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Ismena's heart skipped. She was nervous and it showed.

"Time? Time for what?" Sandra asked, looking at both of them.

"Time to tell you who I am." Alphose began. "I am a Changel—"

"No, I'll do it myself." Ismena interrupted, her voice raspy as she tried to catch her breath. "You won't be making any sense if you talk from today till tomorrow."

"Alright." Alphose was all too happy to let her take the lead.

"Tell me what? I don't understand." Sandra intoned, staring at Alphose.

"Sandy?"

"Mmh?" She turned towards her best friend.

Ismena had no idea how to start. She'd given it a lot of thoughts on their way to this place, yet it hasn't done her any good. But, she knows that she has to say something anyway.

"What I'm going to tell you now might freak you out, but I want you to trust me." She began.

For the first time, fear flashed in Sandra's eyes. "Wh-- What is going on, Mena?"

"Oh, it's nothing to be scared of, please trust me, okay?" She rushed to reassure her friend.

"O-Okay." Sandra still looked unconvinced.

"Good. Do you remember those novels you like to read? Those ones where men turn into werewolves, vampires, and all those kinds of stuff?"

"You mean my paranormal books? How can I ever forget about them? I have two in my bag as we speak." She paused, "But, what has that got to do with anything?"

Ismena scratched her hair nervously. Shit, no other way to say this.

"What if I told you that they are real?" She blurted out.

"Real? You mean, my vampires?"

"No, not the vampires. I mean, the werewolves. You know, those ones that morph into all sorts of animals, with gigantic dicks, heightened scenes, and a sexual appetite so long the river Nile holds nothing to them?"

"Oh?" The fear disappeared from Sandra's face, replaced by amusement. "You think they exist huh? You?"

"Me? Yes, I think they exist." Ismena replied.

Sandra couldn't help laughing. "Wow. Is this really my best friend talking!? We've had this conversation since eighth grade and you never believed they existed! Ever!" Another round of laughter, "I wonder what the universe did with my best friend because this one's not her."

Ismena blushed, rubbed her head, and mumbled, "I'm still the same person. They exist."

Sandra doubled over with laughter, completely forgetting about being the perfect lady for the man she was crushing on—who was standing four feet away.

"Can you stop laughing!?" Ismena shouted, embarrassed, and feeling stupid.

It only made Sandra laugh all the more. She laughed and laughed, until she was wheezing.

Afterward, when she was able to get herself under control, she continued. "So, tell me, Mena, why are we suddenly having this breakthrough of a conversation in the middle of nowhere in the forest? 'Cause, trust me, this is a kind of conversation I'll like to have in a house, so I can really give you the laughter you deserve."

"Well..." Ismena cleared her throat, "The truth is that Alphose is a changeling. That was why I told you about it in the first place. He is a mountain lion."

Another burst of laughter rang out from Sandra. This time around, it went on forever.

"You must have fallen down and hit your head on something, my poor Mena." She finally said. Turning towards Alphose, she added, "Shouldn't we bundle her and talk her to the hospital to get her head checked out?