Kevin and Linda paddled their way across the lake, enjoying the early spring breeze. The snow had receded, the wind smelled of flowers blooming, and bird's songs filled the air. Kevin, with a mischievous grin, used his paddle to splash Linda's back. Before long, the children resorted to using their paddles as weapons in the water fight, regardless of the beauty around them. The rocking of the tussle was amplified as Kevin stood up in the small vessel.
 
"Kevin! Don't tip the boat!" Linda cried.
 
The boy simply smiled as he leaned to the left and then to the right.
 
"Kevin, stop!" But once again, the girl�s cry fell on deaf ears.
 
The rocking intensified, the movements becoming faster and faster until finally the boat flipped.
 
"You idiot!"Linda yelled at her friend once they had surfaced. "I just finished building this boat!"
 
"Oh come on. It was fun!" Kevin shouted back.
 
"FUN?!? Well now we have to swim the boat back to shore so we can flip it back! That�s like a mile!"
 
"What? Afraid you can't do it?"
 
"No! I just don't want you to pass out. Weakling!"
 
"I'm not the weakling! You're the weakling!"
 
"Nuh-uh!"
 
"Yea-huh!"
 
Linda splashed water into the boy's face and the fight resumed, neither opponent having the advantage as they treaded water.
 
Sheila had been watching the events from her vantage below the two kids. After their fight had resumed, the protective mother decided to take action. Linda and Kevin were so into their splashing brawl that they didn't notice when the capsized boat impossibly sunk beneath the surface. The water stopped flying only when the two found themselves encased in darkness and rolled around by a large sticky muscle.
 
"Mom! Let us out!" cried Linda. "Yeah, let us out!" seconded Kevin. The pleas went unheeded as the great orca-taur made for their small home on the shore with the small boat tucked beneath her upper arm.
 
It had been four months since the group had arrived at the lake. In that time the companions had developed more into a family, especially between Linda and Kevin. River often stopped by to visit and to give them any items she thought might be useful in her day-to-day life. So that Sheila would not have to make the trip so close to the human settlement, Jeremy had bought three pack mules and a cart to carry them and their cargo for trade as well; all in all, supplies were readily available.
 
The group even managed to erect a small house consisting of four square rooms, walls, and a roof using wood from the surrounding forest and supplies from the nearby village of Stonebridge. Jeremy was the one who insisted on building during the cold winter � for some reason he didn't enjoy spending every night in Sheila's stomach. However, Linda still occasionally spent the evenings with her mother; she had developed a liking to her parent�s mouth.
 
Jeremy stepped outside of the makeshift home and saw Sheila walking out of the surf, her bare body glistening in the early spring sunlight.
 
"Good morning!" Jeremy greeted the whale. "How was your catch today?"
 
Sheila set the boat that had been under her arm on the ground and approached the man, opening her mouth to pull out both of the children. She kneeled in front of Jeremy, presenting them to him.
 
"It was great; but I think you'll want it back."
 
Both the kids had big grins as they jumped up and embarrassed Jeremy while still covered in saliva.
 
"Eww! Get off me!" Jeremy cried as Linda and Kevin wrapping their wet arms around him. "Come on, get off! Please?" At his request they released him, letting his sigh escape his now soaking body.
 
"Are you guys ready to go into town?"
 
"You bet!" Linda grinned eagerly. "But I want to ride Max."
 
"No! I want to ride Max!" yelled Kevin.
 
"You rode him last time! It's your turn to ride Lady!"
 
"Nuh-uh!"
 
"Yea-huh!"
 
"Stop it!" Jeremy yelled. "Linda is right: Kevin, you rode Max on the last trip."
 
"But�"
 
"�But� nothing. Now you and Linda go and get the mules and cart ready."
 
"I bet I can get my horsey ready before you can!" Linda taunted. Kevin, unable to resist the dare, gave the girl a sly look.
 
"Nuh-uh!"
 
They took off to the side of the house where the mules were tied up. Sheila chuckled at the exchange, leaning back against the shoreline as she watched her children race about, gathering the saddles, tacks, and harnesses that lay scattered about the home.
 
"What?" Jeremy asked.
 
"Oh, you're just acting so fatherly to them. I find it cute." The orca-taur giggled.
 
The man started to blush.
 
"Yeah, well... I wish you wouldn't play with the kids... that way... that much. I hate getting sticky hugs."
 
"Oh come on. I'm sure if you spent more time with me, you wouldn't mind it so much. You would be surprised what I can do with my mouth."
 
"Um... uh... maybe later. I've got to go with the kids to Stonebridge."
 
"Alright, get back soon. It gets pretty lonely here by myself."
 
"Um... ok. Goodbye, Sheila."
 
