by Robin Roseau
“Excellent,” Michaela said. “Now, partners eat, sleep and breathe together. Most of you have done this before, so you know the drill. If I see you separating by too much, we will be lashing your wrists together.” She looked at the guys. “I know it’s not macho to hold hands, especially in public. But I require you to be within touching distance most of the time, and I expect you to be touching when we’re walking through Bayfield or at the two rest stops we make during the drive. One of you can put your hand on the other’s shoulder, if you want.” She demonstrated with her hand on Lara’s shoulder. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Ms. Burns,” the kids intoned together.
She looked at the girls, all of whom were casually holding hands.
“Rules. I know you’ll all be on your best behavior. I know if any of the adults tells you to do something, you will do it. I know there will be absolutely no mischief. I will tolerate a certain amount of playing around and banter, but I know that none of you will engage in unwise or risky behavior.” She looked around. “You all know what that means by now.” The kids all nodded.
“We have a lot of field work to do, but we’re also going to take time for the fun stuff, too.”
“She means kayaking,” Angel inserted.
There were expressions of glee from the kids.
“The amount of time we have for kayaking and other games will be related to how well you do on the field work. If you goof off, it will take longer. If you do a poor job, we’ll have to do it again. If I don’t feel you’re learning the material, we’ll be spending time in class instead of outside doing what we all really would rather do. You guys know this, and you know the material, but you also know I have to remind you sometimes.”
Then she looked at the adults for a moment before looking back at the kids. “Ms. Young is an environmentalist. Her understanding of what we’re doing is a little different from mine. She’s here to help me help you, but she’s also going to be sharing the things she knows, too. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn what you can from her.”
I thought that was really nice of her to say, and it made me feel good.
She glanced down at her clipboard, and I realized she had notes. “All right. Elisabeth has some things to say, then we’ll assign cars. Head Enforcer?”
Michaela stepped back and Elisabeth stepped forward. “We’re doing a few things different from how we have in the past, so pay attention. First, absolutely no shifting into fur without permission. Anyone caught in fur without permission will be having a long, very, very difficult conversation with me. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Head Enforcer!” they said together.
“Good. You also know to avoid certain words and conversations in public.”
“Words like ‘werewolf’?” I asked.
“Yes,” Elisabeth said. “Next. As always, if an enforcer tells you to do something, you will do it.” She looked around and her eyes settled on me. “That includes the adults.”
“Yes, Head Enforcer,” I said. That earned some chuckles.
“Now, we’re also training our future enforcers, and we have a variety of exercises for them. We may not share those exercises with the rest of you, and they could happen at any time. So, if one of the student enforcers tells you to do something, you will do it. They, in turn, will certainly not tell you to do their dishes or clean up their messes. But if they tell you to clean up a mess, you will clean up the mess, and then you will tell one of the enforcers of the orders you were given. It is not your responsibility to judge whether an enforcer should be giving you that particular order.”
She looked around. “Questions on that?”
I raised my hand.
“Yes, Zoe,” Elisabeth said. “If Monique tells you to do something, you will do it.”
I lowered my hand to a few more chuckles.
“Part of being an enforcer is handling the authority. There is a temptation to overstep bounds and become a dictator. The enforcers in our pack resist that temptation, but learning to resist it takes time, and we all have to help them learn.”
She looked around again. “I want to repeat something Alpha Fox said. When we are in any of the towns, partners will be touching. This is an important rule. Do not break it.”
“No, Head Enforcer,” the kids intoned.
“That’s all I have,” she said.
“Thank you, Elisabeth,” Michaela said. “All right. For the trip, you are assigned to cars. Not only will partners remain in physical contact during our stops, but you will remain as a group by car.”
She checked her list. “Car One: Lara Michaela, Serena, Kimber and Val. You two come here.” The girls joined them, and soon there was a clump of five.
“Car two: Elisabeth with Kaylee, Ember and Cassie.”
She assigned out all the cars. I was with Portia, Monique, Iris and Lindsey. It would be fun getting to know two more of the girls. Each group clumped together so we had six groups of four to six people.
“Elisabeth?”
“While Michaela listed herself as car one,” Elisabeth said, “Car one will not be in the lead. Karen, you’re in front. Portia, I want you at the rear.” She assigned the other cars with Michaela’s car in slot three and Elisabeth immediately behind her as four.
“Why that way?” I asked.
“Karen to watch ahead for trouble. I’m to watch behind. Elisabeth will watch over the alphas.”
“Okay am I missing anything?”
“One last thing,” Lara said. “Zoe, your driving privileges are reinstated for this trip, but you continue to report to Portia.”
I nodded understanding.
Michaela stepped forward once more. “We’re going to have a great trip, but it’s up to everyone to make sure. And that means you not only selfishly make sure you have a great trip, but you make sure that I have a great trip. I’m going to cover my ears, then I want to hear a howl of joy.”
She stepped back to Lara, who pulled the little fox against her chest, wrapping arms around Michaela’s head. The kids seem to know when it was time, because as a group, they all lifted their noses and began to howl.
Even through their human throats, it was a beautiful sound.
