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“That was some quick thinking,” Birchard said as he landed on the bed of the truck.
“Yeah, scare the police so they leave us alone,” Keira shook her cat like head as she transformed shortly thereafter to her normal human self. “Let’s get out of there before they come back.”
“Wow, no bragging. I’m a bit surprised. I would be,” Luza said as she stepped out from the woods.
“We know you would. But I’m not you, and I didn’t think there was any other safe solution.”
“Safe huh?” Luza laughed as she took the middle seat between Keira and Riley who followed her into the truck. “Yeah transforming into a large cat with a reputation of killing other animals sounds like a safe alternative to me.”
“Jealous much,” Riley gently patted Luza’s leg.
She rolled her eyes at the teen and responded, “I suppose it was a better idea than running through the woods. We don’t want the big buck here to get all scratched up. You’re used to running aren’t you Riley?”
“Ouch,” Keira held back a smile.
“What did you want me to do? Attack them all Luza? They could have used a gun.”
“I don’t know . . .” Luza looked out the window. “I feel out of sorts.”
“Probably because you ate too much food,” Keira laughed.
Luza grimaced. “That’s not it. Although, I am still hungry.”
“We’re not stopping.”
“I didn’t say to.”
“Good, because we need to get out of New Hampshire and on to Maine, in one piece.”
Luza nodded and softly said, “Fine.”
The inside of the truck was quiet for several minutes. Keira focused on keeping the truck on the road, without garnering any unnecessary attention. Meanwhile Birchard flew overhead with a flock of geese that had appeared.
Luza stared downward. She avoided eye contact with Riley or Keira and just kept to herself.
Riley was the first to pick up on her shift.
“What is it? What are you brooding over?”
She hesitated to say anything. Looking carefully at her porcelain hands, she whimpered softly.
“I miss my paws. This sucks.”
“I get it.”
“No tail either to curl up with. Now I have all this hair.” Luza pulled several pieces of hair away from her ears and towards her line of sight. Despite the majority of her head being white, several black hairs were appearing. “And what is this, a few dark strands now too?”
“At least it’s wavy,” Keira attempted to lighten the mood.
“Like it matters, shape shifter.”
“I didn’t ask to change form. Trust me, I’d rather go back to the way things were,” Keira admitted.
“You could have fooled me, she-lion.”
“I’m serious. Everything seems more complicated. Part of me for sure wishes I had my old self.”
“That makes two of us.” Luza turned to Riley and looked into his doe colored eyes.
“Don’t look at me for comfort. It had to be done. You’ll get used to your new body, both of you will.”
“That’s easy for you to say Riley. Nothing happened to you.”
“Sure nothing at all, just some psycho trauma. You both know that I wanted to keep Luza out of the dark as to what could happen. Or you Keira, like I really wanted to tell you Bilal was planning to come after you, shoot you with his arrows. That was great. All of those secrets paid off well. Now I just have to go home and see if my parents were murdered in the process. That’s a fair trade,” Riley snarled into the window.
“Wait, what?” Keira looked over at Riley. “No one’s murdering your parents.”
“You just got into this game Princess. You don’t know all the moving pieces.”
“Don’t be mean about it, Riley.”
“Then you tell her, Luza. Or are you still in boo hoo mode?”
Luza pushed Riley. “If I still had my paws, you would be one sorry buck right now.”
“Men,” Keira mouthed.
“Tell me about it. Freddo never talked to me this way.”
Keira laughed. “Really Freddo? I’m sure he didn’t.”
“Your cousin is ridiculous. I’ve never seen an Arctic fox waddle when he walks.”
“That’s not anything to make fun of. He was born that way.”
“Oh my goodness,” Keira laughed again.
“I’m serious,” Riley repeated. “I remember meeting him. You think Luza loves and appreciates food. He waddled because the fox ate a little too much if you get my drift.”
“You keep hitting me when I’m down huh deer boy? I have nothing bad to share about my sweet cousin. At least he was always nice to me, unlike you.”
“Come on now.”
“Now you really upset her Riley,” Keira glanced over to Riley.
“He’s a deflector Princess. It’s fine. Let’s take the topic off of him and the fact he’s known as the traitor of the forest.” She waited for a response, but Riley went quiet. “Exactly nothing to add now huh? Lucky for you I know you were only doing what your parents asked you to do. But at what cost huh? Oh yeah, for this.”