With that Jeremy went to help the children. The great whale watched him go, sighing as her eyes tracked his tiny form.
 
"Goodbye, honey," she said to herself. With that she lay on the ground and watched her family until they were mere specks on the road.
 
* * * * *
 
It took three hours for the trio to reach Stonebridge. With spring just starting, the market was full of people. Everyone wanted to either sell fur they had collected during the long winter or buy seeds for the spring planting.
 
That�s what Jeremy, Linda, and Kevin came for. They had filled the small cart with smoked fish, chopped wood, and some items River had procured for them in hopes of making a bargain. They struck gold when one merchant bought their entire stock for fifty silver pieces. The humans then bought what Jeremy figured they needed to start planting a garden and took some time for the kids to get what they wanted with the extra money � which there was plenty of.
 
One merchant�s sign read 'The World's Strangest Items'; but he sold what appeared to be junk. However, Kevin and Linda seemed amazed by the odd trinkets that littered the booth�s shelves.
 
"Jeremy, come over here! Quick!" Linda exclaimed suddenly. Jeremy rushed to see what was wrong only to find that Linda and Kevin were holding up a long chain of large gold rings.
 
"Guys, I�m sorry, but all I have left is forty Silvers. And this is gold! Sorry; we can't afford it. Why would you want it, anyway?"
 
"We think you should give it to Aunt Sheila." said Kevin.
 
"What!? Me!?"
 
"Yes," Linda nodded emphatically. "We know you like her; and she likes you, too."
 
Jeremy was shocked. "I� I'm sorry. I simply can't afford it. See if you can find something else."
 
"Well, can we just ask the shopkeeper?" asked Linda.
 
Before Jeremy could answer a doddery old man with a long gray beard in a long brown robe walked up behind him. "What's this about?" he asked, eyeing the group suspiciously.
 
"Nothing, sir," Jeremy assured him, turning to go.
 
"Nothing? Two children are holding that gold chain, something that would look pretty on any young lady. I hear talk of a Sheila person; and you say it's nothing?"
 
"Well, sir... I..."
 
"Quit calling me 'sir'!" the old man snapped. "I work for a living!" Then the man resumed his calm demeanor.
 
"Something tells me that the little ones are right. You and this Sheila are in love, aren�t you?"
 
"Well... Uh... I don't think that�s possible..."
 
"Oh? And why not?"
 
"It's hard to explain."
 
"Oh really? It seems to me that if these two youngsters think it's possible, then it must be."
 
"It's not that simple..."
 
"Oh I think it is. In fact, I think you can tell me about this Sheila on our way back to this lake of yours."
 
"Hey now, wait a minute! I haven�t mentioned anything about a lake."
 
"That�s right, you didn't. Now you two get that chain into your cart." The old man directed Linda and Kevin as he turned to go. Jeremy followed him.
 
"Wait! I don't have enough money to pay for it!"
 
"Not to worry. The shopkeeper owes me a few favors." The old man nodded to the store owner as he exited the shop.
 
Just outside were the three mules, tied to posts with rather bored expressions. Beside them, shining over them like some sort of god, was a large white stallion. Once the children had loaded the large chain into the cart, the old man mounted the stallion.
 
"Let's go!"
 
"What a second!" cried Jeremy. "We don't even have your name!"
 
"You know, for a young man such as yourself, you must be really strong. With all these questions and uncertainty, I doubt you have won a woman's heart with your brains. Just call me Magi." This caused Linda and Kevin to burst out with the laughter they had been holding in since they had first encountered the old man.
 
Once they had exited the gates of Stonebridge the group stayed on the road for about a mile before taking to the woods. Magi traveled behind Jeremy with the kids.
 
"So tell me,� he asked �where do you come from?".
 
Linda spoke up with their alibi. "We came from the south."
 
"Oh? That seems unlikely to me: people from the south rarely visit up here. And they typically don't get huge gold chains as gifts for loved ones." The old man smiled as he added, "Why don't you tell me your story. Eh?"
 
The children were silent for a time until Jeremy spoke. "Go ahead and tell him. He will find out soon enough, anyway."
 
With that the children launched into their tale. It took them almost the entire trip back but, once they had finished, Magi managed to start down an equally long string of questions.
 
"So, you tell me that you're from another world? And in that world your people had the technology to not only to remove memories but to alter the building blocks of life... What did you call it?"
 
"DNA," Linda said.
 
"Yes: �DNA�. And by changing this... 'DNA'� your mother was transformed into a whale? And then again into... what did you call that?
 
"An orca-taur," Kevin answered.
 
"I see. And this was all done for study?"
 
"Yes," Sheila�s daughter agreed.
 
"While you three were trapped in this... underground lair... Linda, you met a dragon from this world?"
 
