Page 15 of Changeling
“HowexactlyamIsupposed to get anything done like this?” Jim joked as they moved to the bar. The chimera was currently curled halfway around his head.
“Be glad she likes you,” Nathan teased, reaching up to pet her as they walked. She climbed over to Nathan, and her cat-like purr started all over again as she settled in his arms.
“Not hard to figure out who she likes best,” Sasha added with a smirk.
Nathan just smiled, holding the little creature close and stroking her back.
“I think she’s definitely part cat,” Sasha said, “maybe part tanuki, those Japanese squirrel things, and…hmm.” Sasha peered at her over Nathan’s shoulder.
“Part koala?” Alex offered with a snort, walking a little ways ahead of them as she grabbed a stool at the bar.
“Maybe,” Sasha agreed. “There’s also a little more human in her than usual since the spell went wrong. I think she might be able to understand us.”
“Oh, she totally can,” Nathan chimed in, taking the stool next to Alex. “Figured that one out the first day.”
“Good,” Alex said before turning to address the chimera in Nathan’s arms, “then there’ll be no more stealing food or stealing of any other kind. You are not allowed on or behind this bar or on top of any tables. And I don’t even want to know how to toilet train you,” she finished with a sigh.
Nathan shrugged. “Litter box?”
There was a small spattering of laughter at that but then, suddenly, the chimera climbed down Nathan and started climbing up Alex instead. The Gatehouse caretaker couldn’t help but give in and hold the furry creature when it snuggled in her arms.
“See, smart. She’s apologizing.” Nathan nodded. “She knows who the boss is.”
Alex cooed at the chimera, unable to hide her fondness for the creature already.
“And hey,” Nathan said, slapping the counter, “sheneeds a name, huh? Nothing too girly or stupid though. I know! How about we name her after The Flash? She’s fast enough.”
While Jim and Alex blinked at him dumbly, Sasha came to stand more directly in front of Nathan and laughed as he crossed his arms. “Which one? Coz there’s no way we’re calling her Barry, Wally, or Bart.”
“Wally. He was always my favorite. And why not?”
“Wally is a boy’s name.”
“So?” Nathan countered. “You have a girl’s name.”
The smile on Sasha’s face immediately fell into a petulant pout. “It’s not a girl’s name. Sasha is Russian for Alexander. Aboy’sname.”
“Dude, why do you think Jim and I thought we were meeting up with a girl when we first met you? Totally used more as a girl’s name.”
“Is not.”
“Sois.”
“Isnot.”
“Hey,” Jim broke in, since he knew firsthand how juvenile these kinds of arguments could become. “Seriously, guys, come on. And anyway,” he said, shrugging, “I kind of like Wally.”
It took a moment for Nathan to realize that Jim was agreeing with him. He beamed at his brother before turning to Alex. “Al?”
Alex glanced at Sasha and then at the chimera currently sitting on her shoulder. “Wally is kind of cute,” she admitted.
Nathan grinned triumphantly at Sasha. “You gotta give in, man. Majority rules.”
Unable to keep from smiling as well, Sasha walked over to Alex, and the chimera immediately jumped over to his shoulder instead. “What do you say,Wally?” he asked the creature, scratching behind one of her large bat-like but still furry ears.
The noise the chimera made in response sounded like a pleased chirp—clearly affirmation.
Sasha smiled, albeit a little crookedly. “Okay. Wally it is.” He slipped up behind Nathan and whispered, “Guess that means you finally gave me an answer.”
