You don’t realize how far something is until you walk there. Yrsa didn’t even bother with the illusion of popping the hood to see what was wrong with her engine. She knew she had no idea what she was looking at. Her plan was to make her way towards the diner to rest for a while before walking the rest of the way home.

  Of course, things rarely go as planned.

  Yrsa didn’t take into account the unforgiving heat of the desert sapping her of her energy with every painful step. There wasn’t as much as a breath of air from a passing car to help her either. Not that wind would help much considering Wendigo lacked the ability to sweat.

  Her shoes finally signaled she was very close to her goal with every crunch of the gravel. Not being able to see would panic most people and it would have if she didn’t lose consciousness a second later.

  She awoke in utter darkness to the sound of an old refrigerating unit kick on. Gathering her wits she tried to hear past the sound of decade-old parts barely functioning. She was in a closed room with metal walls, through the cement floor she could feel the vibrations of several people moving about the foundation. She couldn’t smell to save her life but when it comes to hearing Wendigo are yet to beat. Through her skull, she felt the distinct click of hooves on linoleum. She knew exactly where she was at. As she laid there she heard the hooves getting closer until a blinding light signaled the opening of the freezer door.

  “Oh thank goodness. You’re awake.” The young Satyr breathed a sigh of relief. Lifting her head up Yrsa recognized the younger woman who sold her the truck. “My manager says if you need more time that’s fine but we do close in three hours.”

  “Your truck sucks.” Yrsa managed to croak before lying back down on the icy cement. The Satyr tried to defend herself saying she wasn’t a mechanic so she had no idea what it problems where but Yrsa was alright spacing out. She allowed herself a few more minutes of bliss before reminding herself she couldn’t stay here forever.

  When she did get to her feet the cook seemed uncaring as she slowly made her way towards the front of the restaurant. Even the counter waitress seemed un-phased by the towering Wendigo using the walls for support to shuffle past. The only seeming to care was the young Satyr and Mr. Papadakis, the Centaur that ran the Goat Ranch. Feeling ashamed that a bunch of strangers was watching her stumble out of the back kitchen she made her way towards the door. She almost made it out the door when a voice boomed over the light jazz playing on the jukebox.

  “In that much of a hurry to pass out again? Come on, sit for a spell!” Mr. Papadakis motioned for her to come to join him at the table he was standing at. Feel grateful for the chance to sit for a minute Yrsa tried to look everywhere except at Mr. Papadakis.

  “Are you thirsty?” The Centaur asked taking a large bite of his shrimp with noodles meal.

  “I like ice.” Yrsa answered motioning to her skull. She really hoped she didn’t have to explain how she had just enough lip to talk and not have food fall out her mouth but not enough to grasp a straw. The Centaur didn’t ask as he motioned for waitress to bring Yrsa some ice. The Satyr paused as her eyes scanned over Yrsa’s skull as if really seeing it for the first time. She nodded before clopping off.

  “I know this is the first time I’ve really seen you outside your normal work route but is everything alright?” Mr. Papadakis asked taking a sip of his own tomato juice drink.

  “Why do you care?” Yrsa asked back coldly.

  Now, there was no need such hostility. She knew that. She was tired, hungry, embarrassed, and worst of, disappointed. Right up until she was ran off the road by Al she was content with her life. Sure it was mind numbingly boring and more often than not she would lie around wondering what exactly she was doing with her life. But at least she had some semblance of control.

  “You’re right. Technically I shouldn’t care. But it’s hard not to care when you see someone pass out in front of you while you’re trying to eat.” Mr Papadakis shrugged one shoulder as he continued to eat.

  “Sorry. I’m just not….” Yrsa started to explain when the Satyr arrived with a small bowl ice cubes. Picking one up she kept trying to find right words. “Things are different down here.”

  “Down here?” The centaur repeated.

  “I’m from the reservation up North. Maybe I should just move back up there. Just be a caribou rancher like my brother.” Yrsa had been pondering that idea for a while now.

  “Ain’t nothing wrong with being a rancher.” Mr. Papadakis pointed his fork at her for emphasis. “Besides, you seem rather young to be giving up on your dreams there kid.”

  “I don’t have a dream.” Yrsa admitted as she reached under her skull to eat one of the ice cubes. When her mouth was free she added, “Besides only rich people can have dreams.”

  “That is saddest thing I have ever heard. Even the most depressed people I know have at least one dream.” The man shook his head. “There has to be something you want to do. Let’s forget money for a minute ok? If there was anything on this planet you would like to do, or see, or even live what would it be?”

  Yrsa continued to eat her ice as a way to give herself some time to think. She liked hunting, mostly because starving sucks so bad. She also did like going on that delivery earlier today. Wandering around aimlessly was pointless but when finally found that café she felt accomplished. Right up until that Fairy snubbed her. That left a bad taste in her mouth. Her truck breaking down also didn’t help her mood.

  Before those horrible events she was happy.

  “I guess I wouldn’t mind going to other towns to delivery packages. So long as my truck doesn’t break down again. But that’s not really a dream.” Yrsa shook her head at the silliness of her statement.

  “That is to a dream!” Mr. Papadakis scolded. “Dreams don’t have to be some over the top fantasy, like being a unicorn tamer or discovering the Lost City of Sumer. When I was your age I wanted to a goat rancher, while my dad thought I should here’ve been a carpenter like him.”

  “But you are a goat rancher.” Yrsa pointed out.

  “Dreams really can come true.” The Centaur spread his arms wide as if to emphasis his point. Yrsa couldn’t help herself, she laughed. “Now finished your ice, once we’re done here I’ll take you home. Hey Melody? Can get that check please?” He called out to the Satyr. “Now I play poker with Al so I’ll give him an earful for not fixin’ your truck up properly for you ok?”

  Yrsa nodded as she finished up her ice.

  “Can’t have you delivering pelts on that bike of yours.” Yrsa stopped eating to look back up at the man. “What? Just because one of my dreams came true doesn’t mean I don’t have others. At this rate your business is really going to take off.”

  Deep down in the pit of her heart, Yrsa felt that flutter of excitement again.