"Yup,"
 
"What was her name?"
 
"Her name is River. She sometimes visits us at our lake."
 
"River? Really? Well that is interesting."
 
"What's interesting?" asked Kevin.
 
"Oh nothing... So, tell me, do you believe that Jeremy and Sheila could have a happy life together?"
 
"Well, I think Sheila's size intimidates him."
 
"Hey! She doesn't intimidate me!" Jeremy pouted.
 
"Well, it's either that or her games."
 
"Games?" asked the old man.
 
"That�s enough! No more talking until we get to the lake!" yelled Jeremy. Magi laughed as the kids went tight-lipped.
 
For the rest of the trip the group remained silent.
 
* * * * *
 
Meanwhile, Sheila was lounging around the lake, botched with boredom. She always felt like this when her family went to town. She would have asked one of the children to stay if they weren't always so excited on seeing Stonebridge, a village she could only hear stories about, just like anywhere else other humans dwelled.
 
The whale was doodling in the soil when suddenly a familiar shadow passed overhead. She looked up just in time to watch River land in front of her.
 
Sheila warmly greeted her winged friend.
 
"Hello, River."
 
The dragon returned the greeting with a toothy grin and nod.
 
"Good day, Sheila. I spotted a herd of dear on the way over here and I thought you would like some." She said, holding up a pair of smoking carcasses.
 
"I always do like your cooking," Sheila admitted, taking one of the animals from the dragon.
 
Once they had finished their meal River spoke up again.
 
"Where are our little morsels?"
 
"Jeremy went with the kids to Stonebridge for some trading."
 
"Oh, that's too bad. I have brought more stuff for him." The dragon motioned to the only piece of clothing she wore, a belt which had several items tied to it.
 
"Just go set them by the house."
 
"I will. Later. So tell me, have you and Jeremy...."
 
"No."
 
"No? Why not? Did you try my suggestion?"
 
"I think it freaks him out when I try to hit on him. And I don't think eating him until he agrees to go out would work either. Besides, where would we go?"
 
"It doesn�t have to be any place special. Just wait until the youngsters are asleep, and then you two just go out around the lake and... You know..."
 
"It sounds simple, but I think Jeremy is simply intimidated by my size. For God's sake, I've eaten him multiple times. I just don't think a relationship is possible!"
 
"Well I wouldn't be so sure." River's head perked up as she said, "Well, speak of the devil."
 
Sheila turned her head in the same direction. "Looks like they're back," she said, smiling.
 
"Looks like they brought a friend.� The dragon purred as she stood up and approached the party. Sheila now noticed the fourth person as well and followed River.
 
* * * * *
 
The group of humans exited the tree line and made for the small hut. Linda was the first to see the two giants walking towards them.
 
"Hey River; hey Mom!" she yelled and waved in greeting. River waved back as the duo continued approaching. Magi simply sat there smiling, not appearing surprised as the giantesses walked closer.
 
Jeremy was the first to speak once the giants arrived. "Hello Sheila, River. This is Magi." The man gestured to the older gentleman on the white stallion which, unlike the mules, didn't seem nervous in the presence of the dragon.
 
The man bowed.
 
"Greetings, Sheila. River� it's been a long time."
 
"Magi?" River asked incredulously. "The Magi?"
 
�There were many magi or wizards in the world but most preferred their own 'great' names. Only one simply called himself Magi.
 
"Yes, River, it�s me. And I must say it doesn�t look like you've aged a day."
 
"I can't say the same for you, friend. What happened to you?"
 
"Old age, girl. Old age. Now let us tie up our beasts. Otherwise, it seems your friend�s transport might die of fright." River backed up, now conscious of the mule�s uneasy movements. Once the animals were stowed, Sheila and River sat by the water and waited as Jeremy and Magi approached. Linda and Kevin weren't far behind as they carried the golden gift.
 
Sheila noticed the chain first. "Well that�s lovely, what's it for?"
 
"It's a gift for you, madam, from Jeremy," Magi said as he slapped Jeremy on the back. "He was most insistent on getting such a beautiful gift for the love of his life."
 
"Oh? Is this true?" she asked the man, but it was the kids that answered instead.
 
"Yes!"
 
"I... I... I..."
 
"You had best shut your mouth, boy. Three �I's� in one breath makes you seem like quite an egotistical person." The old man lectured quietly. "Now present the gift to your girl!"
 
"No need," said the whale as she reached over and lifted the chain from the children's grasp. "It's beautiful. What is it?"
 
"It's a necklace. Never should a creature so full of grace go unadorned." Replied Magi.
 
At this point, Jeremy was turning beet-red.
 
"Oh, that�s so sweet." Said a swooning River. "You always had a way with words."
 
