Moonlit Fur Chronicles: Lucid Fur
Chapter 3 Familiar Strangers

It was definitely strange to be back in my hometown of Fartsmyth. So much had changed, yet so much remained the same. It was still big and busy but it seemed smaller than I remembered it. The statue of Cordelia was strapped to the bed of the truck. We agreed it was safer to travel during the day and rest at night when she could watch over me. I drove past my old high school, memories swirled chaotically in my head. I couldn’t help but stop at my favorite ice cream shop from years ago. I smiled at the fond memories. Dylan and I had come here after school countless times to sip milkshakes and finish our homework. I missed Dylan. I wished he could be here with me, I needed a friend.

I hopped back in the truck and laid my head on the steering wheel. Tears began to flow freely, my breath lurched haltingly. I felt so helpless, I missed Quinn. I was angry she had been poisoned. I was worried she would die before I could save her. I wrapped my arms around myself in an attempt to soothe myself. It didn’t work. I tried to breathe through the sobs. My body shook uncontrollably. I had to stop, I had to stay strong for Quinn. I couldn’t stop the tears and sobs. I missed Quinn terribly. A knock came from the window to my left. ’Wonderful, that’s just what I needed from some random stranger staring at me,’ I thought to myself I froze and hoped they would just go away. I took a deep breath and held it. Hopefully, it will help. The knock came again and broke the silence in the truck. I slowly lifted my head, turned to face the window, and peered at the person who so rudely interrupted me.

I patted my eyes dry on my sleeve, my heart stopped. It was my father… The look on his face was concerned, but thankfully not recognition. I had changed a lot about myself in the years away from my parents. My hair was short and colored, my wardrobe was full of dark-colored pants, shorts, mini skirts, and tops that “exposed too much skin” as my parents would say. They remembered me as a prim and proper girl who was forced into long dresses and long skirts and long sleeve loose fitting tops and who had absolutely no luck with boys. My mouth filled with bile at the memory. My father made a hand motion for me to roll down the truck window. I let the window down an inch.

“Are you okay in there?” My father peered into the truck. “Um yeah,” I muttered shyly, “Just a bad day.” His eyes conveyed sympathy. “All right. Just checking. Hope your day gets better.” He backed up and sauntered away from the truck. Had he recognized me? I watched him put a poster up on the corner of a building. I thought nothing of it and put the truck into gear. I drove across town to the quaint occult shop. I parked the truck and hurried in. Memories flooded me. Dylan and I used to spend so much time in this shop. I remembered one time, I bought a little good luck charm necklace. My parents found out and they were livid. They had ripped it from my neck and thrown it in the trash can.

Obviously the next day, after he heard my sad tale, Dylan went out and bought me a second one. He gave it to me and insisted he hold onto it during the night hours to keep it safe from my parents. He returned it every morning. The occult store smelt the same, it was a bit stronger now because of my hypersensitive werewolf nose. I took a deep breath and smiled. This place didn’t change at all, it was so friendly. This was the only place I felt safe in my hometown. The clerk greeted me from her perch on a stool behind the counter. I waved at her. I left my eye to rove all over the shelves of crystals, rocks, and jars of various plants, or critter parts. I saw cute necklaces with crescent moon charms. I selected two for Quinn and me to wear once we got home. I was a sucker for romantic stuff like matching necklaces.

I approached the desk and told the attendant I had a list of ingredients I needed and asked to borrow a pen and paper. I copied the list from my phone onto the paper and gave it to the woman behind the counter. She examined the list, “I have most of the items here. I can make some calls to try to find the others if you like.” I nodded appreciatively. She went into the office and picked up the phone. My eyes wandered the store, I saw antique weapons from bygone eras, masks made from dark woods and bright scary paints, and hundreds, maybe thousands of books. Books about ancient ceremonies, books on demons, and creatures of the night. I wondered if they had any books on werewolves and if they were accurate to any degree.

I ambled over to the books and browsed for a book on lycanthropy. I found a book on gargoyles. “Why not,” I muttered quietly to myself. I found a werewolf book not long after. Happy with my selections, I wandered over to the counter. The shop clerk spoke intensely on the phone. I wondered if those books I picked were accurate, I mean I was a werewolf with gargoyle acquaintances. I faced the store with the counter at my back. I inhaled deeply and relived the memories I held so dear. Eventually, the shop clerk hung up the phone and smiled widely. She approached the counter as I turned around. “I have good news, I was able to get all but two items on your list. What I don’t have here in stock will be shipped here and held for you. I’m afraid you’ll be on your own for the last two items.” I thanked her profusely and paid my bill.

I left the shop and, once again, bumped into my father. He ducked his head shyly and apologized for bumping into me. He held a stack of papers and a roll of tape in his hands. The stack of papers had the word ‘missing’ in large print near the top. The rest of the page was covered with an old high school photo of the girl I used to be and my parents’ contact information. My eyes followed him as he put a poster on the occult shop door. I saw the shop clerk frown at him apologetically. Part of me wanted to ask him about the poster, the other part of me remembered the look on his face when he decided to beat me, and how he had screamed at me about being a drug user the fateful night I was bit and transformed into a werewolf. The pain won and I walked away.

It would take about a week for all the items on my ingredients list to get shipped to the occult shop. I could drive all the way home for one night or stay here in a hotel. It would be cheaper to just stay here at a hotel. I thought about my parents and if I should contact them. They had years to contact me, to apologize, but they had remained silent all this time. I didn’t deserve to get yelled at again so I kept my distance. My father turned around and briefly made eye contact with me. His eyes were full of loss and despair. “Who is she?” I blurted out before I could stop myself. My father stopped in his tracks, “She is my daughter. She disappeared several years ago. I pushed her away. I should have been there for her. Tried to support her in a difficult time. It’s my fault she’s gone.” Fresh tears glistened in his eyes. My heart shattered.

Later that night, I was in my hotel room. Cordelia had snuck off the find sustenance. She kept in mental contact with me just in case. She sensed my internal conflict. She played the devil’s advocate and gave me an idea of what my parents’ perspective might be. I opened my phone and stared at my mother’s phone number. I was incredibly nervous. My eyes filled with tears as I pushed the button. “Reese? Oh my, is that you?” She had kept my phone number in her phone all this. “Yes,” I choked out. “Are you okay? Are you safe? We have missed you terribly! Davy! Reese on the phone, get over here!” “Reese baby, are you there,” my father’s voice came over the phone. “I’m here.” I heard them both sigh with relief. “We were so worried when you disappeared. Where are you? Can we come to see you?”

I smiled through tearful eyes. My parents actually missed me. They actually wanted to see me. I couldn’t believe my ears. Part of me thought this was a trick to get me to lower my guard. I remembered how sad my father looked when he told me how he had pushed me away. I wanted to desperately believe him, I was torn. I had to protect myself but I also wanted to have my parents back. I had no idea what to do. I wished with all my heart that Quinn could be there with me. She always knew what to say to calm me down. I missed her terribly.

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