Jacqueline had just dropped anchor. Arlo was hauling on the dinghy’s tow rope to bring it close enough to board. An eagle’s screech cut through the air and Jacqueline whipped her head up to see something that was definitely not an eagle leap off the top of the cliff.
“Is that a…” she began, grabbing Arlo’s arm.
He didn’t need to look up. “Harrison,” he said. “And Tally. It’s her voice.”
“Is she hurt?” Jacqueline’s throat went tight.
“She’s—”
The not-an-eagle unfurled its wings mid-leap. Jacqueline gasped. It was a—she racked her memory for the word. Mandrake? Hippogriff?
Griffin, she thought as it—he—Harrison landed on the deck. The ship rocked under his weight, but Arlo and Jacqueline were already racing towards him.
“Do you have her?”
“What’s wrong? What happened?”
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“Is she—”
Harrison was holding Tally in his fore claws. She was in her seal shape, wriggling and making a howling, whining noise that made Jacqueline’s heart rate rocket.
Jacqueline reached forward and swept her up at the same time Arlo did. They held her sandwiched between them, their arms tangled around her and each other.
“What is it, baby?” Jacqueline asked desperately. “What’s wrong?” She looked up at Arlo, whose expression was stricken. “Can you talk to hear? Hear her?”
“She…” Arlo’s face relaxed and he leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers. Nestled between them, Tally fell silent. “She’s fine. She was lonely, and scared. But she’s all right now.”
Tally snuffled against Jacqueline’s neck. A second later, she turned back into a baby girl, her pale eyes damp with tears.
“Is everything okay now, honey?” Jacqueline ducked her head to look into Tally’s face.
“Es,” whispered Tally, wrapping her arms around Jacqueline’s neck.
Jacqueline caught Arlo’s eyes on her and smile. “Is your head feeling better?”
Arlo touched his temple gingerly. “Better. Still tender.”
“I’m glad.” She looked back down at Tally. “So much fuss just because you were lonely? Weren’t your brother and sister here with you?”
Jacqueline looked towards shore. They were close enough that she could make out three figures on the beach: Kenna, Dylan and Lainie.
“Can you tell if they’re all right? If Tally’s this upset over something—”
Arlo cocked his head. “They’re mostly worried about her. I’m telling them she’s fine.”
There was a whoosh of air as Harrison shifted. He marched over to them, frowning.
“What’s wrong with your head, Arlo?”
“You didn’t feel it?” Arlo looked at Harrison with an expression of surprise that turned into a wince as he swung his head around. “She was so loud, I could hardly hear myself think. And she was so lonely it… hurt. A lot.”
“She was loud, sure. But you’re the only one with a migraine.” Harrison frowned. “Is everything all right, bud?”
Arlo rubbed his forehead. He glanced at Jacqueline, then away, then back at her, as though he couldn’t keep his eyes away. “Better than all right,” he said, his voice soft.
Warmth flooded through Jacqueline, turning into a smile as Tally chortled against her neck. Jacqueline squeezed her and kissed the top of her head.