With the City of Oasis Spring still in the rearview mirror, Yrsa pulled the RV to the side of the road. The two girls sat in silence for a moment.

“Start talking,” Yrsa said still staring straight forward holding the steering wheel.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like this. All I wanted was to pick up the fleece and go back to raising Kelpies.” The girl admitted looking out the windshield. Fighting back tears she kept going, “I mean. I was specially chosen for this task because well, look at me!” She gestured to her entire body. Yrsa had no clue about other Folk’s body type norms so she was at a loss of what exactly she was supposed to be looking at.

“None of that matters now,” Yrsa spoke hoping the other girl wouldn’t start full-blown crying. “What we need to do is get rid of that fleece somehow. As long as it is in our possession we’re in danger.”

“The fleece! Where is it?” The girl looked behind them still constrained by the seatbelt.

“Oh. In my truck.” Next thing she knew the girl had flown out of the cab to retrieve the item. Upon her return, Yrsa moved on to her next question. “What so special about this thing anyway? I heard something about healing earlier.”

“Yes and no. I was told it can heal but only at the expense of some else’s health.” The girl ran her hand along with the package looking for other tears. Peeking out from under the girl’s sleeve Yrsa noticed the bandages on her arm.

“Meaning?”

“If I were to heal my arm I would have to basically give my injury to someone else.” She rubbed her arm through her jacket.

“Why would anyone want that?” Yrsa asked looking over gauging the other girl’s expression.

“It doesn’t just work on injuries. If I wanted to I could take physical attributes. Like if I wanted wings I could take them off a Fairy. Or even trade Chloe’s horse half while still retaining my ability to transform into a seal.”

Figuring Chloe was the centaur twin from the Market. Yrsa couldn't quite figure out how someone could transform into a seal.

“Now that sounds terrifying. Makes sense why you wanted to throw it in the ocean.” Yrsa said looking back out the windshield.

“No.” The girl balked. "I was sent to take it back to Atlantis.”

“The nature preserve?” Atlantis was a string of islands West of Saceo. Yrsa heard there were Merfolk and Menehune using the islands to preserve several endangered animals.

“Yes. I was to collect the fleece while several other groups distracted the Chimera’s footmen. Then I was going to transform into a seal and take it to the head director personally. Now I’m not sure what to do.” The girl smoothed the crumpled packaging of the fleece.

“Can’t you just call your mom or something? I mean there has got to be someone else that can help you better than me.” Yrsa suggested. Tilted her head side to side the other girl mulled the idea over.

“I could, but I want to get further away from here first.” The first sat up to get a better look out the rearview mirror. Sighing the Wendigo merged back onto the freeway. She couldn’t wait to get rid of this mounting headache of a person.

“I’m Sylvia by the way.” The girl spoke a few minutes after the city disappeared in the mirror.

“That’s nice.”

“We’re here,” Yrsa announced loudly making a flourish of putting the RV in park. Her passenger gave a start looking around wildly. Shortly after the began making their way Eastward she had fallen asleep clutching the recovered fleece.

“Where are we?” The girl looked around at the wooded area they were parked at. She leaned against her seat belt her arms securely around the packaged fleece.

“I dunno, about two hours from that way.” Yrsa gestured westward unbuckling herself. “I’m going to bed.”

“Bed? No! We don’t have time for that. The Chimera’s thugs are not too far behind us.” The auburn-haired girl unbuckled herself to follow after the Wendigo. Stopping short Yrsa turned to look at the girl.

“Look. I’m tired. All I’ve had to eat the last twenty-fours was some beef jerky. Do me a favor and call your mom.” Yrsa waved towards the side door as she made her way towards her bed.

“What am I supposed to do while you’re napping?” Sylvia stressed the word ‘napping’ like the older girl was slacking off. From one of the storage cupboards, Yrsa produced a cardboard box. Inside there were notebooks and a collection of writing utensils.

“Knock yourself out.” She ordered leaving the hooded girl on her own.

The sun was setting when Yrsa woke up. Sleep still clinging to her body she did a double-take when she saw Sylvia sitting at her table. She was leaning over the open journal with the radio playing quietly next to her. No matter how many times she sees it the look of initial horror when she walks into a room stings a little.

“Oh, you’re still here.” Yrsa knew how petty she sounded but this whole situation made her feel on edge. “What’d your mom say?”

Sylvia looked back down at her dragon/horse sketch clutching the pencil tightly.

“I haven’t left yet.” She admitted so quietly it took even Yrsa had a hard time hearing her.

“Why not?” She did not mean to sound as annoyed as it came out.

“BECAUSE I’M SCARED OK?” Sylvia looked up at Yrsa with terror in her eyes.

Of course, she's scared. She was held at a gunpoint only a few hours ago.

“I guess that means we have to go together then.” Yrsa held out her claws as lax as she could for the smaller girl to take. She hesitated before reaching towards to take the offered claw. Her warmth was noticeable but pleasant. They took a few steps towards the door before the girl jerked her hand back.