“What is she talking about, Riley?”
“Stuff she doesn’t understand,” he glared down at Luza.
“I’m not a little kid. I’m a grown fox, well woman now, well okay little woman. Still, you were there that night; I know she asked you to do something.”
“Who?” Keira asked.
“Waliyah,” Riley mouthed.
“The Great Mother,” Luza stressed every syllable.
“Okay so why is that a big deal, aside from the fact Lane is off to find her at this very moment?”
“Don’t you get it, she sent him to act on her behalf, to save us, even if it meant putting his family in the cross hairs of Bilal and that pig Sohon.”
“Can we not talk about this right now?” Riley said.
“You opened this can of worms. Why can’t she know the whole story? For that matter why can’t I? You know what we have to do next.”
“Just shut up Luza. You are speaking sideways. What do you know about what happens next? You know nothing.”
“So tell us,” Luza demanded.
“Come on Riley please. How else are we going to work together?” Keira’s question had more than a touch of concern.
“Work together,” he repeated the words softly. “Why do you think you were told to go to Moosehead Lake?”
“Portia told me to head there. That’s where my dad is.”
He laughed.
“What’s so funny?”
“Did you ever ask Luza where she’s from?”
“What are you getting at? She’s from a cold climate clearly and ran for months through the woods.”
“Canada, right?”
“Yeah, that makes sense. Right Luza?”
“What? It didn’t matter at that time. I was honest,” Luza pleaded.
“You’re not from Canada?” Keira lifted her right eyebrow.
“Not exactly,” she said quietly.
“Where else would she be from?”
“You have no concept of anything, Princess. I don’t have the energy to share with you everything you might think you need to know. Let the Princess of the Northern Wood, or for us normal folk Lapland, tell you how she journeyed here. Maybe then you’ll understand why Portia told you to head to the lake. We just got started on this journey and there is no way to tell if and when it will be finished.”
“Lapland?” Keira looked over to Luza. “Isn’t that in Finland or Sweden?”
Luza released a rather sly smile, “Ja as a matter of fact.”
Questions raced through Keira’s mind. She didn’t know where to start. A bit overwhelmed and confused, she turned on the radio to the truck. Cranking the volume, the teen ignored the other two passengers and continued driving them down the road.
* * *
The next hour of driving was uneventful compared to the beginning of the day. No one said anything. Keira gave up on the idea of stopping for a map and just followed the signs along Route 16 through the Mount Washington Valley, onto Route 2 and into Maine. They had gone past the skiing town of Bethel, Maine when Keira even bothered to look down at the gas gauge.
“I’m going to have to stop soon,” she said out loud mainly to herself.
Riley ignored the comment altogether and continued to look out the window. Luza half-heartedly replied, “Does this mean we can stop for some food too or even to stretch our legs?”
“It’s always food with you.” Keira didn’t add another word. She zoned out again and pretended she was out for a long drive.
Another hour passed and the gas light came on. There was no way she could keep driving without getting gas.
At this point the trio had journeyed to the small city of Farmington, Maine. They had been cooped in the truck since they had lost the police officers back on the North Conway-Intervale border.
Main Street, Farmington, Maine was like any other quintessential New England town, save being in the middle of nowhere. There were a few mom and pop stores that the teens passed by as they ventured deeper into this quaint village. First was the King Hardware Store housed in the newer red metal roof building. They had an oversized parking lot filled with a hodgepodge of storage sheds, chain saws, and leaf blowers. In the late afternoon sun, the place looked abandoned, aside from a few contractors getting supplies for the next day.
Farther down the road, a row of older brick structures lined the right side of Maine Street. Keira, Luza, and Riley all turned their heads to catch sight of Lua Flowers, Jacobson Insurance, and Minston Press.
“Well this is quite the metropolis we found ourselves in,” Riley said.
“It’s bigger than Gilmanton that’s for sure.”
“Is that good or bad?” Luza pondered.
“I don’t know. We’re only just entering the town. If I remember right, the University of Maine campus isn’t far from here.”
“We’re not going there, are we?” Riley clutched tightly onto the door handle. His eyes scanned the area.
“No. I didn’t think it was on the agenda. I just want to stop down there on the left at the Cumberland Farms.”
