Page 32 of Brody
“Make it quick,” I said.
He drove for a bit, then parked.As I unbuckled my seat belt, he turned to look at me.“It’s my duty and honor to open the door for you.”
“Oh, you’re a chivalrous shifter?”I asked.
“I am.I want to open doors for you.”
I sighed heavily.“And the groveling continues.”I pushed open the door and got out.Yes, there was something nice about his intentions, but honestly, I refused to forgive him.My heart was too bruised and distrustful to accept even the most innocent gestures from Brody.
Brody had stepped out of the SUV and pointed to his left.“It’s a short walk.Plus, it will give you an opportunity to see and be seen by townsfolk.”
We began walking side by side, and I made sure to keep lots of space between us.
“Main Square is the heart of Ridge life,” Brody explained as we walked past a group of about twelve people, completely naked, moving through what looked like tai chi forms in perfect synchronization.I stopped walking, fascinated despite myself.Their ages ranged from late twenties to seventies, bodies of every shape and size, all moving with the same fluid grace.“As you can see, our social norms are different from human communities.”
There were cocks everywhere.Big ones, small ones, some so tiny I had to squint to see them.One guy was clearly blessed by the gods; the thing swayed like a metronome as he moved through his forms.Another poor soul looked like he was smuggling a cocktail shrimp.
Note to self: Naked tai chi provides excellent comparative anatomy lessons.
He laughed at my carefully controlled expression.“The Ridge believes natural forms are meant to be celebrated, not hidden.It takes some getting used to.”
The early-morning sunlight caught on their skin, pale, dark, everything in between, but what struck me wasn’t the nudity itself.It was the complete absence of self-consciousness.These people weren’t performing or rebelling.They were simply existing in their natural state, finding harmony in movement and breath.
When was the last time I felt that kind of freedom?The thought hit me unexpectedly.
When did I last move through the world without calculating every gesture, every word, every expression for maximum professional impact?
Maybe that’s what these people had that I’d lost somewhere along the way.Permission to just be.
As we continued walking, I spotted a small crowd gathered at the enormous stone fountain that dominated the center of the square.Water cascaded over carved shells, and four massive wolf heads around the pedestal created a spectacular display in the morning light.
But it wasn’t the fountain itself that made me stop short.
Several naked men were yelling and cheering while two others grappled in front of the fountain.Steam rose from the water despite the cool morning air.
“The water is hot?”I asked.
“The fountain contains hot spring water,” Brody said.“That’s why it steams even in cold weather.It’s considered medicinal for our kind.”
My interest was piqued immediately.“Medicinal how?”
“Drinking the hot spring water is known to alleviate hangovers, settle the stomach, clear head fog, and make headaches disappear instantly,” he replied.“My grandmother Una’s tonic recipe that I’ve tried to replicate for Logan’s pre-feral symptoms also uses the Ridge’s hot spring water.”
I filed this information away for later research.If the hot spring water had properties that helped with pre-feral symptoms, it could be a critical component in my treatment formula.
Loud cheers made me focus again on the men.“Why are they fighting?”I asked.
“They’ve worked out a system,” Brody said.“Each morning, both groups pick a representative to fight until someone’s knee hits the ground.The winner’s group gets fountain privileges for the day.”
“Why not swim at that lake I saw driving in?”I asked.
“Bogbeast Lake?That’s selkie and mermen territory,” he answered, his eyes never leaving the fountain battle.“Every shifter group has preferred domains.The otters and penguins have been fighting over this fountain for decades.It’s become tradition instead of actual warfare.”
Outside the fountain’s stone edge, one of the wrestlers managed to force his opponent’s knee to touch the ground.A cheer went up from the penguin supporters, while the otters groaned dramatically.
“Penguins win!”someone called out.“Fountain privileges to the birds!”
“See?”Brody said.“Civilized conflict resolution.Sort of.”We continued walking past shops.Several residents greeted Brody and me as we passed.
