The Skunk, the Tibetan Fox and Their Wolf Omega by Lorelei M. Hart

 

Chapter Four

Edric

 

I had experience running my surfeit’s ski lodge from all angles: maintenance, safety, finance, dining, housekeeping. My résumé looked good. Online, I started looking at resorts not too far away to see my family on holidays and birthdays, but far enough that I wouldn’t run into anyone from my surfeit. I wanted a clean break.

Not having a working scent gland was considered a tragedy for a skunk. Times were more progressive nowadays, and no one would deliberately chide me for it, but I knew what they all thought in private. Poor Edric. He’ll never have a mate. He’ll be alone his whole life.

Pity. That was something I couldn’t stand.

I needed to get away from Chosenville, and tomorrow would not be too soon.

On the shifter web, I ran across a fascinating resort for shifters in San Diego built around a real castle. It was stunningly beautiful, like a theme park with a little town made up of gift shops and delicious candy and pastry shops, several restaurants, a pond, a hundred acres of woodland, and a little river running through it all. There were playgrounds for kids and private safe areas for taking your fur or scale or skin and giving your animal exercise.

A tingle went down my spine, and my skunk did a little inner dance. I always paid attention to my body’s responses, as well as my skunk, because my instincts were often strong enough to be called premonitions. I looked at the castle and knew it was the spot for me and my skunk. It wasn’t just because of the charm of the place, and how fun it might be to work there, but more than that. Something powerful and unknown drew me. I needed to go.

The resort had various job openings but all at starter salaries. Fine. I was ready to start over. I’d tucked my pride in already. I was set to face whatever came my way.

I submitted my résumé, confident I was completely qualified for any job they had open. I included a note that said I could start at any time—the sooner the better. My only obstacle would be lodging, but I’d figure it out.

The next morning, I was startled to find a reply.

Can you come for an interview Thursday, the day after tomorrow?

Details were given. Partial assurances. I was right for several different openings they had. They had to meet me before they could make the final decision.

I was already half packed. My fathers understood this was a quick departure and promised to put my furniture in storage. What would I have done without them?

A final trip to the bank to get a cashier’s check for my savings, and I was ready, my car filled to the brim, to make the four-hour drive to San Diego.

 

***

 

Pictures did not do the Castle justice. I loved the place as soon as I drove in. It was lush, green, cute, and busy with all sorts of tourists and visitors.

I made it to my appointment on time and could see the relief on the face of the interviewer that I was competent, educated, and experienced.

“It says here you have experience in safety management. We really need someone like that. It is part of the maintenance staff and a starting position, so the pay isn’t great, but in two months you will have your first evaluation and possibility of a raise. Also, we do offer studio accommodations to staff, when there are openings, at two hundred a month—a fraction of what you might pay for anything like it in all of San Diego. We happen to have an opening right now. Only one. If you want it, the two hundred will be deducted from your paycheck. Utilities are included.”

I didn’t hesitate at my luck. This was more than I could have hoped for. My skunk became restless in a happy way. And that tingle in my spine had never left.

“I’ll take it.”

Slowly, I was creating a new life. No longer did I have the pressure of a surfeit to please but only myself and my bosses. The stress of mating completely left me. I hadn’t realized what a huge weight it had been all my young life.

Here at the resort, I could safely shift to keep my skunk happy as well. There was a lovely pond and a chattering, bubbly little river. Though skunks could swim, most didn’t like it too much. But my little guy did. And along breathtaking pathways in the forest, I found natural pools just big enough for my skunk to enjoy.

I spent a lot of time outdoors with the groundskeepers. A lot of safety maintenance had to do with keeping patrons safe at waterways, which mostly included fencing and signage and cleaning up fallen debris from storms, etc. We had to keep drains cleared and maintain thinned areas for firebreaks, or what the resort officials called “shaded fuel breaks.” The fire marshal in the area was very strict and made surprise visits as often as every two weeks.

I scheduled all the cleanups and maintenance for the garden areas, the little town, the rental cabins and hotel, and the castle itself, everything from smoke alarm checks to any report of wobbly steps or loose handrails.

I was never not busy on my shifts and often received texts for my opinions even on my days off.

I’d never had a job on my own before. But my bosses were happy with my work ethic, and I knew I’d get a good evaluation.

While I hadn’t yet had time to explore much of San Diego apart from a few drives by the harbor and a visit to Seaport Village, I did take time every day to shift. Sometimes I didn’t get to the woods until after dark, but my skunk didn’t mind. He had excellent night vision.

 

***

 

Tonight was a warm night. My skunk splashed around a river pool, having a good time overturning rocks to see what might lie underneath. I loved swimming in human form, too, and as I played under the stars, gratitude overcame me, so overwhelming I trembled all over.

I shifted back to human without warning and waded to shore where I’d left a towel and my clothes. As I pulled on my pants, a couple in human form passed by, talking and laughing. I couldn’t quite see them in the darkness, but one of them stopped.

“Hey, Edric, is that you?”

I immediately recognized Trinidad’s voice. He worked in the gardens, and we got along well.

“Yeah.”

“You’re out late.” He came over to me with his friend whom he introduced as Garret who worked in food supply.

“Been swimming, I see,” Trin said. “I didn’t know skunks liked water.”

“Some do. I do.” I smiled.

“So, hey, if you like to swim, then you should come with us to the beach next weekend. There’s a big group of staff going. A beach party. We’re going to get there really early, stake out a fire pit, and cook hot dogs and marshmallows and swim and stuff.”

“I’ve never been to the beach.”

“What? That’s a crime. You’re in San Diego now! If you don’t beach-bum it at least once, you’re doing it all wrong. If you like water, you’ll get addicted so fast you won’t know what hit you.”

“Thank you for inviting me,” I said. “I think I will come. Count me in.”

“Great.” He gave me a friendly tap on the shoulder then walked off into the night with Garret.

A rush went through me. My spine tingled. My skunk wanted to go to the beach right now. The pull inside me came on really strong. The beach was where I needed to go. I had no idea why, but it was important.

All the next day at work, people kept talking about the beach. Sure, the staff gossiped about the upcoming party, but I kept overhearing tourists talking about how great the beach was. The wind and the sun and the thrill of the tide. They just had to go walk on the beach. Swim in the water. Play in the waves.

Maybe I was more attuned to the subject now, but everywhere I went I heard that word. Beach. Ocean Beach. Mission Beach. Pacific Beach. La Jolla Shores.

If I believed in omens or signs, I’d think it was a message from the universe.

The sand. The waves. The glittering horizon. Blue water as far as the eye could see. Swimming in such vastness with salt swells crashing over me.

I couldn’t wait for the weekend to come.