“What’s that before it with the golden arch thing?” Luza pointed at the McDonald’s sign.
“You wouldn’t like it there. Between the French fries, the burgers, and milk shakes; you would be throwing up all over again,” Keira did her best to ignore the fast food chain.
“Wait they serve food? Can we stop please?”
Keira shut her eyes ever so briefly.
“How bout we get gas and then we go from there.”
“Riley, is it any good?”
“I don’t know. It’s not like I ever really got to stop in and try any of those types of places.”
“But have you ever gone?”
He shook his head.
“We should try it.”
“Yeah since the last place you got food went over real well,” Keira said.
“That was all Birchard. I was listening to him.”
“Sure, a likely story. Luza, I can see if there is anything in Cumberland Farms. We really don’t need to draw any attention to ourselves.”
“You’re like an old lady. Did you know that Princess?” Luza laughed.
Keira pulled the truck into the two pump Cumberland Farm station.
The gas station appeared to be out of the 1970s. Between the bright orange and white sign and the box shaped convenience store, it was very basic. Several cars parked to the left of the entrance. Keira turned off the engine to the old purple Dodge truck in front of the road side pump. One red Neon was parked next to the other pump.
She rolled down her window and looked at the manual filling pumps.
“How nice I get to pay first,” Keira sighed as she saw the big red letters pasted over the pump.
Opening the door, she reached under the seat and pulled out an old leather wallet.
“Where did that come from?” Luza looked carefully at the stuffed piece of leather.
“This is the family emergency fund. We always keep something in here in case we get stranded. It won’t be much so don’t get too excited.”
Keira turned to Riley.
“What? Don’t look at me. I clearly don’t carry anything on me. Why would I have any money?”
“So you gave us the change and you had more money all along?” Luza looked curiously at the money.
“Seriously Luza? Let me pay the man for the gas.”
Keira took a twenty dollar bill from the wallet before putting the wallet back under the seat. She shut the door behind her and headed into the store.
“I’m so sick of her already.”
“You are not, so stop,” Riley said.
“Am too. What was that all about telling her about Lapland?”
“What about it? She was going to find out sooner than later when we get to where were going.”
“I ran the entire way,” Luza smirked. She ran her fingers through her predominately long white mane.
Nodding in agreement, Riley opened his door. “Sure right after you arrived in Maine.”
“Hmmph.”
She pushed him out of the truck and then jumped down to the road.
“How did you get here?”
“That’s a little more complicated.”
“Oh yes, I’m sure since the Great Loon loves Sohon and his minions.”
“There’s more than one way to get off that island. Let’s leave it at that.”
“No there’s not!”
She looked carefully at him. He was always taller than her even when she was an Arctic fox, but now as a young woman, while the height difference was still prevalent, there was an aura around Riley that drew her even closer to the young man.
“What is that supposed to mean? What are you hiding?”
“I —” He looked downward and shrugged.
“To my face Riley. Tell me to my face.”
He leaned down and looked her directly in the eyes. “I don’t want to get into it. The Great Loon is going to have my hide when he sees me again.”
“Did you hurt anyone?”
“I didn’t.”
“My prince what did you get yourself into?”
He grasped her by the hands. Squeezing them ever so briefly he said, “Too much I think.”
* * *
Keira walked into the convenience store. She took one quick look towards the truck, half wondering what Luza and Riley were up to. The owner of the Neon blocked her view, so she couldn’t tell what her traveling partners were doing.
The store was busier than expected. A line had formed in front of the register, not for gas, but for that evening’s Megabucks. An illuminated sign flashed to the right. “$10,000,000” hung over a plastic container of brownies and blondies, along with a variety of one dollar scratch offs.
Unsure whether she wanted to get in line or not, Keira stepped to the side and scanned the metal rack full of post cards and state maps. Thumbing through several, she looked back at the line and contemplated what to do.
First she grabbed the least expensive map and then decided to browse the different chips and crackers stocked on the shelves.
“Not a chance,” she chuckled to herself.
All she could see was the broken vending machine and Luza gorging herself. While she wanted to be upset, how could she really fault her? It wasn’t like Luza had been human that long. Perhaps feeling guilty, Keira turned onto the next aisle and grabbed a stick of pepperoni and two Cheddar cheese sticks.
