time to evacuate everyone. "Do you guys think one of those inflatable pool floats can take two kids at a time?"
Susan and Bob both nodded.
"All right," Maggie continued. "I want you to begin inflating them, starting with the biggest one you have while I go talk to the kids. I'm going to evacuate the oldest kids first, so that they can watch the younger ones when I come back to get you guys."
Kathy and Susan pulled a compact bicycle pump out from somewhere and began unfolding the largest of the pool floats. Meanwhile, Bob went to round up the kids, who were strung out along the shore.
When all of the children were clustered around them, Maggie told them, "I'm going to take you across the lake in groups of two, because it's safer on the other side. I know you're all probably scared right now, but you have to promise me that you'll sit on the floats without moving, and that if you fall off, you'll stay calm and hold tight to the float until I can swim to you and lift you back up. Can you promise me that?"
The kids, who ranged in age from six to ten, all nodded solemnly.
"Good," Maggie told them, forcing herself to smile. She added, "And I need you to promise me one more, very important thing. You know how superheroes all have secret identities?"
They all nodded, some enthusiastically, some hesitantly.
"Well, I'm kind of a superhero," Maggie said.
"Like Superman and Batman?" asked a little boy.
"Yes, but I'm not nearly as cool as those guys," Maggie replied. "But I do have a secret superpower. Can you all promise never to tell anyone about it? Not even your parents?"
More nods.
"Thank you," she told them. "I'm going to transform into my alter-ego now. Don't be scared of my big teeth and claws. My superhero identity is a friendly kitty, I promise."
"But I don't want to go in the water!" one of the younger boys said, and promptly began to cry. "Mommy! Mama! I don't wanna!" He continued to wail as he looked around.
Susan and Kathy immediately swept in to comfort their son, then distributed hugs to some of the other kids who looked like they were on the verge of losing it as well.
Maggie clapped sharply to get everyone's attention and raised her voice, straining to make herself heard over the freight-train roar of the approaching fire. "Okay, here's what I need you to do when it's your turn—"
She kept her instructions short and simple, finishing with, "I promise that I'll come back for Ms. Susan, Ms. Kathy, and Mr. Bob as soon as all of you are on that other beach and safe."
All three of the other adults nodded encouragingly as she spoke, backing her up.
Maggie was awed by the courage of these Ordinary humans. She was sure that they knew that there was a good chance that they might die here while waiting for rescue.
Because she was only one shifter, and the wind was driving the fire towards them at a frightening pace.
She'd be lucky to save all the kids before the fire got too close and either asphyxiated everyone on this beach or cooked them alive with superheated air. Even plunging into the lake wouldn't save them in that case.
I'll find a way to rescue everyone, she vowed, and rapidly began to peel off her jeans and t-shirt.
Too stressed to be self-conscious about getting naked in front of a bunch of Ordinaries who were gaping at her, she summoned up her inner cat and shifted smoothly into her jaguar shape.
"Daddy!" Jayden exclaimed. "That lady turned into a black panther!"
"Holy shi—I mean, crap!" Kathy exclaimed.
The three adults stood frozen, staring at her, until Maggie growled and patted the half-inflated vinyl pool float that they'd been working on, reminding them that they had a very important job to do.
Precious minutes ticked by while they frantically operated the bicycle pump and a giant swan took shape on the rocky shore.
In the meantime, Maggie padded over to where the kids had been lined up along the lakeshore in groups of two. Small hands reached out eagerly to pat her fur. Hoping to reassure them, she gave a low, rumbling growl of pleasure and rubbed her head against them as she passed.
When the giant swan was finally fully inflated and bobbing gently in knee-deep water just a few steps from the beach, Maggie waded out into the lake and looked back at the first two kids.