Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

It was cold. A biting cold that went straight to Katlyn’s bones, but that was normal for this time of year and she wasn’t focused on that at the moment. No, what had her full attention was the shambling bulk of flesh and distorted body parts thundering after the sledge carrying her companions. The sounds of dead trees shattering under its bulk as it bulled forward echoed through the forest.

Another shot rang out as Arty fired his rifle. The ensorcelled bullet streaked toward the monster with a flash of red light before detonating. A mangled roar escaped from the monstrosity, its many limbs and heads focused on them as it continued its reckless charge.

“Well, that didn’t slow it down at all. Gods damnit Bren. Can’t ye get us moving any faster?” Katlyn yelled over the whistling wind to the slender brunette driving the team of elk, pulling their ride.

“They are going as fast as they can. Do you not think they want to flee as much as you do?” He called back. Katlyn turned her pale blue eyes back to the beast following them. It was large for one of the Warped. Far larger than it had any right to be in this area, at least eight feet at her best guess. It had nine limbs ranging from human arms and legs to those of a deer, and all of them were distorted to grotesque proportions. The same went for the heads. Glares of rage and rabid snarls escaping human and bestial mouths alike. Its flesh was covered in a thick fur that made it a tough target for most of their weapons, and worst of all, it was gaining on them.

Katlyn readied her blade, the sharp longsword held lightly in her right hand as she readied her shield in her left. She was tall, cresting six feet with a well-toned body of someone who had spent their life training to fight. She’d never admit it, but she was strong, especially for someone her age and level. Another shot broke the screaming of the wind as Arty tried to blow the legs out from under the Warped.

They were a small team. They weren’t meant to take on something like this. Hell, they were barely meant to be scouting the area.

Katlyn shook her head, trying to bite down the fear as she stood, waiting for the inevitable clash.

Suddenly, the trees gave way to a vast plain of snow. The sudden lack of the black trunks diluting the blinding white made Katlyn squint past her scarf and hood. This wasn’t good. The Warped was being hindered by the trees but free to run, it would be on them soon.

A sharp lurch of the sledge forced her to a knee. “The Hells is going on?”

“CLIFF!” Bren screamed back, panic pinching the words as he tried to turn the elk, or at least stop them.

“Feck,” Katlyn swore to herself. One heartbeat, two, and the thing was on them. A massive paw made from several human hands swung down, but was knocked to the side by her shield. A reverberating pain shot up her arm, numbness spreading quickly after. She grit her teeth, readying her body for more.

Then the worst happened. With a snapping of wood, the Elk broke free of the sledge. The panicked beasts bolted, leaving Katlyn, Bren and Arty to fend for themselves.

The monstrosity was on them in a blur of flesh, muscle, fur, and antlers. As the point woman of their team, Katlyn was left to take the brunt of the charge. She leapt from the sledge, planted her feet as best she could in the snow, and braced for impact behind her shield. A loud crash sent her teeth rattling and her arm burned as she met the Warped monstrosity’s furious assault. She grit her teeth and pushed as hard as she could, magically enhanced muscles forcing the beast to slow, and, after several feet of skidding, stop.

A scream of pain escaped her throat as a claw hooked around her right side, slashing through her leather armor with barely any effort. Blood welled, but the wounds quickly closed as Bren’s healing magic washed over her. Kat cursed herself for missing the opening strike, but quickly homed back in on the creature.

She lost track of her party as she focused on her life or death struggle with the Warped. A block to the left let it swing at her from the right. Barely ducking under the swipe, she slashed a line of bubbling black blood across its front. Thankfully, the wound didn't heal. Regeneration would have made this even worse. She stumbled back as another blow hit her shield. Her left arm was numb from the impacts, and keeping the rest of herself away from the many grasping, clawing limbs was tiring her quickly.

Katlyn's eyes darted right as she heard Arty take another shot. He had been circling around the bulk of the beast, peppering its hide with elemental explosions. Fire mostly, but some ice and force here and there. He took particular aim at the heads, hoping that taking them out would stop the beast, or at least confuse it. Bren was somewhere behind her, trying his best to keep her alive while she fought. He, like the others in the group, was young and fresh to his position, and he'd be running low on Mind soon.

Suddenly, there was a yelp to Katlyn's left. Hidden in the snow, a stone had tripped Arty.

“No!” Katlyn screamed. Time seemed to slow down as the Warped turned, sensing weakness, and charged Arty. It was over in a moment. The snow was splashed with red as Arty’s final screams were silenced with a sickening crunch.

Katlyn froze. For a couple of seconds, all she could do was stand there in disbelief as she watched Arty get torn to shreds by the creature. She felt numb and slow. Shaking hands grasping at her shoulders brought her back to reality.

“We have to move!” Bren all but screamed as he started pulling her back. She followed, still half in a daze as they moved toward the sledge.

They crouched behind the vehicle as wet noises echoed over the field.

“What are we going to do? We can not kill that thing! And now Arty is dead, and he was our damage. Oh, oh Gods were so fucked Kat. So fucked, so fucked…” Bren's eyes welled up as he rambled in panic, his hands clutching his brown locks. The sudden initiative he displayed moments before he dissolved as fear took hold of him.

Katlyn wasn’t doing much better. Her hands shook, and she could feel the terror welling up inside her. This was supposed to be a safe, simple mission. Next to no danger. Maybe a smaller warped, like the two headed dogs they’d seen before. Nothing like this. She could not stop her sensitive ears from picking up each crunch and slurp as the beast continued its meal. Her stomach churned and she heaved, spewing her breakfast across the snow. Thankfully, something about the violent ejection brought her back, let her focus a little more as she wiped a woolen sleeve across her lips.

Katlyn shook herself and rose to peek above the sledge. The Warped was still gorging itself on Arty's remains. “Bren, hey, hey, I need you to listen, Bren.” She took his face in her hands, forcing him to look at her. “I'm about tae do something really feckin stupid here, and I need ye to do what I say. Ya ken?” A meek nod of understanding was all she got from the terrified man. “Good, I want ye to crawl over that way.” She pointed to the right of the sledge. “Stay low in the snow, even better if it covers ye. Be quiet, but be as quick as ye can.”

“I understand,” Bren whispered.

“Hey, yer gonna be OK.” A smile she didn't feel stretched across Katlyn's face. “Now get going. See ye in a minute.” She patted his shoulder and turned back to the task at hand.

Taking a quick moment to make sure Bren was well on his way and to make sure the sledge was close enough to the cliff for her plan to work, she stood and slowly walked around to the other side.

I'm gonna feckin die. Fighting the thought, she steeled her nerves, watching the Warped finishing its meal. At least one of us’ll survive.

“Hey ya big feckin beastie! Ya full, or are ya ready fer seconds?” She shouted out to the bloody mass of fur.

Eight sets of eyes swung her way, their baleful stares sending a shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the frigid weather. Katlyn watched in horror as blood and gore dripped from its many lips. The creature turned its massive body to face her.

“All right. Ye killed Arty. I’mma make sure you pay for it,” Katlyn growled. She lowered her body, shield at the ready and made herself as threatening as possible.

With a distorted, multi-throated roar, the monster charged at her. She held her ground as she watched the beast pick up amazing speed, the many legs carrying the weight with ease.

Feckin gotcha! Katlyn howled, as she leapt to her right at the last possible moment. Guarding the glancing blow sent her spinning to the side as the beast smashed straight past her.

Loud cracking of splintering wood echoed over the field as the monster impacted the sledge. Through blurry vision, Kat saw its numerous limbs get stuck in the wooden vehicle as they punched holes through it. Additionally, straps they used to secure any equipment or cargo had snared the beast. Unable to stop its momentum, the Warped’s weight pushed the sledge up to and over the edge of the cliff. A surprised scream ripped out of its throats as it tumbled through the air.

Several seconds passed before a sickening crunch echoed up and over the lip of the ledge. Katlyn offered a silent prayer that the rocks at the bottom were sharp.

It took a couple moments of her panting and laying on her back in the snow before she felt a sharp pain lance up her leg. “Oh, oh, that's not good.” She felt like she was going to puke again, somehow. Bracing her arms and lifting her upper body, she could see her right leg bent and twisted in a way it shouldn't be. It looked like it had snapped at the knee and was almost backwards. The world swam as she looked in horror at her mangled limb before soft hands caught her.

“You did it, Kat, I can scarcely believe it!” Bren was saying as he kept her upright. “Hey, hey, stay with me. I'm going to do the best I can to fix you up, however my Mind is scraping empty. Kat? Kat, listen to me. I will need to straighten the leg first.”

She nodded, more on reflex than understanding. The pain was growing to consume her higher thoughts as her body and mind focused on the mangled limb, and she lost focus on Bren’s words.

“Hey, Kat, focus. I am going to set it. This is going to hurt a lot. Understand? I guess it scarcely matters if you do. Hells. Prepare yourself.” He glanced at her, blanching as he prepared to do what needed done.

Katlyn grit her teeth and screwed her eyes shut. “3… 2… 1…” A sickening crunch and her vision darkened, edges shimmering with sparks of light as she fought to stay conscious. She could tell that Bren was talking to her, but she couldn’t make out the words. Her entire world narrowed to the searing pain in her leg.

Finally, after several seconds, her muscles relaxed, and she slumped in Bren’s grasp. She felt a low trickle of healing magic working at her leg. It didn’t do much more than numb the pain, and not by much at that, but she could think again.

“We need to get somewhere safe,” Kat panted, wiping tears from her eyes. “I need tae not move much, and you need to rest and restore your Mind.” She groaned as she sat up again, feeling the dull ache that substituted the sharp pain she should be feeling. “Think ye can grab one of the pieces of the sledge and pull me?”

“Yes, yes, I believe I can manage. It will most likely be slow going. However, I saw what looked like an old building a mile or so back.” Bren said as he looked around for a big enough piece of wood. “It looked like some old mansion. It might not be warm, however it will be shelter.”

A few minutes later, they had a makeshift sled with some rope for Bren to pull with. It was, indeed, slow going, but Kat wasn’t about to complain. She focused on keeping her balance and watching out for any new threats. Truth be told, it felt longer than an hour before Bren caught sight of the old building. It was a massive two story complex. At least a hundred years old, from what Kat could tell. The walls were lined with gaping holes where windows used to be shuttered, and its siding was all but stripped of the decorative yellow paint that had once adorned the wooden walls. The steepled roof seemed to be mostly intact, a gaping hole to the eastern side, and there was a rough stone chimney to the west. “Thank the Gods for that. We can have a fire,” Katlyn prayed to herself.

Shoving open the heavy double doors that formed the main entrance, they looked cautiously around the main foyer. It was clear that whoever had lived here had been wealthy, but looting and the harsh winters had taken their toll. The place was stripped bare, with less faded spaces on the walls, all that remained of portraits or wall hangings. Snow drifted in from the hole in the roof covering the floor and grand stairs with a soft blanket of white and, strangely, footprints leading off further into the building.

“Did ye see any prints outside?” Kat asked as she looked around, leaning on a wall, trying to stay off her bad leg.

“None, and these look fairly fresh.”

“Yeh, couple hours old at most.” Kat’s eyes scanned the upper levels for movement. None was to be seen.

“Do you think they are still present?”

“Well, I don’t see any tracks leavin’. Ye wanna take a gander at the rest of the house? Don’t think I’ll be much help to ye like this.” Kat gestured at her lameness.

“I can, yes. May I borrow your knife?”

“Yeah, sure.” She tossed Bren the knife, still in its sheath. “Holler if ye need me. I’ll limp o’er to the side without the snow. See if I can get a fire goin’.”

“Very well, see you soon.”

She made her way through the halls to the Eastern wing, leaning against the walls for support. It got darker quickly as she got further from the gaping hole in the roof. Eventually, at the end of the main hallway was a large set of doors that should have led to the room with the fireplace.

The room with the fireplace was on the larger side. Enough that a few couches could have fit along with a table and some extra chairs here and there.

Kat set about doing her best to find some spare wood. Thankfully, someone had pulled up the floorboards in a corner of the room and had left the debris. Taking her starter kit, she arranged the wood and lit the paper with the fire crystal. Useful little things, they only needed a small bit of mana channeled through them to get the desired result, and with how cold it could get, they were critical to anyone traveling.

After a few minutes, she was starting to warm up, taking off her thick woolen cap and letting her long ears finally breathe after a long day. Chocolate brown locks tumbled down over her shoulders as she undid her scarf. She closed her eyes and basked in the warmth of the flames.

A noise behind her had her head whipping around to the door. It was Bren, standing there awkwardly with a rosy blush to his cheeks that didn’t seem like it was just from the cold.

“Hey, Kat, uh, I think I’m going to need your help with this one.” He said as he shuffled nervously in place.

“Huh? Find someone? Are they dangerous?”

“N… no? They, uh, she, he, they? They’re asleep. But, uh, yeah, you, I just, please help,” He stammered as he spoke.

“Askin’ a cripple for help? Yer truly a cruel taskmaster Bren.” Kat laughed. “Help me up.” It was funny, Bren normally had such a proper way of speaking, but when he got nervous it all fell apart. Something must have really gotten to him.

Leaning on his shoulder, Kat fought a groan as she stood. Slowly and carefully, Bren guided her through the building, up to the second floor and to the door of a side room. The snow was disturbed, obvious traces of someone entering the room.

“They in there?” Kat whispered, trying to keep the nerves out of her voice.

“Y… yeah, they are.” Bren stammered.

“Dangerous?”

“I… don’t think so?”

“Still dinnae know what’s got ye all flustered, but let’s take a look.” Kat brushed past Bren and sidled up against the door, slowly opening it with a soft creak. Looking through the crack carefully, she saw the intruder, but her subtlety dropped once she saw the other person in the room.

Atop a soft unspoilt bed of snow lay a sleeping woman, naked as the day she was born. Her tanned skin and supple curves contrasting her hip length dark grey, wild hair, fur, ears and tail. She was big, bigger than most people Katlyn had met, and unmistakably beautiful in a feral way. Even sleeping, her face had an air of soft pride to it.

Suddenly, in her sleep, the woman rolled to her other side, exposing her shapely breasts, abs, and face, but also between her legs, where Kat expected female anatomy. A thick cock instead slid into view before disappearing again as she settled.

“Oh.” Kat whispered with a blush. “Oh, ye don’t see that every day. Or ever.”

Chapter Text

Annita was a fairly normal girl. Pale, with wild black hair that could never seem to untangle. About five foot five with a petite build. Her life was mundane, at best. She graduated from an art university in 2011 but couldn’t really make any headway off her work. With some help from her parents, she found an apartment to live in with her two cats, Emeril and Pixel.

For a couple of years, she got a job in customer service at a few restaurants and eventually a call center. Her daily commute took the local bus system.

The last thing she remembered was on one of those seemingly endless commutes. She’d had her headphones in, listening to some random song that had caught her interest a couple months ago when there was a commotion toward the front. There was shouting and a loud bang, and then the world went black.

It had been black for a very, very long time. Now and then she thought she could hear voices from other people, but could never tell if she was dreaming. Over time, the black began to shift. The voices had been gone for longer than they’d been around. It grew brighter and brighter as the seemingly infinite time she was stuck here passed.

Eventually the world became so white she could call it blinding. She had been walking. Since time didn’t seem to matter here, she didn’t know for how long. Then she saw something. It was the first thing other than herself she’d seen since she wound up wherever this was.

Shockingly, it was a couch. A nice, plush, modern couch with a lot of leg room and a pillowy back that looked like she could just sink into it. Even more shocking was the woman sitting on it. A ridiculously beautiful woman with platinum blond hair, button chin and nose and a splash of freckles over her cheeks that only elevated her beauty.

She was focused on something and as Annita got closer, she saw there was a TV set up with some game being played. It was surreal.

“Come, darling, sit for a while.” The woman beckoned without glancing back at her.

Annita knew she should be suspicious, but something about the woman disarmed her. A warmth exuded that made her comfortable and relaxed. She rounded the edge of the couch and her eyes widened as she saw the woman was completely naked. She had a gorgeous figure, wide full hips, with large pert breasts that didn’t seem to have a hint of sag to them.

It was this that shocked Annita into realizing she could sense her own body for the first time since she arrived in what she’d called The Void. Also that she was similarly naked. Blushing furiously, she took the seat next to the woman, trying desperately not to stare, and even more not to drool.

“How are you feeling, love?” Annita jolted as she realized she’d been staring despite her efforts.

“Uh… fine? I guess? Who, who are you?”

“Ah, a good question. We’ll get there in a bit, but for now, we need to talk about you. How much do you remember before all this?” She waved a hand airily at the white infinity.

Annita took a moment, sitting back and letting her head sink into the soft cushions. “Not much, to be honest. I remember my life, my family, my cats, some friends, but it gets kinda vague toward the end.”

“I would imagine so. Now, this is the unfortunate part. I have a bit of bad and good news.” The woman put down the controller and turned her full, breathtaking attention to Annita. “You have been, what’s the best phrase for this, out of it for a long time, sweetheart. A long time ago you were shot. A man came on the bus you were on and opened fire. He hit you in the head but miraculously didn’t kill you.”

“Wait, wait, hold on.” Annita interrupted. “I was shot?” She ran her hands through her hair and over her face, looking for a bullet hole or blood or anything that could match the trauma she’d experienced. “Then what’s this? Why am I wherever the hell this is?”

“Patience, patience. I’m getting there.” Annita immediately calmed as the woman’s melodic voice washed over her. The woman smiled and continued. “You were shot, yes, and have been in a coma ever since. Annita, darling, you… never woke up from that coma. You were there for years. Before you get worried, your family cared for you deeply. They were there as much as they could be, and your family watched after your adorable kittens. They brought them to see you as frequently as they could.”

Annita sat in stunned silence for what felt like a long while. A warm hand settled gently on her shoulder, but the woman let her be, let her process the horrifying news. Eventually, stomach still in knots, she let out a long, shaky sigh. “So, sorry.” She sniffed and wiped away tears she couldn’t remember shedding.

“No, no, child. Do not be sorry. Your grief shows how important they all were to you. Never apologize for what you feel.” A knowing and sad smile graced the woman’s beautiful lips.

“So, you were saying? You were talking about this like it was a long time ago. How long have I been in a coma? Am I still in a coma? Is this even real?”

The woman took her hand back and placed it in her lap as she turned to sit cross-legged, facing Annita. “This is going to be the other difficult part of this conversation. Let’s start with the latter. No, you are not still in a coma, or at least not really. Also, yes, this is real. I’m not some wonder of your imagination. We are in your head, though. Second, yes, it has been a very long time. Millennia to be more accurate. I think it’s about four or five thousand years since your incident? When we…”

“I’m sorry THOUSANDS OF YEARS?” Annita burst out, bolting upright, eyes wide. “That’s impossible. No freakin’ way.”

“Yes freakin’ way.” The woman chuckled with the sound of a choir bell section. “And trust me, a lot has changed. Chiefly that we returned. We being the Gods of this world.”

“Wait wait, Gods? Real Gods? Like, Shiva, Zeus, all those Gods?”

The woman laughed again, Annita’s confusion and bafflement clearly amusing her. “Yes and no, child. We were around a long time ago, before most of the civilization you knew got started. We had many names, but it wouldn’t shock me if some of us carried over into your mythology, if not our true names. I am Orenous. I mostly preside over love, connections, emotions, and minds. My brothers and sisters have their own domains, but it’s a bit too much to go over for now. You’ll fill in the blanks as you go. Any questions so far?”

“Uh, yeah, yeah, a fucking ton of them. I guess the most pressing is why am I here and why are you here and how the hell am I still alive if it’s been thousands of years?” Annita was starting to get a headache. Way too much was being revealed all at once, and she didn’t have the emotional capacity to deal with it after the news about her life. She was drained and Orenous didn’t seem like she was close to finishing.

“Well, those are probably the most important you could have asked. First, to explain, you’ll need a bit of a history lesson on the future of your world. As silly as that sounds.” A wry grin on her lips shone as bright as the midday sun. “I mentioned we returned to what you called Earth, didn’t I? Well, that was not without incident. Your lot had made advancements that were, let’s say, incompatible with our simultaneous existence. Large portions of the mechanical infrastructure and whatnot? Perfectly fine. Your electronics? Completely and irrevocably ruined. It is a shame. I quite enjoy the toys and trinkets you children came up with.” She gestured to the dark television and game console. “I can only experience them through old memories I have saved in my domain.”

“Back on track though, yes, we accidentally caused a lot of chaos on our return. The world’s advancements slipped backwards for a long time and they’re only now beginning to recover. During this time of chaos, we walked the earth as our divine selves. Understandably, this also caused a lot of problems due to the multitude of religions your people had established. There were wars, droughts, plagues, and famine. The population shrank, but eventually, things stabilized as people became accustomed to their new reality. It was not all doom and gloom, though. Though our influence magic returned to this world as it had been long ago. Unfortunately, this also led to another period of chaos where our gifts were too strong for humanity to wield and control themselves, so we limited them. You remember games, correct?”

Annita nodded dumbly. She was trying to take in everything the Goddess was telling her, but a lot of it was too much for her to really fully grasp or have any emotional reaction to. It didn’t help she kept having to pull her eyes up from the gorgeous breasts that rose and fell with the Goddess’ breath. Orenous’ eyes twinkled now and then when she caught Annita’s attention drifting, but she never made a comment on it.

“Well, good, because this world has some new rules to it. Magic abounds but is bound to people’s chosen Paths. These Paths are many and varied, but also serve to make the people stronger, better at what they seek to accomplish. Say an artist strives to create better and better masterpieces. Depending on the time and effort spent on this Path they will gain skills and physical attributes to help further their goals. Better color acuity, increased finger dexterity, more strength if they happen to be a sculptor. You get the idea. This is true for all living beings in this world. Well, save one, but we’ll get there too. I’m sorry dear, this is a lot, but I promise you’ll appreciate it soon.”

“I… is there like, paper or something I could write this all down on?” Annita asked, mind thoroughly overloaded with information.

“No, sorry, but rest assured that this new world you will be walking soon will help contextualize it enough. Continuing, there was one other gift we gave to the people of this world. Seeds of our divine nature, places that embodied who we are as deities. There are quite a few of these, so they were scattered around the world. Some larger, some smaller, depending on the breadth of our influence. Well, something happened in the last, what was it, two thousand years or so? Something that cut us off from these gifts and began changing them. What were once places of divine influence slowly became warped. Things that entered them changed irrevocably. It was subtle at first, small things. Some were even beneficial. The singular human race became many races, a few that you would even draw analogues to fantasy stories. Longer lives for some, stronger bodies for others, there are a multitude of changes present, even today. Then, nine hundred and twenty-four years ago, the subtle became overt and malicious. Changes were quick, rampant, and deadly. Warping the creatures and people who entered the Seeds into unspeakable monstrosities. Their minds were broken, their flesh twisted, and a madness drove them to an endless rage.”

“This, above all else, is why I have called you to speak with me, and incidentally, how you survived this long. When you were in the hospital, dear Annita, languishing in your coma, was when we returned. It also happened that one of our Seeds was planted nearby. Mine, actually.”

“Hold on, have a question!” Annita’s had shot up as if she was back in school. “If these Seeds were your influence and your gifts, didn’t you know what was in them? Why was I left alone? You have domain over the mind, right? Couldn’t you have woken me up? While I still had my family around? What the hell? You’re a Goddess, right? You’ve got all that power and you couldn’t fix me? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

A sadness fell over Orenous’ face as Annita’s anger flared. “I apologize, my child. I know you will not believe this, but I thought this was for the best. To not see your family and friends thrown into chaos, to sleep peacefully. A mercy. I will be the first to admit that we, the Gods, are fallible. I believed what I was doing was for the best.”

Annita was fuming. This bitch had taken her whole life from her, her choice to remain with her parents, her pets, her brothers and sister. They were all just gone, and this woman was the one responsible. The urge to strike out flared, but just as she was about to act on it, she felt a pressure on her mind push the feeling down.

“I truly understand, my child, the anger that pushes you, but now is not the time. In fact, our time here grows somewhat short. You have been a singular existence for some time. Even my Seed has been corrupted, but I somehow never lost my connection with you. You slept and slept, never changing, never aging. When the corruption finally reached you, I did my best to prevent it from influencing you overmuch, but your body has changed. Let me show you.”

With a wave of Orenous’ hand, the TV suddenly leapt to life with a hiss of static. On the screen was a woman. Tall, strong, lithe, and unmistakably beautiful. Tan, almost brown skin that was as flawless as Orenous’ own flesh. Her hair was dark iron grey that shone with a luster that Annita had never achieved. Adorning the top of her head were a pair of fluffy wolf’s ears standing at attention. Her face was fierce, with defined cheekbones and a pronounced jaw. Set in those features were piercing green eyes under a pair of thick eyebrows of the same color as her hair. Looking closer, she could see defined abs and thigh muscles as the figure rotated. Sharp claw-like nails tipped her fingers and her legs ended in paws rather than feet. Annita almost fell out of her chair as the full front of the woman was revealed. Well proportioned breasts with dark nipples adorned her chest, but that wasn’t what hit her. It was the cock. The eleven inch, as best she could guess, cock that was in between the woman’s thighs. Situated right below a nice tuft of the same iron-grey hair. She couldn’t see any testicles, though, but the image wasn’t at an angle she could get a good look.

“You have got to be fucking with me.” She looked up at Orenous for confirmation as her jaw hung open. “That’s ME?”

“Yes.” Orenous intoned, with a hint of worry in her voice. “I know it’s a lot. For what it is worth I do find the alterations you went through to be somewhat of an improvement myself. I certainly wouldn’t mind inhabiting a figure like that.”

“Yeah, well, you’re a God, so you’ve got to be used to different bodies! I’ve only had the one! This… that? That’s a lot. How the hell am I, just, I mean. It’s not bad, but still!” Annita couldn’t help her fluster. She definitely liked what she was seeing, but couldn’t imagine herself being what she saw. If that woman had approached her, she’d be a shivering mess of desire, and now that woman was her.

Orenous scoffed at her fluster. “Darling, it’s fantastic. And considering you’re to be my sponsored champion, I think it will help you fit the bill wonderfully. We need to keep our talk moving, though. As we speak, your body is moving. No harm will come to you, I promise, but I am having it moved out of the Seed. Once it reaches safety in a place near others, you’ll regain consciousness, so time is of the essence now.”

She leaned down and picked Annita up with surprising ease, and placed her back on the couch. “Last part of our talk, I promise. Your mission. Your representation of my influence. I need you to look further into what is causing this corruption. Since we Gods are cut off from the affected areas, we grant minor blessings of protections through our churches to the mortals who wish to explore them. You will be different. You will have my full backing as my personal emissary to the world. The choice of paths for you will be subsequently narrowed to allow you to focus on this task.”

“So I don’t get a choice in this?” Annita blurted out. “You’re talking like this has already been decided but I haven’t said yes to any of this.”

“Sweet child. I know your mind better than anyone. Maybe even you. You do get to say yes or no to this, but I know what you will choose.”

Annita crossed her arms, trying her best to look defiant. “I… OK, fine, you’re not wrong. It sure beats the eternity in nothingness, I guess. Fine. OK. So how’s this champion thing going to work?”

Orenous smiled, leaning back as Annita accepted. “Well, there will be responsibilities. You will be representing me among the mortals, and I expect you to declare who you are, though you can leave out the whole from the before times part if you’d like. I’ll leave the rest to your skills and intuition. You have the tools you need to grow, plus a little extra. Just don’t forget to have fun along the way. With a body like that?” She gestured at the screen. “I’d be disappointed if you didn’t.”

Annita flushed deeply at the implication that the Goddess of love had basically just given her the go ahead to fuck people. She nodded, eyes trying to avoid the smirk that spread across Orenous’ lips.

“Well, time’s up. Someone is nearing your resting place. Ooh, I think you’ll be in good hands with this one.” Another giggle, somehow more beautiful than the last. “Very good hands. Oh, and I’ll see you later. You’re not getting away from me that easy.” With a wink, Orenous reached out, tapped Annita’s nose, and the world went black once more.

Chapter Text

Annita slowly began to rouse. Her face scrunched up as she felt the cold in her limbs. Not a bad feeling necessarily, but a bit cooler than she liked it. Slowly, she opened an eye, bleary and apparently unaccustomed to the surrounding light. She was lying on a snowbank in what looked like a completely wrecked room. No one else was there, at least for now. She sleepily remembered that Orenous had said she’d wake up when someone friendly was near. Guess they were a bit further away than she thought they might be.

Sitting up, she reached up, stretching her stiff back and arms as far as they could go. She noticed that they felt lighter and more responsive than they had in her dream-state. She pulled them down to admire her new body, turning them this way and that, admiring the perfectly tanned skin and sharp nails. Looking down, she ran her hands over the rest of herself, pausing briefly as a jolt ran through her when her fingers brushed her nipples. They were definitely more sensitive than they used to be. “Goddess of Love, huh? I bet you had a hand in some of these changes.” She muttered as she kept examining herself. She felt strong, stronger than she had ever been as a human. It felt good as she stood up and went through a few stretches she learned during her time practicing martial arts to try to stay fit.

Then she got to the part she was trying to avoid noticing. Her hands wandered between her legs and brushed up against her new anatomy. A shock of unfamiliar sensation jolted through her and elicited a surprised gasp. “Ah, wow, that’s really, really sensitive.” Her hand slowly rose as her, God, wait, no, Gods, that was going to take some getting used to, cock rose the more she felt it. Flushing, she continued to run her fingers up and down the member as it continued to grow until it reached its full, proud length. “Oh, oh, that feels so good.” She took a minute to admire the thing that was now attached to her pelvis. It was thick, long,decidedly human, and had a slight upward curve. Despite being so incredibly huge, it seemed sleek, the veins that traced its length subtle, being mostly coloration under the rock hard flesh. As she did, she heard a swishing behind her. Looking over her shoulder, she saw her tail swinging side to side animatedly. Normally, she would have wondered at this, but her mind was somewhat preoccupied. Turning back to the matter in hand, she delicately traced the thin blue lines of her veins with her fingertips, exploring her new member cautiously.

More by instinct than experience, she closed one hand, then the other gently around the flesh. It was almost too big to fit her hands around, but she managed. Carefully, slowly at first, she pulled her grip down the shaft, feeling the friction between her palms and cock. It sent a shiver down her spine as she repeated the motion back up her length. Annita quickly set into a rhythm and her hips eventually joined the symphony of new experiences. A moan escaped her lips as she began to feel a pressure slowly building in the pit of her stomach. Her movements became erratic, desperate as she writhed on the floor, pleasuring herself. Suddenly she brushed up against the underside of the swollen head one last time and her world turned white. Her muscles contracted, spasming beyond her control, and thick white jets of cum sprayed forth from her with a loud moan. She kept her hands where they were, almost scared to move them lest they elicit more of this intense sensation.

Slowly, panting, Annita collapsed on the floor, looking over at the sticky mess of cum that painted the floor. The melted snow clearly showed how much she had exploded. “That’s… oh, wow. That’s a LOT.” She mumbled to herself.

“Oh, I, er, I guess I should give ye some privacy. Sorry.” A sudden voice from the direction of the door snapped Annita out of her post-orgasmic bliss with the force of an ice bucket being thrown on her. Whirling her head to the sound, she saw a woman peering in, long brown hair hanging down over her chest and what looked like a well used set of leather armor.

“Oh my god I’m so sorry.” Annita scrambled to cover herself with her hands, finding them completely inadequate for her new proportions, and recover some of her completely ruined modesty. “I… I didn’t know anyone was still here. I’m so sorry. I just. Oh man.” She felt her cheeks and ears burning, which brought a whole new realm of new feelings, as the ears burning weren’t on the sides of her head, but up top.

“No, no, maybe I was rude not to knock? Ye, eh, finish up whatever yer doin’ and we’ll be downstairs.” The woman turned and left, but not before she glanced down and over at the mess Annita had made.

“I’m such an idiot.” Annita groaned as she buried her face in her hands. First thing waking up from a five thousand year nap, she had masturbated and embarrassed herself in front of someone. How was she supposed to keep living if this was how she was going to start? Stupid stupid stupid! After wallowing in self pity for a few minutes she shook herself, took a deep breath, and stood again. As she did, she noticed a trickle running down her inner thighs. Cocking an eyebrow, she bent down and wiped it up her thigh. Following it to the source, she gasped as she brushed against familiar flesh. “Well, at least you’re still here, old friend.” She straightened and took a step toward the door.

A cacophonous crunching rang in her ears, and her reflexes launched her into a deep crouch, bracing for something to crash into the room. After a few seconds of nothing happening and her new hackles begging to fall back against her neck and back, she relaxed. “What was that?” She took another step, and the crunching roared back again. “Oh, oh God, Gods, I can hear that?” she gasped as she took another step. Annita stood still, stiller than she ever had, and listened. She could hear the soft rush of air as she breathed, the gentle swish of her tail as it moved on its own, the sound of snow shifting on the roof above, some skittering creatures under the floorboards, and in the distance murmured words. She felt her ears twitching from side to side, tracking each of the noises by pure instinct. It was the strangest feeling not having control over some part of her body. “How the heck did I not hear that woman coming?” she mused before concluding that she was just lost in orgasmic bliss and wasn’t paying attention. “Ugh, this is going to take more getting used to than I thought. Couldn’t have had a normal body, noooo.” She kept griping to herself as she left the room, following the sounds of conversation down the stairs and to the opposite side of what seemed to be a massive mansion.

Easing up to the large doors at the end of the hall, she realized she didn’t even need to press her ear to the door to overhear what was being said on the other side.

“Come on Kat, you are being awful cagey about this.” A male voice said with an annoyed huff.

“Like I said, she’s fine. She’ll be fine. She’s probably going tae be down here shortly. Since when were you such a gossiping ninny Bren?”

Ah, the woman. Seems like she had a friend with her. Annita’s nerves flared. She was already severely humiliated and now she’d be meeting two people, buck naked, in a new body she wasn’t even used to. She walked around in a couple of panicked circles, looking for something to make her feel better, but the bare walls and empty hall provided no comfort. “Well, this is the best I’ve got. Orenous, if you’re listening, clothes would have been really nice.” She whispered to the void. “This’ll have to do.” She took her tail and tucked it between her thighs and up over what she could cover of her nether regions. “All right. Hello world.”

She knocked softly. The hushed conversation stopped immediately, and she gently pushed the door open, only slightly surprised that it was unlocked. Ducking her head under the eaves, she stepped into the room. The woman and a shorter man were sitting next to a cozy fire in the hearth. They had equipment pushed off to the side and a couple of recently used bedrolls they were sitting on. “Uh, hi?” Annita grinned as disarmingly as she could. At the sight of the flinch from the other two, that didn’t seem to work.

“Lordie, you’ve got a set of chompers on ya lassie.” The woman gasped before collecting herself. Annita was surprised to hear the accent had survived the few thousand years, but tucked that question away for later. “Well, go on and take a sit girlie. Take me blanket, might allow you to keep… some modesty.” Annita gratefully took the blanket. It covered some, but she had to settle for it covering her lower body. Taking a moment, she rubbed her cheeks and felt large canines instead of her normal human teeth. She really needed a mirror.

“So, what brings ye to be nappin’ out here in the no-man’s-land? Er, pardon, the name’s Katlyn. This nervous wreck here is Bren.” Katlyn jestured to the timid-looking man seated next to her. Taking a good look at the two of them, Annita almost thought them siblings, but for two distinct differences. They both had chocolate brown hair, pale skin, and similar eyes. The disparity was in their ears and eyebrows. Katlyn had pointed, long ears that trailed out a couple inches back from where a normal person’s ears would stop while Bren had typical human ears. Bren had very bushy eyebrows that didn’t really fit his more slight build, while Katlyn had sharp thin streaks interrupted by a scar on each.

Bren was a slight man with a nervous look in his eyes. Clearly not someone who was used to hard physical labour, but active enough to be lean and healthy. He sat beside some heavier robe looking clothing, but was currently in light breeches and a loose shift. He met Annita’s eyes and quickly turned away, blushing furiously.

Katlyn had a fighter’s build. Strong arms and core visible even under her loose shirt. The armor she was in was tossed to the side, but kept close at hand. Annita thanked Orenous for that since it also gave her a good look at the woman’s well proportioned chest. It fit her body and build perfectly, not large, but shapely and perky.

“Ye like what ye see?” Annita snapped back to reality as she was teased.

“Oh, uh, yeah, I mean sorry?” The heat in her cheeks rose further and further.

“Nothin’ to be sorry about, girlie. Bit rude to be oglin’ without givin’ your name, though.” A cheeky Katlyn’s face as she grinned up at Annita. “And take a seat. Ye look nervous as a cat in a room full o’ rockin’ chairs.”

“Right, um, I’m Annita. Annita Kronforst Nice to meet the two of you.” Annita sat cross-legged, covering her lap with the blanket. As close as she was, she got a better look at the other two. Bren had sparkling blue eyes that shifted into a light grey toward the edges. They almost seemed to change colors with the light through various shades of blue and grey as he continued his attempts to not look directly at Annita. Katlyn, on the other hand had golden eyes with flecks of red-orange. Annita had to pull her gaze away before she was stuck staring again.

“So, back to the question, what are ye doin’ all the way out here with what looks like no gear, no food, no clothes? Not exactly normal circumstances if ye catch my meanin’.” Katlyn sat back on the palms of her hands, looking over expectantly.

“Well, I.” Annita paused. She hadn’t really considered what she was going to tell people about her origins. Orenous had told her that telling other people that she was a being out of time would probably be a bad idea, but she couldn’t really explain her situation all that clearly. What would these two think if she lied, or if she was honest? The anxiety crawled in her gut as she thought, before deciding her course. “I’m… not really sure. I don’t remember much before waking up here. I was walking, I’m not sure why, and when I was tired, I found this place and passed out in the room upstairs.”

Katlyn’s eyes narrowed. Annita tried to remain confident, but it was increasingly difficult under the scrutiny of the blazing gaze. Bren, to his credit, had also turned to listen and took his time contemplating her response more thoughtfully.

“It is not unheard of.” Bren spoke slowly, clearly still thinking over his response. “But usually it is caused by some sort of trauma to the head, causing damage to the brain and memory loss. Usually magic can heal that with time, but you do not appear to have any such trauma. Would you mind if I examine your head for a moment?”

Annita looked at him, and then to Katlyn, wordlessly asking a question.

“He’s a healer. Got some defensive magic to ‘im too. If there’s something medically wrong with ye, he should be able to suss it out right quick,” Katlyn offered, shifting to put her elbows on her knees, hunching forward as she continued to scrutinize Annita.

“Oh, um, ok. Go ahead.” Annita sat up and stock still while Bren moved around her, his prior hesitance quickly fading as he began his examination. Even with his almost clinical attention, she had to admit his fingers in her hair felt nice.

After a few minutes of prodding and mumbling to himself, Bren re-took his seat on his bedroll. “There is nothing that I could find that could be causing this. It might be magical in nature, however, that would require an Arcanist to determine.”

Katlyn seemed to relax slightly at the words. “All right then. Guess we won’t be gettin’ those answers here. So, Annita, ye got yer Path yet? Wait, no, stupid question. Bad memory. Sorry. Take a second. Focus on somethin’ flat like yer palm. Think about yer Path. It should show up there if ye’ve got one.”

“Like this?” Annita held her palm up in front of her face.

“Aye, that’ll do. Now just breathe and think.”

Annita focused. Orenous had described Paths like a game’s class. She took the assumption and ran with it. Focusing on her palm, she tried to project something onto it. Anything. After a moment, she saw a shimmering silver window appear in front of her. It followed her hand as she moved it around, catching Katlyn grinning at her out of the corner of her eye. Blushing, she read the text that appeared before her.

Name: Annita Kronforst

Age: 23

Race: Lupine (Warped)

Path: Unknown

Title: Chosen of Orenous

Racial Skills:

Cold Resistance: Reduced damage from cold effects. Comfortable in colder climates.

Keen Hearing: Able to hear sounds from greater distances with greater clarity.

Natural Weapons: Claws and teeth are considered weapons for any skills that would affect weapons.

Endurance Hunter: +2 to Strength, +5 to Dexterity, +5 to Stamina

Unique Passive:

Chosen of Orenous: The Bearer is burdened with a task from the divine. Growth of one’s progression is accelerated by a factor of 1.5 once a Path is chosen. Further benefits will be unlocked upon progression of the Bearer’s Path.

Additionally provides +3 to Faith.

Strength: 12

Intellect: 10

Dexterity: 15

Faith: 13

Stamina: 15

Mind: 10

Endurance: 10

Resilience: 10

“Aye, looks like ye’ve got it. Keep in mind while we can’t see what you see, ye do look mighty silly goin’ all bogeyed at your hand.” Katlyn flashed a bright grin. “Some things yer maw and paw shoulda told ya: That there is a gift from the Gods. Helps us figure out what to do with our lives, but isn’t all telling. Ye can start over, sets ya right back to the beginning, but it takes a lot of work and commitment to do so. Big changes take big effort. Second is that it’s generally considered private information. Normally yer parents woulda been the first ye’d share this with, but seein’ as yer brain is puddin’, that’s gonna have to be skipped.”

Annita kept staring at her screen. The racial skills seemed pretty nice for her current situation, and the skill that Orenous seems to have given her was absurdly powerful. She started to wonder how it could improve from there. Statistically? Or would there be more effects? “She wasn’t kidding when she compared it to a game.” She mumbled to herself.

“What was tha’?” Katlyn cocked an ear, the long point bouncing slightly. Annita was taken off guard by how surprisingly cute the motion was.

“Oh, uh, nothing. Don’t worry about it. Thanks for the information. I, well, I don’t know what a lot of this means. It doesn’t look like I have a Path quite yet. Does everyone have a set of stats like this?” Annita dismissed the sheet and returned to focusing on the room and people she was with.

“Oh, aye. That’s the basics. Strength and Dexterity are what ye think they are. Not much to explain there. Ah, except that both Strength and Dexterity will increase how fast you can move, just in different ways. Bigger muscles, faster movement, bigger jumps, that kinda thing. Dexterity focused Paths are more about the reflexes, generally quick to act and react.” Annita nodded along, trying to retain this information as best she could while Katlyn continued. “Stamina and Mind are kinda two sides of a coin. Stamina is just how long you can be up and exerting yerself. Mind is the limit of yer magic. A whole bunch o’ nuances there Bren here could probably get into, but I don’t give a toss about. Same shit with the Intellect and Faith stat. Magic of different kinds. Don’t ask me, never cared to get into it. Endurance and Resilience, well, you get what I’m about to say, yeah?”

Annita nodded. “Yeah, physical toughness and magic resistance, right, Katlyn?”

“Atta girl. At least there’s somethin’ left in that gourd of yers.”

“Heh, thanks. So I guess all that’s really left is my Path, which is showing ‘Unknown’ right now. How do I go about getting that?”

Katlyn sighed, looking over at Bren, who nodded in some unspoken understanding. He sat forward while Katlyn took a back seat for the next part. “Well, that is going to be the interesting portion. Generally a person’s Path is discovered over their lives. People who grow up farming will generally gain a Path that helps them with what they know. To be frank, you not having acquired a Path at your age is extremely rare. Rare enough that it is likely we will need to force the issue. Our journey back to the outpost and further, likely back to Graven Keep, will be somewhat dangerous. I do not wish to be rude, however, you would be a liability on this trip.”

“Hey, we can look after ‘er,” Katlyn chided.

“Can you really say as much after what happened to Artyom?” Bren raised his voice for the first time in this conversation. “We are all trained, we have our paths, and he still died.” Katlyn’s ears drooped at his response. Her fierce features faltering into something that looked like shame.

“No, no. I understand,” Annita blurted. Something had clearly happened, and she didn’t quite like the look on Katlyn’s face. She’d seen that hurt. This wasn’t the time to be prodding that trauma. “So, how do we ‘force the issue’?”

Katlyn tossed Annita an appreciative look before sitting up again. “That’s the easy part. Gotta get some experience under yer belt. Speaking of, here.” She rummaged in her pack for a minute before pulling out a belt, what looked like a sheet of canvas of some sort, and a spare blanket. “Give me a minute. Can’t have ye walkin around all nekkid.”

Using her knife and some spare strips of leather, Katlyn managed to fashion a rough open backed halter top from the blanket and used the belt to affix the canvas to Annita’s hips in a makeshift long skirt. Once in place, she cut an opening, which he fed Annita’s tail through. “Ye don’t seem to mind the cold, so at least we don’t have to consider that. How’s it feelin’?”

Annita took herself through the same series of stretches she did upon waking up. The cloth kept tight to her, slightly restricting her chest when she bent over backwards, but the rest allowed for a full range of motion. “It feels great. Thank you Katlyn.”

“Ah, call me Kat, all me friends do and I feel like that’s gonna include you soon. Come with me. We’re gonna spar a bit.” With that, she turned and left the room, clearly expecting Annita to follow.

“Kat, got it.” Annita briefly waved at Bren, who responded with a dismissive wave of his own before hurrying after Kat.

Chapter Text

Chapter Four

Annita followed Kat through the mansion, trailing slightly behind. It was a quiet walk before they got outside, facing the bracing chill of the winter snowscape. There was a small courtyard with what looked like it used to be a fountain in the middle. It wasn’t much more than a few stones in a circle now, and snow covered everything in a soft, amorphous blanket. To the left there was a thicket of black trees, leaves long since gone to the winter’s cold. The skies were overcast but the steely grey clouds were bright and the snow made things brighter, reflecting the surrounding light. Kat led her to the right side of the fountain, where there was a good amount of clear ground.

“Sorry about tha’ in there,” Kat said suddenly. “We lost a teammate just before gettin’ here. Tae be honest. I’m surprised Bren’s holdin’ it together as well as he is.” She let out a deep sigh, raising her eyes to the grey, clouded skies. “Hells I’m mostly only keepin’ it together for ‘im. Someone’s gotta have their head on their shoulders.”

“I’m so sorry,” Annita said as she drew closer to Kat, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I can’t say I understand, but, yeah.”

“Oh, aye. Not somethin’ you really can until it happens to ye. Ugh, well,” she shook herself and took a step away, causing Annita’s hand to fall to her side. “let’s get to less depressin’ things. First off, ya remember anything about fightin’?”

“Hmm, I think there’s something in this brain, but not much.” It wasn’t really a lie. She remembered her martial arts, but it was vague. “I know how to throw a punch. Maybe how to grapple a little?”

“Well, good enough to start on. Shame it aint anythin’ weapon based. Coulda used me sword and shield for tha’. Fair warnin’, I’ve got twelve levels in me Path. It’s not high, but it’s enough this won’t be fair. Don’t hold back. Any accidents that do happen, Bren can patch us up. Any questions?”

“Rules? Tap out or stop on unconsciousness?” Annita took a couple steps back, bouncing on her paws, feeling her body loosen as she got ready. She shook her arms and one leg at a time, rolling her neck to try to get as much stiffness out as she could.

“Unconscious. Ta get ya the most out of this, it’s gotta be as real as we can get. Ye get to count it down. Remember, no holdin’ back.”

Kat stretched herself and Annita couldn’t help but take a moment to admire her body. It really was a fantastic body. Muscles rippled under her taugt skin as she moved.

“Ready when you are,” Kat said, seemingly noticing Annita’s gaze and grinning mischievously.

“Then here we go.” Annita took a deep breath. “Three, two, one,” she charged.

Katlin seemed to stand perfectly still, waiting to see what she did. She rushed up and aimed a closed fist at the smaller woman’s stomach. With seeming ease, Kat had caught her fist right before she made contact. Annita jumped back on instinct, paws sliding slightly in the snow.

“Good. Actually excellent for someone with no Path to help ‘em. Ya sure you’re unleveled?”

“Yeah. Certain.” Annita shook her hand, flexing the fingers before she moved back in. She leveled a kick at Kat’s ankle, which the fighter deftly moved her foot away from before striking back. An impact that rattled her teeth hit Annita’s shoulder and spun her away from her target.

“No holdin’ back.” Kat reminded her.

“Yeah, gotcha.” Annita growled. Kat was fast, she had to try to be either tricky, or faster. She came in again with another punch, trying to aim at Kat’s head before she ducked and wrapped her arms around the other woman’s waist. Pushing hard, she was surprised to find Kat knocked off her feet. A soft grunt met her ears as they hit the snow. Trying to press her advantage, Annita tried to move and restrict Kat’s arms, but never got a chance.

Immediately upon landing, Kat went on the offensive, raining a flurry of blows up at Annita. She got her arms up in front of her as fast as she could, but a few strikes hit her chest, almost knocking the wind out of her. Even with her arms blocking she wasn’t faring much better. She could tell each and every blow was going to be a bruise, but it was better than nothing. Realizing this wasn’t going to work out, she rolled off Kat and scrabbled to her hands and… paws? Somehow, it was far more comfortable for her to be in this position than it had been. Perks of the new body, she guessed.

Slowly, Annita circled Kat as the woman, in a show of physical ability, launched herself off her back and to her feet. She settled into a boxer’s stance as she watched Annita’s movements. Suddenly Kat was on her, punching down at her back she’d unexpectedly exposed in the stance she’d taken. A loud thud echoed through Annita’s ears. Pain radiated from the impact as she hit the ground with a grunt, completely prone.

Using her until now forgotten claws on her hands and paws, Annita scrabbled forward desperately, trying to make it more awkward for Kat to hit her. She clawed up the woman’s legs, gripping around her waist again, digging her claws in. She grinned as she got a hiss of pain from Kat and began to squeeze.

“Oh, gonna try it like that, are ye?” Kat laughed as she looked down at Annita. “Let’s make it fair then.”

Suddenly Annita felt herself being lifted, her claws scraping against flesh, before Kat’s arms hooked under hers. She looked up and saw a competitive gleam shining back from the fighter’s eyes as she got in position.

Then Annita felt the arms around her squeeze. It was like a vice, or an anaconda. She struggled and twisted, feeling her body being slowly crushed as she tried to do the same to Kat. Air began to slowly leave her body bit by bit, her vision beginning to fade. Desperate, she opened her mouth and sunk her elongated teeth into Kat’s shoulder. The experienced fighter didn’t even flinch as Annita tasted blood for the first time in this life. It was no use. Slowly, painfully, her world went black.

Annita groaned as she felt feeling return to her body. She wished it’d go away again, but she winced and opened her eyes. A familiar silver window opened up in the corner of her vision.

Level Up!

Path unlocked. Please make your selection from the following choices:

“Hey, how’re ya feelin’ there?” Kat was sitting at her side in the snow. Her shirt was ruined, torn up its back and with a bloody bite mark on her shoulder. Curiously, she wasn’t bleeding anymore.

“Like I got put into a corset by a gorilla.” Annita tried to sit up, but her body just wouldn’t let her. “You weren’t kidding about this not being fair.”

“Aye, Paths are some incredible things, and with a combat one like mine? Well, it’s even less fair. So, did it work? Ya get a Path?” She looked down with those intense blue eyes that sent a shiver through Annita.

“Yeah, think I did. One minute.”

“Take yer time. It’s a big decision.”

Annita turned her attention back to the silver screen floating in her vision.

Level Up!

Path unlocked. Please make your selection from the following choices:

Shameless Exhibitionist

Congratulations on your new lease on life! Strangely, your first act was getting caught in a compromising position. Clearly you must like eyes on you. This class will help continue this experience, drawing the eyes of others while helping you and anyone else involved get away with activities.

Feral Scrapper

You may lack experience, but you make up for it with ferocity. Biting, clawing, kicking, scraping? Anything goes for you! Learn to let loose the beast within and bring your enemies low, using your body’s natural advantages in more ways than one.

Warrior of Orenous

A warrior sponsored by the Goddess Orenous. As the Goddess of love and emotion, she would prefer you spend your time living and loving those around you. However, the time calls for action. However, your path will be long, and the road hard. You will not want for entertaining options as well.

Pervert of Orenous

You are sponsored by the Goddess Orenous herself. Through your actions, you have made it clear that you are here for your own enjoyment. Enhanced by a Goddess’ powers, you will be more alluring and enchanting to those you wish. Gain skills and abilities influencing the minds and bodies of others to further your goals.

Strangely, there was a box next to the third option. Focusing on it for a moment, it expanded.

Hello child. While the last option may be tempting, I urge you to choose this one. It will fit your personality and goals the best.

“Well, those sure are some choices,” Annita grumbled.

Kat quirked an eyebrow. “Oh? Bad choices?”

“Kinda? At least one of them definitely. Useless outside of, uh, specific situations.” Annita could feel her cheeks burning as she spoke. The thought of the Path excited her, but it wasn’t going to help her survive. “The next two seem combat focused, with the third being more of a mixed bag? The last one is another strange one. I can see it being useful in some circumstances, but isn’t really something I see myself taking.”

“Well, it’s a real personal decision you’ve got to make. Take some time, but you will need to make it before we leave here. Bren and I want to make some ground before the day is done.” Kat patted her on her shoulder. “And, erm,” a hint of a blush crept up the woman’s long ears, “if ye want a second opinion, I’m all ears.”

“Was… was that a pun?” Annita’s voice was full of incredulity as she looked at her long-eared companion.

“Oh, aye, one of me favorites,” Kat laughed heartily as she flopped back in the snow next to Annita. “But seriously. Yer in a vulnerable state not havin’ yer memory and whatnot. I’m happy to help how’ere I can.”

“Thanks.” Annita turned back to her choices.

Exhibitionist is right out, no question. I guess I can see Pervert of Orenous being useful in some situations. It’d probably be useful, if I were getting into politics or something like that. Man, bending the minds and hearts of others, dangerous stuff. Yeah, don’t want to touch that. Moving on.

I guess these two are both more about fighting, would probably help get me out of this situation. She rolled onto her side, facing Kat as she thought about her choices silently. Feral Scrapper is probably because of the fight we just went through. It seems interesting. All about my body? More about the wolf parts of me, and getting more out of it? Sounds really interesting now that I think about it. And would that include my cock? Shit, shut up horny brain. No wonder I got the other two options.

This last one, though, Warrior of Orenous. It seems like it’s tailor made for what she wanted me to be doing here. Even comes with a recommendation from the Goddess herself. Yeah, sure, fuck it. Kat said I could get it changed later if I really wanted to.

“All right.” Annita let out a sigh and tapped the air where Warrior of Orenous hovered. A brief flash filled her vision, causing her to blink rapidly.

“Yeah, probably shoulda’ warned ye about the flash. At least it only happens once.” Kat chuckled as she watched Annita try to clear the afterimages burned into her eyes.

“Gee thanks.” Annita responded wryly.

“Well, now that ye’ve got yer Path chosen, check out yer screen. Shoulda updated with it.”

Doing as directed, Annita mentally pulled up her status screen. “Well, that’s interesting.”

Name: Annita Kronforst

Age: 23

Race: Lupine (Warped)

Path: Warrior of Orenous

Title: Chosen of Orenous

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Racial Skills:

Cold Resistance: Reduced damage from cold effects. Comfortable in colder climates.

Keen Hearing: Able to hear sounds from greater distances with greater clarity.

Natural Weapons: Claws and teeth are considered weapons for any skills that would affect weapons.

Endurance Hunter: +2 to Strength, +5 to Dexterity, +5 to Stamina

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Unique Passive:

Chosen of Orenous: The Bearer is burdened with a task from the divine. Growth of one’s progression is accelerated by a factor of 1.5 once a Path is chosen. Further benefits will be unlocked upon progression of the Bearer’s Path.

Additionally provides +3 to Faith.

Health Points: 150/150

Strength: 12

Intellect: 10

Dexterity: 15

Faith: 18

Stamina: 15

Mind: 20/20

Endurance: 12

Resilience: 12

Libido: 0/100

Desire: 0/30

Path Skills

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Passive:

Weapon Proficiency: Light weapons and small firearms.

Armor Proficiency: Medium Armor

Health Points: Stat has been unlocked.

Libido: Stat has been unlocked. Increases by 5/hour. Once full, sexual inhibitions will be greatly reduced until release is achieved.

Desire: Stat has been unlocked. Gained through relations with trusting partners.

Stat Increases: +5 to Faith, +10 to Mind, +2 to Endurance, +2 to Resilience

Compatibility: You’re a large lady, in more ways than one. This will help make sure things go smoothly in your conquests.

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Active:

Stoke the Flames: Consume 10 desire points to inflame the target, incensing a heightened emotion of your choice for 1 minute.

Smite of Orenous: Enhance an attack to deal additional Holy damage. Adds 20% of current Faith to the attack. Cost: 10 Mind.

“Of course it’s weirder than I thought it would be,” Annita groaned, covering her eyes.

“Hm? Somethin’ wrong with the Path?” Kat’s voice was more curious than concerned as she leaned closer. Annita was suddenly reminded how close they were, and her heart skipped a beat.

“Uh, no, not really? It’s strange. It seems like it’s a mix of fighter and magic user? I’m not really sure what to make of it. And there’re some stats on this screen that are, uh, problematic to say the least.”

“Problematic how? As in dangerous to others or just frustratin’ to use?”

“The latter, definitely. Honestly, it might be easier for me to show you. Wait, can I even do that?” Annita looked up to see Kat blushing furiously, at a loss for words for once. “Did I say something wrong? I know this is supposed to be private, but you’re the only one who’s around that I can really talk about this with. Especially with how some of this, uh, Gods, works.”

Kat took a second to recollect herself, but the blush did not fade, and was starting to incite a blush in Annita as well. “Oh, yeah, definitely. And definitely private, and personal, and, well, sharing means a great deal of trust. Are ye sure?”

“I think I am?” Annita responded slowly. “How do I do it? And uh, don’t hate me?”

“Just put yer hand on me cheek and think about the Screen. And why would I hate… oh, oh!” She stumbled over her words as Annita followed her instruction.

“Orenous? How the bloody, shite suckin’ Hells did you wind up with a class dedicated to ‘er? Not to mention a title to boot? Who the hell are ye, lassie? That shite aint normal. Not even rare. That’s,” Kat looked like she was about to explode, her previous embarrassment completely forgotten. “Feck. It’s not important right now. The rest of it is. Gods, now I know why you asked me not to hate ye.”

“Yeah, sorry. Not like I knew that was coming with this.” Annita rolled back onto her back to stare back up at the sky. “I’m as surprised as you are.”

“Clearly not! Yer way too calm. Wait, amnesiac, right! UGH!” she shouted again with frustration.

“I’ve gotta fill ye in later. Once we’re back in a modicum of safety. We’re gonna talk about yer race too. Yer pretty exceptional ‘n all, but Warped isn’t somethin’ I’ve seen or heard of attached like that. Not with yer sanity. Fer now, ye’ve got weapon proficiency, ye’ve got yer health points, ye’ve got a good boost to yer physical stats, and yer magic ain’t nothin’ to sneeze at neither. Ye’re an all rounder. It’ll help get ye outta ‘ere an’ back to the outpost fer sure. Gods damnit woman. Ye’ve got the looks and a bonkers class to go with it.” Kat flailed in a small tantrum, tossing snow around and over Annita.

“Hey, hey, wasn’t my choice to be given this,” Annita laughed as she tried to block some of the snow. “So, you’re cool with the, well, other parts of the Path?”

“What the fuckin’? Oh, aye, tha’s fine. Er, wait, are ye propositionin’ me?” Kat stopped thrashing, focusing on Annita with an almost offended look.

“No! Nonononono. I would, I mean, I wouldn’t never, but I just, uh. Fuck. I don’t know.” Annita melted into a pile of nerves and anxiety with a whine. She was pretty sure she already liked Kat. The woman’s easy confidence relaxed her, making even fighting her seem pleasant. But she couldn’t help thinking they’d just met about an hour ago. Was this too fast? She couldn’t tell.

“Ah, I’m pullin’ yer leg. Not like I wouldn’t like a tumble with ye, but it’s not been a day we’ve known each other.” Much to Annita’s relief, Kat’s look softened back to normal. It seemed like the woman was of the same mind as her. The brunette with elven features stood and looked around. “All right, it’s been a bit. Bren’s probably worried sick about us. Let’s head back in. Oh, and Annita?”

“Yeah?” Annita asked as she stood to follow Kat back into the mansion.

“Buy me dinner first.” Kat giggled as she strode back into the building, leaving Annita stunned in the snow outside.

“Oh, so this is why you liked who was coming, isn’t it?” she quietly said to the sky. “Goddesses I swear.” With that, she trudged in and went to meet up with Bren, tail wagging softly behind her.

Chapter Text

Kat wasn’t kidding when she said they wanted to make good time. By the time she and Annita had gotten back to the fireplace room, Bren had already gotten most of their things packed up. Kat got to working on finishing up the last parts of it and re-donning her leather armor. Not having much to do, Annita stood to the side and watched.

“So,” Bren spoke without turning from his duties, “did you manage to procure a Path?”

“Yeah, I guess I did. Though I’m not sure if it’s a good one after the reaction Kat gave.” Annita shrugged as she moved and sat down next to her companions.

“Aye, that’s fuckin’ right. It’s a solid combat class. Got some other things fer ‘er, too. ‘S her business tae talk about though.” Kat grunted as she strapped her bedroll to her backpack.

“Yeah, I think I’m gonna keep that under wraps for the most part.” Annita worried if this would offend Bren, since Kat clearly knew what her Path was. To his credit, he just glanced over at her, silver eyes searching her for more, but when he got nothing, he returned to his work.

While they were busy, Annita took some time to figure out her claws. Apparently they could retract like a cat’s, but it seems like they retained the thickness of a dog’s. The anatomy didn’t really make sense as she watched them replace her fingernails and then go back. Taking an experimental scratch at the floor, they didn’t hurt when she put pressure into the action.

While experimenting, Annita also noticed she’d stopped having issues with loud noises. She closed her eyes and listened. She could hear the clinking and rustling of Bren and Kat packing, but could hear a lot more. Soft creaks in the house, the wind down the hall coming in through the roof, the skitter of some small animal living in the walls. The world came alive in a way she’d never experienced before.

A hand rested on her shoulder, and she looked up to see Kat leaning down. “Ye doin’ all right?”

“Ah, yeah, was just listening,” Annita sighed as she stood.

“I could tell. Yer ears were flickin’ every which way. Interestin’ to watch for sure. Hear anythin’ interestin’?”

“No, not really. Just the sounds of the house. We ready to go?”

“Aye. C’mon, I’ll give ya a hand.” Kat said softly as she reached out.

Annita took her led stood. A quiet look between the three of them confirmed everyone was prepared.

They all stepped out into the overcast day and took in their surroundings.

“So, which way are we headed?” Annita asked.

“West, back behind the house. It will be the best path to the nearest outpost.” Bren said in his clean cut way of speaking. “It would have been about a day’s ride on the sledge, however, since that’s out of the picture, I believe it will be around three days.”

“Aye, providin’ we don’t run into any trouble, which is likely considering how close to the Seed we are. Annita, ye’ve got those ears, yeah? Keep listenin’ for somethin’ movin’ out there. Anythin’ bigger than a squirrel and let us know. Might be an animal, might be a Warped. Can never tell.”

“Sorry, a Warped?” Annita cocked an ear in confusion.

“Aye, nasty beasties. I think I mentioned we lost Arty? Was to one of ‘em. Creatures that’re all sorts of wrong. Whole buncha’ animals an’ men all mashed together. That’s the usual for ‘em. I’ve heard o’ more dangerous versions, smarter, but none of ‘em should be outside the Seeds so at least we’ve got that goin’ fer us.”

“Until that assumption fails.” Bren muttered.

“Ah hush. Let’s get back to civilization before we get to mournin’. C’mon gloomyguts.” Kat clapped Bren on the shoulder, causing the slighter man to stumble but also bringing a wan grin to his face.

The route Bren and Kat had chosen led into the woods behind the mansion. It was an untamed area full of dead underbrush and trees. Everything, as Annita was becoming used to, was covered in a few inches of snow. This seemed to bother her and Kat less than it did Bren, most likely due to their more physically focused Paths.

They walked for a couple hours until the sun was high in the sky, or as best they could tell with the cloud cover. Kat called a break and co-opted Annita into helping clear a small area of snow to rest. While they did so, Bren unpacked food and melted some snow for water. It wasn’t good food, mostly hardtack and preserved fruits, but it was filling.

“So, what should I expect out of this outpost you two have mentioned?” Annita asked between bites.

“Oh, that is right, you wouldn’t know,” Bren replied, dusting some crumbs from his cloak. “It will not be a very hospitable place. It is mostly intended to house mercenaries and soldiers. It is surrounded by log walls about twelve feet high with a gate and guards. Inside, you will find an area for members of The Watch and other structures for others to sleep. There is a mess hall, and several official buildings. Rough, utilitarian, but it serves its purpose as a forward position well.” With that, Bren went back to eating.

“So, sounds like it’s kinda official. Would I be allowed in?” Annita took another bite.

“Oh, aye. If ye were like ye were when we found ye, then that’d be a problem. All nekkid. But as ye are? No problems at all. What ye are, mind, will draw some attention. There’re some clans that have some level of bestial traits, but ye’re a bit more than the others.”

“That is correct.” Bren picked up, “Most of the peoples who have taken on animal traits due to the Warping effect around the Seeds are generally minor. Ears, tails, teeth. Usually only a single trait. To have one such as yourself so extensively changed is a nigh unseen rarity. I am certain that scholars back in Indelholm would love to study your nature.”

“Yeaaah, I’m gonna have to pass on that one,” Annita blushed. “Not really keen on being poked and prodded all over. It’s my body, as strange as it is.”

“Oh, I quite agree with the sentiment. I simply meant to warn that it may come up if you visit. The changes the Warp invoke on the creatures of this world are a constant point of research. Normally someone with such extensive changes would have long since lost their mind and become a slavering, rage filled beast. But here you sit, conducting a proper conversation. I will admit my own intellectual curiosity has been piqued. However, I will not press if it causes you discomfort.”

Annita scratched behind one ear, a wonderful feeling she’d been trying to chase whenever she could. “I mean, if you have some questions, I can’t really promise an answer, but I can hear you out? Can’t really say much if it feels normal, though.”

“Oh, I quite understand,” Bren said as he sat forward. “Well, let us start with this, then. Canines, by and large, are known for their fantastic sense of hearing and smell. You seem to have the ears. Do you share these senses?”

“Well, I definitely share the hearing. I’ve been listening since we started walking, but that’s pretty normal for me. Seems to be about a hundred feet or so clearly, and from there, it falls off.” Another half-lie. Again, nothing she felt great about but still was worried about how others would perceive her situation. “As for the smell, no, thankfully. I don’t think I’d like being able to smell everyone and everything in a large radius around me.”

“Ah, yes, I can imagine that would be off-putting. Then I suppose your eyes do not see the way they do as well? I understand that they have a limited perception of color based on the few I’ve met that had the trait.”

“Yeah, full color here. From my experience, it seems the same as a human’s?” It was hard trying to keep up the act that she hadn’t been human before this.

“Well, that is probably a blessing. I could not imagine this life without being able to see the vibrancy of the world. Moving on, if you would permit, you seem to have the lower legs of your bestial kin. Is there anything special regarding them?”

“Uh, not that I can tell? I can run pretty quick, I guess, but otherwise they’re just my feet.”

“Hm, understood. Well, thank you for humoring me for the moment. Kat, do you have any questions for our new traveling partner?” He turned to Kat, raising an eyebrow at her.

“Oh, nae, at least none ye’ve got the right tae be around fer.” At a quizzical glance, she continued, “Girl talk ye twit.”

“Oh!” Bren’s cheeks colored quickly as he caught her implication. “Yes, of course. That would be a more private matter. But, yes, like I was saying, thank you Annita for being so open.”

“You’re welcome?” Annita shook her head. “Gotta say it’s a bit weird being quizzed about my body. It’s just been normal for all my life? Loud noises generally bother me, but I’ve gotten used to filtering it all out. I’m really not sure how much more I could give you for info. At least, not that I’m comfortable with.” Annita hugged her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them.

“Nae, it’s fine darlin’. Must be terrible not knowin’ much about yerself. At least you seem to know yer body, and how tae talk. That’s a good starter.” As she spoke, Kat shifted so she was leaning up against Annita, wrapping an arm around her shoulders comfortingly.

“Yeah, I guess. Also, thanks for helping me out. Don’t know what I would have done with-“ Annita cut off mid sentence as her ears twitched. Something bigger was approaching. She could hear the patter of what she thought might be paws, but wasn’t quite sure.

“Ye ok?” Kat looked at her concernedly.

“Yeah, you remember that whole thing about listening for something bigger than squirrels? Yeah. It’s got paws. I think I can hear breath, but I can’t make out details.”

“Ah shite, Bren, at the ready. We’ve got company.” Kat tossed what was left of her rations aside and quickly strapped her shield to her right arm, gripping her sword in her left. Bren similarly stood and pulled out what looked like a wand from what Annita could see and began scanning the surrounding woods.

“Can ye tell where they’re comin’ from, Ann?” Kat asked, standing at full alert.

“Uh,” Annita paused as she tried to pinpoint it, “that way.” She pointed behind where Kat was currently facing.

“All right, good. Now ye don’t have armor, or much in the way of strength. Stay behind me, try to help as best ye can, and keep whatever gets past me off Bren. Got it?”

“Got it.” Annita confirmed, extending her claws and crouching low as she waited.

“All right, ye bawbags. We know yer there. Come on out and we can get this o’er with.” Kat yelled into the woods while smacking her shield with her sword.

“A taunt.” Bren explained from behind Annita. “Draws some attention to her. It will keep most of the enemies focused, but several are likely to come around to the sides.”

Sure enough, as he spoke, six wolf-like creatures shuffled from the underbrush into the clearing. Annita recoiled slightly as she took in their forms. All of them had two heads, or, at least, sort of. It was more that they had one head split into two halves that seemed to be working independently. As they twisted and turned, she could see the inside of their mouths, nose, and throat. Slobber dripped out of the space for their mouths as they snarled at the group.

“Aye, that’s right. C’mere ye mangy mutts.” Kat goaded them further, continuing to make noise with her shield.

Several barks rang out and three rushed her at once, two flanked while the other took the front. As they neared her, Kat lunged and skewered the middle of the group with her sword, the body going limp almost immediately. The wolf on the right met her shield with a crunch of bone and desperately tried to work its way around the barrier.

As it did, the third got past Kat’s sword and bit down hard on her armored leg. “Feck, gerrof me,” she grunted as she kicked at it. Without full power from both halves of its jaw, it was launched free fairly easily. At least, that’s what Annita assumed. It might just be that Kat was that strong. While she was preoccupied another twin headed wolf attempted to take the place of its dead companion.

“Hey, eyes up!” Bren called behind her, his hands moving as he cast some kind of magic.

Looking around, Annita saw that the remaining wolves had circled past Kat and were angling toward the rear of their group, meaning Bren. She turned and moved so she was in the path to intercept them and growled low in her throat. Surprised at such a familiar sound, the wolves hesitated for a moment, but that’s what she needed.

Sprinting as quickly as she could, she sunk her claws into the chest of the leftmost wolf. Black ooze seeped over her hand as the beast writhed in pain. Pulling back, she barely caught the second wolf coming in for her legs. Instead, it got a good bite of her arm. Annita cried out in pain as she began to pummel the writhing heads of the creature, trying to take chunks out of her to little effect. She changed angles and stabbed her claws deep into one of its eyes. This got the reaction she was looking for as she tore her arm free from its loosening jaws. Seizing the advantage, she bowled the animal over and used her claws to dig at its chest, tearing flesh and sending black blood flying.

Before she could finish the severely wounded creature, she felt another bite close around her left calf. Without protection, like Kat, she let out another yelp as blood began to run down her leg. “Oh, fuck this. Fuck you!” She screamed. “I just got here, I’m. Not. Fucking. Dying. To. DOGS!” as she yelled, she clawed frantically at the slavering hound. Ripping its jaws from her leg, and a bit of that with it, she snarled, pulled its half heads together and sank her teeth deep into its necks. An awful taste filled her mouth. Something like moldy soup, but she didn’t stop. She dug her teeth in until she felt them meet and pulled as hard as she could. The wolf fell dead at her feet as blood poured from its throat.

Annita spit out the black ooze and turned back to the other creature. Limping, she approached its ragged side and kneeled. Without a word, she drove her clawed fist into its chest and felt something give way. The body twitched once, twice, and was still.

Panting, she stood over the dead wolves, adrenaline coursing through her as her hands began to shake. Her blood roared in her ears as she reared her head back. “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH” Annita screamed to the slate grey sky. She wasn’t quite sure why she did it, but it felt good and right.

“Fuck, how hurt am I?” she panted, looking at her bleeding arm and leg. Pulling her stat screen up, she saw her Health was showing a 76/150. “Ow, not good. Just over half from that? Two bites is all it took?”

“Yes.” Bren said close by, causing her to jump out of her skin. “And that is why a healer is crucial for these excursions. Allow me to attend to your wounds.”

“I’ll be fine. Go help Kat.” Annita brushed off his hands.

“Oh, I have. She is already back to top shape and finished with her combat.”

Looking around, Annita saw Kat leaning against a nearby tree.

“Aye, get yerself healed. Not bad for a first fight. Gotta ask, what’s that black shite taste like?” She was clearly not concerned, so Annita let herself relax as well.

“Awful. Like old spoiled food, and maybe shit. I, ugh.” Annita shivered and grabbed some untainted snow, stuffing it in her mouth and spitting out more of the foul liquid. “If my teeth weren’t just about the best weapon I’ve got, I’d never bite those things again. The hell were they, anyway?”

“Those,” Bren said as his healing magic got to work, “are what we call Twinwolves. They are a fairly common type of Warped around this area. Wolves that either spent too much time near the Seed or were unlucky enough to stumble into it. It twists them into those things. Thankfully, they’re weak, relatively speaking, since they are numerous. Each head’s bite counts as individual attacks, though, so they can overwhelm ya quickly.”

“Weak, yeah. I guess they would be to you guys,” Annita grumbled as the pain began to fade in her arm and leg. She watched the wounds begin to stop bleeding, and the flesh knit itself back together. “Me though? I thought I was gonna die.”

“Well, knowin’ what I know, ye’re gonna be in a lot more o’ these situations. So ye best start gettin’ used to ‘em,” Kat sighed, standing and walking over to Annita. “No promises it’ll all stay so easy, but at least ye’ve got us ta help in yer early stages.”

“Yeah, guess I am lucky. Totally lucky,” Annita mumbled, silently thanking Orenous for the help. Taking a deep breath, she noticed something in the corner of her vision. A small silver notification. Pulling it up, she was greeted with a new Screen that simply stated:

Level Up!

Please review your Stat Screen for further information!

Chapter Text

“Oh, I leveled!” Annita gasped, looking at the announcement.

“Well, congratulations, ya belter!” Kat clapped her on the back. “Go on, take a minute tae figure it out. Bren an’ I’ll clean this mess up.”

Nodding, Annita did as instructed and summoned up her Status Screen once again. This time there were a couple of messages overlayed on top of the normal numbers.

Congratulations! Your Path has advanced!

Warrior of Orenous (2)

The following has been modified:

Health cap increased to 160.

Libido cap increased to 105.

Desire pool increased to 40.

Huh, neat! That gives me an extra hour before the cap on Libido is hit. That’ll prevent some awkwardness. Some. Ugh. Still can’t believe this is a thing. Moving on. She flicked the first screen and it dissipated in a shimmer of sparks. The next one was pretty normal.

Please select one of your core stats to increase by +2.

Ah, ok. Simple enough. What to put it in, though? Annita scratched behind one of her ears. Well, I don’t have any way of using my Mind or Faith right now, so I guess… yeah. Strength. Let’s go with that.

As she thought, the window disappeared like the first. What laid below was her newly increased stats.

Name: Annita Kronforst

Age: 23

Race: Lupine (Warped)

Path: Warrior of Orenous (1)

Title: Chosen of Orenous

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Racial Skills:

Cold Resistance: Reduced damage from cold effects. Comfortable in colder climates.

Keen Hearing: Able to hear sounds from greater distances with greater clarity.

Natural Weapons: Claws and teeth are considered weapons for any skills that would affect weapons.

Endurance Hunter: +2 to Strength, +5 to Dexterity, +5 to Stamina

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Unique Passive:

Chosen of Orenous: The Bearer is burdened with a task from the divine. Growth of one’s progression is accelerated by a factor of 1.5 once a Path is chosen. Further benefits will be unlocked upon progression of the Bearer’s Path.

Additionally provides +3 to Faith.

Path Skills

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Passive:

Weapon Proficiency: Light weapons and small firearms.

Armor Proficiency: Medium Armor

Health Points: Stat has been unlocked.

Libido: Stat has been unlocked. Increases by 5/hour. Once full, sexual inhibitions will be greatly reduced until release is achieved.

Desire: Stat has been unlocked. Gained through relations with trusting partners.

Stat Increases: +5 to Faith, +10 to Mind, +2 to Endurance, +2 to Resilience

Compatibility: You’re a large lady, in more ways than one. This will help make sure things go smoothly in your conquests.

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Active:

Stoke the Flames: Consume 10 desire points to inflame the target, incensing a heightened emotion of your choice for 1 minute.

Smite of Orenous: Enhance an attack to deal additional Holy damage. Adds 20% of current Faith to the attack. Cost: 10 Mind.

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Passive Stat Increases:

+10 Health

+10 Desire

+5 Libido

+2 Strength

“Well, at least Libido increases as I level,” Annita mused. “That buys me an extra hour. So I’m at what,” she paused as she worked through her atrocious math skills, “twenty-one hours? Still less than a day. That’s annoying, but I guess it’s what I can expect from Orenous. Betting that’s gonna have some use later though. Until then, nightly figuring out where to jerk it.”