“What do I want?” she said to herself.
“Me,” a deep baritone voice filled the air.
“Huh?” She saw the approaching hand and stepped aside. “I don’t think so.”
A blue eyed, blond haired, teen smiled at her with perfectly white teeth. Impeccably groomed, his hair was slicked back most likely by a can of grease, and his hands were free of blemishes. Wearing a pair of light washed denim jeans with a matching denim jacket and a blue hooded sweatshirt underneath; he looked like a movie star.
“Come on now. I’m not so bad — far from it actually.” There was a slight accent to his voice.
“I don’t even know you. Why are you talking to me?” Keira felt flustered and confused. Her eyes twitched and for a moment she thought about the best way to protect herself.
“Hey now, you got to give me a second to introduce myself. It’s not every day that a beautiful woman my own age comes into this establishment.”
“Dude, this is Cumberland Farms, not a high-end restaurant.”
“That’s quite true.” He held out his hand. “I’m Cameron. You can call me Cam.”
Keira looked at him, unsure how to respond. She twirled her hair around her right index
finger and peered at Cam and his non-local getup. He was really cute.
“You have nice eyes, Cam.”
She couldn’t believe what she heard come out of her mouth. Keira got lost looking into his deep baby blues.
“You’re not too bad yourself. I’ve never seen anyone with that shade of blue and what, amber?”
Keira looked away and felt like she needed to catch her breath.
“I’m sure you’re a nice guy Cam, but I got to go. I have friends waiting for me.”
“I’ll go with you.”
“It’s probably better you don’t.”
“At least tell me your name.”
Keira turned away from Cameron and walked down the aisle towards the register. She couldn’t believe there was still a line.
“See, you can’t get away from me yet. Maybe you want to grab a bite to eat?”
“Do you always come on this strong? Seriously?”
Taken aback, he breathed out of the side of his mouth and rested his hands on his waist.
“I don’t know. I never had a reason to until this moment.”
“Cam, I feel a sense of desperation coming from you, even if you are handsome guy.”
“See, you are warming up. At first you were putting me down, but now there’s a glimmer of hope.”
She tried to ignore the young man, but he was insistent.
“If I paid for your food, will you tell me your name?”
“I’m getting gas too.”
“Fine, I’ll pay for it all.”
Keira put the pepperoni stick and cheese down on the counter.
“Twenty dollars on the Dodge truck out there.”
Before she could get the tab, Cam put a fifty dollar bill down.
“Come on, your name?”
Keira didn’t know what to say. She felt like she shouldn’t give out her real name. Lane had always talked about these types of encounters.
“You can call me,” she hesitated, “Erin.”
“Beautiful,” Cam smiled.
Before he could get another word in to the conversation, Keira bolted with the food and out the door.
* * *
“I can’t believe you talked me into doing this,” Riley looked back at the truck in the Cumberland Farms parking lot.
“She’ll figure it out. Seriously, what can happen with us getting something to eat?”
“Hey Foxy!” Birchard glided down and landed on the trash receptacle in front of them.
“I wondered where you went off too.”
“Just making sure things are ready.”
“I imagine you would have to do that. Is the road clear for us?” Riley looked up at the loon.
“It’s always clear if you know who to talk to, right Bucky?”
“You started this Luza. I really don’t like this nickname.”
“Why not? It’s pretty much your name sake. I mean you can become one or are.”
Riley rolled his eyes ever so slightly at the comment. “Never mind, can we get in and out of here before Keira catches us?”
“If you’re going in, I want a burger.”
“We got you covered Red-eye.”
Luza nodded to the loon who elected to fly to a higher spot. Perched elegantly on the arch, Birchard took in the better view.
As the two teens walked into the restaurant, he watched Keira in the distance march out to the truck with her hands full.
* * *
She placed the map, the pepperoni stick, and the cheese on the front seat.
“Come on!” Keira yelled. She saw the leather wallet, thrown haphazardly on the driver’s seat. Thumbing through it, she found that all the money was gone.
“I hate,” she was about to yell out Luza’s name or even worse, when she caught herself.
Her body was pulsating. There was this overwhelming frustration taking over. Doing her best to stay calm, she lifted up the latch to the gas pump and began filling the truck.
