Sylvia doesn’t think she’ll ever be used to being up during the night. The yellow lighting from the gas stations always kept her on edge. Yrsa parked close enough for Sylvia to watch for her through the windows. Shuffling her feet Sylvia looked down to realize what a mess she had made of her side of the RV. Setting the bunny bag she had been holding on her seat she got out to clean up the empty wrappers she had dumped on the floor. Feeling satisfied with a job well done she tossed the last bottle into the further away trash.

“Nice shot.” A female voice complimented. Jumping Sylvia turned to see a female Lycan walk up the length of the RV. She was dressed like she wasn’t sure to go with a biker or a teen pop idol. Black leather boots mixed oddly with her pink fur looking coat. Her shirt was a low enough cut for Sylvia to get an un-obscured view of her collar. It was made of thick brown leather with a strip of fur overlaid on top. Rhinestones accented with pure silver charm resting on the base of her throat.

As she walked closer Sylvia remembered tonight was the final night of the full moon. Upon seeing Sylvia’s horrified expression the young Lycan laughed before going into the convenient store. She laughed right up until Yrsa passed by her. She stared at the taller girl as if she never saw a Wendigo before. Yrsa was more terrifying without trying. Sylvia allowed herself some satisfaction at the confused look the girl was now giving the Selkie. Resisting the urge to wave goodbye Sylvia got comfortable.

Flipping through the local radio stations all they were met with was static. Sylvia got up to go draw when Yrsa began slowing down.

“What’s this then?” Yrsa asked aloud. Peering through the windshield there was a police barricade blocking the road. One of the officers, a vampire, motioned for Yrsa to roll down the window.

“Evenin’.” He greeted in a southeastern accent.

“Is there a problem officer?” Yrsa asked keeping her hands firmly on the steering wheel.

“Standard Full moon protocol. Folks around here tend to be a little loose with their collars if you know what I mean.” The officer hinted.

“I do,” Yrsa said in a level tone.

“Listen’, there is a motel ‘bout two miles that way.” The officer made a gesture Sylvia couldn’t see. “How’s about you settle there until mornin’?

“We will do that officer.” Yrsa nodded pulling the RV to the left take off down a side road. In silence, the two pulled into the parking lot of the run-down motel. As if waiting for them someone was already walking towards them the second Yrsa turned off the RV. Sylvia watched as Yrsa went out to greet the much smaller man coming towards them. The leprechaun was motioning from the RV to the motel craning his neck to look up at Yrsa.

Sylvia understood the man’s guarded stance. After all, when she met Yrsa the lack of expression made the girl almost impossible to read. Until you know what you were looking for at least. She felt bad for the cowering man as Yrsa gestured from the RV to motel. The tall girl wasn’t mad, tired of being jerked around is all. Yrsa’s shoulders slumped and the red-haired Being scurried off back towards his office.

“Grab your toothbrush we’re getting a room,” Yrsa ordered going to grab her things. The red bag she got from Yrsa was slowly becoming Sylvia’s lifeline. Peering around the fleece stuffed bunny she made sure her brush, toothbrush kit, and the overlarge button-up shirt Yrsa gave her to sleep in. Sylvia wasn’t too fond of buttons but that’s all the other girl had. Sylvia waited outside the RV for the other girl to lock up.

If Sylvia didn’t know any better she’d say the motel looked like a converted strip mall. Her heart fluttered when she recognized the fenced-off area near the office as a pool. Stifling a squeal she noticed there wasn’t posted hours where she could use it.

“We’re in room one,” Yrsa said walking to the next door down. Standing in the door Yrsa flipped the light on to take in the room for a second. There was a large bed, a single nightstand with an old lamp, with a toilet visible through the open bathroom door.

“Oh look a T.V.” Sylvia rushed over to the small bulky television. Pressing the silver button on the front the screen flickered to life.

“You have fun with that. I’m going to check the bathroom for murder holes.”

“Murder holes?” Sylvia asked but never got an answer. Going back to the TV she turned the knob through all sixteen channels. There was a movie marathon on nine so she settled on that hoping for something watchable. Yrsa came back from her inspection grumbling something about being murdered in the shower. Toeing off her boot Yrsa got into the bed to lean against the wall.

Out of the corner of her eyes, Sylvia saw that the taller girl had removed her socks to reveal her feet. They were as black as night as the rest of her. Her toes had the same long claws as she had one of her hands. How she managed the day to day life with those dangers on the ends of her appendages Sylvia would never know. Getting comfortable herself Sylvia toed off her shoes and scooted back a little to where she was sitting more on the bed rather than the edge. She took the bunny out of the pack to cuddle with. Maybe after all this was said and done she could keep it.

