“I talked to my parents, and they suggested us going for a swim tonight,” Jason called to us from the steps.
“In the ocean?” She asked, stiffening.
I felt a small wave of apprehension from her. Stepping closer, I placed my hand on her shoulder and said, "It’s okay. We will all be there with you this time.”
“I’m not scared,” She insisted, putting on a brave face.
“It’s okay if you are. The ocean can be a scary place,” Theseus smiled. “But Ajax is right. With us there with you, you should be fine.”
She bit her lip, then nodded. “Okay.”
“Time for a lesson, then!” Hip exclaimed.
We all made our way inside the cabin and set up in the living room. The others spent the next hour trying to teach her how to retract her partially shifted form, i.e. the claws, fangs, webbing between her toes and fingers, and her scales. They weren’t having much success.
“You just need to relax.” Theseus encouraged with a smile.
Atalanta, who was extremely frustrated at this point, literally stomped her foot. “I have never been more relaxed in my life!”
Everyone laughed at that, much to her exasperation. She crossed her arms over her chest and scowled at all of us.
She grumbled. “Well, I was. You guys are just horrible teachers.”
We were sitting on the floor now, the five of us in a slack circle with Atalanta standing in the center.
Percy, who had been looking pensive, slid his eyes over to me. I met his gaze and smirked. I knew what was coming.
“Ajax,” Percy began, drawing out my name. “why don’t you end our misery and teach Atalanta what she needs to know.”
I shrugged. “Okay.”
Atalanta turned and looked at me skeptically. “What? Do you know some secret that they don’t?”
I nodded. “Of course.”
Jason snorted. “Care to share with the rest of the class?”
I stood and sauntered up to Atalanta. I took her clawed hands in mine and gently tugged her close to me. I tried to ignore the desire that began to burn from her body being this close to mine. It was lesson time. However, that reminder didn’t stop the images of devouring her mouth and tasting her from running rampant in my mind.
I glanced at the others before saying, "They weren’t made like we were. Their problem is that they are trying to explain something they were born with.”
“Oh.” Her faced morphed into one of understanding.
I grinned. “Exactly.”
“Now they’re just making fun of us.” Hip mumbled.
Atalanta tilted her head and smiled at Hip over my shoulder. “He’s saying it would be like trying to explain how we breathe to someone who never has. You wouldn’t really know how to, beyond the mechanics. Whereas he had to learn when he was turned, therefore has had a different experience.”
Jason, Theseus, and Hip grumbled and got all pouty while Percy kept with his quiet contemplation.
Slowly, I moved my hands from hers and slid them down to her hips. I mentally reminded my hands not to move from that spot while I explained.
“Picture it like a new muscle. While you can relax, it doesn’t mean that particular muscle will.”
“Like when you’re standing and you're relaxed but your leg muscles are still working?” she asked.
I nodded. “So picture this form like a new muscle, a subconscious one. Our scales emerge when we are stressed or upset. It’s a defense mechanism. If it makes it easier, imagine it as a single muscle, or perhaps like a little ball in your gut.”
I thought to mention how Mer can also phase while they're extremely aroused, but seeing as it was actually really difficult to reach that level of self control, I kept quiet for my own future amusement.
She closed her eyes, picturing the muscle.
After a few moments, I asked her. "Can you see it?”
Keeping her eyes closed, she nodded and replied, "I see it as a little ball in my chest.”
I chuckled. “You don’t need to tell us how you see it,” I leaned in and brushed my lips against her ear. “Okay, now release the tension in that little ball.”
She shivered, and I resisted the urge to nip the tip of her ear. I backed away from her, knowing that getting her excited wouldn’t help anything, and watched as the claws and scales on her hands receded back under her skin. Her hands looked human again after quite a while. She wiggled her little fingers as if she felt the change there.
I couldn’t tell how much of her scales receded with all of the clothing she wore, but the small scales on her cheeks remained.
When she opened her eyes, she looked down at her hands and smiled. “I did it!”
She lifted up the hem of her shirt, her smile turning into a frown when she saw that the scales that rode up her hips and framed her cute little belly button were still present.
She pursed her lips. “Are these the ones I won't be able to get rid of?”
I shrugged. “Probably not.”
I knew it took me a couple weeks before I got a hold of my shift. My mind went back to those days, Aria laughing at me as I struggled just as Atalanta was doing. A pang of sadness rung in my chest as the faded memory of her laughter sang in my head.
Atalanta huffed and squirmed out of my grasp, pulling me back to the present. I blinked and saw that she was pulling off her shoes to discover that her feet were still webbed.
“Damn.” She mumbled.
“I say it’s good for your first time,” Jason said, popping up from his spot and walking over to kiss her on the cheek. “Good job.”
Theseus joined them and hugged her gently from behind. “What he said.”
Atalanta continued to pout as the two of them tried to cheer her up. I glanced over to Percy, who met my gaze and nodded approvingly before getting up to join the other three. From there, my eyes bounced over to Hip, who was still sitting, watching us, his eyes distant. I wondered what was bothering him. For a moment I considered asking, but I mentally shrugged it off. It wasn’t my concern.
“You guys want to watch movies until nightfall? You can continue to practice while we chill, Atalanta,” Jason suggested.
The others all nodded, seeming to really like the idea. I did as well, relaxing and watching some mindless film, not having to worry.
Atalanta snorted. “With what T.V.?”
We all looked around at the bare cabin awkwardly. I was once again filled with the need I had felt over the last two weeks. To fill the damn empty space.
I shared a look with Jason. We would be filling this cabin with comfortable furniture if it was the last thing we did.
Until then, I sighed. “We can go to my cabin. It’s not far.”
“Your cabin?” Hip asked, finally joining in on the conversation.
Percy readjusted his glasses and commented. "I don’t believe I have ever been to your home, Ajax.”
“Me neither.” Theseus joined in.
“I have,” Atalanta grinned.
They all looked at her, and I could see the little giggle that was working its way up in her chest. The little bit of joy flaring inside her warmed my insides, and I felt better about offering for them to all come to my cabin. I knew it was a bit of a mess, but I had a very nice stereo system and flat screen. It was better than the alternative of someone grabbing their laptop and all of us crowding on top of the air mattress.
Hip and Theseus, now acting like eager little puppies, headed out of the cabin with the four of us following after them.
In an uncharacteristic move, Percy scooped Atalanta into his arms and carried her through the woods with us, snuggling her close to his chest. Their calm faces couldn’t fool me. I felt an interesting swash of emotions coming from the two of them. Atalanta radiated excitement mixed with trepidation, while Percy felt a little embarrassed along with the usual protectiveness he gave off.