Every moment was becoming more unbearable. She couldn’t remember ever being this upset and it took everything in her being to remain somewhat composed.
“Erin? Where are your friends?” Cameron yelled from the front door of Cumberland Farms.
She ignored his questions and turned towards the truck.
Ever so persistent, the six-foot teenager ran across the parking lot and over to Keira who was falling into a darker place and mindset.
“This isn’t a good time Cameron. Just let me be.”
“Did they leave you or something?”
“I guess you could say as much. I know where they are and when I’m done here, I’ll deal with it.”
“They don’t sound like very good friends to me.”
“We’re not really friends,” Keira blurted out. She couldn’t believe that the words came out of her. Nonetheless, part of her felt that way. She had only been traveling with Luza and Riley for a few days. Sure their fates were tied together, but as for friendship; moments like these made her wonder.
He lifted his eyebrow in a half quizzical look. “You lost me Erin. Why are you with them?”
Despite her confrontational appearance, part of Keira was trembling. Her lips quivered and her hands shook.
Keen to the shift in her body language, Cam reached across and rested his hand ever so slightly on her shoulder.
“Whatever you want to call them, the whole situation is a bunch of hunky-bunk.”
“You sound like an old man, hunky-bunk huh?” Keira didn’t know if she should cry or laugh. With a half grin, she pumped the final dollar of gas and then lowered the handle.
“Have a nice day Cam. I got to go.” Giving him the cold shoulder, Keira slid into the driver’s seat and started the truck.
Unwilling to let her go freely, Cam rested his arms on the side of the door, hanging them over the open window.
“I really can help.”
“You must have something better to do.”
“Please,” he puckered his lips with his best puppy dog impression.
His eyes called to Keira, but she was too upset to act on his generosity.
“Later Cam.”
He lowered his arms and stepped away from the truck, as Keira put the truck in drive and pulled out onto the road.
She watched Cameron’s long stare. There was something about him she liked, yet at the same time was a bit off putting. Shrugging off any first impressions towards the teen, she saw the empty wallet and was ready to deal with her traveling partners.
* * *
“Wow, it smells unbelievable here. No wonder Keira didn’t want us going in,” Luza’s eyes sparkled with the bright red and yellow colors filling the walls of the fast food restaurant.
“I’ll admit it does smell pretty good. It’s not like we have been living off the best food of late,” Riley smiled.
“What should we get?”
“I don’t know. How much did you grab?”
Luza held up the wad of twenty dollar bills in her hand. The letter jacket sleeve concealed most of the money.
“We’re not going to need anywhere to close that.”
“How would I know? It’s not like we have money where I come from.”
“I’ll handle it from here,” Riley took the twenties from Luza.
She frowned at his gesture. “You are going to tell me what the options are, right?”
He nodded, and then motioned for Luza to step into the queue. There were a few people in front of them as they fell into the line.
“What are those?” Luza pointed at the board behind the register.
“Menu items, fish sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, burgers, everything comes with fries.”
She was salivating. “I don’t know what to get. Is it fresh?”
“Hey let’s go Whitey!” a voice called out.
Luza and Riley were too caught up in the sign to realize what was happening.
“Hey, Freak-Show, and Wilderness-Boy, can you place your order or move aside?”
Riley glanced behind them and saw a familiar face. It was none other than Bobby Hinderstein who lived across the street from the house he had been living in on the Barnstead border.
He didn’t remember if they had actually been formally introduced. Most of the time Riley was trapped in his room. Bilal only let him outside if he was scouting the area for Luza or for other unspeakable tasks.
“We’re ordering. Relax,” Riley said in a quiet reserved tone.
“You can do it a bit faster,” Bobby nudged Riley from behind.
Not wanting to start anything, Riley stepped aside. “Luza just let him go. He’s clearly hungrier than us.”
“What? Why?” She gave him a once over and noticed Bobby’s stocky frame. He was the same height as Keira from what she could tell, and well over two hundred pounds. His face was red, he reeked of alcohol, and the freckles across his cheeks and nose looked almost like a series of constellations.
“Like you could eat what I eat, little girl,” Bobby forced himself past the duo. “Come on Danny.”
His friend who was equally large and red in the face, smiled at Luza with a pair of glossed over eyes.
“Who are you calling little?” Luza tapped him on the arm.
“Let it be,” Riley whispered.
