A group of five youth walked alongside the tropical beach, leaving footprints in the sand. Their steps were a blend of solemn and moments of quick hopping to shake off their thoughts.

In the end, they stopped, turn and watch the sun set. Some of them sat upon the drifted log, others stood, and they remained. Not having much else to say. The stars began to appear opposite the horizon, over the trees behind them. Longer shadows cast, the waves crashed slower, and the singing of insects began. Finally, the youths began to just pull each other into hugs.

"Hey... it's going to be okay... we're all... we're all almost ready to move on anyway..." Came a soft voice from the tallest of them, the voice was melodious, but neither deep nor high... trained. "What mom and dad... do with their lives is up to them."

"Oh Sam..." One of the shorter ones replied, clutching onto their taller sibling. "I know- I know- I'm leaving for college next autumn... but... It's so sudden."

Sam hugged their sister tightly, petting her hair. "It's going to be fine... we can all still come out here, with them, without them, with one of them, we don't care. Right?"

The young man on the edge of the group nodded. "Yeah... we'll.. make the most of it."

Sam's remaining sisters nodded, joining in on the group hug building on the log.

..............

The sun was beginning to filter the sky to a rainbow of orange, purple, and blue, finally dipping into the horizon. Siblings had spend the evening laughing, telling stories of their parents, chucking stuff into the sea, and just catching up.

"Sam! Your new binder is amazing!" "Cora when did you start dyeing your hair?" "Gabi you totaled *another* car?" and other increasingly absurd stories, into the night.

"Is anyone else... feeling a bit... nauseous?" Sam finally asked, interrupting the conversation. They had been experiencing it for about half an hour now, a sort of... rushing sensation, their heart was beating harder than usual, the tips of their fingers shaking, and occasional hot flashes. Sam might not have said anything, had they not noticed their sister's blushing faces and fidgeting. "Maybe the salmon was undercooked... or... or something."

Sisters immediately started to agree, comments of the same churning in their stomachs, sweats, hot flashes, and trembling.

"I feel fine..." Their brother commented.

"Heiki, you could eat rotting meat and be fine." Cora joked, eliciting a chuckle from the group. "But seriously, I think, I need to get inside..."

The other girls nodded and stood up to head in, following Cora back to the beach house. Heiki glanced at Sam, who shrugged. "I feel strange... but I can sit for a while longer. It's not that bad... just a little flushed." So the two remained, watching the sunset. Little and large fish and larger sea life dipping out and catching some air in the calming waters. "Goodness! Is that a whale?" Sam said, pointing to a large ripple in the distance, the glimpse of a fin for but a moment. The two of them wished they could have caught a picture.

"So.. uh... Sam?" Heiki prodded. "Uh... so... for this visit... should I say... Brother? Sister? What?"

Sam regarded Heiki, with an annoyed but genuine smile. They brushed their long hair a bit more to cover half of their face. "Either's fine Heiki... I'm just... Sam. And 'sibling' is too awkward to say right?" They laughed, and started to exchange punches.

"Hope our sisters are okay..."

"I'm sure they're fine..." Sam said, rubbing their stomach, absentmindedly going in circular motions over their lower belly, just above their groin. The blush on their face grew a bit redder, contrasting with their sandy skin. "Just... some hot flashes."

"That time of the month?" Heiki joked.

Sam laughed, a bit too hard, not sure if Heiki was joking entirely or confused. "It's probably the fish- everything will be fine. But I..." Sam took a deep breath, feeling their spine tingle as... something imperceptible... mingled on the tip of their nose. "I... think I need to go inside too..." They tugged at their binder, and their boxers... feeling a bit pokier on both ends suddenly.

Heiki raised an eyebrow, but nodded, and followed his sibling back towards the beach house...

...........

As they turned, a sail began to rise from the sea, nearing the beach. A wide... wicked... smile growing, white reflecting the setting sun...

..............................................................................

Time for a new story!

This one, is about.. can you guess? Okay, it's pretty obvious- Spinosaurus time baby! Hee.... baby.

It's always strange to start a new Aloween story right after ending one- after all the blood, and sex, and transformation- to go back to- It's time to ease into the story... is a bit jarring X3