“Let me change into some workout clothes in case I decide to try the weights or something but sure, a swim sounds perfect. Will you join me?”
I wasn’t sure if that was appropriate patient to doctor time but I thought we could both use a bit of time to decompress. It seemed like I was correct when Kerstin nodded and agreed.
I changed quickly and we left my temporary abode for the workout section. Thankfully, it wasn’t too far and I was starting to catch on to the trick to navigating. I decided to hold back my observations and see if I could guide us back before admitting to my discovery.
Kerstin showed me the locker room and supply room. She got me a lock and a locker as well as finding a basic one-piece racing-style swimsuit in black. She went to her own locker and changed while I did the same. She showed me where to grab towels and rinse off before we hit the pool deck.
“You weren’t kidding about a lap pool.” It was practically Olympic size. In addition, I spotted a section behind a small wall that appeared to have a hot tub.
“Glad you like it. If you ever want a real challenge, we have another room that has a few of the endless pools.”
“Endless?”
“They’re actually smaller pools but there is a power source that lets you create and control a current. Gives you something to swim against. More work in less time which some of our people really like.”
“Do you need goggles or can you do laps without them?” Kerstin asked as we made our way to a bench to drop our towels. “My mother’s eyes are sensitive and they get all red if she doesn’t use goggles.”
“That would be great, if it isn’t too much trouble.”
“None at all. I just realized that I’d left mine in the locker room. I’ll be right back.”
My interest in the pool went up a few more notches. I saw that there were lane ropes in place already. I took the goggles Kerstin brought me and adjusted them before putting them on. These were no ordinary drugstore goggle. They were actual racing no-fog goggles and I was impressed that The Center stocked them.
I took a few minutes to stretch out. It had been a while since I’d swum in a real pool but I loved them. I kept thinking about adding one to my property but hadn’t found a sustainable way to do it without disturbing nature too much. Perhaps I’d look into it in more detail after all of this was done.
“I’m going to start my laps. If you need anything, let me know.” Kerstin went to the far end from me and jumped in then started swimming a leisurely pace.
I watched her for a moment before making a racing dive into the lane I’d chosen. I started in on a basic crawl before switching to a racing breaststroke. Once I was warmed up, I started some laps in butterfly. I started rotating, five laps of each stroke until I had done fifty laps. I finally stopped and flipped over to float on my back as I caught my breath.
A slow clapping startled me from the far end of the pool. I looked up to see Kerstin standing with Stacy near the hot tub end of the pool.
“Looks like I didn’t do any permanent damage to the nerves,” Stacy said dryly.
I stood in the four-foot end of the pool and hoisted myself out. I grabbed my towel as I headed toward them and dried my hair and face.
“Felt darned good, Doc. Did you put some extra batteries in me while you had me open?”
“No but that’s a lovely side effect of our virus. It does give us more energy, better healing powers, and a few other things depending on the strain.”
“So I read.”
“How’s everything else going? Adjusting well so far?”
“Are you asking as my doctor, a researcher, or as a friend?”
“I’d like to think of us as people likely to become friends but I admit, the researcher in me is never far away.”
“Like your Other, I take it?”
“Very much in my case.”
“Do you mind if I ask you some questions about that? How you interact with your Other?”
“So, you’ve chosen to believe us?”
“Let's just say that I made a promise to Kerstin to act as if it’s all real for the next day and a half.”
“Let me change and we can talk in the hot tub. I came in here to use it anyway. Too many hours hunched over looking through microscopes and poring over data. I’ll be right back.”
Kerstin and I made our way over to the hot tub. She flipped the pump on to start the jets and we eased in and found seats. I looked at her with a bit of suspicion.
“Did you ask her to meet us here?”
“No. I didn’t even think to mention it to her. She does come here now and again when she’s working too many hours.”
“You’ve known her a long time, haven’t you?”
“We grew up together. We’re only a few years apart. She was always so nice to those of us a little younger than her.”
“I presume you were glad she moved back here then.”
“I was glad she finally moved back. She was doing research here anyway and the constant travel was a strain. I think you’ll find that a lot of us tend to not stray far from home for long periods of time.”
“Why is that?”
“Many of us are herding or pack types anyway. Some of it is because we have family here. Some of it is that we know the area here and where it’s safe to be our full selves. Also, this is the largest Center we have in the United States.”
“There are others?”
“Certainly. I thought I covered that in the file.”
“I think I remember reading about it but I didn’t equate that to this structure. It’s so big I thought this was the main branch or whatever.”
“For the States it is. We have a facility about this size in Europe, as well as one in Japan. There are smaller facilities scattered around as well to provide medical care and such to the shifters in the area.”
Stacy joined us just then, making her way carefully to a seat and sinking down with a sigh.
“I needed that so much.”
I let her settle in before I asked any more questions. Stacy had her eyes closed and her head tilted back in obvious enjoyment of the bubbling, steamy water. There was a faint scent of salt coming from the tub and it was deeply relaxing.
“Is this salt water too? I didn’t think they did that for spas.”