“Who is this guy that thinks he can do whatever he wants? If I ever — ”
Bobby turned around from the cashier and looked at Luza. He gave her a once-over and then snarled, “If you ever what, Short-Stuff?”
“You’re lucky I’m hungry right now,” Luza glared at him.
“Or what, you’re going to step on my foot? You’d blow over from one of my farts, Short-Stuff.”
Luza looked back at Riley wanting the go ahead to act. She wanted to claw Bobby’s face but instead could only look regretfully at her human hands.
“That was a good one man,” Danny laughed. He pushed Riley and Luza aside forcing them farther back in line. Nodding his head several times, he looked them over and said, “You better know your place.”
“Do something Riley,” Luza pleaded.
“What? We can’t cause a scene in here.”
“I would never tolerate someone talking to me that way. Not now, not ever.”
“Just stop it,” Riley repeated. “What else can we do?”
Bobby looked back at Luza and Riley. He patted Danny’s shoulder and laughed. Talking to the cashier, Bobby smiled. “Those freaks behind us are paying.”
Not skipping a beat, the cashier simply rang up the order.
“Thanks,” Danny smiled sarcastically.
“Seriously?” Luza didn’t understand all the nuances to buying food but she knew enough that this was wrong.
“Don’t forget to order your short friend there a happy meal.”
Riley lowered his head and stepped forward.
“I’m not hungry anymore,” Luza took a deep breath.
“Yes you are. Don’t do that. It’s not a big deal. We’ll get our food and get back in the truck.”
At about the same time, Keira pushed open the restaurant doors and walked in. She spotted them immediately.
The teen wanted to berate her traveling partners, but thought better of it and waited next to the door.
Luza caught her eye.
“She’s here Riley.”
“Still not ordering huh?” Bobby cut back over to the counter, took two beverage cups and gave Riley a dirty look. “I forgot we need two apple pies and a large order of chicken nuggets. That won’t be a problem right?”
Riley looked at the cashier. “Add that along with a fish sandwich, two burgers no cheese, and an order of fries.”
Keira’s pulse amped up as she saw Bobby Hinderstein. She didn’t care how he got here or why, but now that he was in the same room and talking to Riley, it was proving hard to contain herself.
Putting the money down on the counter, Riley was nonchalant over the entire exchange.
One of the attendants handed the first bag of food off to Danny and Bobby. Luza’s mouth dropped. She thought the entire episode ended when Bobby walked back over and put out his open hand.
“I want my change, all of it.”
“Back off loser,” Luza pushed into him. “Riley, don’t you dare give him any money.”
“Then I’ll take it. Who’s going to stop me, you Frosty?”
He swatted Luza with his right arm and took the remaining cash out of Riley’s hands.
The princess had seen enough. She didn’t care about the other people in the restaurant or the line behind them.
“Bobby give it back,” Keira yelled.
He looked up and his eyes met Keira’s. “Oh it’s just you Tigress. If you knew what was good for you, you’d stay out of this.”
Luza pushed Bobby again. Her gesture was well intended, but did nothing to move the teen.
“I’m sorry, are you thirsty little girl?”
Taking one of the empty cups, Bobby handed it over to Danny, who promptly filled it with orange soda. He handed the cup back and Bobby poured it over Luza’s head.
She stood in shock as her long white hair got covered with soda. Her jacket was soaked.
Winding up her right arm, Riley stepped in and grabbed Luza before she could act.
“We’re leaving now,” Riley said.
He led the teen out the door, past Keira.
“If you two could have just waited —” Keira pulled the doors aside.
“Get back here!” Bobby demanded. “I’m not done with you yet.”
“I want my food,” Luza cried.
Keira tried to figure out the entire exchange. The more she thought about it, the less she cared and the more red she began to see.
She followed Riley and Luza out to the truck.
“I don’t know what pisses me off more — you Luza taking the money to get food, or you Riley letting Bobby Hinderstein of all people take it from you. This is absurd.”
“But no one got hurt,” Riley said.
“I don’t know what planet you live on, but you’re ridiculous. What a screwed up moral code you have. I can excuse Luza. It’s been less than a day since she was walking on all fours.”
“Is that a compliment? It doesn’t sound like one, although I think I agree,” Luza replied.