“Huh, so health doesn’t top off when it increases?” Annita muttered to herself.

“Oh? Aye, bit strange that, but it is how it is.” Kat said, just returning from piling up the bodies of the Twinwolves. “No top up, and the amount ye’ve got when ye level is what ye’ve got until ya rest or heal.”

“One of the little quirks of the Gods’ infinite variety.” Bren sighed, wiping black ooze from his arms and hands. “Well, that concludes the cleanup. It would be easier if we had someone to ignite the corpses with magic, however, we can just leave them like this. They will dissolve eventually and return to the earth.”

“They do? That’s pretty convenient. Do you get to harvest anything from them?” Annita cocked her head with curiosity.

“Oh, no. At least not from creatures as insignificant as these. Encounter and defeat a greater beast and some part of its being may be left behind. The Kingdom pays handsomely for such materials, and craftsmen are eager to work with it as well.”

“Yeah, I bet. Rare materials, good equipment and wares, right?”

“Pretty much, aye. Ready to leg it a bit more?” Kat offered Annita her hand.

“Yeah, let’s get moving,” Annita grunted as she stood, kicking her leg and stretching her arm to see if everything was working right. No pain, no stiffness. Magic is crazy.

After what felt like a good amount of time, Annita broached the subject. “So, Kingdom? What can you tell me about it?”

“Oh, yes. That will be rather relevant in short order, will it not?” Bren stepped over a fallen, snow covered tree and continued. “I will attempt to keep this brief.” Annita caught Kat giving him a sidelong glance at the comment. “It is an old regency. The current royal family, the Farraghers, has ruled for nigh on one thousand years. It has been a good and stable rule for a large majority. There are, of course, border wars with our neighbouring nations from time to time, however, this Kingdom has persevered. There are four main cities occupying our territory. First in the order is Korvas, the mountain city and capital of the realm. Nobility and those with wealth tend to gravitate there, as it is the seat of power. While also being such, it is a city founded on mining. It exports all sorts of ores and metalworks to the rest of the kingdom. Secondly, Indelholm, City of Magic. As you can infer by the name, it is the home of the magical academies of the land. Everything from our Archmages to the newest of Acolytes reside there. Currently, it is led by both Headmaster Mariani and Governor Heyburn. It is a wondrous place, and I highly recommend a visit when you might have the time.”

“Oh, aye, the fancy-pants magic city’s fine and all if ya like flashy lights an’ expensive shite,” Kat cut off what Annita could tell was going to be a long description of the city. “There’re the other cities too, just to remind ya. Graven Keep and Thalten. Thalten’s pretty simple in a lot o’ ways. It’s the agricultural center o’ the kingdom. Lots o’ good folk out there workin’ fields in better climates, hunting in the woods, ye get the idea. It’s all spread out too, not like the towering e’rythin that’s Indelholm. Been there a good few times. Great chats to be had in its taverns. Then there’s where we’re headin’ right now. Graven Keep. Icy as the name makes ‘er sound. Lots o’ stone, dark woods, big walls. Gates close at nights, but the bars and fightin’ rings don’t go quiet until early mornin’. Whaddya say to visitin’ a couple while we’re in town?” Kat elbowed Ann, who had fallen into a quiet pace, absorbing the new information.

“Hey, sounds like fun. What sorts of people live there? It’s a fort, so I imagine a lot of soldiers?”

“Aye, that, fighters, warriors, mercenaries all. Ye get the more adventurous magic types too, like ol’ Bren here. It’s a relic of the olden days. Back when the Warped were more o’ a problem than they are now. Had to have big ol’ walls to keep ‘em out.”

“How long ago were ‘olden days’? They sound pretty ancient if the current kingdom was mostly peaceful,” Annita mused. “And the, uh, Warped were a bigger threat before?”

“Yes, very much so. Though our lovely Kat’s sense of time is a bit distorted due to her lineage, it was before the time of the Farraher house. A thousand and some five hundred odd years. Possibly longer. It was when the Seeds became dangerous to enter. Monstrosities suddenly began to pour from them. Our kingdom and the neighboring regions banded together to push the hordes back. A dark time filled with blood and terror. I might recommend a few tomes containing the histories of such if you are so inclined,” Bren said as he walked.

Annita decided to push a question she’d been holding back out of fear of being rude. “So, Kat. Please don’t take offense, but what exactly are you? You’ve got the long ears, so are you an elf?”

Kat stopped for a moment, seemingly surprised by the question. “Er, no? Our people are normally known as Alfindurn. Though I guess Alf and Elf are pretty similar, no? Somethin’ knockin’ ‘round in that knoggin o’ yers?”

“Maybe,” Annita shrugged. “Just trying to get my bearings on who is what and who. Ya know?” She paused as Kat helped her traverse a treacherous slope. Loose rocks and gravel dug grooves in the snow as they clambered down. “So, I know I’m at least some variation of Lupine, people with wolf features. I’m guessing you’re full human, Bren?” He simply nodded, confirming the question. “So what’s different about the Alfindurn?”

“Oh, just a couple things really,” Kat said, wiping the back of her neck clean of the sweat that gathered under her warm clothing. “We’ve got the long ears ye’ve noticed, but we do live longer than most. There’re a couple other peoples that live as long or longer, but aye, we’re pretty up there. Fer reference I’m fourty three winters. To us, just a bit past age o’ majority. Really just startin’ tae get meself out there and work on figurin’ out me.”

“Dang, you’re way older than I am,” Annita gasped. “I think I’m around my mid to late twenties? That feels right.”

“Well, then we’re not too different, are we?” Kat laughed. “Age and maturity aren’t near the same thing. Me ma would still call me a wee babe, so don’ let it bother ya none.”

“Oh yeah? What’s your family like?” Annita asked as she trudged through a deeper drift of snow. The sun was beginning to set.

“Oh, they’re all right. Got me, ma and pa, two sister an’ brothers. I’m the middle child if ye can believe it. We hail from Korvas, at least me whole life so far. They’re a loud, lively lot. Lots ‘a competition, lotsa petty arguments, all in good nature though. We’re family first. Other shit can come after.”

“They sound great,” Annita huffed as she stumbled over yet another tree buried in the snow. The uncertain blanketed terrain was starting to get on her nerves. “And you Bren?”

“I have a fairly normal family, too. Mother and father both originally hailed from Indelholm, however, they moved to Korvas after they made names for themselves in the magical community. I was their firstborn and have a sister who is six years of age this past summer. Angelica is quite the curious little one. My parents are hard pressed to keep her busy, so she isn’t getting into trouble and places she has no business being.”

“Man, it must be nice to have families. Can’t even remember mine. Had to have a mom and dad. Maybe? Ugh, I hate that I can’t remember them,” Annita grumbled.

The group fell into a silence as they continued their march.

Eventually, the sun hit a point that Kat decided was enough to call camp for the night.

Bren and Kat went around their preparations, clearing an area of snow and setting up a tent with a T shaped hole cut from it. Apparently, that’s what Kat had used for Annita’s top. Annita helped as much as she could, clearing the space, gathering what dry sticks she could find, and sat with the pair as they shared their food with her.

Eventually their fire burned low and on a whim, Annita checked her stats, specifically one.

Libido: 60/105

Hm, so it’s been twelve hours since I got my Path? Wow, the sun stays up a lot longer here. Guess we’re either really far north or south. Means it should be summer, but so much snow still. Guess we’re somewhat polar. Ugh, and I’m going to need to handle this if we’re going to have another long day. She had dreaded the maintenance the stat implied, but it was a reality she had now, and according to the stat’s description, she couldn’t ignore it.

Making an excuse of using the bathroom, she wandered as far away from the camp as she felt comfortable, still able to hear Kat and Bren idly chatting with her enhanced hearing. Once she thought she had enough privacy, she undid her belt, lowered her makeshift skirt, and contemplated her problem.

Chapter Text

POV: Kat

It had been a tiring but good day overall for Kat. A few kills under her belt and a lot of talking with Ann and Bren, she felt their little group growing a bit closer. It was still awkward trying to get to know Ann since she was a blank slate, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t without personality. She was also pretty good for a first time fighter.

The scrap with the Twinwolves had been fairly expected. They were all over the place in this area and she was mildly surprised they’d only ran into one pack so far. She’d purposefully let the two around her flanks to see how Ann would react to them. She was sloppy, but did her job and kept Bren safe despite being outnumbered. Kat liked the commitment she saw in the woman and mulled over her feelings as she stared into the fire.

“She’s been gone for a while, no?” she muttered to Bren.

“Yes, rather long. I wonder if she has run into trouble.”

“Eh, unlikely. We’d hear it if she did. Doubt she went far.” A restlessness stirred in Kat. Despite knowing that her new companion was likely safe, she didn’t want to take chances. “Might be that time o’ the moon fer her. I’mma go check on ‘er, aight?”

“All right, call me if you need me.” Bren waved in his dismissive way that seemed rude, but she knew was just confidence that she’d be fine.

With that, she turned and followed the furrows in the snow where Ann had walked. As she did, slowly and carefully, her mind wandered to other things. Things she’d seen of the woman earlier that day. A heat rose in her cheeks as she remembered the massive member so proudly displayed when she’d peeked in on Ann. Gods, it was thick. Something about it excited her in a way that was hard to explain. She’d not really focused on that kind of desire in a long while. Oh, she’d had her flings over the years with various boys and girls, but it was always a lighthearted jaunt of passion. Something about the sight she’d seen had been different, and she couldn’t quite put words to it. Maybe it was the strange perfection Ann seemed to possess, or the rarity of her biology, both below the skirt and not, that intrigued her? Kat’s heart rate slowly rose as she stalked quietly through the dark.

Suddenly, she heard a gasp and froze. Soon it was followed by a low, lustful moan from her left.

“Oh, Gods, she’s doin’ it again,” Kat realized. Her body subconsciously lowered itself and approached the sounds as a silent predator would.

Eventually she found Ann leaned up against a tree, bathed in moonlight that seemed to perfectly illuminate just her. She’d taken off her skirt, and from Kat’s vantage she could see her right arm working slowly and steadily along with what she knew was that enormous cock.

“What am I doin’ here?” Kat whispered to herself. “Stop this Kat, this is wrong. Really wrong.” Another moan echoed out as Ann’s hips bucked into her hand, a couple inches of girl-cock appearing from behind her arm before disappearing again. “Ah feck, that’s hot,” Kat whined quietly as her body began to heat up. Slowly, distracted by the sight before her, she began to move to get a better angle. Ann’s supernatural hearing seemed to be muted during her times of passion, and the fluffy ears above her head didn’t so much as flick her direction.

Eventually, Kat was settled behind a bush to Ann’s left as she peeked between the dead branches. “Oh, holy shit,” she gasped under her breath as she got her first clear and good look at Ann’s body. It was shimmering in the moonlight, a slight sheen of sweat covering her toned abs and muscled thighs. Her arms were taut as she gripped the tree behind her with the left and slowly but powerfully stroked her cock. Her eyes were screwed shut and her head drooped forward as she lost herself in her self ministrations.

As she watched the woman masturbate, the heat in Kat’s cheeks rose, and another one in her loins began to join it. She ignored it. She had to stay still. What the hell would Ann do if she found her like this? Gods, she could run and leave her, die somewhere in these woods. 

Or, Kat thought as her breath began to quicken, the knot in her chest tightening, she could take me. Oh Gods, she could do unsightly things to me with that bitch-breaker of a cock. I wouldn’t even fight it. Feck, I need ya Ann. Damn me for wantin’ tae do this right. Was this right? Oh Gods, I’m already fuckin’ this up, aren’t I?

She watched as Ann’s hips bucked again and her left hand came around to join her right in stroking up and down the shaft. Her worries left her thoughts immediately. Both hands. Gods, and there was still more she couldn’t fit between them. Up and down, Kat’s eyes followed the motion with desperate lust as her own heat rose. “Oh feck it. I can’t,” she panted quietly as she slipped a hand down under her pants and between her legs. She felt the sopping wetness she expected and carefully sunk a finger into herself. Timing each electrifying movement to each stroke Ann took of her cock, she continued to watch in rapt attention as the woman’s motions sped up. She desperately tried to keep her own movements silent, feeling the heat within her rising with the excitement of the forbidden view she was getting.

Ann sped up again. Moans began to flow freely as her hips readily joined her hands in fucking herself as hard as she could. Kat had added a second finger to her dripping slit as she watched the woman’s cock and breasts bounce with the force of her masturbation. Gods above, she could feel herself getting closer and closer. Her mind began to fog over with the overwhelming desire she felt for the woman before her and she began to imagine Ann being the one between her legs. Ann being the one running her fingers deep inside her, teasing her and pushing her closer and closer to that orgasmic edge. “Fuck, I need it Ann. Please,” she whispered desperately.

As if she’d heard her, Ann stiffened, her tall ears flattening back to her hair, then bucked once, twice, thrice between her hands before a glistening, pearly stream of cum flew from the tip of her cock. Kat watched as Ann’s head flew back and her entire body locked up, every muscle tense and on display. It was a gorgeous sight that sent her over her own edge.

She bit into her arm and shuddered quietly as she felt wetness gush over her fingers, her soft, searing inner walls clenching the digits tightly, releasing, and tightening again. Lost in the mind melting pleasure, she lay there, fingers idly working at her spasming cunt as she watched Ann slowly finish painting the snow before her, small tendrils of steam rising in the frigid air. 

Gods! The thought broke through her lust-addled mind. T hat was more than she came in the mansion! I wannit!

She watched Ann slowly relax as both their separate orgasms subsided and Ann slid down the tree, fur bristling as it rubbed against the bark, as she came to a sprawling sit. Kat listened to her panting over her own as she desperately tried to control her breath. Ann’s hearing would probably be coming back soon. She needed to be quiet. Silent. Or she’d be found and, Gods above, she didn’t want that now. As she feared, she watched the Lupine’s ears twitch and begin to straighten again.

She pulled her sodden fingers from between her legs with a soft squelch and shuffled back as quietly as she could. When she thought she was far enough away she could risk it, she stood and crept back to the patch Ann had used to go and “relieve herself”. With what time she had before Ann showed up, she tried to collect herself as best she could, using the snow to wash her hand and clean up as best she could. Even without the Lupine sense of smell, she likely reeked of her own fluids.

A quick snow-bath later, and re-clothed, she began following Ann’s trail again, quickly hearing footsteps approaching her.

“Oh! Hi, uh, miss me?” Annita greeted her flirtatiously in her cute, awkward way. It was simply disarming how much Kat enjoyed how the woman stumbled over her words now and then.

“Aye, sure did,” she grinned. “Ye were gone fer so long, Bren and I got worried. Mostly Bren, but he’d never tell ye.” She shuffled slightly, awkwardly. She found it hard to make conversation after what she’d seen, but desperately needed to hide it. “So, ye all right? Anythin’ happenin’ out there?”

An appreciative smile lit up Ann’s face, showing off her sharp teeth, which glinted in the moonlight. Kat had been alarmed at the first time she’d seen the chompers, and rightfully so, she’d found as she watched Ann rip the throats of the Twinwolf out. Now though? She knew they meant no harm to her or hers, so they were just another interesting feature of her new friend. A stray thought about what those would feel like scraping up her thighs, warm kisses trailing the sharp points, sent shivers down her spine.

“Nope, nothing much. Just took some time to myself, is all. It’s been a long day. I killed something for the first time, I remember. Met you and Bren, and just… yeah, it’s been a fucking day.”

Kat had noticed Ann didn’t swear as much as she did, almost keeping the civility she expected of Bren, but she’d heard it twice now. First during the fight with the pack earlier, and now. Something to figure out, Kat determined.

“Ye all right? Wanna talk about any o’ it?” Kat offered.

“Could we? I just, I don’t know. I need to process some of this.” Ann looked down at her with eyes full of trepidation. How could she say no?

“Aye, let me clear off that log o’er there.” Kat led her over to a fallen tree and brushed the old bark as clear as she could get it. She patted a spot next to her and took her own seat. Ann sat gratefully, the old wood creaking under her weight through the silent woods, her tail swishing through the freshly disturbed snow nervously.

“I’m here,” she prompted Ann a bit.

“Yeah, thanks. I just, give me a second,” she withdrew and looked up into the barren branches above them. The stars twinkled through as Kat joined her gaze. The vast heavens weren’t something she contemplated much, but on a clear night like this, they were on full display.

“I guess the biggest part for me is the killing part,” Ann started softly as she continued to stare upwards. “It was terrifying, fighting for my life. The blood rushing in my ears, the pain in my body from the bites, the feeling of my claws sinking into flesh, scraping against bone. I just, shit, and the scarier part is it felt kinda good once it was all over. The rush of getting out on top. Having lived while my opponent died. It was amazing and terrible at the same time. Am I making sense here?” Her tail began to swish agitatedly as she looked over at Kat.

Kat took a minute to think about her response. She didn’t want to scare Ann away, but also didn’t want to hold back on what she thought about the woman and what she suspected her future held. Kat had been fighting for nigh on a decade now. Kat was used to the thrill of combat and the elation of victory brought her. She was also familiar with the fear and confusion that a particularly close fight brought her. She needed to tread this conversation carefully.

“Ye are makin’ sense,” she started slowly. “It’s not wrong to have been scared o’ that fight. Ye were outnumbered an’ had no experience or trainin’ to bolster ye. Fer what it’s worth, I stand by my earlier comment that ye did fantastic considerin’ the circumstances,” she put a comforting hand on Ann’s shoulder. “And nae, not a bad thing to be scared o’ the excitement o’ havin’ the capability o’ killin’. Even when the rush takes ye over, makes it feel exhilaratin’, it’s a life ye took,” she tightened her grip on Ann’s shoulder as she saw the other woman shake a little, tears welling behind those big beautiful eyes. Kat’s heart clenched at the sight.

“That bein’ said, remember that the Warped aren’t anythin’ worth pityin’. We’ve had hundreds o’ years researchin’ their kind, and without fail, madness has been their common factor. They’re broken creatures of body an’ mind. Some believe they be in constant pain and killin’ ‘em is a mercy. Besides those I’ve lost to ‘em and the, frankly, hard resentment I hold toward their kind, it’s another layer that lets me fight ‘em without reserve. Aye, though, I can understand ye not havin’ any memories of any o’ yer life havin’ to struggle with this.”

Kat sighed and let her hand fall to her side as she returned to staring up at the sky. She sat there, still and waiting. Hoping her words had the desired effect. It was a long few minutes Ann spent in silence, contemplating Kat’s words.

Kat nearly jumped as she felt Ann’s hand slide over hers and squeeze gently. “Yeah, that makes sense, I guess. I think it’s going to take some time to get used to.”

“Aye, and if yer life is anythin’ like I suspect it’s gonna be, lookin’ at yer Path, it’s gonna be something ye’ll need to be comfortable with. But hey,” she turned her hand and squeezed Ann’s back, “I’m here for ye. ‘Kay? Ye need to talk, shoulder to lean on? I’m here. Bren, most likely too, but that’s up to ye,” she offered a wry grin.

“Thanks.” Ann took a deep, shaky breath, letting it out slowly. Kat was familiar with that breath. Steadying herself. “I think I feel better now. Or at least mostly. Can we head back?”

“Aye, we can. C’mon ye giant wolf lass,” Kat chuckled as she got up off the log and offered her hand. Her grin became a warm smile as Ann took it and followed her back to camp. She was absolutely giddy when Ann didn’t let it go until they saw the orange glow flickering through the dark trunks of the trees.

Chapter Text

Ann woke and stretched languidly over what blankets Bren and Kat had spared her. It was light again, but she wasn’t quite sure if that was because of a polar night, or if she’d slept long. Kat was still dozing lightly, rolling over and making soft noises, while Bren tended a newly stoked fire.

“A fine morning to you,” he called out softly as he placed a pot of snow over the flames.

“’Mornin,” Ann grumbled back. “What time is it?” She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and moved over to sit beside the warmth.

“It is morning. Not overly late, no. However, it is not early either.” As the pot began to steam he added a few leaves to it, tinting the water as they boiled. An herbal scent wafted across the camp and apparently roused Kat somewhat.

With a loud groan, Ann watched the fighter curl up into a bundle before stretching much like she had. “’Mornin’ ye louts,” she yawned. She came to sit next to Ann, running a hair through her wild brown locks. “Tea smells amazin’ as always, Bren.”

“Thank you, as always, Kat. It will be finished soon. For now, we should eat.”

Kat went through her pack and unloaded a share of rations to each of them, along with an extra tin cup to Ann. “Ain’t much, but it’s fillin’. At least we’ll have good tea.”

“It’s that good?” Ann asked as she chewed on the hard bread. It was considerably easier to break apart with her new teeth, thank the Gods.

“Oh, aye. Bren makes a great cup.” Kat swallowed, then grabbed a handful of nearby snow to wash down the dry crumbs.

“It is not as fantastic as she makes it out to be,” Bren protested. “I simply have practiced the art for a short while and found it to my liking. Ah, it’s ready.” He lifted the pot off the flames and filled each of their cups.

Ann took the cup and simply held it, basking in the warmth it spread throughout her. “Oh, that’s so nice,” she whispered, more to the cup than anyone. After letting the scalding liquid cool, she took a sip. It was a very nice herbal blend. Hints of ginger, she guessed, with an earthy taste that fortified and warmed her spirits along with her body.

After they finished their meal, Kat and Bren guided her through breaking down the camp. It was pretty easy work. Most of it was clearing up the fire pit and packing up the bedrolls. With Kat and Bren fully armed and armored, they set out for the next day of hiking.

As they went, Kat and Bren talked idly about the woods. They had apparently been the home of Twinwolves and several other Warped creatures. Some were simple and harmless; squirrels with two tails, birds with extra eyes, nothing that really required new classification. Most of the more dangerous Warped came from predators or larger animals. There were Thorned Bulks, bears that had fused with elk, gaining their haunting cries and antlers growing out of their backs in a ridge. As if their claws and bulk weren’t dangerous enough, now they were a fucked up porcupine as well.

Kat took the time to describe the creature her party had run into right before finding Annita. Watching her, Annita noticed her steps grew heavier while she spoke of the monster that had taken Artyom, their previous rifleman and third. She made it clear it was not something native to the area and had caught them by complete surprise.

After hours of walking and listening, Annita heard paws in the distance once more. “I think I hear more Twinwolves,” she said, interrupting a particularly gruesome description of a snowcat with hooves and a split jaw whose muscles broke its skin when it exerted itself.

“How many do you hear?” Bren asked, readying his wand.

“Two, no, three? I think?” Ann responded noncommittally.

“If that is all, I believe this may be another opportunity for you to grow,” Bren stated, relaxing slightly. “Kat, I think we should let her deal with this one. We can be ready to help if needs be.”

“Aye, sounds good tae me. You all right with that, Ann?”

“Yeah, I think so. I’m going to need to get used to this, after all,” she sighed. “They’re coming from the North, just in case.”

“Roger tha’,” Kat replied curtly. “We’ll be over ‘ere if ye need us. Not gonna let ye die, but don’t take that tae mean ye can be all reckless. Don’t let ‘em flank ya, try to keep one down tae reduce the odds. Ye’ve got this.”

“Thanks.” Ann took a few steps over towards the section of the woods while Kat and Bren retreated a short distance. Closing her eyes, she listened to the approaching beasts. As she focused, she began to hear their strange guttural breathing rasping from their split necks. It was a disturbing sound, to say the least, but also allowed her to better count the number of those approaching her.

Soon they were close enough and she opened her eyes, searching for the danger in the woods. Grey, ragged forms wove between the trees as she counted and confirmed she’d heard the three Twinwolves correctly. They were no less disturbing visually than audibly, with their slack tongues hanging out of gaping oral cavities, being able to see the split in their skulls. Two of them were smaller while the center wolf stood up to Annita’s waist at its shoulders. The smaller ones split off to her left and right as the leader approached from the center.

Annita tried to keep track of her flanks, but with so much room for them to maneuver and slip behind trees, it was a difficult task. She kept her eyes on the larger wolf in the middle and tried to use her hearing to track the other two. It worked surprisingly well as she heard the steps of the left flanker quicken to a run. She turned her body slightly, facing front left, widened her stance, and drew back her left arm, claws at the ready. Bolting out from behind a tree, the smaller wolf jumped at her, its body sailing through the air. Annita met it with an extended hand where she was used to a dog’s head existing, a mistake in this case, as her palm slipped between the slavering heads and down to where the neck split. 

“Ah, shit!” Annita cried as she felt two sets of fangs sink into her shoulder and side, latching on and holding tight. Her left arm disabled, the pack leader moved in quickly, angling to take her right side. She’d also lost the third wolf. Desperately, she sank her claws into the exposed rubbery flesh on the inside of the left Twinwolf’s neck. A sickening squelch came from it as she forcibly closed its airway and punctured it at the same time. Panicking, the beast let go of the left side of her body, allowing her to re-focus on the center wolf. Great timing too, as the thing was already within arm’s reach.

Changing tactics, Annita swiped hard at the creature’s right half-head with her right hand. A satisfying crunch reverberated through her arm as claws met bone. She dug in and gripped the flesh, pushing hard to her left, trying to keep the two wolves she could track in front of her. A quick flick of her eyes confirmed the other Twinwolf was still gasping and recovering from the wound she’d dealt it.

Forcing the head held in her claw to the ground, Annita twisted to avoid the left one pinned down as well and shifted her grip to her left claws. Clomping sounds filled her ears as the other head desperately tried to bite at her. Suddenly, she heard paws directly behind her. The third had snuck around and was finally making its move. No time to pummel the Twinwolf. Too dangerous to let it go. Her indecision cost her a precious second, which the wolf behind her used to bite into her thigh and calf, immobilizing her right leg. At the same time, the pack leader’s free head found her left shoulder.

“FUCK!” Annita screamed. She had to end this quick. She’d be at half health now, or at least close, and none of the creatures were dead yet. “Now or never. Fuck it!” she yelled as she focused on a skill for her first time. Slamming the claws of her right hand into the grounded Twinwolf’s side, she focused on the concept of what she thought a Smite would look like. She felt a strange, ethereal drain from her head as her Mind was expended into a Smite of Orenous. Her claws glowed pink as she shoved them deeper into the writhing flesh of the beast before bursting with the light. A small space opened up around her hand as the holy force expanded, searing flesh and burning bone. The Twinwolf howled in pain and scrambled to back off from her. She let it go. Its shoulder was severely wounded, and its front left leg was limp.

Twisting around, Annita tried to grab at the necks of the Twinwolf on her leg. It was smaller than the other two, allowing her to more easily manipulate it despite the awkward angle. Grabbing its tail, she transferred it to her left hand and shoved her fist down its esophagus with another Smite. It didn’t even sputter as it fell limp and released her leg. Warm blood covered her fur from the puncture wounds. It wasn’t a feeling she enjoyed whatsoever.

“One down,” Annita panted as she turned back to the other two, standing shakily on her wounded leg. The one she’d disabled first had recovered and was regarding her warily. The pack leader was struggling to its paws, eyes filled with equal parts rage and fear. “All right, you first,” she growled at the still mostly whole wolf, feeling her hackles rise in a show of aggression.

To its credit, even with most of its pack disabled, the wolf lowered its head and snarled at Annita the best it could with its mangled anatomy. It sounded like a horribly constricted gargle, but the pulled back lips helped interpret the sound. Annita rushed it. It met her charge with its front paws, scrabbling at her while trying to bite again. She ducked to her left and under the snapping jaws, toppling the wolf on its back. She used the advantage to hold it down as it kicked at her, trying to shove her off, and clawed at its tender belly.

Annita tried not to puke as she felt her claws sink deep into the organs of the creature. It was different from when she did the same to its ribs or head. Less resistance made it feel more visceral. She grabbed something she hoped was important and pulled hard. Wrenching free with a sucking noise and a spray of blood, her hand returned with a length of intestine. Throwing it to the side, she shoved back in and grabbed more as the Twinwolf thrashed desperately, screaming in pain. Some part of her felt bad for it. She liked dogs, hell she was part wolf now herself, but it was her life or it. Thankfully, whatever organ she punctured next, or maybe because of blood loss, the wolf quieted and went limp.

Standing and shaking her hand free of blood and gore, she returned to the wounded pack leader. “I’m sorry about this, pup. I’ll end it quick.” It whimpered back at her, but still bared its fangs.

Annita moved in as quickly as she could, taking the right head again with her injured left arm, and angled to use the hole in its side to pierce its heart. As she leaned in, she felt the left head latch on to her bicep in a desperate final stand. At the same moment, she felt warm black blood cover her claws. 

It was quiet. All Annita could hear was the pounding of her heart and the panting of her breath. She’d won. She’d probably almost died, but she’d won. Annita sank back onto her heels, head hanging back as she closed her eyes, and let the pain of her wounds wash over her, exhaustion filling her limbs.

When she opened her eyes again, Kat’s face was obscured by another silver window. Wait, no, two windows.

Level Up! 

Please review your Stat Screen for further information!

Annita dismissed the window quickly, returning her sight to just Kat.

“Hey girlie,” the brunette fighter said softly. “How’re ye feelin’?”

“Like a chew toy,” Annita groaned back.

A soft laugh escaped Kat’s lips. “Aye, and ye look it, too. Don’t worry, Bren’s fixin’ ya up. Ye’ll be right as rain in a tick.”

“Good. Oh, that feels lovely, Bren. Thanks.” Annita closed her eyes as she felt the healing magic wash through her. “I leveled again. Twice actually. I think,” she mumbled.

“Yeah, sounds about right considering that one skill ye’ve got. Anythin' good this time?” Kat moved and began shoving the Twinwolves into a pile nearby. Annita elected to keep her eyes closed and simply listened to the woman move.

“Not sure. Let me check.” Annita sighed. Focusing on her Status Screen the ethereal window appeared behind her eyelids.

Congratulations! New Skill unlocked!

Please make your selection below!

Lustful Duelist

Cost: +20 Libido

Requires taunting your target.

Engage in a one-on-one duel, limiting your focus and allowing you to further exploit their weaknesses. While the duel is engaged, increase the damage done to your opponent 20% of your Dexterity. The duel is broken if any external interference occurs.

Predatory Sensuality

Cost: +40 Libido

Requires a display of sensuality to activate.

Your force of will and pure sensuality make you irresistible, lowering your opponent’s guard. For a single strike, lower the target’s Endurance by 5 points.

“Oh my Gods, can this get more embarrassing?” Annita groaned aloud.

“Oh, fun ones?” Kat chuckled as she returned to Bren and Annita’s side.

“Eh, not really? More useful, but with a big drawback,” she explained. “One’s a duelist skill. Pretty self explanatory. Gives me a damage boost as long as I’m one-on-one with someone. The other is something that lowers an opponent’s guard and lets me do better damage for a single hit.”

“Huh, sounds like it’s anglin’ ye toward more of a rogue fighting style. Big single hits, lots’a damage, exploitin’ weaknesses,” Kat pondered.

“Yes, I agree. In our current situation, that type of fighter well suits our composition,” Bren said as he pulled back. “There, you should be restored to your previous state.”

“Thanks again,” Annita said as she opened her eyes, looking over at him. “I think I’m going to go with the second choice. It’s got a high cost to it, but if I’m going to be more of a rogue here, I might as well increase my capability in the role.”

“Aye, a good choice. What’s the cost if ye don’t mind me askin’?”

“Er, well, it’s a resource and an action. You’ve seen my skills already. It’s the one that none of my other stats use, and it adds fifty of it.” Annita fought to hide a blush she felt coloring her cheeks.

“The stat you don’ ‘ave a use fo- oh. OH!” Kat pondered slowly before the pieces clicked. “That’s a hell of a cost!” She sat down next to them with a thump.

“Do you two deign me important enough to explain what you are talking about?’ Bren interjected.

“Er, maybe?” Annita blushed furiously.

“Yer gonna be blushin’ as hard as she is if we do. Ye want that?” Kat prodded the healer.

“Is it really that scandalous?” Bren asked, suddenly nervous.

“Oh, aye, an’ I’m not pullin’ yer leg on this one. She’s got a right nutter of a Path, she does,” Kat warned him with raised eyebrows.

“I-“ Bren began before being interrupted.

“Saucier than I like my biscuits.” Kat continued with her analogies.

“Still, should I not be incl-“

“Spicier than the peppers from the mines o’ Korvas,” Kat interrupted again.

“Fine, enough. I get the point.” Bren raised his hands in defeat.

“Tell you what,” Annita interjected in the banter, “I’ll show you once we get to Graven Peak. It seems like a hub, so if you’re not all right with what my Path entails, then we can part ways there, no hard feelings. Does that sound ok?”

Bren took a minute to think over the proposal. Annita watched his brows knit as he thought, and his hand rubbed his stubbled chin. “Yes, I believe that is acceptable. However, I doubt it will change my mind. This one is not escaping me that easily.” He poked Kat in the side.

“Oh, now yer actin’ the mother hen? Ye’ve been goin’ along with me antics for months now, an’ now ye’ve got a problem?”

Annita let their playful bickering fade into the background as she returned to her Sheet and confirmed Predatory Sensuality as her choice. She then moved on to the second level. This wasn’t as interesting. She was given a choice of a core stat to increase as well as what seemed to be a standard increase to her other stats. She bumped her Dex up by two points and reviewed the updated information.

Name: Annita Kronforst

Age: 23

Race: Lupine (Warped)

Path: Warrior of Orenous (3)

Title: Chosen of Orenous

———————————————————————————————

Racial Skills:

Cold Resistance: Reduced damage from cold effects. Comfortable in colder climates.

Keen Hearing : Able to hear sounds from greater distances with greater clarity.

Natural Weapons: Claws and teeth are considered weapons for any skills that would affect weapons.

Endurance Hunter: +2 to Strength, +5 to Dexterity, +5 to Stamina

———————————————————————————————

Unique Passive:

Chosen of Orenous: The Bearer is burdened with a task from the divine. Growth of one’s progression is accelerated by a factor of 1.5 once a Path is chosen. Further benefits will be unlocked upon progression of the Bearer’s Path.

Additionally provides +3 to Faith.

Path Skills

———————————————————————————————

Passive:

Weapon Proficiency: Light weapons and small firearms.

Armor Proficiency: Medium Armor

Health Points: Stat has been unlocked.

Libido: Stat has been unlocked. Increases by 5/hour. Once full, sexual inhibitions will be greatly reduced until release is achieved.

Desire: Stat has been unlocked. Gained through relations with trusting partners.

Stat Increases: +5 to Faith, +10 to Mind, +2 to Endurance, +2 to Resilience

Compatibility: You’re a large lady, in more ways than one. This will help make sure things go smoothly in your conquests.

———————————————————————————————

Active:

Stoke the Flames: Consume 10 desire points to inflame the target, incensing a heightened emotion of your choice for 1 minute.

Smite of Orenous: Enhance an attack to deal additional Holy damage. Adds 20% of current Faith to the attack. Cost: 10 Mind.

Predatory Sensuality: Cost: +40 Libido. Requires a display of sensuality to activate. Your force of will and pure sensuality make you irresistible, lowering your opponent’s guard. For a single strike, lower the target’s Endurance by 5 points.

———————————————————————————————

Passive Stat Increases:

+30 Health

+30 Desire

+15 Libido

+2 Strength

+2 Dexterity

Chapter Text

According to Kat and Bren, their going had been progressing fairly well. By the time they made camp, they were within another day’s walk to the outpost. Thankfully, it had just been the one pack of Twinwolves that day. However, Annita had heard several others in the woods. They were mostly steering clear for now.

Deep in the night, Annita woke herself and wandered away to handle her rising Libido. It was nice that it was almost a full day between having to release the pent up tension, but still inconvenient no matter how much she enjoyed the maintenance. There was something primal in her that just loved being outdoors, in these dark woods, and reveling in her own pleasure. Gods above, she would love to share that experience with someone. 

Kat was interested, she had little doubt, but was holding off for some sense of propriety. Annita thought she got a more relaxed feeling from the woman, especially around her sexuality, but she guessed there was more than she could sense.

Closing her eyes and sitting against a tree, she lost herself to the pleasures of the flesh. It was still as strong as it had been that first morning in the mansion, but she could control herself a little better and, with some effort, drew out the experience.

After what felt like a few minutes, the inevitable conclusion to Annita’s nightly ministrations concluded with a shower of pearly cum jetting across the snow in front of her pulsing cock. She was panting, and slightly sweaty, but felt incredibly relaxed. She took a few minutes to recover, feeling her hearing coming back from the roar of blood that usually filled them while she was masturbating.

Despite the darkness, the woods were alive and filled with sounds. Small rodents shuffling through the snow, nocturnal birds flapping here and there. It was a comforting feeling to be so relaxed in nature. Annita wasn’t quite sure if this feeling was from her new Lupine nature, or just something she hadn’t had a chance to feel in her past life. Either way, she loved it.

Sighing, Annita retrieved her discarded skirt, buckled the belt, and returned to camp. Kat and Bren were where she left them, though Kat seemed to have shifted in her sleep while she was gone.

Annita smiled to herself. She was lucky it was these two who had found her. They were both good people, willing to help her, even if it was to help themselves as well. She’d made more of a connection with Kat after sparring with her and sharing her Path, but Bren was becoming endearing as well. He came off a bit awkward, but after a couple of days, and seeing how Kat interacted with him, she was fairly sure that was just him getting used to a new person. She could understand that. He was an incredible source of information and did not mince words with magical knowledge.

Annita settled back onto her blanket, the cold that froze the other two a pleasant chill to her, and drifted back to sleep.

They broke camp early and headed out, just like the previous day. Kat seemed more tired than the day before. Annita worried she was stressing over keeping her safe. She really needed to get stronger for that reason alone.

Setting out it was a fairly quiet morning. Nothing hostile showed itself, though Kat showed her tracks of the elk/bear hybrid she’d told her about.

It was almost midday when Annita heard the clanking of metal and human footsteps that weren’t their own. Two voices spoke back and forth, one gruff and baritone, while the other was a feminine voice, though similarly rough.

“People up ahead,” Annita said as she kept walking.

Stopping for a moment, Kat listened as well. Annita still loved watching her long ears twitch when she paid attention to them. They weren’t quite as agile as her wolf ears, but you could tell when she was listening intently.

“I don’t hear ‘em yet. Must be at the limit o’ yer hearin. What do they sound like?” She looked at Annita with an unusually intense stare, her icy eyes fixing the Lupine in place.

“Uh, rough? One man, one woman. I think I can hear boots? Some kind of metal, too. They’re not trying to be quiet, but I can’t hear what they’re saying yet.”

Annita watched Kat visibly relax. “Oh, tha’s good then. Prolly a patrol from the outpost. Let’s go meet up with ‘em. Which way?”

Annita pointed the way and followed as Kat and Bren led. About five minutes later, they came upon the pair patrolling the area. They had arrived behind the pair, so the initial impressions were from their backs.

One was a shorter humanoid covered in hair more than skin. They carried a double-headed axe over one shoulder and wore a leather studded set of armor. The other was much taller, maybe on a level with Kat, and carried a longsword sheathed across their back. Their equipment was heavier, with a chain main doublet and what looked like a reinforced kilt.

“Greetings!” Bren called out.

The two turned immediately, weapons in hand and ready for a fight. Annita instinctively braced for an attack, but the patrol made no further moves.

“Identify yourselves,” the feminine voice she’d heard earlier called out. Turns out she was the shorter of the two. What Annita would probably be wrong in calling a Dwarf.

“I hail you as Bren Hedera. Scout of the King’s legions. My compatriot Katlyn is of the same designation. We are escorting our third who we found in the no-man’s-land. Kat and I have our badges to prove our claims.” 

As he spoke, both Kat and Bren took badges from their clothing. They were simple metal discs, each emblazoned with a dead tree, its many branches spreading in an arc over a mountain below it.

“Emblem o’ the Kingdom,” Kat explained quietly as she held hers aloft.

After taking a moment to view the presented credentials, the two soldiers lowered their weapons and approached. The taller man removed his helmet and Annita was surprised to see blue skin over a bald head. He was a handsome guy, but a grisly scar that ran diagonally across his face slightly marred it, along with the missing chunk of his nose from the same wound.

“Guards Alvaro and Hazel, patrolling these parts. Guessin’ you three are headed back to the outpost, yeah?” Alvaro greeted them gruffly. 

“Aye, we were a sledge team, three o’ us. Ran into a right nasty Warped what saw fit to relieve us o’ the transportation an’ the life of our mate.”

At the news, the Alvaro’s eyes fell. “Sorry to hear that. We’ve been getting some reports here and there of more dangerous monsters, but not from credible enough sources to lead a hunt. You finish the thing off?”

“Nae. At least not that I can confirm. Fucker went off a cliff with the sledge wrapped ‘round it. Heard it hit rocks, but it got me leg on the way past. Ol’ Bren patched me up, though.” She patted Bren’s shoulder appreciatively, which he shrugged off.

Not one for praise, Annita observed.

“Well, we’ll keep our eyes out,” Hazel said. “Any specific tracks to look for on it?”

“A variety. It had several legs, some of which were human hands, others paws, others hooves. If you find what appears to be a herd of different animals moving too close together, that is likely it.” Bren reported.

“Gotcha. Well, you all best be getting to the outpost. It’s not far. ‘Bout an hour more west of here. Should make it in time for lunch if you keep a good pace.” Hazel said as she stood back. “Captain Gwidon’s in charge of this location. You’ll all be in good hands. Oh, and welcome to the Kingdom, newcomer.” With a wave to Annita, Hazel and Alvaro turned and continued their patrol.

They apparently made excellent time. In about three quarters of an hour, as best Annita could guess, the wooden walls of the outpost came into view.

“All right. There she is.” Kat huffed. “Yer new to everythin’ so let us do the talkin’ for this first bit. Once we’ve got ye at least informally registered as a citizen, ye’ll be more free to move around.”

“You don’t think there’ll be any problems, right?” Annita asked nervously. “You’ve seen what my race is listed as.”

“Eh, it’ll raise some eyebrows fer sure. I think we can smooth it over though. Yer clearly of sound mind, ye’ve fought the monsters alongside us. We’ll vouch fer ye.” Kat squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.

“Yes, it would not sit right with me for you to be cast out after seeing you in action. I still do have questions as well.” Bren offered. It was a colder response, but Annita figured he meant well.

As they neared the gate, Bren and Kat went through a similar exchange they’d had with the patrol. They offered their badges and identification, exchanged words, and the patrol shortly ushered them through the gate. Annita kept her head on a swivel as they walked into the encampment. It seemed to be able to house a good amount of people, and there were soldiers everywhere she looked, going about their tasks. Up on the walls, bowmen stood, keeping an eye on the fields and forest around them. She thought she spotted what might have been a mage as well. The woman had long robes and no visible weapon.

Their group was escorted to the Captain’s quarters directly. It was a small, square building with a sloping roof and two small windows on the front. It bore no embellishment besides the Kingdom’s emblem above the door.

Knocking, the guard escorting them announced himself and entered. Annita heard a muffled exchange through the door before they were bade enter by a deep voice.

The inside of the room was as bare as the exterior. Wood paneling the walls, floor, and ceiling. In the center of the room was a large table with a map of what Annita assumed was the Kingdom placed upon it. Towards the back a large desk stood, covered in papers and books. To their left and right were several cabinets of more papers and items Annita could only guess at.

Captain Gwindon was a grizzled man in his later years. Human from the looks of it, with short grey hair and a mess of stubble covering his face. He looked every bit the old war veteran Annita had seen in a dozen movies. He wore what she thought might be a dress uniform. It was black with silver trimming and buttons down the front. On the shoulders were epaulets with several patterns she had no idea the meaning of. 

“Welcome back, soldiers,” he greeted them. “Report.”

Annita stood awkwardly as Kat went through the events of the past few days. She learned a bit more about their fallen comrade, Artyom, and the chase they’d gone through before meeting her.

No wonder they were so touchy in the mansion, Annita thought. That was literally an hour before.

Kat mercifully omitted the lewder portion of their meeting, but kept enough that the Captain understood that she was a relatively unknown entity.

“Understood. Thank you Katlyn, Bren,” the old man grunted as he stood. He turned and rummaged through a cabinet and pulled out a metal rod. Turning, he approached Annita.

“You, Annita, are an unknown. I don’t like unknowns in my fort. You will submit to an identification or you will be removed from this location.” There was no room for disagreement in his voice.

“Ann, it’s fine. He’s just gonna take a look tae make sure yer not some beastie in disguise, or some foreign saboteur. Just hold still.”

Annita looked from Kat to the rod in Gwindon’s hand. Bracing herself, she stood to her full height, and nodded down to the man to continue. “Go ahead.”

Raising his arm, he flicked a section of the rod into movement. It spun with a blue glow that spread up its length.

“Oh, and there’ll be another flash.” Kat warned her too late, as Annita’s vision went white for a split second before returning.

“Please, please, let me know if that’s going to happen again,” Annita whined as she rubbed her eyes.

“Huh.” Gwindon lowered the identification rod, but did not relax at all. “Annita, you will explain your situation to me here and now. Warped being appended to your Race could mean several things, but I want to hear it from you first.”

Annita looked to Kat, then Bren nervously, her ears lowering and tail drooping with nerves. “Uh, ok. The unfortunate thing is I don’t know much about my situation. First thing I remember was waking up in the snowdrift as Katlyn explained. Everything since has been a new discovery for me. No memories of where I came from, who I was, or how I got there.”

“Strange, very strange,” the Captain grunted. He turned and re-took his seat at the desk. “A few more questions before I dismiss you three. First of all, you two vouch for her, I assume?” He leaned forward on an elbow, gesturing to Kat and Bren with a quill.

“Aye, we do.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good, a point in her favor. Now you,” Gwindon turned the feather on Annita, “any feelings of unexplained anger? Urge to commit violence? Dark thoughts you can’t explain?”

“Not that I can think of? Only thing that came close was adrenaline after fighting the Twinwolves. It was a rush, uh, sir.” Annita moved to stand between Kat and Bren as the interrogation continued.

“Good, usually the first sign of someone turning. Any noticeable unexplained pain in any of your limbs or body?”

“No sir. I feel normal as I can be,” Annita declared.

“Understood. I’ll still need you to visit the medical building for an examination to rule out anything you three may have missed. Once that is complete, you will be provided a citizen’s badge, allowing you free movement within the Kingdom. This will not grant you access to restricted areas or any military facilities. If you wish to be granted access, you will either need to sign up as a conscript or as an affiliated mercenary.” Gwindon leaned back in his chair, a tired look falling over him. “My recommendation would be to enlist, however I am a military man, and your path is yours to choose. Katlyn, you and your team are dismissed. See the quartermaster for your payment on the Twinwolf kills.”

Katlyn performed a surprisingly proper salute and led them from the building.

“Well, that went well. Feelin’ all right Ann?”

“Yeah, as I can be. He seems all right, just cautious,” Ann said with a long sigh of relief.

“Most men in his position will be of the same attitude. Shall we? The medical facilities will be this way.” Bren gestured to a larger square building. 

Taking a wider, less hurried look around, Annita realized all the buildings were made like this. Function over form ruled the small place.

“You two head out an’ get that handled. I’ll go collect our pay,” Kat said, turning to head in another direction. She stopped and turned after a couple of steps. “Oh, yeah, Ann. Pants or kilt?”

“Wha’?”

A wide grin spread over Kat’s face as she watched Annita fumble her words. “Clothes, ya dafty. Unless yer good with me shoddy craftsmanship?”

“Oh! Right! Um,” Annita scratched behind her ear, thinking for a moment. “I guess the kilt feels fine for now, and a shirt, please. Something a little more covering.”

“Aye, I can work with that. I’ll see you two at the mess hall?”

“That sounds appropriate.” Bren responded, waving as he ushered Annita over to the medic.

The process took longer than she’d have liked and was a bit more invasive than she expected. It was what she’d call a full physical back in her time. The female medic blushed furiously when Annita dropped her skirt and the poor woman came eye to eye with the flaccid five inches of girlcock. She had to give the woman credit, Annita supposed, for despite the rose red cheeks and fluster, she maintained her professionalism and completed the examination without comment.

“All right hon, you’re good to go. Captain sent over a citizen’s badge to give ya once the exam was done. You’re free to go and meet your friends. Stay safe out there.” She handed a polished wooden medallion like Kat and Bren’s. Carved into one side were the same tree and mountain, but the other side was blank. “If you ever go about making yourself a family crest, that’s what goes there. Take good care of it. Until the registration paperwork gets back to the capital, it’s the only thing declaring you a citizen.”

“Thanks. I definitely will.” Annita awkwardly dressed herself again and walked out to meet up with Bren. She found him talking to another healer, but he broke off the conversation as she approached.

“So, lunch?” Annita asked, as her stomach growled loudly.

Much to her surprise, Bren chuckled at the sound. “Yes, I do believe that is overdue. This way.”

Chapter Text

Annita and Bren walked quickly over to the mess hall, crossing the yard of the outpost. Hall was a generous word. It was mostly a building that served as kitchen and service, next to an open area with a series of wooden benches and long tables. The service area had a menu posted with chalk on a board. Today’s meal included baked potatoes, bread, pork chop, and a dish simply described as “greens”. Drinks were ale or water.

“Not much of a selection, huh?” Ann said to Bren as she grabbed a hammered metal tray.

“No, you will not see such luxuries out here. Once we are back in civilization, it will be more standard to have options. For now, we take what we are given.”

“Hey, food is food. As long as it’s not bad, I could eat whatever right now,” Ann’s stomach growled in agreement.

“Ho there, you’re a bigun!” came a jovial cry from behind the counter as Ann got to the serving window. A portly man looked up at Ann with a cheerful smile. He was wearing a floppy chef’s hat and a grease stained apron that well suited his position. He had a beaming smile with perfect teeth under a well-trimmed moustache. Annita’s instant comparison was a pudgier Chef Boyardee. “Can’t say I’ve seen such a fine lady your size before. Gotta eat good to keep that figure, yes you do! Double helping for you, and I won’t be hearin’ any backtalk.” He talked a mile a minute and seemed like he loved every second of it.

“Yessir!” Annita barked back. His enthusiasm was infectious and, the more he talked, she could feel a grin spreading across her face. He set her double portion on her tray and she moved on to grab a drink.

“And for you, young man, you need some meat on those bones. You’re getting extra meat for the muscle. Don’t care if you’re one of those magic types, can’t ignore the body. It’s the foundation for the mind, after all! Strong body, strong mind, my ma always said. Here ya go.” 

Bren joined Annita after grabbing his drink, wearing an amused grin. “If only we all could enjoy our work as much as he,” he chuckled. “Now, Kat should already be here somewhere.”

“Over there,” Annita pointed and lead the way through the busy tables. 

Kat waved as they neared. “Oi, over here!” she called.

After they were seated and had gotten some food in them, Kat handed Annita a backpack. “Here ye go. Got ye a full pack. Yer gonna need one if ye’ll be travelin with us. Got a couple changes of clothes in there too. Two kilts, green and brown, a few sets of small clothes, for men considering you, a few chest wraps to help keep things contained. The shirts are gonna be a bit late, though. Made a request that they be laced up the back. Gonna need some help gettin’ into ‘em, but figure it’ll be more comfortable with yer fur.”

“That's really thoughtful of you. Thank you Kat.” Annita blushed as she looked through the bag. Everything in there was sturdy and ready for travel.

“Ah think nothin’ of it.” Kat scoffed as she took another big bite of meat.

Conversation lulled for a moment as they continued to chew their food.

Annita broke the silence. “So, I’ve been thinking. Bren, I want to move up us having the conversation about my Path. Would it be all right to talk about it tonight?” She played with a “green” with her fork nervously.

“Are you certain?” he asked, looking worried. “It seems like it will be an important discussion.”

“Yeah, I’m sure,” Annita sighed, meeting his gaze. “It’s going to be a thing now or later and it’s better to just get it out of the way now.”

“Then I will happily hear what you have to say,” Bran said with his normal implacable calm.

“Gotcha. Tonight it is.”

“Got somethin’ I’d like tae say too. But, in the meantime, we’ve got some things for ya to do!” Kat said after swallowing the last of her meal. “Yer a fighter, and ye’ve got no weapons, an’ no armor. We’ve gotta fix that.”

“Agreed. The armory is next, is it not?” Bren took a swig of his ale.

“Aye, then the trainin’ yard. Gotta test out what feels right.”

“Sounds good to me,” Annita said as she wolfed down the last of her double helping of food.

They stood, gathered their things, dropped off their trays, and headed off to another building that had guards posted at the door.

Flashing their badges, Kat and Bren got them in without incident.

The building was large. More of a warehouse, Annita thought as she looked around. There were racks of all sorts of weapons, from daggers to mauls, pistols to a cannon. Everything in there was polished and shone brightly in the lantern light.

“‘Ey, checkin’ in or out?” came a squeaky grunt from behind a counter. A short woman hopped up on a stool. She had long ears like Kat and dark brown skin. Her copper hair was done up in a wild bee’s nest of a bun with a file stuck through it. A small metal plate on the counter read “Quartermaster Pile”.

“Checking out,” Bren replied. “We have a newcomer who is unfamiliar with her specialty. We will need to have her try out a variety of weaponry if that is permissible?”

“Who’s the newbie? You?” Pile stuck an oily finger at Annita.

“Yeah, that’s me.”

“Knew it. Look like a kid in a sweet shop. What types o’ weapons ya lookin’ fer?”

“Uh, light. My path says I’ve got proficiency with light weapons and small firearms,” Annita explained.

“Huh, woulda thunk someone big as you woulda been packin’ some bigger weapons.” Annita caught a barely contained snicker from Kat. “Oh well, Path’s a Path. Let’s see what we’ve got fer ya.”

Annita followed Pile as she walked around the armory with a wooden cart, tossing weapon after weapon onto the wooden platform.

“All right, that’s a good enough selection to get you started. Nothin’ fancy, mind, but it’ll keep ya safe and your enemies dead. Go ahead, take the cart. Trainin’ field’s out back. Oh, and here’s some ammunition. Either of you two know how to handle a shooty?” Pile looked at Bren and Kat. 

Bren shook his head and Kat made a so-so gesture with her hand. 

Pile sighed, eyes closed and ears drooping with the motion. “All right, quick run through. First rule, fucker is ALWAYS loaded. Shit’s not a toy and you’ll get your friends killed if you treat it like one, or yourself. Point is, it’s dangerous. Second rule, only put yer finger on that trigger if you are ready to kill summat. Otherwise, that claw o’ yers better stay up and away. Third rule, goes with the first two, only point the damn thing at somethin’ ya wanna kill. Don’t point it anywhere else. Stops mistakes, keeps people unperforated. Last, these suckers,” she held up a bullet, “can go through whatever yer shootin’ at. Make fuckin’ sure that what it hits isn’t anythin’ you don’t want dead, too. There’d be more if you were the settled types, but not relevant to you adventurin’ folk. I want you to repeat all of that back to me before you get goin’.” Pile craned her neck to look directly into Annita’s eyes. 

Despite her smaller stature, Annita felt significant pressure exuding from the woman as she repeated the instructions back, albeit in less colourful language.

“Good enough.” Pile grunted. “Now get out. Got more inventory to work on. Holler when ya finish up and we’ll do all the boring paperwork.” The small woman turned and disappeared back into the warehouse.

“She’s fun,” Annita chuckled as they made their way back to the training yard.

“Aye, knows what she’s talkin’ about, too. Surprised someone as competent as she seems is all the way out ‘ere.” Kat said as she unloaded the weapons onto waiting tables. “Might be the attitude, though. She probably pissed off someone who couldn’t handle a bit o’ cursin’. All right Annita. Here’s yer lot. Take yer pick and see what feels good.”

“Any advice?” Annita asked.

“I have none. I will simply be observing.” Bren said, finding a seat up against the building.

“Nah, not really. It’s a feel thing. Just try ‘em all, see what fits. With yer Path I’ve got a feelin’ ye’ll gravitate toward somethin’ specific.”

Annita took a look at the spread. There was an assortment of blades laid next to the firearms. There were various types of daggers, larger knives, a machete like blade, smaller swords, a scimitar, a couple handaxes, and even some clubs.

“I guess I’ll start with the mele ones first?” She said, picking up a dagger. It felt tiny in her hand, but she figured it was best to make sure. Walking over to a stuffed dummy that was set up next to several others, she took an experimental stab. It pierced the fabric easily and thunked into the post. “Eh, don’t feel like this is much better than my claws.”

“Aye, ye probably want somethin’ bigger.” Kat called from the table.

Annita was turned away, but she could hear the grin in her voice. She walked back and picked up a shortsword. Swinging it through the air, she liked how it felt in her hand. Taking a few swings at the dummy felt good. The extra reach was nice, the weight felt good. She liked it. Stepping back to the table, she set it aside and ran her hand over the other weapons. Her hand eventually drifted over a sword of similar length as the shortsword, but with a slight curve. It had a single edge, a sharp point, and a cupped guard. Something about it pulled her to it. “What’s this one?”

“Tha’? Tha’s a falchion. Good fer slashin and stabbin. Single-edged, so ye can put yer weight behind it if ya want. Ye like it?”

“I’m not sure if like is the right word,” Annita mumbled as she lifted and examined the sword. “It just feels, right?”

“Ah, think yer gettin’ some guidance there. Give ‘er a whirl.” Kat gave her a confident grin before Annita turned back to the dummy.

Annita swung, cutting through the fabric and padding easily. The impact of the sword on the wood hit her arm, but didn’t jar her at all. She took a few more swings, getting used to the weight, and then tried what Kat had suggested. She swung, then pushed on the back of the blade with her other forearm. Annita let out a shocked gasp as she heard the wood snap as the sword broke through the beam.

“Oh, ho ho! Yeah, I think ye’ve got yer weapon there, lass.” Kat cheered as Annita collected herself.

“Guess so,” Annita said, looking up at the sword. She walked back over and handed it to Kat.

“Now the guns.”

“Guns? Oh, the firearms. Yeah. Sorry, but I don’ have much experience with ‘em. This’ll be on you.”

“Should be fine. I think.” Annita said as she looked over the spread. There were a few flintlocks, wheel locks, and a couple others she didn’t recognize. There was one that was pretty much a standard revolver, from what she could tell. She didn’t know guns that well, but figured she could use it well enough. Plucking it from the pile, she fumbled with the cylinder release until she figured it out and popped it open. Taking a couple of bullets from the box provided, she slotted them into the chambers and closed it back up. Making sure it was pointed down, and she wasn’t touching the trigger, she walked over to an area that had a couple other people practicing with their own weapons.

“Oh man, better hearing is going to suck for this,” she groaned as she took aim at one of the free targets and squeezed the trigger. The kick went up her forearm, which bent at the elbow from the force of the shot, but didn’t travel further. Looking back at the target, she’d hit it. Not a great shot, but it made contact. Annita took three more shots, getting more used to the kick and aiming with each pull of the trigger. She shouldn’t be this good with the weapon already. She knew this. Ears ringing, she shouted back at Kat, “Hey, do skills help with weapons?”

“Aye, they don’t magically make ye a master, but they speed up the process. Ye’ll be shootin’ like a champ if ye keep it up,” she said back.

“What?” Annita called back, cupping an ear.

“Ah shit. We’re gonna need tae get that thing quieted fer ya,” Kat grumbled to herself and Bren. “Put ‘er down and c’mere!” she shouted.

Opening the cylinder and removing the shells, Annita walked over to them.

“I shoulda known the hearin’ woulda been a problem fer ya. There’re some enchantments that’ll make the thing quieter, but they’re a custom job. We’d have to get lucky and make it a rush order. ‘Ere, stuff some o’ this in yer ears for now, Bren an’ I’ll see what we can scrounge up.” Kat handed Annita some cotton, which she gratefully put in her ears. The fibers against the fur felt weird, but it was for the best. “Keep practicin’ both o’ yer weapons while we look. We’ll return the rest back tae the Quartermaster.”

Annita nodded and turned back to the firing range, deciding she needed the most time practicing with the revolver.

Annita improved significantly with the revolver and could reliably fire from both a single-handed stance and her hip. Being right-handed, she’d started with her right hand, but realized she couldn’t do so with her sword out as well. She’d taken the rest of her time to practice with the sword in her right hand and the unloaded gun in her left. Sweat was dripping down her face, and the sun was getting low when Bren and Kat returned. Wiping her brow, she caught an appreciative look from the Alfhindurn.

“Good news. We got lucky. There’s someone in town who can do the mufflin’ enchant fer ya. Bad news is it costs a good bit. Bren an’ I chipped in, but we had tae take a good bit o’ yer share from the wolves tae cover it. We’ve got food covered for all o’ us, so the rest o’ yer money’s likely going to buyin those.” Kat gestured to the falchion and revolver.

“Oh, right money. How does that work?” Ann asked as she pulled out the cotton she’d forgotten in her ears.

“We are a coin-based economy,” Bren explained. “It ranges from gold to coppers, more expensive to less.” He flicked a coin to Ann. A Copper, it seemed. It was hexagonal and thin. On one side it had the symbol of the Kingdom and the other a set of two crossed battle axes stamped into it. “They are the symbol of the kingdom, and the weapons of the current queen. It is a simple system. Ten Coppers to an Iron, ten Irons to a Silver, ten Silvers to a Gold. To give you a point of reference, a night at a standard inn would cost one iron. Food and drink would be around five coppers.”

“Uh huh.” Annita could at least figure out the system from role-playing games, but she’d need time to accustom herself to the scale.

“Well, let’s get ye sorted an’ get a couple o’ rooms,” Kat said, patting Annita on the shoulder.

Walking back inside, they greeted Quartermaster Pile.

“Oh, you lot again. So, how’re ya liking those two?” Pile leaned over the counter, barely clearing it to stare at Annita’s weapons of choice.

“They’re good. I like the falchion, nice, light, but sturdy too. Revolver is nice and easy to use.”

“Oh, yeah, it sure is. Bitch and a half to reload, but you’ll get used to it. Probably some Skill down the line for it too. Who the fuck knows? If you like ‘em, that’ll be an Iron each, and five coppers for thirty basic rounds. Advise keepin some in a pocket if you have any. Just in case.”

“Sounds good. Thanks for the advice.” Ann said as Kat walked up and paid for the weapons. Pile took both from Ann, grabbed a sheath and holster, stowed the weapons, and handed them back to her.

“Don’t go dying out there. Take good care of your tools and they’ll take good care o’ you. Now git. You’re holding up the line.” Pile huffed as she motioned them to the door.

Annita looked at her bewildered as they left the otherwise empty armory.

Dinner was another filling, if not flavorful, meal. Meat Annita had no idea what animal it came from, some kind of root vegetable that was close to a carrot, more bread, and ale again.

Once they were all seated, they ate in relative quiet. Annita was nervous about the talk she promised Bren, and nervous about revealing who she was to Kat. She’d decided if the Path was coming out, and if both of them seemed committed to helping her out after learning of her quest, then she’d tell them the rest of the story.

Kat sidling up to her broke her concentration. “So, good lookin, not gonna buy me a drink ‘ere?”

“Wha, huh? Here? I thought we were only staying a day? I thought you wanted, like, a date?” Annita could feel her cheeks heating up as Kat’s smell wafted up to her from the proximity. She smelled like the earth, and a nice bit of natural body odor that sent a shiver up her spine. It drew her in as much as she tried to resist her instincts.

“I mean, aye, that’s the plan. Just teasin’. Yer too easy, lass,” Kat laughed, still leaning against her shoulder. “Ah, ye blush easier than ol’ Bren here when a lady fancies ‘im. Can’t figger out what to say with that giant vocabulary o’ his.”

“I can speak. I will have you know,” Bren retorted. “You’re just so forward that you’ve never had someone take you off guard.”

As he spoke, Annita spied a hint of a blush creep up his neck, confirming the lie to his words as surely as his verbal contractions did.

Kat took things a step forward and wrapped her arm around Annita’s waist. “Oh aye, can’t be taken off guard if yer the one on the offensive. That’s just logic.”

“Hey, I’m still here,” Annita laughed as she pushed Kat away. “Though she’s right, Bren. Easiest way to be on solid footing is to take the advantage. Like so.”

She suddenly wrapped an arm around Kat and easily lifted the woman into her lap.

“How’s that?” Annita grinned roguishly down at Kat, whose eyes had flown wide at the sudden movement.

“I, uh, yeah, uh huh. Like that.” Kat was flustered! Annita felt a rush course through her as she realized the reaction she’d provoked. She absolutely loved how it was the tips of her ears that colored first. “I uh, I think I made my point,” Annita said as she quickly shifted Kat back beside her and off of the growing erection she was desperately trying to hide. Saying an inner prayer that Kat hadn’t felt anything, she took a huge bite of bread to stop herself from saying anything else.

Bren looked at them both with a gaze that radiated smugness, but kept his silence as he finished his meal.

Kat did similar to Annita, but Annita could feel her gaze darting her direction frequently.

Finishing their meal, they took a brief stop to clean themselves from the grime of having traveled for a few days, got changed, checked in at the local mercenary lodging, and gathered in the girls’ room.

“So, uh, I guess I’ll start then?” Annita said, rocking on the bed anxiously and hugging her furry knees. “Kat already knows all of this, so yeah. Would it be easier to tell you, or do you want me to show you my sheet?”

“To be honest,” Bren said from his cross-legged seat on the floor, “I’d prefer you tell me. Sharing something by showing is generally seen as an intimate gesture, and, no offense, I do not feel that way toward you.”

“No, no. No offense taken,” Annita sighed, looked to Kat, who was seated on the other bed, and steeled herself. “All right, well, my Path is called ‘Warrior of Orenous’. It seems to be a rogue based Path from what Kat and I have been able to figure out. Big single hits, that cost one of my resources. One of them uses Mind, like what I gather normal magic uses, but the others use apparently unique resources Libido and Desire.”

Bren’s eyes widened as he stared at her incredulously. Wordlessly, he turned to Kat, who nodded affirmation. “That’s inconceivable. How? Who are you?”

“So, there’s a bit of a story to that, but I’d like to talk about the whole Orenous thing first. It’ll help make the rest of it make sense. Maybe. I fucking hope.” Annita sighed again as she tightened the hold on her knees. “Before I met you two, I met her.”

“No fuckin’ way. You met Orenous? You met a goddess?” Kat blurted.

“Shhh, I don’t want to announce this to the world, ok? There’s kinda a reason I didn’t tell you two from the start, and I promise that I’ll get to it.”

“Ok, sorry. Just, hell of a bombshell to drop on us, girlie.” Kat sat back again.

“Well, probably not the only one tonight. Anyway. Yeah, I met her. We talked for a while about the world and, more specifically, the Seeds. She told me they were corrupted, cut off from the Gods’ influences, and that something was fucking with anything in or nearby them. None of the Gods could investigate since they were cut off, so she decided to task me with figuring out what was going on and fix it if possible.”

Annita paused, looking at her companions for their reactions. Bren had recovered slightly from his shock and wore a stern face of contemplation. Kat, on the other hand, had stood and was pacing between the beds.

“Holy balls, ‘at’s a big job to ask o’ someone,” Kat said, breaking the silence. “Humanity’s been pokin’ around the Seeds for a damn long time, and none of the stories I’ve read hinted at any progress on a source o’ the Warped.”

“Neither have any of the histories I have read,” Bren concurred. “A divine mission to try to unravel what millennia of men have tried and failed at. There have been numerous theories on the subject. That the Gods themselves were to blame, that an ancient curse was put upon Their creations, that there was a traitor God taking their domains. None could be confirmed. Knowing that you have spoken to one of them, that is something momentous. Clerics and priests of every temple have received guidance and blessings from their respective Gods. However, the guidance was vague at best and unintelligible at worst.”

“Well, that’s going to suck for getting more information then.” Annita sighed, leaning back.

“So, what was she like?” Kat asked suddenly.

“Huh?” Annita looked up at her stupidly.

“Orenous! Ye met the goddess of love, beauty, connections, fuckin’. What was she like?” Kat huffed exasperated and sat down again.

“Oh, uh, well, she was gorgeous, of course. She had this wavy platinum blonde hair. I’d describe her face as more cute and comely than drop dead gorgeous? Lots of freckles, cute chin, nice soft features, though for some reason I can’t remember her eyes? I think they were green, but something keeps me from remembering.”

“Eyes are said to be the window to the soul. That is probably for your benefit,” Bren guessed.

“Yeah, ok, her face is nice, what ‘bout the rest of ‘er? How was her ass?”

“Kat!” Bren exclaimed. “That is nearing blasphemy!”

“As if that Goddess out of all of ‘em is gonna care if someone talks about her bits,” Kat retorted.

“Ok, so that part was drop dead gorgeous. Like, perfection. Perfect pale skin, perfect breasts, wide and full hips. She was sitting the whole time so I can’t really say much on her butt,” Kat threw her hands up in frustration, “but she was absolutely a Goddess of beauty. She may have had to grab my attention a few times when she caught me staring and not listening.”

“Some people get all the luck,” Kat grumbled. “Well, shit. I expected this tae be a big reveal o’ some sort, but that takes the cake. Shit, my secret seems like fuckin’ nothin. Ya ready fer it?” She asked Annita.

She nodded back, waiting.

“I’m a fuckin’ princess.”

“Bullshit.”

“Nae. Swear to the Gods. Should I swear to Orenous now? Things I never thought I’d ask. Fuck! I need a drink. I need several. Bren, d’ya think they’ll let us snag a bottle o’ wine? I’m checking. Be right back.” She left quickly, stomping down the stairs to the main floor. It wasn’t even a minute before she was back with a bottle. She wrenched the cork free with her teeth and poured into their camp cups that Bren had retrieved from the packs.

“Ok, sorry, princess?” Annita resumed her question.

“Aye, middle kid o’ the Farragher royal family. Mum’s the Queen, da’s the King. Grew up in the big ol’ Palace Under the Mountain.”

“Bren, she’s telling the truth, right?” Annita turned to hopefully the one she could count on to be the voice of truth.

“She is telling the truth, yes,” he responded matter-of-factly. “Third child of the Farragher household. Princess of the Korvas Kingdom. You may have inferred, but my family and hers are rather close. Our parents met at a ball by chance and they made fast friends over their discussions on magic theory. Father tells the tale frequently. Kat and I have been like siblings despite our age difference.’

“But, where’s the courtly decorum? The propriety? The gowns and all that?” Annita asked, completely bewildered.

“Ye won’t catch me dead in one o’ those stuffy things again. I’ll fight ye if ya even try,” Kat growled as she drained her cup and poured another. “Da and I always fought o’er that. Ma cares as little as I do. Eventually we just came to an agreement that it didn’t suit me and tha’ was tha’.”

“I pulled a fucking princess into my lap at dinner,” Annita groaned as she drained her own cup. It was a sweet wine, one she could drink copious amounts of easily. Dangerous.

“Aye, sure fuckin’ did. Did ye hear ‘er complain, either?” Kat grinned mischievously back. “Title don’t change who I am. Don’t ye be one of ‘em that lets it change who I am to you. Ya ken?”

“I, sure. Fine. Holy shit.” Annita took a moment to collect herself. Bren drank his wine, but in far less quantity than Kat and Annita were. “So, Bren, back to the Path thing. I do want you to know that my two unique resources are explicitly sexual in nature. Desire requires ‘relations’ with a trusting partner.”

“I will stop you there. I have no interest in you.” Bren said sternly.

“Yeah, that’s fine. I don’t really have any interest in you either, at least in that way. Uh, no offense.”

“None was taken.” Bren said, relaxing a little.

“I just want you to understand that it seems like this is going to be a theme for my Path, and want to make sure that’s not a deal-breaker for you if we continue to travel together.” Annita took another long drink from her cup, handing it to Kat for a refill.

“That is fine. It is certainly an unconventional Path, however unique can mean powerful. As long as you do not try to involve me in any lascivious activities, I will continue to journey with you. I assume you are already on board with all of this Katlyn?”

Kat sputtered in her cup when she heard her full name. “Oh, aye. I am. Honesly? Ready to get more involved than ye are, but I’ve laid me guidelines out on how I want this relationship to start.”

“Definitely,” Annita agreed. She felt a weight lift from her shoulders as they talked. She didn’t realize she was dreading this conversation as much as she had been. Bren was a good man, and it’d be a shame to run him off with something she couldn’t control. “So, you two all right with me tagging along with you?”

“You taggin’ with us? Lass, we gonna be taggin’ along with you soon enough. But yeah, I’m in. Bren said ‘e’s in and ‘e don’ change his min’ once ‘e makes his mind up.” Kat’s words were starting to slur a little, and Annita grabbed the cup from her.

“I think that’s enough for now,” she said, handing the cup to Bren. “With that settled, I have one more secret here. This is a big one. Probably more unique than the Orenous thing.”

Kat flopped back on the bed and groaned. “Fine, wha’ever ye’ve got. Lay it on me.”

“So I’m not an amnesiac whatsoever. I remember everything about my life. It’s just that I’m from the past. Like before the Gods, past. I think Orenous said it was about five thousand years ago or so. And this?” Annita raised her hands and wiggled her fluffy ears. “This isn’t my original body. I used to be human as you can be. I was stuck in a coma. Kinda like being dead, but still being alive. I was in a hospital when the Gods came back and everything apparently went to shit. Orenous happened to plop her Seed down in the area and kept an eye on me. Said she felt something about me. When the Warping thing started, she did her best to protect me from it. Couldn’t stop all of it, so now I look like this.” She spread her arms wide to emphasize her Lupine features. “It’s probably why my race is listed as Lupine (Warped). Still really not sure what that’s about. Another mystery of my existence. Then at the end of the talk, she said she’d made my body walk to the mansion you found me in and you guys know the rest.”

Once she was done with the abridged version of her story, Annita flopped back on her own bed. “Questions?” she asked the ceiling.

“What the fuck?” she heard Kat say from the other side of the room.

“Oh, yeah, agreed. What the fuck. I don’t even know what the fuck, is how fucked it is.” 

Annita giggled, then laughed, and kept laughing. Soon she heard Kat joining in the laughter. Even Bren had a few chuckles.

“We’ve got a lot of walking to do tomorrow. How about we talk about it more on the road?” Annita suggested.

“Aye, sounds good tae me.” Kat said, her voice trailing off as the alcohol dragged her down.

“Yes, that is acceptable. Now, if you will excuse me, I will take this and bid you a good night.” Bren grabbed the bottle and closed the door gently behind him.

After a few minutes of silence, Kat sat up on her elbows. “Ye need tae handle yerself again, dont’cha?”

“I, yeah, I do. Don’t want to run into whatever happens when I cap out on Libido.” Annita sighed.

“Gods, why the fuck did I have to want to do this right?” Kat moaned, flopping back down. “I’d help ya otherwise.”

“You would?” Annita asked, a little surprised.

“Aye, yer good lookin’. More than that.” As she spoke, her voice got quieter and quieter. “Gods know I like ye.” 

Her last words were a whisper before Annita heard the soft, steady rhythm of the Alfhindur sleeping. 

“Gods, she’s cute when she’s drunk, and tired, and everything.” Annita said to herself. “All right, let’s deal with this and get some sleep.”

She stood and quietly left the room, heading to a lavatory to sate her ever-growing libido.

Chapter Text

Annita woke early, stretching in her bed and rubbing her eyes. It felt amazing to have a mattress again after the days of sleeping on a blanket, and she dreaded going back on the road. This time she’d have a bedroll, though. Improvements.

She sat up and took a look around, finding Kat still sleeping in her own bed. Annita’s heart jumped a little seeing the woman laying there. The mundanity was something special to her. Kat’s hair was a mess from tossing in her sleep, and her blanket had tangled around her. Annita took a moment to admire her figure, outlined in the blankets as it was, before getting up and walking over to her. She startled slightly as her claws clacked against the wood, not used to actual floors yet.

“Kat, c’mon. It’s time to get up. We’ve gotta get on the road again today,” she said softly, rocking the sleeping Alfhindur by her shoulder.

“Mmmm, little more sleep?” Kat groaned, rolling over and taking the blankets with her, exposing she’d apparently stripped at some point in the night.

Annita couldn’t help but admire the sight, but restrained herself. “All right, you’ve got until I get dressed. Deal?”

“Deal, don’ rush. ‘Kay?” was the sleepy mumble from the pillow.

Annita smiled, pulled the blanket back over Kat and turned to her pack and dressed herself. She wrapped the new strip of cloth around her chest, binding her breasts comfortably so she could move freely, donned her shirt and green kilt, cinched her belt and checked the rest of her pack. She couldn’t finish lacing up the shirt, since the opening was in the back, so she went to wake her sleeping companion.

Grumbling the entire time, Kat sat up, yawned, and sat on the bed with her head hung for a couple minutes before she got to dressing herself. “Oi, d’ya know how tae braid?”

“Yeah, definitely. Need some help?”

“Aye, usually wear it in a few of ‘em. Leave the bangs free, maybe some in the back too. Rest in two or four long braids if ye don’ mind.”

“Yes, your highness,” Annita giggled as she took her position behind Kat.

“None o’ tha’, ya numpty,” Kat groaned.

Laughing, Annita got to work. She found the process much easier than it had ever been. She attributed it to the increased Dexterity stat she’d started building up. Soon, she had Kat’s hair done up in a way that stayed out of her way, but still had a good bit of volume in the back. Two long braids trailed down over her shoulders and chest, and two trailed from her temples to the back of her head, meeting in a loose knot.

“Thank ye,” Kat said as she felt her hair as they lacked a mirror. “Feels perfect. Ye weren’t a friseur back in yer day?”

“Sorry, friseur?”

“Oh, sorry, person who works wit’ hair,” Kat explained.

