“Did you notice how the seals acted when Ali changed?” asked Murray. “They were watching her. But that one in the middle with the patchy fur made a weird grunting sound, like it was scared.”

“Ali says that one is sick.”

Murray leaned over. “She’s right. Look at its coat. And its eyes are seriously messed up.”

Ali managed to turn herself around and shambled closer to the herd. It was hard to see the sick seal from her current point of view; the other seals were much bigger than she was. And the idea of trying to crawl onto another seal to take a better look was not appealing.

“Ali, change back,” Murray ordered. “I want to see the process in reverse.”

Ali barked and concentrated on becoming herself again. Halfway through her transformation, a dark shape caught her eye. Someone was coming!

“I saw someone,” she panted when she was herself again. “Over there!”

Murray ran in the direction she pointed, Cassie in his wake. Ali stayed with the seals and cursed her stupidity for agreeing to change in public. She studied the sick seal. Its eyes were still open. Now and then, it gave a piteous bark. It didn’t seem to be getting any better.

“I’m sorry, fella,” she whispered. “I hope you feel better soon.”

The seal groaned and closed its eyes.

“We couldn’t find anyone,” said Murray when they came back.

“Are you sure you saw someone?” Cassie asked.

“I think so. Maybe,” said Ali. “But I may have been seeing things. One of the scientists said seals can’t see very well when they’re out of the water.” She felt stupid for making them chase after nothing. “I’m freezing; can we go home?”

“I need to pick up a book at the library first,” said Murray. “Let’s bike over to Market Square, get a hot chocolate, then I’ll grab my book and we can head home.”

Ali didn’t want to go for a hot chocolate; she had no money. But she couldn’t tell that to Murray and Cassie. “Okay, but I think I’ll pass on the hot chocolate.”

Cassie squished her eyebrows together. “You just said you were freezing. Why don’t you want a hot chocolate?”

“I’m getting toasty again,” she said, then shuddered.

Murray and Cassie exchanged a look.

“Cass, I forgot to bring money,” Murray announced.

Cassie nodded. “No problem. Do you need me to lend you money for a hot chocolate, too, Ali?”

Ali gave in and nodded. She didn’t mind borrowing money if she wasn’t the only person to do so.

“It’s no big deal, you guys,” said Cassie. “That’s what friends are for, right?”

“Right,” Murray said.

“Right,” Ali echoed, surprised by how happy she sounded.