“Of course,” Alex mutters up front, drawing my attention. “Seems we’re going to have to make a gas station stop whether we want to or nor.”

  “Ugh,” I groan as Alex flicks the trucks lights to get the other truck’s attention. “It’s bad enough dealing with stares from every passing car. I am so not looking forward to dealing with a gas station full of rednecks.”

  “Could be worse,” Eva comments as Alex rolls down the window. “At least we get to gauge reactions before the lion’s den.”

  “What’s up, boss?” Travis shouts through the window.

  “This girl is almost out of gas,” Alex shouts back. “Gonna have to refill her.”

  Travis grimaces and nods. The window rolls back up, and their truck falls behind. I glance at Eva, deciding to start a conversation.

  “What are the chances that someone faints at the gas station?” I ask her.

  “Oh at least someone is going to gasp,” Eva clicks out, head tilting. “I doubt anyone will faint unless they realise these aren’t costumes.”

  “Oh imagine if this had happened in October.”

  Eva cackles at the thought.

  “Oh you so know Halloween is going to be so chaotic at the station when that happens.”

  “One hundred percent.” I chuckle as Alex turns into a small town gas station.

  “Alright,” Alex states. “It will take exactly five minutes to refill the truck so be ready to go in four.”

  We give him a nod and hop out. The other truck pulls into a parking space in front of the store and I see Dani and Travis hopping out as well. A guy who is currently filling up his car stares slack jawed at our little band of foxkin.

  I give him a wink as we walk over to the others waiting by the door.

  “Ready for our first public encounter?” Travis asks us as he puts his hand on the door, his posture slightly bent so he won’t hit his head.

  “Oh, stop making a fuss.” Dani pushes past Travis and shoves the door open.

  Inside a cashier does a double take at our group before rolling her eyes in annoyance.

  “I don’t care what you’re into,” she drones. “Just don’t make a mess.”

  “Oh come on, sweet cheeks,” Dani purrs as we spread out to grab snacks or use the restroom. “I don’t bite.”

  “I have a gun under the counter and a license to hunt,” the cashier snaps, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t test me.”

  Dani throws up her furry hands, flashing a grin.

  “Okay, okay—no need to threaten a girl with a good time.”

  She slips down a row of candy before the cashier can reply, leaving only a groan of pure irritation in her wake.

  I roll my eyes and pick up a pack of jerky. The smell of dried meat makes my mouth water. I have to stop myself from tearing into the pack right there. I spot Travis frowning at the row of sweets before sighing and picking up a bag of trail mix. He gives them a sniff before tossing them back onto the shelf.

  “Hey Trav,” I say as I walk over to him. “They got jerky over there and I believe some fruit slices in that cooler.”

  “Yeah,” Travis sighs, his tail dropping. “I just wish we could still enjoy candy.”

  “Eh.” I shrug while shoulder bumping him. “No telling what will become our version of a sweet.”

  “Fair,” he admits. “I’m going to go see if…”

  His eyes fall on one of the coolers and suddenly he is over there opening it up. Gingerly, he picks up a carton of eggs and looks at me. His eyes pleading as he holds one up.

  A sudden urge to eat the egg floods my body and it takes everything I have to help Travis push the egg back into the carton.

  “Gotta pay first, ya dork.” Saliva drips from my mouth as we grab two more cartons and head up to the register to pay. My tail lowers as I think about what just happened. I am really not enjoying these foreign impulses.

  The cashier is browsing her phone when we step up and set the cartonss plus the jerky on the counter. She glances between our selection and our excited faces. She stares at our snouts for several moments before her mouth drops open.

  “You’re not—“ she stutters, taking a step back. “How the—Did you? No…”

  “Listen, can you have your panic attack after we’ve paid for the eggs?” I growl, the smell of the eggs making my patience short. “Otherwise I’m going to start eating these right here and now.”

  The cashier looks between the two of us a moment longer. Travis gives her a reassuring grin that only serves to make her paler. Her hand flies under the counter and I freeze as the fluorescent light reflects off the polished metal of the pistol.

  “Demons,” she growls.