“All of our pools and hot tubs are salt water. It’s more natural than chlorine-based chemicals to keep things safe. There are some humans that come down here, family to our shifters through marriage and such. We need to maintain the standards very well to ensure no one gets sick and salt water fits with our belief in sticking close to nature.” Kerstin leaned back and smiled at me. “Thinking of getting one of your own?”
“I am now. I was actually thinking of the endless pool idea. If that can be done in salt water I might go for it.”
“If you decide to do that, let me know. Shifter-owned and run companies did all of our facilities including the pools. You’ll not only be assured of good work and helping our community, but you won’t have to worry about getting ripped off.”
“I’ll keep it in mind. Now, Stacy, tell me, what did you mean about your Other and your work as a researcher?”
“It can get complicated, the relationship between us and our Others. For me, I’m a moderately dominant wolf. I will never challenge for pack Alpha but I’m far from the bottom of the hierarchy. Were I mated, I would need a submissive wolf or another species to be fulfilled.”
Some kind of grin must have passed over my face because Stacy splashed water at me.
“I’m not talking about the bedroom, Tori. I’m talking about personality and willingness or ability to take the lead and make good choices. My researcher side is very curious and I can get overly focused to the exclusion of all else. Add in my wolf’s natural need to know as much as possible about the world for safety of the pack and at times, my curiosity can get the best of me. Also, I’m lead researcher on my project so I’ve gotten more used to people answering to me.”
“Do you think of your Other as a wolf or as Other? I noticed you using both names.”
“In general, we refer to that part of ourselves as Other. Individually, people are people and we make different choices privately than publically. I think of my Other as Wolf. Wolf and I get along most of the time. She’s pushy as hell sometimes. You’ve heard the expression, ‘dog with a bone,’ right?”
“Of course.”
“Wolf and I can both get like that but she’s harder to rein in sometimes. Also, her senses of smell and hearing are better than mine. There are occasions where she will push to shift so that I may access those senses.”
“Who wins?” I wasn’t positive I wanted the answer but I had to ask all the same.
“Usually me. If I’m someplace safe to shift and I think that her senses will be helpful, I give in.”
“How often do you shift?”
“My family pack and I go for runs a few times a week in fur. I’m given the chance to excuse myself if I need to be here. My Alpha is flexible as long as it is for the benefit of the community and Council. Otherwise, in our pack, we are expected at least twice weekly.”
“Alpha? Does everyone have one of those?”
“That depends on the animal form,” Kerstin replied. “Stacy, being wolf, has an Alpha but it isn’t required. Natural wolf packs are run by family, but shifter packs are more community packs consisting of several families. There are wolves and coyotes that don’t run in packs as well. The human side can sway the animal side in that preference. As a deer, you won’t have an Alpha to look after you or give you rules and boundaries. You can, however, join a herd and follow their examples as much as you are able or desire.”
“I don’t have as much experience in the other animal states,” Stacy interjected. “I can only speak from my experiences and those things I’ve witnessed that aren’t privileged information.”
I felt myself starting to get lethargic. I don’t know if it was overload of my brain or the hot water after the long swim. Kerstin noticed it first.
“Hey, c’mon. I think its time we got you out of here and back to your place for a nap before dinner.”
“Need help?” Stacy offered me a hand pulled me to my feet. I wasn’t sure if I could have gotten up myself or not.
“Thanks. I don’t know what happened. All of a sudden, I just started to fade.”
The two women helped get me into a cool shower and rinse off. I changed into the clothing I’d worn down, tossed my swimsuit into the hamper provided, and let Kerstin guide me back to my room. I crashed until the phone rang to wake me up for dinner.
Chapter Eleven
KERSTIN WAS KIND enough to call me and let me know that I had an hour before she would be by to escort me to the dinner. I still didn’t know what to expect but I somehow knew that the night was important. I didn’t have a lot of clothing to choose from at the moment so I chose the khaki pants and a white mock turtleneck under a navy blue cable knit sweater. I decided I looked presentable enough as I slid on my loafers and waited for Kerstin.
The bell rang within minutes of my sitting down to flip through the TV selections. I switched the television off and tossed the remote onto the couch as I rose to get the door. Kerstin greeted me as she looked me over.
“Do I pass inspection?”
“Of course. I was more concerned that today wore you out. Are you up for this tonight?”
“I’m still not sure what ‘this’ is so I’m just assuming I’ll get through it.”
“We’re going to meet several folks tonight that you will need to know. Some are people you have already interacted with, and there will be a few others. It isn’t anything fancy or with a lot of pomp and circumstance.”
“Good, my pomp and circumstance are still in my closet at home. Actually, they’re probably in my parents’ closet at their home. I’m not much into the fancy stuff these days. Shall we?”
I waved her through the door, made sure I had my key card in my pocket, and joined her as she started to lead me through the complex. I watched the signs on various doorways and intersections and noticed some were familiar.
“Is this the way we went to the pool?”