"Thank you, my sweet," he responded. He then turned to Jeremy.
 
"Now, young man, go fix your lady a meal with some of that smoked fish you keep in your cottage. You will also find a roll of cheese and a bottle of wine for the evening in my saddle bags." With a push he added, "Now hop to it!"
 
Jeremy started for the hut in a baffle. Magi then spoke to the kids.
 
"Now you two go help Jeremy. It's going to take a lot of work to make such a large meal." With excited grins Linda and Kevin ran after the confused man.
 
Magi now turned to the giants.
 
"Sheila, if you don't mind, I would like to study you. Now don't worry your pretty head; it will be nothing like what you went through before. I'm going to use my magic, so you probably won't feel a thing. I might even be able to help you."Sheila's eyes lit up at the last bit.
 
"Yes. Yes, you can study me!" she said with a bit of glee.
 
"Ok then. I need you to get comfortable and stand perfectly still. And River, you should take a few steps back."
 
Once Sheila was in a sitting position, the wizard lifted his hands toward the orca-taur and a blue light emitted from his palms, engulfing Sheila in an azure glow. With his eyes shut he slowly sidestepped around the whale. Once he made his circle he addressed Sheila again.
 
"This is very interesting. I have encountered disfiguring injuries, plagues that leave boils, and other magical transformation. In every case, the body knew how it was supposed to be. It knew what was right and what was wrong. But your body knows it is right." Sheila's hopes dropped.
 
"Your mind, however... In your mind remains the subconscious footprint of you as human, whale, and your current form."
 
Sheila was almost afraid to ask her one question.
 
"So what does that mean?"
 
"It means that you will always remain as you are. However, I think I can use your mental imprints to allow to temporarily return to your previous forms."
 
"Really?"
 
"Are you serious?" asked River.
 
"Oh yes," answered the smiling Magi. "It just so happens to be a good thing I brought this."
 
The old man reached into his robes and pulled out a pendant that was larger than his hand. It appeared to be made of a deep dark ruby trimmed in shimmering gold. It even had two clips at the top. How he managed to conceal such a large object was a mystery.
 
"What is that?" the whale asked.
 
"It's what will make your dreams come true."
 
With that the old man shut his eyes again and a blue glow emitted from the object for a few moments. Opening his eyes he spoke.
 
"There, I have tuned it to you, Sheila. You will be the only person who can use it. I also think you will find that it will fit quite nicely with your necklace. Now why don't you try it on?" Sheila gently took the pendant from the man and hooked the ends of the chain to the enchanted item. That done she put on the now completed necklace. It was a perfect fit.
 
"Oh my God... Thank you."
 
"Don't thank me until it's been tested," Magi said with baited breath. "Now concentrate. Imagine yourself as the whale you once were�"
 
Sheila closed her eyes and did as Magi told her. She focused on being her orca self. The feel of the water on her fins, the movement of her tail, and the first time she met Linda. Suddenly the pendant glowed a bright red and she found her belly scraping on the sand. She opened her eyes and found she was lower to the ground. "What happened? Did it work?"
 
She cried as she attempted to move around, her tail sending sand into River's face.
 
"Calm down; calm down! It worked!" cried the dragon.
 
"Yes, it worked." Said Magi. "Now concentrate on yourself as human�"
 
Sheila quickly shut her eyes and focused on the feeling of walking barefoot through the forest and her most joyous memory: the birth of her child. The artifact glowed a deep red again, and Sheila found that she was still lying on her stomach. She quickly pushed herself up with her arms and used her hand to explore her entire body. She in fact was physically human. However, she was also naked, wearing only the golden chain that had scaled down with her. The vest she wore as an orca-taur lay on the ground several feet in front of her.
 
"Oh my God! I'm... human!" she cried, running to hug the old man.
 
"Yes! Yes! You're human! Now let me go! You're choking me!" cried Magi in Sheila�s embrace.
 
"Oh, I'm sorry!" the woman blushed as she released the man, tears had formed in her eyes.
 
"That�s alright, child. Now, will you join me in your house for what is sure to be an excellent dinner?"
 
"Oh yes! I will!"
 
"Oh, Sheila! I'm so happy for you!" said the towering dragon. "You look so beautiful! I just want to gobble you up!"
 
"River, there is no need for you to be left out," said Sheila. "We will bring the food out for you!"
 
"That won't be necessary," said Magi as he waved his hand in the air, causing a rune to appear in midair. Suddenly everything around River started to get bigger. It took the dragon a moment to realize that she was shrinking. Once she was about the same height as Sheila it stopped. The dragon looked around amazed for a moment at the two humans.
 
"This had better not be permanent!" she yelled at the man. Magi simply put his arms across her and Sheila's shoulders and started them walking to the hut.