None of what was happening to Yrsa felt real. The handle to the door of her room was silver preventing her from letting herself out. Trapped she sat on the bed until someone came to rescue her. When the door finally opened Yrsa tried not to dart out. Konani gave her a small smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Our ride is waiting on the main floor.” The mermaid said. Following behind Yrsa she noticed the protective gloves the woman wore. They bore a floral pattern with the same flower that the mermaid had fastened in her hair. As they made their way to the elevator Konani spoke up.

“There are some things you need to know about if you want to keep working for me.” She said. Yrsa was impressed that she could talk while propelling herself like that. Then again, her arms were so well defined she could probably snap Yrsa’s arm off. “There are no ‘secret techniques’ allowed on the island. I demand one hundred percent transparency when it comes to the creatures. We’ve lost so many creatures due to carelessness. That same carelessness that almost got Bippy killed.”

“Who’s Bippy?” At Yrsa’s question, the mermaid stopped short to look up at the wendigo.

“The jackalope you’ve been harboring for weeks. The potential leader of the Oasis Springs colony?” At Yrsa’s silence, she huffed.

“Since we’re on the subject, how did you tame her?”

“Her? Stewie's girl?” The glare she received could melt steel. Yrsa cleared her throat. “I didn’t do anything. She was going after some goats. I heard Mr. Papadakis go after her with a gun. I thought she was a coyote or something so I chased her. She attacked me and we butted heads. Ever since then she’s been following me around.”

Konani was now slack-jawed staring at her at this point.

“That’s it? You bashed heads and…” Konani made a motion with her hands as if she couldn’t articulate exactly what she wanted to say.

“I’m sorry.” For what she couldn’t say. It was just felt like the right thing to say.

“And the kelpie?” Konani tried to keep her composure.

“What about it?” The mermaid looked like she was about to have an aneurysm. “I’m sorry. I really am. I don’t know what happened after I was knocked into the lake.” Konani’s eyes wandered around Yrsa’s face.

“Are you saying that the selkie saved you?”

“I know it sounds weird but I think so.” Konani kept searching Yrsa’s skull as it there was a clue to the mystery etched on it.

“I have a theory.” She nodded her head as if agreeing with the internal monologue in her head. “There’s only one way to find out.” The mermaid refocused on the elevator doors and nothing more was said.

The main floor had various Beings milling around waiting their turn. It was day time so most of the staff consisted of mostly Sun Walkers bustling about attending to everyone. Everyone was too focused on their own lives to pay much attention to what was going on around them. As they made their way towards one of the many entrances they passed by a several foot tall fountain adorned with two Beings. The female figure was smiling revealing her fangs with his hand reaching out upturned. The male fairy had his wings tucked with his hand mirroring the Nocturnal’s pose. Both were dressed as Healers. Yrsa managed to read the plaque attached to the inside of the fountain as she passed by:

No currency, please. This water is for drinking, not wishing.

“Eugh,” Yrsa complained as the sticky heat washed over her. As much as she hated the heat she was happy to see it again without being chained up.

“You will get used to it. Now we have a few things to go over to get you settled in.” The mermaid eyed a passing family of tengu pass by. The youngest member was sporting a splint on his wing. Someone had an accident during their visit to the park.

“I’m sorry,” Yrsa said again.

“Think nothing of it. There is always an adjustment period when moving.” Konani leaned in her chair searching for their ride.

“I mean, I’m sorry, I will not be going to Atlantis with you,” Yrsa spoke clearly, picking her words carefully. “Look, ever since I got involved with this whole fleece thing my life has been in danger. I’ve been attacked three times. I’m just...I’m done. So just take me to my RV and we never have to see each other ever again.”

A car drove by as the two Beings stared at each.

“Alright then.”

Yrsa stood there dumbstruck.

“That's it?”

