Passing

Title: Coyote Tricks – Passing
Authors: Stardreamer and Foxfur
Fandom: Original with crossovers into Mercedes Lackey
Rating: R
Codes: Lemon
Summary: A troubled young woman goes to an isolated resort to get away from it all. She finds a otherworldly mystery in a new friend.
Disclaimer: Kit Coyote, Spirit Peak and all who reside there belong to me. The inspiration for Elfhame Spirit Peak comes from Mercedes Lackey’s excellent Serrated Edge and Bedlam’s Bard series and this story may be considered to overlap that universe although there are no direct ties other than the concepts.
Archive: Yes, just let me know where.
POC: Stardreamer_90@yahoo.com

Author's Note: This is a prequel to Coyote Tricks anime crossover series. It stands alone and does not require you to be familiar with the other stories. I couldn't really come up with a good title so I just left my working title on it. It could be considered to refer to passing in the night or the passing of time. You'll understand when you get to the last chapter. Stardreamer.

~~~

I struggled under the massive weight of my bags towards the door of the airport terminal. I often wondered why someone didn’t come up with some way of putting wheels on suitcases. It would make traveling so much easier. The man in an Air Force uniform ahead of me held the door open as I passed mumbling my thanks and then I was out in fresh air. I dropped my bags at the curbside and paused to look at the mountains. I had been on the wrong side of the plane coming in and saw only the open plains to the east of Colorado Springs. Now I had my first good look at Pikes Peak and the mountains around it and was impressed. Maybe this would be worth it after all.

I had really wanted to go to Hawaii for my graduation present but my parents couldn’t afford that. My grandmother had recommended a trip to an out the way mountain resort. Spirit Peak was an exclusive resort little known to the mainstream travel agencies. Its reputation was largely spread by word of mouth. It was said to be a place not only of relaxation but healing of body and soul. It sounded like just the ticket.

The sound of a lonely sad little tune being played on some sort of flute caught my attention. It was coming from a VW mini-bus parked in one of the spots reserved for hotel vans and buses. It was painted blue and arched over the picture on the door of a coyote howling against moonlit mountains were the words ‘Spirit Peak Resort’. Sitting in the open doorway was a sandy haired young man who looked about my age. He was tall, tanned and slender. The music was coming from a small metal flute he was playing.

“That’s pretty, what tune is it?” I asked.
He stopped playing and looked up to meet my eyes. He quickly stood up.
“Oh its nothing, just twiddling.” He said. “You must be Melody.”
“Yes but my friends call me Mel.” I said shaking his hand.
“Ok Mel,” he said with a grin. “My name is Kit. Let me help you with your bags.”
He picked all the bags and carried them to van like they were feathers. I followed him and gawked at the interior.
“Wow, it’s like a little house in here.”
“Yea,” Kit said. “It’s a Camper. We have a regular bus we usually use but since you are my only pickup, I brought the Westie; it’s more comfortable. There are cokes and snacks in the cooler if you want.”

I helped myself to a Tab from the little fridge (a girl has to watch her figure) and got settled in as Kit started out from the airport and headed for the mountains. It took a little over two hours to reach the resort. We talked a little during the trip. Kit was easy to talk too even though we didn’t really say anything. We just talked about the weather and scenery. I knew he was just being nice to a customer, someone that handsome couldn’t be interested in me. I figured he must have a dozen local girls vying for his attention.

Honestly, I wouldn’t know what to do if he was interested. I haven’t been able to abide being touched by a guy since…. I shuddered as I quickly turned my mind away from the memory. I tried to get over it, I felt so sorry for poor Jeremy at the Senior Prom. I literally ran out of the ballroom on the verge of hysteria. He didn’t want to see me after that and I guess I don’t blame him.

We arrived at the Resort which seemed to spring up out of nowhere just when I was beginning to wonder if Kit had gotten lost in the Rocky Mountain forests. The minivan passed through a wood framed gateway made of whole logs. The sign hanging over the gate said Spirit Peak with an image of coyote howling against the moon burned into it. The dirt road led up to a large homey looking lodge. Kit stopped and opened the side doors for me before going around and getting my luggage.

I stepped out and was met by two women. The first dominated my attention. She was tall with auburn hair that flowed over her shoulders. She wore simple dress suitable for outdoors but it somehow looked elegant on her. She hardly looked more than 20 but there was an odd sense of age and wisdom behind her emerald green eyes that far out weighed her outside appearance.

“Hello,” she said. “I am Beth. I run the Lodge here. Your grandmother and I are old friends and she asked me to take special care of you.”
I was a little surprised since Grandma was well in her 80s, though still sharp as a tack, and I wasn’t sure when she could have known someone from Colorado this young.
“Thank you,” I said shaking her hand.
Beth indicated the girl beside her.
“This is Deana; she is one of my protégés here and will help you with anything you need.”
“Hi, I’m please to meet you.” Deana said shaking my hand energetically. She was my age with sunny blond hair and a personality to match it seemed.

Kit came around arms filled with baggage which he dropped unceremoniously next to us.
“Kit, be careful.” Beth said. “Now take the bags up to room 27.”
“Of course, my lady” Kit said with a grin as he bowed with an elaborate flourish. “Your wish is my command.”
“Scamp, off with you!” Beth said laughing.

She watched the boy carrying the bags into the Lodge.
“You seem to be a good influence on him.” She said absently.
“I am?” I said confused.
“Yes,” she said smiling. “That’s the most cheer I’ve seen out him in months.”