The movie was already a few minutes so they missed any set up for the rest of the film. It seemed innocent enough though. Families slashing at the beach having a good time. Until bass started to play. Sylvia was transfigured as the song began to swell right up until a small pixie on-screen was eaten. Sylvia screamed like she was being attacked. She turned to dive right at Yrsa so hard it knocked the wind out her.

“Turn it off. Turn it off. Turn it off-f-f-f.” The girl sobbed. Prying the Selkie off her Yrsa turned off the T.V.

“Well, that happened,” Yrsa commented sounding uncertain what they were going to do next. Sylvia gave a few more sobs before sitting up.

“I’m going swimming.”

“Uh what? After all that.” The Wendigo gestured towards the T.V. Sylvia slipped off the bed with the bunny still clutched to her chest.

“It’s how I deal ok?” She snapped leaving her companion behind. Noticing Yrsa was following behind her Sylvia kept talking. “I mean, if I let every scary movie about the ocean keep me out of the water I would be a disgrace to all Selkies!” She proclaimed shaking her fist to the air. Passing the office she noticed the door was shut and the lights were off. Thinking nothing of it she pulled up the hood to her hoodie as she slipped into her seal form. The chlorine stung her eyes a little but it was worth it to be back in her element. As she took a lap she saw Yrsa stick her feet in near the deep end.

“Care to join me?” Sylvia asked from the middle of the pool.

“No thanks, water isn’t really my thing.”

Sylvia shrugged the best she could as a seal before going back under. Resting on the bottom of the pool she just listened to the water around her. A scraping noise caught her attention. Looking up she saw that Yrsa had stood up to get a better look at something in the distance. Resurfacing Sylvia looked around to see what was going on.

“What’s up?”

“What do you think you’re doing?” Yrsa asked under her breath to the Being across the parking lot. Getting out of the pool she changed back into her biped form to see a small lizard-like figure near the RV. When it disappeared under the vehicle Yrsa took off after it.

Even barefoot Yrsa darted at neck break speed across the asphalt. Realizing they were being attacked the Being took off towards the woods with the Wendigo hot on its heels. There was a pause of silence as distant wolf howls made Sylvia realize she was alone now. Figuring the safest place for her would be the room now she got out towards shelter. Her feet slapped wetly on the concrete as she hugged her hoodie around her for warmth.

A soft noise just in front of her caused her to stop. Walking slowly into the yellow lights around the building a large Lycan came out of the shadow. Panic seized every sense as the figure came closer. She could make a break for the room but that would’ve to mean going towards the danger. The door to her room opened as another Lycan came out. This one was on all fours with its teeth bared.

Sylvia wasn’t even aware she was running when she reached the RV. A noise behind her propelled her to slide under the locked RV causing the Lycan to hit the side of the vehicle. Curling herself into a ball all she could do was not cry. Seconds dragged into minutes when something grabbed her leg. Screaming she flailed around trying to escape. Her arms were pinned to her sides she was held into a chest. A few painful breathes later she felt all her energy leave her. Opening her eyes she recognized the plaid shirt of Yrsa. Looking up she could make out the face hidden under the skull. She should’ve been terrified to see the lipless sunken in face underneath. Instead, she felt she was looking at the face of an angel.

Sylvia passively listened as Yrsa spoke to the officer that was looking for the Lycan that had attacked her. The officer was even kind enough to retrieve the bunny from the girl’s room for Sylvia to hold onto. The rest of the night was a haze. Unmoving Sylvia stared out the window barely moving right up until they reached a large truck stop. Yrsa polished off half a deer (hit by accident) while Sylvia sat on the floor waiting for bed.

Even with the light-blocking shades, Sylvia felt exposed. She waited an hour after Yrsa shut her door Sylvia grabbed the sleeping bag she was borrowing before sneaking into the bedroom. Painfully slow she slunk into the room to lay out the bag far enough away from the bed not to get stepped on.

Yrsa woke with a start sitting up to glare at the smaller girl.

“Sorry I got scared,” Sylvia admitted still kneeling on the ground. Yrsa grunted flinging one of the spare pillows at her.

“Go to sleep.” She ordered dropping heavy back down on the bed. Settling in Sylvia heard a thump of something heavy falling off the bed. Pondering what it could be she heard the tell-tell noise of the Jackelope settle down next to her. Any fear she would usually have with having a known predator leaning on her was lost this day.