“It is. Starting to figure some things out, I see. Good, that will leave less to explain tomorrow. I still don’t want you to try to navigate through here on your own yet.”
“Wasn’t going to try. I’d hate to waste time being lost. So, who’s going to be there tonight that is so important for me to meet?”
“Well, some you have met already, like myself and Stacy. Mike will be there as well since he attends events that he oversees but he won’t be there in a social capacity.”
“Uh-huh. Am I going to meet the head deer or something?”
“Um, I wouldn’t put it that way to them. The local herds are typically families. Extended families at times but still families. There is a couple that functions as the governors, for lack of a better term, for the area. All disputes and legalities go through them.”
“How well do you know them? Will they hate me because of what I did? Or because I’m not going vegan?”
“I know them pretty well. They won’t hate you for any reason going into this dinner. It’s more of a get to know each other dinner. There will also be representatives for the area bears, cougars, and coyote. None of them are as high politically as the deer leaders.”
“Got it. Will there be any friendly faces?”
“Other than myself, Stacy and Mike? Of course, there will be a local shifter or two. Don’t worry. This is meant to help answer questions, let the local leadership lay eyes on you, and for you to start meeting those who govern.”
“Do all the newbies get this kind of treatment?”
“To be honest, no. But then again, most of our new shifters are born and raised within the communities or choose to join after being a human part of the communities. Those rare cases like your own, sometimes they get this type of meeting. Then again, so far, none of them have been award-winning artists or authors, never mind both.”
“Wait a second. How do you know if I won awards? I never told you my pen names.”
“The short answer? The art you do is signed with a name. Plus, you had some canvasses out near your desk when your laptop and computer were picked up. We followed up with some online research that led to your art agent who is with the same firm as your literary agent. The writing, that was tougher but we were able to track things down. Don’t worry, no one outside of the room will know your secrets. I promise.”
“This is it then. Is there a secret handshake or something?”
I tried to joke as we stopped in front of some double doors. We had traveled several hallways and two elevators before arriving. I was tense. I was freaked out that Kerstin seemed to think they knew my pen names. The truth was, I had won awards under both names but I had yet to accept any in person. My agent did things like that for me. My mother or art agent accepted on my behalf for any painting. She hadn’t mentioned the names but I suspected she was telling the truth about having found me out.
“No secret handshakes and no hidden agenda. Let’s go get you introduced. Oh, there won’t be any alcohol tonight. You aren’t allowed to drink for the time being and everyone else will be abstaining in honor of what you are going through.”
“They don’t have to do that for me. I don’t mind and I don’t drink much anyway.”
“This is something we would do for anyone getting ready for their First Shift. We honor those about to start their walk on the path. Now, let’s go inside.”
Kerstin opened one of the doors and led me into the room. I felt like I was going to meet someone’s parents for the first time and while a part of me wanted to make a good impression, the other part of me was terrified that this would be a lynching. Or, this could be the big reveal of a giant practical joke. With the facilities I’d seen, I had less and less hope that this was anything but legitimate. I realized I was starting to believe, and I think that kept me from taki
ng note of who I knew in the room right away. That took time.
EVERYTHING STOPPED AT once. What looked to be a normal group of people clad in business casual attire, with one or two exceptions, enjoying a cocktail hour, just stopped. As one, everyone turned and looked in our direction. All right, the truth is that they all looked right at me. I felt myself flush and sort of awkwardly waved at everyone.
Kerstin reached behind me to close the door. She took my elbow and guided me into the room. We headed for a couple that looked middle aged. The woman was tall and slender with dark hair and slightly olive toned skin. She looked as if she came from Native American stock of some sort. The male was a large, robust reddish blond-haired man. Before Kerstin could say anything, the man reached out and hugged Kerstin to him.
“Liebchen, now we have to come to your workplace to see you?”
As he released her, the woman next to him tapped his arm.
“Hush Gus, you know our a-wa-ni-ta is busy. She was just home a couple of weeks ago.” The woman moved and took Kerstin in her arms and hugs her as well. “You look good, a-wani-ta, but tired. You aren’t getting enough rest again, are you?”
“We can talk about that later, Mama. I would like to introduce you two to our guest of honor. This is Tori Monroe. Tori, these are my parents and our regional White-Tail leaders, Sara and August Mueller.”
Gus stuck his hand out to me immediately. “Call me Gus, everyone does. Welcome to our clan.”
“Nice to meet you, Gus. Just call me Tori.”
Sara reached out and shook hands also but it was a briefer clasp than Gus’s had been. “Welcome, I’m Sara. Normally, I would welcome you but I’m sensing that you aren’t exactly thrilled about all of this, are you?”
I looked to Kerstin. She shook her head slightly.
“No, our daughter didn’t reveal anything about you other than your name and the manner in which you received the virus. That was in her duty to us as the regional representative of the Council.”
“Well, I’m still unsure of a lot of things and it was unexpected. I simply went hunting and had an accident. Well, that’s what I thought anyway. When I learned what had actually happened I was many things but I admit, ‘thrilled’ wasn’t one of them.”
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