“The fleece.” She announced diving back towards the seat to retrieve it. Yrsa made an unhappy noise. They would look rather suspicious carrying around an envelope in the middle of a nature park. Seeing Sylvia cradling the fleece to her chest gave Yrsa an idea. Taking off towards her room she went to rummage through her closet. She pulled out a sandy-colored rabbit plushie.

“Aw, she’s cute,” Sylvia commented from the door. Ignoring her Yrsa flipped the plush over to expose its back. She used her claw to rip open the seam exposing the stuffing inside. With practiced ease, she began pulling out stuffing to dump onto the floor. Satisfied she turned to the horrified looking Sylvia holding out her claw.

“Give me the fleece.” She ordered. Sylvia held out the envelope still having the same expression. She stuffed the entire envelope inside the rabbit the best should could. “We can sew it up later but for now that should work. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a pull string backpack. “That’ll work.” She announced after placing the rabbit inside pulling the opening closed around the head. She handed the pack for Sylvia to take.

“It's cute.” The girl commented pulling the pack onto her back.

“It belonged to my grandmother.” Yrsa tried to counter. Sylvia shrugged as she left the room.

“Will you relax?” Yrsa whispered. Sylvia had a death grip on the ropes on her pack as she kept glancing around fervently. “You look like I kidnapped you.”

“Right.” Sylvia rotated her shoulders in an attempt to relax them. It didn’t work but at least her expression was more neutral now.

The nature park was a heavily wooded area with what appeared to be cloth headbands wrapped around several tree branches.

‘Why only a few trees? Why only one headband?” Yrsa thought looking around trying to take all the sights in. It was a short walk to the guest building. Sylvia trotted off towards the gross looking payphone while Yrsa hung back to read the park rules. Carved and painted in solid oak she read the lake fishing limits. Where fire was acceptable, and even a park’s brief history before the smaller girl returned.

“No one is coming.” Was all she said looking miserable.

“Meaning?” Yrsa pressed. The girl took a deep breath before answering.

“Mom says it’s too risky for someone to come out and get me. So she told me to head to Rainbow Pools Park.” Sylvia looked down shuffling her pink slip-on shoes. Thinking it over Yrsa did some crude calculations in her head.

“That’s like a thousand miles that way.” Yrsa pointed Northwest. Still not looking up Sylvia shrugged one shoulder. She had squared her shoulders as if expecting a strike. Calming the rage inside her she reminded herself that the one in front of her was not the enemy.

“You know what?” Yrsa breathed out. She made a motion as if to wash her hands of emotional hold this news had on her. “Fine. Let’s just get something to eat and just…go.”

“There might be a diner around here or something.” Sylvia looked up trying to sound cheerful. She failed though.

“Why a diner?” Are you one of those vegg-o types?”

“It’s vegan and no. You don’t have anything to eat. Trust me I looked.” She admitted looking around before noticing the carved map. “Oh, there’s a lake. Oh and we can fish too. Come on.” She urged sounding legitimately cheerful this time.

The walk wasn’t too far and the weather was milder here than the desert. As they walked Yrsa saw several families along the way. A family of Kitsune was at one of the designated fire pits where a two-tailed boy was trying to conjure fire. Nearby his four tailed mother and father tried coaching in proper technique. He was able to make a wisp that flew straight up into the air before popping loudly. Several sparks rained down nearly hitting one of the trees. The tree shuttered before turning into a fairy shaped Being. She had the same colored skin as the tree with a head full of leaves sprouted upon it. She wore one of those armbands Yrsa had seen before around her arm which contrasted against her bark like apparel. Not wanting to be caught staring Yrsa continued on the path as the Dyraid yelled about fire safety.

Several other Folks were already at the lake when they arrived. Sylvia gave a squeal of delight as she kicked off her shoes to rush towards the water. Yrsa sounded after the girl but she was already pulling the hood up over her head. In a second the water was calm as if it was never disturbed. Finding a nearby boulder half in the water half on land Yrsa sat trying to enjoy the view. Seeing the moon reflected off the water would’ve looked better.

A quarter a way around the lake several Fairy teens were hovering over the water. Their laughter was loud enough to for it to echo. As Yrsa watched them a large wet object propelled out of the water right into her lap. The object turned out to be a fish still flopping around. Acting on instinct she drove her claw right through the heart. From the water, a grey seal poked its head above water. It made its way to the rock before morphing into Sylvia.

“I just remembered, I forgot to ask if you even like fish.”

Yrsa shrugged saying, “Only one way to find out.” She then took a large bite out of the back of the fish. The bones were different than that of a mammal’s but she could handle that.

“Not bad. It’s not an elk but it’s not bad.” She admitted taking another bite to make sure. The red-headed girl kept staring wide-eyed up at her. Not out of fear or horror though. It was pure unbridled admiration.

“You eat them raw too.” Was all she said as if she couldn’t believe what she was saying.

“Well yeah. I mean, sometimes I like to cook, but mostly just eat meat as is.” Yrsa didn’t understand what the big deal was. Sylvia on the other claw was looking ready to burst with glee.

“Let me catch a few more so we can talk.” Sylvia slipped under the water once again.

‘Strange girl.’ Yrsa thought working the fish off her claw to set aside.