“Of course. I assumed you were interested in making a life change. Clearly, I was wrong. No use dragging the situation out further than need be.” Konani looked away giving a one-shoulder shrug. As if summoned by the conversation a white official Rainbow Pools Park van pulled up to them. A woman got out to help Konani into the vehicle.

“We’re going to the same place,” Konani said before rolling up the window. Taking the prompt Yrsa got in. Konani’s assistant tried to strike up a conversation but was quickly shut down by her boss. To break up the awkward silence the radio was turned on. Even though the hospital was not far from the park Yrsa was still thankful she didn’t have to walk. When they reached the park Yrsa realized she left all her money in the RV.

Konani and her assistant pulled out two ID cards to get through the gates. Mildly impressed she almost didn’t hear the tail report about a migrating flock of thunderbirds traveling the coast. Yrsa grimaced. Four years ago a flock tore through her area. She couldn’t work due to the impromptu mud rivers carving through her route. That was a nightmare. All she could hear was the thunderous screeches for days.

“Looks like our flight will be delayed. Again.” Groused the woman wearing the sun hat. She glanced in the rearview mirror in Yrsa’s direction. Not sure what that look was for Yrsa looked back out the window to the passing trees. Konani gave a running commentary on where they had pulled up to. The inn looked rustically out of place compared to the other two buildings.

“There's the inn in case you wanted to rest before heading out. The administration building for the whole park if you have any questions. And finally, the hanger where your RV is parked out back.” They parked in front of the closed garage door. Not waiting for the others Yrsa made her way inside the hanger. Not taking in any details she made her way to the open back of the hanger. She could hear voices arguing outback as the sound of a hard object hitting metal. Once Yrsa was out of the echoey hanger she found the cause of the ruckus.

Sylvia was arguing with a sasquatch holding a high powered rifle. A male gremlin was sticking close to the sasquatch. The cause of all the fighting was a kelpie confined in a makeshift corral. Upon closer examination, it wasn’t just a kelpie. It was THE kelpie who helped her earlier. She didn’t realize it before but the kelpie was massive. Especially next to the gremlin.

“You can just shoot it. It's an endangered species.”

“It doesn't belong here. It doesn’t belong anywhere. It would kill us all if it got the chance.” The sasquatch stated firmly. Yrsa spotted her RV eager to get out of here. Near the RV Stewie was locked in a mesh cage wearing a horse halter for some reason. She walked past her without acknowledging the jackalope. Managing to get inside she was happy to see her jerky was still there untouched. Ripping open the bag she took out a piece to chew on. Satisfied she held the unchewed portion between her teeth before getting out of the RV.

The bag still in her claws Yrsa opened Stewie’s cage to give her a piece. The creature took it without hesitation nibbling eagerly on the dried meat. Yrsa used that distraction to remove the horse halter from around her body. Leaving the jackalope to her snack Yrsa closed the cage. Adjusting the halter around her arm she made her way back towards the others. She noticed Konani and her assistant had joined the heated debate over the kelpie.

“What if that was a mountain lion or a wolf in there?” Pointed out Konani’s assistant.

“It's the matter that it killed someone! We can’t risk it.” He was being cautious. No one could blame him. He probably had to euthanize enough animals in his day due to attacks.

Then again there was no proof that this specific kelpie killed anyone. There was proof it had saved her though. And right now Yrsa needed to return the favor.

“KNOCK IT OFF.” She yelled to the flailing creature. At the sound of her voice, the creature stopped trying to escape to peer at Yrsa. Fishing out a piece of jerky she held it up to show the creature. Curious the kelpie moved closer. With practiced ease, Yrsa laid the offering in the palm of her hand so she would lose a digit. She was a quick healer but something just can’t be healed.