“Nope, I studied art mostly. Ancient by my standards. Probably considered relics by yours.” Annita moved from behind Kat and ran a hand through her own hair, feeling the wild mane that flowed between her ears and down her back. As she did, Kat moved behind her and finished up lacing her shirt. It definitely felt better with her fur poking out between the straps than the alternative. The mere thought of all that fur getting mushed around by cloth made her spine itch.

“Sounds borin’ as ‘ell.” Kat huffed. “Though I bet Bren’d love tae talk yer ear off ‘bout it. Man loves ‘is books, he does.” She stood, stretched again, giving Annita a wonderful view of her muscular body, and started donning her clothes and armor.

“Yeah, I can imagine it would be pretty boring for someone who’s used to fighting and adventuring like this. It was something I loved, though. I’m honestly looking forward to seeing what art this time has made. Sculptures, paintings, frescos, murals. There are probably entire new mediums, with magic being a possibility.” Annita rambled as she watched Kat dress.

“Ye’ll like Korvas then. City’s old. Mountain she’s built under is older, obviously, but the sayin’ goes she’s as old as it is. If there’s a place fer ye to get a good look at art, it’ll be there or Indelholm. Indelholm more on the magic side, mind. Bren’ll talk yer ear off about tha’ too.” Kat chuckled as she finished clothing herself. She moved around behind Annita and helped tighten the laces on her shirt. Once done, she cinched her sheathed sword to her hip and fastened her shield to her back. “Need help with figurin’ out the sheath and holster there?”

“Oh, yeah, I guess I do. Didn’t quite know how I should put them on.”

“Straps are simple enough. Yer usin’ the falchion in yer right hand, yeah?”

“Yeah, that felt the most natural.”

“Gotcha, so that might be awkward. Normally ye want tae be able to reach across yerself tae draw yer sword. Do ye want tae draw yer pistol from yer left or do ye feel more comfortable reachin’ across fer that, too? Here, try.” Kat held the sword up to Annita’s left hip and the pistol to her right. 

Reaching both ways across her body, she gripped both weapons and drew them. “That felt fine to me. I guess we can keep it like that.”

“All right. Lemme get that fer ya real quick.” Kat ran her hands around Annita’s waist and fastened the sheath and holster securely. Annita felt her hands wander a little as she did so, but didn’t comment.

“There, ye look the part o’ an adventurer.” Kat said, satisfied. “Yer gonna need some armor, but we’ll need more coin fer that.”

“So, question. You’re royalty, right? Aren’t royalty supposed to be rich?” Annita asked.

“I mean, aye, normally. If we were back at home, we’d have no problems gettin’ ye outfitted by wonderful artisans, but I personally don’ like flauntin’ that. Shit warps people as much as the Seeds do.”

“Ah, yeah, makes sense. If that’s how you like it, I won’t ask again.” Annita said, feeling some embarrassment at her forwardness.

“Hey, no offense taken. Ye didn’t know better. Hells, there’s gonna be a lot o’ stuff like that fer ya with how ye got here.” Kat laughed. “Let’s not keep Bren waitin’ though.” She turned toward the door, beckoning Annita to follow.

Bren was waiting for them downstairs, already packed. He handed them each a large roll. It was hollowed out and had an egg, and what looked like sausage baked as a filling, still steaming.

“That smells awesome." Annita took the roll as her stomach growled, sinking her sharp teeth in eagerly. The creamy egg and greasy sausage soaked into the fresh bread and coated her tongue with an amazingly savory blend. “Mmmf, I’m gonna miss this when we’re eating rations again.”

“As will I,” Bren agreed, taking a bite of his own breakfast. “Are you two ready to be on our way?”

“Aye, all good tae go,” Kat said, shifting her pack on her shoulder.

Before leaving, they made a quick stop at the enchanter and picked up Annita’s weapon. The tired-looking man took their payment and shooed them away quickly, probably so he could catch up on sleep.

They left the Outpost as the sun crested the horizon in the east. Annita watched as the long shadows of the trees they were heading into became more defined, and the snow between them sparkled in the early light.

Two sets of footprints and one set of paw prints stretched out behind them as the sun moved further into the sky.

“So,” Kat began, “what was it like all that time ago? I mean, back when ye were from?”

“Gods, different,” Annita sighed. “For one thing, magic didn’t exist. Though I guess we kinda worked around that in some ways.”

“Oh? Did you? Could you elaborate?” Bren was sticking slightly behind the other two, to their right, as they wound through the black trunks.

“Well, yeah, we used electricity. Lightning, but incredibly controlled and far less powerful, to make all sorts of things happen. We used it to make pictures, lights, communicate all across the globe. It’s what we used to store most of our information, too. If you could think of it, we likely had an application of electricity for it.”

“That sounds absolutely fascinating. I wonder why humanity has not replicated the feat since,” Bren pondered, lifting a hand to his chin and stroking a non-existent beard.

“Well, I’ve got an actual answer to that. From Orenous herself, actually. Apparently it’s the Gods’ fault. Something about their presence just breaks how we used to use technology. I’m not really smart enough to figure out why, so I’ve just been taking her word for it.”

“Aye, tha’s fair. Had any family?” Kat continued the questioning as she scanned the woods.

“Yeah, had my mom and dad, two sisters, and a brother. I was the oldest of them all. Had two cats too. Definitely counted them as family. Dad worked for the government doing taxes. Mom stayed at home, but she had a degree in biology. The study of life, I guess, is the best way to describe it. My brother and sisters were all over the place. The youngest, Jane, was too young to really know much about her, and I was already off to college by the time she started getting more personality. Ben was really into sports and loved our local football team. He and dad would always try to watch whatever game was on the TV. Rosita was the older one. She was more into cheer-leading and makeup. That stuff. We didn’t agree on much, but she taught me some stuff about taking care of hair, and I helped her with makeup. It was nice for what it was.” Annita let out a long sigh, homesickness washing over her in a heavy wave. “And they’re all gone now.”

Two hands gripped her shoulders. Bren and Kat both looked at her with understanding. “I am truly sorry for your loss. I know there was nothing you could have done about it.”

“Yeah,” Annita huffed. They all walked in silence for a while before she broke the silence again. “And thanks for that. Haven’t really had time to, ya know, deal with all that. Orenous gave me some time to cry and stuff, but she had to keep moving too. Figure I’ll either get used to it, or just have a breakdown somewhere, sometime. Sorry, being a downer here.”

“Nah,” Kat said, hoisting her pack again. “It’s loss. Shit’s gonna linger with ye longer than ye expect it to. Still think about Arty all the time. Kid was a reliable, kind one. Great shot with that rifle of his, an’ all that. We picked him up, what, a couple months ago?”

“Yes, in between Korvas and Graven Keep. We had just registered for our mercenary licenses, and he was doing the same in a town we passed through. We invited him to join us in whatever adventures or jobs we were hired for, he agreed, and that was that. We are going to need to make a stop to tell his family what happened on the way, Kat.” Bren said with a heavy tone.

“Aye, just tryin’ not tae think about that right now. Gonna be hard enough when it happens. Can’t be buildin’ stress over the future on top o’ it.”

“Yeah, I get that. I keep trying to focus on all the new stuff here, not thinking about all the stuff I lost. Which, thankfully, is an absolute fuckton.” Annita thought to herself for a moment, trying to change the subject a little. “Like, language. I figure it’s magic, but I’ve understood you all from the moment I woke up. I can’t imagine that the languages I knew stayed consistent, much less completely intact, for five thousand years.”

“Yes, I do believe you are correct in your assumption. There are several languages spoken on this continent and outside of the Kingdom. I have no point of reference, however, I would hazard a guess that they are unrecognizable to you.”

“Huh, yeah, most likely. Would be cool to turn the translation off to see if I could tell the difference. Oh well.” Annita shrugged. “Then there’s other stuff. Seems like animals have stayed mostly consistent, with some changes from the Warping. Think I saw a couple new birds out there though. Then there’s the gear and other things. Like this,” she drew the revolver from her hip, “this design was something that was around in my time. I’m surprised it stuck around.”

“Fascinating,” Bren said, taking a closer look at the gun. “Firearms are a fairly ancient weapon, at least to us. They’ve been modified over time to include enchantments, magically fueled ammunition, etcetera.”

“Yeah, they were pretty much the most powerful personal weapons we had in our time. All our wars were fought with them after they were refined enough. People collected older models, some had them for personal use or protection. They were everywhere.”

“Damn, can’t imagine.” Kat said, maneuvering through some tricky, prickly bushes. “Magic kinda keeps ‘em in line. Yeah, they can be made magic, but that just lets magic deal with ‘em a bit better.”

“Guess I chose a versatile weapon here, huh?” Annita turned the revolver over, tracing the new bluish lines tracing the barrel, marking the noise dampening enchantment.

“Aye, and with ye not havin’ magic o’ yer own to put into ‘em, ye’ll have to pre-select what ye want ‘em tae do when ye get some. All sorts o’ elements, though most chose fire an’ lightnin’ for obvious reasons. There’s a crazy amount o’ different kinds.”

“Good to know. I’ll take my time looking. So, Kat…” Annita trailed off as her ears twitched. Something was approaching. It was a strange sound, a low huffing of an animal, but quiet, solid steps. It didn’t sound like a Twinwolf. No, something new. Then there was a chittering. A noise she’d heard a hundred times from her cats when they wanted to hunt the squirrels outside her window. “Some kind of cat’s nearby. Getting closer.”

“Aye, just picked it up, too. ‘Member the hooved cat thing I told ye about? Probably one o’ those. Solitary hunter, much stronger than the Twinwolves. We all fight this time. Get yer shit loaded. Bren, behind us. I’ll take point, an’ ye strike when ye feel is the right time.”

Annita and Kat turned to where they heard the noise coming from, weapons drawn and searching the trunks for their stalker. Soon they spotted movement. A surprisingly white coat from the description Annita had gotten speckled with dark spots kept the cat-deer-thing camouflaged if they weren’t looking for it.

Noticing that their party had seen it, the beast dropped the act of trying to sneak up on them and rose. It was big, probably the size of a tiger, Annita guessed. It was also built without an ounce of fat on it. Even with its long coat, she could see the massive muscles rippling as it moved. As it tensed for the confrontation, Annita spied new spots appearing in its fur. She realized the spots she was already seeing weren’t a natural coloring, but dried blood from previous exertion.

“Thank fuck, it’s just the one.” Kat muttered to herself before slamming her sword into her shield in a familiar taunt.

The cat’s gaze flicked to her and it lowered its body to the snow, its golden eyes gleaming from the pure white. A low growl rumbled over the snow before it leapt at Kat. True to its description, it had hooves instead of paws and claws. Despite the anatomical anomaly, it put them to good use, swiping at Kat with blunt force.

The metal of Kat’s shield rang as she caught the blow, parried, and stabbed back at it. The Warped ducked out of the way and moved to the side The Warped ducked out of the way and moved to the side with more speed than any of the Twinwolves.

As it lunged in to take a bite from Kat’s right side, Annita took the opportunity to slash at its hindquarters with her falchion, grinning as she watched a line of black stain its coat. Unfortunately, this drew attention to her way, and she backpedaled hastily as hooves swiped her direction. One caught her lower leg, and she felt the bone complain as it resisted the impact.

“Thing hits fucking hard,” she gasped. 

“Aye, focus on dodgin’. My job tae take the hits.” Kat said as she slammed her shield into the creature’s side, causing it to stumble.

It turned back to Kat as she took the offensive, raining blows down on the muscled beast with both shield and sword. In the meantime, Annita saw Bren begin to weave his hands and wand, casting what she assumed were defensive spells and healing on their tank. She snuck a good couple hits in with her falchion, but with Kat moving so quickly and the Warped matching her speed, she didn’t want to use the revolver. 

This changed when Kat caught the thing with a particularly solid shield strike, throwing it clear of their tight melee. Dashing in, Annita sunk her falchion into the thing’s shoulder, a stream of blood erupting from the wound, and placed the barrel of the gun to its side. Channeling divine power into the weapon, she pulled the trigger. Annita reflexively braced for the deafening echo, and it was still there, but it didn’t hurt anymore. Pulling back as a hoof sailed past her face as a gurgling roar burbled from the creature’s throat. She saw even more black blood oozing from a circular wound along with the trailing smoke, which meant her Smite had worked with the bullet. Pulling her sword clear, black blood oozing from the wound, she watched with revulsion as the muscles under its skin seemed to bubble and move to try and seal the wound. However, a hoof swinging at her face so close it cut her cheek broke her concentration on the wound.

Annita maintained her distance for most of the beginning of the fight, watching how Kat moved, how the creature reacted, and picking up where she could slip in. It was difficult. She felt like she was too slow. Once she saw an opening, but misjudged her timing and jostled Kat, who took a nasty blow to her side. Apologizing profusely, Annita moved back, scrambling on her back to make sure she was out of the way.

Annita eventually fell into a rhythm. Kat would demand the cat’s attention, and she would maneuver behind it, or to the side, come in for a quick strike, and retreat while Kat resumed her offensive. Blood flowed freely from wounds across the thing’s flesh, both self inflicted from its exertion, several sound wounds, and four bullet holes.

“Fuck, this thing is tough.” Annita gasped as the grueling combat reached a pause, both sides eyeing the other.

“Yeah, sure fuckin’ is. Looks like it’s slowin’ down, though. Almost there. Ye good?” Kat was similarly panting, sweat running down her face as she kept her eyes locked on the predator.

“Yeah, Bren? Doing ok back there?”

“My Mind is at half. I’ve only been helping with the most severe strikes.”

“Gotcha. Prayin’ we don’t need ye more. We’re gonna be a pile o’ bruises tonight.”

“Sure are,” Annita groaned, twitching as the cat made a feint at her, but backed off again.

“Jerkin’ it tonight’s gonna suck fer ye.” Kat laughed as she began to regain her breath.

Annita let out a long sigh, and she was saved from further teasing as the Warped lunged at her. Scrambling to her left, Kat replaced her and met the hoof with a metallic clang and a grunt. “Let’s finish this up, yeah? Arm feckin hurts.”

Annita nodded as she wiped the sweat from her eyes. She tried to keep up with Kat but was growing increasingly tired, her ability to catch openings lessening every passing minute. Kat was faring much better, but she could see the fatigue starting to take some effect.

There!

Kat had shoved the beast away with a mighty push, sending it skidding backwards and off balance. Annita lunged in, sneaking the falchion through the creature’s left ribs, locking it in place. As the cat’s head turned to greet her, she leveled the pistol to its head and fired her last bullet with the flash of a Smite. There was no sound as the Warped’s full weight fell to the snow, with Annita collapsing on top of it.

It was a couple of minutes before Annita caught her breath enough to push up off the creature. She turned to see Kat laying sprawled in the snow, recovering herself. Slowly, she made her way over to her companions on unsteady paws. Without ceremony, she flopped to lie next to Kat.

“Good… Job,” Kat said between deep breaths. Bren was doing some kind of healing, and the encounter clearly beat her up. “Yer takin… tae yer weapons… real well fer… how new they are.”

“I’m just trying to hit the things.” Annita shrugged as she stared up at the cold blue sky. “You’re so fast. It’s hard to keep up.”

“Aye, ye’ll get there, though. That’s mostly levels. Keep puttin’ points into yer Dexterity an’ ye’ll match me soon.”

“Yeah, oh, wait, on that note.” Annita turned her attention to a silver screen that had popped up. “Guess I leveled from that too?”

“Course ye did. I got one too. Bren?”

“Yes, I have advanced.”

“So, wasn’t just one.”

Kat groaned. “How many?”

“Would you be mad if I said two again?”

“Feck you. Anything good?”

“One sec, let me see.” Annita expanded her sheet and looked through her options.

Congratulations! Your Path has advanced!

Warrior of Orenous (4)

Please select a core stat to increase by +2.

Congratulations! Your Path has advanced!

Warrior of Orenous (5)

Passive Upgrade has been unlocked:

Chosen of Orenous: The Bearer is burdened with a task from the divine. Growth of one’s progression is accelerated by a factor of 1.5 once a Path is chosen. For each lover in the current party, increase the multiplier by 0.2. This bonus will apply to all party members of the same or lower levels as the owner. Further benefits will be unlocked upon progression of the Bearer’s Path.

Additionally provides +5 to Faith.

Please select one skill from the following:

Deft Hands: Increase dexterity by 5. Any complicated manipulation of your digits becomes moderately easier.

Healing Embrace: Take a moment to rest with your loved ones. Resting with skin to skin contact restores health for all involved at a low rate.

“Definitely interesting.” Annita’s voice hitched as she read the upgrade to Chosen of Orenous again. “Remember my experience passive? It upgraded. Looks like it’ll apply to you two once I catch up in level, and anyone else that’s beneath my level.”

“Woah, that’s ridiculously good,” Kat whistled.

“I’m not even done,” Annita continued. “It says that per lover in my party, the bonus increases by 0.2. I swear she’s playing matchmaker with me.”

“She is the Goddess of Love.” Bren nodded sagely as he turned to provide healing to the cuts Annita had sustained.

“Yeah. Guess she’s also fine with me not getting tied down to one person. That’s so weird.”

“Huh, what ‘bout it?” Kat asked, sitting up on her elbows with a grunt.

“Is that more common here?” Annita looked at her, confusion plain on her face.

“I mean, not really, but it’s not unheard of?” Kat explained. “Ye’ll have a few groups decide they all love each other, an’ they’ll just go with it. Sounds like ye’ve had different experiences, though.”

“Yeah, back in my time, and I guess my culture, it was mostly monogamous. There was a historical precedent of polygamy and harems and stuff like that, but I’d never seen it, much less participated.” Annita sighed, scanning her stats again. “Guess I’m going to have to get used to it.”

“Hey, ye almost sound like yer disappointed tha’ ye’ll be skewering multiple women with that log ‘twixt yer legs. Ye all right?” Kat reached over, taking Annita’s hand in concern. Her icy eyes softening as she watched the Lupine’s reactions.

“Are you ok with it? Seems like we’re moving on the path to becoming more than friends here, and I already care about your opinion. I just don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.” Annita looked away from Kat sheepishly, trying to avoid the smaller woman’s piercing gaze.

“Tae be frank wit’ ye, it wasn’t in me plans fer me life. Always figgered I’d be settlin’ down wit’ a nice lady after a good life o’ adventurin’. Maybe adopt a littl’un. Nice an’ simple. Ye seem tae fit the nice lady part,” she elbowed Annita in the ribs, eliciting a groan as she hit a bruise, “so I guess we can figure the rest out. Ye’ve got yer quest. Ye’ve got this wonderful skill. Just run it by me if ye find someone ye think might be into us, yeah? I’d like tae have feelin’s fer anyone ye do. Keep things from gettin’ messy.”

“Yeah, sounds like a plan. I promise to include you in any romance outside of us I might find. You do the same too. Not like I want to be all hypocritical and say I’m the only one for you. If you know anyone who’d join the party that’d be interested in us, we can feel that out together.” Annita squeezed Kat’s hand warmly.

“Aye, sounds good.”

“Now that that is out of the way, may I ask you two to roll over? I need to examine your backs for wounds.” Bren said coolly. Despite his tone, his slight smile betrayed his feelings.

The pair of fighters groaned as they turned over.

“So there’s skills too. Got one that’s an increase to Dexterity. Five points. It seems pretty nice. The other is a healing one surprisingly. Gives passive regen to me and anyone else who’s resting with me and touching skin.”

“I’d go for the Dexterity if it were me,” Kat said, voice muffled by her arms. “We’ve got a healer, an’ he’s not goin’ anywhere.”

“Good point. Definitely agree.” Annita opened her sheet again, made her selection, and spent her bonus points. Sighing, she relaxed into her arms, feeling her tail swish behind her lazily as Bren finished healing them.

Name: Annita Kronforst

Age: 23

Race: Lupine (Warped)

Path: Warrior of Orenous (5)

Title: Chosen of Orenous

———————————————————————————————

Racial Skills:

Cold Resistance: Reduced damage from cold effects. Comfortable in colder climates.

Keen Hearing : Able to hear sounds from greater distances with greater clarity.

Natural Weapons: Claws and teeth are considered weapons for any skills that would affect weapons.

Endurance Hunter: +2 to Strength, +5 to Dexterity, +5 to Stamina

———————————————————————————————

Unique Passive:

Chosen of Orenous: The Bearer is burdened with a task from the divine. Growth of one’s progression is accelerated by a factor of 1.5 once a Path is chosen. For each lover in the current party, increase the multiplier by .0.2. This bonus will apply to all party members of the same or lower levels as the owner. Further benefits will be unlocked upon progression of the Bearer’s Path.

Additionally provides +5 to Faith.

Path Skills

———————————————————————————————

Passive:

Weapon Proficiency: Light weapons and small firearms.

Armor Proficiency: Medium Armor

Health Points: Stat has been unlocked.

Libido: Stat has been unlocked. Increases by 5/hour. Once full, sexual inhibitions will be greatly reduced until release is achieved.

Desire: Stat has been unlocked. Gained through relations with trusting partners.

Stat Increases: +5 to Faith, +10 to Mind, +2 to Endurance, +2 to Resilience

Compatibility: You’re a large lady, in more ways than one. This will help make sure things go smoothly in your conquests.

Deft Hands: Increase dexterity by +5. Any complicated manipulation of your digits becomes moderately easier.

———————————————————————————————

Active:

Stoke the Flames: Consume 10 desire points to inflame the target, incensing a heightened emotion of your choice for 1 minute.

Smite of Orenous: Enhance an attack to deal additional Holy damage. Adds 20% of current Faith to the attack. Cost: 10 Mind.

Predatory Sensuality: Cost: +40 Libido. Requires a display of sensuality to activate. Your force of will and pure sensuality make you irresistible, lowering your opponent’s guard. For a single strike, lower the target’s Endurance by 5 points.

———————————————————————————————

Passive Stat Increases:

+50 Health

+50 Desire

+25 Libido

+2 Strength

+9 Dexterity

Chapter Text

Eventually. Annita and Kat rose, their bodies still aching, and resumed their journey. It was slower going, a combination of exhaustion from the fight and some deeper swathes of snow that proved treacherous to navigate.

Soon, they made it to the edge of a small creek, its moving waters carving a dark crevice through the field of white. Clearing a space, they set up camp along the bank on the large, smooth rocks that made up the area. Kat wandered off to gather firewood, leaving Annita and Bren to themselves.

“So, I have a question about the Warped. When I stabbed that last one, I saw something under its skin move. Do you know what that was?” Annita started as she worked on setting out the bedrolls.

“Ah, yes, that would be its flesh. They are not restricted by the rigid internal structures the rest of us are. Are you well versed in the internal makeup of a body?” As he spoke, he set about unpacking their rations for the night.

“Yes, well, as best I can be without being a doctor,” Annita admitted, struggling to get her blankets out of her pack momentarily.

“Good, that will make this easier. When we take damage, we do have our health points to fall back on that normally rebuff some of the damage and protect our vitals. They have something similar, however, it affects their ability to rearrange their internals and regenerate from damage taken. When we are fighting them, we are wearing down their ability to heal until we can make a lethal blow they can’t recover from. This gets stranger when the creature is not entirely flesh. There have been plenty of instances of plant life also being affected by the corrupting aura of the Seeds. They usually operate on the principle of rapid growth to repair themselves.”

“I see,” Annita said, as she noticed Kat returning with some wood. “It’s really nasty to look at. Almost didn’t believe what I saw.”

“Yes, I understand the reaction.” Bren smiled as he took the wood from Kat and started the fire. “It is a disturbing portion of their nature. I personally have seen many of the creatures, and their forms are as variable as their ability to utilize this nature. Some, like the Twinwolves, have very little capability to modify their internals. When they take damage, they can resist to a point, but any major damage will persist. Larger creatures, or special cases, have some truly incredible levels of regeneration and modification.”

“Is it bad that I don’t want to run into anything like that?” Annita cringed at the description. It reminded her of horror movies back in her times, like The Thing. The reality of something like that was much more disgusting. She shook herself of the memory and focused on the future. “So, how far away from Graven Peak are we?”

The sun was setting, long shadows looming from the trees at the edges of the field they’d found themselves in. The fire sparked, warming them with its orange glow. Kat had settled close to Annita, with Bren sitting opposite them.

“’Bout a week? Give or take a few days. Mostly forest ‘twixt us an’ there.” Kat said, munching on a biscuit.

“Yes, though things may be more complicated than we expected. Did you hear about the Seed that was further to the south?” Bren asked, taking a sip from his cup. “Well, in any case, it has moved.”

“They can do that?” Annita asked, cocking her head so her ears flopped slightly.

“Yes, now and then. It generally coincides with some event impacting the presiding God’s domain. Of course, there are several forests and rivers in this area, each with a God to watch over them. Though they have taken a step back, there were many such deities scattered across the lands. I wonder if an avalanche occurred, or if a river burst a dam somewhere to the south.” Bren let out a heavy sigh before packing away his rations. “Regardless, it is in our path now. We will either need to make a detour around it or march through it.”

“Takin’ someone so new through somethin’ like tha’s not a great idea, Bren.” Kat sat forward at the mention of the new danger and was twiddling a long braid between her fingers. “Then again, shit’ll probably take us an extra week or so to get around. Ye said it was a Forest God’s Seed?”

“Yes, a minor one of the Choltar Forest. Of all the seeds to traverse, this would likely be one of the least dangerous. Not to say, Annita, that it will not be dangerous. Just comparably less so.”

“If it were just me ‘n Bren, we’d take it without questions. We’ve already got our protective blessin’s so we’re protected from the effects. Ye’ve got a Goddess’ backing, so ye’ll be fine. I’m a wee bit worried about ye, though, Ann. Guess we’ll leave it up to ye. Think on it a bit. We’ve got time.”

“Thanks.” Annita tilted her head back to stare up at the stars. It was still early in the night and the moon had yet to rise. The camp fell into a quiet peace, the only sound being the crackling of the flames.

It was a hard choice. Not one she was sure she should even be making. She’d been here all of four days. Now people were asking for her opinion. Daily battles against monsters she’d only seen in fiction, and some even outside what she expected. She hadn’t taken the time to think about how crazy her life had been. Now they wanted to go through an even more dangerous place.

Her thoughts drifted to Orenous and her conversation with the Goddess. She’d been chosen. For what reason, neither of them really knew, but there was something about her that had a chance of helping. That, and the Seeds were what she was supposed to be looking into, anyway. Eh, fuck it. In for a penny.

“Yeah, let’s do it,” she said, looking back down at her companions. “I’m gonna have to go into one of them eventually. A less dangerous one sounds like a good idea.”

Kat looked to her, a questioning raise of an eyebrow probing for any worries. Not finding anything she disliked, she let out a held breath. “Alrighty then. We’re gonna be headed in tomorrow, aye?”

“Yes,” Bren agreed. “It should be earlier in the morning when we cross the threshold. Annita, I know you have no experience with these domains in the waking world, so let us explain a couple of things. There may be more or less Warped residing in the Seed. The ones we do encounter will be of a greater threat than those out in the wilds.”

“Aye, and crazier. I’d say tae expect the unexpected in there. Shit’ll be all over the place as well. It’s a God’s domain. Their world, if ye will. They don’t have tae play by our rules. Forest God means we’ll probably have tae deal with plants an’ shit.”

“The warped can be plants as well?” Annita asked, bemused. “Thought it’d only be animals.”

“Nae, just about anythin’ that’s livin’ll be susceptible tae the influence. Usually animals outside the actual Seed though.”

“Correct. Terrain may change drastically as well. You may enter from a flat plain and encounter a mountainous landscape before you. As I said, anything is possible.”

The moon began to creep above the trees, signaling the night’s progress. Annita looked up and, for the first time, realized something was wrong with the glowing celestial body. How had she missed that before? It was in pieces, but not really? It looked like a clump of moons had been stuck together to imitate what had once been a larger whole. They were all round, tightly clustered, arranged in as close of a sphere as one could manage with what was there.

“The fuck is wrong with the moon?” Annita exclaimed.

“Huh, what’cha mean? What’s wrong with it? Always been like that.” Kat stared at her, clearly confused.

“No no no, it was not. I remember it being a single sphere up there. Thing’d just be looking down at us like a face. Not… broken?”

“That is odd. It has been as such in all the recorded histories I’ve read. If it was changed, it was likely during the Dark Ages. So strange. A single uniform sphere?” Bren had pulled out a piece of paper and was quickly scribbling down a note.

“Yeah, it controlled the tides, gave us light at night when it reflected the sun. It was a wonderful sight at night.” Annita sighed, taking in the new form of the familiar object.

“Fascinating. Fascinating. Thank you. I hope you do not mind me recording this information?” Ben asked, almost as an afterthought, still holding the paper.

“Nah, it’s fine.” Annita waved him off. “Not like it’ll change much here.”

“You never know,” Bren quipped with a smile as he tucked his note away into a thick book filled with other scraps of paper.

“Fair. All right, I gotta handle myself, and then we should probably get some sleep here.” Annita said, stretching before standing.

To her surprise, Kat stood with her, drawing Bren’s attention as well.

“Ye mind if I talk tae ya fer a moment in private?” she asked, eyes aloof, but driving home this was more than a request.

“Sure? Come on?” Annita accepted. She turned with a shrug at Bren, who seemed to be hiding a smirk.

“So, you gonna tell me what this is about?” Annita asked.

They had been walking for a few minutes in silence. Kat seemed nervous and Annita had a growing pit of anxiety that she knew what this was about. The Alfhindur had said she was into her. She said she’d want a tumble, but also that she wanted to wait for them to have a proper date. Did something change? Did her conviction break down? Was she trying to fuck now?

Annita shook her head, clearing her thoughts as they spiraled into lewdness and desperately tried to fight the stirring beneath her kilt.

“Aye. Just, aye. I have tae come clean with ye over somethin’ real quick.” Kat kicked at a small drift of snow as they walked. “Please don’ think worse o’ me. All right?” She paused, waiting for Annita, who nodded back. “I’ve been… watchin’ ye. The second night ye skipped off tae, uh, handle yerself, as ye put it. I know it wasn’t right, but I couldn’t help meself for some reason. I’m sorry.”

Annita stopped for a moment, staring at the woman next to her. She’d never heard anything during her escapades, never would have guessed that she’d had an audience. The thought brought a bright blush to her cheeks, and her heart picked up its pace.

“I… forgive you?” Annita said after a long moment. “I appreciate you telling me. I know we’ve had plans on escalating our relationship later, but wasn’t sure how you were feeling. I do like you, just, yeah. I’m not really a mind reader.”

“Nae, and I don’ expect ye tae be. I, ugh, I wanted tae do this right. Ye seemed special. I didn’t know how special at the time. Just that Orenous had chosen ye fer somethin’.” Kat found a fallen log and cleared a place to sit. Annita joined her after a moment. “Ye know I’m a Princess an’ all that now. I’ve had me own flings in the past, but with someone so important, shit, I felt like bein’ careful. Makin’ sure I was sure, ya know?”

“Kat, I think you’re overthinking this a bit,” Annita chuckled, her tail swishing behind her with amusement. “I got chosen by Orenous, yeah. Doesn’t mean I’m not just a person. I’m just some lost girl out of time that has no idea what the hell is going on, and trying to figure it out. Yeah, why I’m here is special. But I’m not. At least I don’t feel that way.”

“I get tha’. Honestly, feel the same way sometimes.” Kat let out a heavy sigh, turning her gaze to the shattered moon. “Bein’ a Princess is somethin’ I never agreed tae. Just a factor o’ me birth. Don’t like people treatin’ me all special over it, either.”

“So, want to just kind of start over?” Annita asked, leaning a bit closer to Kat, testing the waters. “Just two girls figuring each other out? Though I’m pretty sure we already know where this is going.”

Kat returned the gesture, leaning up against Annita’s shoulder, her head resting in the crook of her neck. “Aye, that’d be nice. I’m still gonna insist that the first time ye bed me, it’ll be in a proper bed. After a date and dinner. Don’t mean we can’t have other fun, though.”

Annita’s heart rate spiked again as she looked down into the mischievous stare Kat met her with.

“I gotta say, Ann, ye’ve got a hell of a tool down there. I’ve been waitin’ tae get me hands on it.” As she spoke, she leaned in, breath tickling the fur running down Annita’s neck. Her right hand traced around Annita’s back as her left leisurely reached down and began to stroke Annita’s thigh gently.

Annita froze, feeling the touch and whispered breath against her skin were electric. She couldn’t stop the arousal now and she didn’t want to. Kat was too much, and she’d wanted her since she’d seen the woman. She reached over, her right hand cupping Kat’s chin. She gently urged the woman’s face up until their eyes met. Annita’s heart skipped a beat as she leaned in and pressed her soft lips to Kat’s. 

Kat returned the kiss passionately, quickly smothering Annita’s hesitant advances. She tasted lovely, Annita noticed, like warmth with a hint of a summer day. She loved the taste and eagerly deepened the kiss, her tongue pushing out against Kat’s lips. The other woman eagerly deepened the kiss, allowing the questing tongue in to play with her own. The heat rose between them, the cold seemingly no longer bothering Kat, as she withdrew her right arm from around Annita’s waist to undo her coat.

Gasping, Kat broke the kiss, leaning her forehead against Annita’s own. Her left hand had only sped up in the meantime and Annita was sure she could feel the tent she was pushing up under the heavy fabric.

Looking down, Kat let out a small gasp at the sight. Quickly she pulled up the Kilt, exposing Annita’s cock in all eleven inches of its glory. “Gods, you have no idea how much I’ve wanted this,” she whispered almost to herself as she slowly reached out to the pillar of flesh. Her fingers twitched now and then as if she was afraid to touch the thing, but she persisted, gently wrapping the warm length with her fingers. “It’s so thick.”

Annita drew in a sharp breath as she felt someone else’s hand on her cock for the first time. It was completely different. She liked jerking herself off, but something about not knowing what was going to happen next excited her even more. Every touch was unexpected, every slight movement as Kat slowly began to stroke her, almost in a daze. “Oh, that feels good,” she moaned into Kat’s hair as she hugged the other woman close.

Kat responded to the encouragement by speeding up her strokes, watching the taut flesh follow her hand as she did, watching it reach its limit and then glide under her fingers and palm. Soon it was coated in a glossy film of pre-cum as the glistening liquid began to pour out of the tip.

Annita was transfixed by the sight as well. Kat was almost reverent with how she handled the massive cock in her hand. It bobbed up and down, each stroke taking it from the base, brushing against her other anatomy, all the way up to the bottom of the head. Each time it hit either extreme, Annita sucked in a breath as a jolt of pleasure coursed through her. She could feel herself getting warmer, could feel her arousal approaching its limit far faster than normal. She was beginning to pant, to moan. Oh Gods, Kat’s hand felt so good. 

Annita pulled the other woman close to her, feeling her breathing quicken as well. This only sent her further into her own pleasure. The thought that the gorgeous woman that was Kat was almost lovingly jerking her off was intoxicating. She buried her face into Kat’s hair with another long moan as the Alfhindur reached the head and, instead of retreating, cupped it in her palm and began to rotate her hand around it. The feeling was so intense, her cock jumped in Kat’s hand. “Oh, right there,” she panted as more moans escaped her lips. Her ears began to flatten back against her head, signaling an oncoming orgasm.

With a gasp, Kat redoubled her efforts, quickening the pace and increasing the pressure. Soon she had Annita in a gasping, moaning mess, drooling pre-cum heavily as she slowly began to lose herself to the pleasure. “Fuck, Kat, holy shit, I’m gonna…” she trailed off as another intense wave of pleasure rocked through her body.

To her utter shock, Kat got up off the log and between her legs, adding her other hand to her ministrations. She looked Annita in the eyes from beneath the massive throbbing shaft in her hands. “Do it. Oh Ann, give it tae me. Cum for me. Cum for me now.”

It was too much. Annita felt herself clench, her muscles flexing as she desperately tried to stay still while the rush of heat traveled up her cock before erupting over Kat. 

The first jet of warm, sticky cum flew over Kat entirely, landing in a steaming streak on the snow. Letting out a gasp of surprise and disappointment, Kat leaned in and wrapped her soft lips over Annita’s tip. Her eye contact faltered as her lids fluttered with the sensation and taste of drinking Ann’s cum. She let out a deep, throaty moan as she continued to swallow desperately, jet after jet filling her mouth as she struggled to keep up.

Ann was lost in the pleasure. Her world went quiet and all she could perceive was the warmth around the tip of her cock and the orgasmic bliss of her release. One hand reached down to cup the side of Kat’s head, which only elicited another moan from the apparently cock drunk woman.

After what felt like minutes, her orgasm began to subside. With the last dribble of cum leaking into Kat’s waiting mouth, the woman pulled free with a pop, struggling for breath.

“Gods be damned, lass. Ye cum like nothin’ else I’ve seen.” Kat gasped as she tried to regain her composure.

“Yeah, apparently I do.” Annita panted from her seat on the log. “I didn’t expect you to, well, you know.”

“Aye, me neither,” Kat laughed. “Just felt right, so I went with it. Gods, am I glad I did. You taste incredible. ” She almost moaned out the last word, making Annita’s heart skip a beat.

“And don’t think we’re done here.” Annita took a deep breath, slipped her hands beneath Kat’s arms, and lifted her to sit on the log. “Turnabout’s fair play.”

“Oh, fuck yes,” Kat gasped as she desperately fumbled with her belt and pants. 

Once she had the belt undone, Annita reached up and roughly pulled the leather garments down her legs, revealing the soft, pale flesh beneath. She gently began to kiss Kat’s thighs, feeling the woman tremble beneath her lips and tongue. Slowly, teasingly, she worked her way in deeper, each moan and gasp from Kat’s beautiful lips making her want to draw it out further.

Eventually, she reached her goal. Pressing her nose to Kat’s wet folds, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, savoring the woman’s scent. Re-opening them, she looked up at Kat without moving. The other woman looked conflicted, her hands hovering in the air above Ann’s head.

“Yes?” Annita asked, pulling back slightly.

“Can, can I touch ‘em?” Kat asked almost timidly.

“Hm? Touch what, Kat?” Ann almost purred.

“Yer ears. I wanna touch ‘em.” Kat’s face somehow turned even more red at the request.

“Go ahead, darling.” Ann smirked up at her before leaning back in and taking a long lick of her pussy. The taste was as amazing as Kat’s lips. The same taste of summer, with a slight hint of the earth. It was bizarre, but intoxicating. Quickly, she buried her face between the Alf’s legs and began to lick her in earnest, pushing her tongue in and out, running up and down her lips. She suckled at her clit which for which she received the wonderful reward of Kat’s thighs tightening around her head.

While she did, Kat’s hands were never idle. They stroked her mane of steel grey hair, running through it and encouraging her deeper. Now and then, Kat hesitantly wrapped a hand around one of her ears. The feeling sent shivers down Ann’s spine as she moaned into Kat’s sodden depths. Once Kat seemed certain she was fine with her ears being touched, she grew bolder. Stroking them, scratching behind them, squeezing them. It felt amazing and only encouraged Ann further in.

Her face was soaked with the Alfhindur’s juices as she continued to lap at her. She wanted more. Gods, she wanted to drink from the woman. She sped up, moans flowing freely into the flesh she continuously pleasured. Adding her fingers to the mix, Ann rubbed at Kat’s sensitive clit, massaging the swollen nub and feeling Kat tremble with each motion. Meanwhile, she added a couple fingers along with her tongue, more pressure and more movement causing Kat to buckle. Ann closed her eyes, losing herself to the pleasure of pleasuring another, her tongue pushed in with a purpose, searing for that hidden point of pleasure. Ann knew she found it when Kat locked up. Kat went completely silent as her muscles contracted around Annita’s tongue and head.

Annita moaned into Kat’s pussy as she felt the warm gush of her orgasm hit her tongue. She quickly sealed her lips as best she could to the other woman’s sex and drank as deeply as she could. The surrounding pressure only heightened the experience as she felt her head begin to swim. Kat’s powerful thighs were exerting their full force, and she would just have to endure it. Gods, she loved every second of it. She drank for what felt like an eternity, her tongue never stopping, her hands gripped to Kat’s thighs until she felt the other woman begin to relax. Only once Kat’s thighs fell to her shoulders, limp, did she pull back. Looking up into Kat’s lust hooded eyes, she licked her lips slowly and seductively, each pointed tooth showing as she worked her way around. Kat shivered like a leaf at the sight, her chest heaving as she recovered from her orgasm.

“You taste fucking incredible.” Annita purred up at her, slowly crawling up the other woman before locking lips once more. Kat moaned into her mouth as their tongues wrestled, each tasting themselves on the other’s tongue.

Kat once again broke the kiss first, still desperately out of breath. “That was. Holy shit, that was amazin’ Ann.” She closed her eyes and leaned her head back.

“You were too. Do we really have to stop here?” Annita asked as she moved to sit next to Kat, hand idly stroking the flesh above Kat’s pussy.

“Fuuuuuck, I don’t wanna. I really don’t, but we should. I’m… I’m not thinkin’ straight anymore, ya damn sexy she-wolf.” Letting out a frustrated groan, she reached down and began to put her pants back on. 

“So, not just this time, yeah?” Annita asked hopefully.

“It better fuckin’ not be. I’ll hunt ye down if it is.” Kat threatened as she fastened her belt. “Yer not escapin’ me after that. Graven Peak is gonna shake, mark me words.”

“Promises promises,” Annita teased with a smirk as she helped Kat stand on somewhat shaky legs. “Let's get some sleep.”

“Aye, feelin…” Kat let out a long yawn. “I’m feelin’ the call o’ me pillow. Move yer roll next tae mine, will ya?”

“Yeah, I can do that.” Annita smiled as she took Kat’s hand. She smiled again as she felt their fingers intertwine naturally. “Thank you.”

“Nothin’ tae thank me fer. Ye more than returned the favour.” Kat whispered, leaning on her shoulder as they walked.

Bren was seemingly asleep by the time they got back, so they silently re-arranged their sleeping positions, and shuffled into their bedrolls. Before they nodded off, Annita rolled over, kissing Kat gently one more time. “Good night, Kat,” she whispered.

“G’night Ann,” Kat whispered back sleepily as she drifted off.

Chapter Text

It was another cold morning. The clear skies and bright sun did nothing to aid with that. Annita thanked Orenous for her resistance to the cold as she watched Kat and Bren shiver as they trekked to the Seed.

She’d woken closer to Kat than when she’d drifted off. Apparently rolling in her sleep, she had found herself almost cuddled up to Kat. Thankfully, the sleepy Alf hadn’t noticed in her usual morning stupor, and she’d been able to create more distance. Yeah, they’d crossed several lines the other night, but she still wanted to respect Kat’s apparent struggle with establishing their relationship.

Bren had eyed them constantly as they broke their fast and packed up camp. He never said a word, but Ann got the feeling that he knew that they’d done something with each other. Every now and then she thought she’d caught a ghostly smirk on his face, but he hid it quickly every time.

Eventually, they came to a clearing, snow covering the empty space in the trees as usual. The unusual thing was the wall in front of them. It was taller than Ann could see, even craning her neck, and extended out to their left and right. It wasn’t solid either, more spectral than anything. It shimmered with greens, reds, blues and golds. Patterns danced over it like motor oil on water. Looking at it for too long made Ann feel nauseous.

“So, this is the boundary, huh?” she asked her friends.

“Aye, edge o’ the Seed. We’re already in the Warpin’ field, but our Blessings protect us. Once we step through there, though, we keep moving ‘til we’re out. Short rests, quick naps while someone is on guard, but no full night sleeps are ever recommended in a Seed. The less time spent in there, the better.”

“Yes, that is the general advice. Also, it would be remiss not to warn you that it will be disorienting crossing the barrier. I suggest closing your eyes. Those patterns you see will surround you while you walk. It is easy to lose your balance, or your breakfast.” Bren looked up at the wall with a face that said he’d experienced both.

“Ok, well, I guess this is it, huh?” Annita sighed, trying to sound confident and hide her nerves.

“Aye, hold hands, cross together. I’ll be lead, Ann in the middle. Bren’ll bring up the rear.” Kat turned back to grin brightly at Ann. “Do or die, lass. Time for some fun!”

With that, they took each other’s hands and stepped to the wall. Taking a deep breath, Kat entered first. Annita watched as she disappeared into the sickening swirl of color. Closing her eyes as Kat’s hand tugged on hers, she followed.

She walked for what felt like a couple minutes before she felt lips touch hers. Opening her eyes in surprise, she saw Kat smiling up at her.

“Welcome to yer first Seed!” The Alf twirled away from her, sword and shield drawn as she took in their surroundings.

The scene that expanded before Annita was nothing short of breathtaking. Gone was the cold blue sky and snow-covered plain. Instead, there was a lush green forest with a warm summer breeze. Looking back, she still saw the nauseating patterns of the border of the Seed, but she couldn’t see the other end of things. Looking further up, she could see that the trees weren’t normal at all either. From their low vantage point, she could make out what looked like a large hill rising into a towering, twisting tree that expanded over a good portion of the woods below. Despite this overhang, the warm sunlight was unimpeded as it lit up the trees below. She recognized pine, ash, willow, and some birch over to the right. 

Several of the trunks before her were twisted into strange shapes. Most grew straight as was normal, but some were doubled over, looped around themselves, or split in an almost fractal pattern. It made absolutely no sense to her, and the more she tried to think about it, the worse the logic got.

There also seemed to be life in these woods. Birds chirped happily, and she saw something that looked like it used to be a squirrel but with too many tails and a beak climb a nearby tree.

“It’s kinda pretty, in a twisted way.” Annita said as she took in her surroundings.

“Aye! Best part o’ comin’ in these places. There’s always somethin’ new an’ wild to see.” Kat’s eyes had lit up significantly since she entered the Seed. An energy entirely different from her normal enthusiasm seemed to fill her. Annita could swear she was about to skip with excitement.

“Remember Kat, this is not a walk in the woods. Danger lurks, and will take us if we show weakness.” Bren was cautiously watching the treeline. He was tense, his eyes shifting around constantly.

“Oh huff, spoil me fun, will ya? I know, I know, we’re in fer a fight. Gotta take in the experience, though. Not many people get tae see this shit!”

“Sooo,” Annita interjected before they could get to more bickering. “Which way do we go?”

“The most logical direction would be to the vantage point provided by the hill and large tree at the center. It is likely to be more dangerous there. However, it will let us chart a path out as well.”

“Aye, probably somethin’ valuable up there, too. Usually is at the heart o’ these things. Ye got lucky yer first excursion was a minor one. Anythin’ else we’d skirt the edge an’ exit quick as ye like.”

“Ok, sounds like a plan. I’ll let you two know if I get any feeling related to the whole Orenous thing, too.” Annita nodded, drawing her weapons.

With that, Kat led the way into the tall trunks before them. Once they were under the branches of the lower trees, it got much darker. The leaf strewn soil was a wonderful feeling under her paws, but Annita couldn’t allow herself to enjoy the sensation as she kept her ears alert for anything that might be dangerous.

Several times, Kat called for them to pause. Annita’s fur bristled with anticipation on each occasion, but nothing ever came to attack. The first time it was a bird rustling through the underbrush looking for some seeds, the second was what Annita could only describe as a vampire jackalope.

“Do ye feel that?” Kat whispered to her at one of these stops.

“I don’t know. I feel nervous, tense. Anything specific?” Annita answered quietly.

“Aye, feels like we’re bein’ watched. I don’ like it. That an’ I think the trees are movin’. Try tae keep an eye on ‘em, you two.”

Bren and Ann nodded, now suddenly very aware of the surrounding trunks. Gnarled and twisted bark stared back passively, never moving, but always watching. If Annita stared too long, she swore she could see faces in some of them. It was eerie. The gloom of the canopy didn’t help either, as shadows danced along the underbrush.

They were passing through a section of some kind of jungle trees covered with vines when Annita heard the rustle of movement again. Tapping Kat, they all froze, scanning their surroundings warily as they backed up to each other.

Suddenly, Annita was upside down and several feet in the air. It happened so fast she had to take a moment to collect herself. Vines were everywhere, and they were no longer still. Like snakes, they writhed in a green carpet across the ground, up the trees, and over bushes. They rapidly approached Kat and Bren, who had managed to avoid the initial snare.

Ann struggled against the vines around her leg, lifting her torso up to get a better look at what was happening past her flipped kilt. Staring in horror, she found a nest of similar vines above her dangling down to grab her other leg. Kicking hard, she spun around, losing the strength to keep her body bent. As she tried to re-gain her orientation, she felt a second vine wrap around her free ankle and pull taut.

“Oh fuck. Kat! Help!” she cried as she felt her stomach drop.

“Feckin’ tryin’! Gimme a minute!” Kat shouted back as she cut through several grasping vines. Each one severed seemed to be replaced by two more. “Kinda stuck here. See what ye can do. Feckin’ Hells we need a mage!”

Annita shifted her focus back to her own predicament. The vines around her ankles had tightened their hold and began to coil down her calves, almost reaching her thighs. “I have seen WAY too much hentai to know where this is going. No fucking way!” Ann shouted as she pulled her body up and took a swing at the vine attached to her right leg. The cord cut with a satisfying snap, only for another vine to shoot out from the cluster above on the branch, replacing it. “Shit.” Annita grunted as she swung from the exertion. “Think, think. Where the hell are they all coming from? Bren! Do you see any core or something?”

“No, I do not. Though I confess I’m a bit busy fending them off!” he shouted back.

Annita felt the vines twisting further down her legs, reaching her mid thighs with their smooth exteriors. Bile rose in her stomach as she envisioned their goals. Twisting, she desperately scanned the surrounding woods. The vines were everywhere she looked. It was hard to make out any patterns, but being suspended like she was, she found another clump like the one above her. Vines seemed to pour out of the bulging mass. Lifting her pistol and aiming, she took a shot at it. The shot went wide, hitting a random vine and spattering its contents across the jungle floor. It writhed like a cut limb before going still. Letting out a string of curses, she lifted the pistol and took aim again. This time, the bullet found its mark. A strange rustling noise came from the knot of vines, almost imitating a hiss. More importantly, the vines surrounding it flailed wildly.

“Kat! The clusters! Hit the balls!” Annita screamed as she swung again from the recoil of the shot.

“Got it!” came the response from behind her.

Returning her focus to her own predicament, she knew what she had to do. Sheathing her blade, she took the revolver in both hands. Once more very grateful for her new body, she lifted her torso up and aimed at the bundle of vines. The recoil of the shot spun her once again. She could hear the thing rustle-hissing in pain, but it wasn’t letting her go. When she glanced back up, a baleful yellow serpent’s eye met her gaze. It had stopped hissing as two ancillary vines retracted. “Oh, screw you! Regenerating is not fair,” Annita whined as she realized what the thing was doing. Each vine was a part of it, and the Warped could repair any damage they did by consuming a vine. 

Annita steadied herself as best she could while hanging upside down. Her head was starting to swim as blood filled it. She was losing time, and the vines were getting dangerously close to places she did not want them. Pulling deep, she felt the divine energies in her surge as she channeled a smite into her weapon. 

The normal flash of the barrel was magnified with a blinding purple explosion as the bullet sailed and struck the creature. This time it hissed even louder, its many arms writhing in pain. Gripping a tendril wound around her thigh, Annita watched as the eye retreated beneath a weave of green. Four arms retreated this time. Not enough. It still held on, and the remaining vines increased their pace.

Shit, I’m going to have to use it. On this thing, of all things? Fuck my life.

Annita heaved herself up again, one last time. Doing her best to try to sound seductive, she called out to the creature above. “Hey, you tentacled creep. Is this what you’ve been after?” As she spoke, she snagged her underwear with a claw and pulled it to the side, exposing her pussy to the thing.

Immediately, the thing’s eye popped back out from the inner portion of its body, staring directly at her exposed sex. Sensing an opportunity, it sent several tendrils down at Annita, greatly reducing the mass of its core.

Guess the skill works on anything. Hopefully, this finishes it. With her Predatory Sensuality clearly taking hold, Annita leveled the sights, channeled a smite, and pulled the trigger once more. A purple explosion emitted from the barrel and a split second later, the thing’s eye exploded. Its limbs went limp, and it slumped off the tree branch.

Ann hit the ground hard, bouncing off her upper back with a grunt of pain that radiated down her spine, before she landed on her back. Rolling on the loamy soil to her stomach and pushing herself up, she took stock of the rest of the fight. 

Kat was still dealing with two of the vine-balls. One was up in a tree, and the other was scurrying around in the underbrush, desperately avoiding her sword.

Bren was dealing with his own creature, hacking wildly at the limbs with a knife. It was a losing battle. Not suited to direct combat, the creature found openings to wrap itself around his legs, holding him still, and others to lash across his robes. 

“Hold it still, Bren!” Ann called as she charged in with her falchion drawn. 

He glanced at her for a second before taking hold of a few vines that were trying to entangle him. All too happily, the Warped quickly ensnared both him and itself.

Sword met vined flesh as she pushed the point of the falchion deep into the core of the creature. Ann grinned wildly as green blood gushed up to coat her face and the creature struggled in pain. Spitting out the ooze that had shot past her lips, she withdrew the sword and brought it down again in a hacking motion, severing several vines as it tried to defend itself.

Time slipped away as she hacked at the creature. Green blood sprayed over her shirt and kilt, coating her chest and face. After some time, the thing went still. Panting, Ann lifted her head to see what else had happened while she was occupied.

Bren had apparently been freed some time ago, as he had moved over to help Kat with the remaining Warped.

Kat, ever the experienced warrior, had finished one of the creatures on the ground and was dealing with the second. Two more lay dead to the side, earlier victims of the woman’s proficiency with the blade.

Annita stood, making her way over to the pair as they worked to finish the last aggressor off. “Grab on to it and get ready to pull,” she ordered Kat as she drew her revolver and sighted the core.

Doing as she said, Kat quickly sheathed her sword and grabbed a vine in each hand. The crack of gunfire rang out, and the creature recoiled with the force of the bullet. As its limbs flailed, Kat pulled hard, yanking it from its perch. It hit the ground, bounced, and was driven back into the dirt by Kat’s quickly drawn sword.

Huffing, Kat remained hunched over the creature’s body as she caught her breath. Annita had leaned up against a tree and was doing the same. Bren was the least physically affected of the three, but even he sat down to rest for a moment.

“Not a fan of those.” Annita said as she slid down the tree to sit as well.

“Aye, annoyin’ little shits. Seems like they hunt in packs. Weak individually, dangerous as hell in groups. Even more so if they get the drop on ya.” Kat kicked the vine creature’s core off to the side before joining the other two in sitting.

“Not to mention randy. Think the one that had me was trying to get into my pants. Also, apparently, Predatory Sensuality works on more than just humans.” Ann leaned her head back as she talked, closing her eyes.

“Oh yeah? What’d ye have tae do to get it goin? Invite it in? Show it the goods?” Kat teased.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Annita huffed. “Ugh, that’s going to bump my libido up a good amount. I lose eight hours every time I use that skill.”

“Yes, an ability best used sparingly,” Bren agreed. “Though with the situation being what it was, I believe this was an appropriate use.”

“Yeah, agreed.” Annita opened her eyes and opened her skill sheet. Her health was at 180/200, probably just from the fall. Her libido was sitting at 100/125. “Ugh, not good. I’ve got five hours until whatever happens at my libido cap.”

“That is definitely unfortunate. We will have to increase our pace.” Bren sighed and stood.

As she struggled to do the same, one other thing on her sheet caught Annita’s eye. She walked over to Kat and offered her a hand, which the woman happily took. Instead of letting her go, Ann pulled her closer, whispering, “Hey, uh, looks like last night counted for gaining Desire.”

“What? Really?” Kat whispered back.

“Yeah, it’s at 20/80. So, uh, yeah. Just thought you should know.” Annita’s cheeks were burning. Something about the stat having increased, and the description of it requiring trusting partners, made the increase feel more significant than it otherwise would.

“Aye, thanks. Huh, well, at least ye’ve got use o’ that skill now,” Kat whispered back as she broke the hug they’d found themselves in. Kat nodded, a slight pink gracing her cheeks as well, before turning and clapping Bren on the shoulder.

“Ye good, mate?” she asked a little too loudly.

“Yes, quite?” Bren looked at her, confused, with an eyebrow raised.

“Good, then let’s get goin’. We’ve got land tae cross, an’ less time to do it. C’mon ya chucklefucks.”

With that, she lead the way further into the Seed, Bren and Annita in tow.

Chapter Text

“Ugh, how much longer is it going to be?” Annita asked. She was getting tired. It had taken another half hour to get out of the jungle area, thanks to the roots slowing their progress. The trees had also become more active as they neared the center of the Seed. Multiple times, they found their way completely blocked by a wall of greenery that didn’t seem natural. On top of all this, the Vine Warped’s plant guts had begun to dry. It felt awful as she scrubbed flakes of the gunk off her arms and face. Even more frustrating was the stuff that had gotten into the fur on her legs. It had become a sticky mess that matted her fur supremely uncomfortably.

“We’ve got a bit more. Not much though,” Kat reassured her. “See the ground here? It’s startin’ to slope up. We’re almost at the hill at the center o’ this thing.”

“You’d think with all this green there’d be a stream, a pond or something!” Annita groused.

“It is odd that we have not encountered such, however, this is a God’s domain. The natural order as we know it may be entirely usurped. Seeing as it was a forest God, it is likely that They just had the trees for their world. I wonder if a greater forest God’s domain would be entirely made of a tree?” Bren pondered as he brushed a tree from his path. An explosion of angry chittering met the movement from the swarm of Warped squirrels that seemed to be following them. 

“Not helping,” Annita huffed. “What I would give for a nice hot shower. Maybe a bath bomb, some good suds, my cats watching in horror as I got myself wet.”

“Ye had cats?” Kat asked as she leapt over a large root.

“Yeah, two. Pixel and Emeril. A tabby girl and a little tuxedo boy. Loved them to bits. They cuddled up with me every night and purred me to sleep. I know they were well cared for after my incident, but it still eats at me that I couldn’t take care of them myself. God, I hope they understood. They probably didn’t, but their mama loved them so much. Wish I could tell them that one last time.” Annita’s eyes grew misty as she spoke, a tightness rising in her chest. The smallest things brought up the massive loneliness she kept stuffed away. The feeling that no one in this world would ever really understand her. She wiped her eyes with the back of her arm, and doing so, got some plant gunk in her eyes. “Shit. God damnit.” She desperately tried to wipe it out of her eyes as tears began to stream down her cheeks. She felt a hand on her shoulder as she wept. 

“Here. Use this to cleanse your eyes,” Bren offered softly as he handed her his water skin.

Annita took it and doused her eyes. Clearing quickly, she wiped her nose clean as well. Taking a shuddering breath, she handed the water skin back. “Thanks,” she said quietly, not trusting herself with anything louder.

“Of course. You have been through much in a short time and have not had the proper time to heal. You may never have enough time. But know this. We will be here for you. I understand you and Kat have a deeper bond growing between you. However, please lean on me as well. She cares for you, and thus do I.”

“I…” Annita faltered. She felt another wave of tears boiling up and tried to push it down, but just couldn’t. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” The tears flowed unbidden. Something in her had collapsed. A fear, or a longing, she wasn’t quite sure. Quickly she felt Bren’s arm reach around her waist, followed quickly by Kat’s around her shoulders.

“Shhh, it’s all right. Let it out, Ann. We’ve gotcha.” Kat whispered as she laid her head on the shoulder closest to her. This only redoubled the sobbing coming from Ann.

She let it out. All the grief, the loneliness she’d felt during her coma, the fear of this new world and the pain she’d been through since. She cried until she couldn’t continue, and her body was left trembling in her companions’ arms. After she quieted, she let Kat wipe her tears for her, sniffling.

“Thank you, both of you. Sorry. Sorry, this came out here,” Annita sniffled as she wiped her nose. “Know it’s dangerous. Sorry.” She felt her lip tremble as another wave of sobbing threatened her. This time, however, she managed to control herself.

“Grief comes for us all, in different ways,” Bren soothed. “You have a larger share than most. Do not feel as if you inconvenienced us.”

“Aye,” Kat agreed. “Yer not a burden. Ye’ve got a lot goin’ on in that fuzzy head of yers. We’re here tae talk to if ye need us. You good to keep goin’?”

“Yeah. I think so. I’m on a timer. Ugh!” Annita blew her nose loudly, trying to shake off the aftereffects of the crying fit. “Let’s go.”

Kat looked up at her worriedly, but nodded and helped Annita to her feet.

The next half hour passed in silence. Annita was less on guard than normal as she collected herself, and the other two seemed to be picking up the slack. Gradually the terrain began to incline, growing steeper and steeper until they were hiking uphill.

The trees had become obviously active at this point. It was to the point that they were moving in eyesight. The unnatural shifting as their roots slithered through the dirt was intensely unnerving, not to mention seeing their trunks bend and twist. The mammalian animal life seemed to quiet as they grew closer and closer to the summit. Only birds seemed to remain.

“This is getting creepy as hell,” Annita sighed as they took a short break. The going was slower than they wanted. She had three hours left until her deadline.

“Yes, I do not like how the trees seem to be guiding us at this point,” Bren agreed. “It is likely we will be encountering the guardian soon. Or one of them.”

“Aye. This is gonna be the big fight, Ann. Check yer Mind, see if ye got any back. Ye mighta while ye were cryin’.”

Annita pulled up her stat sheet and checked. Sure enough, her Mind was at an 11/20. “Yep, got enough for another Smite. That’s good.”

“Aye, likely gonna need it. Whatever’s waitin’ is gonna be tougher than the cat before the Seed. Usually some kinda avatar of the domain. Probably a tree,” Kat mused as she kept an eye on their surroundings. “Unless it’s part o’ the thing’s nature, or how it defends the realm, there should be a clearin’ up ahead. If not, the surprise is gonna be a tough one.”

“Oh Gods, these things can ambush you?” Ann gasped, horrified.

“Oh, aye. Heard tell of a domain of a Goddess of cats. Thing hung out in tall grass waitin’ for the expedition to get close to it before attackin’. Was a larger Seed than this’n though. Regardless, won’t know until we get there. Let’s get goin’.”

Annita groaned as she stood, helping Bren up from his seat in the dirt and leaves.

They walked for another fifteen or so minutes before the walls of trees on either side of them. Ahead opened up a clearing as Kat predicted. It was a good two hundred feet across, with soft grass covering the ground. Annita was surprised they hadn’t seen it from their entrance to the Seed.

Standing at the center was what could only be the Guardian. It was a massive tree, towering above them. Its gnarled trunk was ash grey with countless knots woven into it. A large split about five feet up ran across its surface in an approximation of a jagged mouth. Three large branches sprouted from its lower trunk up to the rest of its canopy. That was the worst part of it, though. It didn’t have leaves. Instead, its branches were covered with jet black feathers, all of which ruffled and glistened in the gentle breeze. While taking in the monstrosity, Annita also swore she could hear the faint croaking of crows coming from somewhere.

“Aye, that’ll be it. I hope it’s softer than it looks.” Kat said as she stared intently at the stationary Guardian. “Probably gonna start movin’ when we get closer. Get yerselves ready.”

“Can’t we just go around it?” Annita asked as she took in the sight.

“Nae, it’ll stop us. Sure as anythin’. I’ll lead, Bren in the back. Just like the cat. Careful, somethin’s strange with this’n. Save yer smite if ye see some kinda weak spot. Let’s go.”

“Casting a shield and speed on both of you. Stay safe.” Bren said as he followed them toward the monolithic tree.

As Kat said, when they got within about fifty feet of the tree, it began to move. 

The rustling of its leaves echoed over the field as it leaned to one side, the wood and bark groaning loudly, and it pulled an enormous set of roots free. Soil rained as it set the root cluster down with a heavy thud and repeated the process three more times before it seemingly completely uprooted itself. The three thick branches it had held aloft earlier lowered, two being long spindly claw of branches, and the other a gnarled stump much like a club. It thumped the appendage on the ground, issuing its challenge to those who faced it as they stood in the shadow it cast.

“Holy shit, that’s a big ’un!” Kat shouted as she charged in, sword low and round shield raised before her.

“It’s a tree. What did you expect?” Ann called back as she moved to the left flank.

Kat got to it first and swung hard at a root. It snapped free as the blade cleaved through it, but the tree didn’t seem affected.

With a grumbling creak, one of the claw arms swept down from Kat’s right, the wind whistling through the twigs. 

Kat turned and took the hit with her blade, feet barely moving despite the size difference. Locked down, she took her shield and slammed the edge into the wood, trying to push her away. Splinters sprayed across her face and she saw a deep dent in one of the “fingers” as the hand retreated.

Meanwhile, Annita tracked as quickly as she could to the left of the behemoth. Checking the cylinder to make sure she had all six shots, she snapped the weapon closed and fired off three into the trunk. It was hard to miss with how big the thing was. She was rewarded with another creaking groan from the tree she assumed was pain.

Grinning widely, Ann used her boosted speed to dodge the club branch as it rocketed down at her. The thing was keeping both her and Kat busy at the same time. When its arms weren’t engaged, it was trying to snare them in the roots at its base. It was tricky staying free and out of harm’s way. A branch hand came sweeping from her left, forcing Ann to hit the dirt to avoid getting swatted away. Rolling on to her back, she let off two more shots with the pistol into the underside of a particularly thick root. 

Another groan signaled damage, but this time Annita saw more of why. It was bleeding. Not the goopy green blood of the vine creatures. No. This was blood. Bright red and flowing from the holes she’d just put in it.

Ann scrambled back to her feet, backing away from the monster and trying to get a better view of things. Kat was still heavily engaged, taking hits one after the other on her shield and parrying the best she could considering how big the thing she was fighting was. She’d scored a few good hits of her own and blood flowed from several branches on the thing’s hands. Bren had been focusing mostly on healing her and fortifying her defenses against the blows she was taking.

Ann couldn’t take long to admire the sight, though. She quickly dug five bullets from a pouch she’d affixed to her belt and reloaded before darting back in. Two more shots into the trunk, red trails spilling down the wood as she set to work with her falchion. Twigs snapped free, for the most part bloodless, but when she hit a thicker portion, the red began to flow. The feeling of hitting the thicker portions of the tree was also off. It was definitely wood, but it was more pliable than it should be. Instead of a hard impact after a swing, it seemed to give a little before stopping her blade. Not quite like cutting the cat, but definitely not like hitting the training dummy.

Ann dodged another swipe of a clawed branch, hacking at it as it sailed past, but this time didn’t notice the tree had followed up with the club arm. She felt it hit her side; the air left her lungs, and then the world was spinning. She bounced painfully once, twice, three times before coming to a stop. She lay there, gasping desperately, trying to get her lungs to work. Quickly, she felt a trickle of Bren’s healing magic enter her, and she could breathe again. Groaning and sitting up, she checked her body and winced. Either something in her side was broken or heavily bruised. At least the healing from Bren kept most of the pain down as she stood once more.

Something was still bothering Ann, though. She could still hear the muffled caws coming from somewhere. It seemed like it was nearby, but as far as she’d seen, none of the feathers on the tree were attached to living birds.

At that moment, Kat landed a significant strike, cutting a large gash down the front of the trunk. The tree shook, its feathers rustling in pain as it staggered back slightly. “Ha, didn’t like that, did ye?” Kat bellowed after it, taking the moment to collect herself.

“Kat, something’s wrong. Do you hear that?” Ann called out as the birds got louder. 

The muffled cawing was growing. Louder and louder until it was a cacophony. Then the front of the tree split open in a jagged grin with dark black teeth.

With frightening speed, it barreled forward at Kat, overwhelming her with both branch arms and a mess of roots. It lifted her, drawing her struggling body closer as if to swallow her in its new maw.

Ann ran as fast as she could, digging her paws in and leaping as hard as she could. She landed in the mess of branches around Kat and took hold. Kat was struggling hard, but the tree was determined to keep her still this time. Ann tried to break her free, hacking at the surrounding branches. It did damage, but not enough to get the thing to loosen its grip.

“Fuck,” she swore as the screaming crows became deafening. It seemed like the closer to the mouth they got, the louder they became. “Oh, oh fuck.” She saw the teeth. They weren’t teeth. They were all crows. Individual crows without wings, each fused from above their legs into the flesh of the tree. Their beady black eyes tracked Ann and Kat as they were brought closer with a hungry intensity. Inside, the mouth was more of the same, forming a tunnel of grasping beaks and deafening noise.

“Get me the feck out o’ here!” Kat screamed as she redoubled her efforts to free herself. She got her sword arm free and began to hack desperately at the other branches holding her.

“I’m trying!” Ann yelled back as she swung harder at a particularly stubborn branch. Blood flew everywhere, but it just would not let Kat go. Cursing, she shifted her angle and looked down the maw of the Tree. It was the only place they hadn’t hit yet. She sheathed the falchion and drew the revolver. Aiming, she took two shots into the gaping cavern of screaming crows. Two of the birds exploded in a puff of feathers. This, somehow, seemed to do the trick as the tree staggered, loosening its grip on Kat.

Wrenching herself free, Kat dropped to the ground, shortly followed by Ann. “The feck did ye do? It worked.”

“The birds. It’s the birds. The tree is a nest, I think. Or they’re the core or something. I don’t know. Just hit the birds.” Ann was panting. The fight had been going on for what felt like hours, and she was getting tired.

“Think ye can keep it busy for a minute? I’ve got somethin’ that’s got a good chance o’ clearin’ em out, but I need time tae get it charged.” Kat took her shield and planted the edge into the ground as she spoke, driving her sword into the dirt behind it.

“How long?” Ann asked. The tree was recovering quickly and looked ready to re-engage any moment.

“Two minutes. I have to focus fer this and I can’t miss. Ye should be fine. You’ll have Bren backin’ ye up. Ye got this,” Kat reassured her as she knelt behind her sword and shield.

“Yeah, new, level five, giant fuckin’ tree. I’ve got this,” Ann huffed to herself as she leapt back into the fray.

The next two minutes were nothing but pain. The crows in the tree had gotten louder, their piercing cries overwhelming Ann’s already sensitive hearing. She flattened her ears to her skull in a futile attempt to dampen the noise. The Warped paid her back in full for every strike she landed. Either a branch slapping roughly against her leaving cuts and raised red scratches, or the clublike arm slamming into her. In a serious lapse in her defense, the club slammed into her left shoulder and a sickening pop sounded out as her arm dislocated.

Ann stood, blood dripping from a cut in her forehead from one of the branches she’d barely dodged, left arm hanging useless, and her good arm barely able to hold up her sword. Dirt, welts, and other minor wounds covered her body, which she knew she would feel in the morning.

“Twenty seconds!” Bren shouted out behind her. He’d been constantly keeping her appraised on how much time was left. She appreciated it, but also hated him a little for it because it made her acutely aware of how slow time was moving for her.

Grunting her acknowledgment, Ann moved back towards the hulking mess of roots, bark, and feathers. She took a stance with her left arm behind her, raising the falchion in a challenge.

The tree cawed at her with a hundred throats as it charged her. Ducking the initial swipe of a long branch, she shifted her feet to roll to the side, avoiding the overhead slam of the club branch. She swung hard, pushing her Smite into the blow, but the sword bounced off the tough appendage and only left a charred line. Grimacing as her hand went numb, Ann couldn’t stop to recover. The Warped sent a root sweeping at her legs, forcing her to leap and roll over it. Bile rose in her throat as she landed and rolled on her dislocated shoulder, but she held it together.

“Five seconds!” Bren called again.

He’d been trying to help, but the fact was that Ann was too inexperienced not to take a lot of damage. She felt him numbing her pain, fixing some minor wounds that would have impaired her, but he was also straining his magic reserves.

A branch swung at her, and Annita glacially reacted, barely catching the limb and diverting it. The bark still left a scratch across her stomach as she stumbled, falling to a knee. She was at her limit. She couldn’t move anymore. Gasping for breath, she stared back up at the Warped above her and checked her health. 5/200 It seemed to sense that she was done as it leaned down, opening its maw. The deafening squawks neared, then surrounded her. She closed her eyes, lowering her head, and prayed to the old god she knew and Orenous. As she did, she felt a hand shove her roughly to the dirt as a heat flared at her back. In a moment, the crows went silent. The heat was gone, and she just had the hand on her back. A moment later, a large thud sounded behind her.

The hand left her back, and she felt the person gently rolling her over on her right shoulder. Opening her eyes, she saw Kat drenched in sweat, kneeling over her.

“Two minutes,” Ann said faintly.

“Aye. Two minutes. Ye did amazin’. The Guardian’s dead. Take a rest, Bren is too. I’ll keep watch.”

Nodding softly, Ann felt herself drift into unconsciousness.

Chapter Text

Ann felt the pain first. Her eyes cracked open, dried blood caking her face. It was still daylight. Seemingly, no time had passed since she collapsed. Turning her head, she saw Kat sitting close by with Bren. They were talking in hushed voices as they kept watch. Gently, she tested her left arm. It still hurt like hell, but she could move it again. Groaning as she sat up, she saw the others’ attention snap to her. “How long was I out?”

“You were unconscious for only two hours. Nothing to worry about. How are you feeling?” Bren asked as he moved over to her.

“Like I lost a fight with a cement mixer. Arm feels better, though.” Another groan escaped Annita’s lips as she pushed herself into a sitting position. “Did you say two hours? Shit, my time limit.”

“Aye, an hour left,” Kat said, hushed. “We’re gonna have tae figure that out. Can ye stand?”

Taking the hand offered her, Ann leaned on Kat as she was lifted to her feet. She took a couple of unsteady steps before confidence returned to her body. Everything hurt, but she could move. “Yeah, I can. Think I can walk too. We’ve got to move. I’d rather not hit my limit in here.”

“Yes, that is completely understandable,” Bren agreed. He took a look around, gathering his bearings. “We will need to head past the apex of the hill and then down the other side. The Seed should have quieted now with the Guardian slain. Another will be grown, developed, or however they are created. It will take some time, though.”

“Then let’s move.” Annita grunted as she walked with Kat’s assistance.

The living forest had indeed quieted. No longer were the trees blocking their way, and they made it to the summit of the hill in roughly ten minutes.

The tree at the top was a genuine marvel. It was immensely thick, with sprawling roots that seemed to hide worlds of their own in the gaps between them. Warped squirrels and birds scurried and flitted in and out of nests created in the ancient monarch of the woods. Craning her neck, Annita gazed up into the canopy far above them. It shifted in the wind, giving the sunlight peaking through the illusion of being stars in the night sky.

As they made their way around the tree, Annita heard something. It was almost a song? A sad, slow music. Ethereal and nothing like she’d ever heard before. “Do you hear that?”

“Hm? Hear what?” Kat asked, her long ears twitching as she listened closely.

“Music, I think. It’s nothing like I’ve heard before,” Kat answered absently as her own Lupine ears swiveled, trying to find the source. “Over here.”

She left Kat’s shoulder and wandered to a gap between two large roots. Looking further in, she saw an earthen tunnel extending under the tree itself. “It’s in there.”

“Could it be the Core you’re hearing?” Bren mused. “Every seed has a Core. The heart of the domain. It is what maintains the realm. The heart, if you will.”

“Don’t know,” Annita mumbled. “But I feel like I need to go down there.”

“Ye sure?” Kat asked, having come to stand beside her. “Could be more danger.”

“Yeah, definitely. Something is… pulling me. I don’t know if this has anything to do with Orenous, but call it a hunch.” Annita took a step forward, and then another. Bren and Kat shared a worried glance before following after her.

It was pitch black in the tunnel. Loose roots dangled from the earthen ceiling and walls, but the path never split. Annita followed the song with confidence, not needing to feel her way through as long as she relied on her ears. Kat and Bren were not so lucky, and they stumbled now and then over exposed roots and the occasional rock.

Soon, they saw a glowing green light ahead of them. Coming around a bend, they entered a cavern. It was small, low, and covered with leaves and roots. At the center was a sphere. It gave off a verdant light that seemed to match the forest itself. However, covering its surface were motes of an inky black smoke that swirled in hypnotic patterns, creating an eerie pattern of light on the ceiling and walls.

“That is the Core. I am certain of it,” Bren said. “It is as I have read many times. A color matching the domain of the God it was assigned to, as well as the inky black flowing across its surface.”

“It’s… beautiful.” Annita whispered as she slowly approached it. The closer she got, the clearer the song she heard became. It was a symphony. Of summer, and of spring. Of plants and trees growing, but it was tainted. There was an undertone of rot, of stagnation and decomposition. A natural part of life, but unwanted in this realm. Slowly she began to lift her arm to reach toward the Core.

“Ann, what’re ya doin'?” Kat asked nervously.

“I would not advise that!” Bren warned.

Annita couldn’t hear either of them. She neared the Core, and brushed a fingertip across its surface. The black smoke shifted, suddenly much more active as it rushed to the point she made contact. Pain shot up her arm and she recoiled, breaking the link with a cry.

“The feck happened. You all right?” Kat was holding her up, steadying her.

“I… yeah. I think so.” Annita looked at her hand. The black energy swirled around her fingertip before fading into her skin. She flexed her fingers, feeling a tingling pain as if she’d lost circulation before it faded. She looked up at the Core. The black smoke was still there, but it had faded. It was sort of like someone had turned down the opacity slider on it. “Weird. You saw that too, right?”

“Aye.” Kat was still holding her, concern plain on her face. “The black shite seemed to react to ye. Seemed like it was tryin’ tae get into ye.”

“I think it did. I don’t feel different.”

“Check your stat screen. See if anything changed?” Bren suggested.

“Yeah, good idea.” Annita pulled up the shimmering silver screen.

The first thing she noticed were three notifications. She’d leveled several times after they’d defeated the guardian, but that was something she’d get to later. She pushed the notifications to the side before a different notification appeared. It was a black smoke instead of the normal shimmering light.

