded. “As long as we can get some footage. That thing only comes by once in a lifetime.”

“For how long?”

“It is usually visible for about two weeks according to legend. Reports said it appeared two or three days ago.”

She snorted. “Fine, we can film near it tomorrow.”

Kayak chortled. “Yes.”

Thera smiled. “I know the logo on this tech.”

“Yes, Violet has been interested in local economy and wants to trial some of her newest cameras and drones for this.” She chuckled. “We are to test to destruction, if necessary, but normal use is expected.”

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