Flipping the flap open he looks either pissed or worried. I can’t get a read on which emotion he is feeling so strongly right now.
His nostrils are flared. His chest heaves with every breath the man takes.
“Did someone hurt you?”
I shake my head then motion toward the furry intruder.
Quinn takes one look at the skunk and sighs. “Alright. Very slowly and carefully, I want you to move toward the door and me.”
“No,” I hiss. “Can’t you do something?”
“And get us both sprayed?”
“Quinn!” I whine. “Please.”
“Just get over here, woman.”
“Ugh!” I protest. The skunk seems to sniff the air. I wonder if it smells the fish?
“Let me think…”
“Oh, forget it!” I snap at him and go to crawl past the damn skunk.
I don’t know if it’s the tone of my voice or my sudden movement that scares the animal, but before I can react Quinn is yelling, “Abort. Abort,” and the fucking striped devil raises his tail and sprays me.
A “Pssshhh” noise sounds as the gunk clings to arms, my hair, clothes, and legs as I scramble back to my corner.
Quinn drops his fish as he flees the scene and the skunk runs forward, picks the string of fish up, and scurries away with our dinner. “Oh. My. God. Did that really just happen.” The smell hits me and it is like nothing I have ever smelled in my life. Tears burn in the corners of my eyes.
“It’s not that bad,” Quinn states coolly as he returns to the scene of the crime.
“Not that bad hell. It smells like death and shit!”
“You mean you smell like death and shit.”
I glare at him.
“I’ll be back. Don’t go anywhere.”
“What? Where are you going?” I move out of the tent following after him.
“To get a metal tub and something to rinse that shit off you with. It’ll take me an hour at least.”
“What the hell am I supposed to do?” I hold my arms away from my body not that it matters.
“You can go rinse off in the creek, but it’s not going to get rid of that smell.”
“Fine. Just go. And Quinn?”
“Yeah…”
“Move your ass,” I snap.
“Yes, Ma’am.” He mock salutes, leaving me trapped in the wild covered in skunk shit.
I can’t stop gagging. The smell is so damn bad. I can’t escape it. It’s burning my nose and my throat. I throw up in the bushes. Not once but twice.
Unable to stand myself, I go down the trail and find the creek Quinn said was nearby.