Annita felt a cold ice creep into her gut as she read the words. This couldn’t be a good thing, but it was there, staring her in the face. She’d taken in some of the evil that was overwhelming the Gods’ influence on their own domains. No word from Orenous or any little notes like she’d gotten before, either.

“So, I’m not sure what it means, but yeah. Seems like I did take in some of that,” Ann explained slowly. She read off the description of the skills presented to her. Bren and Kat listened solemnly.

“None of that first part sounds good,” Kat said quietly, still deep in thought. “Absorbin’ whatever’s causin’ the Warping? Nothin’ good can come o’ that.”

“Agreed. It seems to be a skill set that comes with costs to use it as well. Something requiring health to use is not unheard of for Paths like a Berserker, however the mutagenic properties are not something I have heard of before.” Bren looked through a book he’d taken from his bag. “Yes, nothing that I see here. I will need to research further.”

“Yeah, but with Orenous’ other blessings, and my Path, that second option is incredibly tempting. Not having to worry about children? At least for now, that sounds dope.” Ann reviewed the options again. She was pretty sure she was going to take the second one, but understood the others’ concern about the source.

“On a related note, though, I am at 124/125 Libido at the moment. I, uh. I don’t think I’m going to last until we get out of the Seed. That’s at most twelve minutes if my math is right and this stupid sheet doesn’t do decimals.” Ann blushed. Some deeply ingrained shame causing her body to heat up at the mention of her impending sexual need. She looked at Kat, whose ears had begun to blush slightly as well. “I can handle myself, if you want me to,” Annita offered.

“Hm, nae. Yer a friend in need. Least I can do is offer a hand.” Kat grinned mischievously at her.

“I’ll… wait outside,” Bren said tersely as he turned and hurriedly made his way back into the tunnel.

Kat moved in quickly, her body brushing up close to Annita as her hands went to the other woman’s face. “So, yer at yer limit, an’ need tae blow off some steam?”

Annita’s face burned with the blush that had painted her skin red. Her breath quickened with her heart as she looked down into Kat’s icy blue eyes. She adored those eyes, so calm and cool, but with a light that betrayed her endless energy. Without even thinking about it, she leaned in and pushed her lips against Kat’s. Those icy pools closed as Kat melted into the kiss. Annita’s arms wrapped gently around her shoulders and waist, bending Kat as the waist as she leaned deeper into the kiss. Slowly, she moved her hands over Kat’s strong back and lower, cupping her firm ass through her leather pants.

Neither of their mouths were still, each having turns of taking and receiving the other’s passion. Air was the least of their concerns as they lost themselves to their passion for the other. Slowly, they made their way to the floor, Kat having ended up below Annita.

Ann looked down at the woman, her heart racing as she felt her desire growing as much as the cock that was pushing against her straining underwear. “Gods, Kat, I want you, so much,” she moaned.

“I know,” Kat breathed back. “I want ye too, but I set me limits. Just a bit longer.”

With a labored groan, Ann pulled back and rolled off Kat. “You said you’d offer a hand, right?”

“Aye, got somethin’ in mind?” Kat smirked back.

“Get your pants off,” Ann ordered as she followed her own demand.

Quickly, both women were naked from the waist down. Reaching over with one long arm, Ann pulled Kat up next to her on the wall of the cavern. Her skin was warm to the touch, and Ann took a moment to admire the freckles that dotted her thighs.

“Yer ears twitch when you’re excited,” Kat whispered into Ann’s sensitive ear, sending a shiver down her spine.

“Yeah, and fucking hell am I,” Ann said as she made sure they were hip to hip. “Now, let’s give each other a hand, shall we?”

She took her right hand, softly placing it on Kat’s thigh and began to massage gently.

“Oh, that’s what ye wanted? I like how ye think.” Kat smiled back as her eyes relaxed. Her left hand began to mirror Ann’s right, slowly massaging Ann’s thigh. She moved down to Ann’s knee, where skin gave way to fur, before working her way back up. Teasing gently closer and closer.

Ann was treating the Alf the same way, each movement of her hand moving tantalizingly close to Kat’s sex. She watched Kat closely, almost feeling predatory as she paid attention to each small movement, the hitching in her breath as she touched a sensitive portion of her thigh, the shivers that rocked her body as she finally brushed against her folds. She’d always thought herself an attentive lover, but she was seeing things more clearly than she ever had. Kat was like an instrument she was learning to produce the most amazing music with. She tucked the thought away to ask Orenous about later as she focused on her partner.

Kat wasn’t idle either. Annita’s heart jumped, and she felt her core clench and her cock bounce as Kat’s hand brushed up against her folds as well, drawing a soft moan from her lips. Kat took it as encouragement and gently moved her hand to cup Ann’s pussy, slowly tracing the outline with her fingers. Each stroke pushing through her outer folds, and teasing entry before pulling back at the last second.

Ann moved to mirror her movements, feeling her palm come to rest on Kat’s lower stomach as her longer fingers softly traced the slick folds of her partner. The sounds Kat was making were intoxicating. It took all of her will not to push further, but she wanted to enjoy this. Slowly, deliberately, she slid her middle finger up Kat’s folds, before gently pushing in on the downstroke. They both moaned in unison as their mirrored movements gave their aching insides some of what they needed.

Ann felt Kat getting more eager, her middle finger beginning to pump into her. It felt amazing. The fighter’s finger was calloused and rough, but that only increased the texture and pleasure it caused Ann. Throwing her head back against the cavern wall, Ann closed her eyes and bit her lip as she reveled in the feeling. “More,” she moaned to Kat between heavy breaths.

Immediately, she felt a second finger enter her. The increase in girth of the second digit felt incredible, and the movements never stopped. It was all she could do to focus on returning the same attention to Kat, making sure that her palm never left the other woman’s clit. Her efforts rewarded her with a constant stream of moans as her fingers were covered in Kat’s slick fluids. The fingers inside her faltered as an orgasm wracked Kat, but the Alf was not to be hindered in her task, adding a third finger to Ann’s pussy unbidden.

Ann’s heart jumped and her pussy ached as she felt the third finger stretching her sensitive walls. Every movement brushing up against sensitive nerves and spreading her wide. It felt amazing, so fucking amazing she felt herself beginning to tighten, a heat rising inside her as her cock pulsed heavily against her stomach. “Fuck, that’s it Kat, oh, oh fuck, that’s it. Right there. Fuck fuck fuck!” She cried as she felt herself clench, her muscles contracting. The fingers inside her felt massive as her walls squeezed around them. At the same time, jets of cum erupted from her cock, painting her stomach with sticky white seed. Kat never stopped her motions as Ann shook in orgasm. Gasps, moans and curses dripped from her upper lips as her juices did her lower ones.

Kat wasn’t stopping, she wasn’t letting her rest. Ann’s breathing was ragged, and the woman was still torturing her. Her oversensitive insides were constantly barraged by further friction. 

“Kat! Kat, please. I’m so… so sensitive. Oh, fuck!” Ann felt her core clenching again. Fuck, her hand in Kat fell still as she lost control of her body. The over-stimulation was too much. She closed her eyes and submitted to the overwhelming sensation. Ann shook as her previous orgasm was perpetuated as she felt a second one building. She felt Kat realize as much as the fingers inside her sped up even further, Kat apparently putting some of her levels into the motions, increasing her strength and speed.

“No restin’. Give me another,” Kat purred breathily in her ear.

With a howl of ecstasy, Ann came undone again. Shaking wildly, ears flat against her head and her tail rigid, she came hard. She gripped the only thing she could, which was the inside of Kat’s pussy, drawing a loud moan from the other woman as she rode her orgasm. White stars flashed across her vision as she reached her peak and slowly faded as she began to come down.

Gasping for breath, Ann slumped against the wall, leaning against Kat as they both desperately tried to regain their breaths. Her inner thighs soaked, and she had covered her stomach and chest with her own cum.

“You always go that extra mile.” Ann laughed breathily as she laid her head on Kat’s.

“Aye, ye said ye were close tae yer limit. An’ where’s the fun in doin’ the bare minimum?” Kat replied contentedly, her fingers tracing through Ann’s sodden thighs. Idly, she took her fingers and slipped them between her lips. A moan reverberated through her as she sucked on Ann’s fluids.

“Hmmm, how’s this for bare minimum?” Ann asked, twiddling her fingers still in Kat’s core. The other woman twitched, her eyes going unfocused for a moment.

“Feck, not fair,” Kat gasped as she gripped Ann tightly.

“No, definitely not,” Ann whispered as she sped up her fingers. As she went, she realized that her fingers and wrist should be cramped by this point, but they felt as loose and dexterous as ever. Seemed like Deft Hands was coming in handy. Grinning, she pushed Kat further, feeling the woman quake with an orgasm as she began to curse. It started softly, but Annita wasn’t satisfied.

She tested her fingers, flexing them, pushing the limits of what she should be able to do, and finding further flexibility. Kat seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the experiment, as her curses were lost to guttural groans. With a final salvo, Ann brought the woman to her fourth orgasm of the moment. A ragged scream of ecstasy ripped from Kat’s throat as she threw her upper body back, pushing hard against the wall of the cavern. After a full minute, she felt Kat relax, slumping down against her.

“Good?” Ann asked with a grin.

“Ye’re evil,” Kat gasped.

Ann laughed and let Kat recover for a moment. “I gotta ask, though. How’d I taste?”

“Mhm. Good as yer cum. Here, take a taste,” she replied, gathering more of Ann’s fluids on her fingers.

Ann opened her mouth, closing her eyes as Kat raised her fingers into her mouth. Closing gently around the digits, Ann gently suckled on them. The taste was amazing. It tasted salty, but also refreshing. Like the sea almost. Her tongue followed Kat’s fingers as they left her lips, and she pulled back, a little embarrassed she’d enjoyed her own taste so much. 

“Your turn,” Ann giggled as she took her fingers from Kat’s core and pressed them to the Alf’s lips.

Kat’s eyes looked at her, shocked, before fluttering closed and accepting the finger between her lips. Ann watched her bask in the lewdness of the moment, feeling her tongue gently lapping at her digits. A strange sense of pride welled up inside her as she watched the woman giving in to her wants.

It was over too soon, as Ann pulled her fingers back.

“Mm, aye, I see why ye liked bein’ between me legs the other night.” Kat giggled.

“You’ve never thought of doing that?”

“Tastin’ meself? Nah, not really. Much preferred takin’ in whoever my partner was. Focused on them, ya know?” Kat reached her left hand over and gently hugged Ann close.

Annita smiled as she gave into the hug, savoring the moment of closeness, paying attention to Kat’s breathing as it matched her own. It was almost domestic, this comfort. Simple, innocent touch that stoked a warmth in her. She wanted more of that. More of Kat, to be honest with herself. She knew they’d only known each other for about a week now, but she just had this feeling that this was right. Or at least something she really wanted. Not yet, though. She was incredibly nervous about talking these feelings over with Kat. The fear of rejection, despite their actions together, still haunted her.

“This is nice.” Kat whispered on her shoulder, nuzzling into the crook of her neck.

“Yeah, it is. Thanks again for being there for me.” Ann replied quietly.

“Aye love. Wouldn’t leave ye all helpless like tha’.” Kat said almost drowsily.

The words spiked the already nervous energies in her. Was that a confession? Was that just something she said to people she was close to? She never said it to Bren, but they bickered all the time for their affection. Annita took a long moment and forced herself to stop overthinking things. That’s for after their date.

With a heavy sigh, she shifted in Kat’s arm and the other woman loosened her hold. “Bren’s going to be worried about us again. Or just thinks we actually started fucking this time.” A shaky laugh escaped her as she spoke.

“Oh, aye, he’s a worrywart, an’ I’ve seen the look he’s been givin’ us. He knew before this. I reckon we only confirmed it.”

“Yeah, he’s crazy observant for a normal human.” Ann giggled as wiped off the best she could. Kat was following suit, but had less overall to clean up. 

Before Ann could get all her cum off her chest, Kat gave her a cheeky smile and swiped her tongue across Ann’s clothed chest, taking a line of the sticky fluid with her. “Fer the road.”

Cleaned up, Ann with a fresh shirt, and properly dressed, they made their way out to Bren.

“Did you two have fun?” Bren asked dryly.

“Aye, sure did. How long’ve ye known?” Kat asked bluntly.

“I suspected the first night you went and checked on Annita. You were gone too long, even for a private chat. I now believe that this occurred on subsequent nights, as I woke to someone returning to the camp. You were always too quick to get into your bedroll for me to confirm, however. Last night was a major confirmation. You lost your subtlety there, and today was the outright admission.”

“Can’t keep anythin’ from ye. Known ye way too long, Bren.” Kat laughed as she clapped him on the shoulder. “Fer yer reference, Ann, he’s always been like this. Couldn’t sneak sweets outta the kitchens without me Ma hearin’ about it from some little snitch.”

“Yes, well, someone needed to teach you manners, and you were far too covert for most of the adults to notice,” Bren huffed. “We fought over this countless times until we grew older and the skill became useful in other ways. She still can not hide things from me for long, though.”

“Yeah, yeah. You’re a real pain in me arse,” Kat laughed.

“And you, in mine, Your Majesty,” Bren retorted.

Annita found herself laughing at the back and forth between the two. “Y’all are great. Reminds me of my older siblings. At each other’s throats for the longest time, but loved each other like nothing else.”

“Oi, Bren,” Kat cut her off, “ye leave tha’ there?” She pointed to a sack that was sitting on one of the nearby roots. Brown, unassuming, made of some sort of burlap at Annita’s best guess. It was tied shut with a drawstring, and had a piece of parchment attached.

“No. I did not,” Bren mumbled, confusion plain on his face. “That was not there a minute ago, either.”

“Looks like it has a note on it,” Ann observed. She walked over to it and pulled off the section of parchment. The letters were nothing like she’d ever seen before, but somehow she understood their meaning.

“A gift from a god?” Bren sputtered in disbelief. “And addressed to all of us. What, how?”

“Seems like whenever I touched that Core, it weakened the hold on the Seed? Maybe that let Him slip this in.” Annita crouched and undid the string around the bag.

Inside was a piece of wood, a gem, and a rolled up strip of bark. The piece of wood was a gorgeous dark brown, polished and just a bit longer than Annita’s grip on it. She rolled it around in her fingers, but nothing happened. Neither the gem nor the bark seemed to be obviously magical, either.

“Reckon we’ll need an artificer tae figure out what those’re fer,” Kat pondered, taking a closer look at the bark.

“To identify them?” Annita asked.

“Aye, pretty standard. Magical monsters an’ the like drop all sorts o’ things. Artificers are everywhere ‘cause of it. Though with these, might be best tae find someone trustworthy. Them bein’ Gods given an’ all.” Kat returned the bark to Annita, who placed it back into the sack. 

Putting the sack into her pack, Annita stood again. “I’m ready to get out of this place. You two ready?”

“Yes. Let us leave. The side we need to exit should be… this way.” Bren said as he consulted the large tree for direction.

Their travel from the Seed was uneventful. True to Kat’s word, the pocket dimension had calmed significantly. Birds and small beasts scurried about as usual, but nothing hostile crossed their path.

It was an hour’s walk before they came upon the iridescent wall that marked the boundary of the Seed.

“Well, this is it. Ye survived yer first seed! Congrat’s Ann.” Kat said, giving her a pat on the shoulder.

“A feat several do not accomplish. You did well,” Bren said, joining the compliments.

“Couldn’t have done it without you two. That’s for sure,” Ann laughed as she wrapped her arms around Kat and Bren’s shoulders.

“Damn right. Now let’s get out of here,” Kat laughed, taking Annita’s hand.

Forming the line they had made when they entered Estvall’s Seed, they calmly walked through the shimmering surface before them.

Chapter Text

The pressure of the barrier subsided, and the three adventurers heaved a deep sigh.

“Wow, it feels good to be back in the cold!” Annita gasped as the familiar chill of the woods sunk into her skin and fur. She hadn’t noticed how warm she’d gotten in the Seed, but being in the cold again brought it to the forefront that she was meant for this type of weather. Stretching her long, lithe limbs, she took in their surroundings.

Unsurprising to anyone, they were in more forest land. The same black trunks they’d traveled through on the way here, surrounding them once more. Bren was already studying the skies, probably figuring out exactly where they were, while Kat was looking off into space.

“Hey, you all right Kat?” Annita asked as she moved over to the fighter.

“Oh, aye, just lookin’ at me stats. Leveled up after the Guardian Tree thing. Figures. Thing was a damn sight tougher than I expected.”

“What was that the big flash I felt, by the way? Seemed to just cut the thing in half from what I could tell before I passed out.” Ann asked, pacing slowly in the snow.

“That, my dear, was what you were stallin’ fer. A last resort skill o’ mine. Have tae channel all my grit an’ sacrifice a big chunk o’ me defenses for the next two days tae use it. Puts all tha’ into a single strike. Does massive damage but it can miss. It’s an all or nothin’.”

“Gotcha. Well, I’m glad it killed it. I was in no space to keep fighting that thing. Oh, right, I leveled too. Seems like it was more than once again. Let me check.”

“Ok, those are pretty reasonable,” Annita mused as she looked over her options. “I think it’s decided that I’m going to be a rogue. Or something close, at least. Two options: Rogues Do It From Behind,” a snort from Kat cut Annita off, earning the Alfhindur an eye roll, “and Distracting Shot. The first is a small damage boost to flanking attacks, while the other is more of a support thing. Gives others a better chance at hitting important stuff.”

“Well, I can’t really confirm whether rogues do as the skill says,” Kat said through a huge grin, “but it seems like the most versatile of the skills. The second could be fantastic, but depends on whatever it is you’re fighting, even having a weak spot. Not everything does.”

“Yeah, fair. Oh, hey Bren! How do you boost your Mind stat by the way? I don’t see anything in my levels that says how.” Ann turned to Bren, who had made his way over to them.

“Ah, yes, simply assign a level’s stats to the Mind stat. It is one point to 10 points of Mind. A strange conversion, however it is how the system works. I believe I know where we are when you are ready,” Bren explained as he sat on a nearby rock.

“Oh, strange. Thanks.” Annita returned to her sheet, assigning two points to her Mind, setting the reserve to 40, and then the other two points to Endurance. It seemed like she was taking a beating in a lot of these fights, so being a bit hardier felt like the right call. Looking over her skills, it seemed like Distracting Shot was already somewhat covered by her Predatory Sensuality. Making the decision dissipated the silver window as the passive was added to her sheet. At the top left of her vision, the smoky black box of the Warped skill still hovered, waiting for her to make a decision.

Name: Annita Kronforst

Age: 23

Race: Lupine (Warped)

Path: Warrior of Orenous (8)

Title: Chosen of Orenous

———————————————————————————————

Racial Skills:

Cold Resistance: Reduced damage from cold effects. Comfortable in colder climates.

Keen Hearing: Able to hear sounds from greater distances with greater clarity.

Natural Weapons: Claws and teeth are considered weapons for any skills that would affect weapons.

Endurance Hunter: +2 to Strength, +5 to Dexterity, +5 to Stamina

———————————————————————————————

Unique Passive:

Chosen of Orenous: The Bearer is burdened with a task from the divine. Growth of one’s progression is accelerated by a factor of 1.5 once a Path is chosen. For each lover in the current party, increase the multiplier by .0.2. This bonus will apply to all party members of the same or lower levels as the owner. Further benefits will be unlocked upon progression of the Bearer’s Path.

Additionally provides +5 to Faith.

Path Skills

——————————————————————————————

Passive:

Weapon Proficiency: Light weapons and small firearms.

Armor Proficiency: Medium Armor

Health Points: Stat has been unlocked.

Libido: Stat has been unlocked. Increases by 5/hour. Once full, sexual inhibitions will be greatly reduced until release is achieved.

Desire: Stat has been unlocked. Gained through relations with trusting partners.

Stat Increases: +5 to Faith, +10 to Mind, +2 to Endurance, +2 to Resilience

Compatibility: You’re a large lady, in more ways than one. This will help make sure things go smoothly in your conquests.

Deft Hands: Increase dexterity by +5. Any complicated manipulation of your digits becomes moderately easier.

———————————————————————————————

Active:

Stoke the Flames: Consume 10 desire points to inflame the target, incensing a heightened emotion of your choice for 1 minute.

Smite of Orenous: Enhance an attack to deal additional Holy damage. Adds 20% of current Faith to the attack. Cost: 10 Mind.

Predatory Sensuality: Cost: +40 Libido. Requires a display of sensuality to activate. Your force of will and pure sensuality make you irresistible, lowering your opponent’s guard. For a single strike, lower the target’s Endurance by 5 points.

Rogues Do It From Behind: +0.1 of your Dexterity to enemies when attacking from their flanks.

———————————————————————————————

Passive Stat Increases:

+80 Health

+80 Desire

+40 Libido

+2 Strength

+9 Dexterity

+20 Mind

+2 Endurance

“All right. Should be good to go,” said Annita as she stretched again.

“Very well. We are about three days east of Graven Peak. It appears that the Seed covered a fairly sizeable area and provided us a shortcut. We have saved several days of travel,” Bren stood, pointing to the west.

“Well, ain’t tha’ nice. We’ve still got a couple hours before night. Let’s get what we can here, an’ camp. Hopefully, it’ll be a quiet rest of the trip. Maybe a pack o’ Twinwolves, nothin’ we can’t handle.” Kat hiked her pack up on her shoulder, shield strapped to the back.

They set off into the forest. It was about four hours, as best Annita could count, before night began to fall. They found a natural overhang under a few fallen trees, the skeletal branches woven to form a spider web above their heads. It was oddly cozy, but didn’t allow for a fire, much to Kat’s complaining.

“So what should we be doing once we get to the Keep?” Ann asked as she sprawled near the opening of the shelter. “I know you two probably have to check in with whoever you answer to, but I’m totally new.”

“Well, that is going to be a question about what you wish to do,” Bren offered. “Your Path and quest are pushing you into a fairly frequent combat. I would advise signing up as an Affiliated Mercenary. Generally the responsibilities entailed are minimal. You are expected to check in with any towns or city branches. They, similarly, report to the headquarters located in each major city. All of this, in turn is reported up to the Royal Military. They will need to collect information on you, which may be an issue now that I think on it.”

“Aye, I think I should be able to talk wit’ a few contacts o’ mine. Royalty’s got its perks, don’ get me wrong. Ugh, yeah, that’ll be a talk wit’ Gen’ral Polaris. Ol’ bastard’ll probably let ye register privately.” Kat huffed as she leant forward, tracing patterns in the dirt.

“Makin’ me feel like a top secret weapon here,” Annita chuckled.

“Not sure what tha’ means, but, aye. Yer definitely a secret fer now. A Goddess showin’ interest in the world enough tae send a sponsored champion? Shit moves nations. It’ll be up wit’ me Ma ‘fore we even get back to Korvas, if we go as the crow. Personally don’ feel like doin’ tha’, but we can get into tha’ later.”

“Yes. That would handle most issues we would be running into with registration. From there, we will be reporting the incursion to the Seed, receiving a reward based on our accomplishments, and then setting about securing lodging.”

“Right, ok. How much should we earn for the whole guardian thing?” Annita asked, intrigued.

“It was thirty copper for the Twinwolves on the way to the outpost. For the vine Warped they will likely be a silver a piece. The Tree Guardian will probably be several gold. Guardians of Seeds pay very well. The larger the Seed, the greater the reward. Generally once a Guardian has been defeated, expedition teams are sent in to gather resources while the threat of the Warped is diminished.” Bren shifted in his spot, pulling out a book and leafting through it casually. “Ah, here it is. After defeating a Guardian, the Seed is considered complacent for one week. The time frame varies, however, to ensure the safety of the workers dispatched, collection is limited to one week.” With a snap, he shut the book and returned it to his bag.

“Yeah, I guess that makes sense.” Annita hadn’t really considered why they knew so much about the seeds, or rewarded people for taking down the Warped. She thought it was just for keeping people safe, but now that there was an economic gain from the Seeds, of course other people would be going into these things looking to make money. “So for something like we just went through, I guess they’d send in a team of lumberjacks to get wood?”

“Among plants an’ other things that’ll be found there,” Kat explained. “Each seed varies. Get a big ol’ mountain an’ ye’ll have a lot o’ ore an’ stone tae collect. With a forest ye’ve got plants, smaller beasties, trees, saps, herbs, Hells sometimes the water is different. Imagine findin’ a mountain God’s domain in the middle o’ a desert an’ it’s got ice in it. Best believe anyone with a combat Path is gonna be gunnin’ fer the Guardian.”

“So hunting in these Seeds is more common than I thought it was? I figured they’d be avoided with how you two talked about them.” Annita rolled over onto her back and stared at the cluster moon, with its weird, bulbous shape.

“For most, that is correct. Remember that we had significant trouble with a minor Seed’s guardian. We almost lost you if Kat was not able to make her preparations in time. Only those with significant confidence in their skills as well as any companions they might have, dare to challenge Guardians. Most will perform minor expeditions into the outskirts of the area, gathering intelligence as best they can, and any resources they deem worth the trouble.”

“I guess we should mention that most people don’t get their levels as quickly as ye do, Ann.” Kat said as she lay down on her bedroll. “What ye’ve been gettin’ can take several years. Bren an’ I are lucky tae have the resources we did tae advance ourselves, but we’ve still got years on ye. Probably best not tae tell anyone how green ye are.”

“Got it,” Annita confirmed. They fell into a brief silence as she digested the information. “I’ll definitely be signing up for the mercenary permit, then. It’s the best option for what I’ve got to do. God, what my parents would think about me telling them that? ‘Hey mom and dad! I decided I’m going to be a mercenary and go fight monsters! No, I don’t really know how to fight, and I’m making it all up as I go. It’ll be fiiiiine.’” Annita laughed.

“They would not approve?” Bren asked, brown eyes showing concern.

“Hell no, they wouldn’t,” Ann laughed as she rolled back over to face the other two. “Mercenaries in my time were all soldiers for hire. They’d go and help armies for money, and maybe do things those armies couldn’t be caught doing. Not to mention, monsters were all made up. The stuff we’ve been fighting was relegated to books, video games, movies and all that. Wow, you’d find my time boring. I guess it had its interesting things, but compared to this?” She gestured to the wild expanse around them. “Nothing like it. They’d kick my ass for putting myself in so much danger, but would also be proud of trying to go after a goal, making friends and all that. They’d freak the fuck out about my body, though. I look nothing like their daughter anymore. More like one of my old drawings I did to make some extra cash.”

“Ye said ye liked art. Didn’t know ye were an artisan before yer incident.” Kat said, propping herself up on an elbow.

“Oh yeah. Art was really common in my time. Everyone had access to paper and something to write with, so doodling, er, sketching was something everyone did at some point when they were bored. I took it a step further and studied it, got really good at it too. There was a subset of art with characters that look a lot like I do right now, including genitals. The people who were into it were really wealthy for some reason, and if you could establish yourself in that niche, you’d make a ton of money from commissions. I never really got that into it, but enough to make some money.”

“People paid for illustrations?” Bren seemed intrigued by this, taking out his notebook again. “We have artists that are hired to paint murals, and some have noble patrons who sponsor them, but the large majority are usually working on things like maps, some books, decorations on buildings and the likes.”

“Oh yeah. There was a whole thing about it. Writing, drawing, animating…”

“Animating?” Bren cut her off.

“Yeah, it’s what we called making moving drawings, I guess. If I can get my hands on a blank book or notes of some kind, I can show you. Basically, you’d draw a picture, draw it again on a different page, but slightly moved, then repeat that hundreds or thousands of times. Once you have it all drawn, you’d show the pages really quickly in sequence and it would give the illusion of motion.” Annita sighed as she looked up at the tangle of branches above them. “There was a LOT of porn made with that. Lots of stuff that wasn’t real could be with the drawings.”

“Heh, guess people’re horny no matter the age.” Kat nodded sagely.

“You have no idea,” Ann shuddered at the memory. “People got weird with their drawings. I made some money off all that, so I can’t really judge much.”

“So ye were a pervert even before Orenous, huh?” Kat grinned toothily at Ann.

“Kinda, yeah. Didn’t have much outlet for it, to be honest.” Another sigh. “I was busy earning enough money to stay alive. Had a couple girlfriends over my school days, though that always ended poorly. Being gay wasn’t really seen in a great light by a lot of people. Lots of hate. Lots of judgment. The college girlfriend was fun, though. We did a lot with each other, but eventually grew apart. I didn’t have anyone after that with work taking over my life until, well, I ended up here.”

“It sounds like a complicated life,” Bren said as he closed his book. He relaxed, laying down on his bedroll as well.

“It was. There were things I had to do that wouldn’t make much sense to you, with how technology is here. It was also kind of simple? I had a job. I did the job. I got money. I used that money for a place to live, food, bills and taxes, and then other stuff I wanted. It was alright. Nothing really exciting.” Annita curled up a little, her knees shifting to her chest as she lay there while her ears drooped and her tail curled up as well. “There was a comfort in the routine, though. Knowing what I’d be doing the next day, what to expect. All of that is out the window now. I’m lucky as hell to have met you two, and no, I won’t stop saying it.” She cast a glare at Kat, who just smiled back. “Nothing in my old life prepared me for this. Well, maybe some brief martial arts, but that’s it. Getting used to what I need to do here is going to be so much easier with you two’s help.”

“Yes, I imagine it would.” Bren smiled at her as well. “It is likely why Orenous put you where she did.”

“Yeah, well, probably not the only reason.” Ann glanced sheepishly at Kat, whose grin only widened. “Regardless, probably a large part of it.” A yawn stretched her lips, sharp teeth glistening in the moonlight. “Ugh, I’m exhausted. Even getting knocked out a couple of times didn’t help.”

“Aye, time fer rest. Let’s all get some sleep. Long day of hiking through snow again tomorrow.” Kat said, sliding into her roll. “G’night everyone.” Within a couple of minutes, she was snoring.

“Night,” Ann replied sleepily as she lay down, still on top of her roll. The cold was nice. It relaxed her and she quickly drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Text

Ann stretched, cramped muscles waking slowly with her. Everything still hurt a bit, and she was still covered in bruises, but felt miles better. Kat’s snores from nearby gave her an involuntary smile as she breathed in the crisp morning air and opened her eyes. It was another cloudy day. The grey blanket covering the sky was deceptively bright as the land below woke to the hidden sun. Her ears twitched as she registered the sounds of rabbits scampering through the snow, the songs of the morning birds, and what she believed to be a couple of playing foxes.

Sitting up, Annita checked on her teammates. Bren was also rising, blinking the sleep from his eyes and yawning deeply. His short brown hair was sticking up wildly from how he’d slept, and he was apparently too tired to notice at the moment. Looking Annita’s way, and seeing she was awake, he smiled and waved. “Good morning. Have you been up long?”

“Nah, just woke up. Was just laying here enjoying the sounds of the morning.” Ann stretched back out, this time sitting up.

“Sounds?” Bren asked, as his eyes slowly gained wakefulness.

“Yeah, birds, little animals moving all over the place. It’s actually kinda noisy.” Annita laughed.

“Not to mention Kat’s snoring.” Bren chuckled as he tugged his bag over and dug through it.

“Yeah, girl can snore like thunder, can’t she?” Annita looked over at the Alfhindur, who’d fallen asleep on her back, arms and legs splayed and her braids flung out at wild angles.

“I often wonder how she fails to wake herself up considering her acute hearing.” Bren began to pull out rations for the three of them, setting them aside.

“Guess those pointy ears turn off when she’s passed out.” Ann laughed as she took her portion of the rations.

“Oh, she has always been like this. Once she’s asleep, naught but the loudest of horns can wake her. Even thorough shaking from her maids has failed to do the trick.”

“Hmmm, I wonder…” Ann trailed off as she scooted over to Kat, tail wagging with mischief. “Good morning, sunshine.” She leaned over and planted a kiss on Kat’s soft lips.

“Mmmm, mornin’ ya furry lout.” Kat mumbled back quietly, not opening her eyes. “Can wake me up like that any time.”

“Guess a kiss does wake the sleeping princess.” Ann teased as she backed off from Kat. “Just like the stories.”

“I’ll show ya a princess ye, ye… feck. I’m too tired. Get back tae me in a few.” Kat curled back up, but didn’t start snoring again, so Annita left her alone.

“I never got to ask,” Ann said, turning back to Bren, “but your parents were mages, right? You told the story of how they met Kat’s parents, but never the why. What’d they do to earn the privilege?”

Bren had busied himself with starting a small fire outside the overhang. “You’re quite right. I never did get to tell you. They both studied together, my mother a fire mage, and my father, water. Interestingly, their work was on further improving steam based energies. With fire and water, they had spent years working together and eventually helped develop a new steam engine. The minutiae of it is a bit beyond me, to be honest, but it was important enough to earn them a place at a ball, as I’ve said. They have always been a fascinating pair. Passionate like no others for their work and each other. When I discovered my love for history and older records, they were my staunchest supporters, Kat being a close second, if you can believe it. Then when I chose the Path of a healer, they supported it as well. They were concerned for my safety, as any good parent would be, but when it became clear that Kat and I would be traveling together, they felt relieved. From there, we have kept in touch by letter as I traveled. I know they are doing well in their work and health, and they know I am well. I am sure they would be eager to meet you.”

“They might have to get in line.” Ann chuckled ruefully. “Seems like once my origins get out, if they do, I’m not gonna have a second’s rest.”

“Well, yes, and no,” Bren offered, placing a pot over the flames and heating some snow. “Initially, yes, absolutely. However, you have a mission given to you by one of the major Gods. That will not be taken lightly and you will be allowed to proceed as you see fit. The various religious orders would likely see it no other way. Politics as always will be involved, and you will need to consider allegiances, though your relationship with Kat will help with that immensely. Should you two choose to make that public, that is.”

“Perks of dating a princess, huh? Man, didn’t think the first relationship I’d get into here would be so impactful.” Ann sighed.

“Second thoughts?”

“Nah, not at all. It’s just a lot to take in when I stop and think about it. I’m going to be pushed into high society, whatever that means in this time, and I’ll be at the very top of it all off the bat.”

Bren took a moment to add tea leaves to the pot, letting them steep. “Yes, but remember who Kat is and how she is. Not all in her position possess the grace of nobility. She, for all her noble attributes, does not exemplify propriety.”

“That helps, honestly. I wouldn’t know the first thing about how to act around everyone like that.” Ann sighed as Bren poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her. The familiar tin was cool in her hands, but quickly warmed. “Thanks. So, history, huh? Anything that’s been eating at you to ask me?”

“More than you could guess. Should I limit it to just one?” Bren asked as he leaned over to set a cup near Kat. The sleepy Alf groaned her thanks, but stayed still for now.

“For now,” Ann chuckled over her tea.

“Very well. I guess I should ask about your leadership. Your nation’s philosophy of rule. How was power consolidated in your time?”

“Ah, that’s a bit more complicated than you’d think. I honestly wasn’t big into politics, but it was kind of a mess. The theory, or at least the ideal I guess, was a republic of essentially mini countries, forming a larger nation. Everyone gets a vote to decide the course of the nation and the leaders would be beholden to the populace. Of course, this doesn’t really work out all that well in the end. There was a lot of corruption, power imbalances, and poverty . I’m sure in your recorded history there’s been similar.”

“So it was not solidified around a central family?” Bren asked as he sipped his own steaming cup.

“No, at least not when I was around. There were monarchies historically, but because of some technological advancements, they mostly fell out of favor. Political leaders were a thing, there was a figurehead of course, but they weren’t the end all be all for the nation. Keep in mind that this nation was huge, too. You could walk for months and still not be all the way across. One of the largest, if I remember right, land wise. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re somewhere in it right now. Not that I’d recognize anything at this point.”

“Uuuugh, ok. ‘M up.” Kat groaned from the side as she finally sat up. Her eyes stayed shut as she fumbled for her cup and took a cautious sip. “You two gettin’ on all right?”

“Wonderfully,” Bren replied with a smile.

“Just talking about the past and politics.” Ann said, scooting over closer to Kat.

“Bleh, maybe I should go back tae sleep,” Kat grumbled. “More hikin’ today. Two more days o’ this. It’ll be good tae be back in a proper city.”

“Speaking of which, actually. Bren, you mentioned a steam engine. What’s transportation like?” Ann asked as Kat scooted closer to her and leaned gently on her shoulder.

“Personal transportation is largely still horse and carriage. There have been advancements in travel between the cities. A large contraption with an engine pulling several carts behind it has been a staple for the Kingdom in recent decades. It eases transport of both people and resources.”

“Oh, ok. So you’re at steam trains. Got it.” Ann replied offhandedly.

“You’re familiar with them?” Bren asked, his curiosity obviously piqued again.

“Won’t get too far into it for this one’s sake,” Ann ribbed Kat playfully, earning a grunt of thanks. “But, yeah. We had trains. During my life they’d all advanced past steam and were operating largely off either gasoline, or in some case magnets. Without electricity, the second one is less likely for you to ever get working, and the former I wouldn’t recommend. Too much pollution, and I wouldn’t be able to help figure out how to make it work.”

“Fascinating. Understood. Well, yes, that is the largest form of transportation currently in use. Otherwise, the devices are used for lifting with the aid of magic. Really, most things can be done with magic. However, the efficiency increases when it works in tandem with machinery.”

“That’s cool. I was a little worried the whole machinery thing would kill a bit of the magic for me,” Ann admitted as she chewed some ration.

“Aye, seein’ things from yer time’d probably be confusin’, huh?”

“I mean, this already is.” Ann held up her holstered revolver. “Just a bit different. It’s the bigger things. Oh well, it’s still the world I lived in. About right that you all would re-invent some stuff.”

“Yes, the cycle of humanity turns on. Shall we get moving? We have much ground to cover.” Bren had packed away what was left of his breakfast, and was working on dousing the fire.

They gathered their things, packed up camp, and headed west once more.

The first half of the day after the Seed passed without incident. As the day progressed, the grey cloud cover broke apart and a bright blue sky shone through. Despite the sunlight, the temperature dropped harshly, and even Annita was forced to borrow a blanket from Kat to wrap around herself in a makeshift cloak.

Their quick lunch was a quiet affair. More rations and water. Ann swore that she’d be figuring out better food for their next journey. She was getting sick of the preserved fruits and bread.

The second leg of the day was more of the same. The mostly flat forest had begun to give rise to hills spread throughout the landscape. They hiked over several shallow slopes, the ground beneath their feet sometimes turning treacherous and gravely. Occasionally, a babbling stream blocked their path. The current was ice cold, and they made a concerted effort to find crossings that avoided getting their feet wet.

Now and then Ann heard movement nearby, and froze instinctively. It was usually one of the strange jackalopes or the many tailed squirrels, but once she spotted a deer through the trees. The Warping being what it was; the deer was anything but normal. Almost completely white with brown spots across its flank. It walked taller than any deer Ann had ever seen, like its legs were too long, and its horns branched into literal branches. There were no leaves present, but the texture was clearly bark instead of bone. It tracked them as they walked past, still and silent, then ambled away.

As they walked, Annita noticed that Kat was keeping closer to her than normal. The woman was always close, but she seemed to almost crave contact. She took almost every excuse to have a hand on Ann that she could. Ann smiled at the clearly deteriorating patience of her, uh, friend? Fuck buddy? That was going to have to be a talk later. Probably once they got to the Keep. Definitely once they got to the Keep.

Thoughts drifting along those lines, her mind turned to her unique skill: Chosen of Orenous. The wording on it implied that she was being encouraged to have multiple partners. She wasn’t entirely opposed to the idea. Annita had enjoyed sex when she’d had the opportunity in her old life, and this life had it intertwined with her identity. She could hold off for longer now, over a day, but it’s not like she really wanted to. It all really boiled down to what Kat was comfortable with. If the woman was the type to want her just to herself, she’d respect that. It’s not like the woman seemed to be any less randy than she was, considering she’d watched her masturbate. 

There was also the question of Ann’s inner romantic. She’d been somewhat hurried into the situation she was in, but she did admit to herself that feelings were growing for Kat. She was growing increasingly comfortable around the brash woman’s bluster. Her gorgeous eyes and long brown hair as it shimmered in the moonlight. A bit of the alien found in her Elven appearance. Kat’s strength was nothing to scoff at, either. Most of all, she just liked talking to her. Ann enjoyed being around her, fighting with her, laying with her, in multiple ways. Ann’s heart swelled as her mind wandered through this path before she felt Kat’s fingers intertwine with hers.

A brief squeeze and Ann looked down at her tall partner. A knowing grin met her gaze, drawing a smile to her face unbidden. Yeah, things would work out. Ann was sure of it. If not here and now, later down the road.

They walked like this for some time, hand in hand, following Bren’s direction. He didn’t comment on their state, but there were glances and small smiles Ann caught through his normally reserved features. His lack of resistance to their budding relationship was another building block to her confidence. Bren had known Kat all her life and all of his. From what she’d heard, they were incredibly close, almost like real siblings. If he didn’t oppose their already quickly progressing intimacy, she felt there was little to worry about.

“Can’t wait to get to the city,” Ann said quietly, squeezing Kat’s hand back.

“Me neither. Fer more reasons than one,” Kat replied. She leaned in a bit closer, bumping her head against Ann’s shoulder as she walked. “Ya couldn’t be a little shorter, could ye? Makes it harder tae walk all hand in hand like this.”

“Hey, if these Warped skills have anything to say about it, I might be able to. But for now you’re stuck with giant me.”

“Not really complainin’, mind. Just this one situation where it’d be nice. Like ye all big the rest o’ the time.”

“I’m sure you do,” Annita chuckled. “Must be strange. You’re pretty tall, judging by Bren. Been with anyone else taller than you?”

“Nae, actually. Guys and gals alike, all’ve been shorter than me. It’s definitely weird lookin’ up tae you. There’re the larger races, but even then some of ‘em are shorter.”

“Bigger races?” Ann asked, intrigued.

“Aye. Oh, right, you’d not know. So, there’re humans, standard as ye like. There’s the Vulhardrin, the general name fer the beast kin. Ye’d actually fall under the umbrella. Since it’s all so varied, Vulhardrin just came tae be the title and then the specifics used per classification. Lupine, like you, Ursine, Canine, Feline, Vulpine, Avian, some lizard folk I can’t remember the name fer.”

“Reptilia,” Bren filled in. “They are more varied than the others. Some take after snakes, others lizards. It is best to ask how they prefer to be called before making assumptions.”

“Aye. Generally folk don’t take offense tae askin’. Unless ye’ve pissed ‘em off beforehand, but that’s yer own fault. Anyway, besides them, we’ve got Thrundol. Tall, lanky blokes, tusks and somewhat warty. They come in all sorts o’ colors but tend tae be thin. Great hunters, that lot. Then there’s the Mulsfar. They’re huge. Bigger’n you an’ not just in height. Generally ye’ll see more of ‘em around Korvas, seein’ as they prefer the mountains. Then there’s the Grrn.” The noise she made was almost like a growl that she constricted at the back of her throat. “They’re rock people. Completely made o’ stone. They can understand each other, but fer the rest of us they write. Sounds like boulders scrapin’ when they do talk though. Think that’s all o’ the big’uns.”

“Then there are the smaller folk,” Bren continued the impromptu lecture. “Inlon are the shorter of the group. They are small people of many colors. Humanoid with large eyes and ears. They are a good people, if not a bit mischievous. If you befriend one of their kind, you will be well treated by their peers. Then there are the Bultrong. They also stick mostly to Korvas, but the inner portions of the mountain. Stout people with a longevity on par with the Alfhindurn. They made their place mining in the mountain. Long ago, they were the original rulers of this kingdom before a civil war imposed a more diverse lineage of leadership.”

“Honestly, you two are mostly describing fantasy races from my time,” Ann interjected. “The names are different, but the general themes are the same. Thrundol sound like trolls, Mulsfar are either ogres or giants, Grrn are golems. The smaller ones are goblins and dwarves, respectively. Do the Bultrong also have an accent like Kat and have a grudge against the Alfhindurn?”

“Nae. Actually, our races’re closer than most. A long time ago, even by our standards, the Bultrong in Korvas took in a tribe o’ fleein’ Alfhindurn. Persecution from the Bortislaw kingdom tae the West causin’ trouble. They made it through the massive Seeds between our borders an’ were near dead. The Bultrong took ‘em in, got ‘em healthy again, an’ offered tae share their home. We’ve been tied at the root ever since. Even after the civil war, our kinds made up. On the first part o’ yer question, aye we do speak alike. At least fer the most part. Our peoples are varied enough, it mostly depends on yer upbringin’.”

“Huh, ok. Interesting. And that’s it?” Ann asked. It was interesting that there were so many parallels, but obvious differences, to her preconceptions.

“Well, yes and no,” Bren continued. “It is part of why no one is offended when asking about what they are. The Warping has affected us all. Some more than others. Individuals can vary even within their own race. Extra eyes, limbs, horns and the like are most common. Some have extra hair or none at all. Colors are all over the place, so keep that in mind.”

“Doesn’t that concern mothers? It sounds like they’re birth defects.”

“No, not particularly. Most have access to a healer who can make sure their alterations are functional and not detrimental to the child. There is, regrettably, the chance that the child is too Warped to survive. Those unfortunate mothers are well cared for by their communities, but there is always the chance.” Bren’s face fell as he relayed the somber information.

“Shit, that’s awful. No wonder people hate the Warped. I mean, besides the whole slavering monsters coming to eat everyone you love part.” Ann looked at herself, extending and retracting her claws. Her worry spiked as she thought back to what she’d done in the Seed. She’d taken in this malevolent force. Even if it was accidental.

“Aye, not a light topic. That’s fer sure,” Kat breathed. “It’s a fact o’ life, though. Not much we can do about it. Or at least there wasn’t until you came along. If Orenous is right, mayhap ye can make a difference with all this.”

“Yeah, hopefully so. Gods, that’s a lot of pressure,” Annita breathed as she wrestled with the scope of her responsibility.

“I mean, she chose ye for a reason. I’d have faith that she’s got some inklin’ o’ why she chose ye. Even if she didn’t explain fully in yer dream.”

“I guess so. She seemed confused by it too, but we’ll just have to see. She said I hadn’t seen the last of her, so I’m guessing she’s keeping tabs on me and what I’m goin’ through.”

“As do most Gods, though rarely this directly,” Bren said with that tone that meant he was feeling particularly wise.

“But enough of that,” Ann heaved a deep sigh. “I think I just heard wheels? Or some creaking wood on dirt. Animals too.”

“Oh thank the Gods, we’re near a road. Lead the way, ya furry beaut,” Kat laughed as she clapped Annita on the ass.

Laughing, Annita took the lead toward the sounds she heard. Soon they came clear of the treeline to a dirt road. The soil was hard packed and frozen, with deep ruts cut by many years of travel. Ambling toward them was a large covered wagon drawn by four oxen. It was driven by two figures, one Annita now knew was an Inlon, and the other a Bultrong.

“Oi! Fine day to ya!” Kat called. “Might we impose on ye fer a ride tae Graven Keep?”

Chapter Text

“Howdy!” the Inlon called back. She had what Ann recognized as a thick southern accent. “Mighty well armed there. ‘Preciate it if ya identify yourselves first, before we get to trustin’ y’all.”

“Of course,” Bren called back. It was at this point that Annita noticed the heavy crossbow sitting over the Bultrong’s lap, pointed directly at them. All three of them pulled their medallions from their gear, holding them up. The pair on the wagon couldn’t possibly inspect them from this distance, but seemed to relax slightly at their display. “My name is Bren. This is Katlyn, and the tall Lupine is Annita. We are making our way back to Graven Keep from the outpost east of here. Took the direct route through the woods.”

“You can come over,” the Bultrong beckoned as he lowered the crossbow. “Names Jessamy, and this here’s Bon.” He gestured to Bon, who waved back enthusiastically, her ears flapping with the movement.

The pair were interesting to Ann’s eyes, though that might be because she was seeing someone like them for the first time. Bon was bright blue, with dark brown eyes, and dark green hair tied back in a ponytail. Her pointed ears stuck out to the sides of her head and drooped slightly at the tips. Her frame was petite, and she wore a set of overalls that gave her a farm worker’s appearance. Jessamy on the other hand was a burly fellow. Thick in both arms and legs, with a dark complexion and a bristling beard. His eyes twinkled blue beneath a bushy brow as he greeted them.

“Pardon the suspicion, friends. Bandits have been a plague around these parts lately. Can’t be too careful. Mind if I take a closer look at those badges?” He stuck out a hand towards them.

“Sure, here you go.” Annita gathered the badges from Kat and Bren, then handed the stack over to Jessamy. After a moment of inspection, the Bultrong grunted and handed them back.

“Two with houses, one without. Those’re official though. Thanks for cooperatin’. So, you said you were headed to the Keep? We are too, but I reckon you already figured that.”

“Aye, been a long trip, as we said,” Kat returned. “Would greatly appreciate it if ye would give us a ride.”

“Don’t see why we culdn’t. Right Jess?” Bon spoke up.

“Nope, no reason I can see to deny some road weary travelers. Just don’t be causin’ trouble and we’ll get on fine.” 

“If you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to ask. And don’t mind Bartholomew back there. He’s just there for security. Like Jess said, can’t be too safe.” Bon said with a wide smile. “He’s the quiet sort though, so don’t get offended if he doesn’t respond to y’all.”

“Gotcha. Thanks again!” Ann said enthusiastically as their trio walked to the back of the wagon.

As they pulled back the canvas that covered the back, they saw boxes and crates piled high, likely their ride’s cargo. Nestled on top of it was what could only be Bartholomew. It wasn’t a person. It was a large black panther. Two tails swept from his hindquarters as he observed his new acquaintances intently. True to Bon’s word, he kept quiet and left them alone.

“How friendly is he?” Ann called back to the front of the wagon.

“Oh, friendly enough to people he knows. I’d probably not test y’all’s luck, though.” Bon called back. “He won’t hurt you, but give him his space.”

“Got it. Ready to go!” Annita called back.

As they settled in, the crack of the reins sounded. The oxen groaned, and the wagon lurched as they began to move. It wasn’t particularly fast, but they didn’t have to lug their gear around while walking. Spreading out their bedrolls together in the somewhat intimate space, the three companions made themselves as comfortable as they could. Kat wound up close to Annita while Bren was afforded some space for himself. Not much, but some.

“Oh, this is much better than walking,” Ann sighed as she casually wrapped an arm around Kat.

“Aye, an’ those oxen’ll make good time, too.” Kat said as she settled against Annita. “Seen their like. They’re strong an’ ‘ave endurance fer ages. Likely they’ll be movin’ all the way tae Graven Keep. Should cut this all down to a day and we’ll be at our destination in the mornin’.”

“I am looking forward to getting back to civilization,” Bren said wistfully. “A good, hot meal, a proper room with proper furnishings. I can stock back up on tea.”

“Yeah, and we can figure out better food for the next trip than these rations,” Ann replied. “They do their job but Gods, are they bland.”

“Aye, there’s other stuff we can get. Not tae mention equippin’ you fuzzbutt. Can’t have ye on the brink o’ death every time we get into a fight. Not just with Warped, mind, but with people too. Yer gonna draw a lot o’ attention once yer identity is out.”

“Ugh, I’d prefer it kept secret. Less hassle, but I get that it’s a big deal for the country and the churches.”

“It will not come with all downsides, remember,” Bren said as he pulled out a book. “Knowing who you are will open opportunities for the kingdom and the churches to sponsor you. It will be up to you how much you are willing to take. However, I suggest utilizing them to increase your odds of success in this quest we’ve found ourselves on.”

“You’re right, as usual. I just get an icky feeling imposing on other people for who I am, not what I’ve done. I didn’t really earn any of this. I’ll most likely be given it all because of who I happen to be. Feels wrong.”

“Then…” Kat said, laying her head on Annita’s shoulder, “how about this? Ye’ve already helped with a Seed, yeah? We’re reportin’ a Guardian was slain. Once we get tae Korvas, whenever the Hells tha’ is, we can report the rest. It’s a boon tae the kingdom, it’s a service tae the world and the Gods, an’ we can collect the letters if Gods keep droppin’ ‘em off fer us. Bren an’ I’ll be plenty credible witnesses.”

“That… yeah, that does make me feel a bit better about it.” Annita sighed.

“Good.” Kat huffed. “Can’t have tha’ pretty face all wrinkly with worry.”

“Oh shut it, long ears.” Ann retorted. 

“Only if ya make me.” Kat teased further.

“If you two are going to get frisky, maybe we can ask for a halt and let you wander off to handle things?” Bren interjected, killing the back and forth.

“Ye killjoy,” Kat pouted.

“Excuse me for not wanting to watch my, for all intents and purposes, sister get all handsy with her new girlfriend.”

“Girl… wha’?” Annita sputtered. “Nothin’s been made official.”

“Aye! Just helpin’ each other out. That’s all.” Kat confirmed, despite the blush quickly heating up her cheeks.

Bren didn’t bother responding. The raised eyebrow was enough to tell them he didn’t buy that for a moment.

“So, uh, yeah. I guess we’ll do that later. Libido is getting up there. Still unsure about letting it hit that cap,” Ann said, a hand scratching behind her ear.

“Fer now, let’s uh, get some rest? I dunnae. It’s been a long few days.” Kat was almost as red as she could be, all the way to the tips of her long ears.

“Agreed.”

Bren returned to his book, while Kat and Ann spent a while laying there, close to each other. Neither of them would admit it but Ann could feel her cock stretching at her underwear and she could hear Kat’s breathing. The woman was desperately aroused, and trying to hide it. Both of them knew that Bren would catch anything they tried, even if they attempted to be subtle, and respected his request to keep their intimacy away from him.

Instead, they just enjoyed the closeness. Their hands gently exploring the other, feeling muscles and skin. It was nice, just getting to know someone else’s body. Even keeping things chaste, Annita appreciated how strong Kat’s arms and shoulders were. She was built incredibly solid, with a thin layer of skin and fat smoothing out her definition. She’d seen some of it in action though, and when Kat was straining that softness disappeared. She’d love to see some of that strain in the bedroom.

Turning her thoughts from future plans, she spent time running her hands over Kat’s braided hair, and through the unbraided portions as well. It was silky smooth, wavy, and lovely to run her fingers through. Gently, she stroked the top of the woman’s head. Kat leaned into the touch, happily basking in the attention.

Kat’s hand wasn’t idle either. She’d roamed up Annita’s back, feeling along the strip of medium length fur that ran down her spine. It was an entirely new sensation, but felt as good as having her head scratched. A soft sigh escaped her as she felt Kat’s fingers trace idle patterns through the strands. After a short while, her hand worked further up, into Annita’s grey mane and massaging the back of her head. Ann melted into the other woman, body going limp as her scalp was massaged. It wasn’t voluntary, it just felt so good she couldn’t help it. A finger accidentally brushed one of her ears and a moan rose from her lips unbidden. Kat looked up at her in surprise, then made an effort to focus on her ears. Ann’s tail twitched madly in appreciation of the attention.

Time drifted on, and the sun began to set. Shadows crept as the light retreated. The oxen continued their rhythmic plodding as they made their way ever onward. Bon and Jessamy were having a quiet conversation on the driver’s seat, their voices muffled by the walls of crates. Bren had dozed off as well, exhausted from their time walking and fighting, his book having slipped from his hands. Bartholomew, true to every cat Ann had known, had slipped down from the stack of crates and curled up next to Bren, choosing the one who’d paid him the least mind to get friendly with.

“Hey, Kat. I think it’s about time I handle things.” Annita whispered. They hadn’t moved much from earlier, still intertwined comfortably.

“Mmm? Ah, yeah. Want some help tonight or just do it yerself?” Kat asked, drowsiness muffling her speech as much as Annita’s shoulder was.

“Up to you. I’d appreciate it, though.”

“All right, let me wake up a min’. Go tell the drivers. Meet you at the back.”

With that, Annita extracted herself from Kat’s arms and slipped out the canvas flaps of the wagon’s cover. Quickly, she made her way around to the front.

“Hey Bon, Jessamy. Kat and I need to take a minute to relieve ourselves. Would you mind stopping for a few?” Annita asked as she kept pace with the cart.

“Truly? Ah, sure, sounds fine. Oxen could use a short break too. Get yourselves handled an’ well be right here for ya.” Bon said quietly. “Barty back there keepin’ to himself?”

“He was. Now he’s curled up next to Bren.” Ann informed them as the oxen slowed to a stop.

“Aw, good for him. All right, off you hop. We don’t want to pause too long, so be quick, if you could.”

“Thanks, be right back,” Annita said quietly as she hurried back to the rear of the wagon.

“All good to go,” Ann whispered as she peeked back into the wagon. Kat had pulled a blanket up over Bren and folded his book back into his lap. She nodded and slipped out of the space, one of Bartholomew’s eyes opening to track her lazily. “But they said we should be quick.”

“Think that’ll be a problem, lass?” Kat teased.

“I don’t think so, not with you.” Ann shot back as they walked deeper into the treeline.

“Aww, gonna let it all end so quick? Gonna hurt a girl’s feelin’s.” Kat egged her on.

“You and that mouth. You sound better when you’re moaning.” Ann said as she suddenly grabbed Kat’s shoulder, spun her and pinned her back against a tree. In the same motion, she sealed her lips over Kat’s, feeling the other woman yelp in surprise before a low moan vibrated her tongue. “Yeah, like that.”

“Feckin cheater.” Kat panted from the surprise kiss. “C’mere.” She launched herself back into Ann’s lips as she kissed back madly. “Gods, your lips taste amazin’. Never get tired o’ it.” 

Hands were moving everywhere, under shirts, loosening bindings, freeing their bodies slowly as they enjoyed the rapturous kiss. Their tongues wrestled fiercely as they devoured each other. Breaths came quickly in the small breaks between lip locks.

“Gotta… be… quick, remember?” Kat panted as she broke their latest kiss.

“I know. Gods, I know. I can’t wait to take my time with you.” Ann hissed as she brought her hands down to free her cock from her kilt and underwear.

“Neither of us’ll be walkin’ straight the next day, darlin’.” Kat purred. Eleven inches of girlcock slapped into Kat’s thigh, eliciting a gasp from the woman. She immediately took it in her left hand, stroking its turgid length firmly. “Imagine what ye’ll do tae me. What this’ll have me doin’ tae ye. Think about all this inside me snatch, poundin’ intae me.” As she spoke, her grip tightened and her pace quickened.

“Bodies movin, muscles slidin’ o’er each other. Me in yer arms moanin me lungs out. The feelin of yer body movin. Don’t it excite ye? Ann?”

At her name, Ann’s breath quickened and her cock pulsed heavily in Kat’s hand.

“Hmm, ye seemed tae like that. Like me callin yer name Ann?” 

Another pulse, and a moan this time. 

“I’m gonna have so much fun with ye, Ann. That’s a promise. Me ‘n’ you are gonna spend a lot o’ time gettin’ tae know each other. Inside an’ out.”

“Don’t think you’ll have all the fun,” Ann grunted back, suddenly thrusting into Kat’s hand, drawing a wide grin from the Alf. “You, Kat, are going to be mine for a whole night at least.”

“Oh tell me more, ya feckin’ stud.” Kat panted.

“By the time I’m done with you, I don’t want you to be able to walk. Gods, I don’t want you to be able to talk. I just want both of us to melt into a puddle of cum, sweat, and each other. I’m never leaving once I’m inside you, got it? You’ll take all of me.”

“Feck yeah I will,” Kat breathed shakily, her hands speeding up as Ann’s hips matched her pace. “Pin me down an’ take me, Ann. Feck me intae the bed like an animal until I flip ye an’ return the favor.”

“Fuck, yes. Oh Gods, I’m close Kat.” Annita cried as she braced herself on the tree over Kat.

“Gonna cum fer me, Ann? Gonna paint this tree white with what ye’ll be fillin’ me with later? C’mon lassy. Just imagine, imagine me hand is me cunt.” Kat paused for a breath, straightening so her lips were close to Ann’s Lupine ears. “Fill me.”

Annita lost herself. One, two, three more thrusts into Kat’s grip and she came hard. Cum jetted out against the trunk of the tree, splashing both over Kat’s hip and onto the snow below them. Without her input, her claws extended and dug deep grooves into the tree as she held on for dear life. Kat never let up her stroking as she rested her head on Annita’s shoulder, continuing to milk the mad Lupine for all she was worth. 

Jet after jet hit the wood, before Kat turned the flagging stream to jet against her stomach, locking eyes with Ann as she did. The effect only redoubled Annita’s emissions, a large burst covering Kat’s nethers.

When the torrent finally stopped, Ann slumped against the tree, elbows hitting besides Kat’s ears. The woman leaned in and kissed her gently. “’At’s my girl.” To drive home the lewdness of what they’d just done, she reached down and scooped a portion of the cum covering her and licked it off her palm. A shudder ran through her body as she closed her eyes, savoring the taste.

“So fucking hot,” Ann panted as she struggled to recover.

“Back atcha,” Kat laughed. “Now, as much as I’d love fer ya tae return the favor here, we were told tae be quick. Let’s get cleaned up.”

Before Kat could move, Annita held her still while she sank to her knees. The height difference meant she was facing the woman’s upper stomach, but she bent down and began lapping up the mess she made, licking quickly as she could. Kat gasped, but didn’t stop her. Instead, hands ran through her wild hair and encouraged her to finish faster.

Once she finished her task, Ann stood and kissed Kat again, feeling the other woman draw close once more. “Let’s get dressed.”

“Aye, we should.”

Quickly they gathered their scattered clothes and left the cum soaked tree behind.

A couple of minutes later, they returned to the wagon, right where they’d left it. Bon and Jessamy were standing off to the side of the oxen, seemingly checking on them.

“Hey, we’re back. Sorry for the delay!” Annita called out.

“Oh, it’s no bother. Just checkin’ on ol’ Rutherford here,” Jessamy said. “He’s been gettin’ a little slower these days. He’s still got a couple of years in him, but soon enough he’ll be out to pasture.”

“You two take care of everything you need?” Bon asked.

“Aye. We’ll pop back in the wagon and grab a wink o’ shuteye.” Kat replied.

“Sleep tight y’all. We’ll let you know if there’s anything coming up.” Bo called back as the two women re-entered the covered interior.

Bren and Bartholomew were exactly where they’d left them. The large panther raised his head at the movement, but laid his head back down on Bren’s lap when he recognized them.

As quietly as they could, Kat and Annita settled back onto their makeshift mattress and drew close to each other. Kat laid her head gently on Annita’s shoulder and let out a long yawn.

“Big day tomorrow. Let’s get some rest,” the sleepy Alfhindur said.

“Yeah, see you tomorrow. Can’t wait.” Ann replied softly.

“Mhm, tomorrow.”

They both drifted off in each other’s arms.

Chapter Text

It was midday the next day before Bon called back to the trio riding in the wagon. Stretching, they all exited the still trundling wagon and jogged to catch up with the driver’s seat.

“Almost there dearies. Should be over this next rise. Get yourselves a look. I love approachin’ the Keep from here,” the Inlon said happily.

She was right; the view was amazing. Over the next ridge, they saw the city and its remaining lands spread out below them. It was miles and miles wide. Annita struggled to get a proper scale for the city. A black stone wall surrounded the outskirts. From their vantage point, several districts could be seen, all made from wood and the same dark stone as the walls. It gave the city a bleak, dark appearance against the brilliant snow that surrounded it. Nearer the center of the Keep, the buildings of commoners faded into industry. Warehouses and large workshops were visible even at this distance, their smoke billowing into the air as their wares were crafted. 

Past these was the Keep itself. A large, black castle set upon the hill at the center of the sprawl. Its walls were, of course, black stone, but capped with white crenelations and towers. Eight of these towers surrounded a central building with a steepled roof that reminded Annita of a church. She couldn’t see much else from this distance.

Despite the imposing visage of the city, it seemed active, with a good amount of people coming and going from several gates in the walls. To the west, Annita spied the telltale tracks of the train she’d been told about, though it did not seem to be present at the moment.

“Welcome tae Graven Keep,” Kat said, clapping Annita on the back. “Center of martial might in the Korvan Kingdom. It’s a rough and tumble place, but it’s got heart. Let’s get ourselves movin’! Thanks fer the ride you two. Been an absolute pleasure.”

“Y’all stay safe now, ya hear?” grunted Jessamy. “Eas guide you on your travels.”

“And to you as well,” returned Bren. “Let us gather our things and be off.”

A short time later, the trio was walking ahead of the wagon; they reached the line of other travelers waiting to be cleared for entry. It was long and appeared like it’d take the better part of the day to get through.

Now much closer to the walls, Annita saw why the city had its name. First off, the walls were massive. Each easily a hundred feet high and purely carved from black stone. Carved being the operative word here, since each wall was inlaid with intricate patterns. Each section had a different pattern, and all were seemingly ancient. Their weathered faces polished by the seasons. Each shimmered with an illusion that she could only guess was magic of some kind. Annita decided to ask Bren more about that later.

“C’mon, we’re not hitched to a wagon. We can go through the other line.” Kat beckoned Ann and Bren to follow. They waved to Bon and Jessamy as they headed to the much smaller line of travelers on foot. At the gate, a guard stopped them.

“Halt,” he said with a bored voice. “Name, citizen badge, and purpose in visiting Graven Keep.”

“Katlyn Farragher. Here tae check in with the General about some confidential news and tae report to the Mercenary branch.”

The guard stiffened immediately at her name. “Apologies Your Majesty!” He cried out, saluting. 

Eyes turned to them from all angles at his proclamation. Whispers rippled through the crowd as the other travelers came to the realization of who was at the checkpoint.

“Gods damnit,” Kat groaned. “Wish ye’d kept it down, but that’s that. Anythin’ else?”

“No, Your Majesty. I’ll just need to verify your companions,” the guard stated stiffly. The poor man was practically shaking in his boots.

“Bren Hedera,” Bren introduced himself. “Accompanying Katlyn in her business in the capacity of healer.”

“Understood. Welcome, Lord Hedera.” Bren was ushered past quickly without further questions. “And you ma’am?”

“Annita Kronforst. I guess I’m with Kat as well. Here to register at the Mercenary headquarters. Guess we’ll see after that?” Ann said awkwardly, glancing at Kat, who gave her a quick thumbs up.

“Understood, my Lady,” the guard continued. He checked her badge, noted the lack of heraldry on the opposite side, and handed it back to her. She was then similarly ushered through to where Kat and Bren were waiting.

“But, I’m not a… oh nevermind,” Annita sighed.

“Now ye see why I don’t like talkin’ about who I am all the time,” Kat grumbled as she looked around at their growing crowd of observers. They kept their distance, but it was clear they were the center of attention. “Feck, not gonna get out o’ this easy. Ann, sorry, but I hope ye’re ready tae be in the spotlight. Let’s head tae the Merc’s first, get our report an’ some rooms reserved, then head up tae the General. She’ll be aware o’ us by the time we’re done. If she ain’t already.”

Their walk was obstructed just from the press of people as the city learned of Kat’s arrival. People chattered ceaselessly as they watched their progress toward the Merc branch. Along with the people on the ground, there were kids and several more enterprising individuals that skipped across the flat roofs of the city. It was because of them Annita noticed that the roofs were used as further dwelling space for the inhabitants. With various items and several platforms connecting them, it was easy for the citizenry to track them from above. The streets were thankfully wide, so there wasn’t travel overhead, but the grid-based setup of the residential area afforded ample alleyways between the main roads.

The buildings themselves were well kept. All made of the same black stone as the walls, they appeared to be sturdy structures. Most were single storied, but several had two. Each consistently had a piece of signage embedded into the front of the building, indicating the building’s number and resident. True to its mentioned rough nature, not much was around in the way of decoration. Some enterprising people had taken to painting the exteriors of their homes, and Kat spied one which had inlaid veins of wood that spidered across the surface. It was a unique take to modify a utilitarian design. 

The attention wasn’t all on Kat, either. Annita felt eyes boring into her. Several men and women looking at her with keen interest. It made her fur bristle. She wasn’t ready for this, but here she was. Most of the attention she noticed was from other Vulhardrin. She saw a wide variety of ears, eyes, tails, scales, fur and other assortments. True to how Kat had described them, they stuck to one or two parts of their bestial kin. At one point she thought she even saw a woman with a snake tail instead of legs.

 The idle thought of whether that counted as one or two body parts entered her mind, but was chased away as she saw one of the variances caused by the Warp on the people. A large man stood above the rest of the crowd. A Thrundol, judging by his lanky limbs and long tusks, but instead of the usual two arms he had three. Two were where they normally were, and an extra was sprouting from his left side. It looked fully functional from the quick glimpse that Ann had caught. Looking closer, she noticed other oddities in those surrounding her. An extra eye or two there, more fingers than is normal. It seemed that about a quarter of the populace had some kind of mutation they lived with.

It took the better part of an hour to get from the gate to the Mercenary branch. Kat was waylaid more than once with greetings from several people Annita assumed to be Noble because of their demeanor towards the Princess. Without fail, Kat brusquely greeted them and moved on. They attempted to keep conversation with her, but she ignored them.

Bren kept tight to her side, and Annita followed suit. “Gonna have tae wear a fuckin’ mask around ‘ere now.” Ann heard Kat grumble at one point over the roar of the crowds.

The Mercenary’s branch was a large building, and one of the few buildings with a large amount of wood used in its construction. Oak lined its corners, with the usual black stone forming the walls of the first floor. Several windows with diamond patterned glass panes were spread out to provide light to the first floor, and several more could be seen in the wooden walls of the second to fourth floor. The roof was steepled, with a large sign hanging off the front of the roof, a shield and two axes emblazoned upon it. Heavy doors were set into the stone for the front of the building, flanked by lanterns and two guards.

As the trio approached, the guards stationed moved out and began to clear a path for them. Once inside, the noise died out. Annita was met with a familiar lodge looking entryway. The ceiling was high and crossed with several large logs that provided structural support for the floors above. Hanging from these beams were several chandeliers with candles burning brightly, giving the place a warm glow. Trophies scattered the far wall. Several skulls with strange antlers, hides of beasts, claws, and other things Annita couldn’t recognize. Below the assortment was a long desk. 

The right-hand portion was partitioned off into several booths attended to by secretaries of some sort. The left half was a bar serving drinks and food to the patrons of the establishment. A smattering of tables was scattered around the open space, comprising both round tables, longer bench tables, and several smaller square tables. Rugs covered the floor in a patchwork quilt of various colors. Several other mercenaries were loitering in the area, drinking and talking amongst themselves. 

“Ah, finally here. Bren, let’s go get the report done. C’mon Ann.” Kat beckoned as she headed to the receptionist section.

“Greetings, and welcome to Graven Keep’s Mercenary organization. Are you already registered with us?” the receptionist, a mousy woman with long black hair, greeted them as they approached the counter.

“Yes,” Bren replied. “Bren Hedera and Katlyn Farragher. We’re here to report several Warped slain as well as a Seed Guardian.”

The woman’s eyebrows went up at Kat’s name, but she remained a consummate professional and moved on. “Understood. Please take this form and fill out the details of your claims. Use the section on the second page to describe the size and location of the Seed you encountered, the type of terrain contained within, and any dangers expeditionary crews may expect. Once complete, I will review the information and provide compensation. Is there anything else I might assist with?”

“Aye,” Kat stepped in. “Gonna need two rooms. Preferably with thick walls if ye can. Not sure how long we’ll be, but we’ll pay a week out fer now.”

“As you wish, Your Mag-” the receptionist was cut off by Kat clamping a hand over her mouth, her eyes widening at the quick movement.

“None o’ that shite now. Call me Kat, ma’am, or whatever else ye like. I don’t want the attention here as well as in the streets. Ya ken?” She released the woman, revealing her red cheeks.

“Of course, Your, er, I mean, ma’am.” Annita couldn’t help but think the way she stumbled over her words, the brief break in the professionalism, was adorable. “Two rooms. Will that be three beds?”

“Hrm, aye, three beds. Two to one room, one tae the second.”

“Very well. You will be on the third floor, end of the hallway. That will be five silver a piece, per room, however for such distinguished guests, the rate will be cut to two per room. Please be sure to let us know if you have any needs during your stay. Once again, welcome to Graven Keep.” The woman stood from her chair and bowed as Bren took the paperwork, and the trio made their way to a table.

Bren laid out the forms required to report their adventures and got to work on the main report of the Seed. He handed Kat a couple of other forms for the Twinwolves and Snowcat they’d fought. “Here’s some coin, Ann. Be a doll an’ grab us some drinks an’ grub? Whatever the special is should be fine.”

“Oh, uh, ok?” Annita asked as she took the silver offered by Kat. She headed over to the bar and was greeted by a tall, well-built human with a dark moustache at the counter. Despite his height she still had to look down to meet his eyes. “What can I get you for, friend?” he asked cheerfully.

“Um, actually, I’m not entirely sure. What do you have to drink?” Ann asked.

“All sorts of things. We’ve got water, various wines, ales, fruit juices, liquors. Depends on how you want to end up in an hour.” A glint shone in his blue eyes as he spoke.

“Definitely still have a lot to do today, so I’ll go with three ales, and three of whatever the special is today.” Ann decided.

“Comin’ right up. Hey Jer! Three of the special!” the barkeep yelled back into a door behind him. “So, you new here?” he asked as he grabbed three flagons from under the counter and began to pour from a keg behind him.

“That obvious?”

“With you gawking around the room like you were? Yeah. That, and I’ve never seen a Vulhardrin quite like you. You kinda stand out for more than your height.” He chuckled as he set down the first flagon and started the second.

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m one of a kind. Still having to adjust to that a bit,” Ann sighed as she leaned on the counter.

“Being different can be hard. You’ve gotten a pretty good lot from the looks of it, though. Just hang in there. People’ll get used to you soon enough. At least you’re not like one of my friends. He has a literal third leg.” He set down the second mug and started on the third. “Poor bastard has to pay for custom work whenever he needs new pants.”

That got a chuckle out of Annita. “Sorry for laughing. Sounds rough.”

“Nah, he’s always making fun of it. He’d be glad you found it funny. Name’s Ron, by the way.”

“Annita,” she returned as Ron set down the last drink.

“Well, pleasure meeting you. You staying here while you’re in the city?”

“Yup, not sure how long we’ll be here, though.”

“That’s not an unusual story around here,” Ron said. “People come and go all the time. Well, that’s your drinks. Jane will bring the food out when it’s ready. That’ll be eight copper.”

Annita put down the silver, which Ron whisked away and quickly returned two copper.

“Do you all take tips?” Annita asked.

“Tips? Not sure of the meaning, to be honest,” Ron said, with his head cocked to the side.

“Uh, gratuity? Extra money for service? Like, if you received excellent service, you give the waiter a little extra?”

“Oh, I’ve got you. No, not here. There are establishments that encourage as much, but not here.”

“Good to know. Thanks, and have a good one!” Annita called as she gathered the mugs and returned to the table.

Bren was still writing, his quill scratching feverishly over the parchment. Kat, meanwhile, was buried in her own papers, though hers were more tedious.

Annita set the flagons down next to each of them, taking her own seat. “Can I see one of those?” she asked as she tried to get comfortable on the normal sized chair which was now too small for her.

“Oh, thanks. Yes, here. This one is complete.” Bren said as he handed her a filled out form.

The thing was fairly straightforward. It was a standard form, which indicated either someone was very good at copying, had a Path that helped with that, or they’d figured out the printing press. It started with some identifying information. The name, the member number for the Mercenary Association, date, and additional claimants. Below were fields to describe the Warped killed, behavior, the approximate area it was slain, and details on the disposal of the remains. At the bottom was a section for a signature as well as a stamp from the Association, confirming the document’s validity.

The date jumped out at Ann. “Hey, so it’s the year 583 F.R.? What’s the F.R. stand for?”

“Farragher’s Reign,” Kat explained. “Since the royal family can have a couple different branches o’ names, generally it goes by the name held by the current ruler. Ma, grandpa, an’ his ma ‘ave been around fer a bit. If some other family comes through, an’ takes over by coup or some other means, the date starts over. Before me great grandma, it was a Bultrong family that didn’t ‘ave an heir. The old king had a likin’ fer great grandma, an’ named ‘er the next ruler.”

“Gotcha. Inheritance system is fully online.” Ann mumbled as she read through the details of the Twinwolf encounter, as written by Kat.

“Online?” Bren perked up from his writing at the odd word.

“Oh, uh, modern word. Actually, I guess it’s ancient, isn’t it? Anyway, in this context, it means running, or in operation. Should I call my language something? I’m not going to get the hang of changing how I speak that quickly.”

“Eh, just play dumb. Or don’t acknowledge questions. Easiest to ignore ‘em.” Kat said as she took a drink. “It’s how I handle the politicking bastards.”

“Yeah, saw that on the street.” Ann chuckled.

They spent some time there while Kat and Bren filled out the paperwork. After some time, their meal was delivered by an adorable waitress. A shorter Alfhindurn, with blonde hair tied back in a ponytail. She wore a white apron over a brown working dress that didn’t do anything to hide her prodigious bust. She set the three plates down, looked around the table, blushed when she caught Annita’s gaze, and scurried off. It was a rustic fare. A meat pie to each of them, steaming hot with a crispy crust. It came on a lipped plate, so when Annita cut into it, the gravy that spilled out was caught. Digging in, Ann’s mouth was filled with savory delight as the meat and what she assumed was potatoes filled her mouth. Kat and Bren took the time to eat while finishing up their work and quickly they were sitting around the table with full bellies and a completed stack of papers.

“I will go hand this in. Why don’t you two go get our things into our rooms, and meet me back down here?” Bren advised.

“Sure thing. See ya in a few.” Kat waved him off. She groaned as she stood, hoisted her pack and weapons up, then took Bren’s pack as well.

Annita and Kat made their way up to the third floor and got to the end rooms of the hallway.

