Page 26 of Agent's Integrity

“Good.”

“And how did you become an IPF agent?”

Not a story I wanted to share, but it was only polite to tell him at least part of it. “I knew a local cop. He was a good guy. Helped me and my family through some stuff and kept an eye on me. I wanted to help people the way he did. Make a difference. So, here I am.”

That was cutting out a lot of details, but I wasn’t willing to share more. I didn’t know this guy yet. I didn’t share my past with anyone. It was my burden, and I didn’t want pity. I also didn’t want to make things awkward. I was who I was now, not who I was then.

“Sounds like a noble goal.”

I shrugged. “Maybe.”

“And are you succeeding? At making a difference?”

“There’s no easy answer to that question. I like to think so.”

He grunted in agreement. “You held your own yesterday, with those men. Which is a high compliment, considering you were bound, injured, and disadvantaged.”

I smirked. “Thank you, I think. You seemed comfortable in a fight.”

Ethan shrugged. “I used to box. For fun, not professionally. I picked up a few things along the way. Fighting doesn’t scare me.”

“What about the weather stuff? Does any of that scare you?”

“Yes and no.” He smiled. “I find it exhilarating. Nature is such a powerful force, and we forget that a lot. I have a healthy respect for nature and her power. But fear it? Not necessarily. That may be crazy, since I’ve seen the kinds of things she can do, but nature is all about balance.”

“Is that part of your tribe’s beliefs?”

“Very much so. The Novem respect nature in all her forms. We believe the universe is all about balance.” He gestured around him with his right hand, revealing a tattoo in the center of his palm. “Everything is connected and works in harmony. When the balance is upset, it must be restored.”

“That’s a very interesting attitude. Is that a tattoo on your hand?” The words popped out before I could stop them. Asking a Novem about their tattoos was considered rude if you weren’t part of the tribe.

Ethan closed his hand into a fist, but then he opened it so I could see it clearly. It was a paw print of some sort in the center of his palm. It was done in heavy, black ink, and seemed to fit perfectly in his hand.

“It’s a coyote’s paw.”

“Why a coyote?”

His eyes flashed to mine and then dropped to the table, along with his hand. “I’m a coyote.”

What? He’s a what now?I blinked at him. He laughed at my blank expression and shook his head. “Okay, I have the spirit of a coyote. Everyone has a spirit like an animal. It’s a way to understand your own nature better. My tribe determined mine was a coyote when I turned thirteen. That’s when a boy becomes a man among my people.”

“A man? At thirteen?”

He shrugged. “A man in the sense that they can go hunting with the older men, join in the rituals, and be considered a contributing part of the tribe. Not necessarily a mature individual.”

I pursed my lips. “I suppose that makes sense. Why did they decide you were a coyote?”

“A coyote represents a lot of things. I was a mischievous youth, and often pulled pranks on others. Very indicative of a coyote. I was light-hearted and carefree. Playful. But I was also resourceful and clever. The elders used to say I could survive out in the woods for weeks without any provisions. I used to love the forest and I would disappear for long periods of time. I always came back. All those traits belong to a coyote.”

“That sounds fascinating.” I was genuinely intrigued. “Are there a lot of different animals that you believe represent people? Or is it just, like, a handful?”

“There are quite a few. Some are more prevalent than others. There are a lot of different animals in the wild, and there are just as many different types of people. Since I was a coyote, it felt appropriate to get this tattoo.”

“Do you have a lot of tattoos?”

When he smiled, I felt myself blush again. “I’m sorry. I know it’s a big cultural thing for your people, and I shouldn’t ask.”

“No, I understand. I’ve lived around enough outsiders to have stopped being offended by the question.” He shrugged at me and leaned back. “I have many tattoos, and each of them has a story. We would be here for days if I tried to share them all with you.”

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