* * * *
At our assigned car, I was ready to climb in, but Portia stopped me, turning me to her. “I need an honest answer. Are you a good driver?”
“I’m not a race car driver, but yes. I haven’t had an accident or even a speeding ticket in twenty years.”
“Can you drive an SUV?” She gestured. I nodded. “Would you keep your cool in an emergency?”
“Yes.”
She studied me. Then she held out the keys.
“If you get tired, tell me.”
The girls were hovering around. Iris asked, “Where should we sit?”
“Monique in back,” Portia said. “Monique, we’re the last car. Do you know what that means?”
“It means we watch for trouble from the rear.”
“So what’s your job?”
“To make sure we know if anyone comes up behind us.”
“Yes. And watch the sky too.”
“Got it.”
We all climbed in. I got the car started then adjusted everything. I thought this might be the first time this vehicle had been driven by someone my size. I made sure I knew where the lights and wiper controls were. Then I turned around.
“The human is driving. Make sure your seat belts are properly buckled.”
There were chuckles, and I heard one last seatbelt click closed. When I looked over, I realized it was Portia’s. I grinned at her.
Then she played with the radio. It was the strangest radio I’ve ever seen, and there was a microphone as well. I stared.
“Is that a CB Radio?”
“The military version,” she said. “We have them in the airplanes and the pack cars.” She picked up the microphone. “Portia checking in.”
Over the next minute, the other five cars checked i
n.
“Let’s head out,” came Elisabeth’s voice. “Go ahead, Karen.”
One by one, we pulled out of the lot. Karen came to a stop out on the road, waiting. Then Portia said, “We’re ready.” And we were on our way.
Behind us, the girls chatted together. Once we made it onto the highway, I asked, “So, do you guys play games during drives?”
“Sometimes,” Iris said.
“What game?” Lindsey asked.
I glanced over at Portia, searching for permission. She nodded. “But eyes on the road,” she added quietly.
“Iris, my computer is next to my seat. There is paper and pens. You and Lindsey may take turns keeping score.”
I waited until she was done rooting around and said she was ready.
“All right,” I said. “Here’s what I propose, but I want to see what you think. We have a six-hour drive, and there are five of us. I propose we each come up with a game, and we play each game for an hour, with a little break between games. Can someone time us?”
“There’s a timer on my phone,” Lindsey said.
“We’ll play my game first,” I said. “That gives the rest of you time to make up a game.” I explained my game, and they were all keen.
“I have been thinking about this game,” Portia said. “I believe if you know someone’s else’s fact, then you should get a point.”
“That’s a good change,” I said.
From in back, Monique asked, “Are there prizes?”
“Oh. I hadn’t thought about prizes. I’m sorry, I didn’t bring anything.”
“Cash is always good,” she said. I glanced in the mirror and she was grinning.
“Well, I am poor, so I am not funding cash prizes.”
“How about we make up a prize,” Lindsey suggested. “Do we want prizes for each game, or just one at the end?”
“You guys decide,” I said.
“Let’s have one at the end,” Portia said. “Toss out ideas.”
“Foot massage,” Iris said.
“I’d play for a foot massage,” Portia announced. “Does anyone have another idea?”
They didn’t, but I added, “Clean feet.” That generated laughter. “But there’s something else I want, too.”
“What’s that, Zoe?” Monique asked.
“I want to see all of you in your fur, with permission to hug you. Would that bother any of you?”
Iris laughed. “You don’t know wolves very well yet. You can hug me.” That was followed by a round of “me too” from everyone.
“All right,” Portia said. “As thanks to Zoe for helping out this weekend, we’ll find a chance to shift to fur and give her a good, long look and a hug for each of us. That’s on top of whoever wins the foot massage. I should warn you: I intend to win.”
She got the expected laughter.
“I think there should be points or even a prize for the best game,” Monique said.
“Prize!” the two other girls said immediately. “I love being brushed when I’m in fur,” Iris added.
“With a hair brush?” I asked.
“I have a brush for it. It feels really, really good.” She paused. “If you don’t know how, I’d have to show you.”
“You know, I haven’t been brushed that way in years,” Portia said. “As I recall, it does feel good. But what if we decide Zoe’s game is best. Even if we brush her hair, it won’t take anywhere near as much time.”
“I know what I want,” I said. “I really liked the way you guys ran me around on Sunday. Could we do that on pack lands, but at your best speed?”
From in back, Monique laughed. “Sure. Portia, is that allowed?”
“I think it is,” she said. “And a few minutes of pampering, because brushing an entire wolf can take a long time.”
“All right then. If we’re ready, start the timer, Lindsey, then say ‘go’.”
“Ready… go.”
“Um. Who is first?” Monique asked.
“Whatever order Iris wrote our names down.”
“Oh. I’m first,” she said. “Um. Gosh. Okay. I used to have a stamp collection.”
“I knew that,” Lindsey said. “Point for me.”
We went around for a while. The things the girls shared were sometimes very superficial but frequently very, very personal. I was having a great time.
They laughed at a few of mine. “When I was young,” I said, “My parents were going on a vacation to Miami. And I thought it was like My Ami.” I said it as two words. “I kept asking my mom what an Ami was, and if she got one, when did I get one.”
