Tooth and Claw

Chapter Six

"What do you want to do today then?" I ask Lia. It's once again my turn to watch her for the day and I feel much more comfortable with her by my side and knowing that I wont find her working in some shop with Connor off doing literally anything other than watching her.

"I want to get more interviews." Lia answers, pulling me from my thoughts.

"Seriously?" I ask. "You've got like thirty now."

She just nods solemnly in reply.

"Well who haven't you interviewed yet?" I mutter mostly to myself, wracking my brain as we both climb into my car. "I guess you could interview Jax, my coworker at the aviary."

"Sounds like a plan." Lia smiles.

When we arrive at the aviary there's a show in session so I take Lia to the back where we clean ourselves up and eat between shows.

"They should be back here in about ten minutes." I say, glancing over at the clock on the wall opposite me.

"Ok." Lia shrugs, not-so-subtly taking a cookie from a plate on the counter.

My walkie talkie makes a static noise before Claire's voice comes through.

"Elle, I need a favor." She says hurriedly.

Sighing I pull the device from my belt and hold it out in front of me.

"What is it Claire?" I ask.

"I need you to pick up my nephews from the dock in about five minutes. I was supposed to meet them but a board meeting has been scheduled last minute and I can't make it." She replies.

"Can't you have Zara do it?" I question, referring to her assistant.

"I need her with me in this meeting."

"Claire, it's my day off and I'm with Lia. I can't just leave her."

"You can bring her with you. Just watch the kids for a few hours and you can have tomorrow off as well as a small pay raise"

"Alright." I sigh. "What are their names?"

"Zach and Gray Mitchell"

"Got it. This had really better be just for a couple of hours though." With that the conversation ends. "Sorry Lia, but it looks like you won't be getting that interview. I've got to watch my boss's nephews and you've got to come with me."

"But this is for school, I have to get as many interviews as possible." Lia frowns. "And you know that I'd be fine on my own, right?"

"I know and you'll be able to interview plenty of people later and maybe even while we're with them. I'll make sure you get an interview with Jax later, ok?" I apologize. "And yes I know that you can handle yourself but I took the day off to spend time with you so you're coming with me."

"Fine." She pouts. "Let's go."

We leave the Aviary in a hurry and make our way over to the docks as quickly as possible. The boat has already been completely unloaded and has headed away from the island again when we arrive. I pull my notepad from my pocket and write the names 'Zach and Gray Mitchell' on a page before holding it out to the crowd. Two boys frown as they approach us, one is a teenager and the other appears to be about ten.

"Where's Aunt Claire?" The younger one asks.

"She had a meeting last minute so she sent me to pick you up but she'll meet up with us as soon as she can." I explain.

"Figures." The teen rolls his eyes.

"Anyway, I'm Elle and this is my sister Lia." I say, quickly trying to change the subject.

"I'm Gray, that's Zach. Are you Aunt Claire's assistants?" The younger boy asks.

"No. Her assistant is busy at the moment so she sent me. I actually work with the Pteranodons and Lia is just visiting."

"Oh, that's so cool." Gray smiles. "What do you do with the Pteranodons?"

"Lay off with the questions, Gray. She probably doesn't want to talk to us, and I can't say I blame her." Zach cuts me off just as I'm about to answer.

"It's actually fine. I'm used to questions." I shrug. "Why don't we get you two the resort first though, then I'll tell you whatever you want to know."

"Whatever." Zach says, pulling his headphones over his ears.

We walk together to the other side of the island and I check the boys into their room in the resort.

"This is so cool!" Gray chirps excitedly as he opens the door and runs around the room, bouncing off the walls.

Zach drops his bags by one of the beds and sits down, still listening to his music. He rolls his eyes at Gray as he opens the double doors that lead to a balcony that overlooks the park. Lia leans awkwardly against the wall with her arms crossed.

"Ok we can pretty much do anything you want to for the next few hours so what do you want to do first?" I ask.

"I still want to know about the Pteranodons." Gray answers, returning from the balcony and closing the doors behind him.

"Okay." I shrug. "What do you want to know?"

After answering a handful of questions about the Pteranodons and Ari in particular Gray decides that he wants to see a Pteranodon show at the Aviary first.

"Yes!" Lia says quietly, smiling. "I can get my interview."

"Interview?" Zach asks, finally taking his headphones off.

"It's for a school project, I have to interview a few people who work here and ask about their experiences." Lia explains shyly.

I squint at her. Lia has always been loud and the definition of confident. This shy and awkward girl beside me is not the Lia I know.

"That's dumb." Zach rolls his eyes. Lia frowns and doesn't speak again until we reach the Aviary when she gets the chance to interview Jax on his break and I take Zach and Gray to watch the Pteranodon show which I have actually never watched before but have been in a few times.

A girl named Raven who I've seen in passing in the Aviary but have never really talked to gives treats to the Pteranodons as they do tricks upon her command, telling the audience facts about the creatures as she goes.

"Well that was boring." Zach yawns after the show is over. "I thought you said someone 'died' in this show."

"There's two shows that run in the Aviary." I explain. "The one that I'm usually in that I told you about is called the 'Aviary show' and the one we just watched is the 'Pteranodon show'."

"Whatever."

"I thought it was cool." Gray smiles.