So maybe the trouble would disappear along with us. I was aware that Colin had also brought Dorian, Luna, and Shosha into the portal. A good thing. I would have insisted we return and get them, although I suspect Dorian could have managed to follow without our help.
Colin had found the nearest portal and used a fascinating and dangerous spell to yank us straight to it and into the vortex. I thought Avesa made a sound of surprise, and I am sure I heard Dorian make a sound of protest. That did not improve my state of mind.
This portal was filled with whispers and faces that came and went with powerful eddies of colorful magic. I saw scenes from our recent adventures. Giant Shosha was the worst. However, I also saw places, people, and things I'd never seen in my life.
I realized that meant the adventures were far from over. I don't know why that made me happy. I guess I am not as sane as I thought. And maybe I hadn't lost my cat attitude.
Then everything went dark and still. Colin held tight to me, and I feared we were lost.
"Ah. There." Colin turned a little bit.
The darkness gave way to gold and blue. A warm breeze blew across my face, and I could smell the sea. I landed in the sand with Colin beside me. Dorian, Luna, and Shosha dropped out of the portal just behind us.
For a few heartbeats, I worried about everyone we had left behind, especially those children. Maude might still be around there.
However, they did have Avesa.
And I was at Malibu!
"Getting us here was a neat trick," Dorian admitted. "I didn't even feel you building up power, let alone opening a portal."
"As soon as I found the portals on that world, I tied myself to one and keyed it for here," Colin explained. He waved his hand and they were all better clothed for the beach rather than rain and snow. "I just waited for the right time to duck out. I have complete faith that Avesa can handle any more trouble. If not, I will know."
"I do like this better," Luna admitted. "But should we have left them? They might need our help faster than you can get us there, Colin."
"It is more likely we'll need theirs," Dorian replied. He shook a blanket out over the sand and sat down. "Let's take advantage of the peace and the better weather while we can."
Dorian had not been holding the blanket a heartbeat before. It was great to have things back to normal.
"I suspect Maude will come after us," Colin added.
"Tomorrow, I will head back to the Faelands," Dorian said. He looked exhausted. I thought he deserved more than a single night's rest. All of us did.
We staked out our spot in the sun. None of us were talkative, and I spent some time watching the surfers. It looked like fun until someone spotted a shark, and they all headed for the shore and waited for the all-clear. No, I wasn't interested in swimming with the sharks.
The beach remained busy but no one did more than nod in our direction and we returned the friendly greeting. We had pizza for lunch, and then we all napped in the warm sun.
I couldn't remember the last time we had such calm.
It continued to stay calm, too. That part I did not trust. We couldn't have simply walked away from the trouble with nothing following us. We had been magnets for trouble from our first meeting.
I'd had trouble before that, though.
I was almost ready to tell Colin to send me back to the bookstore and leave me there, away from all this madness. As much as I hated being trapped in the building, I really missed the calm.
Then I looked over at Shosha and realized she might never have been saved without me. I hadn't merely tagged along. I had helped.
While the others taught Shosha about the various types of pizza, I took a walk down the beach to annoy some gulls.
Instead, I ran into a penguin.
Really, ran into him. A huge emperor penguin who had just suddenly appeared in front of me.
This could not be good.
"Oh, there you are," the penguin said, leaning over me. I took a half dozen steps back. He ambled forward. "I have been looking all over for you. I was told you were on the beach. Do you have any idea how much beach there is?"
"A lot," I offered.
He nodded vigorously. No one else noticed him, which made it apparent that he must be a being of magic. My friends would take notice soon, right? This wasn't normal.
Well, not typical for most of the world.
"Why are you looking for me?" I dared to ask and prepared to run. Going for the ocean wasn't a good plan. Penguins can swim well. Better than me. Besides, there were still the sharks.
"Why am I here?" he asked and looked startled. "I thought it was obvious."
"Not so I noticed."
He stood up straighter and then had to lean far over to look me in the face.
"I am your spirit animal!"
The End ... for now.
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