  Her hands shake as she swings the device and points it right at my chest. She pauses for a moment and a small gust of wind blows past me as a white blur tackles her.

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  “Now, dear,” Dani chuckles. “Is that really how you treat customers?”

  Dani picks up the girls hat and rings us up while chuckling to herself. She flicks her fluffy, white tail as she leaps back across the counter. I give her a small smirk as we step outside. Travis is proudly munching on a raw egg. Eva sneaks up behind us and snags one for herself.

  “These are delicious,” Eva mutters as we approach the vehicles. “Definitely worth it.”

  I nod, savouring the egg I grabbed.

  Alex nods as we walk over and offer him one. At first he shakes his head, then his nostrils flare at the scent. The offered egg disappears in his mouth almost instantly.

  “Thanks,” he mutters in-between bites. “These are good.”

  I nod and we go to hop into the truck when the cashier steps outside. Her expression wavers between fear and irritation.

  “Why did you do that?” She asks, her hands rubbing together anxiously. “I pulled a gun on you.”

  I shrug as Alex tilts his head at me questioningly.

  “We aren’t exactly normal,” I tell the cashier. “But this is all new to us so I promise we won’t hold a grudge for your initial reaction.” I give her a quick smirk. “Just don’t try to kill everything different that you see.”

  The cashier nods and goes back inside. I relax slightly as that ends and look up at the sky. The stars shine brightly even with the fluorescent lights next to the pumps making it hard to see. I look around and shake my head in disbelief. We’re in a pool of bright light, yet I can still see for miles in the darkness beyond. It looks like dusk never quire finished setting. The scent of exhaust and gas assaults my nostrils as a small wind kicks up.

  I see a few other cars pull into the station as Alex finishes filling the truck up. Someone steps out of their car with their phone pointed at us. I stick my tongue out at them and they frown.

  “Ready to go?” I ask Alex.

  “Yes,” Alex answers, sliding into the driver’s seat. “We still got ten minutes before we get back.”

  I wave at the others who slip into their truck and I hop into ours. Eva opens the passenger door only to stop when a child tugs on her pant’s leg.

  “Oh hello there.” Eva smiles at the child who is staring in wonder. “What brings you over here?”

  “Are you a fox?” The kid asks Eva.

  “I’m sorry,” a lady says as she runs up to Eva. “He should know better than to interact with strangers.”

  “No worries,” Eva says. “We are quite different.”

  The mother grabs their kids hand and pulls them away, their eyes wide in fear.

  “What?” The mother stutters.

  Eva shrugs and slips into her seat. I glance at her then back at the other two.

  “We’re going to be late so, have a good day!” I tell her before closing my door.

  The mother waves at me before shaking her head and walking away. Her child following her.

  “Okayyyy…” I mutter as we pull out. “Is this how every encounter is going to go?”

  “Nah,” Eva says. “Just the first few months until word spreads.”

  “The real shitshow will be the station,” Alex deadpans, his tail twitching next to him on the seat. “At least we should only have to explain to the skeleton crew and the fire guys staying in the bunk house with us.”

  “Don’t forget the district ranger,” I remind Alex. “Assuming he wasn’t fired, I believe he was visiting our station for a few weeks.”

  “Oh right, now that will be annoying.”

  Slowly we enter back into the forest as we leave the small town and start skating the national park. I curl up on the seat and fall into a light doze.

  A few minutes later and Eva is gently shaking my shoulder as we pull in at the station. Looking around, it seems most people have gone to bed and a glance at the clock reveals it is almost ten at night.

  I yawn and we begin unloading the truck. It’s later so we decide to just get them unloaded and worry about maintenance tomorrow. Soon we’re all standing at the entrance to the bunk house, waiting for someone to make the first move. Cicadas hum in the distance, a slight burnt smell wafting past from an earlier cook out, and conversations seep through the windows.

  “Ready?” Alex asks, breaking the silence. “We enter and everything changes.”

  “Yeah,” Dani whispers.

  “Do we really have any other option?” Miguel comments.

  “No time like the present,” Travis assents.

  “Of course.” Eva gives a nod.

  “Let’s do it,” I tell Alex.

  He opens the door, and a bright light floods the entryway.