~~~

I spent about a week just enjoying the woods and mountains. Where I came from everything was flat and trees were either scrawny pines or mesquite. The only draw back was the altitude. I couldn’t exert myself at all without becoming winded. The days were unusually clear, not a hint of pollution in the air and comfortably warm compared to the 100 degree weather at home, it only got to the 80s and lower 90s here and with humidity so low it felt like heaven. Thunderstorms would roll in the afternoons just in time to cool things off. This high in the mountains the rain was bone chilling and I would have to keep a jacket on hand to keep from freezing in my light sundress.

For the most part I avoided other people. I just couldn’t bear companionship. In that coming here wasn’t helping at all. I was still trying to crawl inside myself and shut out the world. I probably would have too if not for Deana. She always seem to appear right whenever I was most withdrawn, cheerfully ignoring my subtle and even not so subtle suggestions that I wanted to be alone. She was so easy to talk to that I always found myself unloading myself to her.

I even found myself confiding in her about Eric. The day that ruined my life. Eric hadn’t physically taken my virginity, although I’m certain he intended to if I hadn’t of kicked him, but other than that he as much as raped me. No one believed me though. Eric’s father as much as owned the town and the Sheriff. Eric and his friends immediately started spreading stories about me. By the time it came to trial, the whole town was convinced I was a slut. An orphaned tramp trying to sully the reputation of the school champion. Instead of being the victim I was the one convicted.

Deana was understanding and always seem to know just what to say to make me feel better. It was thanks to her that I finally started opening up and noticing the world around me again.

~~~

It was then that I noticed Kit again. I think it was because he seemed as withdrawn as I was. When he wasn’t working around the lodge or for Spirit Singer (his adopted father I think) he was off by himself often playing sad tunes on his flute.

I asked Deana about him.
“Kit is going through a hard time right now.” She said with a sigh. “He is getting over his first real romantic relationship.”
“Oh, was it bad?”
“I wish,” she said with another sigh. “I suspect it was perfect in every way but it was too much for poor Kit it seems. He is taking it really hard. What surprises me is that it wasn’t more than a day but he is reacting like it was much longer.”

~~~

The next day I walked out onto the deck overlooking the mountain to sit cool evening air. The day had turned out sunny and clear, undisturbed by the random showers that had plagued the last two days.
As I sat in a rocker watching hummingbirds fighting over the porch feeder I heard the sound of Kit’s metal flute. I got up and wandered around the corner to find Kit sitting on a bench at the other end of the deck. I walked over to him as he played a sad little tune on his flute.
“That’s pretty,” I said. “What is it called?”
“It doesn’t have name. It’s just my random twittling. You really like it?” He said with a smile.
“Yes, it’s pretty but a little sad. Do mind if I sit with you?”
We sat and talked about nothing in general. How I was enjoying my stay, the beauty of the mountains, the funny little chirps hummingbirds make when they fight over a feeder. On and on until it started to get dark. Kit was just so easy to talk to.
In the end we talked about family. Kit told me how he was orphaned when he was very young and was adopted by his mentor Spirit Singer and grew up here. After awhile we quieted down and just watched the sunset.
“There is fair in Manitou Springs tomorrow,” he said suddenly. “I’m sure Singer would let me have the day off. That is if you would like to go.”
The last came out so tentatively, I was afraid I’d crush him to say no. He said he would meet me at 7. I went back to my room feeling good and looking forward to tomorrow.