“Wait, we didn’t get a key. How do we?” Annita trailed off as Kat held her badge up to the door. A soft glow emanated, and the door swung open. Kat looked back with a smug grin.

“Keeps it simple. They took the readin’s downstairs. Guess I forgot tae tell ye that these have a small, unique magical signature embedded. Helps for shite like this.”

“Magical RFID chips. Huh.” Ann said under her breath as she followed Kat in.

The room was large, easily fitting the two decent sized beds, their side tables, an armoire, a table with some chairs surrounding it, footlockers, and a door that led to a washroom. Off to the side, there was a vanity for female guests who might need it as well. The windows were larger than Annita had expected. Not floor to ceiling, but nearing it. She pulled the heavy curtains back and took in their view of the city.

While she looked at the view, Kat had put down the burden she was carrying and had snuck up behind her. Feeling the strong arms wrapping around her sides, clasping in front of her, Ann’s heart quickened.

“Enjoyin’ the view?” Kat asked softly.

“Yeah, it’s gorgeous. Better with you here,” Ann admitted. At the words, she felt the arms around her squeeze a little tighter.

“Careful, might have me thinkin’ ye’ve caught feelin’s.” Kat teased as she lifted Ann in her strong grasp. Ann giggled and struggled futilely against Kat’s grip before Kat unceremoniously deposited her on one bed. 

Before Annita could reply, there was a knock at the door. Sighing, Kat backed off and left Annita blushing on the bed as she answered the door.

It was Bren, who entered casually once the door opened. “Sorry to interrupt, but the General has summoned us to a meeting. She would like to speak with us before the day is out.”

“Argh! Fine. Bastard can’t wait one night? Feckin, sure,” Kat groused. “C’mon Ann. Ye’ll need tae be here fer this too. Guess ye’re gettin’ registered as a Merc tonight.

They headed downstairs, and a pair of guards with the symbol of Graven Keep on their heraldry greeted them. It was a simple symbol, a black castle on a plain background. Easily recognizable.

“If you’ll come with us, we will make sure this trip is expedient. A carriage is waiting for you outside.” One of the guards said with a sweeping bow. She straightened quickly and held the door open.

“I’m too tired for this,” Kat complained as she walked out the door.

Chapter Text

The ride to the Keep was a bumpy one. The cobbled streets were well worn, but there were holes, bumps, and dips that could easily be felt under a carriage’s wheels. The carriage seemed like it had some form of basic suspension, but the jostling was only mitigated, not eliminated. Not to mention the ceiling was a bit low for Ann’s new height.

Kat sat to one side with Annita, while Bren sat on the other. The fighter’s mood was dark as she sat in silence, looking out the window.

“You seemed to know the General,” Annita started. “Are they that bad a person?”

“Nae, not a bad person,” Kat replied. “Hells, any other day I’d love tae see ‘er. Just wanted tae relax fer the first night outta the wilderness. That an’ the general peoples knowin’ I’m here makes shite a bit more complicated. Woulda been nice tae just come an’ go unannounced besides this meetin’.”

“You really don’t like being noticed, do you?” Annita asked. It was a rhetorical question, but Kat answered, anyway.

“Yeah, I sure do. Makes me feel normal, ya know? People all treat me like this special feckin’ thing when I’m just born tae someone important. Not like you with yer important Goddess quest an’ shite like that. I fight, I get bloody, dirty, everythin’ else a normal person does. Wish they’d treat me like it. Ugh, never mind.”

“Kat, remember what I have said before,” Bren said calmly. “You need not worry about it, for it is your reality. Just try to do what you can to feel as you wish.”

“Aye, aye. Yer right, as usual. Just pisses me off when I get reminded o’ that reality,” Kat huffed.

“It will pass. Most likely the next day, we will be free to roam. It is not like the common man knows your face,” Bren said as he glanced out the window.

They were passing through the outer wall of the inner Keep. A large portcullis could be heard ratcheting up as the guards driving the carriage chatted with their colleagues. Once the loud clacking stopped, the carriage moved on.

It wasn’t long before guards ushered them from the carriage and through large wooden doors in the main keep’s southern face. Down an entryway decorated with arms and armor of centuries past. Numerous doors lead off to other wings of the buildings to the left and right, while a grand staircase rose and branched directly ahead of them. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, lighting the room along with torches on columns throughout.

The guards took them up the grand staircase and off to the right, down a hall, down around a corner, another hall, another corner, and at the end of this last hall, to a large set of doors.

“Through here. She is expecting you,” the female guard who’d greeted them directed.

Opening the doors for them, the trio was ushered into a large office. It was warmly lit, with more candles strewn throughout, and a couple of glowing stones in sconces along the walls. The left wall was comprised entirely of dark wooden shelves. They were filled with books and other trinkets. The right wall was lined with cases containing weapons, pieces of armor, a trophy or two, and several larger books or tomes. A rectangular table dominated the center of the room, a map spread across its surface. Figurines were arrayed upon it, with several dome shapes scattered here and there. At the far end sat a woman behind a large desk, a mountain of papers to her left, and another to her right, back-lit by a window. She looked up at the sound of their arrival.

“Ah, Katlyn. Good to see you! Sorry to take you away so soon, but the commotion at the gate required it. You look healthy, a bit more muscle on you?” General Polaris rose from behind her desk. She was tall, even to Annita. Lanky arms and legs indicating she was a Thrundol. Despite her long arms and legs, she was well proportioned with a thick body full of muscle. Her black, straight hair fell across her shoulders in an inky waterfall over her uniform. Her face was comely, a brownish red, sporting a distinctly hooked nose accentuated her angled cheeks and protruding tusks. Bright eyes fell upon Annita as she stared.

“Good to see you too, General,” Kat responded stiffly. 

“Ah, cut the shit, kid. No one’s gonna hear you in here,” General Polaris chided Kat.

“Fine, fine. How’ve ya been Candaleria? Office work treatin’ ya right?” Kat sighed, physically relaxing for the first time since they left the Mercenary building.

“No, frankly, it’s not. I’m bored to tears. Miss being out there on the front lines, guarding people and fighting monsters. I guess this is what you get for being too good at it.” The general let out a derisive snort and turned to Bren.

“And how have you been, bean sprout? Twenty six and you somehow look skinnier than last time we met. Guess that’s a healer for you, though. Keeping safe? Keeping Kat safe?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Bren returned with a broad smile. “I can not say if I have lost weight, though the rigors of travel can take their toll. It is a pleasure to see you again.”

Candaleria nodded, smiling back, and turned to Annita.

“Who’s this?” Candaleria gestured to Annita. “Don’t remember you having her as a friend the last time you passed through. Interesting Vulhardrin. There’s a lot of the beast in you, girl.”

“This is Annita. We found ‘er out east, patrollin’ the wilderness. Honestly, we needed to talk to ye about her, so this meetin’ was gonna happen, anyway.” Kat gestured Annita forward.

“Annita Kronforst. I, uh. I guess I’m pretty new here.” Annita introduced herself with a slight bow. “Pleasure to meet you, General Polaris.”

“Oh Gods, you picked up another Bren?” the General chuckled. “Relax kid. You’re not one of my soldiers. Unless there’s an emergency or you mean harm to one of ours, you’re a citizen and we can just talk.”

“Thanks,” Annita said as she shuffled nervously.

“C’mon, grab a chair and sit. I can tell this is going to be an interesting story if Kat’s all cagey about it.”

They gathered chairs and formed an informal circle beside the large table. The General pulled a flagon out from a side table, pouring them each a cup of wine.

“All right, get to it.” Candaleria grunted as she sat down. “I don’t stand on propriety with you lot, but I am busy and that stack of paper frustratingly has my name on it, or needs to have my name on it.”

“Well. I guess the best place to begin would be finding Annita,” Bren began. He told the General the story of how they had gotten to the building they’d found Annita in. When describing their adventures together, he thankfully left out the lewder parts he’d either suspected or witnessed.

“All right, but that doesn’t tell me why you needed to talk to me specifically?” Candaleria leaned forward as she spoke, fixing Annita with a stare. “What’s the secret here? You’re dancing around something and I don’t like it. Especially from you, Bren.”

“Candaleria,” Kat said flatly, “the next bits here aren’t tae leave this room. Need ye to swear ta secrecy. I guess ye can tell me ma, but that’s about it.”

The General’s eyes narrowed and a frown crossed her face, pushing against her tusks. “If it’s that serious, then you have my word as General of your kingdom, Katlyn. Now, out with it.”

“Annita, you wanna take this?” Kat asked, looking over at the Lupine.

“Yeah, sure. So, I guess we’ll start with something you picked up on. I guess I’m not a normal Vulhardrin.” Annita leaned back on her chair as she spoke. “Technically, my race is listed as Lupine (Warped). With parentheses around the Warped part. I guess that classifies me as some kind of subspecies? I’m not sure. Regardless, that is what I am.”

“Interesting. Since Captain Gwindon checked you out, I won’t ask you the same questions. That these two are with you would be credibility enough. That’s unusual, and potentially dangerous, but doesn’t seem world shattering to me,” Candaleria said as she pressed her lower face into her hands.

“No. I guess it isn’t. That’s just me. The bigger part is my Path, and who I got it from.” This got an eyebrow raise from the General, but she stayed quiet, waiting for Ann to continue. “My path is ‘Warrior of Orenous’, and since Kat seemed to freak out about it, I have a title as well, ‘Chosen of Orenous’. Not really sure what that means, but it sounds important.”

Candaleria sat there for a moment, before sucking in air between her teeth. “And she didn’t explain it to you.” A reproachful glance was shot Kat’s way. “Titles are rare. They only show up after someone’s achieved a magnificent feat or done something of significance. From what they’ve told me, you’ve done neither. Though your face, right now, is telling me that you know why you have it, correct?”

“Yeah. I do. This is the big part that needs to be a secret.” Annita paused, letting the gravity of the room settle in. “I’ve met Orenous. Talked to her, sat with her. She told me a lot of things, but the most important thing was her giving me a quest of sorts. She wants me to figure out what’s going on with the Seeds, and see if I can fix it. Best she could tell, something about me was different. Something related to the corruption of the Seeds that might help unravel whatever is going on.”

“Ah, yeah, there it is,” Candeleria said as she sat back. “That definitely qualifies as a secret worth swearing over. Anyone else know about this?”

All three of the others shook their heads.

“Good. Keep it that way for now. This is going to be relayed to the Queen directly. A week is the earliest I can make the trip. It’s going to cause chaos with the churches, no doubt. So, Chosen, what’s your plan for all of this?”

Annita shifted nervously in her seat. “That’s the thing. I don’t really have much of a plan right now. Orenous basically told me to wing it, and I’ve been doing the best I can with that. I don’t have much to go on, so for now I guess just exploring more Seeds would be the plan?”

“Figures,” Candaleria grunted. “Leave it to the Gods to be vague. Guess it’s not just a thing their priests do. Well, at least you know what you’re wanting to do. You have a good team here to support you as well.” At the compliment, Kat and Bren both grinned and shared a glance. “I do suggest you find someone good with magic, considering you don’t have one currently. I have a few people that might fit with your group. You’ve got a healer, a guardian, and a sort of rogue. You need a big hitter.”

“Aye,” Kat agreed. “Three front line tae two back line is generally the best groupin’. Was meanin’ tae scout out someone while I was here.”

“Any preferences?” Candalera asked.

“Could we get back tae ya on tha’? Think we need tae talk about that first, and we’ve literally just gotten off the road.”

“Of course. Sorry, got lost in the weeds here. You three must be exhausted and I pulled you right out to meet me. Before you go, just want to let you know that I will be posting a guard on you all. Annita, specifically, since she’s a fairly low level for now and her status makes her safety a priority.”

“A babysitter? Really?” Annita scoffed.

“Yeah, a babysitter. They’ll be quiet and keep out of the way. You won’t be arguing this point, understood?” As she spoke, the General rose to her full height, head scraping the ceiling. “Or would you prefer I keep you under strict guard here in the Keep? For something like this, I can override even dear Katlyn here.”

Annita shrunk back as she felt the force of the words. “Ok, sure. That’s fine. I guess.”

“Good. Now, you all have rooms sorted out?” Candaleria asked, lowering herself into a more casual slouch. “If not, we have a couple rooms here you could spend the night in.”

“We do already have rooms reserved in the Mercenary Association,” Bren informed her.

“Speakin’ o’ which, that’s the other part o’ why we wanted tae talk to ye,” Kat interjected. “Need tae get Ann registered as an Affiliated Merc. Couldn’t go through the normal channels fer obvious reasons.”

Candelaria looked back at the pile of papers on her desk and sighed. “You just added a new sheet to the pile, but that’s fine. Merc paperwork is easy enough. I’ll get it all set up confidentially and get it filed. I’ll need to borrow your Badge, Annita. The guard I send in the morning will return it.”

“Oh, right, here.” Annita passed her wooden badge over to the Thrundol. The woman’s hand eclipsed her own as she took the disc.

“Well, that’s all the time I’ve got for you. Sorry to rush you out, but an army doesn’t run itself. It was good seeing you two.” Candelaria reached out and ruffled Kat and Bren’s hair. “And nice meeting you too, Annita. Now shoo. The guard can take you back in the carriage.”

With that, the General returned to her desk and sat heavily on her chair. A deep sigh escaped her lips before she picked up her quill and got back to work.

“So, you guys know each other WAY better than I thought you did.” Annita laughed as they settled back into the carriage.

“Yes, I guess Katlyn did give off the impression she was dreading this visit.” Bren said with a chuckle of his own.

“She trained me in how tae fight,” Kat explained. “She’s been around me family a good while, an’ we grew somewhat close. I’d mark it up tae friends, though can’t really be too friendly when she’s all business nowadays.”

“How long have you known her?” Annita asked, leaning in.

“I said childhood. So… thirty years, give or take?” She blushed, being pressed for the information.

“Longer than I’ve been alive. Wow.” Ann sighed, leaning back. “She seems nice enough, though. Except for when she gets all authoritative. I was about to curl up and die.”

“Imagine ‘er holdin’ a weapon, standin’ over ye after kickin’ yer ass tae the Hells an’ back. Then she starts tae lecture ye about how ye didn’t parry this right, yer footwork was sloppy, hold your shield up more. Love the beast, don’t get me wrong. Kinda a formative person in me life, but damn she could be scary.”

“Not to mention when she caught you slacking off,” Bren snickered. “I got a lot of practice healing sore muscles in those days.”

“Hell-beast made me run laps around the castle. Not just the grounds, nae, the entire feckin thing. Walls an’ all. At the tender age of twenty! Monster.” Kat huffed with a wry grin. “But she got me ready fer a fight. That’s for damn sure. Honestly, ye’d probably benefit from a few lessons with ‘er Ann. Yer skills help ya, but it doesn’t make up fer yer fundamentals bein’ shite.”

“After hearing all that, I’m not sure I want to.” Annita balked, ears flattening back.

“Oh, c’mon. Ye’ll survive. Bren’ll make sure of it. Wontcha?” Kat tapped Bren with her foot.

“Of course. I would not let a member of our team endure such distress unaided.” A wicked grin crossed his face for the first time. 

Annita had a really bad feeling about this. “Anyway!” She interjected. “Let’s move on. So, the Queen is going to hear about me?”

“Aye, that part was expected. No way in Hells she’d keep that from ‘er. At least she’ll be goin’ ‘erself. No chance o’ the secret gettin’ out before we’re ready fer it. Shit’s gonna be a mess, Ann. Yer gonna be the most influential religious individual in the Godsdamned world.”

“Your own personal Jesus,” Annita laughed.

“What?” Both bren and Kat looked at her, incredibly confused.

“Nothing. An old song from my hometown.” Annita explained, trying to hide her slip-up in case the guards driving were listening in.

“Right. So, regardless, it will be a massive event. We will need to coordinate with Her Majesty on when best to reveal the information.” Bren continued.

“The Hells is Ma gonna think about me hitchin’ up with a Chose - er - a person like ye?” Kat sighed.

“She wouldn’t approve?” Annita asked, suddenly concerned. If the Queen didn’t like her, and Kat was committed to her, that could get messy, even if it was a normal family.

“Eh, maybe? Depends on how ye two get on. The whole Vulhardrin thing shouldn’t be much o’ a problem. Ye bein’ a girl fer all intents an’ purposes shouldn’t either. Just worried about a personality clash,” Kat sighed, waving a hand through the air. “She’s strong willed. Yer gettin’ involved with ‘er eldest daughter. Probably gonna be a bit protective. Then there’s Da’. I honestly don’t expect you two to get along. Stick up his arse is puttin’ it mildly, that one. Yer way too much fun.” A twinkle sparked in her eyes as she gave Annita’s body an appreciative glance.

Blushing, Annita tried to change the subject again. “So, we’ve got a security detail on us?”

“Yes. It is standard procedure for persons of high importance when residing within city limits,” Bren explained. “They should not impose upon us overmuch.”

“Yeah, still not too thrilled about that. I guess I can’t really blame General Polaris after what we told her. She seems confident in you two. It’s just me that’s a weakling.” Annita sighed, ears flopping as she looked out the window. “Eventually I’ll get there. Just wish I could be more useful.”

“None of that,” Bren chided. “You have existed in this world for just over a week, and you’re already at level eight of your Path. And you have divine help to accelerate yourself, and us.”

Annita gave him a halfhearted thumbs up and rested against the wall of the carriage, watching the city pass by.

During their conversation, the sun began to set, and by the time they neared the Association it was getting dark. Lanterns sprung to life across the city, lighting the way for the denizens whose business wasn’t restricted by the light of day.

They were driven up to the doors of the wooden building and stepped out into the frosty night air, stretching their stiff limbs.

“All right!” Annita groaned. “Anything else to do tonight?”

“Feck no. I just wanna sleep.” Kat said with a yawn. “I’m exhausted. You look all perky though.”

“Yeah,” Annita responded, looking around excitedly. “It’s a new place and the first time I’ve been in a city like this.”

“Well, not much is gonna be happenin’ around these times. It’s mostly bars that’re open. Rest o’ the city is gettin’ ready tae turn in.”

“Damn, no night life at all?” Anni asked, a bit disappointed. She was sure in a world of magic something fun would be happening at all hours.

“Eh? Me bein’ who I am, wasn’t much time fer me tae explore things like tha’. Probably something to…” another yawn “explore when I’m not knackered. Maybe tomorrow? Been lookin’ forward tae some down time with ya.”

“Hey, we get our money tomorrow right? I can finally buy you that dinner.”

As the conversation turned flirty, Bren abruptly said his goodnight and went inside.

“I hope we’re not making him too uncomfortable,” Ann said, slightly worried at his reaction.

“Nae, we’re not. It’s just how he is around more intimate stuff. Private is the best word I have fer it. He’ll get used tae it an’ stick around more. Give ‘im some time.” Kat said as she leaned up against the outside of the Association. “Cause I doubt from tomorrow on we’re gonna be subtle.”

“I sure hope not, depending on circumstances,” Ann grinned, leaning next to Kat, staring up at the cloud-streaked sky. The moon lit the fluffy trails with silver light as they slowly made their way overhead. “Be nice to have a girlfriend again.”

“I can agree with tha’.” Kat smiled to herself. “Been a while fer me too. Lots’a fightin’ an’ bein’ out in the wilderness doesn’t really give ye much chance at datin’.”

“Try being asleep for five thousand years,” Annita laughed. “I think I have the whole world beat on a dry streak.”

“Not shit ye do,” Kat laughed back. “It’s a wonder ye’re not fallin’ all over yerself at the sight o’ me.”

“Now that’s a bit vain, isn’t it?” Ann asked, cocking an eyebrow at the Alf.

“Look at me. I remember the looks I got when ye first saw me. If I can get those looks from someone who looks like ye do, I’m sexy.” Kat laughed again, her upper body shaking with mirth as she tried to puff out her chest in a false bravado.

“Says the woman who was drooling over me just as much, but I’ve got an excuse. A Goddess given one.” Ann retorted.

“Aye, but that just makes me all the more impressive. All natural.” Another cheeky grin split her lips as she wave her hands over her curves. “But, fer real, I am tired. Gods I’m lookin’ forward tae tomorrow. Hope ye’ve been thinkin o’ ideas. I’ve got a few of my own.”

As she talked, she turned and lead Ann up the stairs to their room, the boards of the stairs creaking softly under their weight. They opened the door and undressed, down to their small clothes. Ann was topless, just in boxers while Kat had her simple bra and panties.

“I will apologize though,” Kat yawned again. “I’m exhausted, an’ I’m probably not gonna be up tae helpin’ ye tonight. At least not as intensely as normal.”

“That’s fine,” Ann reassured. “You’ve done a ton for me today, get some sleep. I’ll just handle it the old fashioned way.”

Kat flopped back on her bed, her hair and braids splaying out behind her. She stretched with another yawn. “An’ after tomorrow, can have a lot less self imposed restrictions.”

Annita felt her cock twitch with the implication. “Yeah, we can. Get some sleep, you sexy Alf. You’re going to need it for tomorrow.”

“You two, Ann. Don’t be up too long fantasizin’ about me.” Kat let out a deeper yawn that shook her body. “Night.”

“Good night.” Ann smiled at her friend as she drifted off. Once she heard the slow steady breaths of Kat’s sleep, she got up and handled her business in the washroom. Flashes of Kat’s body kept racing through her mind, the feeling of her skin, the strong muscles wrapping around her. It didn’t take much before she had finished.

Slipping under her sheets, she laid facing Kat, watching the woman sleep softly. She quickly dozed off herself, eagerly anticipating the day ahead.

Chapter Text

Morning broke to a loud trumpet in the distance, rallying the troops in the Keep for whatever morning exercises they had. Groaning, Annita rolled over. Dim light filtered through the cracks between the curtains that covered their large windows.

“Fuckin’ forgot about alarm clocks. Where’s the snooze button” Annita mumbled as she tried to muffle the noise with a pillow. After a minute or so, the music stopped, and she returned to blissful slumber for a short while.

The light entering the room was much brighter when she once more cracked her eyes open. She sat up slowly, her body slowly coming back under her control. She took a few minutes to just relax, stroking her tail as her brain slowly worked its way into functioning. 

Looking over, she saw Kat in her bed. She’d tossed in her sleep, as usual. Her hair was a mess, and there was a line of drool glistening from the corner of her mouth as she snored. The sight brought a sappy grin to Annita’s face. Something about how hard the woman slept just felt right. She didn’t leave much to moderation, she wore her heart on her sleeve. It was refreshing.

Annita stretched, standing and walking over to the washroom. It was fairly modern for what she expected. The plumbing all worked like normal. The bath was a wooden tub elevated from the floor. Water flowed in from a slot in the wall after pulling a cord that hung nearby. Crystals set into the floor of the tub heated it to a comfortable temperature and kept it there. From the looks of it, there was another pull cord in the floor to drain the tub as well.

Annita shuffled off her boxers and slipped into the water, feeling it soothe her body. Her eyes closed and she sank further until all but her head was submerged. Her tail swished under the water, the feeling strange as its motions were restricted by the heavier fur being restricted by the water.

“Who knew I’d have a hot bath in a place like this,” she sighed. It was going to be a big day. A long one, if her plans had anything to say about it, but hopefully good. 

She rested in the warm water, before reaching over to a bar of soap nearby and beginning to wash herself. She was unsurprisingly filthy after the days on the road. Blood and dirt washed out of her fur in surprising quantities, the water darkening quickly. She pulled the plug on the tub and resorted to cleaning herself under the running water before refilling the tub.

After a little bit, her ears twitched at the sound of movement in the other room. Soft footsteps approached and Kat quietly opened the door. She looked half dead, like she normally did when she woke up.

“Mrnin,” she mumbled as she stripped and moved toward the bath.

“Mornin. Sleep well?” Annita scooted to make room in the bath as Kat sleepily undid her braids. Once she did, her hair was left in long, intensely wavy locks.

“Like the dead. You?” Water splashed as Kat lowered herself opposite of Annita, a soft sigh escaping her as the warmth surrounded her.

“Really well, until the horns this morning.”

“Mmm, yeah. Bren complains about ‘em too. Never heard ‘em meself. Too early.” Kat yawned as she sunk  deeper into the water, until just her nose and the points of her ears were above the surface.

Ann smiled and sat there in silence, watching the tired Alf slowly wake up in the water. Thankfully the tub was large enough for the two of them to mostly fit. Their legs crossed, but otherwise no touching was necessary.

After a few minutes, Kat stretched, her wet skin glistening as her muscles flexed. “A mornin’ bath is amazin’. Forgot how nice this was.”

“Yeah. Haven’t had anything but snow baths since I showed up here,” Annita sighed. “Warmth is such a good change of pace.”

“Mmm, aye. Wash me back? I’ll get yers after.”

“Sure.” Annita moved closer as Kat turned away, taking the soap and running it across the relaxed muscles before her. “Got everything planned for today?”

“Sure do. Lots o’ stuff tae do here. Lookin’ forward tae it. Ye got any ideas o’ yer own?”

“A few. Less specific to where we are, since I’m not familiar, but ideas all the same.”

“Well, good. Can’t have a good relationship without both o’ us puttin’ in the effort,” Kat sighed as Annita finished up. “Yer turn scruffy. Turn around.”

Following her directions, Annita turned her back, feeling Kat’s fingers caress her skin and running through the strip of fur that ran down her spine. “You’re right, by the way. About the whole effort thing. I’m glad we agree on that. Have known a few people who didn’t see it like that. Their relationships didn’t last long.”

“Anyone close?” Kat asked as she lathered up Ann’s fur.

“No, not really. A couple family members dating, friends, that kind of thing. Though I guess that’s what ultimately ended my last relationship. She just wanted more from me than I could give while trying to do what I wanted, and we just grew apart because of it. It sucked when she finally ripped off the band-aid, but it needed to be done. Otherwise we’d both have been miserable.”

“Sorry, band-aid?”

“Bandage. We had little adhesive bandages with a cotton strip on them. They were nice for small cuts but the things stuck to your skin and hair like crazy. Tearing them off always hurt.”

“Can’t say I really understand, but alright. Sounds like ye were reluctant tae let that one end.”

“Yeah,” Annita slumped, ears folding forward. “I liked her a lot. I was hoping she’d wait and be there for me when I was ready to give her what she wanted. Had a plan and everything, but she just couldn’t. Small things add up, and it was just the right thing to do.”

“Aye. The right thing’s often hard. That’s enough dourness outta you though. C’mon, ye’re clean. An’ we’ve got a whole day tae us.”

“Yeah we do.” Ann sighed as she stood and turned around, accidentally giving Kat an eyeful of girlcock at face level.

“An’ I’ll be sayin a proper hello tae you tonight.” Kat giggled as she flicked Ann’s shaft.

“Tease. All right, let’s get dressed. Man, I should get some more clothes if we’re staying somewhere. I’ve got, what, two shirts and two kilts? Would be nice to have other options,” Ann said as she picked out her cleaner set of clothes.

“Tha’ was actually the first thing I wanted tae do with ye.” Kat said, pulling on her leather pants and loose linen shirt. “Can’t have a beauty like ye all dressed up in shambles.  That an’ we really do need tae get ye some proper armor. Ye’re loosin’ a lot o’ blood in these fights an’ it’d help Bren out.”

“Not to mention getting hurt just sucks,” Ann laughed.

“Aye, but I wasn’t gonna judge. Ye seemed really inta that first fight, an’ ye got the shit kicked outta ye.” Kat retorted, lacing up her boots.

“Pretty sure that was all adrenaline. I couldn’t feel anything until Bren healed me. Help with my shirt?” Ann turned, pulling her hair out of the way of her back. Kat moved over and laced her up.

They headed downstairs and met Bren sitting at the table. Exchanging some small talk they had breakfast in the Association. Eggs and bread were the thing on the menu right now, so it was a pretty bare bones meal. Once they finished up, they headed to one of the booths with the clerks. Giving their identification they were provided with a satchel of coin each. Three gold, twenty silver, and forty-two copper, each.

“Wow, this pays well, doesn’t it?” Ann said as she marveled at the gold coin.

“We did eradicate a Guardian,” Bren said as he checked his money. “Remember why that is so beneficial to the kingdom.”

“Oh, yeah, the whole resources thing. Still, that’s a lot.”

“Ye best be gettin’ used to it, girl. If our plan holds true, we’re gonna be seein’ paydays like this pretty regular.” Kat grinned as she deposited her money into a pouch already on her hip, handing the bag back to the clerk. “Ye got anythin’ tae do today Bren? Gonna be lonely without us?”

“Hardly. I plan on visiting the healers stationed in the Keep. My supplies are low after our expedition prior to finding Annita. A restock is in order. After that, I will likely be visiting the records. Some things you have told me, Annita, I would like to see if I can find records of them somewhere..”

“Cool! Let me know what you find,” Annita said earnestly. “Anything that survived this long has to be interesting.”

“I will. You two have a good time today. If I do not see you tonight, then shall we meet at breakfast tomorrow?”

“That’ll do just fine,” Kat grinned. “Don’ stay up fer us, though. Have a feelin’ it’s gonna be a late night.”

Bren rolled his eyes, a bit of colour touching his cheeks at the implication, before bidding them farewell and leaving the building.

As they stood and made for the door a figure bolted upright from a distant chair and made their way quickly to the pair. 

“Greetin’s,” the woman said in a somewhat British accent. “I’ve been assigned to your guard detail. Abeline Crannog. Master Sergeant Abeline Crannog.” She was hardly inconspicuous. A Thrundol like General Polaris, she had a good head of height on Annita. A pale green tint colored her skin with thick reddish hair done up in dreadlocks that ran down her back. Her tusks, while there, were small, barely pushing out of her lower lip. She wore the standard uniform of the military, though, and would not stand out otherwise. “Know I’m supposed to be keeping my distance, but felt it proper to introduce myself. Feels a mite strange to be watching over you without you knowing who I am.”

“Good tae meet ye, Master Sergeant. Now, if ye’ll excuse me, we’ve got a busy day ahead o’ us.”

“Of course. I’ll make myself scarce. You’ll barely notice me. Oh, and Annita, here’s your badge back.” With a nervous chuckle, Abeline handed Annita the wooden disk, then backed off and left them alone.

“Well, at least our babysitter isn’t that bad,” Annita sighed. “Kinda awkward, but she seems all right.”

“Aye. We’ll see if she can keep tae her word o’ stayin’ out o’ the way, though. Anyway, clothes are first. Let’s get movin’.” Kat grinned as she lead Annita out the door.

They made their way through the city, taking main roads toward the shopping district. It was snowing lightly, and the city felt quieter. As they got closer, the more banal residential buildings changed into more varied architecture. Shops were apparently exempt from the cubic building standards of the homes. Wood joined the black stone more frequently. Peaked roofs began to appear, with shingles and eaves. Balconies on second floors stretched over the road, some going so far as to bridge the two sides of the road.

Signs hung off several buildings, symbols painted and carved into wooden placards advertising the services provided. They passed a bakery with steaming bread displayed behind a window, a couple of butchers, cobblers, carpenters, blacksmiths, and several other craftsmen.

The people were also out in full force. They’d felt the crush of the attention of the city the day before, but now, without announcement as to who Kat was, they passed through the crowds unbothered. Indol ran underfoot while Bultrong barreled past. Humans and Alfhindur mingled with Thrundol. Once Ann felt the ground shake as a towering Mulsfar passed by, the crowds giving the giant a wide berth.

After asking around, they found a shop that specialized in Vulhardrin clothing. It was on the main thoroughfare, near a large fountain, with a female figure holding a sickle as the centerpiece. A bell rang overhead as Annita opened the door.

“Be with you in a moment!” came a call from the back of the building. The entrance was small. Not much was on display. What items were visible were mostly textile patterns. It was nothing like what Annita expected when she thought “clothes store”. A shuffling from the back proceeded the shopkeeper before he glided into the room through a curtain behind the counter.

He was a Reptilia, Annita recognized. The thick trunk of his tail allowing him a particular grace as he made his way to the center of the area. As he looked up to the pair, she saw his eyes were also slitted, like any other snake’s.

“Greetings, greetings. Welcome to Nolton’s textiles. I am Nolton, himself. We specialize in Vulhardrin clothing and work with custom orders, obviously. Might I presume that you are the one looking for a new wardrobe, my lady?” Nolton spoke with a nervous energy and his hands were never still while he spoke.

“Yup, that’s me. I’m kinda new here, so I’ll be in your hands for all of this,” Annita said with a kind smile.

Nolton rose on his tail until he matched her height. “Of course, of course. No need to worry. We will have you outfitted in the finest clothing before the day is out, my dear. A beauty like you deserves the best, I must say. What do you have in mind?”

“Honestly, I feel like simple is better, at least for me. Something that will stand up to the road would be good.”

“A traveler! Very well. It must be robust as well as fashionable. I insist on the fashionable. Any special considerations? Mutations from the Warp to consider, besides your obvious tail, paws, and ears?” He made the comment so casually, Annita had to assume this was a standard question for him.

“Uh, no tight pants? I’m… uh… male, down there.” Ann said with a blush.

“Understood, understood. I did not mean to make you uncomfortable. However, due to the uniqueness of everyone in this world, I must ask the troublesome questions. Will you follow me to the back? I will need to take your measurements. Not often I get a Vulhardrin with your anatomical specificities. Quite unique, I dare say. Oh, you have fur down your back? Does that trace the entirety of your spine? Oh, and your friend may join if it will make you feel more comfortable.”

Ann laughed as she and Kat were led back to the fitting room.

“Now, please remove your clothing. You may keep your undergarments on. However, if you are using a binding, I will ask you to remove it as well. Accurate measurements are the key to comfortable clothing, after all.” Nolton said as he slithered over to a set of drawers in a large cabinet, opening several, grabbing a measuring tape and a notepad.

Kat laughed to herself as she took a seat on a nearby stool and watched as Ann was fussed over by the Reptilia. He took extensive measurements of every part of Ann’s body, including her breasts, inner thighs, groin, and even the distance between and the size of her ears. Every time Annita was forced to contort herself slightly for his measurements, Kat gave her a supremely amused grin.

“Are you thinking of hats?” Ann asked him.

“Possibly. Are you? Having the measurements in case you are is useful. I will, of course, provide these for your further use as you travel.”

“Not at the moment, no,” Annita replied. “Hats never really went with anything I’ve worn.”

“A shame. I believe you would look absolutely dashing with a wide-brimmed hat. Cut-outs for your ears to the sides of the crown, to allow comfort. Yes, it would fit your intense features as well. If it is not in your taste, however, I will not push. Do consider it if you ever need formal wear.” Nolton said in a rapid fire manner that almost made Ann’s head spin. “Now, for your current needs. Would you prefer to remain in a kilt or would you like to mix things up? I assume pants would be the norm for someone on the road. Your friend here being a good example. Hers hug her form wonderfully, allow a free range of movement should you require exertion, appear to be a steady leather to resist damage when in combat. You all are used to violence, are you not? Regardless, yes, something tough. For the top, I’m thinking several tunics, patterns of snow in bright colors with dark greys to accentuate your hair and fur. We will also provide you with proper underwear, complementary as a binding will affect the fit. Yes, yes. This will work wonderfully. Any questions?”

Annita took a second to parse everything that had just been said while the man had wormed his way around her form, studying every inch of her. “I think I like the kilts, yeah. It keeps anatomical things simple. Two pairs of pants would also be good for variety, I guess? The tunics sound nice, but could we figure out something that doesn’t crush my fur, and also doesn’t need another person to put on?”

“Absolutely. An easy enough request. I believe that your clothes, well fitting enough, should mitigate any necessary adjustments. I’ll make sure it feels like a second skin. Now, colours. Any preferences? I do insist on the dark grey as the base. It would look wonderful on you.”

“Um, how about some earthier colors to go along with it? Greens and browns?” Annita suggested.

“Yes yes.” Nolton muttered, scribbling notes. “Anything more colourful? Not always that you need to be subdued.”

Ann laughed. “Not for now. Though if I do need something, I’ll let you know.”

“Fantastic! Well, I’ve got my work cut out for me. For a set of clothes and underwear to last you several days, with regular changes, taking into account you will be getting dirtier than the normal person that’ll be six of each coming to five silver up front, five again on completion. Is that agreeable?”

Annita glanced at Kat, who nodded her approval. The woman’s face was still split in a massive grin, watching Ann get fussed over. “Yeah, sounds good. Here.” She shuffled in her coin pouch and retrieved the coin. Nolton quickly took it from her outstretched hand, depositing it into his own coin purse.

“Now, out you two. Much work to do and you will find no entertainment in it. I will see you in six day’s time. I’ll send a runner if my work progresses quicker than expected, or any delays are met. Farewell!”

With that, they were almost pushed out the door before Ann could get her clothes back on. Taking a moment to collect themselves from the whirlwind of a man that was Nolton, they shared a laugh.

“I like him,” Ann said as they began to walk through the market.

“Aye, so do I. Real nice o’ him tae consider all he did. Though, I guess specializin’ lets ya do that.”

“Surprising that a specialist can be a thing for people as varied as Vulhardrin are.”

“I’m sure there’re more common types around here. Frankly, I’m surprised a Reptilia is this far north. Their kind likes tae live further south, where it’s warmer.”

“Guess he doesn’t have cold blood like normal lizards, then.” Annita pondered as she looked through a nearby food stall. “Didn’t notice the place being any warmer than normal.” She waved to the human vendor, who smiled back politely.

“Lucky sod. But if he’s as good as he seems to think o’ himself, then we’re lucky he’s here.”

They spent a couple more hours exploring the market. There was everything Annita could think of that made sense in the semi medieval society. Vendors were shouting, hawking their wares to passersby. Children were running amok between the legs of the larger individuals, shouting at each other as they played freely. Every few stalls, there was a guard posted to keep watch on the busy area, their helmets disguising their gaze as it swept the masses.

The buildings were interesting too. To accommodate for the variance in size the people that frequented them possessed, their doors were generally large. Large enough that a Thrundol could get through without issue. Since this contributed to heavy doors, smaller doors were set within the larger ones for the Indol and Bultrong customers. Humans and Alfhindur generally made do with the larger portion. Ann couldn’t guess how a Mulsfar would deal with things.

Unlike the rest of the town, most shops had two stories. The lower was for business, Kat explained, and the upper floors were for either residence or storage. It usually wound up being a mix of both except for the better off shopkeepers.

A growl sounded from Kat’s stomach, causing her to stop, a blush rising to her cheeks. “I guess I’m hungry. Wanna grab a bite?”

“Please. I’m starving too,” Ann said to the brunette. She’d been so absorbed in the shops and the culture she’d not noticed her stomach grumbling its own protest.

They wandered around until they found a cafe a couple of blocks away from the main road. It was a quiet place, with only three customers sitting at tables, sipping drinks and eating some light meals. A supremely bored looking waitress took their order at the counter.

Kat ordered a black coffee with a scoop of sugar, and a chicken salad. Ann ordered the same for food, but took a lighter roast with cream and sugar. They settled down at a table to wait for their food, looking out the window beside them at the few passersby.

“Honestly, this is pretty similar to how things were back in my time,” Ann said quietly, trying to stay under hearing volume of the other guests.

“That so?”

“Yeah. Coffee house, nice food, a quiet place to escape to. It was the type of place I escaped to. Get away from the pressures of the world and all that.”

“I can see tha’,” Kat smiled as the waitress delivered their coffee and left without a word. “Probably coulda’ used somethin’ like it meself when I was younger.”

“Speaking of,” Ann interjected. “We’ve talked all about me, or at least a lot. I keep finding out stuff about your childhood. Mind sharing a bit?”

“Aye, though I’ll keep it vague considerin’,” she gestured to the room. “Anywhere you wanna start?”

“Start early I guess? Something from a young young you,” Ann suggested.

“Gotcha. Hmmm.” Kat paused in thought, taking a sip of her drink. “Early story. I was twelve I think? It was the first time I held a weapon.”

Ann watched as Kat’s normally intense eyes lost focus while she took herself back into the memory.

“Me Ma was havin’ some big meetin’. Not unusual fer her, as ye can imagine. Little me was bored tae tears. She’d made me attend cause it’d be good fer me. Somethin’ about seein’ how the world worked. I was more interested in stories o’ fights with the Warped. Massive monsters, dragons, the like. Anyway, I was fidgeting in me chair, bein’ me usual restless self when one o’ the generals in the room noticed. He asked me Ma if he could take me aside fer a few. Grunbeld, I think ‘is name was. She let him, an’ he took me off tae a side room off the main room.” 

“We got tae talkin’. He told me all these stories of the battles ‘e’s been in. Fights against both Warped an’ man. He’d gotten me hooked almost immediately. It was like I was there, fightin’ alongside heroes an’ warriors. I couldn’t sit still, an’ was runnin’ around the room while he spun the yarn. I remember his laugh as he watched, deep as thunder it was. He called me over after one of ‘em and took ‘is sword from ‘is hip.”

“This is a sword.” ‘E said. “This is a weapon to kill and to cause pain. But it’s also a tool that can protect everyone you hold dear. You seem to have a heart for this, young Katlyn. Here, hold it.”

Kat was interrupted briefly as their food arrived. Served in polished wooden bowls was a pile of lettuce topped with some seed based dressing that glistened gold, and strips of chicken. Their stomachs growled, and both took a few minutes to devour their meals. The dressing turned out to be honey based, and paired lovely with the spicy seasoning on the chicken. Before they knew it, their meal was gone, and Kat continued her story.

“’E offered me the sword. It was heavy in me hands. Bigger than anythin’ I could hold at the time. Felt like I was holdin’ the world. The smooth, worn leather o’ its grip. I still remember it well. I stared at the thing as it’s weight drug me arms down. It was beautiful.”

“’Twas the next day I asked Ma tae get me lessons with a sword. Da was against it, as he always is when I’m not actin’ the lady, but saw the benefit o’ me learnin’ tae defend meself. After a couple o’ years with, uh, distinguished mentors, I got ahold o’ Candalaria. Knew ‘er fer decades after tha’. She was me main mentor an’ the one who suggested I take up the shield as well. Even when she was off on a campaign or somethin’ she left me lessons tae work on.” 

“Tha’s at least the interestin’ parts o’ me life. Went an’ got meself registered as a Merc as soon as I could, an’ me parents would allow. Ye know the rest, pretty much. Travelin’ all o’er the place, fightin’ Warped, savin’ people. It was kinda rough at the beginnin’, but Bren an’ I made it work. Had various parties here an’ there, no one really stuck though.”

“Wow, that’s a lot. No wonder you’re so good with that sword,” Ann said. “Sounds like a story out of a book. A warrior princess traveling the lands, defeating evil, being incredibly sexy while doing so.”

“An’ now yer part o’ the story. Hell ye mighta taken the main character spot,” Kat laughed. “Not that I mind. I’ve always hated bein’ the center o’ attention.”

“Well, if we get involved, I’m going to be dragging you into the spotlight, like it or not.” Ann felt a twinge of guilt as she spoke. She didn’t like that her existence was forcing Kat to do something she didn’t want to.

“Aw, pish.” Kat waved her concerns off with a dismissive gesture. “Ye’re not so bad. Tae the public ye’ll be an oddity, but not recognizable by everyone. That’s the part that fucks wit’ me. I can mostly handle the rest o’ the higher ups. Kinda had tae get used to it, bein’ who I am.”

“Still feel kinda bad about it.” Ann said grumpily, leaning on her hand.

“Betcha I know what’ll make ye less grumpy, fuzzbutt.” Kat grinned at her mischievously.

“Wha—” Ann let out a squeak that was instantly cut off as Kat grabbed the arm she was leaning on, pulled her across the table, and kissed her deep on the lips. True to Kat’s word, the uneasiness evaporated in the softness of her lips. They stayed like that for a few breathless moments, before they sat back slightly short of breath.

“Yeah, that definitely worked.” Ann laughed, her cheeks flushed as she looked over at Kat and her own slight fluster.

“Told ya,” the gorgeous Alf laughed back. “Let’s go, though. Got some more I wanna do today.”

“You and me both.” Ann smiled as they stood and left the cafe.

Chapter Text

“So, what did you have in mind, hot stuff?” Annita asked as they walked through the city.

“Think ye know me better by now. I wanted tae spar wit’ ye again. Now that ye’re on yer Path with a few levels under yer belt, I wanna both get physical wit’ ya an’ feel ya out more. Sound all right?” Kat asked as she directed their course through the streets.

“Yeah, sounds good to me. Left my weapons at the inn, though.”

“Eh, we don’ have Bren wit’ us so I’d keep it tae fists, anyway. Can find some quiet place or an open space if ye’d prefer. Just like tae test meself, and ye’re right here, an’ pretty well off physically, if I do say meself.” Kat gave her a once over, a brief flush coloring her cheeks. “Yeah, don’ mind gettin’ physical wit’ ya in any way shape or form.”

“Think this’ll be the first time I’ve fought my date on a first date,” Ann laughed. “Usually it’s more talking and getting to know each other through that.”

“Aye, but we’ve done a shitton o’ that already. Nothin’ like gettin’ yer blood pumpin’ wit’ someone ye care about. On or off the bed.”

Kat had led them to a secluded patch of open space. Beneath the light coating of snow seemed to be a patch of dead grass, but it was soft enough for their purposes. Set in the middle of the area was a small fountain, the water somehow unfrozen and burbling quietly. There were a couple passersby, but overall it was pretty private.

The pair walked over near the fountain, staying close.

“What’re the rules?” Annita asked as she stretched herself, Kat following suit beside her.

“Well, don’ want too much hurt goin’ out, so nap or tap sounds good. If there’s a snap, one o’ us fecked up.” Kat sighed as she finished her routine and stood up straight, taking a stance with her arms up before her, a modified boxer’s stance. “Oh, an’ no claws. Don’ wanna ruin any more clothes.” She grinned. “Teeth too. Nylir’s arse, ye’re never unarmed are ye?”

“Guess not,” Ann shrugged. She didn’t recognize the name that Kat swore to, but would ask her later. “Sounds good to me.” She took her own stance, loose and neutral, ready to adapt to what Kat threw at her. “Ready when you are.”

“Alrighty then. Get ready, go!” Kat called as she rushed in, arms held up before her face. Once she got in reach of Ann, a quick flurry of jabs shot out. 

Ann felt the difference from when she’d first fought Kat. She could follow the other fighter’s motions, swinging her hands to either deflect or dodge the fists thrown at her. She caught a couple hits that she couldn’t get to in time, but it was much better. After enduring the assault for a couple of seconds, she shoved back at Kat, creating some distance and launched a kick at her. Ann’s naturally long leg arced out and was blocked immediately by the experienced fighter, who immediately spun into the opening created, landing an open palm strike on her chest.

Ann staggered back at the first substantial hit. It didn’t hurt as much as she remembered from her old body. She checked her health and saw it at 225/230. Neither of them was going to be doing substantial damage to each other before they exhausted themselves, it seemed. 

A little less worried about the situation, Ann leaned into the fight. She took the role of aggressor and closed in on Kat, going low like she had their first fight. Kat seemed to remember and prepared to catch her grapple. Instead, Ann launched an uppercut directed at Kat’s chin. Kat barely dodged the strike, stumbling off balance from the surprise. Despite this, a wild grin crossed her face as Annita pushed her advantage, striking out with another kick that landed on the other woman’s thigh with a satisfying smack. A grin that bared her pointed teeth painted her lips as well. Kat wasn’t holding back in this fight. She’d closed the gap and was actually competing. It felt so good to be able to match the girl of her desires and she wanted to keep going.

Both of them became a whirl of motion, feeling each other’s defenses out with quick, non-committal strikes. A quick front kick from Annita was met with a series of jabs from Kat. Testing her limits, Ann threw out a punch with more of her weight behind it. It hit Kat in the shoulder, but the woman didn’t even flinch, as a small flash seemed to absorb the strike. The defensive movement didn’t go unrewarded as Ann felt a fist hit her gut, followed by two more driving some of the wind from her lungs.

“I’ve got tricks o’ me own, scruffy.” Kat laughed wildly as she backed off. “C’mon, let me ‘ave it.”

“You sure? You’ve seen what my Smites do to Warped,” Ann panted as she straightened herself.

“If me own skills can’t handle that, I’d be surprised. Ye’ve only got a few o’ em, anyway. No permanent damage. Now c’mon. Let’s see ye fight fer real.”

“You asked for it,” Ann grumbled as she rushed back in.

A fierce back and forth ensued. Annita trying to get through Kat’s defenses while defending herself in turn. She chose her moment after she’d landed a solid front kick into Kat’s raised arms, knocking her backward a couple of steps and opening up her arms. Ann lunged in, driving her fist into Kat’s stomach. A flash of purple sparked from the impact as she channeled a Smite of Orenous into the strike. Kat was driven further back, toppling and rolling before righting herself.

“Gods damnit, that’s wha’ tha’ feels like. Feck.” Kat coughed a couple times before rising to her feet.

“You good?” Ann asked, slightly concerned.

“Feck yeah I am. That was awesome. Good job gettin’ me tae open up. Need tae work on yer footwork though.” Kat explained calmly as she slowly approached. “Otherwise, ye might fall fer somethin’ like this.” Kat’s right leg swept out suddenly, hooking Ann’s heel and pulling while she simultaneously pushed her upper body.

Hitting the ground hard, Ann found herself mounted by Kat, who proceeded to rain down strikes while she guarded. Catching one of Kat’s arms, Ann shoved her off and regained her footing.

“Aw, want me off ya that badly?” Kat jeered.

“Oh, I’ll show you where I want you.” Ann growled, teeth bared as she charged again, low once more. With the earlier fakeout, Kat reacted by guarding herself, allowing Ann to tackle the Alf to the ground. Quickly, she locked her legs around the other woman’s hips, restraining her movement, before sending her own flurry of blows down toward the defending arms below her.

In a surprising show of strength and speed, Kat found a gap in her offense and sat up face to face with Ann, grabbing the other woman’s torso and rolled, putting herself back on top.

Both of them were breathing hard. Ann had still only found one opening to use her smite. It was time to fight a bit dirtier. Tapping into her Desire, she cast Stoke the flames to enhance Kat’s obvious pride. It worked, and the warrior sat back slightly, a smirk on her face as she looked down at Ann. Tapping into another skill, she pushed her chest out, arching her back as she struggled to get free, but also showing off the large swell of her breasts through the tight shirt. The prerequisites met she cast Predatory Sensuality, and felt Kat’s tension slack as she was distracted momentarily by her chest.

Ann took full advantage of the lapse, landing a savage strike into Kat’s side, bolstered by another Smite. There was a resounding crack as Kat flew off her, a small white flash indicating she’d at least absorbed some of the damage with whatever skill she was using. Kat lay on the ground, gasping for air several feet away while Ann sat up, looking over at the woman, slightly stunned by how her skills had interacted.

“Feckin’. Hells!” Kat cried through laboured breaths. “That shit hurt! Good job!” The Alf rolled over and lifted herself up on her arms, before standing back up.

Ann rose to her own feet. “Want to keep going?”

“Nae, this is a friendly spar, an’ ye’ve definitely improved. Still have a coulde things I could pull out, but they’re more deadly.” She walked over to Ann and leaned up against her.

Ann tensed for a moment, half expecting another trick, but when none came, she relaxed into the sweaty woman. “You do this with all your dates?” she asked.

“Only the ones who can stand up tae it. Fightin’ lowers barriers an’ teaches ye a lot about someone.” Kat drug Ann down to lay down in the thin layer of snow as she spoke. “An’ you. Ye’re a softie. I can feel that ye hold back when fightin’ me.”

Ann began to protest, but Kat cut her off. “Not a bad thing, hon. Shows good character. Rather good trait, I’d say. I’ve seen ye fight the Warped. That’s ye not holdin’ back.”

Kat rolled over and laid on top of Ann, her smaller form fitting comfortably on top of her as they caught their breath. She leaned down and kissed Ann. It started quick and tentative before deepening. Their arms wrapped around each other, tongues playing between their mouths as they reveled in the adrenaline still coursing through them. Eventually, the moment passed, and they broke apart, though Kat remained on top of Annita. A silly grin crossing her lips, she ground her hips into the large bulge that had formed under Ann’s kilt.

“Dirty girl. Gettin’ all excited beatin’ up yer date?” she teased.

“Only when my date is literally asking for it.” Ann smiled back, grinding her hips up into Kat. A gasp and a small moan escaped Kat, and Ann felt the woman’s thighs tense in arousal. 

“Oh! Tha’s not fair,” Kat said with a small voice.

“Taste of later.” Ann whispered as she leaned up and kissed Kat again.

“Half tempted tae take ye here, but I don’ think our escort would be too happy seein us create a public disturbance. Much less ‘er boss,” Kat whined.

“Shame,” Ann laughed as she let up on teasing Kat.

“Little surprised ye were down fer tha’,” Kat said as she rolled off, laying beside Ann, head resting on her left arm.

“I’ve had a couple more… daring encounters in my time.” Ann paused, considering her next words. “A girlfriend in high school decided she wanted to get frisky in some mostly deserted bleachers. Uh, stands, I guess you’d call them. She wormed her hand into my pants before I knew it. The high from the risk stuck with me. I wasn’t going to seek it out, necessarily, but I don’t think I’d ever turn it down again. It’s a rush.”

“I’ll have tae take yer word fer it,” Kat sighed as she rolled in, snuggling up to Annita. “Bein’ in my position didn’t provide much opportunity fer stuff like tha’. Not just ‘cause o’ the lack o’ privacy, but if I got caught, it’d be a feckin’ problem fer the family.”

“I mean, now that you’re out in the world that largely doesn’t know what you look like…” Ann trailed off, leaving Kat to fill in the blanks.

“Maybe, ye damned furry succubus. Maybe.” Kat held up a warning finger, then flopped back onto the ground. “I am a little tired, though. Lunch wasn’t even heavy.” Her words faded as she laid there before rolling over and snuggling up to Ann.

“Not gonna hear me complain.” Ann grinned as she relaxed, listening to Kat doze off.

The day was going well. As good as she’d hoped so far. She didn’t expect to have fought Kat, honestly, but that was how the Alf was. Competitive and straight forward. She softened a lot when she slept, though. The intensity of her brows relaxed, the corners of her lips dropped. She was wonderful, and Ann couldn’t help but lean down and place a kiss on the woman’s forehead. A faint mumble sounded from Kat before she drew closer to Ann’s side.

It took all Ann had to keep quiet at how excited she was. Kat was incredible. A strong person, individualistic and honest, strong as fuck and sexy as hell. She was a fantasy come true for her, and she was interested in her! The giddiness of the feeling just seemed to grow as she spent more time with her, too. It was amazing. How the hell did she get so lucky?

At the thought, Ann’s thoughts turned to Orenous and said a tiny prayer to the flirtatious Goddess, thanking her for the second chance at life. She didn’t think she’d done anything to deserve it, but was thankful all the same.

They laid there for an hour or so, before Kat stirred. “Mmm, sorry. Dunnae what happened. Just got real sleepy. Anyone ever tell ya ye’re really warm?”

“Just you, and you’re the only one that’s been with this body,” Ann laughed as she let Kat draw away.

“Lucky me. Ugh, what time is it?” Kat asked as she sat up.

“Not sure. It’s been an hour or so? Maybe a bit longer?” Ann rose beside her, shaking out her mane of hair and ears. “Looks like the clouds are clearing up. Helps with what I wanted to do.”

“Yeah? Lookin’ forward tae it.” Kat laughed.

“Anything else you want to do?” Ann asked. “My plan is later, once it gets dark.”

“Hmm, take a walk? Grab a bite? Ye owe me dinner.” Kat reminded her playfully.

“That I do. I kind of want to see the city a bit more, too.”

“I got the place fer that then. Much less crowded, too. C’mon.” She stood and offered her hand to Ann. She took it and they set off toward the wall.

Once they reached the towering structure, Kat took a moment to talk quietly to a guard, and they were allowed in to a gem lit tower, with a coiling staircase leading up. After several flights, Kat cracked a door open, and a cold wind blew in against them.

Exiting, Ann found herself on top of the outer walls of the Keep. The view was incredible. To her left, the outskirts of the city spread out. Small buildings dotting the landscape. Forests and plains clearly divided as they stretched out into the distance. To her right was the city itself. Dark, with a magical dusting of snow. Having been on the streets she could now see the clear divisions between the areas visible. She could make out the market district with its different roofs, the residential spaces with their squat square buildings, and some more industrial areas.

“Love comin’ up ‘ere when I’m in town,” Kat said, taking in the view herself. “More privilege, I know. Just somethin’ about bein’ up ‘ere, away from it all. Helps clear me head.” She took Ann’s hand and led her along the walkway. The guards didn’t bother them as they made their way, just the occasional glance with Abeline following at a distance.

It was a quiet moment. Time for them to just take in the world around them, together. Ann relaxed, content to just spend her time with Kat. Kat, in turn, didn’t seem to be eager for conversation up here either.

After an hour or so of comfortable companionship, Kat broke the silence. “This is nice.”

“Yeah. It is.” Ann replied simply.

“Some people think the quiet is all awkward an’ shite. Takes the right person tae make it comfortable.”

“Yeah.” Ann agreed again.

Kat pulled closer to Ann, turning the taller woman to face her. “Yer one o’ those people, ye know?” She reached up and took Ann’s chin in her hand. Gently, she guided the taller woman’s face down to hers, meeting her with a gentle kiss that set Ann’s heart racing. Chaste, but loving, Kat pulled back, blushing deeply. “I… yeah.” She seemed at a loss for words. Something Ann hadn’t seen from her much.

Ann smiled softly, holding Kat’s face in her own hand and stared into the Alf’s beautiful eyes. “I’m getting hungry and I owe you dinner. Then my idea for today.”

“Aye, c’mon.” Kat laughed as they headed to the nearest stairway back down into the city.

They walked back toward the market area of the city. The energy had changed since the morning. It was still busy, but less chaotic. People moved slower, and the lanterns and torches gave a softer mood to the streets. The town was starting to quiet down. Moving through the buildings, Ann spotted what looked like a pub, or at least what she thought was one. It was warmly lit on the outside and the sounds of music and talking could be heard even from outside.

She led Kat through the doors, past what looked like a bouncer, and took in the room. It was a pub, thank the Gods. One side of the dining room was a bar with a bar, manned by two bartenders cleaning their counter and taking orders. The other was a wider, open area with tables loosely spread across the space, chairs surrounding them, and booths set into the walls. A waiter rushed up to them, a shorter Alf with chestnut hair and a friendly smile.

“Greetings! How many?”

“Just the two of us,” Ann replied.

“Got you. Table, bar or booth?” the man asked.

“Booth, I think.”

“Right this way then.”

The short Alf escorted them to a booth near the center of the rear wall. Patrons flanked them on either side, but conversation in the building was loud enough that some privacy was afforded them. 

Food was standard pub fare. Ann ordered a steak and potatoes. Kat took a fish dish with some greens on the side. Both ordered a flagon of ale.

“Christ, I’m glad places like this still exist too,” Ann sighed as she leaned back in her seat.

“Christ?” Kat cocked her head.

“Oh, uh, yeah,” Ann glanced around. No one was paying attention, but she kept her voice low enough that only Kat’s enhanced hearing could pick it up. “An old God from my time. I can fill you in on that later, though.” Raising her voice, she continued. “Good people, good drinks, good food. Ahh, I could spend my evenings here.” She grinned wolfishly at the rest of the place.

It was a fairly cozy atmosphere. Everything inside the building was a rich wood with only accents of the black stone of the Keep. The people were lively, shouting back and forth over the bar, conversations happening at large tables, and drinks flowing freely. The clientele was all sorts as well, from rougher looking types to average people. Not many wealthy looking folk were present, but there were one or two. The wait staff bustled to and fro, greeted by cheers at the rowdier tables. Everyone was having a good time tonight, and the feeling was infectious. Ann felt a grin spreading further across her lips.

“Yeah, I like it here.”

“Aye, only been here once before. Was a decade ago, but looks like they’ve got a good group attendin’. So, Ann. How was yer life growin’ up? Can’t imagine ye were gettin’ intae life an’ death brawls all the time.”

“Oh, it was definitely… different,” Ann began, being careful how she worded things. “It was mostly peaceful. My mom was an accountant. Someone who worked with money. Dad was a biologist, studying the body. He liked marine life the most, so I got a really good foundation in math and science. They were pretty cool parents overall. Mom was a bit dry, but made up for it with how much she cared for us. Dad was always coming up with projects for us to do. We went to lakes, took road trips to the ocean, all sorts of things. I could tell you tons of stuff about the things that live, or lived, in the ocean. Not sure how much is still around. Anyway, yeah. I grew up with them, went to school like a normal kid, made all sorts of friends. I wasn’t always the most popular kid, but I hung in there with the kids who liked me.”

Ann took a moment, taking a long drink from her flagon. “It was fun, all things considered. Had a bitchy teacher in third grade that drove me nuts, but she was generally an exception.”

“Interestin’.” Kat said, thinking over the story. “Surprised yer dad was so focused on an area. That’s usually only somethin’ the wealthy can afford. Were ye rich?”

“Oh, no, absolutely not,” Ann paused. “Er, I guess we were well off? Stable for sure. I don’t know. I had a messed up perspective on all of that. I grew up with them and their means. I thought it was fairly normal, but then I got out into the world a bit more and saw what poorer people had to deal with and came to the realization I had definitely had a better than average childhood.” Taking another drink she shrugged. “Not like I can really complain. The world is going to go on no matter how I was raised.”

“Aye. I guess from my perspective, it’s kinda impossible not tae know I was technically above everyone else,” Kat grumbled. “It’s warpin’, in a non magical way that gets ye extra limbs an’ drives ye nuts.”

“For sure. I just tried to keep it in mind when talking to people, that I had a different experience than a lot of others.”

A waitress showed up at their table, carrying their food. A surprisingly quick turnaround, but it looked and smelled delicious. They both dug in, appetites stoked by their brawl earlier.

“Mmm,” Ann grunted around a mouthful before swallowing. “I meant to ask you. Earlier in our fight, you cursed to Nylir I think it was? Who was that?”

“She’s a Goddess, like Orenous. One o’ the major Gods at least. She’s got domain o’er war, warriors, an’ a good amount of the negative emotions tha’ come with war. Hatred, rage, shite like tha’. Tae be honest, kinda surprised yer, uh, situation,” Kat made a gesture at Annita’s everything, “wasn’t tied to her.”

“Yeah, well, my patron said I was where she put down roots, so it was mostly because of that I imagine,” Ann responded. She had to keep double checking herself to make sure she wasn’t blurting out her connection to the gods.

“Makes sense,” Kat said, returning to her meal. “Ye were sayin’ before the food?”

“Right, so, grew up, went through elementary, middle and high school. I honestly don’t remember much of middle school. For your reference, that was ages 11-14. Just had a lot of fun with friends, got into trouble, roamed the neighborhoods causing trouble. I think that’s when I started figuring out I was a bit tougher than other girls, though. I would play rough with the boys and not care, but still liked the normal girlie stuff too. Anyway, then high school came, and I figured out I was attracted to girls. I learned a lot in the school part of things, but even more about people because of my tastes. Turns out a lot of people in my time decided I wasn’t worth anything cause I liked a woman over a man romantically. Got into a lot of fights because of it. My girlfriends and I both. I usually took the beatings, though.”

“Tha’s not great,” Kat interjected. “Glad ye fought ‘em. Wouldn’t have stood fer it meself either.”

“Yeah. Still got a chip on my shoulder about that. Pisses me off when people judge others just for who they are. They can’t be the arbiters of someone else’s desires, and if they want to try to do that to me, they can kick bricks. I got suspended a couple times from school because of those fights. Bullies just wouldn’t learn, and the school wouldn’t do anything. My parents understood, though, so at least there was that.”

“Good, at least ye had that.”

“And my girlfriends, yeah. Even after we broke up, there was a sort of solidarity cause being gay was rough. Anyway, then I graduated, and it seemed like the world chilled out a bit. University was much more of a focus on education for me. Yeah, had the one girlfriend, but I told you how that turned out. And that’s pretty much it. That’s my life in a nutshell.”

They returned to their meals, eating in silence for a bit as it seemed Kat digested both the story and her food.

“Well, at least it tells me why yer so predisposed tae scrappin’,” Kat grinned. “Got it literally beaten intae ye.”

“Oh yeah,” Ann grinned back. “Got pretty good at it too. This new, uh, circumstance,” Ann wiggled her arms, emphasizing her body, “is throwing some of that off. It might have been quicker to adjust if I’d taken one of the other Paths I was offered.”

“Right, ye said there were four when ye earned it. I’m curious, what were the others?”

“Well, two are embarrassing as fuck, so keep that in mind. I’ll keep a certain name out of it too. The first was Shameless Exhibitionist.”

Kat spit out her drink, coughing roughly as she gasped for breath. “I’m sorry?”

“I told you,” Annita hissed, feeling her cheeks heat up.

“I need the description on that one.” Kat insisted.

Ann squirmed in her seat, before leaning over the table and gesturing Kat to do the same. Once she was close enough, she explained the perverted Path, and its proposed benefits and drawbacks. As she spoke, she could see Kat’s long ears turning redder.

“Orenous be damned, that’s a description an’ a half. An’ that was only one o’ the two embarrasin’ ones?”

“Yeah. The second was Feral Scrapper. It was all about fighting with my Lupine traits. That’s what I meant by it probably helping to adjust. The third was the one you know. The last one was, uh, Pervert of my patron.”

“Oh, tell me now. Don’t tease me like this.” Kat leaned back over the table.

Ann quickly lent back over and whispered the details.

Kat sat back and laughed uproariously. “Holy Hells girl, you really got the full spread there.”

“No kidding,” Annita sighed as she sat back. “Listen, now that you’ve heard my Path, I don’t think I’ve learned either yours or Bren’s at this point. I know they’re pretty private, but you know literally all of mine. Feels fair.”

“Aye, it is. Honestly, I shoulda told ye mine a while ago. It’s Stalwart Protector. Combat class that focuses on defense an’ makin’ sure I’m the one takin’ the hits. Obviously has a couple offensive things, but mostly focuses on defense. The other two I got offered were something to deal with my ‘station’,” she made a crown with her fingers, “and another dealing with politics. The choice was obvious.”

“Yeah, and Bren?”

“I’ll leave ‘im tae tell ya. I’ll remind ‘im though. He’s generally good at rememberin’ things, but forgets like everyone else,” Kat said with a smile, wiping some of the beer off her side of the table before taking another sip.

They’d both finished their meals and just enjoyed some further light conversation as the sun set.

“Hey, it’s about time for what I wanted to do. Do you know anywhere that’s a park or something close nearby?” Ann asked.

“Aye, settle the tab an’ let’s head out.”

Ann paid the wait staff at the bar, three silvers covering their food and drinks.

Kat led Ann through the streets once more, this time darkened and lit by the occasional torch, gem, or just the moon and stars. The buildings suddenly opened up into an empty stretch of snow, trees dotting the landscape, and a frozen creek and pond sitting close to the middle. It was deserted. Both because of the time and the snowfall.

Ann took Kat’s hand and plopped down in the middle of a big open space, brushing the snow away from a space next to her with her tail. She patted the spot and Kat sat down as requested.

“It’s not much, but I just wanted to look at the stars with you. Call me sappy, but it’s something I’ve liked doing with my partners,” Ann explained.

“Yer sappy,” Kat jabbed back, “but tha’s not a bad thing.”

Ann closed her larger hand around Kat’s, holding it tightly. “This has been a really fun day. Thank you.”

“An thank ye. Ye made it all the more fun,” Kat said with a huge smile. “’Aven’t had fun like this in a long time.”

“Me neither. It’s just so easy around you for some reason. Might be that we’ve literally been in life or death situations together, but I don’t feel like this for Bren,” Ann admitted.

“Aye, I get what ye mean.” Kat paused, thinking. “Not sure where this is all headed. What the future holds fer us. I hope it’s good.”

“Me too.”

They laid there quietly, staring up at the heavens.

“Out of curiosity, do you have names for the stars?” Annita asked.

“Aye. Generally fer the Gods. Let me see,” Kat searched the sky, then pointed. “That bigun there is fer Orenous. Over there is fer Qu’sella, an’ that one is fer Eas.”

“Fill me in on what they do?” Ann asked, taking note of the positions of the distant suns.

“Qu’sella is a dual god and goddess. They move between the two an’ have a different aspect per side o’ them. Qu is a wizened witch, Goddess of magic, and all mages. Sella is kinda a frumpy professor type. He’s all about leaning and knowledge. Scholars and their like take to him,” Kat explained. “Eas reigns over the wind and speed itself. Can’t really call them him or her, since they don’t really have a form as far as we know. It’s odd.”

“Oh, right, I remember Bren saying Their name when he was saying bye to the cart drivers. I meant to ask him about that, but forgot.”

“So, I’m guessin’ y’all had very different names fer all o’ them.” Kat gestured to the sky.

“Yeah, definitely.” Ann scanned the sky, looking for the familiar constellations. “You see the three there, in a line?” She pointed with an extended claw to further refine her direction. “Those were called Orion’s Belt. They’re part of a bigger constellation, or group of stars, that look like the hunter, Orion. He was a mythological figure supposed to be the son of a woman and one of the gods of the sea, Poseidon. There were a lot of stories about him, so it all depended on who you ask. That one over there,” she shifted her direction, and Kat’s head followed, brushing against the arm she’d laid down on, “that is what we called the North Star. Part of the Big Dipper constellation. It’s actual name was Polaris.”

“Like the General?” Kat asked, suddenly intrigued.

“Yeah, just like that. It’s interesting the name survived all this time. Anyway, if you trace it down, you can see two bright stars in a line, then four in a box. That’s the Big Dipper. And over there, that’s Ursa Major, it’s supposed to be a Bear.”

“It looks nothin’ like a bear, tho’.” Kat protested.

“I mean, if you look at it like this,” she drew out the outline, “it kind of does.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Kat huffed. “You sure your people were smart?”

“Oh, lay off,” Ann laughed. “I don’t think most of our astronomers were artists.”

They spent a while like that. Annita would point out a constellation, Kat wouldn’t get it, and argue. She’d try to make it make sense, and sometimes it did, but the rest of the time Kat refused the idea. Soon enough, the two were laughing at the ridiculousness of the exercise, as they laid close together.

After a while, Kat had seemingly lost some of her inhibitions, and had reached across Ann, snuggling up against her head, her right hand gently resting on her breast.

“Ye know what?” Kat asked.

“What’s that?”

“Ye’re pretty when ye’re actin’ all smart,” the Alf replied.

Ann turned her head to face the woman, suddenly aware of how close they’d gotten. “Just being me.”

“Aye, an’ it’s sexy as hell.” Kat leaned in and kissed her. 

There was a moment of hesitation before Annita melted into the kiss, relaxing and letting Kat take the lead. She felt the other woman’s tongue pushing against her lips and let it in, feeling her breath catch at the intrusion. Her heart was pounding as she shut her eyes and focused on her other senses. Kat’s smell was all around her, that earthy, solid smell that stabilized her. Kat’s weight was so comfortable on her, and she shifted the woman to lie more solidly on top of her. She felt Kat’s hands run through her hair as they made out, fingers massaging her scalp and then brushing against her sensitive ears.

Annita moaned into Kat’s mouth at the feeling, only encouraging the other woman, who increased her attentions to the sensitive organs. It felt incredible, her tail beginning to thump against the ground in satisfaction and her underwear was getting much tighter than it should be. They broke apart for a breath, but returned to the kiss almost immediately. This was the night, and both their patience was wearing thin. Ann’s hands roamed over Kat’s body, feeling her move, paying attention to spots that elicited different noises and reactions. Breaking the kiss again, Ann’s eyes fluttered open to see Kat blushing a bright red, panting for breath on top of her.

“I want ye, Ann,” Kat whispered down to her.

“I fucking need you,” Annita replied, a hint of desperation in her voice.

“No more waiting. Back tae our room.” Kat ordered, rolling off Ann quickly.

“Yes, ma’am.”

Kat took her hand tightly, and they ran back to the Mercenary Association as quickly as their magically enhanced bodies would take them.

Chapter Text

They almost didn’t make it up the stairs. Neither of them wanted to wait any longer. They were practically stripping each other as they worked their way down the third floor hall to their room.

Ann’s back hit the wood of the door hard as Kat shoved her into it, kissing her deeply, running her hands up under her shirt. Gasping breaths and moans echoed, but neither cared.

Ann distractedly fumbled for her badge, found it, slapped it against the door behind her, and tumbled backwards as the force of Kat’s weight pushed it inwards.

They landed on the ground and Kat kicked the door shut behind them, magically locking itself.

“Finally,” the Protector growled as she lifted herself off Ann. Her eyes were hazy, and she was breathing hard. Her neck, ears and cheeks flushed with arousal as she looked down at Annita with cold blue eyes. “I’ve been waitin’ a week fer this.”

“You and me both,” Ann giggled as she reached her long arms up and drug Kat back down into a kiss. Both women moaned into each other’s mouths, as they finally released their inhibitions and drank deep of the other.

“Clothes. Clothes need to leave,” Ann demanded as she shuffled, trying to escape the fabric that constricted her.

“Aye, up you. I wanna undress ya meself,” Kat said huskily, backing off on all fours.

Annita stood and looked down as Kat sensuously rose, almost crawling up her legs, thighs, and chest before wrapping her arms around her neck. As her hands began to undo the laces of Ann’s shirt, Kat kissed Ann’s neck, drawing another moan from the Lupine. Each lace undone was another kiss. Ann leaned her head to the side, giving her all the room she needed.

Kat finished with the laces and quickly loosened the wrap that bound Ann’s breasts. Once she had, she began to lower the fabric over Ann’s shoulders, kissing down her neck, then her collarbone, and finally between her breasts.

Ann gasped as the Alf reached the sensitive area and paused for a moment, kissing back and forth between the soft mounds, before dropping the clothes to the ground without ceremony.

“It’s a feckin’ shame tae have these hidden away like that,” Kat declared as she cupped and gently massaged Ann’s breasts. “Feckin’ perfection.” She leaned in and kissed a nipple, drawing a gasp from Ann as her head rocked back. “Sensitive here eh? Me too.” Kat returned to the task, eagerly suckling on one nipple while she took the other between two fingers and began to roll the sensitive nub.

Ann was in heaven. Kat was good with her hands and clearly experienced. That and her body seemed more sensitive than any time before. She felt heat suffuse her as Kat toyed with her body, losing herself in the pleasure the other woman provided. She lifted her hands, one going to the back of Kat’s head, keeping her there while the other joined the woman’s hand on her breast.

“Ah, but that’s not the end all here,” Kat grinned up as she pulled off her nipple with a pop. She lowered herself, bending at the knees until she came face to face with Ann’s belt. “Time tae get acquainted.” She deftly undid the belt and let the Kilt drop without ceremony. Ann’s underwear bulged as it strained to contain the ridiculous size of the cock within. A small damp spot showing her already leaking precum.

“Tha’ looks uncomfortable,” Kat said in a sultry voice as she moved closer, pressing her face in against the bulge. “Lemme help with tha’.” She pulled down the underwear, letting the full length of Ann’s rod spring free. “Gods, always such a surprise.” Kat gasped to herself as she wrapped her hands around it. She began pumping slowly with both hands, up and down the full length and smearing pre across the skin. Her focus was entirely on the task before her, and Ann moaned at the sight.

Almost hypnotized by the sight before her, Kat leaned closer and closer with each thrust until her lips brushed up against the flared glans. The moment she felt contact, she instinctively opened her mouth and let Ann in.

Ann gasped and moaned as she felt Ann’s lips around her shaft. It took everything she had to not move immediately as Kat gently suckled her tip. It felt amazing, the suction and Kat’s tongue as it played across the sensitive slit in her tip. Thrills raced up and down her spine. She looked down, only to meet Kat’s blue eyes, staring up at her.

The woman on her knees removed her hands from the cock in her mouth, placed them on Ann’s thighs, and then slowly began to push forward.

Ann let out a husky moan as she felt Kat descend on her, wrapping her cock in the tight, wet warmth of her mouth. A couple inches in and she pulled back, immediately plunging back in to the depth she was at before and pushing for more. Two inches, four. She felt the back of Kat’s throat bump into the head of her cock. Kat moaned, the vibrations echoing through Ann’s flesh as she felt the other woman struggle to push past the barrier.

Ann was honestly surprised she was even able to get this far, with how massive her girth was, but it seemed her Compatibility skill was kicking in since she felt Kat gain traction and push Ann’s cock into her throat.

Both women moaned at the new tightness. Kat looked up at Ann and nodded. Taking the signal, Ann thrusted, causing a soft gag from Kat before pulling back and pushing again. She was only halfway in, and Kat was struggling slightly.

“Gods, you’re so tight, Kat,” Ann moaned. “That all you can take?”

She’d meant it earnestly, but watched as Kat’s eyes hardened and focused. The woman gripped her thighs and pulled hard. Tears welled up and spilled as the competitive woman forced herself to make room in her throat for Ann’s cock. Slowly she descended, eight, then nine inches, before catching again. A frustrated moan echoed through Kat’s throat as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Feeling her partner’s frustration, she looked down at the woman, both hands resting on the back of her head. Kat nodded up to her, and with that, she pushed her face down until it met with the soft fur of her pubes.

They both moaned deeply with satisfaction at the accomplishment. Ann stayed there for a few moments, letting Kat adjust to the thickness in her throat. After a nod, Kat pressing her nose into Ann’s lower stomach, Ann pulled back. She felt eight inches of girlcock slide from Kat’s throat and the salacious shiver up her spine before she pushed back in.

They quickly increased the pace, and before long, Kat’s face was covered in her own spit as it stretched in strands between her and Ann’s crotch. Kat was lost in the motion, her body almost limp as Ann thrust into her throat, barely hanging on to her ass.