“Shut up and change into something dry. There’s water in the truck. Wash that stuff out of your hair.”
Luza lowered her head, opened the truck door, and began rummaging through Keira’s backpack.
The raven-haired teen turned to Riley. “And you, I’m speechless.”
“I’m not going to bring any unnecessary attention to ourselves. We’re sitting ducks out here as it is.”
Birchard swooped down from the arches and landed on the bed of the truck.
“Hey Princess where’s my burger?”
“Of course you’re here too.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? Someone has to get you to the Great Loon.”
“The Great Loon? Like I give a hoot about your Great Loon.”
“He has the answers you seek and your ticket —”
Keira had enough. She threw her hands up in the air and waved them all off.
“Be gone Birchard. And you Riley, stay here or get in the truck. I’m getting the food and the money back.”
“Please don’t. I’ll do it.”
“Like you did inside the restaurant? Portia was right about you.”
“Seriously you can’t go off half cocked Keira. Please, just get back in the truck,” Riley stood in front of her, pleading.
“I don’t need your voice of reason. My father would never have let anyone do to me what Bobby just did to you and Luza. You are a coward Riley. Someone has to stand up for what is right.”
She pushed him aside just as Cam appeared in his black Mustang. He lowered his window as he swung the car in parallel to the truck.
“You doing okay Erin?”
“Erin?” Riley repeated.
“Not now Cam.”
“You found your friends right?”
“Not now Cam, I have to deal with something.”
She didn’t even turn to look at the slicked back, blond-haired teen. He put the Mustang in park and jumped out.
“I can help if you want.”
He ignored Riley who stood there watching. Neither did Cam notice Luza sliding into a dry shirt that fell down below her knees. Birchard gave the teen a spry look and then flew off into the early evening sky.
“I don’t need help. I got this.”
“What happened?”
Before Keira could respond, Bobby and Danny walked out the side door of the fast food restaurant. They carried three bags of food and Bobby still had the twenties in his hand. He waved them to his friend.
“Easy pickings buddy,” he laughed.
“Not so easy anymore,” Keira yelled.
“You don’t want any of this Tigress! It’s just going to be a replay of the other day. Certainly you remember that, my fist in your stomach.”
“I remember the sand in your eyes and you crying like a little baby.”
Danny tried not to laugh.
“It didn’t happen that way. She’s full of it.”
“Just give me the food and my money back. I promise you that will be the end of it. You can then go on your way and I’ll go on mine.”
“No, it’s my food and my money. You go along before someone gets seriously hurt.”
Keira followed the teens over to their rusted out 1984 Honda Civic hatchback. Danny was in the process of unlocking the car while Bobby rested the food on the hood.
“Erin, it will be my pleasure to handle this for you,” Cam caught her by the hand.
She immediately pushed his gesture away. “No, I don’t need anyone’s help for what I want to do.”
“I’m going to ask you one more time Bobby.”
“You can ask, but I’m not giving you crap Mommy Killer.” He snarled as he said those last two words.
Even if Keira wanted to hold herself back, she couldn’t with those words meeting her ears. Instantaneously, she was on all fours. Her hands were gone, replaced with fawn colored fur paws. She had long sharp nails and her full five-foot-ten long frame was none other than a full-grown mountain lion, including a two-foot long tail with a black tip. Despite the black markings on each side of her long muzzle and her black nose, the rest of Keira’s face shared many features of her human form.
Bobby growled, “You don’t scare me. You freak! You’re just confirming everything I knew about you.”
Danny was not as strong-willed. He stumbled into the driver’s seat with a urine stain down his leg.
“Erin don’t let him get away with treating you like that. No one should be talked down to,” Cam egged Keira on.
She showed off her incisors as she slowly approached Bobby Hinderstein.
“I’m going to ask you one more time for the food and the money.”
“I’m not giving you anything, Tigress,” Bobby was defiant.
Riley’s voice echoed in Keira’s head. “Walk away.”
She shook it off and stared into Bobby’s bulging, red eyes. “I knew you would say that.”
Years of frustration rushed through the teen’s mind. All the torment this boy had caused her flashed before her eyes. Even as recently as this week, he made things difficult and trying. She didn’t growl, she didn’t bite, she simply took what was hers. Without hesitation, Keira leapt into the air and knocked Bobby to the ground.