The arguing had stopped when Yrsa first yelled. Everyone was watching waiting for the attack. There wasn’t much lip for the kelpie to use to pick up the piece. Yrsa held her ground as she felt the teeth scrap her palm. Eager for more the kelpie moved in to take directly from the bag. The kelpie was too occupied with munching on the jerky it didn’t notice that Yrsa was now working the halter up her arm around its head. When she felt the creature was secure she pulled the bag away to grab the rope attached to the halter. Taking a step back she allowed the Clydesdale sized kelpie a chance to understand what just happened. Earlier she wasn’t able to gauge how large the creature was.

Feeling confident she took a few steps while leading the kelpie. Memories of the ranch passively filtered through her head. Like a song you never forgot the lyrics to her body was doing the motions, it performed countless times in the past. When they finished their walk around the small paddock Yrsa finally acknowledged the others.

“I still don’t trust it.” The ranger announced lowering his gun.

“That thing ain't coming on my plane.” Dieter chimed in.

“We’ll handle the bigger issues later then.” Konani gave Yrsa a small smile as if she caught the girl red-handed with something. “For now we have some minor details to iron out.”

Those details included Konani trying to guilt-trip Yrsa into working for her again. The worst part was the mermaid was winning. It was very simple, join her or the kelpie dies. As much as it was killing her on the inside to be tethered to a person who would use such tactics Yrsa couldn’t bear to watch her savior be killed.

Feeling like she wasn’t left with much choice she agreed to join the Atlantis Nature Preserve as an official employee. Yrsa was led up to an office with Sylvia in tow to help walk her through things. There she was formally introduced to Feray, Konani’s assistant. It made sense she was able to shapeshift into a dolphin at will. A clipboard stacked with official forms was placed on her claws as Sylvia helped walk her through certain parts. It was hard to focus over the excited chatter of Konani talking excitedly with her assistant. Since she didn’t understand what exactly they were discussing their conversation turned to noise that started a headache. Thinking she would get some semblance of peace she was grateful to turn her papers into the waiting boto. Figuring it would take some time to process everything she was looking forward to sleeping in her bed tonight.

“That's that,” Konani said aloud as she signed a form with a flourish.

“What's what?” Sylvia asked.

“Our dear friend Yrsa Windstrider is now the official Kelpie Holster of Lanai island,” Konani announced leaning over her desk to hand Yrsa a lanyard with an ID card attached.

“That was quick,” Yrsa said, sounding suspicious.

“We did push some paperwork forward while you were still in the hospital,” Feray admitted pulling out a file with her name already written in bold marker. A low growl escaped her throat at the idea that her privacy was infringed upon.

“Easy.” Konani warned, “Don't want to be giving people the wrong idea about you now do you?” Yrsa gave a huff as a reply.

“I can see why the kelpie likes you so much.” Smiled the mermaid showing off her shark-like teeth. “Now, let's all get something to eat before we head out.”

Maybe it was stress but even after a large meal Yrsa headache persisted. She shifted in the driver’s seat of her RV enjoying the softness of her shirt. Debating on just throwing out the outfit she spent days in she adjusted the rearview mirror before she spotted her skull in the mirror. Her hand reached up to feel the cracked prong. Figuring there must be a way to repair the crack she dropped her hand to feel for the essentials. Wallet safely tucked into her left breast pocket she was grateful she didn’t need a bag or have to sit on her wallet.

“Still not feeling ok?” Sylvia asked, letting herself into the RV. She had a light pink travel bag in tow. Looking around she decided under the table was the safest place. She unzipped it briefly to pull out what looked like a brochure.

“Overwhelmed I guess. This past year feels like it's been given caffeine and a puppy.” Yrsa said.

“You got that off that sign outside of Crystal Rivers.” Sylvia piped back. Little camper park where the staff thought they were being funny. It only had five spaces and the lights flickered all night.

That night seemed like forever ago. She settled behind the seat belt holding the brochure in front of her.

“Since you and I will be working together I was given the privilege of doing your orientation.” She cleared her throat before reading off the brochure word for word. Groaning Yrsa rested her head against the steering wheel, this was going to be a long drive.