Ann felt a pulse in her stomach, just above her cock, and froze for a second. “Oh fuck, I’m close.” Kat looked up at her blearily before Ann resumed her thrusting with a new hunger. Gagging sounds filled the room as Ann took the woman for all she was worth. Tension in her gut growing and growing until she felt a heat traveling up her length. She pulled Kat to her base and moaned loudly, feeling herself unload directly down Kat’s throat. Her hips spasmed on their own with the force of her orgasm, and her locked muscles held Kat still as the woman struggled with the volume of cum being shot down her throat.

After a few seconds that felt like an eternity, she collapsed, her cock sliding out of Kat’s throat with a wet pop and a series of wet coughs.

Hazily, Ann pulled Kat close, wiping the tears from her cheeks as Kat recovered. When she stopped coughing as much, Ann leaned in and kissed her gently and tasted her cum on Kat’s lips. It was a deliciously lewd experience, and she craved more, but Kat needed to breathe.

“Sorry if that was too rough,” she whispered.

“Feck that, it was amazin,” Kat rasped out with another cough. “And we’re not feckin done yet, or I’m gonna have words with Orenous.”

“Gods no we’re not.” While Kat continued to recover from her rough treatment, Ann got to work getting her out of her clothes. She unfastened the buckle on her belt, helped strip her sweaty shirt off, and unclasped her cloth bra. As she did, she took in the woman’s body.

Her shoulders were larger than Ann had given credit, the muscles rippling as she breathed, working in concert with her defined back. Scars crisscrossed her skin, old battle wounds. She saw both claws and swords had left their mark. Leaning in, she gently kissed along each of them.

“Mmm,” Kat hummed as she felt the attention. “Got a lot o’ those. Ye might be there fer a while.”

“They’re gorgeous,” Ann said softly, tracing another couple with her own claws, careful not to hurt.

“Oooh,” Kat gasped as a shudder ran up her back. “Tha’ feels good. Ye probably give great back scratches with those.”

“Probably, but that’s not what we’re here for tonight, is it?” Ann teased as she worked lower, helping Kat out of her pants. Once they were both sitting on the floor completely naked, they took in each other’s bodies.

Kat was as built as Ann expected, with perky breasts that would just spill over a handful. Wide, muscled hips, a wonderfully toned ass, and muscular legs put together her solid form. They both sat there for a moment, just staring.

“Damn, yer a sight tae behold. Even though I’ve seen it before,” Kat said with a hint of awe in her voice.

“You’re incredible yourself. You look like a living sculpture,” Ann returned as she reached out and traced the creases on the edge of Kat’s bicep.

“Work damn hard fer it,” the other woman laughed. “An’ ye’ve got me beat on statuesque, in places. More on the softer side. Beauty rather than power.” Kat’s hands had begun to roam across Ann’s thighs, massaging as they went. “Though, I don’t think most sculptors would include her,” Kat said as she traced a finger up Ann’s half flacid length. The motion on the sensitive organ caused Annita to twitch, and her shaft began to rise once more.

“Looks like yer ready fer round two. On the bed wit’ ye. My turn tae be in control,” Kat ordered.

“As you wish,” Annita smiled as she stood, then laid back on the bed. Slowly Kat crawled over on top of her, lowering her body so her breasts and stomach rubbed against Ann’s cock and breasts themselves.

Ann laid dutifully still and watched as Kat rose to settle herself on the base of Annita’s cock, legs spread. She began to roll her hips back and forth, slowly sliding her sodden sex up and down Ann’s length.

Ann leaned back into the pillows, watching the show as she felt her body worked back into arousal. She reached up and placed her hands on Kat’s hips, not exerting any direction, just holding her. Kat smiled and increased the speed of her movements.

“Mmm, can’t wait tae feel this in me,” Kat moaned as she kept up her rocking movements. “Been wantin’ this since I first caught ye in the woods. Ye know what tha’ did tae me? Ann? How feckin horny ye made me?” Kat rolled her hips further up than normal, catching Ann’s head against her lips and lifting it up slightly. She leaned forward and whispered in Ann’s ear. “I woulda let ye take me then an’ there.” With those words, she pushed back firmly.

Ann felt the head of her cock spreading Kat’s lips wide as the Alf applied pressure. Slowly, carefully, Kat worked her way down, enveloping Ann in the slick velvety caress of her pussy. Both women moaned, Kat burying her head in Ann’s chest while Ann threw her head back in the pillows.

“So feckin… big,” Kat panted as she continued her descent.

“So Godsdamned tight,” Ann replied as she gripped the bedsheets, fighting the urge to push Kat down further.

It took a few more thrusts, and probably a good amount of help from Compatibility, but Kat finally sunk fully down until their pelvises met. Kat shook and closed her eyes as an orgasm rocked through her. A strangled whine escaping her lips as it passed.

“I’ve never felt this full,” Kat whispered as she lay there, adjusting. “Holy feck Ann, yer gonna break me.”

“I’ll go slow,” Annita offered.

Kat growled down at her. “Told ye I’m gonna be the one in control this time. I’ll take ye as fast as I damn well please.” To emphasize her point, she lifted her hips and slapped them back down. The clap of skin on skin echoed through the room. Both women shook at the intense feeling. Then Kat did it again. And again.

Before Ann knew what was happening, Kat was riding her at a quick pace. Her hips rising and falling in a steady rhythm. She felt Kat’s insides clench, squeeze and massage her shaft with each thrust. Squeezing on the lift, clenching on the drop, and massaging as she adjusted to the intrusion. She quickly lost herself to the intense pleasure and met Kat’s descent with an upward thrust.

This tore a loud moan from the guardian and only increased their pace. Quickly finding their rhythm, the room began to echo with moans, cries and the wet slapping of flesh. Kat leaned forward, her hands on Ann’s shoulders as she rode, her face barely above the other woman’s.

Ann took the opportunity to lean up and kiss Kat deeply. Kat fell on top of her, her hips still pumping, but her upper body putty in Ann’s hands. Ann held her close, massaging her back as she thrust up into her core and locked her into a fierce kiss.

Suddenly, Ann felt her cock hit something. It was like a hard nub at the back of Kat’s depth, a barrier that she hadn’t felt before. Kat’s eyes shot open as she bumped the wall before melting back into her with another hoarse moan. “Oh, that’s it. Right there.”

Encouraged, Ann began to target that spot, rubbing up against it with every thrust. Her hands trailed down to Kat’s hips, guiding them to better hit the sensitive spot. It was doing wonders for her as well. Each time she hit, it sent a shock up her cock and fed the growing fires of her orgasm.

“Fuck, Kat,” Ann panted as she ground into the other woman.

“Aye. Aye, Ann. I’m so close. Fuck me. Fuck me hard. I wanna cum fer ye. Cum fer me, Ann,” Kat begged as she picked up the speed of her hips.

Ann responded in kind, feeling her muscles beginning to ache as she drove herself to thrust as quickly as she could. She used her hands to further increase the force with which she took Kat, feeling the woman following her direction eagerly.

Scant moments later, Ann felt her cock swell, her orgasm on its way. Kat’s eyes widened, then shut as she focused on the feeling, making sure to not lose her rhythm and lose this moment.

“Kat. I’m cumming. I’m cumming, holy shit, fuck fuck,” Ann began to grunt as she felt her orgasm overtake her.

“Do it, fuck me. Fill me Ann. Give it tae me!” Kat cried as she slammed her hips down in one final movement.

Ann erupted into the Alf’s depths, feeling her cock swell and pulse with each jet of sticky white that flowed into Kat. Every muscle of hers locked up, holding Kat still against her.

The Alf let out a guttural moan as she collapsed again in Ann’s arms. Her strong legs locked tightly around Ann’s hips as she shook with her own orgasm.

After a couple seconds of Ann pumping into the helpless woman, she felt some of her seed trickling down over her pussy and between her legs. The realization that she was overflowing Kat sent another pulse deep into the other woman, eliciting another languid moan.

“Holy Hells, Ann. I’m so, what, holy feck,” Kat stumbled on her words.

“Yeah, yeah. Same here. Oh, my god. I… Gods, you’re incredible.” She pulled Kat down into another kiss.

“Nae, I can’t…” she trailed off as another aftershock of her orgasm rolled through her. Her eyes fluttered, screwing shut before her face relaxed again. “Not just me. You. Oh, you…” She dove back into another kiss, clenching tightly onto Ann’s increasingly sensitive member.

The motion drew a whine from Ann’s lips into Kat’s mouth as she was overloaded.

Kat pulled back and grinned down at her. “Sensitive now are we?”

“Yeah! Oh my Gods, yeah. This is what it feels like?” Ann gasped as Kat flexed her inner walls, driving her wild.

“Right, this is yer first time properly usin’ that thing,” Kat laughed. “Oh, we’re gonna have so much fun.”

Ann rolled, staying inside Kat so they both laid on their sides, facing each other. Kat laid on Ann’s extended arm, breathing slowing as she relaxed.

“As good as ye thought?” Kat teased.

“As good and better,” Ann sighed, pressing her forehead against Kat’s. “This was awesome. You’re awesome.”

“Aw shush you,” Kat demurred, blushing as she brushed a hand over Ann’s cheek.

They laid there for a while, just gazing into each other’s eyes as Ann’s tail thumped happily against the mattress.

“Think we still need two beds?” Ann asked.

“Nae, wouldn’t wanna sleep alone with ye in the room after this,” Kat whispered.

“Wanna push them together? Make one big bed?”

Kat laughed, and to Ann, it was the most beautiful sound in the world. “Aye. Ye sound like a teenager wit’ ‘er first crush, but aye. Sounds good tae me.”

“Hey, new life, new beginnings. Hmm, does that mean you just took my virginity?” Ann asked with a raised eyebrow.

Kat’s face froze and went even redder than before. Her mouth worked soundlessly as she flustered over the question, not able to get anything out.

Ann giggled and released her from her torment with a kiss. “Hey, second virginity’s not that big of a deal, right?”

“Feck if I know? Maybe? Might be more important ‘cause ye got it back,” Kat blurted.

“Gods above, I love you,” Ann laughed, then froze. Had she said that out loud? Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck. Oh, she didn’t mean to do that. Her wide eyes turned to Kat’s equally wide stare.

“Uh…” Ann faltered.

“Do ye?” Kat asked, her voice quiet and vulnerable. It was the softest Ann had ever heard the woman.

“I… yeah. I think I do? I mean, I’m pretty sure? We get along great. I love hanging out with you, we apparently have great sexual chemistry, you’re perfect for my life and quest. I just… it feels right, ya know?” Ann rambled, her heart speaking more than her head in the moment as she tried to rationalize her feelings.

“Hmmm, I think I do,” Kat said softly, leaning in and brushing her lips against Ann’s. “So, ye got yerself a princess fer a girlfriend, an’ I’ve got a literal god sent girlfriend, with a cock tae die for.” She emphasized the last part by squeezing her insides around Ann’s cock, which twitched in response. “I think I can make do with that.”

“Girlfriends.” Ann agreed.

“Now that tha’s settled, ye promised me a night an’ I intend tae make full use o’ it.” Kat stated, shifting her hips, rocking them slightly over Ann’s half hard length.

A gasp, followed by an instinctive thrust into Kat’s already overflowed depths, sent more shivers through Ann. “Oh, I’ll make sure you do.”

Kat laughed as Ann rolled on top of her, kissing her nose gently before she began to move again, tail swishing happily above her.

Chapter Text

It was late morning when Annita’s eyes fluttered open. The room was lit brightly with the sun pouring in through the window. Her chest felt heavier than normal, and looking down, she found Kat sprawled on top of her. The woman’s arms were wrapped around her torso, and she was drooling slightly.

Slowly, Annita remembered the night they’d spent together. The heat they’d started with had devolved into a carnal hunger for each other they’d done their best to satiate. She was pretty sure she had passed out still in Kat, but had softened as they slept.

Shifting slightly, she felt the stickiness of her lower half, and the completely ruined bed sheets beneath them.

“Kat, sweetheart, time to get up,” Ann whispered to her sleeping girlfriend. The thought still sent a thrill through her. Kat had reciprocated her feelings! So quickly too! She was terrified that it was a purely physical thing for Kat, despite some offhanded comments, but no. She liked her!

“Mmmm, time is it?” Kat groaned as she came out of her catatonic state.

“Not sure. Late. Bren’s probably been waiting for us,” Ann replied, running a hand through Kat’s messy hair.

“Fine. Ugh,” Kat squeezed, her strong arms constricting like a vise. “Wanna lay here longer, but ‘s fine.”

“Can snuggle more tonight,” Ann giggled, kissing her girlfriend’s head before rolling her off. “Besides, we’re a sticky mess. Housekeeping is going to hate us, too.”

“Wooorth it,” Kat mumbled as she sat up, wiping her bleary eyes.

“Yeah it was. Love you,” Ann said, feeling heat in her cheeks at the words.

“Love ye too. All right, get the bath started. I’ll join ye.”

Ann and Kat shared a quick bath, waking them both up quickly as they washed the remains of last night’s activities. For a few minutes, they relaxed with each other in the warm water, just enjoying the closeness, but time was something they couldn’t ignore.

Getting dressed, they headed back downstairs. Both were a little wobbly, but tried their best to play it off.

Bren, waiting for them as expected, wasn’t to be fooled.

“Have a fun night?” He asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Damn right we did,” Kat beamed at him as she took her seat. “Gonna have a lot more.”

“Oh? That entails a deepening of your relationship past the physical. Did you steal dear Katlyn’s heart, Annita?”

Annita blushed furiously at the dead on accusation. “I guess I did. Seemed more like a mutual thing, though.”

“Well, I for one approve,” he said smugly as he sipped his tea.

“As do I.”

All three of them turned to the woman’s voice that had interjected in their conversation. A gorgeous woman stood just off to the side. None of them had noticed her in the room before, but there she was and clearly knew what was happening.

“Who?” Annita asked.

“Child, did you already forget about me? I’m hurt.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Annita cursed, as the woman grinned.

“First, can anyone else hear us?” Ann quickly asked the woman.

“Nope. Just you, me, your girlfriend, and your lovely companion,” the woman answered. “The rest of the tavern will hear a perfectly normal conversation.”

“Well, in that case. Guys, didn’t think this’d happen so blatantly, or this quickly for that matter, but meet Orenous,” Annita introduced.

Kat fell out of her chair.

Bren stood bolt upright.

“A pleasure, my darlings,” Orenous said, with a low bow to the table. “May I sit?”

“Yeah, go ahead,” Annita pulled up an extra chair for her. “Gotta say you look different.”

Kat pulled herself back into her chair but her mouth still hung open. Bren was seemingly petrified, not even daring to look at Orenous.

“Oh, this thing? Hardly any fun to be stuck in one appearance when so many others offer a beauty all their own.” Orenous brushed her pristine shoulders. She was a feline Vulhardrin this time. The picture of a catgirl that Annita had drawn hundreds of times, with blue hair and fur, a tail, and yellow cat’s eyes. Her form was no less voluptuous than her appearance in Annita’s mind, and she was dressed to accentuate it with sheer cloth and pants that did not match the weather.

“Sculpture don’ do ye justice,” Kat murmured as she drank in the sight.

“There is a limit to human skill, dear Katlyn. Enjoying my gifts, are you?” she teased.

“Aye. I sure feckin am,” Kat grinned, with a sidelong glance at Annita, who blushed deep red.

“Good. I told her to have fun, and I’m glad she is. And you, dear Bren, how are you handling this new development in your life?” Orenous asked as she leaned on the back of her hands, folded primly before her.

Bren startled from his state, looking around hurriedly before sitting down. “I, uh, yes ma’am. I am quite all right with things. Would you, uh, would you mind me asking the reason for this visit? Our records rarely speak of the gods being among us. All of the records for the last two thousand years have merely been theories. I really must ask what prompted your appearance in the flesh?”

“And there is that beautiful curiosity of yours. You two,” she pointed to Kat and Bren, “have my sincere thanks for helping our Annita here get on her feet in this new lease on life. To your point about records, they are mistaken. We were only physically here during the cataclysmic time of our return. What you all are seeing is in your minds. A nice bit of trickery so I can more comfortably talk to everyone.”

“So I look like I just pulled up a seat for no one?” Ann asked.

Orenous let out a tinkling laugh. “Yes, and you were so dashing, doing so,” the Goddess teased. “I must say, though, you three have been doing a fantastic job of integrating with each other. One can practically see the bonds between you growing. I mean, I literally can, but you get what I mean.”

“Thanks?” Kat said, still with a supremely confused look on her face.

“You’re welcome. Now, dear Katlyn, how did you enjoy my champion last night?” Orenous said with a smirk, leaning over to Kat. “I’ve seen her body. Hells, I had a hand in shaping it. Did she take good care of you? Filled to the brim? I made sure she had stamina to spare for her lovers.” As she spoke, she took Katlyn’s hand in her own, gently stroking it.

Kat turned beet red at the blunt question. She tried to start a sentence multiple times before a quiet squeak escaped her throat. It was all she could manage before burying her face in her hands.

Orenous seemed delighted by the response. Laughing again, she leaned back and winked at Annita, who could feel her body heating up even further, somehow. Orenous then turned to Bren.

“Bren. While I would prefer more intimate relationships with my champion, I will respect your choice. Consent is everything, and the choice to say no will always be valid. I have plans for your group, and whoever else joins, but do not worry. I will make sure you share in the blessings bestowed without the need for carnal involvement.”

Bren looked like a weight was taken off his shoulders. He relaxed, slumping heavily in his seat. “Thank you, Your Holiness.”

“Your Holiness,” Orenous laughed again. “So formal. Just call me my name, darling. Now, as much fun as it is to tease all of you, I do have some actual matters to discuss. First of all, Annita, your new trait after interacting with the Core.”

“Oh, yeah. I’d been kinda ignoring that until I had more information,” Annita admitted.

“Certainly the wise choice. I would encourage delving into it cautiously.” Orenous said, her face becoming serious. “The fact it takes your life force to use its skills is concerning. It is very rare for gifts from even the most violent Gods, like Nylir, to have a cost to one’s own life. Getting a closer look at you, body and mind, it does not appear that your id or ego have been altered. I sense a minuscule increase in corruption in your physical form, but far less than is to be expected from someone interacting with a fully corrupted Core. Certainly minor compared to the amount you sustained while sleeping in my Seed.”

“Well, that’s good then, isn’t it?” Annita asked. “It means I can keep helping with the Cores. Siphoning off the corruption, right?”

“For now, yes. That is what I would advise. Katlyn,” Orenous turned to the Protector, who had finally risen from her hands, “I trust your connections will be useful in this pursuit. Truly, I understand the burden I am putting upon your shoulders, but it is somewhat necessary. I hope you will forgive me.”

Kat tilted her head, looking like she was trying to make sure she heard that right. “Yer apologizin’. Tae me? A Goddess apologizin’?”

“Yes. I do not enjoy causing tension and stress in my children. I would much rather you spend your days happily in Annita’s lap, however, that is not the reality we live in.”

“I, er. Aye. I accept the apology? Feckin’ bizarre, all o’ this,” Kat grumbled. “So, just more o’ the same? Do we have a time we need tae be doin’ this in?”

“No, at least not for now. The Seeds seem to be behaving themselves from what we can see outside of them. No surges in Warped or anything too dangerous have fallen to the Corruption.”

“That is good news,” Bren sighed. “It has been some time since the last swarm. I was beginning to worry that one would begin soon with Annita’s appearance.”

“Sorry, swarm?” Annita interjected.

“Yes, child,” Orenous answered. “Now and then an increase in Warped activity occurs. Large numbers of the things will pour out from the Seeds to cause havoc to the surrounding environment and people. I would still advise vigilance, Bren. Even we cannot predict these things.”

“Understood. I appreciate the perspective of the Gods,” Bren said reverently.

“You’re very welcome, darling. Now, if you all would be so kind, could you please tell me what happened in Estvall’s Seed?”

The three mortals told the story of their expedition into the seed. They told her of the landscape, the tree, the Guardian, and the interaction with the Core. Orenous seemed to notice when Kat skipped the part where she and Annita had fingered each other in the Core’s cavern, but she didn’t press.

“Interesting. It appears that Core was only lightly corrupted. Enough that Estvall was not able to influence his domain, but left its overall structure intact. Interesting that he was able to enter briefly when you siphoned a portion of the taint. I will have to inform Qu’sella about this. They will undoubtedly love this information. That is all for now. I will check in again some time later.”

“How much later?” Ann asked.

“Aw, sad to see me go? I am not sure, darling. I am ever pulled by my responsibilities to humanity. This is but one of my multitude of focuses.”

“Fine. Just let me know if I’m fucking up all right?” Ann asked.

“You’ve been doing splendidly. Both in quest and conquest. Have some more faith in yourself.” Orenous smiled kindly, a hand reaching out to cup Annita’s cheek. “Now, I really must be off. Take good care of each other. Love and give of yourselves with an open mind and heart. Toodles!”

With that, the Feline form of Orenous shimmered and vanished.

“Toodles?” Bren asked, incredulously.

“Aye, what the feck?”

Annita groaned and hid her face in her hands. “Well, yeah. You wanted to know more about what she’s like? Congratulations.”

“She is a lot nicer than I thought she would be,” Bren sighed, sinking into his chair. “I mean, she is professed to be the goddess of love, beauty, and all things involved, but I always thought she would be more Godly? If that makes sense. More propriety.”

“Nope. She’s been like that since I met her. Honestly surprised she didn’t try to snuggle up with anyone,” Ann said as she raised her head to face the rest of the table.

“An’ ‘er arse was feckin’ great!” Kat blurted, coming out of her shock at the meeting.

“Is that really what you were focused on?” Bren asked incredulously. “We just met Divinity and you were looking at her rear end? Seriously?”

“Hey, not my fault Ann left that outta the first meetin’’ Kat defended herself.

“I think she might have been doing that on purpose for you,” Ann interjected. “She didn’t look like that last time. She was human, different colors, everything.”

“Hey, I’m not complainin’. Goddess wants tae flaunt herself I’ll happily enjoy. Though it seemed like she knew what we got up tae last night. That’s a bit odd.”

“She’s a Goddess, what do you expect? Figure she’s watching in some capacity even now,” Ann groaned. 

“At least she provided decent guidance for our current course. Once we handle things here, and figure out where to find our next party member, dealing with Seeds would be the main focus,” Bren said, steepling his fingers and drawing a serious look across his face.

“Oh, speaking of. I should assign that skill,” Ann said, pulling up her stats. She opened the writhing black box and took a look at the options again.

“Actually, I have a question first. Are you safe, Kat? After everything last night?” Ann asked.

“Hm?” Kat asked over a mouthful, before swallowing. “Yeah. I’m fine. Figured it’d be a thing, so I snagged a potion at one o’ the shops when ye were talkin’ tae another shopkeeper. No worries of an accidental kid.”

“That’s good, at least. Still, think I’m going to take the Virility Manipulation thing. Just to be extra safe.”

“And not tae knock me up with a litter o’ pups?” Kat teased.

“I mean, Orenous’ tit’s Kat. Really?”

Kat just winked at her before turning back to her food, clearly enjoying the reaction she’d gotten.

Ann took the mental moment to select the skill. Unlike the rest of the times she took a skill, she felt a squeeze in her gut, almost like something was moving around, before it released and returned to normal.

“Oh Gods, that felt fucking weird,” Ann winced.

“Are you all right? What happened?” Bren asked, moving over to better check on her.

“I’m fine. Really. It just felt like my guts rearranged a little bit. I didn’t even activate the skill, just taking it changed something.”

“That is interesting. Try activating it. You said it costs a portion of your health. Better to test it now while I am present to mitigate the loss.”

Ann focused, pulling up the skill and setting herself to be sterile. Again that queasy feeling hit her and once it passed she felt slightly tired. Checking her health she confirmed that it sat at 220/230. Bren quickly topped it off.

“Same feeling, just a little tired after using it. Sterile, by the way,” she clarified, shooting a glare at Kat. The Alf pouted and kept chewing her food, grumbling something under her breath. “Hey, at least we can have fun without having to worry about any surprises.”

“True, true. I’ve also been meanin’ tae talk to ye about somethin’. Normally it’d be a more private thing, cause it’s a relationship thing, but it affects the party, so Bren gets tae be here for it. Ye thinkin’ about hookin’ up wit’ other girls?”

Ann stopped with her spoon halfway up to her mouth before lowering it back into her bowl of oatmeal. “I had considered it,” she said slowly, watching Kat’s reaction. “It seems to be a part of Orenous’ blessing, and she did seem convinced we’d pick up more people. Is that a problem?”

“It’s not… really somethin’ I considered bein’ a thing fer me, tae tell the truth. Figured I’d find a good man or woman an’ figure out life wit’ em. I’m not necessarily opposed, mind, but I might be a bit selfish.”

“I get it. Before all this, I had the same outlook on things. I guess it’s changing a little with everything I’ve gone through. No doubt Orenous has had a little influence there, but I can’t feel her finger in my brain, so probably not intentional.”

“This really is a conversation for the two of you,” Bren spoke up. “We will need further members to cover weaknesses in our current team, mainly magical. If they need to be compatible with you, Ann, then that narrows our search. I can contact a few people to put out feelers. Maybe we will get lucky.”

“But back to the main issue here,” Ann directed. “Kat, this is on you. I don’t care if you say no to it. That’d be perfectly fine with me. Like Orenous said, consent is king. Wouldn’t do anything like this without your go ahead.”

Kat sat there, pondering. She ate slowly, making sure to thoroughly chew each mouthful before she spoke. “I think we can try, aye. I get tae tell ye no on anyone, no questions asked. Understood?”

“That works for me,” Ann sighed with relief. “Seriously though, you say no, the person is gone. I don’t care how strong they are, or how hot they are.”

“I trust ye. Ye’ve trusted me with a lot o’ sensitive info about yerself, feels right tae return that trust.”

“As do I. I will be keeping an eye on things, though,” Bren warned. “Anything happens to Kat outside of the normal combat, I will be speaking my mind.”

“I can take care o’ meself,” Kat grumbled.

“Yes, I know. I can not, however, ignore my own feelings. Your hurt is mine. We’ve known each other most of my life. It is instinctual at this point.”

“Fair. Worrywart.” Kat returned to her food.

“Love you too, Kat,” Bren chuckled before returning to his own food.

They finished their meal quickly, a busy day ahead of them. Bren decided he would begin putting out feelers for a caster that might fit their group. Ann needed to visit an armory to get some sort of armor, and Kat needed to check in with a couple of official duties she couldn’t ignore with General Polaris.

“Meet back up at lunch?” Ann asked. “I figure we can find someone to check out the items we got from Estvall after, together.”

“That sounds like a good plan to me,” Bren said, standing. “I am quite curious as to the applications of such unique materials.”

“Same ‘ere,” Kat grunted as she stood. “See you two back here in a bit. If Clandalaria doesn’t keep me. She better feckin’ not.”

Ann laughed and pulled the grumpy woman into a kiss. Kat melted quickly, before she let her go.

“Gods damnit woman, let me be grumpy,” Kat sighed, trying to hide a smile.

“Nope! See you later!” Ann called as she turned and left for the industrial area she’d seen before.

Chapter Text

t felt strange to be on her own. It was the first time since Annita woke up that neither Kat nor Bren were within shouting distance. She walked down the streets, taking in the city as she did. People of all races, colors, and assortments of limbs hurried on their own ways. It felt like any busy city street from her time, and getting lost in the crowd was easier than she thought.

One thing she noticed as she walked along was small streams pouring out of the sides of the roofs above. Looking closer, she saw small spouts had been carved in the small walls that bordered the flat space, and melted snow was pouring out.

Pulling aside a random person, she asked how the snow was melting so quickly?

The stranger gave her a confused look, but explained that the roofs had heating gems installed. They were recharged by the sun and could be used to clear built up snow when needed.

Taking an alleyway, exploring further, a ball ricocheted off the wall ahead of her. She instantly tracked the speeding object, every muscle in her body tense before leaping at the toy. She landed on her hand and feet, ball securely in one hand.

Standing, Annita took a moment to realize she hadn’t even thought about chasing and catching the ball. Must have been something from the wolf part of her. Feeling a not insignificant amount of shame, she walked toward where the thing had come from.

“I think it went over here!” she heard a young voice ahead.

“I told you not to hit it so hard,” another voice replied.

“Can’t help I’m stronger than you,” the first retorted.

“At least I’m faster.”

Around the wall came a pair of kids. One an Alfhindur boy and the other an Inlon girl. They came up short, skidding slightly as they almost ran into Annita. The Alf looked fairly normal, but the Inlon had a very prominent third eye in the middle of her forehead. 

“Gosh, you’re tall lady!” the Alfhindur gasped.

“Don’t say that! It’s rude!” the girl gasped, smacking her friend.

“It’s ok, it’s ok,” Ann laughed, crouching down, holding up the ball. “This yours?”

“Yeah, sure is,” the boy said a bit sulkily.

“We was playin’, miss. Ton hit it too hard, and it got over our fence. May we have it back?” the girl explained.

“Did not! I hit it normal!” Ton protested, stomping his foot.

“Did too! I’ve never hit it that far!” the girl shouted back.

“Hey, c’mon, no fighting,” Ann giggled as the kids’ arguing escalated again. “Just be careful. And I won’t tell anyone if you’re worried about that.”

“Eh, our parents are fine with us wanderin’,” the little girl huffed, taking the ball. “Just safer to be close to home.”

“That’s very responsible,” Ann smiled at the girl. “Be safe, you two!” She stood and turned to leave.

“Thank you tall lady!” the girl yelled back, already running off with Ton.

Kids were still kids. That was a good thing, Annita thought. Still getting into trouble, still precocious little things. The encounter lightened her mood and her step as she made her way up the central hill of the city.

Buildings became more utilitarian as she walked, shifting from the square blocks of the residential district to larger, more specialized structures. She passed smithies, lumber yards, tailors, and some vocations she couldn’t name.

She took about half an hour asking around for recommendations on someone who could make her some good leather armor fairly quickly. At the recommendation of a few passersby and a very intense Thrundol blacksmith lady, she found herself at a bit of a rundown shack of a building. Inside she could hear grumbling and the scraping of a knife across some surface.

Shrugging, she ducked into the smaller door, ringing a bell, and looked around. It was chaos. Hides of all sorts were not so much draped as tossed haphazardly across every available surface, including the floor. There were some walking paths she picked her way through, but it was treacherous going.

“Hello?” Ann called.

“I’m here! I’m here! Give me a sec’!” came a gruff call back. It sounded like a woman, but she couldn’t quite tell.

After a few minutes, which she spent looking through the hides, an Inlon woman bustled in from a back room behind what Ann assumed was a hide covered counter.

“Welcome to Riva’s hides and tannery. What can I do you for?”

Riva was actually fairly tall for an Inlon, from Ann’s perspective. The woman came up to her mid thighs, was a dark green color with brilliant amber eyes. Her slick black hair was pulled back into a tight bun, and glasses hung off her long nose. Wearing a simple set of overalls, Ann could see that she was used to hard work, with the corded muscles in her arms and shoulders. Her face reflected the years of hard work, weathered, creased, wrinkles at the corners of her eyes from squinting, but still attractive in its own way.

“I know it doesn’t look like I’ve got much going on, but I do have stuff to work on. What do you need?” Riva asked, snapping Annita out of her appraisal.

“Sorry, sorry. I’m here to get some armor. I asked around and everyone I met with said to talk to you. Mostly because I need it pretty quick.”

“Hmm, for a big girl like you, with those curves?” Ann noticed the woman’s eyes twinkle as she looked her over. “I might actually have something prepped. It’ll need adjustment, and alteration for you being a Lupine, but we can make it work. I’d prefer to make you a custom set, but if you need it quick, then that’s what we’re going to have to do.”

“You do custom work?” Ann asked.

“You bet your tail I do. The best money is in custom orders. You interested?” Riva asked, raising an eyebrow.

“I would be, but I’m not sure how long I’ll be here. Could be a couple days, could be a week.”

“Girl, you know rush orders exist, right?” Riva laughed.

“Hey, I didn’t want to assume,” Ann said, raising her hands.

“Girl, looking like you do, I’m pretty sure people would go along with your assumptions even if they didn’t normally do whatever you were asking for,” Riva smirked, leaning over on a pile of hides. This afforded Ann with a great view of the woman’s unbound cleavage under the overalls.

Feeling her cheeks beginning to heat up, she quickly cleared her throat, trying to control herself. “I wouldn’t know,” she replied shortly. “But yeah, if a rush order could be worked out, I guess we could do that.”

“Well, as far as money goes, I’d charge two gold for the whole set. Though, we might be able to work out a discount. You have your measurements?” Riva asked, crossing her arms and pushing up her chest none too subtly.

Ann took a second, fumbling in her pockets to pull out the paper Nolton had given her. Riva took it and looked it over. “Hmm, detailed. A bit odd in certain measurements, though. Professionally, you have anything downstairs?”

Ann’s repressed blush came out full force at the question. “Uh, yeah. I do.”

A broad grin stretched across Riva’s face before she returned to the paper. “Yeah, I can work with this. It’ll be a day. No enchantments, though we could work in places for you to add ‘em if you wanted. That’d be another five silver on top. You want a helmet? You want a helmet. Face plate?”

“I don’t think so. I remember this one design, came down over the face, left the sides open,” Ann tried to describe, moving her hands in a V over the front of her face.

“Ah, don’t want to hide your assets, got it. I think in a piece of armor, though, a faceplate would work. How about a detachable one? Yeah, it’ll cover your features, but it’ll make a fearsome image for whoever you’re fighting.”

“Do Warped feel fear?” Ann asked, genuinely curious.

“What? No, of course not. Though who says you’ll always be fighting those monstrosities? Either way, I would recommend it. Here, like this.”

Taking a dull piece of metal, she flipped a piece of leather to its back and sketched out her idea. It was a viking style helmet, with a cap that fit snugly over her head, let her ears stand free, and a gap to allow her mane of hair to plume out. The face mask was simple, a shaped piece of leather that would comfortably meet the helmet at the nosepiece and cover her cheeks and chin.

Riva then showed her a clever clasping mechanism that would hold it in place, but allow her to pull it off fairly easily if she needed. It clasped at the sides, and could only be removed with both hands.

“Yeah, that can work. Not sure how well I’ll deal with heat in that, though,” Ann said as she looked over the design.

“I’ve got my ways. Don’t worry about that. Now the rest of it. How form fitting do you want this?” Riva asked, sketching out a quick figure.

“Chest and upper body, fairly well fitting, I guess. Lower body, I’d prefer something looser.”

“So tight upper armor which should also accentuate your body, and then the lower half will be a leather skirt, studded with steel, then leather greaves. I’m no cobbler, so you’ll have to figure out your boots or shoes elsewhere. I can buy a cloak for you, too.”

“No need. I don’t really get cold up here. Benefit of the whole Lupine thing,” Ann chuckled.

“Damn, that’s lucky. I freeze my ears off whenever a storm comes through. Have to spend time around the blacksmiths just to keep warm. Anyway, yeah. I can work with all this. Now, two gold and five silver will be your cost unless you want to talk about a discount,” Riva said.

Ann took a moment to look over the Inlon. She was pretty sure she knew what Riva was trying to get at with pushing the discount so hard. The woman hadn’t really been subtle checking her out. The only thing that caused her to pause was her promise to Kat only a couple of hours ago.

“Just so I’m completely clear here, what would a discount entail?” Ann asked cautiously.

“Girl, you’re gorgeous, and I want a piece,” Riva said bluntly. “That’s all. I haven’t had any action in a long Godsdamned time, and I thought you might be willing.”

“Gotcha. So, I’ll have to talk to my girlfriend about that. I can pay either way. Just don’t want to lead you on,” Ann said, crossing her arms as she tried to hide her discomfort. 

“Of course you’re already taken. Shit, sorry about that. Had to shoot my shot, you know?” Riva slumped, her ears drooping as she gathered her things.

“Yeah, I get it. Trust me, I do!” Ann insisted as the Inlon raised a skeptical eyebrow at her. “Just can’t let things ruin something good I’ve got going on.”

“She that special?” Riva asked, changing her tone to more curiosity than the previous disappointment.

“She really is. I’m lucky to have her,” Ann replied, getting a bit wistful remembering the night before.

“Well, congratulations to you!” Riva smiled, finishing getting her things together. “Bring her by next time. I’d love to meet whoever took you off the market. Anything else you need?”

“Nope, that’s it,” Ann confirmed.

“All right, then it’ll be done by tomorrow evening. It’s going to be a loooong night. Time to get the coffee brewing,” Riva muttered to herself, turning away.

Ann let herself back out into the cold air of the city. Is this what it was like being attractive? It was strange. She was pretty average back in her old body, so she’d only had to deal with the creeps that would catcall or hit on anyone. Having someone who was actually fairly attractive hitting on her out of the blue was something really new to her. Besides Kat, she conceded. She didn’t count Kat as a random encounter, for some reason. A part of her had a feeling that Orenous had set them up, but she wasn’t going to complain.

Taking her time going through the city as the sun rose high in the sky, she took in the people populating the streets. Particularly the Vulhardrin who she now shared some kinship with. She spotted a couple other Lupine, shorter than her, but with the fluffy ears and tail. One was more reddish, while the other had black and white hair that reminded her of a husky.

She spotted several Avian as well. They varied wildly, more than other subcategories seemed to. Most seemed to have the entire head of a bird, but others had different mixes. A cardinal headed man passed by, his bright plumage standing out against the dark colors of the buildings. His legs were replaced by the talons of the appropriate bird as well. Some had feathers running down their arms, forcing them to wear sleeveless shirts, and others had plumage where Annita had a tail. One in particular sporting the wide frill of a turkey was a strange sight to behold. Thankfully, the woman was spared having a wattle and just had further plumage instead of hair.

Vulpine and Feline hustled and bustled around much more frequently than the rest. Their animal traits as widely spread as the rest. She also spotted a massive Ursine trundling down one of the primary thoroughfares. The woman was covered in the thick fur of a bear with ears to match. The rest of her was fairly normal, if just huge, compared to a normal person.

As she walked, Ann contemplated whether there were any fish based Vulhardrin, but doubted there’d be any in the mountainous city. Maybe some more exotic creatures. Kat had mentioned dragons. Gods, she wanted to see one so badly. She’d loved drawing them every time she got the opportunity, and needed to see one. Not to mention all the other fantasy creatures that might exist now.

Distracted by her daydreams, she began to walk faster, her stat enhanced legs taking her though the town on their own. Suddenly, she bumped into someone, sending both of them sprawling.

“Oh my Gods, I’m so sorry,” Ann cried.

“Eas be damned,” the man grumbled. “Watch where you’re going. And so fast. Just ‘cause you can doesn’t mean you should.” He batted her hand away as he rose to his feet and trudged off.

Ann was a bit taken aback by the comment. She didn’t feel like she was going that fast. Maybe it was a product of her levels and Dex. Now she wanted to race someone. Someone running full tilt, the wind in her fur, whistling past her ears. She could almost feel it. Shaking herself, she focused back on heading back to the Mercenary Association. It was strange, but she was definitely starting to notice the more canine instincts poking through in her now that she was in civilization. Maybe being somewhere so populated and urban agitated that side of her. Out in the wilds, they were natural and had a purpose.

Eventually, she made her way back to the large building that marked her temporary home. Neither Kat nor Bren were back yet, from what she could see, so she took the time to head up to her room. Flopping on the bed she stared at the ceiling, taking a moment to rest before she got bored again. No phones or computers to keep her occupied really exacerbated her ADHD.

Groaning, she sat back up and headed downstairs again, walking over to one of the clerks. 

The man looked up as she approached. “Good morning! How may I help you?”

“Do you have any books or something? Something on the Warped, if possible,” Ann requested pleasantly.

“Not an uncommon request. We do have several tomes with descriptions and classifications of Warped here. One moment.” The man stood and walked back into a room behind him. After a few minutes, he returned with two hefty books.

“These should do the trick. ‘Gendal’s Compendium of Monstrosities’, and ‘Warped Beyond Recognition’. The first is a dry read, I’ll admit. Lots of detailed descriptions, analysis, but very straightly put. The second is an easier read, but glosses over some details that would be helpful to a mercenary such as yourself. I’d recommend starting with ‘Warped Beyond Recognition’, then delving deeper with Gendal’s if you discover something interesting. If you’d like them, I’ll just need your badge for a moment to check them out. Please return them before leaving for any other locations. You will be billed if they go missing for longer than a week upon your next visit.” He put the books down on the desk and opened his hand for Ann’s badge, which she handed over.

Taking a logbook out from under the desk, he rifled through it, pressed her badge to a page, then handed it back.

“Thank you. Have a good read!” He smiled, handing Ann the books.

Smiling and waving, Ann took the books back up to her room. Leafing through them she began to study. As described, Gendal’s book was more of a textbook than anything. Dry, educational, and absolutely boring. Taking the clerk’s advice she opened “Warped Beyond Recognition” and poured through it. It had far more illustrations of the things it was talking about, as well as anecdotes from people who had fought the beasts. Ann quickly lost herself in the book, taking in the grotesque but fantastical creatures she would likely be running into.

A short while later, she heard the door open, but didn’t roll over. Boots trekked over the wooden floor before a pleasant weight settled on top of her.

“Whatcha readin?” Kat asked as she nuzzled into Ann’s neck.

“About the Warped. Figured if we’re going to be fighting them, I might as well know more,” Ann said, nuzzling her girlfriend’s head back.

“Have a good mornin’?” Kat asked as she relaxed on top of Kat.

“Yeah. Met some kids, playing around. I commissioned some armor, too. Rush order that should be done by tomorrow evening. Don’t think you’d believe it, but the Inlon who runs the place propositioned me,” Ann sighed. “Offered a discount for it, too.”

She felt Kat stiffen a bit at the mention of the offer. “What did ye say?”

“Said I’d talk to you about it. Didn’t expect it to come up this quickly to be honest, but I promised,” Ann replied, closing the book and rolling over. Kat lifted herself so they laid face to face on the bed.

“Thank ye,” the Alf said softly. “I’m, ugh. I told ye I was probably the jealous type. Feelin’ a bit protective now. I just got ye. Don’t feel like sharin’ ye yet. Much less the feelin’s that come along wit’ all that.” Kat squeezed her close, burying her face in Ann’s cleavage. “Just be mine fer a bit, ok?”

“Ok,” Ann said softly, running a hand through Kat’s long brown locks. “She did ask to meet the woman who took me off the market, though.”

“Oh?” Kat lifted her face, raising an eyebrow. “What fer?”

“Just that. Didn’t say anything else. Figure she just wants to know what sort of absolutely gorgeous, dashing, strong, talented woman could tie me down,” Ann said, poking Kat’s side with each compliment. Kat giggled madly as Ann tickled her further, driving the woman to pin her arms down to get her to stop. 

“Fine, fine,” Kat gasped between laughter. “I’ll go wit’ ye tae get yer armor. It better be sexy. The mental image o’ ye all wrapped up in leather’s doin’ stuff fer me.”

“You’ll just have to see now, won’t you?” Ann teased as they snuggled deeper into the bed.

“All right. Bren should be back by now. Let’s go see if he got any leads fer us,” Kat grunted as she rolled off the bed.

Ann took an offered hand and followed her downstairs.

Chapter Text

Annita and Kat went down the stairs to the main area hand in hand, smiling and leaning on each other as they walked over to the table Bren sat at.

“Looks like you two had a fine morning,” Bren smiled at them, waving at two empty chairs.

“If ye can call goin’ over logistics o’ the winter wit’ Candalaria fine,” Kat huffed as she fell into her seat. “Wasn’t the worst though. Good tae know the Keep’s doin well fer this year. Iron shipments from Korvas’re comin’ in just fine. Food an’ lumber too, especially thanks tae our expedition.”

“And I got my armor commissioned. Very nice Inlon up in the industrial area was able to fill a rush order. I should have it by tomorrow evening. Other than that I just wandered a bit,” Ann said as she took her own chair. “Gotta say, it’s a bit strange being alone for the first time in this whole experience.”

“Well, I am glad our presence has been such a comfort,” Bren chuckled. “It is well that your armor will be done so soon. I have possibly found us a lead on a caster that will fit our group, and hopefully you, Annita.” Bren leaned forward, sliding a piece of paper across the table.

Ann picked it up, and read it aloud. “Reports of increased Warped activity to the northwest of the city, two day’s travel in an unmarked section of woods. Local trappers and hunters refer to a witch residing in the area who is apparently attempting to control the situation, but they believe she could use assistance. When asked about why they did not offer her aid, they describe unnatural magics and strange happenings around the woman. Soldier who took the report notes the ones relaying this information seem to be superstitious types and this may not be entirely accurate. The city, however, cannot take reports of Warped without further investigation.” Ann put the paper back down, sliding it over to Kat to read.

“This has not yet been posted to official boards for tasking as of yet, though it will soon be placed in the Mercenary Association’s care. My contacts in the Guard informed me that, should we accept, we would be assigned specifically when it is posted. I do not believe I was incorrect in accepting on behalf of the party.” Bren stated calmly as he watched Kat pour over the document.

“Nae, sounds interestin’,” Kat murmured.

“A witch? Any other descriptors of the lady we’ll be helping?” Ann asked.

“None at this time. A little further in the list of information it states that the trappers know she knows when others enter the woods. It is likely she will find us before we find her.”

“At least she sounds like a magic caster. That’s someone we do need. She sounds kinda tied down though. What makes you think she’d join us?” Ann asked, leaning back in her chair and stretching.

“I am not certain. Call it a hunch, for as much as that is worth. Someone capable of such widespread magics while attempting to control the Warped population would be a valuable asset. If she protects the forest, she may be convinced to aid the greater world. It is not a guarantee, I will admit, but it is a good lead.”

Kat finished her reading and passed the report back to Bren. “Aye, I say it’s as good as we’re gonna get unless we take someone from the Garrison. I’d rather keep us as independent as possible considerin’…” she waved in Ann’s general direction. “Besides, sounds like a fight, an’ I’m always ready fer more o’ that.”

“Yup, sounds good to me too,” Ann agreed. “Is there a timeframe on this?”

“No,” Bren said, tucking the report away. “However, sooner is always preferred when there are Warped involved. I would say we leave the morning after your armor is completed.”

“Makes sense to me,” Kat said, flagging down a waiter and ordering lunch for them. Once she was done she returned to the table. “I wasn’t entirely busy with Candalaria’s reports, neither. Poked at ‘er fer an identifier or craftsperson who’d be able tae take a look at the shite we got from the last Seed. Someone trustworthy who’d keep their gob shut. Glade Underbrush up in the Keep itself. He can suss out what we’ve got.”

“Interesting. Then let us pay him a visit once we’ve eaten,” Bren decided.

After a quick lunch, they found themselves entering the gates of the Keep once more, the looming walls passing overhead with little ceremony. At Kat’s direction, they wound their way off to the right of the main building, to a side-structure. It was a tower, or as close as one could be, with only three stories. Odd instruments lined the outside, whirring and spinning in erratic manners, doing Gods knew what. Ann knew this was a wizard’s place just by the look of it, and a giddy excitement rose within her.

Entering through the sturdy door, they were met with a tidy reception area, with a secretary sitting behind a desk on the far wall. The room was entirely wooden, even the floor. It must have cost a lot to line the place in something besides the stone that made up the rest of the building. Chairs lined the right side of the room, while two doors occupied the left. The man looked up from a book he was reading as they crossed the threshold.

“Good afternoon. Do you have an appointment with Master Warga?” the human man intoned with a bored professionalism.

“Nae, apologies,” Kat spoke up. “An impromptu visit, unfortunately. Ol’ General Polaris sent us ‘ere. Said Master Warga could be trusted tae look at some curiosities we picked up.”

At the General’s mention, the man straightened in his chair, taking their group much more seriously. “General Polaris? I don’t mean to doubt you, ma’am, but do you have anything to prove this?”

“Aye, ‘ere.” Kat passed him a piece of paper with what looked like a stamped sigil on it. 

The man looked over the paper before placing it in a drawer to his right. “Thank you, honored guests. I will fetch the Master. Please make yourselves comfortable. I will only be a few minutes.”

The party took the seats that were pointed out and waited. After several minutes, longer than any of them expected, the secretary returned.

“He will speak with you now. Please take that door. It will lead to a staircase. Second floor, second door on your right.”

“Thanks,” Annita called as she stood and walked over to the door. The rest of the building was wood as well, including the stairs. Taking the directions, Ann knocked on the second door to the right in the hallway.

“Come in,” a bassy voice echoed out from within.

They entered a ridiculously clean room. It was organized; the floor was spotless wood and the shelves, while packed with books and contraptions, were clearly specifically sorted by the owner’s design. The far wall consisted of a large stained glass window depicting a scholar of some sort staring up at the stars. At the center sat the bulbous fractured moon, with several of the stars Kat had taught Annita clearly visible to either side. In the center of the room was a round table festooned with apparatus Annita would have called a chemistry set. She knew this had to be something more complicated, but she couldn’t shake the memories of high school from her head looking at the bubbling beakers and vials filled with colourful liquid. Opposite the door stood a surprisingly plain desk, made of a dark polished wood. The top was covered with neat stacks of paper, several thick tomes, and a quill resting in an inkwell.

“General Polaris sent you, did she?” The man sitting at the desk asked in a gentle voice. He wasn’t as old as Annita had been expecting. Less Gandalf and more young Dumbledore. Warga was clean cut, with his light brown hair pulled back into a small ponytail. He regarded the three of them with green eyes full of curiosity that sparkled behind his clasped hands. “The letter stressed some level of secrecy. I admit I’m curious what would get her to issue a warning like that. Seeing that it is coming attached with a visit from royalty, however, I think I get some idea.”

“Ah, well, Kat’s outta the bag,” Kat laughed at her own pun. “I’m not huge on formalities so we can skip all that if ye don’t mind. Good tae meet ya, Master Warga. This is Annita and Bren, my companions. Candalaria told me ye’d be able tae help us figure out the details on some items we got in a Seed.”

“Oh? Something like that is normally handled by someone at the Mercenary Association. What is it that needs my attention?” Warga asked, leaning forward.

“It’s less the what an’ more the how,” Kat began. “See, well, I guess it’s easier to show ye.”

“By all means,” Warga waved at a section of papers which gently floated off to an empty spot on a shelf nearby.

Annita took the pouch of gifts from Estvall and emptied them onto the desk in front of Warga, then placed the note down.

“It’s, uh, not an easy thing to explain,” Annita hedged.

Warga’s eyebrows almost sprung free of his forehead as he read the letter. “This is real? What am I saying? I can confirm this is real, but how?”

“Long story short, I’m patroned by a Goddess and we’ve been working on some stuff regarding the seeds,” Ann explained simply. “After we helped with this one, this pouch and letter showed up outside the Core.”

“Quite suddenly,” Bren confirmed. “I was on guard outside the Core’s chamber and did not even notice the satchel’s arrival.”

“Fascinating. A gift from the Gods. Well, a specific God. Estvall. I think I read about him at some point. Minor forest god? Yeah, that was him. So, a piece of wood, a crystal, and a ream of bark. Yeah, that fits what he’d have access to.” As Warga spoke mostly to himself, he picked up each of the objects, holding them aloft and rotating them in the light of the surrounding candles.

“I’m not going to press on the whole ‘pushing back the darkness’ part of the letter. I have a feeling I’ll be learning about that soon enough. Now, let’s start with the crystal.”

Waving a hand, Warga brought over a piece of chalk and quickly drew a circle on the surface of his desk. Looking closely, Annita could see an array of runes woven into the circle and crisscrossing lines. He placed the crystal in the center of the circle and spoke a few words Annita couldn’t understand. Warga’s eyes flashed white at the same time as the circle for a split second before returning to normal. The man blinked rapidly, rubbing his eyes.

“Sorry, the flash always blinds me for a moment.”

“Like the one when you choose a Path?” Annita asked, curious.

“Yeah, exactly. For some reason, identifying an object does the same blasted thing. Surprised someone of your age and apparent skill wasn’t aware of that,” Warga said as he opened his eyes wide, trying to focus his overloaded pupils.

“That’s, uh,” Annita started before Warga held up a hand.

“Probably a secret. Don’t worry, Annita. Anyway, this is a wonderful gift. A healer’s focus. It increases the efficiency of protective and restorative spells, as well as a slight boost to their potency. Ten percent for each effect.”

Bren’s eyes widened as he listened. “You’re serious? That’s incredible! Far better than what I have currently. Mine is only a five percent increase to healing efficiency.”

“Yeah, I’m serious,” Warga laughed. “I guess this is for you, then. I’d get that socketed into a wand as soon as you can. Or a staff if you prefer. Now, next is the stick.”

He repeated the process, and the process of shaking the temporary blindness.

“Does closing your eyes help at all?” Annita asked.

“Nope! Sure doesn’t,” Warga grumbled. “Ok, so this is for a firearm. When fashioned into a stock, it will assist with aim and stability for rapid shots. It’s large enough for a pistol from the looks of it. Guessing this one is yours, Annita.” He handed the piece of wood to her.

“And lastly, Katlyn. Since these were each to your companions, I’d take a bet this is for you. Now then, time to blind myself again.” Reaching out, he performed the identification again.

“Wonderful, truly. All right then, this is ironbark. When applied to armor or a shield, it will provide resistance to bludgeoning and slashing damage. Perfect for someone who takes damage. Is there anything else?” Warga looked at the three of them.

“No, you can save your eyes again,” Annita laughed. “That’s all we got that’s important.”

“The General said she’d cover the cost of identifying these, which is admittedly a very minor cost, but it’s covered, nonetheless.”

“Fantastic,” Kat sighed, taking her bundle of ironbark. “Well, that’s all we really had fer ya. I know ye probably have a million questions.”

“Absolutely, can I ask one? Please?” Warga leaned forward excitedly. Even his fairly youthful looks seemingly growing younger.

Annita sighed, gesturing for him to continue.

“Which God or Goddess? Your Patron, I mean.” He asked instantly.

“Orenous. Nice meeting you, Master Warga,” Annita said with a bow as she turned to leave.

They all shuffled out of the room. Before the door closed, they heard Warga already rifling through books.

“Well, that’s one more person who knows. If Candalaria trusts him, though, I guess we can too,” Ann sighed as she descended to the main floor.

“Aye. He’ll keep his gob shut, especially wit’ me bein’ in the room. Wouldn’t cross the royal family. Bad fer one’s health.”

Kat voiced the threat so casually Annita did a double take at the words. “Really? It’s like that?”

“Oh, I mean, I wouldn’t do shit about ‘im. Thing is, people who can’t be trusted with secrets, ‘specially one like this, are more dangerous tae other things they mighta been trusted wit’.” Kat shrugged as they exited the building. “We’ve got some unfriendly neighbors tae the east an’ west. Spies an’ shit happen. If ye’re important like he is, ye’ve got more responsibilities, an’ risk more if ye choose tae betray those. It’s cold, aye, but we need tae keep the people safe.”

“So, like, assassins and stuff? Knives in the night? Poison in someone’s drink?” Ann asked, an uneasy feeling growing in her stomach.

“Feck, no. Half the people at that level o’ importance have some way o’ dealin’ wit’ that shit. Most o’ the time it’s arresting, questionin’ or interrogation dependin’ on the person an’ crime, then sentence tae jail or worse. Judges appointed by the crown oversee it all. It… mostly works all right.” Kat sighed. “There’re always greedy fucks who worm their way in tae spots o’ power like that. The kingdom deals wit’ it as the need arises.”

“Well, I guess that’s better. You sounded like you were going to give the man some concrete shoes and toss him in the harbor.”

“I would not be aligned with Katlyn if that were the case,” Bren said indignantly. “I do not know what concrete is, but it sounds like a back alley drowning. Very very illegal.”

“Concrete is basically fast stone. You can pour some of it into a mould and it’ll dry into heavy, hard stone. And yeah, that’s what I meant.”

“Well, now that we’ve cleared that up,” Kat sighed, pointedly changing the subject, “Bren, got anythin’ ye wanna do fer the rest o’ the day? Should probably go commission our arms and armor wit’ this stuff.”

“Yes, that would be best. I do have some things I would ask Annita to join me on, however, that can wait until tomorrow. For now, shall we split up again, get our gear ordered, and return to the Association for dinner?”

“Sounds good to me,” Ann shrugged.

They briefly discussed the best places to get their equipment handled and went their separate ways.

After stopping by their various shops, the three re-joined and ate a simple dinner before retiring for the night.

Kat and Ann hit their mattress hard. Neither of them speaking about how much they’d been looking forward to getting back here. They instinctively knew the other was ready as soon as they crossed the threshold, and clothes were being torn off before the door even closed.

“Gods, it’s torture watching your ass in those pants all day,” Ann gasped as Kat kissed her neck, pinning her on her back.

“An’ ye think I’m spared wit’ that tail swishin’ in me face all day?” Kat murmured as she moved up Ann’s chin, licking slowly before pushing her tongue between the Lupine’s soft lips. “Just the smell o’ ye drives me nuts.”

Ann melted into the kiss, letting Kat take the lead for a short moment before tensing and rolling the Alf onto her back, looming over the smaller woman. “Not to mention, you in general. I wanted to take you so badly when we met up before lunch. That ‘be mine’ was one of the sweetest things anyone’s said to me.” She grinned wolfishly down at Kat before burying the woman with a barrage of kisses.

Kat giggled, hugging Ann’s face between her breasts as she endured the assault. “An’, ye agreed tae it. Feck. My wolf. My gorgeous, massive, gentle Ann. So damn considerate. Come back ‘ere.” Kat pulled Ann’s face back to hers, kissing again, both women moaning into the action. “Keep it up, an’ ye’ll have me wrapped around that clawed pinkie o’ yers.”

“And my tough, strong, beautiful, caring Katlyn,” Ann returned the sappy dialogue. “Couldn’t ask for a better partner to start a new life with. Even before the fucking.”

“Ye really do mean that,” Kat hummed, kissing Ann’s forehead as the latter returned to kissing her neck. “I mean, the fuckin’s nice, but I’m happy wit’ that. Partners. Girlfriends. Oh, oh, right there,” Kat moaned as Ann found a sensitive patch of skin, causing the Guardian to arch beneath her, accidentally grinding her abs into Ann’s stiff cock.

“Feck, Ann, oh I need ye again,” Kat groaned, arching herself again and rubbing herself against the heat she felt pressed against her.

Grinning, Ann pulled back, just their foreheads touching, as she began to rub her length against Kat’s inner thighs. “Feel good?” she teased.

“Ye feckin’ know it does, ya damn tease,” Kat hissed, trying to angle her hips to get more contact.

“So eager. Might just keep you like this for a bit. Squirming, panting, mmmm.” Ann moaned as she felt Kat tense under her.

“Ye wouldn’t…” Kat looked up to her, a playful fear in her icy blue eyes.

“Hmmm, maybe some other day,” Ann said as she pulled her hips back, lining up on the second try, then sinking half her cock into Kat.

Kat sucked in air at the sudden massive intrusion, her muscles locking around Ann as she held on for dear life. “Feck, still crazy that can fit in me.”

“Only half in, too. Thank you, Orenous,” Ann offered as she pulled her hips back, feeling Kat’s walls grip her tightly before pushing back in further than she was before. A loud moan from Kat spurring her further. Three more thrusts and she sank her full length in, feeling their pelvises meet.

Kat’s eyes had become unfocused as she panted, sweating slightly at the effort of adjusting to the huge member nestled in her guts. “Feck, Ann, I’m ready, don’t… don’t stop.”

Ann chuckled as she felt Kat’s walls squeeze tighter, the velvet embrace resisting heavily as she drew her full length back and pushed back in experimentally. A loud moan and no resistance encouraged her to pick up the pace. Quickly, she was driving Kat into the mattress, hips slapping together as moans flowed from their throats.

Being on top this time, Ann leaned down and captured Kat’s lips in a fierce kiss. As she did, she felt their breasts press together, nipples rubbing together as she moved. She felt Kat gasp as a jolt of pleasure shot out from the sensitive nub. Feeling Kat squeeze harder around her, she pulled back and used her increased flexibility to her advantage as she captured one of the Alf’s nipples between her sharp teeth, biting gently.

Kat’s reaction was exquisite. She sucked in her breath, arching her back to offer more of herself, while her insides contracted stronger than before. Ann had to hold herself back from exploding then and there, feeling the other woman’s body beginning to milk her for her seed.

“Oh, you like that, huh? Like a little pain with the pleasure?” Ann asked, sucking the nipple further into her mouth before biting down again, a little harder this time.

“Feck yeah! Holy shit Ann, keep goin’. I’m.. Oh feck. I’m cummin’” Kat groaned as her body shook beneath Ann. Her arms and legs tightened around Ann’s back and hips, lifting herself off the bed as she rode out her orgasm.

Ann released the nipple, letting the woman pull herself as close as she could before clamping down on Kat’s shoulder, feeling her teeth pushing against the soft flesh, and never stopped plumbing Kat’s depths.

“O-oh-Orenous above,” Kat gasped as she was driven from one orgasm into another. A hand snapped from Ann’s back, latching on to the back of her head and pulling her closer. 

Encouraged, Ann bit in, feeling the skin give way a little, being careful not to dig too deep as she continued to rail Kat. The moan that rumbled through Kat made the Lupine grin as she kept her furious pace. She felt her cock being milked by orgasm after orgasm, she felt her stomach clenching and didn’t hold back. One final thrust and a firm bite into Kat’s shoulder and she came deep in the other woman.

Kat gasped at the feeling as Ann’s seed rushed into her, legs locking around the other woman’s hips, keeping Ann buried as deep as she could manage as Ann pulsed deep inside her.

Ann was lost in bliss. Nothing but the rushing feeling of her seed pumping furiously into Kat reached her senses as her eyes rolled back into her skull. Time melted away as she came. Eventually, she felt the stream subside, jets turning into streams, into dribbles. Kat had let go with her arms, but her legs were still holding Ann fast.

“Feck, ye really can fill a girl up,” she laughed. “Thank the Gods ye can’t get me pregnant fer now. That woulda definitely done the job. I can feel me leakin’!”

Ann felt her self twitch at the thought, and by Kat’s raised eyebrow, she felt it too.

“Oh? Bit early fer thoughts like that, girlie. Get ye all excited? The thought o’ puttin’ a kid in me?” Another twitch. “Mmmf, that confirms it. Ye beast.”

“You look at yourself and tell me that wouldn’t be something you wouldn’t think about,” Ann countered, trying to pull back, but held in by Kat’s thighs.

“Definitely fair,” Kat sighed as she relaxed, allowing Annita to relax in turn.

“Cause, I swear, if we didn’t have this whole quest thing, I’d love to just spend my days doing stuff with you. And doing you,” Ann giggled as she kissed her girlfriend playfully, nuzzling into her neck. “You sure that didn’t hurt too bad?” she asked as she traced the bite mark on Kat’s shoulder.

“Nae, hurt just right. Shit, I knew I was into a bit o’ that, but ye really set me off wit’ it.” She sighed and began to trace patterns across Ann’s back with her fingers, sending thrills up her spine. “Anythin’ ye’re about?”

“Hmm,” Ann paused for a second, thinking. “A lot of it came before I had this,” she flexed the length of cock still in Kat, drawing a soft gasp, “but I still have all my equipment, so I guess we can play around with that too. I dunno, hair pulling? Liked that. Liked being smothered in a pair of massive thighs. Eating someone out while they ate me out was definitely fun. But, most of all, I really liked getting my partner off. Just something about making sure they were having so much fun and cumming their brains out drove me crazy.”

“Ye’ll hear no complaints from me,” Kat giggled, hugging her larger partner, whispering in her ear. “An’ I definitely like me hair pulled too.”

Grinning, Ann backed off, taking charge again. “Hmm, is that so?”

Kat tried to pull her back, but Ann pushed her back onto the bed before taking her hips and rolling her onto her stomach.

“Back that gorgeous ass up,” Ann ordered, smacking the muscled ass before her.

Moaning, Kat raised her hips, feeling Ann slide between her cheeks. Slowly she rocked them, cum and her own juices spreading thickly across her ass and pussy.

Impatiently, Ann aligned her cock with Kat’s pussy and pushed in. In the same motion, she grabbed the Alf’s hips and pulled her to the hilt in one smooth thrust. Kat buried her face in the pillow with a low moan. Her muscular back flexed as she felt herself spread wide once more, and Ann was lost for a moment as she watched it move. 

By themselves, Ann’s hips began to move, causing those rippling muscles to move more. It was almost hypnotic the way Kat’s back moved. She could watch it for hours, but a gasp brought her out of her state. Leaning down, she took two of the Alf’s long brown braids in a hand and pulled.

Kat’s back arched readily, hoisted up by her hair as she rose to her hands. Grinning, Ann sped herself up, feeling Kat pushing back against her with every thrust. She hadn’t gotten to do this the other night, and she marveled at the ripples flowing up Kat’s ass cheeks before disappearing into her lower back. Fuck, this woman was incredible, and she needed to show her how much.

Pulling harder, she brought Kat’s head back further by her scalp, until she was all but standing, suspended by Ann’s hold on her hair. Releasing her hold for a moment, Ann adjusted her grip deeper to claw at the roots of Kat’s hair, getting complete control of her head. Turning it, she brought their faces together and sunk into another deep kiss. Kat’s arms, which had been hanging to her sides, reached up and pulled Ann’s face deeper into the kiss.

Bouncing the woman against herself, she could feel her already sensitive cock pulsing as another orgasm readied itself. Kat, for all she’d cum in their first round, hadn’t yet this time. That wasn’t allowed. With their lips still locked, Ann took advantage of her long arms and reached down between Kat’s thighs. After searching for a moment, she found the small nub of the woman’s clit. Kat moaned intensely into her lips as she began to play with the sensitive button, rubbing her fingers in quick circles as she continued to fuck into the divine pussy wrapped around her.

With a deep moan of her own, Ann felt her orgasm start, her cum rushing up her cock as she pounded harder into Kat. Desperately, she sped up her attentions to Kat’s clit, trying to bring her to her peak as quickly as she could. She felt the first jets of cum spray from herself and a moment later, Kat clamped down hard on her. Hands frozen, Ann held them both there, feeling them both shaking as they rode their ecstasy together.

Eventually, Ann let go of Kat’s lips, both of them desperately drawing breath as they came down. She slowly lowered them both to the bed, not bothering to pull out of Kat, and snuggled into her.

“Every night gonna be like this?” Kat gasped, aftershocks of her orgasm rocking her body.

“Do you want it to be?” Ann panted back.

“More time with ye? I’ll take all I can get,” Kat sighed, relaxing before another aftershock made her tense up. “Oh, that feels amazin’.”

“Then yeah,” Ann said, kissing the back of Kat’s hair. “Definitely a regular thing.”

“Good,” Kat replied with a yawn. “I’m feckin’ knackered. Ye really take it outta me.”

“Mmm, me too,” Ann yawned herself. “Feel kinda bad for the housekeeping, leaving messes like this.”

“Can just tip… ‘em… extra,” Kat said softly, her voice beginning to trail off as her eyes drooped.

“Sweet dreams,” Ann whispered, pulling Kat close.

“Sleep… sweet,” Kat mumbled as she drifted off.

Chapter Text

The morning was much the same as the day before. Ann woke with Kat still snuggled into her. Their combined fluids had glued their hips together, and it was uncomfortable to separate as Ann stretched. Kat grumbled wordlessly to herself.

“Mornin’, sunshine,” Ann teased the drowsy Alf. “We really need to start washing up before we pass out if we’re going to be making this much of a mess.”

“Mmm, aye,” Kat agreed blearily, slowly sitting up. “Was really fun though.”

Ann got up and started the bath, helping Kat in when it was ready. They cleaned themselves, dressed, and joined Bren for breakfast.

Kat informed them she had more to do in the city. Performing and leading some training with the guard that was annoyingly expected of her, so she’d be stuck for the day.

“That does leave me an opportunity,” Bren said as Kat relayed the news. “Annita, if you would not mind, I would ask that you join me in visiting a couple of districts you have yet to see. Namely, the Temple Ward and what the Keep calls a library. The first, to better familiarize you with the major Deities of the world, and the second because I have questions regarding your experiences.”

“Sounds good to me,” Annita agreed as she chewed. “I’d need to see a temple to Orenous at some point. She expects me to be her avatar here, and not be quiet about it. Once we figure out how the higher ups want to deal with that reveal, I’m probably going to be real popular in the temple.”

“Yes, you most certainly will,” Bren chuckled.

They finished their meals, said their goodbyes to Kat for the day, and headed north towards the main Keep. Skirting the walls to the other side of the massive structure, they came upon a cluster of ornate buildings. Nine buildings stood in two rows of four with one at the end, along a wide central park, crisscrossed by walking paths.

“Welcome to the Temple Ward, Annita.” Bren introduced her. “As you can see, each of the major Gods and Goddesses has a temple erected in their honor. The largest building at the end is dedicated to the multitude of minor Deities.”

They made their way down to the park set between the large structures. The field itself seemed to be immaculately constructed and cared for. Noticing her glancing around, Bren cleared his throat.

“This open area is actually a temple itself. It is dedicated to Eas, God of the Wind and Speed. They are as formless as the wind itself, so a traditional temple structure does not fit as well as the other Gods.”

“Oh, interesting. I remember someone I bumped into cursing that name. Now I get why.” Annita laughed nervously.

“If you were going quickly, that does make sense. Moving on to our right at the end is Nerena. She holds domain over the oceans and all life within. She is actually fairly active in the world, according to her priests. The Warped and Seeds do not solely exist on dry land. Her servants in the seas constantly do battle with the Warped, maintaining control and providing safety to sailors.”

The building was made of wood in its entirety. One of the very few in the city to claim as much. Fountains dotted the grounds, featuring pools and statues of various sea life. The front of the building was fashioned to resemble the hull of a ship, with thick wooden doors leading further in. It seemed quiet, but Ann supposed that was due to the area being landlocked.

“A mutated seahorse has to be a sight,” Ann pondered as they strolled along a path. “All sorts of stuff down there that’s a nightmare even without being corrupted.”

“Yes, I am sure,” Bren chuckled. “Were people of your time familiar with the depths?”

“No, actually. We surprisingly knew more about up there,” she gestured to the sky, “than what was in the oceans. Like, we could get down there, but not stay any extended periods of time.”

“Fascinating. Then our time may very well know more than yours did. Moving on, we have the temple of Nylir. Goddess of the darker side of the emotional spectrum. She is in most ways the opposite of Orenous, and claims warfare under her umbrella as well. Many a warrior will pray to her in times of conflict, and she is popular with those going through strife in their lives.”

The building covered in columns of marble that reminded Ann a lot of the Parthenon. The priests that flitted to and fro were armed and armored, with clear markings of their Goddess upon their cloaks. It did not seem to be a warm place, but a place to test one’s self. 

“Oh, I saw a statue of her when Kat and I were out on our date.” Ann interjected. “She’s pretty hot in a fully armored, can kill me in a second type of way.”

“I guess I can see the appeal?” Bren asked, not sounding convinced. “She was never a Goddess I took much interest in.”

“Yeah, that makes sense, knowing you. She seems more up Kat’s alley, to be honest.”

“Indeed, though I wonder if that’s changed.” Bren grinned at her slyly.

“No idea why that would be,” Ann said innocently, glancing anywhere but Bren.

“You know, now that we are on the subject, I do approve of the two of you.” Bren continued, keeping his steady pace and staring straight ahead. “My harsher words the other day were to warn of my protectiveness. Like I have said, she is a sister to me.”

“Yeah, I get it. Was the same with my siblings and the friends that became family back home,” Ann sighed, stuffing her hands in her pockets as she kept pace.

“Then you also likely understand the feeling when they find someone for themselves. The small pang of fear that they will be hurt, the joy that they have someone who brings them happiness, the fear that you will grow apart.”

Ann stopped suddenly at the last part. “Hey, I’ve got no intention of getting in the way of you two staying close. Just for the record.”

Bren, to his credit, laughed and waved away her concerns. “No, I know. Still, the irrational fear creeps in, unbidden. Life is frustrating like that. All of that being said, yes, I do enjoy how well you two are getting along. I feel she sees a kindred spirit in you. Someone who is out to help those around her, and will bring her places and show her things she might never have before. Also, undoubtedly, freedom from the yoke of her birth. Being royalty has long weighed on her, even if she tries to hide it.”

“She tries to hide it?” Ann asked incredulously, remembering Kat’s behaviour at the gate. “Seems like she was letting it be pretty well known.”

“Oh, to us, certainly. You did, however, see how she handled the nobles. Dismissing them quickly, but politely. It is a skill she has practiced for many decades now, and I daresay she is an expert at it.” As he spoke, they came to a bench, which Bren took a seat on, staring up at the next temple. “I hope she finds the life she has sought with you, Annita. I harbour doubts that our meeting in that old mansion was mere coincidence. Not when the Gods are at play.”

“You and me both,” Ann nodded as she took a seat next to him. “I know Orenous talked about not being able to be everywhere, and the gods seem to be pretty fallible considering the whole apocalypse they caused, but she felt like she was playing matchmaker there.”

“It does seem to be consistent with her personality. Which, by the way, I was not expecting to be so… free.”

“Yeah, she’s strange, right? Kinda motherly, but also really horny, then super sweet and caring.” Ann laughed, remembering her encounters with the Goddess.

“Indeed. I always expected the Gods to be proper. Avatars of might and propriety. To speak like the enlightened beings they are. She is far more human than my mental picture.”

“Probably because of her domain. Gotta be down to earth to deal with everything happening when someone falls in love. I dunno. I’m just glad she’s friendly. Helped out when I was dealing with the whole coma thing. Just wandering in an empty void for what felt like forever, to find someone so comforting? It was exactly what I needed.”

“I can imagine. So, yes, I have stated my feelings about things. I hope we can get along as well.”

“No complaints here, man. You’ve been a solid source of information, healing, and just a reliable guy so far. Feels good to have you around.” Ann elbowed him gently.

Laughing, Bren righted himself. “Good. Sometimes I can overlook social cues and need to speak on matters to make sure. Shall we continue the tour?”

“Yeah, who’s next in the pantheon?” Ann asked, offering a hand and helping Bren stand.

“The Deity that I most identify with, actually. They are an interesting existence and Orenous mentioned them in our conversation. This is the temple of Qu’sella. They are a dual god, focusing on magic and knowledge. Since the domains are so closely intertwined, Qu and Sella had become two in one. Qu takes the form of a wizened witch and is the matron of magic. She guides all of humanity’s mages in their endeavours and seeks to prevent the misuse of the arts.”

“Sounds pretty neat. I’m guessing the left portion of the temple is hers? Looks more, I don’t know, magicy.” Ann said as she looked at the building before them.

The left side was structured like a tower, but with several extensions jutting off it at angles that should not be possible, and must be magically suspended. Through the windows, she could see many people moving back and forth, going about their duties and studies. The right was more austere. It honestly looked like her old university’s main building. The black brick work and clean white trim made up a four storied building with windows and balconies scattered across its facade.

“You would be correct,” Bren confirmed. “And the right side belongs to Sella. He is the master of knowledge. Patron of researchers and scholars of all kinds. All academic knowledge flows both to him and from him. I have spent much of my time in the libraries stored within his temples.”

“Was that where you holed up yesterday?” Ann asked as they began to walk again.

“Yes, it is the best place to perform historical research in this area. Sadly, not much was found in my efforts. Anyway, up next is Illdall. He is the god of valor and protection. Another that Kat has an affinity with. More than the others, I’m certain.”

“Gotta always have one of those Gods, huh?” Annita mumbled.

“Sorry? I do not believe I understand your meaning,” Bren asked, a quizzical look crossing his face.

“Oh, right, just this kind of God is really common in stories from my time. God of the just, the glorious protector, heroes and whatnot. Usually really stuck up and righteous.”

“Ah, that would make sense. Who better to inspire the children than the paragons of virtue.”

“Eeeeh, virtue could be debated there. Some were self righteous pricks, so convinced they were doing the right thing they didn’t listen to others. Though, yeah, there were plenty of stories about the good guys, too.”

“How I wish I could read some of the texts from your time. The stories, the histories, the fictions. Just a whole different existence and those who perceived it.”

“Yeah, there was a lot to read, for sure,” Ann sighed. “We had a system set up to let people share information globally, almost instantly. We called it the internet. Anyone could access pretty much anything in history at any time. You know what a lot of people did with that? Wrote porn.” She chuckled. “The gift of all the knowledge we’d accumulated, and people were just focused on getting off.”

“That is not something that has changed over the millenia, I admit. There is no shortage of rag publications that appeal to the carnal side of people. Some even sanctioned by the temple of Orenous, which is actually that one.”

Bren pointed to another building. This one was, fittingly, a gorgeous building. Black stone rose and curved in arches that held a roof over a wide garden. Low hedges wound in patterns around patches of snow, and benches lined what Annita assumed were walkways. Statues of nude men and women decorated the grounds. Looking through them, Annita was happy to see that all races seemed to be represented in various couplings. Men and women embraced, two women, two men. The church clearly did not judge someone’s orientation.

Past that was a building of the same black stone, more curving arches, but walled in this time. Annita assumed this was the main building.

“Mind if we go in for a minute? I want to see what the actual temple looks like.” Annita asked as she began to make her way toward the building.

“Let’s.” Bren said with a smile as he followed along.

Pushing the wooden doors open, Annita was greeted with a warm rush of perfumed air. Moving inside, the entryway was brightly lit with several glowing crystals, casting a warm yellow light over the dark stone. Hooks were set up on the walls to hang coats and hats, and benches for resting were provided. Seated at the reception desk ahead, a priest flipped through her records. Her robes were well fitting, from what Annita could see over the counter. They accentuated her body, hugging her curves, and had a deep cut neckline showing off her ample cleavage.

