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“I don’t think this is an amusement park, Jonah. This is more like wilderness. Like, truly the Wild, with a capital W.”
“Listen. I will have you know that I have traveled outside of the city before. I know what forests look like, and this is majestic on a whole new level.”
“My, my, I would never have thought a country mouse was hidden under all those city layers.”
“I’m not saying I would up and move out here,” he says in a near horrified tone. “I’m just saying that this is beyond unexpected.”
“I think the point of this place is to be unlike a human city or beyond human expectations. Which, by the way, there’s still a chance for us to turn back. We didn’t exactly cross over into the border, wherever that is.”
“And miss out on being one of the first one hundred people to set foot here? Absolutely not. Turn right here.”
For as much as he’s always been a city boy, Jonah has impeccable internal GPS. “I have no idea how you do that.”
Car GPS is unreliable out here. It’s literally part of the rental agreement from the airport. I had to sign multiple waivers that stated that I voluntarily know I’m going into uncharted territory and the rental company could not help me if I run into any car issues.
We hit a straightaway that makes it look like we would drive straight up into the clouds. How steep are these roads?
When we crest the top, it’s all worth it. The valley stretches before us at this point. “It’s like something out of a postcard.” I’m in awe. The mountain ranges in upstate New York were more like foothills compared to this.
Jonah opens his car door so he can stand outside. He’s recording the entire view, uncharacteristic squeals accompanying every bit of majesty of this view.
I go ahead and follow suit. What’s the point of being a tourist if I can’t act like one?
We take a few panoramic shots before taking a few cute selfies. That’s when I see that we’re not alone.
Movement out of the corner of my eye draws my attention toward the forest. Streaks of red and gold shoot up through the air faster than I can track. A fluffy-looking bear of a dog bounds out of the tree line. He looks friendly enough with his tongue lolling out of his mouth. I’m about to call it over to me to see if he has tags when a sharp command echoes from the forest. Whatever they were trying to say sounds like a word but could have been a garbled bark.
The dog comes over and does its head tilt thing, a wide grin on its face. He rests on his haunches, ready for his next command.
“Kenzan!”
I hear that word loud and clear this time. I turn my head toward the voice. Out of the shadows, a large figure appears.
Now, I’ve never had the opportunity to meet an Otherkin. I’ve seen pictures, though, and heard stories. Nothing stands up to the real thing.
The man—male?—before me is built like a tank. And it’s not because he’s just tall. I’ve been around tall men. Hell, Jonah—who has made his way to my side—is a tall man.
But there’s human-tall, and then there’s monster-tall.
This guy is easily six and a half feet tall, but that’s not what’s unusual about him. Every inch of him is packed with muscle. Thick can’t even begin to describe him.
That’s impressive enough. What I’m not prepared for is the wolf's head on top of his body and his impressively shaggy tail swishing behind him. A smile spread over his face that is reminiscent of the dog’s. I fight to keep a straight face. It’s a losing battle.
The wolf man nods at us in greeting, addressing both Jonah and me. “Sorry about that, miss. Sir. Kenzan doesn’t usually run off like that. I hope he didn’t scare you.”
Jonah looks the newcomer up and down. “Trust me. Scared is the last thing we are.”
I peel my gaze from the novelty of a talking wolf man to the dog still sitting on his haunches. “Kenzan is a good dog. Aren’t you, boy?”
The dog barks and spins in place.
A rumbling growl vibrates through the air. I look up to the sky to see if thunderclouds rolled in, but quickly realize that the sound is coming from the wolf-man. Kenzan settles down and stretches out in response.
I swallow a giggle. I know moves like that. It’s the, “I’m going to pretend not to care that I’m in trouble whenever my parents entertain guests at home,” look.
I extend my hand to the wolfman. “I’m Remington Storm. Remi. This is my friend, Jonah.” We all take turns shaking hands.
“Enchanté,” Jonah says.
