Page 5 of Prickly as a Porcupine

How terrible.Maybe Ariel was afraid to get recaptured.Joline had come into contact with many who were former experiments since coming to WANC.She couldn’t even imagine what they must have gone through.“There’s always the library.They have more than academic books there.”

Ariel scrunched up her nose, her caramel freckles shifting with the movement.“I’m kind of sick of reading.That’s all I did when I was first here.That or therapy.”She punctuated her sentence with a bark of laughter.

“There’s a pub in town we sometimes go to for drinks.They have mocktails if you don’t drink alcohol.Or a coffee shop.And plenty of stores.Do you like shopping?Maybe we could go this weekend.”Excitement made the words tumble out of her mouth.Joline looked to the pile of books hiding in her bag.“I will probably need a break from reading.”The amount of class work she had to do was daunting, but usually she did better if she took breaks.Joline was far more productive if she was able to rest her brain from time to time.

“Shopping?”A bright smile lit up Ariel’s face, showing perfectly straight teeth.Joline couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious about her own slightly crooked teeth.“I haven’t been shopping in years!”

Joline smiled, glad she was able to suggest something helpful.“There’s a couple of cute boutiques in the next town over.Just small shops, really, but I think you’ll like them.”

“It’s far more exciting than how I’ve been spending my time here.”A distant look crossed Ariel’s face.Joline was afraid she said something wrong, but how could she have?They were just discussing shopping.

“What’s wrong?”

Ariel sighed.“I have to ask permission to leave campus.”

“That’s pretty normal around here; don’t feel bad.If your doctor doesn’t let you leave, we can find something fun to do here.They just started a weekly game night.”Huggie Gibeault, the Campus Activities Coordinator, created new events for patients, staff, and cadets to have a chance to mingle and meet others.Joline found them a great way to meet new people and take a break from her grueling schedule...when she had the courage to go alone, which she often didn’t.This was her second year, and she still felt shy around almost everyone.Yet, somehow, that feeling melted around Ariel.

“When’s game night?It could be our backup plan in case my warden doesn’t let me leave.”

Joline laughed.“Sounds like a plan.Game night is every Friday, so you have some time to ask.”Joline looked down at Ariel’s full plate.She couldn’t help it.“It’s got to be hard having people tell you what you can and can’t do.I’d be a little depressed.”

“Depressed?I’m not depressed.”Ariel nearly spat the words.

Joline raised an eyebrow.She didn’t intend to strike a nerve.“I didn’t say you were.I was musing about howIwould feel if I had someone telling me what to do.”She shrugged to show it didn’t really matter.

Ariel huffed.“I’m sorry.I’m easily defensive.I’m trying to work on that.”She looked down at her plate as if finally noticing she hadn’t eaten a thing.“I probably am a little depressed, if I am brave enough to admit it.I’ve been through a lot of changes recently.Some days I’m not sure I know up from down.”She locked her green eyes on Joline.Goosebumps erupted down her arms.Ariel was pretty.Very pretty.And her eyes seemed to see right through you, but in a good way that left Joline nearly breathless.The green of her eyes matched the color of new leaves on a fresh spring day.Or the deep waters of a murky pond when the sun’s rays hit the surface just right.Her eyes reminded Joline of home.

“You don’t have to apologize,” Joline whispered, trying to catch her breath.

“But I do.And I need to think before I speak.”

“If you are depressed, maybe getting out will help.And, like I said, even if you can’t leave campus, game night should be fun.They say they have a ton of games to choose from.I’ve been trying to get my roommate to go with me, but we don’t share many similar interests.”Joline didn’t think her roommate liked her very much, but that could also be her anxiety talking.

Ariel pushed the food around her plate as if it disgusted her.With a sigh, she took a small forkful of salad.She took a delicate bite, reminding Joline of a child forced to eat her vegetables.Joline followed suit, nearly inhaling her meatless meatballs.She didn’t realize how hungry she was.As Ariel took another nibble, Joline pulled a book out of her sack and started reading as they continued to eat in silence.It was comfortable not feeling the pressure to talk.Even Ariel seemed to relax a bit.

Ariel took a bite of her hamburger.“Mmm.I forgot how good meat is.”

Joline chuckled.“The meatless meatballs aren’t bad either.My animal side usually dictates what I crave for some reason.”She shrugged, not being sure if that was odd.

“Me, too.Except I am not a fan of bugs, so I eat other certified non-shifter protein.I think I’ve worked out a compromise with my animal side.”

“It can be hard to go against your instincts,” Joline noted, remembering how her stomach reacted the first time she tried to eat meat.Though not all shifter diets were restricted by their animal type, some were.Joline wasn’t sure if the difference was one’s genes or personality.“I also love hanging out in trees.”

“Porcupines climb?”

“We’re good climbers.”Joline loved bragging about her animal talents.While a porcupine may not make the ‘Eh Team, she thought they were a pretty cool animal.Though she may be biased.Just a little.“We’re in the rodent family.I think they sometimes get a bad rap.”

“I can understand that.I’m a shrew.We’re not rodents, but the school bully used to call me Ratiel.Nothing against rats, but…” She looked down at her tray as if unsure how to finish.

“Without caring to learn more about your animal, they lumped you into a category that didn’t fit, just to be cruel.”Joline shook her head.“Kids can be so mean.”Some neighborhood kids teased her little brother, calling him Porky the Porcupine because he was a little overweight.They hurled their own inventive insults at her when she tried to shoo them off.

“What are you reading?”Ariel asked, nodding to Joline’s book.

“An Introduction to Explosives.I’m hoping to get into the Advanced Explosives class next year with Professor Firestone.”Joline wasn’t sure what she wanted her specialty to be as an agent, but explosions seemed cool.She figured she’d try a little of everything until she found her niche.

“Whoa!”Ariel’s eyes lit up.“They teach you to blow stuff up?”

“Yeah.Sometimes it’s needed in the field.”