Ren blinked twice.
She stared at Kael's serious, awe-filled face.
And then, she lost it.
"Pfft—BWAHAHAHA!"
Ren burst out laughing. It was a full-body, unladylike cackle that echoed through the trees. She doubled over, clutching her side, wheezing as tears pricked the corners of her eyes.
"Turning... into... a tiger?!" Ren gasped, slapping her knee.
Kael stood there, looking adorably clueless. His ears twitched in confusion. To him, it was the only plausible explanation. She had stripes. He had stripes. Therefore, she was becoming a tiger.
"Why are you laughing?" Kael asked, tilting his head.
Ren waved her hand, breathless. It took her a full minute to compose herself.
"No, no," Ren wiped a tear from her eye, still giggling. "Kael, honey, I am not turning into a tiger. These are called stretch marks."
Kael frowned. "Stretch... marks?"