We’d been playing for a half hour when Monique said, “I want to suggest an enhancement to the rules.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. If the thing you tell is pretty embarrassing, I think you should get double points.”
Everyone laughed and immediately agreed.
The game turned really raucous. We learned the most unexpected things about each other, and all of us were laughing long before Lindsey’s timer went off.
“Time’s up,” she announced.
“Finish this round then,” I said. “So we all get equal chances.” Portia and I each gave our last facts. Then Iris read off the score.
I was in the lead.
“Oh ho,” said Portia. “A game the human is good at.”
“I think it was Monique’s added rule and my willingness to share embarrassing stories.”
“That’s probably it, bed wetter.”
“Hey! What’s said in Car Zoe, stays in Car Zoe!”
“You can hope so, anyway,” Portia said.
The girls all laughed. “Okay, we get a short break, then we’ll play the next game.”
The girls broke out in conversation with each other. I glanced over at Portia, and she was smiling at me.
“What?”
“You. You’re relaxed. It’s good to see.”
“I’ve been relaxed with you.”
“Yeah, but you stress out around additional wolves.”
“These are good kids,” I said.
“Those are the only kinds we have, on the compound, anyway.”
“So, got a game figured out?”
“Yep. But you have to wait to hear about it. How are you doing on driving?”
“I’m fine. But are there sodas or water or anything?”
“I’m sorry, but we’ll be stopping in another twenty minutes. You can get something there.”
So far, it had been an easy drive. Karen kept a steady five miles over the limit, and Portia had directed me to maintain a proper following distance from Angel and Scarlett immediately in front of us. The car drove well, if a lot bigger than I was accustomed, and it was a nice afternoon.
Iris asked to pick the next game, but we had to interrupt for our rest stop. Our train of cars pulled into a truck stop, and Karen parked well away from all the other vehicles. I parked where Portia directed.
“Monique, you’re on duty,” Portia said. “You have Zoe. Girls, you will stay with Zoe as well. I want all of you in a tight group.”
“Yes, Portia,” they said together.
“You sit tight until Monique and I are ready for you,” Portia said. And so I sat in the car for another minute until Monique opened my door. It was all quite unnecessary, but I did what I was told.
We managed to get bathroom breaks for those who needed them, and snacks, water, and soda for everyone. Portia bought mine for me before I could protest, which was kind of her.
Ten minutes later, we were on our way again.
Monique’s game was third, then Lindsey was fourth. “This might be a bad game, she admitted. I have another one, but it’s lame.”
“Explain it and we’ll decide,” Iris told her.
“Well, Zoe. Ms. Young. What do we call you?”
I glanced at Portia and she said quietly, “Whatever you prefer.”
“Stick to Zoe,” I said.
“All right. You’re an environmentalist. You know sc
ience and nature stuff. Right?”
“I know different things than Michaela, but yes. I know science and nature stuff.” I thought it was cute the way she put it.
“All right. A game Michaela plays with us is Science Fact or Fiction. She tells us about something, maybe taking a few minutes. Some of it is true, some is false. Then the first person in line gets to identify as many true or false items as she can. She gets one point for each one right. Once she is done, the next can go, then the one after her. Then for the next story, the first one becomes last. You see? It’s fun, and we learn things.”
“Can you do that and still drive?” Portia asked. I nodded.
“How does Zoe get points?” Portia asked.
“Oh,” said Lindsey. “I didn’t think of that.”
“If we get something wrong, she gets a point,” Monique said. “But that means she has four times as many chances to get points as us, so at the end, we divide her points in four.”
“If we do that,” said Iris, “then it’s only sporting if she talks about stuff we have a chance to know.”
“Monique isn’t in the science program,” I said. “Is this game fair to her?”
“Portia isn’t in the science program, either,” Portia said with a laugh. “Let’s see how this goes, but if the score is lopsided, then we’ll adjust it. Maybe Zoe and I will alternate. Or she can throw in current events or any other topic she feels she knows well.”
“If we play this game, it will have an environmentalist and conservationist twist. I don’t know very much about chemistry or physics.”
“That’s good,” said Iris. “We’ll learn more.”
“All right,” I said. “You guys asked for this.” I smiled. “Tell me when to go, Lindsey.”
“We’re switching,” she said. “I’m keeping score and Iris has time. I have a fresh page and a fresh order for us.”
“Zoe… go!”
“There have been eight major extinction periods,” I said. In truth, there were six. “The most famous one was called the K-T event, and that’s when the last of the dinosaurs died off, 66 million years ago.” That was all true. “Each extinction period from the past was very distinct, with the deaths occurring over a very short period, weeks to a few years.” That was false, or deemed to be false.
“We are currently in the middle of the most recent extinction period,” I went on, “called the Holocene extinction. It has been going on longer than the ones in the past.” That was false. “And has been going on for about ten thousand years.” True. “It is deemed to be entirely, or nearly entirely caused by man. The most notable extinctions are the dodo bird and passenger pigeon. Currently, it is estimated man is killing on average approximately a thousand species a year.” The actual estimated figure was as high as 140 thousand annually, including insects and plants.