“That normal? The outfit?” Ann asked Bren quietly.

“Yes, it is for this denomination, at least. Goddess of love, beauty and sex. The mental portion is understated, at least to a casual observer. I would not be surprised if that tome contained studies on behaviour and the like.”

“Smart and sexy, nice,” Annita said with a grin as she approached the counter.

“Good morning! Oh, my, you are certainly easy on the eyes,” the priestess gasped as she took an obvious look up and down Annita. “Can I help you with anything?”

Blushing slightly at the attention, Annita cleared her throat. “Not really. I’m just looking around. Could I see the rest of the temple?”

“Absolutely!” the priestess said with almost too much enthusiasm as she stood. “My name is Britt, short for Brittany. I can show you around if you’d like.”

“That’d be awesome, thanks.”

Britt led them through a pair of double doors into the next chamber. It was large, with a sweeping, arched ceiling. Two rows of benches led up to a pulpit, an altar, and a large statue of what Annita assumed was the temple’s interpretation of Orenous. She was depicted as an Alfhindur this time, with a prodigious bust, wide hips, and a sheer cloth barely preserving her modesty, though it seemed to make her more enticing. Along the sides of the rooms, several doors lead off into other wings.

“So, welcome to the main chamber for worship. We’ve got sermons scheduled regularly, one in the mornings, one in the evenings. You’re late for the morning and it’s way too early for the evening,” Britt said with a bubbly energy. “You can obviously see the statue of the Goddess. Off to the sides there, through the doors, are other wings of the temple. Private prayer rooms, housing for the priesthood, and records storage. We do offer private sermons, and have plenty of privacy for any more sensitive matters people wish to discuss with our members. Being a temple dedicated to love, beauty, sex, and the other aspects of Orenous, we regularly hear the prayers of those looking for love, or to deal with their libidos. Not really things that people like to be spread around, so privacy is key. It’s an odd gathering here, but we’re tight knit and do our best to spread the word of our Goddess.”

Annita listened passively, scanning around the room as Britt laid out the functions of the temple. “I get the whole love thing. Praying for a partner of some kind. How’s the sex part factor in?”

“Oh that’s simple. Issues with intimacy, conception, too high, or too low libido are frequent concerns brought before the Goddess. We do the best we can to help either through our Paths or through alchemical means. Everyone should be free to love who they love and enjoy their bodies to their fullest.”

“You have a horny priest?” Annita asked incredulously.

“Oh, that’s a bit of a crass way of putting it, but yes. We do have a few members, myself included actually, who can stoke or sooth one’s libido. The effects are temporary, but it is something that is a frequent request.”

“Huh,” Annita grunted, recognizing the similarity to her own Stoke the Flames. “So, none of that stuff happens here in the temple though, right?”

“I… wouldn’t say that…” Britt said hesitantly. “It’s kinda part of the Goddess’ whole thing. And these robes?” She tugged at her neckline. “They really do show off our best features. We’re all people, and we’ve been given these desires for a reason. That being said, precautions are taken to make sure things stay harmonious. Consent is everything and no one is to do anything they do not wish to. Anyone caught in such a situation is excommunicated from all temples of Orenous, along with an immediate report to the local authority.”

“Well, that's a relief. Sounds like free love is all the rage here, huh?” Annita asked as she meandered around the building, looking into the side rooms.

“Oh absolutely. Whoever wants to love another, however they would like. We support all types and all combinations,” Britt giggled. As she walked, Annita couldn’t help but notice Britt’s gait was doing something amazing for her ass. The tight robes hugging her every curve, and her hips swaying seductively. “All combinations.” Britt winked over her shoulder.

Bren hiked an eyebrow at the obvious flirting, eyes darting between the two.

“Britt, girl, you’ve got a great body, and if I was more available, I’d take you up, but not the case anymore.” Ann said, scratching behind one of her ears.

“Aw, that sucks,” Britt sighed, disappointed. “Well, if you’re ever in the need for a priestess who knows what she’s doing, you know where to find me.” As she spoke, the bright smile returned.

“I’ll keep it in mind,” Annita chuckled, drawing a bit closer to Bren for reassurance.

“Anything else you want to see?” Britt asked.

“Nope, I think that’s all I needed for now,” Annita said as she turned to the door.

“Then may Orenous keep you happy and healthy! Good luck with your relationship!” Britt called after them as she waved enthusiastically.

Outside, the pair stopped for a moment. “I dare say she thought we were the couple,” Bren burst out laughing.

“Gods, she probably did, didn’t she? Oh, that’ll be fun if Kat and I ever come back here for whatever reason.”

“Oh! So that’s who you were with! Now I get it!” Bren said, imitating Britt’s high-pitched voice between laughs.

“You ever get told you’ve got a weird sense of humor?” Kat asked as they resumed their walk back to the main field.

“Frequently, however, it is who I am. I can not do anything about it. Thankfully, I have people in my life who enjoy it.” Bren sighed, looking up at the sky as he walked. “I know I am strange. People do not speak the way I do, I can come off as distant. It has been how I have been brought up. To embrace my differences, for that is what makes me unique. Interesting. I admit there are times where I wish I was more of the social type, like Katlyn, but I think she makes up for both of us in that arena.”

“Yeah, she sure does. But, also, once you get past the cold outer shell, you’re pretty cool to be around, too. Really different, for sure, but fun in your own way,” Ann said with a grin, wrapping a long arm around his shoulders, pulling him in for a chaste hug.

“I’m here for you, too. You and Kat are the only people I know in this world. Well, the longest I’ve known in this time. I’d be a damn fool to let you go.” Ann grinned, looking over the shorter man’s head.

“I appreciate the gesture. Truly. Though I really do need to start meeting women my age sometime.”

“I never thought of that,” Ann laughed, releasing him. “I’m what, five thousand twenty three? Kat is in her fifties? Need to find you a twenty something.”

“There is no urgency, I assure you,” Bren said smiling brightly as they walked.

“Oi, hold up!” they heard a shout coming from behind them.

Running up to them, Kat braced herself on her knees, panting. “Thought I’d find ye two here. Feck, one sec.” She took a minute, catching her breath.

“Looks like plans tae go meet the witch lady ‘ave been moved up. Reports o’ a major warped in the area came through. Urgency o’ the request was increased. Longest we can delay is tomorrow.”

“Well, at least I’ll get my armor before that,” Ann sighed.

Chapter Text

“Well, that throws a wrench in things,” Ann sighed. “Sorry Bren, I promise we’ll have our history talk on the way there. Stuff keeps happening.”

“Such is the way of the world,” Bren said, a slight glint of eagerness at the promise. “Is there anything we should know, Katlyn?”

“Well, there’s not too much that came through. It’s big, whatever it is. Scared the shite outta the locals, so it’s not a Spinebear or something like that. They should be used tae those. They wanted tae give us backup, but I staved it off with the promise we’d be tryin’ tae get the local witch fer help.” Kat said, leading them by default back into the city proper.

“I don’t think anything but our weapons or the rest of our stuff is going to be done by tomorrow,” Ann pointed out, keeping pace with Kat as she walked quickly.

“Nae, gonna have tae deal with what we’ve got. Bren, wanna come wit’ tae pick up Ann’s armor?”

“I don’t see why not?”

“Think it’ll be ready, Ann?”

“Hells if I know,” Ann shrugged as they turned toward the craftsmen district. 

It wasn’t long before they reached the disheveled storefront once more. Bren gave the place a disapproving look, but shrugged as they entered.

“Riva? You here?” Ann called out as she ducked into the cluttered shop.

“Oh, fuck, yeah! That you, wolf girl?” a voice cracked out from the back.

“Yeah, it’s me and friends. Take your time.” 

“Cool, I’ll be out there in like, half an hour or something? Just, uh, take a seat and I’ll be out. Almost done.”

Chuckling, Ann found a mostly comfortable pile of furs to sit on, while Bren and Kat made themselves as comfortable as possible with what they could find.

“This place is a mess. How did you decide to be outfitted here?” Bren asked disapprovingly.

“People recommended her. I asked around, and they said she’d be the best I could ask for.” Ann shrugged. “Figure the people around here would know best.”

“I mean, ye’re right about that, just didn’t expect it tae be such a mess.” Kat said, curiously picking through hides.

As they waited, Bren filled Ann in on the rest of the Gods they’d not been able to get to.

Bryltia was apparently the Goddess of the hunt and the patron Deity to the Thrundol. She was known as a wild goddess who constantly sought greater challenges and urged her adherents to do the same. Many worshiped her, from soldiers sent to fight the Warped, to the more mundane of hunters. She was usually depicted as a Thrundol with wild dreadlocks and antlers, eyes always scanning the horizon for the next adventure.

Voltid, up next, was the God of the earth and forge. Patron of the Grrn. He was a slow god. Embodying the patience and skill required of a blacksmith, he was a big deal in Korvas with its multitude of craftspeople and mining culture. If he was depicted, it was in the form of either a Grrn or a literal mountain.

Lastly, Bren explained that there were innumerable minor Gods. They usually presided over certain areas and creatures. An example of it being Estvall and his region of woods. Some presided over rivers, lakes, birds, fish, mountains, planes. The list went on and on. They were worshiped in the general temples, like the one placed at the end of the lines of temples. If it was a smaller city or village, they’d have altars set up for the nearby Gods in some way shape or form.

During the middle of the explanation on the minor Gods, Riva had made her way out of the back with a bundle of black leather and had cleared a section of counter by tossing the furs to the side. Not interrupting, she set out the pieces of armor across the only clean space in the shop.

“Ah, you’re done,” she said as the conversation ended. “You must really be from out of town if you don’t know all that,” she chuckled at Ann. “Now get over here. Need to make sure I got it all right for ya. Strip.”

Looking over at Bren, who shrugged, Annita pulled off her loose shirt, tossing it and her kilt into a small pile.

Riva bustled over, carrying what looked like the top of the outfit. It was almost a corset, made of thick studded leather. As she knelt for the Inlon to get it on her, she noticed that while it hugged her body, it never pinched, never pulled on anything, and most importantly, didn’t squash the fur running down her back. Above the corset, covering her chest, parts of her shoulders, and about half her neck was a span of leather that looked like it was fashioned out of several strips cleanly stitched together. The whole chest piece was split down her left side, with ties to fasten it to herself. The shoulder and neck pieces utilized small but sturdy clasps to stay in place.

The arm pieces were the same black leather as the rest of the outfit and fashioned as evening gloves. She pulled each on, testing their flexibility as she flexed her arms and fingers. They were smooth, with pads on the elbows and knuckles for unexpected falls or collisions, similarly studded. They fit, and Annita berated herself for the pun, like a glove. No restrictions whatsoever, but she did notice the tips of the fingers were closed off.

“Hey, Riva. How hard would it be to cut out the tip of the fingers? My fingernails can extend into claws.” Ann asked, pulling a glove off and demonstrating.

“Fuck me, that’s a neat trick,” Riva swore as she pulled the hand down to her level. She looked over the extended weapons for a minute, muttering to herself, before releasing Annita’s hand. “That’ll be easy. Ten minutes or so. Just need to cut out the part and reinforce the edges there. Probably gonna have colder hands, but you said that wasn’t a problem for you, so fuck it. Try on the rest, they’re easy. Be right back.” With that, she shuffled back into the back room. A crash was heard as she moved things off to the sides of whatever she was working on.

“She’s a feckin’ great time,” Kat laughed as she watched Ann put on the black leather skirt. It went down to the Lupine’s shins, flaring out comfortably for her hips. Several thicker strips dangled from the belt, connected by sheets of cloth and leather alternating in horizontal stripes down the length. To keep it light, but still durable, Riva had explained. Running her hands down the sides, she felt loops set into the sides for something to be held. Not enough for a holster or her scabbard, but maybe a couple knives or potions.

“Ye can turn around, Bren.” Kat called to the man who had pointedly kept his back turned.

Ann finished up, strapping the shin guards over her canine lower legs, pulling them tight. A low whistle from Kat as she looked her over brought a blush to her cheeks.

“So, you approve?” Ann asked, running her hands over herself, feeling a stirring between her legs.

“Damn right I do,” Kat returned, walking over and running her hands over Ann’s leather clad body. “Damn sexy. Not a piece o’ ye left tae the imagination. Except this, I guess,” she grinned, grabbing between Ann’s legs and drawing a grasp from the taller woman.

“One track mind on you,” Ann grinned, pulling Kat in for a kiss.

This, of course, was when Riva decided to come back with the gloves. “Oh! So that’s who you were talking about. Shit, I didn’t stand a chance,” she laughed her raspy laugh.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Ann grinned back.

“Aye, if it weren’t fer me bein’ selfish, I’d imagine ye’d already have a tumble wit’ ‘er,” Kat grinned, hugging Annita closer.

“Well, I’m not one to get in the middle of two lovely ladies. Not that I’d mind being in between you, now that I say it. Shit, sorry. Anyway, here are the gloves. They’ll be perfect for your claws.”

“Thanks, I really mean it,” Ann said, looking down at the Inlong who stood with her hands on her wide hips, admiring her work. 

“Fuck, the helmet and mask, one sec.” Riva dashed back into her workshop and returned with another couple black pieces of leather. “C’mere you massive mutt,” she beckoned down.

Ann knelt down and Riva secured the helmet over her head, making sure her ears were comfortable, and adjusting her hair to flow out the back in a plume. She then took a polished half mask out. The thing was formed in the shape of a wolf’s muzzle, a toothy snarl engraved into the surface. Taking it in both hands, she pushed it up over Ann’s face and clipped it over the fasteners in the helmet, tugging to make sure it was secure.

“There, that really ties it all together. What’cha think, girlfriend?” she asked as she turned to Kat.

“I would jump ‘er bones here an’ now,” Kat purred, licking her lips. “Ye really didn’t hold back on showin’ ‘er body off, did ye? The mask is a good touch too. Proper fierce an’ protective. I approve.”

“Then that’s that, oh yeah, and the fittings for enchantments. You’ve got a couple inlaid in your shoulders, one on each glove, on the shin guards since you don’t do shoes, and two in the helmet. Should hold up to some serious enchantments, but if you run into troubles, come on back and I can figure it out.” Riva said with a satisfied look.

“You really haven’t gotten any sleep have you?” Ann asked, a concerned look crossing her eyes. “You’re all over the place.”

“Not a wink! Though that’ll be fixed here, soon. Pay time. Two gold, as promised, fifty silver for the enchantment slots.” Riva held out her hand. 

Smiling, Ann handed the woman her due, which was quickly deposited into a pouch on her belt.

“Pleasure doing business with you. And pleasure meetin’ you, ah…” Riva trailed off, extending her hand to Katlyn.

“Katlyn,” she smiled, shaking the offered hand.

“No shit? Heard the princess was in town, didn’t expect her to come to my little place. Or her girlfriend. Well, good to meet you all the same. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to go be unconscious for a few hours,” Riva said with a wide yawn.

“See you later!” Ann called as they were waved out the front door.

“Well, she took that surprise in stride.” Bren chuckled.

“Aye, I’ll give ‘er credit fer that. An’ I see why ye were tempted tae take ‘er up on that offer, Ann. She’s a small thing, but she’s got a fine set o’ assets on ‘er.”

“You approve?” Ann teased her lover.

“Maybe in the future, when I’m feelin’ less greedy wit’ me girlfriend,” Kat laughed back, elbowing Ann’s side.

“Not much else I’ve got left to do today. It’s getting a bit later. Should we just turn in early and head out early?” Ann asked as they walked.

“Nay, should be good tae settle in, get ye off, and pass out,” Kat said, drawing close to Ann as they walked, wrapping a muscular arm around her leather clad body.

“Save it for the bedroom, if you would please,” Bren grumbled. “I do agree that we should get an early start if things are as urgent as that report made them out to be.”

“Ye just want yer history talk, ye liar,” Kat ribbed him.

“I simply wish to protect the land and do it as expediently as possible,” Bren huffed.

“Uh huh,” Ann laughed as she hugged Kat closer.

A short time later, Ann and Kat were in bed, lights turned down and leather stripped. Their previous nights had been hot and heavy, but the energy tonight was different. They had time.

“Your eyes are really something,” Ann said softly, tracing a finger across Kat’s brow. They’d wound up just laying in bed, facing each other, slowly running their hands over the other’s body.

“Mm, yeah, so’re yers, such a beautiful green,” Kat whispered back as her hand idly traced through Ann’s strip of fur running down her back.

“So, you like the armor?”

“Feck, yeah, I do,” Kat blushed. “Just really hugs yer, well, everythin’.”

“Gonna be a problem?” Ann asked, kissing Kat’s nose gently.

“Nae, not unless me wantin’ tae jump ye after a fight is a problem.”

“Hmm, nope. Not a problem then,” Ann giggled. “Cause I’m gonna be real. My blood is pumping after a fight. Wouldn’t be hard to change where that energy is pointed.”

“So I’m hearin’ after we deal wit’ whatever the Warped winds up bein, we find a nice,” Kat slid her hand down, gripping Ann’s ass for emphasis, drawing a gasp, “private” the hand moved to her outer thigh, “clearin’. Strip naked, all hot an’ sweaty,” her hand moved between Ann’s legs, bypassing her cock, and cupping her pussy, fingers teasing her entrance, “an’ feck each other’s brains out.” As she finished, she slid two fingers into Ann effortlessly.

The Lupine tensed, her back arching instinctively, letting Kat get a better angle. “Oh, oh fuck yeah, that sounds awesome,” she gasped as the fingers began to pump inside her. 

At the agreement to the plan, Kat’s grip tightened, holding her palm firmly to Ann’s clit as she stared into the hooded green eyes before her. “Mmm, you, me, under the sky, fuckin’ like wild animals.” She increased the pace as she spoke, pulling Ann along.

Ann felt her breath quickening, her chest heaving, and the heat in her stomach growing. “Kat, oh, fuck, yes. More, more, please,” she whispered, pressing her forehead to her lover’s.

“Feelin’ the snow beneath yer back, the sound o’ animals nearby,” Kat murmured into one of Ann’s twitching ears as she added a third finger, all three moving to find the spots that got the best reactions from Ann’s body.

“Taking… taking you, up against a tree. Like I wanted to before,” Ann gasped between moans. For not being as dexterous as Ann was, Kat’s strength and the pressure she could exert on her body more than made up for it. She was quickly falling apart, her core tightening, cock throbbing, and inner walls contracting rhythmically.

“Mmm, yeah, I wanted that too,” Kat purred as she felt Ann start to falter. Her hand picked up more speed while the other reached up behind Ann, grabbing a fistful of her hair and pulling her head back. She leaned in and kissed the Lupine’s exposed neck. “Feelin’ the bark against me back, scrapin’ while ye fill me wit’ yer seed. Wanna give me a taste now, Ann? Wanna give me what I’m askin’ fer?”

With a deep growl, Ann moved, rolling Kat on her back, taking both her hands and pinning her to the bed. Without ceremony, she lined her cock up and sank balls deep into Kat.

“Oh, there she is,” Kat grinned after her eyes re-focused. “There’s me wolf. C’mon an’ take me ye beast.”

Needing no further invitation, Ann started to move, keeping Kat pinned beneath her. She didn’t allow Kat to adjust, no time to breathe or get used to the massive girlcock inside her. She pounded into the velvety folds.

“Gods, you know how to get me going,” Ann grunted as she clapped her hips against Kat’s.

“That… was… the point…” Kat gasped out between thrusts that shook her whole body. “Feck I love it when ye let loose. C’mon. Harder.”

Growling, Ann reached down, her body enveloping Kat’s as her hands grabbed the Guardian’s ass and roughly began pulling Kat against her in time with each thrust.

“That… oh that’s it Ann. Right there, right, right, oh feck, yes!” Kat cried out as she was manhandled.

Ann felt the woman tighten around her, an orgasm rocking the Alf as her eyes lost focus, and her muscles lost control. Something in her loved that feeling, feeling Kat lose herself in the pleasure. It made her want to go harder, take more, make the woman feel better, make herself feel better in the process.

Ann stopped thinking, all that was left was her growls, groans and the moans from both of them as she continued to Rut into her lover. Not long after, Ann felt her own climax approaching.

“Kat, oh, fuck, I’m cumming,” she gasped.

“Fill me, oh fill me Ann, all the way, deep, feck.”

“I’m cumming. Kat, oh, oh oh fuck!” Ann cried out as she felt Kat’s legs lock behind her, pulling her as deep as she could get the pulsing girlcock. A torrent of seed splashed inside Kat, eliciting a deep, satisfied moan before quickly overflowing and dripping out of her. Ann stayed locked in. Not wanting to leave her lover’s warm embrace for a second.

A few minutes later, they laid there, panting, sweaty, and all kinds of sticky. Their foreheads had pressed together, and as they relaxed, they fell into a deep kiss.

“Ye’re feckin’ amazin’,” Kat breathed, tightening her arms around Ann slightly.

“Says the woman who got me all riled up,” Ann giggled breathlessly. “I don’t want to, but we should probably get cleaned up and pass out if we’re heading out early tomorrow.”

“Awww,” Kat whined, hugging tighter. “Carry me tae the bath?”

Ann rolled her eyes, and kissed her girlfriend again. “Sure thing princess. Ow!” she exclaimed as Kat nipped at one of her nipples.

“None o’ that,” she said, with a blushing grin betraying her true feelings.

Laughing, Ann picked her lover up and carried her to the bathroom.

A relaxing soak in the warm water later, they both returned to the bed, taking a spare set of sheets that had been left them, and snuggling in together. Slowly, their breathing slowed, hearts beating together as they drifted off to sleep.

Chapter Text

True to their word, the trio set out at first light. It was another freezing morning. Clear, bright, and harsh. The icy snow crunched under Ann’s paws as they made their way northwest by the sun.

They spent most of the morning talking about what Kat had been up to. General Polaris had her going over reports of troop movements, Warped activity in the region, supply levels and other incredibly boring statistics according to Kat.

On the lunch break, which really meant pausing to pull out rations and keep walking, Bren broached the subject he’d clearly been holding back on.

“Annita, I really must ask about your time some more. I admit my curiosity has been eating at me,” he grinned a bit sheepishly, running a hand through his hair.

“Yeah, we’ve been dancing around that, haven’t we? Anything you want to start with?” Ann asked with a chuckle.

“Well, start with your normal day. We can learn a lot about someone by their routine. I would like to hear yours.”

“All right, but it’s pretty boring,” Ann sighed, thinking back. “I’d wake up at 8 a.m. I’m supposed to get up at 7:30 but I keep snoozing my alarm.”

“Pardon, snoozing an alarm?” Bren interjected.

“That was slang for turning off the little bell or sound that we used to wake us up. You just wanted to snooze a bit longer, so it got attributed to the action,” Annita explained. After Bren nodded, she continued. “Oh, and thank the Gods you all kept the timekeeping we did. Makes this so much easier. Anyway, after that I’d sit up and stare at my floor, trying to get the drive to stand up and start my day. My cat Pixel would always come over and demand pets, shoving her head into me until I gave her what she wanted.”

“From there I’d get into the shower, use it to wake up and clean up. I’d get out, get dressed, get on my makeup, say good morning to the other cat, Emeril. Then, I’d grab something quick to eat and head out the door around 9. I catch the bus, a form of public transport for people, and get to work. Once there, I’d check in, say hi to Megan and Todd, get some coffee to try to waste more time, then sit down and start answering calls on my computer.”

“What are…” Bren started.

Ann held up a hand. “Honestly, I could talk about what a computer is for a very long time. I guess we’ve got the time, but for now, just think of it as a magic book that can connect anyone and everything.”

Bren nodded. “It sounds incredible. These were common, then?”

“Yeah. Pretty much everyone had one. Some of them we made were as small as this.” Ann held up her hands to form the rough rectangle of a smartphone.

“Yer sure that wasn’t magic?” Kat asked, joining the conversation.

“Yeah. It was all electricity tricking rocks into thinking. Fuck, it might as well have been,” Ann sighed. “Anyway, I’d sit there in a chair for eight mind-numbing hours listening to people having problems with a product we provided to them and trying to help them. Honestly, I hated the fucking job. The only saving grace was being able to draw while I listened to people.” Ann sighed, a shiver that had nothing to do with the cold running through her. “So, I’d get done with that, clock out, catch the bus to a local produce store and grab things for dinner. Once I’m home, I say hi to the cats, start dinner, relax for a while, eat, do some more drawing and head to bed. On days I didn’t have work, I’d put more time in drawing, trying to get better and sell more of it. Like I said, I focused a lot on work, less on, well, living.”

“Interesting. And this was typical for your time? It sounds incredibly tedious to me. It seems similar to the job of a clerk or the like. I may be studious, but having to do that every day would wear on me,” Bren admitted. 

“Yeah, pretty normal. It’s a desk job. There was a ton of other work you could do, but it usually involved either worse pay or a lot of physical labor, which I was not cut out for.”

“Hard tae believe, lookin’ at ye now,” Kat said, sidling up to the tall Lupine.

“Oh, you have no clue what I looked like, do you?” Ann realized. “Ok, so, I was five foot two, and I stressed the two inches. I had shoulder-length brown hair a shade brighter than yours, Kat. I was thin, with a little muscle on me, but not much. I wore glasses, had a weak chin. I didn’t look anything like this,” Ann described, waving a hand in front of her face. “Really, the only thing I seem to have kept was my eye colour.”

“That really is quite the, um, transformation, I guess would be the best descriptor,” Bren agreed. “Well, that is certainly eye opening, even if it is similar to some positions in our current time. Thank you. Next, we should talk about your civilization. Perhaps a different time. You seem to be slightly distracted,” Bren observed as he watched Annita closely.

He was right. Her mind was wandering back to her old life again. Old memories. Wonderful memories that hurt all the more because of how fond they were. Ann shook herself, ears flopping as she focused on the trail ahead of her.

“Yeah, I just get caught up in how different things are now. Two completely different lives. It’s a bit discordant when I really sit there and think about it. Not that I’m asking you to stop asking questions or being curious, to be clear,” Annita clarified. “It’s just tough being this singular existence in this world. You two are as close to family as I have here, and I’m dating one of you, so not sure that really counts.”

Kat gave a scoff of mock offence. “Even if we weren’t fuckin’ we’d still be lookin’ after ye. Kinda who I am, an’ I can bully Bren intae whatever.” She gave the man a cheeky grin, challenging him to argue with her.

Bren sighed. “She is correct. On both points. You are a singular person. It does not mean you are alone.”

“Thanks, both of you,” Ann reached out and pulled them into an awkward hug as they kept walking. “Sappy shit aside, we’re headed West right? Wasn’t that the direction toward that big strip of Seeds that forms the border?”

“Northwest,” Bren corrected her, “but yes. It is why Graven Keep is positioned there. A strong defensive point against any surges of Warped, or any scouts from Bortislav on the other side. The multiple purposes suit it well.”

“You said that the Alfhindur came from the West a long time ago, right?” Ann asked. 

Kat nodded to confirm. 

“They that much of a problem?”

“Oh, Aye. Bren knows the more political version o’ all o’ it, but fer us?” Kat gestured to her ears. “Much more personal. The Bortislav Empire are racist gobshites. Human supremacy all over the thrice accursed place. Anyone who’s not them is less than a person. Alfhindur got it the worst, merely fer bein’ so similar tae humans. They took it as an insult tae their race. My kind were slaves. Beaten intae the dirt and forced to work fer our ‘betters’,” Kat spat into the snow. “From the stories, I can’t imagine livin’ like it. Marked, ears clipped, workin’ in the mines an’ fields. Any Alf that showed a talent fer magic was either murdered on the spot, or drug off from their parents tae be used tae power whatever machinations the humans had. The other races didn’t have it much better. Thrundol ‘ad their tusks filed down an’ were punished if they let ‘em grow back. Indol were put tae work in factories. Small bodies fer small places. Dangerous work. What Bultrong were around were forced tae be clean shaven at all times. Men an’ women. Not really sure what tha’ was about, but it was their form o’ discrimination. And, tae be clear, the grudge is wit’ them. Humans ‘ere? Perfectly reasonable, kind, normal people.”

Ann watched as Kat explained the situation. The normally relaxed, kind person she was used to had hardened. Her muscled arms strained as her fists clenched.

“Thankfully, the dogma o’ the aristocratic blaggards didn’t affect all o’ them. There were sympathetic groups in tha Empire. Helped hide some o’ us. Then, once the time came tae get the feck out, they supplied us, gave us guides. Tha’ bein’ said they were a vast minority.”

“Same shit, different fucking millennium.” Ann cursed bitterly.

Bren’s ears twitched, a question clearly running through his head.

“Before you ask, yeah, I meant that,” Ann cut him off gently. “We had our own problems. Fucking pissed to know they haven’t gotten any better. My people, or at least my mom’s people, were fucked out of their own land. Settlers came in, invaded, took over, drove them into reservations, killed them, locked them up, indoctrinated the children. Not a great time. I mostly got my looks from my dad, so I got to avoid a lot of the discrimination that was still happening, even if it was less severe, but mom made a point of teaching us about our heritage. Shit, they were still digging up mass graves of kids under schools when I was alive.”

“Filth,” Bren muttered, his face darkening for the first time Annita could remember. “I can not condone anyone who would treat another with such disrespect for who they are.”

“We still held on to our name. The First Nations, Inuit, and other tribes. Our southern relatives in the Americas didn’t fare much better either. I could go on, but there’s a lot of pain in these words. None being mine, just generational. Dad was Swedish. Across an ocean. They’ve got their own history, but not really relevant here.”

“Aye. Feckin’ guess ye do understand, then. Not a great topic, but it’s what led the Alfhindur tae brave the Fertile Lands an’ make it tae Korvas. Since then, we’ve been thrivin’. Funny how shakin’ off oppressors can make so much o’ a difference.” Kat laughed darkly.

“So, they’re still a threat even now?” Ann asked.

“Unfortunately. Expansionist bastards ‘ave been tryin’ tae find a safe way through the Fertile Lands fer as long as I know. Fat chance wit’ the Warp bein’ what it is. Can protect yer people, but travelin’ through several major Seeds all at once? Ye’d ‘ave half yer army dead before ye even got tae yer destination. That many people gets… attention. Smaller parties can sneak through. It’s how the Alfhindur made it work, and why groups go intae Seeds tend tae limit their size. More people, more the blasted things’re willin’ tae throw at ‘em. Not sure why, but it’s how it works.”

“Weird. At least there’s that, uh, natural buffer? I guess that would be natural, now.” Ann said, grunting as she hopped over a large rock in her way. “If there’s no ocean to the West before the Fertile Lands, guess that means they’re pretty central to the continent. Depending on how big they are, probably the Rockies. Then the Pacific Ocean would be past there. Man, we’re pretty far north, though. Means we must be where Alberta used to be. Maybe the Northern Territories. You know, if the near apocalypse didn’t change the maps significantly. More things to bring up with Orenous.”

“Good tae have a Goddess ta ask about this shite,” Kat laughed.

“I am still wrapping my head around the fact we’ve met and spoken with her,” Bren sighed. “A real, honest to the Gods Goddess. And she seemingly knew us, too.”

“Yeah,” Ann agreed. “It was like that with me, too. Guess having the mind be part of her domain lets her peek in if she wants. At least she seems to keep what she knows to herself. Scares me that she could probably do a lot more.”

“Feck, didn’t even consider that,” Kat shuddered. “She better not ‘ave gotten in my girlfriend’s head. Or mine. Or Bren’s. Hear me?” Kat shouted as she shook her fist at the sky.

“I mean, to be fair, I don’t get that vibe from her? Yeah, she’s a Goddess and could be lying for all we know, but I feel like she’d think that’d spoil things. Am I making sense here?” Ann asked, exasperated at her inability to communicate exactly what she felt. 

“The heart follows what it will. It should be free to love and lose as it will. Those are core tenets to the temple of Orenous,” Bren advised. “I agree that she does not seem the type to be controlling. Setting pieces in motion? Absolutely. Manipulating the outcome? Unlikely. She loves her children, as she called us, and seems to want the best for us. I do not currently see any reason to worry.”

“So, trust ‘er and keep movin’. Aye, best way tae handle it fer now.”

“Oh, speaking of trust,” Ann interjected. “Bren, I meant to ask you the other day, but our time together got cut short. You both know what my Path is, and I know Kat’s now. What is yours?”

“I suppose we should have spoken about that sooner,” Bren chuckled. “Several life and death situations do have a way of instilling trust. My Path isn’t that complicated. Scholar of Restoration. It appears that my natural inclination towards historical research and wishing to keep our Katlyn from harm manifested in such a way. I have several skills, mostly focused on healing and slight protection. In addition, some related to memory. I can memorise far more than the normal person, as long as I read the source. It is why I carry around my book, and take constant notes. If I simply see or hear something, it can be forgotten.”

“Interesting. A weird downside to the skill, but a good enough workaround even if it’s time consuming,” Ann said, mulling it over. “You and Kat sure do make a complementary pair though. Even without a more damage focused person, I bet you two could outlast quite a few opponents.”

“Aye. Twas the general strategy even when we ‘ad others. I’d piss off the thing we were fightin’, Bren’d keep me up, an’ whoever else was with us would do their job. Simple, but effective. Ye’ve seen a couple o’ me skills in action by now,” Kat said, pausing for a moment as she waded through some deeper snow. “I’ve got Reactive Defense. Let me use a bit o’ me unique resource, Tenacity , tae reduce the damage o’ a hit by twenty percent. Problem is I’ve gotta place the effect mentally. I feck it up, it doesn’t work. High skill, high reward. Stand Yer Ground is another I think ye’ve seen. Lets me take a hit that’d normally send me flyin’ an’ not move at all. Also got a taunt in there. Just called Provoke . Pretty common, actually. I just need tae insult whatever I’m usin’ it on an’ it activates. Then we’ve got the bigun. All In . Ye know that skill’s cost. Totals all the stats it takes an’ adds em up, plus thirty percent, inta a single strike. Leaves me completely useless after, but it hits hard.”

“Wow, that’s a solid setup for a defender. Feels like mine is all scattered comparatively,” Ann groused.

“If I may,” Bren interjected, “Some Paths can start off discordant. I have read records of many such that came together at a later point. Katlyn simply got lucky with her skills. I highly doubt a chosen warrior of a Goddess would be given a weak Path.” He placed a comforting hand on Ann’s bicep, squeezing gently. 

A few more hours passed and after moving away from their camp to alleviate Ann’s growing libido, the three slept for the night. It was a restless time, and Ann woke up to the sound of small beasts scurrying through the snow and dead underbrush around them. She and Kat had decided to forgo the separate bedrolls, electing to get cosy together. Kat was more than happy to have the furry warmth of Ann’s tail wrapped around one of her thighs.

The next morning started slow. Both Annita and Kat were useless until Bren got some tea into them, grumbling all the while about sleep, and missing their bed. Knowing they were getting closer to their destination, they armoured up after a quick meal of salted pork and fruits. Time was of the essence, and their trek was set at a quick pace, even for them. All three were eager to get to the reported area of the large Warped and find who they hoped they could recruit as their new companion. 

As they travelled, the woods grew denser. Spaces that allowed them all to pass began to force them closer, until they were walking mostly in single file. The wildlife was also growing more active, birds and smaller creatures rushing past without a care to being seen.

“Odd,” Bren observed, watching a deer with too many antlers dash by. “It is rare to see such a large migration of creatures.”

“Yeah.” Ann agreed, nervously placing her hands on her weapons. “Not a good sign either.”

After a couple more minutes of walking, the sun now blaring down on them directly, Ann paused again. “You hear that?”

“ I hear that.” Bren hissed, tensing.

Rumbling echoed through the woods. The ground began to shake as something approached. Trees creaked and crashed as it rushed in their direction, and an eerie wail sounded out from beyond their sight.

“Feck,” Kat swore, drawing her weapons. “Looks like we’re meetin’ our target early.”

“Should we fight or attempt to escape?” Bren asked, drawing his wand.

“Woulda preferred tae have the caster wit’ us. Let’s see the thing. If we can take it, we fight. If not, we run. I’ll make the call after first engagement.”

“Gotcha,” Ann confirmed, sliding her helmet on and fastening her faceplate. Her voice was slightly muffled as she spoke. “Let’s see what horror it is this time.”

Chapter Text

The party slowly spread out, waiting for whatever was headed toward them.

Without warning, a jet of black ichor blasted to Kat’s right, slamming into Annita, causing her to stumble.

“Feck, it’s got range. Get behind me Bren!” Kat yelled as she moved forward. Bren was already moving to position, a Heal hitting Ann at the same time.

Dazed from the surprise strike, Ann struggled to her feet in time to see a hulking figure push a tree aside.

“The FUCK is that?” Ann cried.

An arm far longer than anything she’d seen shot out from her left. She and Bren threw themselves to the ground, but it caught Kat in her side, sending the Guardian flying into another trunk. A loud crack echoed on impact as wood splintered against her.

“Not good!” Bren yelled. “Kat! Answer me, Kat!”

“I’m feckin here,” Kat shouted back as she pulled herself from the tree with an audible creak.

The creature wasn’t staying still for any of this. Ann tried to keep track of it, but with the fallen branches kicking up the surrounding snow, that quickly became difficult. “I lost it. Where the hell is it?”

“Dunnae! get close tae me.” Kat ordered. “That took out a fifth of my health. This is going to be fucking tough. Either o’ ye see what it was?”

“I saw something massive and round, with another portion of it moving towards the front,” Bren offered, scanning the slowly settling snow.

“Long arm. Like, multiple meters long arm,” Ann offered. “That’s what hit you.”

“An’ it’s feckin’ sneaky when it wants tae be. Gods damnit,” Kat spat, eyes wide as she searched their surroundings. “All the trees fallin’ ‘re makin’ it a bitch tae hear it too.”

Another blast of ichor sprayed from their right. Ready for it, Kat caught it on her shield. The force pushed her back, but with Ann bracing her, she didn’t go far. “Hit an’ run. An ambush predator. Definitely Warped. Feck. Bettin’ this is what we were sent after.”

“Agreed. We need to figure out something to either draw it out or clear the snow cover.” Bren grunted, putting up a magical shield to intercept another blast of liquid.

“Feck. All right. When I say, we run back the way we came. I bring up the rear.” Kat commanded. After the other two agreed, she counted. “Three, two, one, go!”

They turned in unison, running directly back to where they came from. A wailing rose above the treetops as the Warped saw its prey escaping. Trees began to creak and snap as the thing gave chase.

They quickly reached the point where the trees thinned. The problem being that it also let the Warped gain on them quicker. “Stick an’ fight ‘ere. See if we can pin its arms down.”

The hulking creature seemed to hang back, kicking up a cloud of snow as it moved, covering its presence. One arm shot out again from their left, intercepted immediately by Kat, who knocked the balled fist aside.

A frustrated scream was accompanied by more of the black goop trying to hit Kat. Blocking it with her shield, she stood her ground, enduring the torrent.

Taking the opportunity, Ann moved to the side, snapping off a couple of shots of her own. A discordant chittering hiss meant she’d hit something. “Ranged shit works!” she informed the party as the torrent of ichor stopped, freeing Kat.

“Well, feckin’ good fer ye. I’ve only got this shit,” Kat cursed back as she swung her sword at another arm attempting to knock her away.

“Apologies, but I am limited to defence at the moment. Some day I might be able to help,” Bren called, a small barrier appearing next to Ann and catching a smaller ball of the black liquid.

“Cool, just me. Twenty bullets left, too. I don’t think that’ll be enough to get this thing to stop,” Ann called, firing a Smite enhanced shot towards where the pale arm disappeared into the snow cloud. A flash of purple light confirmed the hit and gave them a glimpse of the thing’s outline. No hiss of pain this time, though. Ann knew she didn’t miss, so something must have protected the creature.

“Kat, this is not working!” Bren shouted.

“Aye, need a better place tae fight it. Ye seen anywhere on the way ‘ere?” Kat yelled as she sliced a clean cut into the thing’s forearm.

“A ways further back. We will have to run again.” Bren confirmed.

“Feck it, let’s go!” Kat yelled as she turned her back and bolted.

The other two kept up with her, darting through the trees, avoiding the spray of whatever the fuck the creature was shooting at them.

“Left ‘ere!” Bren yelled over the cacophony. “A clearing I saw on the way.”

The Warped, meanwhile, had seemed to change tactics from blasts of pressurized ooze to lobbing wads of the stuff at them. As they ran, gobs of the sticky gunk forced them to slow down and dodge.

After a couple minutes, they scrambled into an oblong clearing. It was mostly flat, with a stone to the northern edge jutting a few feet up.

“Not the best, but it’s what we’ve got,” Kat grunted, blocking another shot of ichor.

“Now it just needs to get over here,” Ann complained, sidestepping her own share of the barrage. “How much of this crap does it have?”

“It will run out, eventually. I hope.” Bren tried to reassure her. “At least with the trajectory of its shots, we know exactly where it is.”

“True, but we can’t last all day. Let’s take cover behind the rock,” Ann suggested.

Nodding, Kat and Bren followed the suggestion, crouching down behind the tall stone. 

“It’ll probably come fer us now that it can’t see us. Or it’ll flank. Feck. This thing knows how tae fight in the woods,” Kat grumbled.

“Yes. Undoubtedly a Warped suited for this environment,” Bren agreed.

“Shhh, I think it’s coming,” Ann raised her hand, silencing the other two as her ears twitched.

The spray of liquid stopped, and a shuffling, almost dragging sound met the Lupine’s ears. Another wail creeped over the clearing as the thing left the treeline.

Chancing a look, Ann poked her head around the side of the rock, only to be more confused at what she was looking at.

The round object she’d seen before turned out to be a shell of some kind. Nothing she’d ever seen, but the closest she could describe was a snail. It was flat on the bottom, but spires of calcium decorated the tops and sides. Some were sharp, but others had clearly been snapped off, and worn down as the creature moved through its dense environment. 

The front was where the strange began. Instead of the normal snail creature was something vaguely humanoid. It was completely white, devoid of any pigmentation. Its long torso extended down further and further, widening before it entered the darkness of the shell it dragged behind it. The Warped had four arms. Two short and stumpy appendages seemed to be used to move it, while the much longer two arms were what had struck Kat. They ended in elongated hands with fingers disproportionate to the rest of it. From its shoulders up, instead of a head was a stump of flesh, wrinkled and shifting from side to side as it seemed to try to smell for them. No eyes were present, and as it let out another unearthly screech, Ann saw the side of its stump open to several rows of sharp teeth arrayed in concentric circles.

“Oh, that is a fucked up snail,” Ann gasped as she ducked back into cover.

“Never ‘eard o’ one o’ those before. How big?” Kat asked.

“Twelve foot tall shell, at a guess?” Ann explained. “Looks like it’s kinda human, or was, for the fleshy bits. Four arms. Two for moving, two for hitting you,” she nodded at Kat. “It doesn’t have eyes, and I couldn’t see ears or a nose, but it clearly can sense us. Betting they’re somewhere else. Mouth on the stump full of sharp teeth.”

“Understood. The ranged shots likely came from the mouth, or possibly the shell,” Bren pondered. “If it is the former, then we can avoid those fairly easily. If it is the latter, that will be more complicated. How do you feel about this, Kat?”

“Not prepared, ‘at’s fer sure,” Kat replied. “It’s got the range advantage on us. We’ll need tae close that distance real quick. If we can’t, an’ I’m stuck out, we’ll need tae really run an’ come back with support.”

The other two nodded, grips tightening on their weapons. Kat looked around the rock, holding up her shield hand, and waited. They could hear the monstrous mollusc getting closer, the snow shuffling aside as it dragged its bulk. A hand slowly stretched over the top of the rock, and Kat darted out to the left.

Ann took the right, trying to get as close to it as she could before the thing noticed what was happening.

It didn’t work. Whatever the thing was using to sense them, it tracked them perfectly. The arm that was on the rock slid down the side and swept outward, catching Annita by surprise and toppling her. Scrambling in the dirt, she felt the ground shake as the arm slammed down where she was just laying, sending small rocks and snow flying. Ann caught a glimpse of a frustrated Kat using her shield to bat away strikes from the other arm, curses flowing freely from her lips.

Ann crouched, digging the claws on her feet in, before attempting another dash forward. She got a bit closer, almost getting to the thing’s elbow, before it caught her with a fist to her stomach. The wind was knocked out of her as she tumbled backwards again. Instinctively, she checked her health. 150/230. And that was with her new armour. Once her lungs let her take in a ragged, coughing breath, she struggled to her feet. Eighty points in one hit, and it could keep both of their fighters occupied. This was going to be tough.

One of the arms came back around, and she leapt over it, slicing pale flesh on the disturbingly thin appendage to little effect. Ducking a blast of goo, she stepped forward, but the hand loomed close again. The fingers tensed against each other before a flick smacked into her leg. She spun head over heels before landing on her back with a thud. A cry of pain escaped her as she sat back up. Something in her back felt like it had pulled. Soothing warmth washed over her as Bren got to work restoring her health, and she rose to her feet once more, tumbling to the side as a fist slammed down where she just was. This thing really liked to topple its victims.

Getting her feet under her she aimed and fired another shot off into the trunk that composed its body. The snail flinched, its body writhing as it clutched the wound.

Kat took the opening, charging in to her preferred range. A cut from her sword opened a bleeding black wound on its soft side, almost the same liquid that was being fired out across the area.

Ann was right there with her, taking advantage of Rogues Do It From Behind and sticking to the side, making cut after cut into the rubbery flesh.

“This is working!” Ann shouted, excited as she dealt more damage to the monstrosity before her.

It was then that the snail stopped moving. Instinctively, both fighters immediately backed away. The thing’s mouth opened wide. Wider than it had before. The scream that came out of it this time was like a physical blow. Ann was sent flying back, while Kat seemed to spend some Tenacity to stay where she was.

The world was silent except for a ringing in Ann’s ears. Shaking herself, feeling a trickle of blood running down the side of her head, she checked her ears. Both were bleeding, thin streams coloring her fingers red as she touched them. Eardrums blown out, most likely. Or at least damaged. She could hear muffled noises, and it was getting better as another heal hit her, but it shook her for a moment that sound could physically hurt her so much.

Kat was trapped close to the wriggling body as it bent to better attack her. Hands tried to grasp her from behind while the thicker ones it used to move were trying to bludgeon her from the front.

Ann darted in, taking a cut at one of the hands while keeping an eye on the stump of a head. Scoring a hit, she pumped another smite into the blow, the purple flash of divine energy burning a smoking gash into the flesh under the falchion’s blade. She sidestepped one of the thicker hands trying to stomp on her, returning another hit. Her sword bit deep into the flesh, but this one was thicker for a reason. The creature didn’t recoil with pain, but wrenched her sword from her hand as it lodged itself in the blubbery stump.

Cursing, Ann took a step back, trying to find a way back in, but the snail had diverted one of its longer arms to deal with her. It was all she could do to dodge each swing as the intensity of the creature’s attacks increased. It was angry, she thought, or at least hurt and worried. They had this.

The thing raised its arm to try to flatten her once again, giving Ann an opening. She aimed, and sent her third smite on a bullet directly into the thing’s chest. It rocked back as she raced forward, grabbing and wrenching her blade from the limb, feeling the muscles in the wound resist her efforts.

As she did, she lost track of the head as it opened its gaping maw again. The world rang again as she was deafened once more. As she righted herself in a snowbank, she saw Kat had been knocked back as well. She tried to clear her hearing, shaking her head repeatedly. She checked her health. Even with the healing she’d received, she had 72 points left. And it wasn’t going back up this time.

Looking around, she saw why. Bren was pinned behind the rock, unable to move out and provide support as a rain of viscous liquid splashed around him. The spines on the back of the Warped’s shell had shifted, pointing towards where Bren was trying to provide support. It had successfully bombarded him to the point where he had to take cover behind the rock, and it was keeping the Scholar from aiding his team.

“Kat!” Ann shouted, desperately dodging another sweep of the thing’s creepily long arms. “Kat! This isn’t working! Bren can’t move!”

A stream of curses was her reply as Kat parried another hand, keeping her out of range. Her ears were also bleeding, their shared sensitive hearing clearly putting them at a disadvantage here. “Yer feckin’ right. Gods damnit. Bren! Get ready tae run. We’re gonna head straight north. Full speed. Get the feck outta here! We’ll meet up in a bit! Got it?” She followed all her words with gestures Ann greatly appreciated, directing her to where they planned on escaping.

“Got it!” Bren and Ann replied at once.

“On my mark!” Kat shouted, taking another slice at pale flesh. “Now!”

All three turned and ran as fast as they could into the treeline. The monster screamed again, sending another salvo of ichor after them.

Ann’s heart raced in her ears as she ran. Small explosions of snow popped up around her as she dodged left and right, trying her best to keep away from the Warped’s relentless barrage. “You’d think it’d run out of juice,” she complained to no one as she vaulted a fallen tree.

Left, another right, a gob of goop splattered on the tree in front of her, splashing across her front, joining the mess from the first blast. Wiping her eyes, Annita kept running. Her breath was growing ragged, and she was getting tired. It had to be chasing her specifically. Dread crept into her chest as the realization she might not be able to outrun the thing dawned on her. “How… the fuck… is it so fast?” Ann panted.

A crack echoed as she stepped on a thicker branch buried beneath the powdery snow. Ann felt her paw slip and twist, sending her tumbling against a large tree.

Ann laid there, trying desperately to focus her spinning head. She could hear the snail getting closer, the crashing as it shoved its way through the dead trees, but she couldn’t focus.

Not again. She thought desperately. Almost dying a-fucking-gain. Come on Ann. Get up. Get up get up get up get up!

“Shhhhh,” a quiet voice whispered from right next to her. “Quiet. Stay still. It’ll pass.”

Ann did as she was told, not like she had much of a choice since her world was still spinning.

The rough dragging of the Snail’s shell got louder. Louder still, and Ann laid there obediently even as panic rose in her chest. Her eyes focused just in time to see the hulking mass creep into view, its awful pale body stretching this way and that as it searched for her. The skin split open as it screamed again. Ann had to force herself not to move, eyes locked on the creature.

The Warped’s “head” lowered to the ground as it seemed to sniff, then a pitch black tongue extended to lick the snow. Huffing, it lifted back up, used its longer arms to turn itself around with the trees in reach, and drug itself away.

After a minute or two, Annita dared to look away. Righting herself, she looked around, trying to spot her saviour.

“Nice to meet you,” the voice seemed to come out of the snowbank next to her. “Welcome to my woods.”

Chapter Text

“AAAAH!” Annita cried, falling back on her hands and scuttling away from the living snow drift.

“SHHH!” the mound hissed at her. “Do you want that thing coming back for us?”

“Sorry, sorry,” Ann corrected herself, pausing, then sitting back up. “Who, or uh, what are you?”

“Oh, right, excuse me,” the snow with horns said. The mound shifted as someone sat up from under the pile.

Dusting herself off, a female Vulhardrin came into view. She was short, or at least shorter than Bren from Ann’s perception. The horns she’d seen were attached to the sides of her head, and appeared to be ram’s horns. Thick, black, and curled in a loose spiral on the sides of her head.

As the woman removed more of the snow, Ann saw that half of the disguise was actually her hair. Though, instead of hair, this woman had what looked like pure white wool growing from her scalp. It fluffed up, and a lock draped down over her left eye, while the rest ran long down her back. Her skin was entirely black. Not brown, but almost obsidian, and nicely contrasted her hair and hazel eyes. Her body was on the plumper side, with a nice plump bust and full hips. Ann’s thoughts immediately jumped at how cute she looked.

Quirking a white eyebrow, the woman offered her a hand. Taking the friendly gesture, Ann stood.

“Oh, my, you are larger than I thought you were,” the woman almost squeaked with surprise. “I… introductions, yes. I am Rosalyn Losenska. These are my woods, and I already welcomed you. Who are you?”

“Annita Kronforst,” Ann replied as she stood. “Friends call me Ann, or Annita. I’m not really picky. I was here with two others because there were reports of some big Warped out here causing problems. We came to deal with it and meet the witch living here.”

Rosalyn’s expression darkened at her words. “I swear to the Gods. I keep telling them I’m not a blasted witch. Just because I like nature and it likes me doesn’t mean I’m some sorceress. I mean, no offense to them. I’m sure they’re talented in their own ways, but still!” As she ranted, she stomped off the last of the snow clinging to her clothes. She wore a simple, patterned brown robe, with depictions of nature stitched like a mural across it. Trees and beasts interwoven into a tapestry of nature. “For your reference, I am a Druid. I tend to these woods, maintain a ward that was placed here by a previous Druid, and try to keep the Warped from desecrating this area more than they already have.”

“Ah, ok. Good to know,” Ann laughed at the indignation, flashing her sharp teeth.

The woman instantly balked, drawing back and summoning a staff from nowhere before her. It was just taller than the woman, made of a black polished wood that was formed by two pieces twisting around each other to split and meet again at the top leaving a loop.

Ann, for her part, felt a tug at the reaction. Something predatory inside her loved that, and she felt her eyes focus on Rosalyn intently, pulled in by the vulnerability in front of her. Recognizing what was happening after a moment, she shook her head and took a step back.

“Sorry, I uh, I don’t know what the hell that was,” she apologized.

Rosalyn took a moment more to recover before putting her staff away. “Right. Likely due to our natures,” she said shakily. “Looking at you, wolf?”

“Yeah, wolf. A bit more than most, I’m told. Probably why that reaction was so intense. Sorry, again. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“It’s… fine. Just took me for a fright. Sheep tend to fear the wolf and all that. Haha. So, you said you came with friends? Where are they?” Rosalyn asked, collecting herself.

“Should be somewhere nearby. Kat said to go north, so I guess we could head that way?” Ann offered.

“Sure. If they’re up north and looking for a place to regroup, there’s this big tree I like to take naps in. That’s as good a landmark as any. Follow me!” Rosalyn waved as she skipped off into the woods.

Before following, Ann bit down on the urge to hunt the woman running away so carefree. She really hoped this wasn’t going to be a constant thing as she jogged to catch up to the small woman.

After about five minutes at a brisk pace, they reached the tree Rosalyn had described. It was massive, branches splaying out in every direction, creating a thick canopy even without leaves. True to what she’d said, Kat and Bren were leaning against the trunk, waiting.

“Oi, ye made it!” Kat cried, running over and tackling Ann in a hug. “Oh, I thought somethin’ happened tae ye,” the woman fussed as she smothered Ann with a kiss.

“I’m fine, really,” Ann laughed, pushing her worried lover off her. “Glad you two are all right, too. The thing went after me, so I probably had the rougher time.”

“Aye, but it looks like ye made a friend,” Kat said, glancing at Rosalyn.

“Friend is a bit much, just acquaintances at the moment,” Rosalyn corrected. “I am Rosalyn Losenska. Druid and caretaker of these woods. I help keep the Warped under control and some ancient wards charged. I was told by your very tall friend here that you were sent here to help?”

“Yes,” Bren piped up. I was initially told about a witch in these woods,” Rosalyn’s face wrinkled with frustration, “however, that seems to have been a mistake. We were then informed of a large Warped having encroached on the area, causing problems for the locals. We took the commission to deal with it and ended up in our current predicament. It is a pleasure to meet you, Rosalyn,” he said as he bowed to the woman.

“Oh, uh, good to meet you too,” Rosalyn stuttered slightly, seemingly embarrassed. “No need to be so formal. I just live here. Really, my Path is close enough to a witch that I don’t blame them for getting that wrong, but it’s the principle of the thing, you know?”

“Quite. Several Paths may intersect or look like another to the unfamiliar,” Bren explained, more to Annita than to anyone else. “Now, I have been terribly impolite. My name is Bren Hedera, and the Alfhindur here is Katlyn, uh.” He paused, raising a questioning eyebrow at the princess.

She sighed. “Aye, Katlyn Farragher. Nice tae meet ye.”

“Oh, I don’t really know why you all think that is so important, but it’s nice to meet you, too. You look fairly strong. Over tenth level already? A fighter, an, um, healer at a guess, and another fighter. Good group. Missing a caster, though.” The words fell out of Rosalyn’s mouth in a wave. She leaned this way and that, letting her woolly hair fall left and right as she observed the trio. “And two in a relationship, too! That’s nice. What a lovely group to come help. Sorry if I’m rambling. I don’t get many visitors and this is only the second time the Keep has sent out anyone to help. Otherwise, I’ve just been coordinating the locals for backup. Much less effective than trained warriors, let me tell you. They’re good folk, but they’re hunters and farmers. They can deal with normal Warped, but nothing like this. Am I talking too much?”

Ann laughed, patting the shorter Vulhardrin on the shoulder. “Nah, you’re fine. It’s good to know what’s going on here, though.”

“Yes. And you surmised correctly. I am a healer. Katlyn here is a guardian, and Annita is a rogue of sorts,” Bren explained. “We were hoping to seek you out before we ran into the Warped. However, it seems we encountered things out of order.”

“Oh, gods, did you! You weren’t even close to my house. Come. This way!” Without a further word, Rosalyn turned and began walking northeast. 

Before following, Ann took a moment, appreciating the way the smaller woman bounced under her loose clothing. A smack on the back of her head from Kat shook her from her state. 

“’S rude, love. Tae stare at another woman wit’ yer girlfriend right ‘ere.” She chided, though her smirk betrayed the ribbing behind her words.

“Hey, you were looking too,” Ann defended herself, ducking another smack.

“Were not.” Kat blustered, though the red in her ears darkened past what could be blamed on the cold.

“Am I not enough for you after you got your hands on me?” Ann teased as she started to follow Bren and Rosalyn.

“I’ll show ye enough later, ye beast,” Kat grumbled. “Still, she seems nice. If we’re gonna recruit ‘er beyond yer tastes, so far it’s a good impression.”

“Yeah. That warped was right on top of me when she covered me. Not sure what she did, but she had to use something to make the snail not notice me.”

“We’ll get tae that later, though. And aye, glad she saved ye,” Kat sighed.

“Again,” Ann grumbled under her breath.

“Wha’s that?”

“Nothing, nothing. Let’s go.”

Kat gave her a look, clearly concerned, but let the conversation drop for now.

They walked for a bit. The sun was getting lower and lower until they found a large stand of trees. They were laid out in an unnatural circle around a building that was erected around a large gnarled tree.

“Warding trees,” Rosalyn explained. “An older Druid used to live here. He was all about warding, protection, barriers and the like. Keeps the Warped out, and those inside safe. No need for a watch at night, which is nice since it’s just little ol’ me out here.” She giggled as she opened the door for them.

Inside was rustic but cosy. The room was warmly lit with candles and a crackling fire in the hearth. The room was clearly the living room, and the couch and chairs all looked plush under a covering of woolen blankets. Off to the side was a small table, cluttered with dishes, and a couple of wooden chairs pushed in under it. Along the walls were several animal horns, from deer and other creatures Ann thought must have been Warped. There were paintings as well, depicting the surrounding landscapes. A brook in spring, mountains in the winter, a valley in full autumn colors. Small, circular windows were spaced regularly on the outer walls, with the fading light flowing in. To the left and right were doors to other rooms, and a curling stair up to a second floor winding around the trunk of the tree.

“This is home,” Rosalina chirped, stretching herself and sighing. “Aaaah, warm. Go ahead, get comfy. All that gear can’t be comfortable. I’ll be back down in a few, need to change into something not all sweaty.” With that, the sheep climbed the stairs and disappeared into the house.

“This place is really cosy,” Bren sighed, pulling off his robes and grabbing his night gown from his bag.

“Yeah, I could easily live here,” Ann said, taking much longer to shuck her armour and get her casual shirt and kilt on.

“Wonder if she built it? Looks older than ‘er,” Kat pondered, pulling off her leathers, and stretching her sore muscles.

“Her? I doubt it. Not a craftswoman, from my estimation. Possibly an old residence she took up?” Bren pondered, taking a seat on the couch, Ann joining him on the other side.

“Nae, too small an’ soft tae be doin’ anythin’ like tha’,” Kat agreed, taking a seat. 

On cue, Rosalyn returned in very different clothes. It was a closer fitting shirt, which did absolutely nothing to hide her large breasts along with some light linen pants that hugged her thighs nicely. 

Ann and Kat shared a glance, eyebrows raised as they silently agreed. The girl was hot in a very different way than they were. On the edge of cute.

“Aaah, much better. Oh, good, you can put your armor over there by the fire to dry out any snow that’s gotten into it. Did you all bring food with you? If not, no worries. I have plenty stored for the winter to make a good stew. You know what? Let’s do that. We can deal with things in the morning and talk tonight. Katlyn, Ann, would you mind helping me? You both know how to cut things. It’ll be on the fire in a snap.”

Rosalyn beckoned and led them into the left room, which turned out to be her kitchen. “One moment, let me get the things.” Pulling up a trapdoor in the floor, she disappeared into the cellar.

“I could tell something was under the robes, but not that much,” Ann whispered to Kat while they waited.

“Aye. Girl’s got a good figure. She’s gonna be able tae keep up wit’ us in a fight an’ travelin’ fer sure. Bit softer than me normal preference, but I can appreciate the rest o’ ‘er.” Kat whispered back. “Don’t mean ye can run off wit’ er yet. Just… yeah, not yet.”

“I know. Don’t worry,” Ann reassured her, pulling her into a hug. “I don’t even know her. She could kick puppies for all I know.”

Kat looked back at her, aghast. “Tha’ sweet thing? Hells, I’m surprised she culls warped fer a livin’. Looks way too nice.”

“Yeah, that’s going to be an interesting image to reconcile. Oh, here she comes.” Ann said as footsteps hit the staircase leading up from the cellar.

“Okay, got some good things. Katlyn, can you get to work on the meat? Just need it in bite-sized chunks,” Rosalyn requested, handing a side of salted meat to Kat. “Ann, help me with the vegetables. Just need them peeled and chopped. Once that’s done, just toss them in this kettle here. I’ll season it up and once we get it all cooked, we can eat!”

“Roger,” Kat affirmed, taking the meat and knife with a grin. They each took their space on the long, curved counter that ran around the exterior of the outer wall. The work was relaxing and soon they got to chatting. Bren also wandered in, looking for something to drink, and took a seat out of the way.

“So,” Kat started, “how long ‘ave ye lived ‘ere?”

“Oh, most of my life,” Rosalyn said absentmindedly, peeling a root vegetable of some sort. “Mom and dad moved here pretty soon after I was born. Set up in the town further into the woods. I wandered all over the place as a kid and found this house and the old trapper that used to live here. House was older than him, though. He’d just been living there. My guess is that the other Druid that was here before built it to be out by the wards and magic in the land.”

“It is quite the home,” Bren spoke up. “Did your parents not wish to join you out here? I would imagine this place could easily house a full family.”

“Nope!” Rosalyn chirped. “They’re still in town. This place is too remote, even for them. I like it, though. Much preferred being out in the woods and all. I still go visit, or they make the trek out here. Betting I’ll be doing the visiting before much longer. They’re getting on in their years. Can’t expect them to brave Warped infested woods to visit little ol’ me.” She tittered to herself as she finished with the vegetable, dumping the remains in the pot.

“So, tell me about yourselves! Where are you all from? What led you to being all adventury types?”

“Well, my situation is a bit… special,” Ann started. “Figure we’ll talk more about it later, though. Sorry if I don’t say right now. It’s a bit secret. As to why, though? Because I was called to it. Certain events of my life led me to taking to this life. So far it’s been… all right.” There was that glance from Kat again. “Overall, I can’t complain, though. Met Kat here, and we’ve more than hit it off.”

“Oh, I can tell! You two seem very close. A couple then? Was I right?” Rosalyn perked up, each question more insistent.

“Yup, as of three days ago, official,” Ann confirmed, beaming.

“Well, congratulations to you two! I really mean it. Gosh, I do wish I could find myself someone. Gets a bit lonely out here no matter how much I like the quiet. Having a nice lady to talk to would be wonderful. Oops, talking about me again. What about you, Bren?”

“Well, I hail from Korvas. I grew up with Katlyn here and joined her in the adventuring life. Being a healer meant I was already well suited for the occupation. If it was not out in the wilderness, I imagine that I would be working in a medical facility of some sort.”

“Or yer nose buried in a library until yer bones turned tae dust,” Kat joked.

“Yes, or that,” Bren said, rolling his eyes. “I do enjoy my histories. Regardless, that is mostly my story.”

“Capital born. Well learned, you must have been well off.” Rosalyn sighed, shuffling more vegetables into the stew pot. “Must have been nice. Not that I hold any grudge against you personally. My family did not have that much. We were lucky to be able to find a good living out here. I admit to some jealousy, though.”

“Well, then ye might want tae sit down fer me, then.” Kat muttered.

“Oh, I’m quite sturdy. Don’t you worry,” Rosalyn joked reassuringly.

“All right then. Honestly, a little surprised me name didn’t tip ye off. I’m third in line tae the throne.” Kat explained calmly, measuring their host’s reaction.

The knife in Rosalyn’s hand paused for a moment as she took in what was just revealed, but began chopping again. “That so?”

“Aye, fer all it’s worth. Had a pampered life fer me early years, I admit. Wasn’t the life fer me. Learned how tae use a sword as a wee child, then naturally went from there. Guess I coulda made a mark in the military. Servin’ the Guard, or the like. Too much in the way o’ formality. I wanted tae make me own name, do me own thing. So I set out wit’ Bren an’ lived the life o’ a merc’. Still ‘ave tae deal with the royalty thing now an’ then when I get back tae a big city, but fer the most part, I’m free.”

“At least you’ve found your calling,” Rosalyn said with a slightly less enthusiastic voice than she used for the other two. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be cold. It sounds like you found a way to be your own woman. Just… strange to meet a royal all the way out here. Away from all the money, and comfort, and privilege. There’re stories. We all hear them. Nobles and the royal family being all set up in golden palaces and mansions. Wine and food going to waste because their overabundance. It sets, well, expectations.”

“Aye, heard plenty meself,” Kat sighed, finishing up with the meat and adding it to the pot. She took a seat on the floor nearby and out of the way, waiting for further instruction. “It’s… ugh, there’s some merit tae those tales as much as I hate tae admit it. We’re well off. Very much so. Wasn’t really aware o’ how much more ‘til I got out in the world. Know it doesn’t do much, but I do want tae at least let ye know, me mother wants tae ‘ave things be better. She’s the Queen, but she’s got a good amount o’ opposition she’s gotta deal with. Hopin’ we can figure out somethin’, but it’s a constant struggle.”

“I see. Well, life is what it is. We all get dealt different hands. It’s what we do with them that matters, and you’re out here helping others. Can’t hold too much against you. All right, that should be it. Let me grab some herbs, toss them in, and that should be good. Bren, could you roll over that barrel? Kat and Ann, please fill the pot.”

Doing as they were told, Bren struggled with rolling the barrel, but did his best. Heaving the heavy thing, the pot was filled, then placed over the fire. Before long, the smell of delicious stew filled the house. Rosalyn ladled each of them a hand carved bowl, and took a seat in an overstuffed chair near the fire.

Conversation was light, keeping mostly to local goings on. Trade in the village, and the local wildlife were things Rosalyn was clearly experienced in. She talked long into the night on the subject, before exhaustion took them.

She showed Kat and Ann to a room on the second floor, set up for guests. Bren elected to stay on the couch, insisting when asked by Rosalyn whether he’d like something else. Rosalyn retired to her own room, and quiet settled over the house.

“What a day,” Ann whispered to Kat as they snuggled in under the blankets.

“Aye. Ye sure you’re all right? Ye seemed tense today,” Kat whispered back.

“Just stress, I guess. Big fight and all. It’s nothing,” Ann hedged again.

“Darlin’, don’t hide stuff from me, yeah? I can tell when yer upset.”

“Ugh, it’s just the whole feeling useless,” Ann groaned, rolling so she splayed out on her back. “I almost died again today, and I got saved again. I just want to be better, and it sucks not being that.”

“Ah,” Kat sighed, rolling to face the ceiling as well. “That’s not an easy thing tae conquer, love. It’ll come with time, an’ effort, an’ a lot more mistakes. Ye’re fine. S’what we’re here fer, right? Tae shore up each other's weaknesses. Bren can’t do damage fer shite. I don’t have any o’ the offensive spells ye’ve got, an’ the one I do takes me outta the fight. When ye get focused, ye’re gonna ‘ave a hard time.” The Guardian rolled over, facing her girlfriend. “An’ no one is gonna hold it against ye. Ye’re still lower level than both Bren an I, but wit’ how ye’ve been progressin’ I’d bet ye’ll be caught up by the time this trip is over.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Ann sighed, rolling back to nuzzle against Kat’s forehead. “Thanks. I just got in my own head again.”

“Aye, an’ it’s my job tae pull ye back out,” Kat smiled, giving her a soft kiss before yawning widely. “Feck, I’m tired. G’night, love.”

Kat yawned back, feeling her jaw pop slightly with how large the motion was. “Yeah. Night.”

Chapter Text

It was still dark when Katlyn woke; she didn’t open her eyes immediately, desperately wanting to get back to sleep. Something, or someone, didn’t want to let her. She felt Ann, usually a fairly quiet sleeper, tossing behind her. No, not really the word for it. She was moving back and forth, almost writhing.

A nightmare? Some ghost of her past coming back to torment her displaced soul? Kat opened her eyes and started to roll over. As she landed on her back, Ann moved again. Strong hands gripped her wrists as Ann loomed over her. Kat was instantly awake, sensing danger in her lover.

“Ann, ye all right?” she whispered. “C’mon, let me go. What’s wrong?”

Nothing but panting breaths reached her. Kat’s eyes adjusted to the dark, a beam of moonlight poking through the window. Ann’s eyes were still closed, her face flushed and looking down, she was rock hard.

“The feck? Ye sleepwalkin’?” Kat asked as she struggled in the grip. Ann shouldn’t be this strong. She should be able to break free, but not this time. She looked up to see Ann slowly opening her eyes. “Good morn’ oh feck.” Kat gasped.

Where her girlfriend’s bright green eyes normally lived, a pair of bright purple glowing orbs stared down at her. Kat’s heart skipped a beat. They hadn’t taken care of Ann’s libido last night. She was due to overload in the middle of the night. They’d never found out what that meant. 

Well, feck. She thought to herself as she felt Ann’s cock press hard against her lower lips. She moaned loudly as she was spread wide, arms instinctively wrapping around Ann’s back. A second later, a ravenous mouth met hers, tongue pushing past her lips and searching deeper.

Kat’s eyes rolled back as she felt Ann taking over. This wasn’t like her normally attentive lover. No, this was something different. Something more. Maybe something less. Her thoughts were interrupted as Ann thrust hard, pulling all the way back before slamming back into her. Her walls clenched involuntarily around the massive cock inside her. It felt amazing, as it always did, but holy hells was it rough.

Tearing away from the tongue looking to throatfuck her, she panted for breath. “Feck, Ann, ye there? OOooooh!” She was cut off again as another titanic thrust pushed her up on the bed. Quickly, Ann’s strong arms pulled hers down to her sides, and the Vulhardrin speared back into her.

Ann sped up. Taking her lover, Kat felt every millimeter of the massive member inside her. Ann was being so rough, so needy, so greedy. She was pounding her so hard her breasts bounced wildly, and the bed shook under them. Kat was losing herself. This was a side she’d never felt, and she wanted more. More of that amazing cock, more of that ridiculously hot body against hers. She wanted, no, needed it. Needed Ann to finish. To fill her. 

Suddenly, her girlfriend tensed, and the cock inside her pulsed. She’s cumming, feck, yes. Kat’s lust-addled brain managed as she hugged the wolf-girl close, feeling her tail lashing against the legs wrapped around her waist. Suddenly, a warmth filled her core. Sticky, gushing, and filling, she cried out in a primal ecstasy as she took her lover’s seed. Her mind blanked out, and she lost control of her muscles as her own orgasm rocked through her body.

Normally, Ann would stop here, give her some time to rest and recover, but she felt another thrust hit her, then a second. Her insides convulsed as her oversensitive nerves were assaulted by another round. Oh, this is gonna be a long night.

POV: Annita

Ann could tell something was wrong, but for some reason she couldn’t care. It was almost like a dream. She had Ann under her and it felt incredible. She was fucking her girlfriend into the bed with a raw power she’d never normally possess. Looking down at her lover, her sight was clouded by the strange purple haze that’d covered her vision since she woke up, she grinned at the twitching mess she’d made of Kat.

She’d already came once, and she was still hard. She knew Kat wouldn’t be satisfied until both of them were unable to continue, so she kept going. Pounding into the woman as hard as she possibly could. Kat could take it. She was stronger and tougher than Ann and she liked to play rough.

She was rewarded as her cock was gripped in viselike pressure as Kat came again. Growling from deep in her throat, she leaned in and kissed her lover deeply. Ann felt the woman melt under her, lips and jaw opening for her, allowing her tongue to play. She kissed and sucked at her lover’s tongue, feeling the slippery appendage fight feebly against her, enjoying the struggle. Drawing back, she nipped Kat’s lower lip, sharp teeth grazing the sensitive flesh. Not enough to wound, but enough for a little pain.

Kat gasped and arched beneath her as she did. Gods, Ann was addicted to that feeling. She scooped her arms beneath Kat’s back before she fell to the mattress and pulled her lover up onto her lap in a sitting position. Locking her eyes with Kat’s she began to bounce the Guardian on her lap. There was no input from Kat, who seemed to be completely lost in pleasure. She simply grabbed the woman’s hips and bounced her in time with her thrusts.

Kat’s arms wrapped around her neck, her face burying into the crook of her neck as the litany of moans and cries was muffled.

Ann could feel herself getting close again, she couldn’t stop it. Nothing could stop her tonight. She felt incredible, and hungry. Hungry for everything her lover had to offer. She wanted to take everything. To taste it all. To give her love and take the love that had been offered to her.

Sharp teeth clamped into Kat’s shoulder as she came a second time, filling the already overflowing cunt wrapped around her. She felt Kat’s insides squeeze around her, milking her for more, taking it all and begging, pleading for her to continue. Another growl and she felt her vitality restoring almost instantly. Normally she’d flag, but not tonight. No, tonight she could go longer.

Flipping Kat over, she lifted the Guardian’s hips up to her. An idea raced through her mind unbidden, and she pressed her cumslick cock up against the woman’s ass. A deep moan into the pillows encouraged her, as she pushed against the tight entrance. It took a few thrusts, pushing firmly, lubricating heavily with their combined cum, before Kat let her in.

Oh, fuck, this is so much tighter. I need more. Ann felt her body urging her onwards. Kat was enjoying it clearly. The Guardian hadn’t told her to stop, and as she paused, she felt her lover’s hips pushing back on her, slowly and steadily easing her cock deeper into her ass. Oh, that tightness was wonderful. She held herself barely in control, fighting the titanic urge to thrust because she knew how difficult this was. She’d played with toys with her girlfriends, and they were all smaller than she was. Then again, magic skill seemed to be helping as she suddenly slid into her hilt.

A cry of ecstasy erupted from both women as Ann bottomed out, pulled back, and sank to her hilt again. So much tighter, and that cinching ring around her base felt incredible. She quickly lost herself as the bed creaked in protest to the rough treatment.

Wet smacks echoed as she felt Kat’s muscled ass bounce against her stomach. She revelled in the sight of the ripples she sent through the flesh with each thrust, taking a hand and smacking them just to see more. The moan she got from that sent a thrill from her, as much as the instinctive clench around her length. She definitely loved this.

POV: Rosalyn

A cry echoed through the house, causing Rosalyn to sit bolt upright. She slept lightly, partially a factor of having lived in the woods for so long, and partially because the sheep side of her wouldn’t let her have it any other way. Wiping her bleary eyes, she looked around. It was still night, maybe very early morning. Nothing seemed the matter, and she stood to look out the window.

Another scream. It was loud, close. “What in the Hells?” she mumbled to herself. She grabbed her night clothes, slipping them on, and cracked the door. Nothing was wrong outside her room. The hallway was dark except for the firelight from downstairs. The door to the guest room was opposite hers, and nothing appeared amiss there either. Maybe it was a wild animal? A Warped stalking at the edge of the warding circle? Those things had creepy screams. Especially that snail thing from the other day. Gods, she hoped her guests could help with that. It was a really-

Rosalyn’s thoughts were cut off as a moan brushed against her ears. That wasn’t pain. That sounded like pleasure? She’d made similar noises playing with herself. The Druid was a lonely woman; she had to make do, and she’d certainly made the best of what she could. Another moan, deeper, and a different voice. Then more. Oh! Oh my gods, they can’t be.

She crept as quietly as she could, closing her door behind her as she approached the opposite side of the hallway. Another scream, this time she couldn’t tell if it was pain or pleasure. She was worried her new guests were in trouble, but it was also the two women. They were a couple, right? Clearly, this was fine. A bit rude, especially waking her up in the night. Though, what if? What if something had made its way past the wards? What if they were in trouble?

Pulling her staff from its enchanted space, she gripped the comforting shaft as she slowly eased the door open. “Hello? Are you two all right? I heard a scream, and then a moan, and then other noises and I just wanted to make sure. Please tell me to leave if you-“ Another loud moan took her by surprise and she stumbled forward. On her hands and knees, she looked up.

The room was dark, only lit by the window. A wet smacking was coming from the bed. Looking further up, she saw what was happening. The Vulhardrin, Annita she said her name was, was towering over the Alfhindur. Their bodies moving against each other as something connected the two.

Rosalyn wasn’t an innocent little lamb. She knew what sex was, but the sight still confused her. How was Ann… how was she doing that?

She almost immediately got her answer as the woman pulled her hips back, revealing an insanely long cock that was firmly lodged into the other woman’s ass. She didn’t even pull all the way out, and it was larger than anything Rosalyn had used on herself. Her cheeks burned as she took in the sight, shuffling back.

The door behind her had swung back after she stumbled through, and in her effort to escape, she’d closed the thing behind her. Neither of the women on the bed had noticed her. Katlyn likely because her face was firmly pressed into the pillows, but Annita should have seen her. What was happening? Was she that focused on taking her girlfriend? Oh, oh boy, was it an incredible sight.

Rosalyn felt her own body heating up as her wide eyes were locked onto the scene before her. The Lupine was the picture of beastly lust. Her tall body arched over her lover, claws digging into the headboard as she took her woman. The bushy tail swished madly behind her as she moved. Every muscle under that gorgeous, flawless tanned skin was working perfectly together to thrust harder into the other woman. 

Everything about the sight made Rosalyn feel weak. She felt a panic rising in her as she watched. The ferocity stoked instinctual fears in her, but it was mixed with excitement. Gods, what if that were her in the bed? Her being so thoroughly taken? Her under the wolf? Rosalyn’s heart raced as she felt her loins moisten, and she rubbed them together unconsciously.

At that moment, the Lupine tensed, her tail going still and her ears folding back. Sharp teeth were bared as she pushed hard against her lover, locking them together as a deep growl echoed through the room over Katlyn’s moan of ecstasy. 

Rosalyn squeaked as she saw the two clearly reaching their climax together. Her heart raced. 

The wolf turned its head towards her, glowing purple eyes fixing her on the spot. She pulled out of the other woman, who groaned pitifully before sinking to the bed. She stood, head scraping the ceiling before getting off the bed, slowly stalking towards Rosalyn.

The sheep felt her heart race. She couldn’t speak. Couldn’t move. All she could do was watch as the massive predator approached her with that insane cock pulsing between her legs. That cock that would split her in half.

Rosalyn’s breath caught, and she felt the world going black, her body slumping before she lost consciousness.

POV: Annita

It was nothing like Ann had ever felt before. She was so alive in this moment. She was taking Kat, her girlfriend, and Katlyn was accepting everything she had to offer. It filled her with a sense of power that was intoxicating. 

After likely minutes of thrusting, she felt her third climax nearing. She couldn’t wait to feel what this felt like. Ann needed to fill Kat’s ass with her cum. The urge was overwhelming. She felt the ring around her cock tighten as she swelled, Kat burying her face into the pillow, before she unloaded into the woman.

Pump after pump rushed into the tight hole she’d so thoroughly fucked. Kat’s walls squeezed her harder here than her pussy ever had. It was a different pressure though. It was all at once, while the other place massaged her in waves. Her ass still felt incredible, and she locked their hips together, not wanting to let any leak out of Kat.

Eventually, the tide subsided. She’d intended to keep going. Keep fucking Kat until she literally couldn’t move, but a squeak sounded from somewhere else in the room. Her purple filtered vision whipped around the room, locking on to Rosalyn.

The woman had somehow gotten into the room without her noticing. She was sitting there, the closed door at her back, trembling. Ann’s eyes widened. She’d seen everything. And she hadn’t run? Why? Was she into watching? Did she think she’d get away with it? Or did she want her? She was breathing hard. Her nipples stiff against her night shirt. She could also see a wet spot between her legs.

Ann pulled out from Kat, the Guardian flopping weakly on the bed and stood. She hopped down and slowly approached the girl, trying not to scare her.

As she got in arm’s reach, stretching a hand out to cup the sheep girl’s cheek, the woman went limp, toppling her curvy body over to her side.

Blinking in surprise, the purple haze suddenly lifted.

“What the…” Ann stammered, taking a shaky step as a wave of exhaustion hit her. “What the fuck happened?”

She looked around as a head rush hit her. Dizzy, she sat back down on the floor, holding her head in her hands and trying to steady herself.

Slowly, she regained control and looked around. Kat was stretching on the bed, with her face still shoved into the pillows.

“Feck, that was amazin’ Ann. Ye back?” she asked.

“Yeah? Are you ok?” Ann asked, concerned.

“More than ok. I’m proper fecked in me arse! I can feel it all warm an’ gooey in me!” Kat laughed as she sat up. “Think ye hit yer libido cap. Remind me tae let ye do that more often.” She stretched, turning to face Ann, and seeing Rosalyn for the first time. “Ah, shite. What the Hells happened?”

“Dunno. I kinda came down from, uh, that,” she waved her hands at her head, “and she was like this. I think I was going to try to fuck her. She seemed like she was aroused, and my instincts were saying go for it.” A slap to the back of Ann’s head knocked her forward. “Ow, what was that for?”

“Need tae take care o’ her first. Then figure out how she’s gonna react tae all o’ ye.” She said, moving over towards Rosalyn’s head.

They laid Rosalyn down fully, making sure she was as comfortable on the floor as they could get her. The bed was a mess, and Ann thought she saw cracks running across one of the feet. Christ, they’d done a number on that thing.

Gently patting her cheek, calling her name, Rosalyn slowly woke up, her black eyelids fluttering to reveal hazy hazel eyes.

“Wha happuned,” she slurred, rubbing her eyes.

“Ye passed out,” Kat informed her bluntly. “Think ye mighta hyperventilated there. Ye feelin’ alright?”

“A bit dizzy,” Rosalyn said, cradling her head. “The last thing I remember was this terrifying wolf with purple eyes towering over me. She’d taken her lover and was coming for me, and then the world went black.”

“Hey, um. Rosalyn?” Ann asked, drawing the woman’s attention. “Think that might have been me. I didn’t mean to scare you. I honestly don’t know what came over me.”

Kat stifled a laugh. “I feckin’ know what came over me. An’ in me, an’ over the mattress. Ye make a mess, dear.”

“Ha ha,” Ann laughed dryly, returning her attention to Rosalyn, who’d actually giggled softly at the joke. “Listen. Full disclosure, I’ve got a weird Path, and it’s got a sexual part to it. There’s a resource that keeps building until I, well, cum. I’d never let it hit that limit, until we forgot tonight.” Ann scratched behind her ear sheepishly. “So, I guess we know what it does now. Sorry that it had to be around you.”

“Oh,” Rosalyn replied softly. “That is unusual. I mean, you are too. With how much of your Wolf side you have present in your anatomy. Is that cock part of it? It’s massive! Never seen something like it. And a requirement to orgasm on a regular basis as part of your Path? Never heard anything like that before. Is your path powerful? With a drawback like this it must be. What’s it called? Does it matter who with? I’m going to shut up now!” she declared, stopping her rambling with both hands covering her mouth.

Ann blushed deeply as the woman over shared her thoughts. It was seriously cute how her filters disappeared when she spoke, and the sparkle of curiosity in her eyes drew her in. She felt her cock stirring again. 

Kat laid a hand on her shoulder. “Down girl,” she chided playfully. “So, Rosalyn, not tae press, but ye don’t seem too disturbed by all this.”

“Oh, no. Not really. I’d always fancied women. Not sure why, just a part of who I am. They’re so much softer looking, and their faces so pretty. I just felt more comfortable with them than anyone else. Not that I had much experience. Small town being what it is, I didn’t have many options. A fling or two in a barn. Always short lived. Then I moved out here, and things got more solitary. I make do with what I’ve got but I’ve always dreamed of being with someone who could just toss me around, take me, throw me to the ground and, eep!” she covered her motormouth again.

This time it was Kat’s turn to blush. “Ye really speak yer mind, don’t ye?”

“Only when I’m nervous, or aroused. And right now I’m pretty sure I’m both. Sorry?” Rosalyn said, as if she wasn’t sure that she was sorry.

“Nah, it’s cute,” Ann laughed. “I can’t really ask that we forget that this happened. I’m not really sure how to go from here, though.”

“How about… you two think about it? Talk about it? I can just go back to my room. It’s fine. Really. Pick up conversation in the morning? We’ve got a warped to hunt, and I’ve got plans for that, but that’s not a conversation for now, and Bren should be part of that, being part of the group, and, and and…” Rosalyn trailed off.

“Sounds good tae me,” Kat chuckled softly. “Ye need help up?”

“Yes please,” Rosalyn replied, shakily standing with Kat’s help. “So, uh, bye!”

With that she left the room. They heard the door shut on the other end of the hallway, and laid back on the floor.

“Ugh, guess the cat’s out of the bag on this whole thing,” Ann groaned, gesturing to everything around them, and her own body.

“I’m what?” Kat replied, a shit-eating grin plastered across her face.

Ann rolled her eyes. “You’re crazy.”

“You love it,” Kat giggled, snuggling up to her side.

“This is going faster than I expected. You ok with things?” Ann asked, stroking Kat’s hair soothingly, a finger tracing her long, sensitive ears.

“She’s cute,” Kat offered. “Faster than I want it tae be too. She seems eager, but… ugh, I’m still not great wit’ the idea o’ more than us.” She sighed, rolling her shoulders against the floor. “She’s nice, saved yer life, and really cute, I won’t deny. Just… not yet, no. Ye’re still mine fer now.”

“All right,” Ann accepted the declaration, hugging Kat closer. “And you want another night like this?”

“Feck yes I do,” Kat shuddered, burying her face between Ann’s sweaty breasts.

Chapter Text

Ann cleared her throat. 

The four of them had gathered in the livingroom and were eating the stew from the last night. Speaking of last night, everything had gotten kind of awkward since. Bren was giving her and Kat scathing looks. He’d healed the bite on Kat’s shoulder, but looked supremely grumpy about it.

“Could you not, please?” He asked. “I have heard quite enough out of both of you for a good while.”

“Sorry, we didn’t mean to,” Ann started, with Kat cutting her off.

“It was my fault, really. I forgot tae help keep ‘er libido down,” the Guardian tried to apologize.

“And now at least we know what it does?” Ann said, trying to put a positive spin on the situation.

“Oh, yes. We certainly do. You become a raging sex beast that cannot be controlled and intimidate our host!” Bren burst out. “And make me listen to you and my sister do all that right beneath your room. Gods, I had to get dressed and leave you were at it for so long.”

Both Ann and Kat looked down at their bowls sheepishly, with deep blushes warming their faces.

“For what it’s worth, I was just concerned that someone was getting hurt, and the intimidation was just a misunderstanding. Really!” Rosalyn insisted. “I mean, who wouldn’t be scared by a massive wolf woman stalking toward you with enchanting glowing purple eyes, completely naked! It was so primal and I think my sheepishness won out there and I just kinda went to sleep for a bit.”

Bren sighed heavily. “Not helping. Just… can you please not? At least while I am in earshot. I get it was a mistake. I just may be traumatised for a little bit, here.”

“Aye, we can do that. Sorry, again,” Kat mumbled.

“So, about today. I have a request,” Rosalyn announced. “Worry not, worry not, it has to do with your current assignment. I believe it will help us in the long run as well. This area, as you know, is near the Fertile Lands and has a much higher Warped population. Because of that, if we go back and fight that snail thing, we might run into packs of minor Warped. That’d be a problem. There’s an old ward deeper in the woods, thankfully outside the Snail’s territory for now, that was made to keep the smaller critters out. If I can get there and get it charged, it’ll help a ton. Doesn’t eliminate the problem entirely, but works as a deterrent. Nature magic!” she exclaimed, wiggling her fingers in the air.

“That sounds fair to me. I’d rather not have Twinwolves nipping at our heels while dealing with that freak,” Ann said, sitting forward at the table.

“Yes. However, I must ask why you have not made this trip before?” Bren asked.

“Well, here’s the thing,” Rosalyn said, sighing and puffing out her black cheeks before continuing. “The area is crawling with Warped right now. More than I can handle alone. I’ve been meaning to round up some villagers to get it done, but I’m worried about them getting hurt too, and I’m the strongest fighter we have. To make it worse, I’m going to have to focus on charging the stone, and I’ll be completely out of it. No offense meant, but I don’t trust them to protect me well enough to get the job done. You three, however? Experienced mercenaries? I think you would do nicely.”

“That’s fair,” Kat considered. “Bren an’ I alone mighta been enough, an’ now that we’ve got Ann here, should go even smoother. What manner o’ Warped we lookin’ at ‘ere?”

“Twinwolves. Maybe a snowcat. Oh, some Chittering Crawlers. Hate those things. Nothing flying, thankfully. At least not since I last checked. Just a lot of them. I’m level twelve in my Path. How about you all?”

“Twelve,” Kat and Bren said together.

“Eight,” Ann answered, scratching her ear.

“Wonderful! I thought you’d be a higher advancement than I am, but this works out great! We all know about how tough each of us should be,” Rosalyn clapped happily. “Well, let’s get our food in our bellies and get this done!”

The air was a bitter cold as they set out. Clear skies did nothing to warm those who didn’t have Annita’s cold resistance. Kat, Brenn, and Rosalyn huddled under thick furs as they set out, wind whistling through the trees.

“Nippy day. Not unusual for this time of year, as I’m sure you all know,” Rosalyn yelled over the wind, the noise seemingly not deterring her excitable nature. “So, we’re headed further west. Not too far. You’ll know when we get close. It’s more of a central conduit to lesser structures erected around it. You see, a cairn built around a larger central stone, usually with runes carved into it. We’re getting there.”

“Hey, by the way. What are Chittering Crawlers?” Ann asked, drawing close to the smaller woman so she could hear. Even to her enhanced hearing, the wind was loud and she was losing words.

“Frightful things,” Rosalyn said with a shiver that didn’t seem to be from the cold. “You’ll see soon enough, but they’re spiders? Kind of? At least they resemble them. You’ve seen a rat, right? Of course you have. Now imagine that thing, but instead of four legs, ten. Imagine those ten legs don’t end in paws, but spikes of bone. They drive them into trees and climb. The rat part of their head is mostly there. Their face, jaw, all that. They don’t have ears anymore, and then there’s their eyes. Bulging black things, way bigger than they should be. I hate them so much. Everything about them creeps me out and I just want to run away. I can’t, cause that’d be putting other people in danger, but I’d put them in my bottom five Warped.”

“Forgot tae say they’re poisonous too,” Kat grumbled, pulling her hood closer over her ears.

“Venomous, but yes. Don’t get bit. Bren, can you deal with that sort of thing? I have an antidote or two, but if we all get bitten, it’s not going to be enough.”

“That was the result of my most recent level, actually,” Bren confirmed. “I am limited, however. Three uses a day.”

“Ah, one of the limited spells. Should be pretty powerful, then?”

“Yes, anything up to a medium strength poison. I believe Chittering Crawlers are low strength poison. They tend to swarm and overwhelm and use the poison to disorient their prey,” Bren advised.

“Well, then we’ll just have to deal with that. I’ll try not to get bitten,” Ann said. The picture painted did not excite her for the upcoming fight. Twinwolves were annoying enough with their pack tactics, but working together with other Warped like the Chittering Crawlers sounded like a nightmare.

“Hopefully, we can get it done quickly. Once that’s done, odds are the Warped will turn on each other,” Rosalyn explained. “Chaotic things, and territory being what it is, the Twinwolves won’t take kindly to the others. If a snowcat shows up, then that thing’ll either get out of town, or go for the biggest threat. At that point, I can hide us and try to ensure it thinks the wolves are that threat.”

“A good plan. Sounds like ye’ve done this before,” Kat huffed, hands reaching into her hood to rub her ears.

“Yes. A couple times. Normally when there’s an uprising of Warped. Keeps the town safe and we have no shortage of volunteers for that kind of thing. Since this is more focused, we’re on our own.”

“Lovely,” Kat grumbled.

After another thirty or so minutes of walking, they reached the first cairn. True to Rosalyn’s description, it was a large stone surrounded by stacked smaller stones. The main stone was carved with a rune that looked like a shepherd's crook and continued down past where the smaller stones were stacked. It was dull, showing no magical life from what Ann could tell.

“Ooookay,” Rosalyn sighed, shaking herself. “Here’s where it gets tough. Get ready. No guarantees we’re safe before we get to the main Rune Stone. Once I’m there, I’m starting the ritual immediately. Remember, this is a journey, not a sprint. Reserve what you can for the bigger targets, but make sure you’re not going to die.”

“Aye, form up behind me,” Kat ordered. “I’ll take the front, Rosalyn an’ Bren behind, then Ann take the rear. Not like that, ye numpty,” Kat rolled her eyes at Ann’s instinctive grin. “Let’s go.”

Cautiously, the group advanced, weapons in hand. Ann fastened her faceplate and took up the rear, watching for anything that might be following them. For the first few minutes, nothing showed. The woods were eerily silent. The thick underbrush unmoving.

Suddenly a rustle, and a lone Twinwolf lunged at Bren from the right. The crack of Ann’s revolver sounded, knocking the wolf off course with the impact. A white glow from Rosalyn’s staff and a sharp root had impaled the creature, jutting out from the dirt.

“One down. Who knows how many more,” Rosalyn chirped, resuming the pace. The woman was completely unruffled by the kill.

Ann didn’t have a second to admire how unfazed the normally nervous Vulhardrin was. More rustling and two more Twinwolves jumped out from the sides. They seemed to be trying to avoid Kat. Not letting them, Kat stepped in front of Bren and struck down one, while Ann caught the other with her falchion.

The wolf on Kat’s sword died instantly, the higher level woman throwing it from her blade.

Annita wasn’t so lucky. The sword caught in its throat, the split head snapping at her, each half’s teeth scrabbling against her new armour. Saying a silent thanks to Riva and her craftsmanship, Ann holstered her revolver, extended her claws and gouged out one half-head’s eye. Black blood oozed down her arm as she took the flailing creature and shoved the sword further down its neck, silencing it.

“Nice to feel some actual progress,” Ann sighed, wiping her sword clean of gore.

“Aye, told ya ye was gettin’ stronger,” Kat laughed back, taking up her position.

“Heads up, Crawlers!” Bren warned as something dropped on Ann’s back.

“What the fuck? Get it off!” Ann cried as she tried to wrench the weight off her back. The spiked feet, claws? Legs dug into her armor, holding it secure.

“Stay still a moment,” Rosalyn said, approaching and levelling her staff at Ann’s back. A jolt of electricity made her fur stand on end, but the thing fell off her, dead. “Not tough, like I said, but they don’t need to be. They like to ambush from the trees. Thankfully, it was just the one, for now.”

Ann checked the charred corpse of the Chittering Crawler. It was as described. Ten legs that seemed to be broken to approximate the shape of a spider. Each leg’s fur ended in a bone spike jutting from the flesh. They almost seemed barbed to some extent. Likely to hold on to prey better. What Rosalyn had failed to describe were the eyes. They were huge, that much was right, but they were also multi-faceted like a fly’s.

“Thank the Gods these things can’t fly,” Ann huffed, standing back up and re-joining the group.

“Yes, I would not like to encounter that mutation,” Bren agreed, shuddering. “Already, they are a threat. A cloud of them? Terrifying.”

“Oi, more ahead!” Kat shouted. “Cover!”

A swarm of Chittering Crawlers came down the trees. Ann had no clue how she’d missed them, but it was like they were coming out of thin air. Swarms flowed down three trees in front of them, fanning out through the bushes and surrounding the party. Hisses and snapping teeth surrounded them as the things waited for an opening.

Ann and Kat levelled their weapons at the beasts, waiting to receive them, but nothing moved. A tense minute passed as the Crawlers edged forward, then skittered back at each movement from the party.

“What’s keeping them?” Ann asked. “They could swarm us no problem.”

“They don’t know that. They’re pack beasts and we’re larger prey,” Rosalyn explained. “They’re trying to figure out which of us is weakest. Ideally, they’d split us up and corner that person, but we won’t give them that choice. No no no. Katlyn, move forward slowly. Keep close together everyone, we need to keep moving. If they attack, fight.”

“Aye. On me. March!” Kat ordered, each foot falling slowly and carefully, not risking any poor footing that would cause her to stumble.

The rest followed closely, keeping themselves touching in some way as they stared down the ring of spidery rats around them. Ann watched as one screeched, its cheeks tightening and causing its already massive eyes to bulge disgustingly. Sharp fangs that looked transparent replaced the normal buck teeth she expected from the vermin, almost needle like.

“We should be close. A few more minutes at this pace. It would have been much quicker, at our normal pace. Goodness, I hate these things. Twinwolves are nasty, but these are far more an abomination than the rest. They don’t even have the right number of legs,” Rosalyn rambled as she walked. She sounded nervous to Ann, and talking might be a coping mechanism.

“I dunno, the crow tree thing was pretty awful,” Ann offered, trying to keep the conversation up so Rosalyn could stay focused. “Huge tree that bled and was full of crows. Literally. Its leaves were even crow feathers.”

“Sounds vile. Was that out in the world?” Rosalyn asked, her eyes darting back and forth across their left flank.

“Nae,” Kat joined in. “Guardian of a Seed. Fecker took all o’ us tae kill it. Fittin’ fer a Guardian though.”

“Sounds like it,” Rosalyn said with a grunt as she feinted at a particularly brave Crawler. “At least it was formed around two different creatures. The more creatures you see in a Warped, generally the stronger they can be. More tools for them to call upon. I heard tell of a beast that was a dog, a centipede, and some form of bird. It could fly, was long and writhing, so it was hard to hit, and its fur provided additional defences besides the chitin. What terror the hunters spoke with when they described it.”

“That’s fucking disgus…” Ann was cut off as a Twinwolf darted towards Rosalyn from a thick patch of underbrush.

The Druid caught it on her staff, forcing the butt into the dirt so as to not be knocked back, and sent a jolt of lightning through the creature, killing it instantly.

It was, unfortunately, enough of an opening. While she focused on the larger threat, the crawlers rushed in behind it. Three scurried around her legs, clawing at Bren’s back while the rest rushed forward on all sides.

Madness ensued. Ann couldn’t turn to get the things off Bren or she’d be overrun herself. Relying on her falchion, she sliced into a Crawler, severing three legs and sending it careening to its right. Switching targets, she took out another with a downward stab, pinning it to the ground before wrenching her sword free. Like Rosalyn described, they weren’t tough, but there were a ton of them.

Rosalyn had caught a break and tore one of the creatures from Bren’s back, tossing the writhing mess of legs back into the swarm behind her. 

Bren had taken one out with his knife, but the third still harassed him. Spots of red showed through his robes and he seemed slower than Ann was used to him moving. A flash of his wand and his movements steadied. He fell back slightly, into the middle of the three fighters, allowing him to take cover and deal with his last adversary.

Ann had found her own annoyances with the things. Mostly, being that they were small. So small, in fact, that she had to stoop down for each swing to actually connect. It was exhausting work, killing one after another. Once or twice she just resorted to stomping the things’ heads after cutting their legs. The only thing that stopped her was the horrid feeling of their innards on her paws and the fear the fangs might stab her accidentally. Downsides to not wearing shoes, she groaned inwardly.

Three more Twinwolves joined the fray as the horde of Crawlers thinned. Two charged Annita while one angled for Rosalyn. Aiming her revolver, Ann snuck a shot into the right shoulder of one, causing it to tumble and trip. The other was successful in reaching her, jaws snapping at her shoulders and head as she held it off with her sword arm. The leather held under the bites, but it didn’t mean it didn’t hurt, and she winced as she felt the pressure from those jaws closing over her flesh.

“Get the fuck off me!” Ann grunted, shoving her shoulder into the thing. It held on tenaciously by its teeth. She whipped her gun around and sent a smite straight through its chest. The body instantly went limp, and she pushed it to the side in time for the other Twinwolf to recover and grab at her ankles with its split head.

“This again? Really?” Ann winced, feeling the teeth digging into her unprotected flesh. “Fine, how’s this?” She sliced at one of the split necks, getting a gurgling growl from its throat as the blade cut through flesh. It didn’t cut clean, and the thing held on. Only with the second strike was she able to sever it completely, the jaws falling limp. The other head hung on for dear life, but it wasn’t long for this world. Cold steel found the gap between two vertebrae and the creature fell limp.

Ann felt Bren fixing up what damage she’d taken, and moved on to skewering more Crawlers as they approached.

“They’re thinnin’ out. Let’s move! Can’t fight these fecks all day!” Kat shouted, bashing a crawler out of the way with her shield. She set the pace. 

It was slow and grueling, but they made it work. After a few minutes, they entered a glade. Trees surrounded clear ground at the center of which was a massive runed stone. It towered over all of them, the morning light shading them as they approached. Seemingly wary of the place, or no longer confident in their numbers.

“Well, this is it,” Rosalyn huffed, trying to catch her breath a little. “This will be what we defend. I’m going to be right there, on the ground next to it. Hands on the thing and chanting some old spell to channel my mana into it. Like I said. It’ll take a while and the Warped won’t sit by while I do this. Let me know when you all are ready.”

Ann finished reloading her revolver, noting she’d have to restock on bullets when she got back. She was starting to run low. “I’m ready,” she confirmed, nodding to Kat.

“Aye, seems we are. How do we know when yer done?” Kat asked.

“That’ll be really obvious. Lots of glowing runes and the Warped will be running away,” Rosalyn explained.

“Then get yer wooly arse tae work. We’ve got ye,” Kat grinned, nodding to both Kat and Bren.

Without further words, Rosalyn knelt next to the monolith and began chanting. A rumbling echoed through the glade as the process began, and with it, a chorus of howls in the distance.

Chapter Text

The attack wasn’t immediate. As Rosalyn mumbled, placing her hands on the stone, the bottom of the runes began to glow red, slowly creeping upwards. Annita was familiar with a timer when she saw one and cursed inwardly at how slowly it was progressing. It’d be fifteen minutes, at a guess.

“We’re gonna be here for a minute,” she sighed to Kat. “What’s the plan? Just fight until we can’t fight anymore?”

“Eh, more or less what I was thinkin’,” Kat confirmed, stretching as she scanned the treeline. “Think I heard a couple o’ bigger things screamin’ out there. Probably the Snowcat things. Bren, ye all charged up fer this?”

“Yes. I have a Mind potion as well, just in case the worst happens,” he said. He’d taken up a position between the two fighters and Rosalyn, covering everyone as best he could.

“Remind me that we need to actually go over skills when we get back,” Ann huffed, checking her revolver for the third time as they waited. “You two already know my skills and I only know Kat’s.”

“O’er a bowl o’ Rosalyn’s stew? Assumin’ we convince ‘er tae join us,” Kat laughed. She flinched as a bush shifted.

“I think that would be lovely,” Bren said with a smile. “Now prepare yourselves. They approach.”

Sure enough, Twinwolves were the first creatures to appear from the dense foliage. Three scrawny looking things frothing from their mouths and split necks. Hideous and sickly even for their kind, the Warped rushed them.

Kat met two, knocking the first to the side with her shield and skewering the second down its throat. Turning quickly, she pinned the second with her boot and decapitated it quickly.

Ann ducked to the side, letting her adversary pass her before thrusting her falchion into its side. Even with her lower level, Rogues Do It From Behind made up the difference, allowing her to kill it in a single stab through its chest.

Glancing back around, more Warped had appeared. Two more Twinwolves and a crowd of Chittering Crawlers emerged.

“This is going to be a long morning,” Ann sighed.

Two crawlers scuttled at her, not taking any heed of the danger of their head on assault. Ann kicked at one of them, sending it flying backwards into the others. As their legs tangled, the other Crawler that had advanced reached her other foot. Sharp, bone-tipped legs gripped her calf as its fangs scraped against her shinguard. Cursing, she bent down and pulled at the creature. The barbs at the ends of its legs dug into her flesh, holding it still despite her best efforts. Ann took her sword and began cutting off the thing’s legs, one by one, until she could pry the rat-spider off her. Holding it up by the back of its neck, it hissed in her face before she chucked the crippled creature at one of the Twinwolves.

Kat was doing a good job drawing most of the attention to her. Taunts rang out across the glade as she called the Warped every name under the sun, and a few that Ann wasn’t familiar with. The fighting became a blur as she and Kat worked together to keep everything away from Bren and Rosalyn. Whenever a Twinwolf popped up, which was happening more and more, Kat would get their attention, bait them and let Ann finish them off. Each warrior took equal opportunity to crush the Chittering Crawlers that kept swarming at them.

Things were getting heated. Both of the front liners were panting, sweat running freely down their faces as they focused on trying not to get hit. Bren was doing his best to keep shields up on attacks, bouncing off jumping Crawlers midair and repairing any bites or scratches that got past armour. Ann was still holding off on using any more smites, waiting for something bigger, but she’d fired off two more shots, killing a Twinwolf and a Crawler that had tried to get around them and attack Rosalyn.

The sheep-woman had held her focus throughout. Her head bowed and chanting constantly, the ritual had progressed about halfway. Bright red runes had lit up where there hadn’t been any visible markings, and the stone itself seemed to groan with the magical power being pumped into it. 

Ann wished she could focus on the sight, as she found it genuinely fascinating, but a snuffling grunt caught her attention over the noises of the other Warped. Glancing around after skewering another Crawler, she saw a shape moving through the trees. It was larger than the other Warped. Bigger than a snowcat, but not quite the size of the snail. The other warped seemed to tense as it drew nearer, backing off from that direction and making an opening.

“Big ‘un comin’ in! Think it’s one of the Quillbears!” Kat warned, batting away three Crawlers with a swing of her shield. “Gods I hope they give us room tae work.”

“Drinking a Mind potion!” Bren called out, popping the cork and downing the vial. “We have a bit longer. Try to keep injuries to a minimum, please!”

“We’ll try. Kat, anything that I should know about this?” Ann panted as she stomped the back out of a Crawler that was getting at her feet.

“Don’t get hit! Brute force beasty, but it can shoot its spines. Careful o’ tha’.” As if on cue her shield reverberated as a quill as long as Ann’s forearm bounced off it.

Looking back to the treeline, she saw the Quillbear poking its head out. It was, surprisingly, mostly a normal bear. The big, bulky body covered in brown fur lumbered forward towards them like a fleshy tank, shaking its oddly cute ears as it huffed. The main difference was, of course, the brace of quills jutting from its back. All of them looked like they were made of bones. Bright white and yellowing, with jagged edges that would probably make them suck to pull out. As the Quillbear shifted, the spines clattered against each other as the thing moved. As Ann watched, the quill it had fired at Kat slowly regenerated. It poked at the flesh, pushing against it before tearing through and joining the others, shining bright red.

“Yeah, that’s honestly what I expected,” Ann sighed. The other Warped weren’t letting up yet, but their attacks were getting less frequent as they gave the bear a wide berth.

“Can’t all be too wild,” Kat laughed. “Keep tae its sides. I’ll try tae keep it pissed off at me.”

“The others are backing off. Guess this is our fight. Let’s go!” Ann called.

A moment later, Kat was between her and the bear, slapping her shield. “C’mon big guy. Compensatin’ fer somethin’ with those quills o’ yers?” she laughed madly.

The bear roared, the taunt taking effect, and it fired off two more quills as it charged. Kat caught one with her shield, and the second one bounced off a barrier created by Bren. The Quillbear crashed into Kat with its full weight, but the Guardian stood her ground, using her skills to stay perfectly still. 

As the impact hit, Ann slipped around to the right side of the creature, aiming to strike at its flanks. As it hit Kat, she moved forward and swung at its ribs. The sword cut deep, but glanced off a rib as it swung.

Bellowing, the bear swung its right paw back before Ann could get free. She felt something pierce her side before she was knocked away, her falchion wrenching free in the process.

Stunned and confused, Ann looked up at the bear as it turned on her. It had hit her with the back of its arm. What had stabbed her? Looking closely, as the bear shifted, she saw more spines running down the back of its arm. These were smaller, and all but hidden by the shaggy brown fur that was now dripping with her blood. Taking this into account, she stared the creature down. Along its brows were similar small spikes, and under its chin, thinner spines almost made a beard. The Warped was covered in them.

“That’s not fucking fair,” Ann groaned as she stood back up before being forced to dodge to her left as a massive paw impacted the earth next to her. She could feel the wounds in her side sealing as Bren’s magic healed her, but didn’t have time to thank him as a salvo of spines flew at her, while Warped swept its left paw at her legs.

In a desperate gamble, Ann dove over the paw and out of the way of the flying spikes of death. Rolling, she came back up to her feet and spun in time to see Kat shove her sword deep into one of the thing’s eyes. The Quillbear shrieked in pain and staggered back, pawing at the wound.

“Keep yer eyes on me, lardass! Or should I say eye?” Kat taunted, trying to pull it back to her.

Thankfully, it worked, giving Ann a moment to collect herself before charging back in. Burning 10 points of her desire pool, she used Stoke the Flames to heighten the creature’s rage, hopefully keeping it more focused on Kat. The creature roared as its anger surged and redoubled its efforts to flatten Kat.

“That’s right, ye bumbling bag o’ shite,” Kat laughed maniacally as she defended herself. “Come to mama!”

Ann grinned as she got to work on the Quillbear’s side. She slid in and out of range, keeping aware of the forelimbs that still tried to swat her away. Blood was already pouring down the creature’s back as it continued to cover the area with its spines. Ann had taken to holstering her gun and throwing them with her offhand as she came across them. They were so plentiful.

As the Quillbear endured, the other Warped weren’t quiet either. Stooping down to pick up another quill, a Chittering Crawler leapt at Ann, latching on to her. It found a gap in her armor on her back and sank its fangs in deep. Cursing, Ann reached back and gouged the thing’s eyes out with her claws before tearing it away.

Cold began to flow through her veins and she felt her strength leaving with it. Poison, what Bren was hit with earlier. She staggered backwards, her leg failing her, sinking into the snow. Muttering curses, she tried to stand, hearing another crawler drawing near. Just in time, Bren’s spell hit her, clearing the fatigue. She spun on her knees, cutting through the crawler easily before returning to the Quillbear.

Kat was still having a tough time of it and was dodging more of the creature’s strikes than she had been earlier in the fight. Dancing backwards out of reach as the Bear tried to swipe her, she turned and darted to its side, cutting a line into its shoulder. Ann rushed forward and cut similarly on the other arm. The front end of the Quillbear buckled momentarily, but its flesh rippled as muscles rearranged to heal the damage. Rising, the bear reared back on its hind legs, spreading its arms and roared down at them, spittle flying from its jaws.

“Ann, behind me!” Kat called as she braced.

Not asking questions, Ann darted behind the defender and braced.

The bear didn’t fall back on its paws. Instead, it tucked its head down and rolled at them, quills extending to form a giant ball of death. As the massive thing rushed them, it skewered Chittering Crawler and Twinwolf alike. It hit Kat’s shield with a resounding crash. Ann could feel Kat straining to keep it still, her skills nearing their limits. The bear continued to roll, metal grating against bone, anguished cries of the other Warped trapped on the thing’s back adding to the horror.

Ann walked to the side, taking aim and waiting for her moment. During the next roll, she aimed for the head and sent a smite infused bullet into the Warped’s skull. The result was instant. The thing lost all coordination and flopped to the side, releasing Kat from the clash as smoke coiled up from the wound.

“Gods damn, that thing’s heavy,” Kat groaned as she stood, stretching and glancing around.

“I could tell,” Ann chuckled, looking up at the rune stone. Still three quarters of the way done. “We still have time. Best not to let our guard down.”

The bear shifted, spines bristling around it defensively as it laid there. Nothing much more happened, but it clearly wasn’t dead yet.

“Oh blessed Hells,” Bren cursed. “Kill it! It’s healing! Stop it now!”

“It still had reserves? Ah fuck,” Kat ran in and started hacking at the Bear as it curled up defensively.

Ann joined her immediately, blood raining down around them as they hacked at exposed flesh. She could see the wounds they’d made closing, and the new ones weren’t bleeding nearly as much as they should.

“Fuck, Kat! I’ve got two more Smites. I’mma use em!” Ann warned, before her falchion glowed purple. Kat sidestepped away before Ann brought down her sword, scoring a deep, charred gash in the Quillbear’s flank. The beast roared in pain but kept still. Moving again, Ann took aim at the furry head once more, sending a purple blast straight into the beady eye that glared at her.

More cries of pain were her rewards as she set back into cutting the monster apart as quickly as it could regenerate. 

“Keep it up! Its restoration is slowing!” Bren encouraged, grunting from some effort Ann didn’t have time to place.

She and Kat laid into the thick hide. Black blood poured out from numerous wounds that weren’t closing. After what felt like minutes, the beast’s muscles went limp, and it fell with a crashing thud to the ground. Dead.

“An’ feck yer mother, ye piece o’ bloated garbage,” Kat spat.

Looking over at Bren, Ann saw several crawler corpses around him. While they focused on the larger threat, he’d been clearly multitasking with keeping them healed and taking care of the smaller creatures that slipped by.

“About a minute left. Let us clean this up!” Bren called, pulling his knife from the head of a corpse.

Ann and Kat both shouted back in agreement and charged the swarm of Twinwolves and Crawlers before them. Blood coated both warriors as they dealt death and dismemberment to the remaining Warped.

Finally, a loud rumble shook the earth below them. Pausing for a moment, they looked back to see the bright red runes had fully filled. A humming spread around them, feeling like it was shaking the air itself. 

Looking around, Ann saw the remaining Twinwolves and Crawlers shrinking back from the stone, ears trapped back against their skulls before they turned and fled.

“Christ on a bike,” Ann panted as she fell to her knees. “Thank the Gods that worked.”

“Yeah, I was nearin’ the end o’ me stamina too,” Kat gasped, staring up at the sky.

“Rosalyn, you ok?” Ann called. When there was no response, they all turned to see the woman had collapsed by the stone, breathing heavily.

Rushing over, Bren picked her head up and checked her over. “No wounds. Nothing else affecting her as best I can tell.”

“Oh, yeah. I’m just tired. That takes a lot out of… me.” Rosalyn whispered, yawning deeply. “Sorry, should have warned you about that.”

“That’s fine,” Ann sighed with relief. “Just scared us. Man, if these things are this effective, though, why doesn’t the kingdom have them all over the place?”

“They’re rare, and require rare skills to create,” Rosalyn answered weakly. “A Druid focused on warding and enchanting was how it was made, according to the journals I found. There are other types of magic that can do similar, but with this being so connected to the earth, the effect is much stronger. Just, you know, takes literally all of my Mind, pretty much all my stamina to charge it back up.” Another yawn split her ebony face as she stretched and sat up. “Oooh, that’s not great. So dizzy. Don’t think I can walk.”

“Ye need a rest?” Kat asked.

“Mhm, definitely,” Rosalyn mumbled. “But not here. I wanna go home. Carry me?” She asked, extending her arms to Kat.

“I’m not much better than ye are,” Kat chuckled. “But I’ll make do. C’mere.” She hoisted the sheep woman up on her back, keeping Rosalyn’s arms wrapped around her neck. “Lighter than I thought ye’d be. We’ll get ye home. Just rest.”

With that, they set back out the way they came. Rosalyn was quiet during the walk, and about halfway there, Ann noticed she’d fallen asleep on Kat’s shoulder. Subtly pointing it out to Kat, the Alf smiled as she tightened her grip on the sleeping woman, keeping her secure.

The trek back to Rosalyn’s was quiet. Even Bren seemed exhausted by the fight. Seeing the hut under the large tree was a relief as they all piled in, shutting the cold out behind them. Ann got to starting the fire while Kat laid Rosalyn down on the couch. The woman curled up, snuggling against a pillow as she continued to sleep.

Each of them filed outside to wipe themselves off in the snow, getting the sweat and blood off them the best they could before heading back in. Bren got the kettle with leftovers from last night’s stew and heated them up.

As the smell wafted through the softly light room, Rosalyn woke and sat up with a long stretch. “Oh, that smells lovely. And you’re all still here! Good! I was hoping that wasn’t a dream. Way too fun to be. Thanks for carrying me, Kat. I know you’re tired. Really, really appreciate it, otherwise I’d be laying out there in the snow all sweaty and woozy. Not a great look. And you too, Bren, for keeping me guarded there. That Quillbear sure was a surprise. I just expected the smaller things. Guess we got unlucky. You two can really do some damage just on your own!” The Druid was clearly feeling better as her mouth began to rapid fire her thoughts to the group. “Oh, that’s lunch. I’m so hungry. Is it ready yet?”

“Not quite,” Bren laughed. “Give it a minute to heat through. And you are very welcome. How is your head? Any further dizziness?”

“Nope, just a gnawing in my gut!” Rosalyn chirped cheerfully. “Better than a gnawing at my arms and legs! That’s for sure.”

Ann couldn’t help but laugh at the absurd cheerfulness the Druid gave off as she bounced slightly on the couch. Their food heated up shortly after and they all tucked in.

Full, Ann leaned back, resting her body as she felt the efforts of the morning begin to settle in to her muscles. “I don’t know if I’m up for going after the Snail again today.”

“Aye, best not tae do too much in a day, lest we make mistakes. Seeds can push us, but when we’ve got the chance, best tae take it slower,” Kat agreed.

“Well, in that case, I do have some stuff around here that I could use some help with. If you’re ok with that,” Rosalyn piped up.

“Does it involve more Warped?” Bren asked wearily.

“Nope! You’ll see. C’mon,” she said, bouncing off the couch and heading to another room, beckoning behind her.

Chapter Text

Bren

____________________________________________________

Feeling his legs complain, Bren stood and followed their newly met friend into the other room. She was an interesting one. Outspoken to a fault, but intelligent, good-hearted, and clearly used to combat. When he’d heard that there was a Witch out in these woods, he was honestly dubious whether she would be a good fit for their team. They could have run into the various versions of the Path from the more potion focused practitioners to the darker magics like hexcraft.

A Druid though? A Druid was good. Especially since the Warped tended to be perversions of the natural order, someone somewhat connected to it could be invaluable to their objectives.

Rosalyn led them into what appeared to be used as a storage room. Crates and barrels were stacked high on shelves around them, with a lantern in the middle providing light. It was larger than he expected for the house, but made sense for someone living out here by themselves.

“So, honestly, I need some help with the high places. I haven’t been able to reach to dust and take stock of the things up there,” she said, kicking her feet with embarrassment.

Kat and Ann laughed and asked where they should start. Bren looked up, realizing that he’d be of no help next to the towering women.

“How may I be of assistance?” he asked, approaching Rosalyn.

“Oh, well, they’ve got the tall stuff, so I guess we can work on the lower things. It’s mostly reagents, materials from hunting, some crafts and other stuff I’ve worked on over the years. You’ll see. Mostly just need to dust things, get it all set out, reorganize. It’s not spring yet, but cleaning’s important!”

“That it is. So, I will start over to the right, and you the left? Work until we meet at the center. Is there any specific order you would like things?”

“Um, gosh. I guess hunting materials can start by me, the reagents by you, and anything that’s otherwise, just move to the center and we’ll work that out.”

“That sounds good to me,” Bren smiled down at the Druid before turning to his task.

As he shifted through boxes of pelts, some from what had to be Warped, his muscles complained constantly. He was a healer, but it didn’t mean his Path did not take a physical toll on him. Channelling Mind through his body left the muscles it passed through tender in a way physical labor did not. 

Kat understood this, but still poked at him for being scrawny. A product of their upbringing together. She was the brawn, and he was the backup, and they’d happily settled into these roles.

Bren looked over at Kat, who had handed Ann a box to go through before returning to her own shelves. He was happy for her. She seemed full of life lately. Well, more than usual. They had not known Ann for long, but she and Kat had quickly formed a bond he could not deny. He worried at times that Kat was falling a bit too quickly for the Vulhardrin. That she was setting herself up for pain by jumping in so deep with their new companion. Ann had not given him cause to doubt her yet, but he just could not ignore that portion of himself that felt protective.

“Rosalyn, I think these would be for you,” Bren said, handing her a stack of pelts he’d separated from the various herbs and powders he’d been going through.

“Ah, thanks. Oh, and these are for you!” She replied, handing him a few jars with bones.

“Thank you.” Bren smiled as he returned to his crates. “So, you moved out here with your parents nearby? What do they do?”

“Oh, all sorts of things,” Rosalyn said, moving on to another box and cracking the dusty lid to rummage through it. “Dad’s done farming for most of his life. Path took him that way from his years with his dad before him. Mom’s always been more of a homebody. She helps with what she can, cooks, sews clothes, and all that.”

“A simple household. It sounds lovely,” Bren said, shifting through a couple more things. He paused for a moment, considering what to say next. “My home was always a busy one. If it wasn’t for me, I doubt my parents would have taken any breaks from their studies. Unless, of course, they got some outside interference wanting to talk to them. That was actually what made us move to the capital. Katlyn’s father caught wind of them and assigned an envoy through more subtle channels to invite them to a gathering.”

“Ah, so you’ve been through a move yourself. How’d you take it?” Rosaslyn asked.

“Not well. I had my own friends, teachers, and others that I knew despite being young. Even at that age I was not fond of change.” Bren sighed, setting aside a box of powdered bone as memories washed over him. “I, well, ugh. I threw several tantrums. I was young, I know, but it was unfair to my parents. They were just trying to do their best for themselves and me. I wept, screamed, and most likely hit them. I feel terrible about it, but they never bring it up in a negative way. In fact it almost seems to be a fond memory to them.”

“Yeah. I get it. I was probably older when we moved. Had to say goodbye to all my friends and extended family. It sucked. I actually did the opposite. I holed up. Got really sad and quiet. I think it’s when I got comfortable being more alone, now that I think about it.”

Bren paused, glancing over his shoulder. Rosalyn’s tone was matter of fact, but there was something in how her shoulders slumped that indicated a familiar pain behind her words. “Would you like to speak on it?”

“Hmmm, nah. I just kinda retreated into myself. Didn’t talk much and stuck to being around my parents. After I got into my teens I wandered the woods. My parents hated it, thinking I’d get in danger, but I never did. The time alone let me think through what I was feeling. I got comfortable, and eventually came back to my old self. It was a rough patch, but is what made me, me. Wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

“Indeed. Luckily, I met Katlyn at the ball seeing as we were both bored and around the same maturity, and we quickly got into trouble together. The rest is history,” Bren said, feeling a smile tug at his lips. “So, what are your plans for the future? Will you remain this land’s guardian?”

“Hmm, I guess I could, but being out here, all by myself, does get lonely. I did have dreams of being an adventurer or something like it when I was a kid. Strike out and see the wonders of nature. Figuring out why the Warp is distorting nature and a way to stop it. Just never found the opportunity to try, though. I was useful here, and I had my own space, so I just kinda stuck here. Eventually, I’d love to go south, where it’s warmer, and see what life is like down there. I hear reptile and insect related Vulhardrin are more common down there. Not to mention the ocean to the east. I just want to see more, ya know?”

Kat chuckled, shooting a look at Bren. He knew that look. She’d caught his game, and they’d gotten the answer they were looking for, but Bren was not going to push the question further at this time.

For the next hour or so they went through box after box of items, before finishing up their work.

The four of them returned to the main room, taking seats on the couch and chairs next to the fire. Kat and Ann had reflexively snuggled up together, the tall women easily taking up the whole couch. Bren rolled his eyes at the level of casual affection they’d reached so quickly, and sat in his own comfortable chair.

“So, I believe we have something to discuss. At least Kat, Ann and I. Before we discuss, I do want to ask something, Rosalyn. In the storage room was not the place to ask, however I believe it is a question better asked sooner, than later.”

Rosalyn perked up in her chair, attention fully on Bren. “Sounds important. What’s going on?”

Bren sighed. Considering his wording on how to ask the question in the most appropriate manner. How much context to provide the woman. “Rosalyn, we initially did not plan to come out here for the Warped. We, in fact, came here seeking you.”

“Me? What for?” Rosalyn asked, cocking her head in confusion. “Oooh, wait, you said what you asked in the storage room. Am I being recruited?”

Bren blinked a couple times, taken aback she’d picked up on the thread so quickly. “Yes, actually. We were hoping you would join our group. Clearly, we are in need of someone with magic capabilities, and when my contacts in Graven Keep told me about a Witch out here, I figured that may be a good choice. It was only the day after we learned about the larger Warped out here.”

"Oh, is that so? I mean, I guess we mostly take care of our own out here. Why me though?” Rosalyn asked.

Bren rummaged through his bag, pulling out his favorite tea, and setting the kettle to boil over the fireplace. Ann had called the tea chamomile. Not a word he recognized, but just another oddity to the time-displaced Warrior. “Well, we were looking for a fourth fairly quickly. We intend to be investigating the Seeds. Ann’s, hmm, situation is giving us cause to believe there is more that can be done for the blighted gifts from the Gods. The unfortunate part being the dangers are still as present as ever. A balanced team is required. Why you specifically? I think I prefer Ann to explain that further, considering events last night.”

Bren watched as Ann sat up, color tinting the woman’s cheeks. A hand reached up and scratched behind an ear; a habit he’d come to understand as a sign of nervousness. “Guess that’s the big thing. This isn’t really going to be a big secret soon, but for now, could I get you to promise to keep it under wraps?”

Rosalyn looked up at Ann quizzically before her expression solidified. “Yeah. I can do that. Swear on my tree.”

“Guess that’s as good as I’m gonna get,” Ann sighed. 

Bren watched as the gears in her head worked. He knew what it was like trying to explain something when you don’t know how it will be received. Explaining some of Katlyn’s escapades had put him in that awkward situation often enough.

“All right, so I guess my Path is where I should start. I get it’s all kinda private, but it’s the most important part right now.” Bren watched as she squeezed Kat’s hand for reassurance. “It’s Warrior of Orenous. Just like it sounds, I was chosen by the Goddess to figure out what’s going on with the Seeds.” Ann paused, gauging Rosalyn’s reaction.

The Druid sat back in her chair, taking a moment to process. Bren watched as she folded her hands in her lap, hands fidgeting together. “That sure is an interesting Path. I’ll give you that. Kinda surprised you’re only level eight on it so far. Seems low for someone who’s, at my best guess, mid twenties? Definitely in your prime. You should have had this for years. I’m twenty seven and have had a fairly active life compared to most, and I’m only a level ahead of Kat and Bren.”

“Yeah, well, that’s the other thing. I only got it recently. Like, a week ago recently,” Ann said with a nervous grin. Bren could see her trying to fight the anxious fidgeting as she revealed more of herself. That, and that Kat was holding her hand tightly, offering support. “I… that’s part of this, ugh. Yeah. So I only woke up to all of this over a week ago.”

“Woke up?” Rosalyn interrupted. “Sounds like you were sleeping for a long time? A sickness? Maybe a curse of some sort? I’ve read a story or two left here of curses like that. Did you break it Bren?”

“No, no. That was not my role in her life,” Bren laughed, waving her off. “Ann was not magically cursed by any person, nor does she display any signs of illness. Her past is far more a shock, and explains things more clearly.” With that he gestured for Ann to continue. The woman pulled up her legs in front of her, hugging them defensively as she began to explain the circumstances she’d come into this time.

Bren watched as Rosalyn leaned further and further in her chair, to the point he worried she might fall out.

“Wow,” the woman whispered as Ann finished her story. “That’s nuts. And you two believe all this?” she asked, staring at Kat and Bren.

“Aye, she’s shown me ‘er status sheet,” Kat confirmed.

“If you want, I can show you too? I know it’s a big deal and all that, but I feel like I care less than you lot. Or I can just write it out?”

“I think that would be a better option,” Bren advised. Looking over, he pulled out paper and something to write with. “Here. I think we should all note our progress. So we all know what we are dealing with. Oh, Ann, we did engage with multiple Warped. Did you advance at all?”

The woman’s eyes unfocused, looking at something else. “Oh, yeah. I did. Cool. Up to ten now. I’ll write out the skills.

Bren passed sheets out to everyone to write down what they had. Looking over his, he made sure all the information was correct before adding it to the pile.

“All right, well, that’s cards on the table,” Ann sighed. “Guess I know what Kat’s is about in general, but I’m excited to see yours, Bren.”

They all took turns passing their sheets around to get a better idea what their team was working with.

Name: Annita Kronforst

Age: 23

Race: Lupine (Warped 2)

Path: Warrior of Orenous (10)

Title: Chosen of Orenous

———————————————————————————————

Racial Skills:

Cold Resistance: Reduced damage from cold effects. Comfortable in colder climates.

Keen Hearing: Able to hear sounds from greater distances with greater clarity.

Natural Weapons: Claws and teeth are considered weapons for any skills that would affect weapons.

Endurance Hunter: +2 to Strength, +5 to Dexterity, +5 to Stamina

———————————————————————————————

Unique Passive:

Chosen of Orenous: The Bearer is burdened with a task from the divine. Growth of one’s progression is accelerated by a factor of 1.5 once a Path is chosen. For each lover in the current party, increase the multiplier by .0.2. This bonus will apply to all party members of the same or lower levels as the owner. Further benefits will be unlocked upon progression of the Bearer’s Path.

Additionally provides +5 to Faith.

Path Skills

——————————————————————————————

Passive:

Weapon Proficiency: Light weapons and small firearms.

Armor Proficiency: Medium Armor

Health Points: Stat has been unlocked.

Libido: Stat has been unlocked. Increases by 5/hour. Once full, sexual inhibitions will be greatly reduced until release is achieved.

Desire: Stat has been unlocked. Gained through relations with trusting partners.

Stat Increases: +5 to Faith, +10 to Mind, +2 to Endurance, +2 to Resilience

Compatibility: You’re a large lady, in more ways than one. This will help make sure things go smoothly in your conquests.

Deft Hands: Increase dexterity by +5. Any complicated manipulation of your digits becomes moderately easier.

Rogues Do It From Behind: +0.1 of your Dexterity to enemies when attacking from their flanks.

———————————————————————————————

Active:

Stoke the Flames: Consume 10 desire points to inflame the target, incensing a heightened emotion of your choice for 1 minute.

Smite of Orenous: Enhance an attack to deal additional Holy damage. Adds 40% of current Faith to the attack. Cost: 5 Mind. When used on Warped, it cauterizes the wound, preventing normal healing abilities in the area.

Predatory Sensuality: Cost: +40 Libido. Requires a display of sensuality to activate. Your force of will and pure sensuality make you irresistible, lowering your opponent’s guard. For a single strike, lower the target’s Endurance by 5 points.

Lover’s Intuition: Cost: 20 Desire. Gaze longingly into your lover’s eyes. Gain insight into their desires at the moment to better satisfy their wants and needs.

———————————————————————————————

Passive Stat Increases:

+100 Health

+100 Desire

+50 Libido

+2 Strength

+11 Dexterity

+20 Mind

+2 Endurance

Name: Katlyn Farragher

Age: 43

Race: Alfhindur

Path: Stalwart Protector (12)

———————————————————————————————

Racial Skills:

Keen Hearing: Able to hear sounds from greater distances with greater clarity.

Long Lived: The blessings of your ancestors have increased your lifespan beyond most other mortals.

Darkvision: You are able to see clearly in the dark to a certain distance.

———————————————————————————————

Path Skills

——————————————————————————————

Passive:

Weapon Proficiency: Light weapons and all shields.

Armor Proficiency: Medium and Heavy Armour

Health Points: Stat has been unlocked.

Tenacity: Unique Resource Unlocked. At the cost of taking damage, one may use points to fuel skills that would reduce damage elsewhere.

Stat Increases: +5 to Endurance, +5 to Resilience, +2 to Strength, +3 to Stamina

Protector’s Constitution: Increase Endurance and Resilience by 3.

———————————————————————————————

Active:

Reactive Defence: Consume five points of Tenacity to reduce the damage you would receive from an attack by twenty percent. The barrier which you create must be precisely placed.

Stand Your Ground: Once every minute you may choose to not be moved by an attack that would otherwise move you. Spending two points of Tenacity allows you to reduce forced movement.

Taunt: Your words aggravate your enemies. Enemies affected will prefer you with their attacks while under the influence of this effect. Damage taken may cause the target to lose focus.

All In: Consumes all remaining Tenacity. Sets Endurance and Resilience to 0. Sacrifice all that defends you for a single offensive strike. Deals the total amount consumed plus thirty percent additional.

 ———————————————————————————————

Passive Stat Increases:

+240 Health

+36 Tenacity

+4 Strength

+2 Dexterity

+2 Resilience

+4 Endurance

Name: Bren Hedera

Age: 26

Race: Human

Path: Scholar of Restoration (12)

———————————————————————————————

Racial Skills:

Adaptability: Comfort comes in all climates. After spending several months in a harsh climate, you will become accustomed to it, and the effects will be lessened.

Learned: Because of your upbringing, you are inclined towards the scholarly pursuits. +5 to Intellect.

———————————————————————————————

Path Skills

——————————————————————————————

Passive:

Weapon Proficiency: Wands and staves.

Armor Proficiency: Up to light armor.

Health Points: Stat has been unlocked.

Absorption: Unique Resource Unlocked. Using healing effectively allows you to further protect your allies. Per ten points healed, gain five points.

Stat Increases: +10 to Intellect, +2 to Resilience, +2 to Endurance, +3 to Stamina, +10 to Mind

Scholar’s Focus: Reduce Mind consumption by 10% when casting defensive spells.

———————————————————————————————

Active:

Restore the Body: Cost: 5 Mind. Heal one target within 50 feet that you can see for 80% of your Intellect.

A Preventive Approach: Cost: 10 Absorption. Utilize your Absorption resource to create a barrier in the space of your choosing. Able to deflect minor projectiles and enemies completely. Reduces damage of attacks that overwhelm the barrier by 10%.

Study Time: While reading a book you have not previously read, restore Mind at an accelerated rate. Must be focused on the book. +2 Intellect

Detox: Removes up to moderate poisons and diseases from a target within 50 feet that you can see. Can be used two times per day.

 ———————————————————————————————

Passive Stat Increases:

+120 Health

+120 Absorption

+40 Mind

+6 Intellect

+2 Endurance

Name: Rosalyn Losenska

Age: 27

Race: Vulhardrin (Ovine)

Path: Druid (13)

———————————————————————————————

Racial Skills:

Wooly Warmth: Reduced damage from cold effects. Comfortable in colder climates.

Danger Sense: Sensitive to upcoming threats. You will be more likely to notice danger.

Natural Weapons: Your horns are considered weapons for any skills that would affect weapons.

Stick to the Flock: Increases your Endurance by 2 when standing within five feet of an ally.

———————————————————————————————

Path Skills

——————————————————————————————

Passive:

Weapon Proficiency: Staves and Druidic Foci.

Armor Proficiency: Up to Medium Armor.

Health Points: Stat has been unlocked.

Storm Winds: Unique Resource Unlocked. Using offensive spells builds the storm within. For every 10 mind spent, 10 Storm Winds is generated.

Stat Increases: +10 to Intellect, +2 to Resilience, +2 to Endurance, +2 to Stamina, +12 to Mind

Druidic Resolve: You are resistant to mind-altering effects. Stronger abilities may be able to overwhelm this resistance.

———————————————————————————————

Active:

Thorns: Cost: 5 Mind. A spire of thorny roots or vines form at a point of your choosing, dealing 20% of your Intellect stat.

Entanglement: Cost: 15 Mind. Concentration. A field of vines erupts in a ten foot diameter circle, causing all targets to be slowed. If a creature is knocked prone in the field, the vines will ensnare them, preventing further movement. 

Unleash the Storm: Cost: 40 Points of Storm Winds. Lightning jumps from your hand or weapon, dealing 80% of your Intellect to the target creature. 

Camouflage: Cost: 20 Mind. Creates an illusion, hiding yourself or another creature of your choosing. Those who do not see past the illusion will see a natural alteration to the world before them.

Lightning Crash: Cost: 100 Points of Storm Winds. Call down lightning on a target, dealing 130% of your Intellect to the target, and 50% to any nearby creatures.

 ———————————————————————————————

Passive Stat Increases:

+130 Health

+130 Storm Winds

+60 Mind

+4 Intellect

+2 Stamina

“Damn, that’s a good skill tae pick up, Ann,” Kat laughed, ribbing her girlfriend. “Want tae destroy me more than ye already do?”

Bren sighed. He loved Kat, but her openness with her relationships sometimes grated on him. He preferred a more private approach to things when he’d been in relationships before. Another difference that they’d long since accepted wouldn’t change.

“I doubt the other choice was all that helpful in the long run?” He asked Ann, trying to steer the conversation toward a more productive avenue.

“Yeah, no. It was a small stat increase to my Endurance. Feel like that’s already all right where it is, so I chose the fun one,” Ann explained.

“I guess that is fair. Sex is part of your Path. Rosalyn, your skills are quite interesting. Definitely on the damage focused side, but you bring undeniable utility as well. Was it Camouflage which allowed you to save Annita from the Snail?”

“Yup! Comes in handy more than you’d think. Warped can come out of nowhere and having the ability to just let ‘em wander on past when I’m on my back foot has saved my life more than once. Your path is interesting too. A mitigation healer? All in one? Very useful, especially with Kat’s brand of tanking. You two work together really well.”

“Thank you. It was a difficult Path to use in the early days, but with each advancement it becomes easier and more powerful,” Bren said, trying to conceal the prideful smile brough to his lips. He loved what he did, but took his parents’ cautions of becoming overconfident to heart.

“And Ann, yeah, I can see why this is hard to explain to people. That’s definitely different. I haven’t really seen many Paths, but yours is way more lewd than what I thought. I’m guessing that’s why you and Kat… uh… yeah.” Rosalyn looked like she was blushing, if her skin could darken.

“Not all because o’ it, though it was the impetus, yeah,” Kat laughed.

“And last night was the first time I hit the cap on Libido, so, again, sorry about that,” Ann muttered, hiding her face behind her knees.

“Don’t worry, don’t worry. You didn’t know. And, well, we talked. So, any questions on my Path?” Rosalyn asked everyone else.

“Hmm,” Bren muttered, going over the details again. “No. It seems like a Path that spends Mind, builds up your secondary resource, and then unleashes the larger attack. It makes sense to me.”

“Yeah, me too,” Ann agreed, taking the sheet. “Druidic Resolve is really cool for a passive. Not sure what we’d run into that’s mind altering, but can’t imagine we won’t.”

“Aye. Some nasty tricks from some o’ the Warped. Spores, magical suggestion. That’ll help ye. I like it. Seems like exactly what we needed. Little less on the elemental side, but a ranged caster with multiple damage types is perfect. So, Rosalyn, I guess this’d be the formal request. D’ya wanna come with?”

Rosalyn sat back, her eyes losing focus as she thought. 

Bren could tell what was likely going through her head. Uncertainty, fear of leaving her home, the new people she’d just met. “Perhaps we save your answer for after we deal with the Snail? Give you time to think it over?” He suggested.

“Yeah,” Rosalyn replied distantly. “It’s a big change. Not like I’m afraid of change, but still. Makes me all nervous and I need a minute to sort it all out. You don’t mind?”

“Nah,” Ann replied instantly. “As the person who’s gone through the most change here, I get it. Should we just eat and get to bed for tonight?”

“Yes, I think that would be best,” Bren agreed, watching Rosalyn as her thoughts drifted.

Dinner was bread, whatever was left of the stew to fill things out, along with some mushrooms. They ate in relative quiet and returned to their rooms.

As Kat and Ann ascended the stairs, Bren stopped them briefly. “Please keep it down tonight. I am exhausted.”

“We will,” Ann assured, patting him on the shoulder.

Bren had his doubts, but smiled back and settled onto the soft couch for the night as the fire faded. He heard a few creaks from upstairs, but nothing he couldn’t ignore as he felt himself drift to sleep.

Chapter Text

Ann hugged Kat close, feeling the Protector drooling on her shoulder. It was going to be a big day, and she didn’t want to leave the bed. Her blissful procrastination was interrupted by a soft knock at the door. Rosalyn peeked through a moment later.

“Good morning! It’s time we get ready for our hunt. Do you two need anything?” their considerate host asked.

“Mmmm, g'mornin,” Ann mumbled back. “Kat’s a bit wiped out. She’s gonna need a minute.”

“Ah, not good with mornings? I’ll get some coffee made. Hopefully that helps. You need anything? Water or whatnot?”

“Some water would be nice, thanks,” Ann replied, sitting and stretching as Kat slipped off her, grumbling at being disturbed. She saw Rosalyn’s eyes go wide as she caught sight of her naked body and winked at the embarrassed Druid.

“I’ll, uh… go get that. Be back in a minute!” Rosalyn squeaked, closing the door quickly.

Ann chuckled, running a hand through her mane of dark grey hair, scratching her ears and fluffing her tail. Her morning maintenance was more than it used to be, but whatever Orenous had done for her meant her hair didn’t seem to tangle, which was awesome when she didn’t have access to easy bathing.

She got up and was in the process of getting dressed when Rosalyn came back in carrying a cup of coffee and water in each hand. Throwing a shirt over her torso, and pulling on some panties, Ann took the cups.

“Thanks. This should get Kat up,” she said as she downed the cup of water.

“Oh, yeah, any time. She always like this? The really deep sleep?” Rosalyn asked, standing around a little awkwardly.

“Definitely. As long as I’ve known her, and Bren’s said she’s always been like this. Actually, here. Just put this next to her side of the bed. It should at least stir her,” Ann said, handing the cup back.

“Oh.. Ok?” Rosalyn took the cup and walked over to the sleeping Alfhindur. 

Kat groaned, smelling the coffee, and reached out for the person who’d set it down without opening her eyes. “Mornin, Ann. I ever tell ye ye’re the best?” she mumbled as she dragged Rosalyn down into a hug.

“Eep!” the Druid squeaked as she tried to resist the powerful arms with no effect.

“Mmm, don’ remember ye havin’ horns though. Ye changin’ more? An’… wool?” Kat cracked her eyes open, meeting Rosalyn’s panicked gaze from atop her chest. “Oh, oh shite, sorry! I didn’t mean tae,” she stammered, releasing Rosalyn immediately. The other woman stood quickly, hand clasped together in front of her and looking anywhere that wasn’t Kat.

“No, no. You didn’t know. It’s… it’s quite alright. Yeah. I don’t mind,” Rosalyn stammered.

Ann grinned at the two across the room. Deciding to test her newest skill, she spent the 20 Desire on Lover’s Intuition . She never needed to use something like it for Kat, but she wanted to get to know Rosalyn a bit better. Information entered her mind as she looked at the Ovine. It wasn’t like she got a printout on what she was feeling, but she could interpret things a bit clearer. The way the woman breathed, her posture, the fidgeting with her hands and darting of her eyes back and forth. She was incredibly flustered, but not in a way that she wanted to escape. It almost seemed like she was… waiting? Waiting for someone to make the first move.

Ann smiled inwardly at the knowledge, dismissing the skill before it moved on to Kat. Not something she’d be wanting to use outside of the bedroom. Half the fun of things was figuring out people, getting to know them the old fashion way. It also felt a bit creepy. The vague wording of the skill didn’t seem to limit it to sexual encounters. A useful tool, but one to be very careful with.

“Hey, relax, you two. We’re all girls here,” Ann finally broke the silence with a laugh. “I asked her to put the cup down. Didn’t know you’d be trying to drag me back into bed.”

“I mean, I wouldn’t mind more o’ ye in bed,” Kat laughed back. “But aye, guess it’s time tae be up,” Kat groaned as she threw off the blanket, stretching her muscled arms and back.

Ann and Rosalyn paused, watching the view together, before getting back to other topics. Kat threw a shirt over herself, freeing the two women from their daze.

“So, what’s up fer today? Eh, conversation fer when we’re down wit’ Bren. He seem all right Rosalyn? Know we kinda frustrated ‘im the other night.”

“Oh, he seemed fine to me. Much better rested. That’s for sure. Can’t say I blame him for being exhausted last night, what with the racket you two were causing.”

“Yeah, still feel bad about that. He deserved a warning,” Ann said with a grimace. She knew she’d hate to hear her siblings fucking their partners in the next room.

“Just need tae find ‘im someone tae take ‘is mind off it,” Kat chuckled with a grin.

“I offered to try. Back when we were touring the temples. He realised all he does is hang out with older women all day.”

“Oi, not that old, ye decrepit ol’ hag,” Kat huffed.

“But still sexy, right?” Ann jabbed back.

“I mean, yeah, but still a hag.”

“Well, I do look pretty good for being over five thousand years old. Seems like Rosalyn agrees with you too.” Ann laughed, catching the Druid staring at her again.

“I… do. Yeah. I definitely do. In like, an intimidating way? Something that puts me on edge, but I want more of it? I don’t really know what to say. I should probably shut up.” Rosalyn clamped her hands over her mouth, screwing her eyes shut.

Ann just wiggled her eyebrows at Kat, receiving a dramatic eye roll.

They finished dressing and joined Bren downstairs in the living room. He was sitting with his customary pot of tea and a book laid out across his lap.

“Readin’ anythin’ good?” Kat asked as she flopped on the couch, scooping a piece of bread and some cheese Rosalyn had laid out before checking on them.

“Probably nothing you would enjoy,” Bren replied, closing the book. “A history of the kingdom from before the Alfhindur immigrated. It is difficult to pick apart. Ancient Bultrong is not too different from the modern script, however, there are enough syntax changes that it makes for slow reading.”

“Yup, not my thing. So, what’re we doin’ today?”

“I think today should be our hunt for the Snail, yeah?” Ann offered. “We have that stone warding the area from smaller Warped. Rosalyn, how long does that last, actually?”

“I don’t have exact numbers, but I think it’s about a month? Normally we just put together a party when we notice the Warped coming back. It’s not too much trouble if we keep it maintained, but we let it lapse since the population of monsters was thinner than usual,” Rosalyn explained as she took a sip from her cup.

“That is good. Not much pressure on timing, but sooner rather than later would probably be best,” Bren mumbled over a mouthful of bread.

“Aye, want tae get this over with before anyone else runs into the massive beastie,” Kat agreed.

“So, we jus’ huntin’ it down, or do we wanna prepare anythin’ fer the fight? Traps, things we can use tae slow it down. Ye know any places that’d help wit’ tha’ Rosalyn?”

“I think so. It was last seen to the south, and a little west. There’s a ravine nearby that we might be able to use to our advantage. We could, if possible, lure it to the edge and get it to fall in. It’d stop its lateral movement for the most part, and should stop some of its shell spines. It’d give me the high ground too, while Ann and Kat deal with it lower down. Think that might work?”

“It sounds good to me. What if we can’t get it into the pit?” Ann asked.

“Then we have to deal with it as is,” Bren said, cupping his chin in his hand. “I would think using Rosalyn’s Entanglement would be our best bet for reducing its movement, and possibly its reach. From there, it would be up to you three to bring it down while I keep everyone healed.”

“Aye, that can work. Though we need tae do somethin’ about that scream. Ann and I can’t deal wit’ it considerin’ our hearin’. Feckin’ hurts.”

“We could use wax, if any of you have it. Plug our ears so it’s at least better. Not sure if it’d do anything against the concussive force, but at least our ears would be protected,” Ann offered.

“I have some wax in the other room. Also some wool that could work. I’d bet both together would help block out the sound really well,” Rosalyn chirped. “Issue is, that’ll make you two deaf to everything else.”

“We’ll just ‘ave tae deal,” Kat huffed. “We’d go deaf quick anyway, an’ more permanently if we didn’t.”

“True. Guess it’ll be a trade off then. I’ll go put that together. You all get armored up and we’ll head out. Sound good?” Rosalyn asked.

After a round of agreements, Kat and Ann returned to their room, getting back into their gear before returning to the casters waiting for them.

“Here you two go. I wrapped it in paper so it’ll keep until we need,” Rosalyn said as she handed them two bundles of paper each. “Just stuff it in your ears when we get to fighting. Everything else ready?”

“Yeah, let’s go,” Ann said.

They trekked south, taking care to be quiet and cover their tracks as they went. This, unfortunately, meant they made pretty poor time. By the time they reached the ravine Rosalyn mentioned, it was nearing noon.

The ravine was suitable for what they were looking to do. With steep banks and a narrow bottom, it would restrict the Warped significantly. Unfortunately, it was pretty obvious that it was there. None of them believed the Snail to be particularly intelligent, but it was definitely smarter than a Twinwolf or Quillbear.

“So, how do we get it to run into this? It’s been pretty happy to pelt us with ranged attacks if we get away from it. What’s the plan?” Ann asked.

“That’s gonna be my job,” Kat muttered. “I’m gonna have tae piss it off enough it wants tae chase me. From there, I’m gonna be playin’ the dangerous game o’ stayin’ right outside its reach. Baitin’ it until it gets mad enough to charge. Bren, ye remember the thing that killed Arty? Same deal.”

“I remember,” Bren said, a darkness passing over his face. “That may work. It would be better if we could do something to erect a cover. Possibly some bushes or the like to disguise the ravine? Last time you had the sledge to hide behind.”

“I wish I had something related to the wind,” Rosalyn said with a hand on her chin. “It would make creating a cloud of snow a lot easier. Since I don’t, Ann, how do you feel about making one ourselves? You and me can grab a couple bigger bushes around here and kick up the snow in clouds. It’s mostly powder that would billow up pretty easily, especially with the dead branches kinda acting like a broom.”

Everyone paused for a minute, considering the proposal. 

“It is what the Snail was using to obscure its presence on our first encounter,” Bren said, looking around the area. “And there are enough snowbanks that it would be possible. It would just run the risk of draining your stamina.”

“If it gives us the advantage of the ravine, I’d say it’s worth it,” Ann said, taking another look over the edge.

“All right, in that case, let’s do it,” Kat decided, stretching. “We’ll need tae track it down, but once we do, leave the baitin’ to Bren an’ I. You two hurry yer arses back ‘ere an’ get tae work. Since we don’ have anyone tae message o’er distance it’ll just ‘ave tae work like tha’.”

“Right,” the rest answered as they set off.

It didn’t take long to pick up the Snail’s trail. Trees had been pushed over, vegetation flattened, and a groove dug into the ground by the shell it dragged behind it.

Kat took up the lead as they followed where the thing went, with Bren following her. Ann and Rosalyn stayed behind, ready to bolt as soon as they caught sight of the creature.

As they went, there wasn’t much to be heard in the forest. Anything Warped seemed to be driven away, as expected after the ward was powered. There was the occasional rustling of a bush before a squirrel popped out, some birdsong, but nothing larger.

“You sure we’re going the right way?” Ann asked after about ten minutes of walking.

“Oh definitely. See how the grooves are there? How the dirt is packed and scraped over in that direction? Not to mention how the trees are pushed away and back? That thing pulled itself along using the trees, so that indicates its direction, too,” Rosalyn said as she pointed to the various signs and tracks. “Also that hand print there in the snow. Pointed this direction. Tracks are fresh, though. So we’re close. Kat, it might be a good idea to start making noise. Get the thing’s attention. Ann and I are ready to bolt.”

“Aye, let’s get it goin’,” Kat huffed as she brought up her shield and began slamming her sword against it. The clatter echoed out through the woods, quieting anything else in the woods.

Kat took a deep breath and began to yell. “I’M RIGHT ‘ERE YE BLIGHTER! YE GETTIN’ FLIGHTY AFTER OUR FIRST MEETIN’? DIDNAE KNOW YE WERE SO SHY! I’VE KNOWN MICE WIT’ MORE O’ A BACKBONE!”

She continued her tirade before a tree crashed to the side, and the Snail barrelled out towards them. Wrinkled white flesh writhing as it pulled its hulking form towards Kat as fast as it could manage.

Rosalyn and Ann turned and ran as fast as they could. No second guessing, no looks backward, just the rush of their heartbeats and the impacts of their feet on the ground.

It only took a couple of minutes to get back to the place they’d planned their ambush. Ann grabbed an already cut piece of bush and tossed it to Rosalyn. She took her own shrubbery and started doing her best to create a snow-screen. It was hard work, but once the snow was in the air, they kept it up much easier. Soon, a cloud of snow was glistening in the cold sunlight as the sounds of Kat and the snail got close. 

The really unfortunate thing was that they had to be inside the snow-cloud to be both hidden from the Snail, and to keep it going. This meant they couldn’t see what was happening outside their cover.

Kat was close, Ann guessed, gauging the distance by hearing alone. Maybe a hundred feet. She kept swinging the bush, making the snow cloud as large as she could before a piercing scream made her flinch and pause.

“Get outta the feckin way!” Kat yelled. 

Immediately, Ann dropped the shrub, turned, and ran in the opposite direction of where she saw Rosalyn before they made the cover. She quickly cleared the cloud just in time to see the back end of the snail disappear into it. Kat wasn’t anywhere to be seen, but Bren was nearby, looking slightly winded.

After a few heartbeats, they heard a screech and a crunch as the Snail hit the hard bottom of the ravine. Looking over the side, Ann could see it had landed on its back and was in the process of trying to right itself, which was taking a bit.

“Well, that was feckin terrifyin’,” Kat laughed as the snow began to settle. “Though that’s not it. Bastard’s tough. Bren, Rosalyn, ye stay up ‘ere. Ann, wit me. Let’s teach this feck how we dance!” With a wild grin to Ann, she stepped off the edge and slid down the wall, rocks and gravel kicking up everywhere.

Mirroring her grin, sharp teeth glinting in the sunlight, Ann waved at the casters before following her down.

As they hit the dirt, the Snail was in the process of getting itself back upright. Both fighters stuffed their ears with the waxy cotton Rosalyn had provided. Nodding to each other, they readied themselves as a reverberating thunk shook the ground. The Snail had righted itself, staring at them with a featureless face quivering in rage.

With a scream, it charged.

Chapter Text

The Snail charged Kat and Ann, kicking up what snow remained after its impact. Long arms dug deep grooves into the slopes of the ravine as it pulled itself even faster.

Kat ran in, taking the creature head on, and was rewarded with a strike to her shield. A loud thump resounded as the Snail pushed her back. 

Ann took the opportunity and rushed past the Protector on the side of the arm that had just swung. She snuck past the first, longer, arm and ran up the side of the ravine. Kicking off it, she tried her best to angle a cut across the thing’s main body.

A pale, bony hand reached out from the other side of the snail, batting her away. It would have hurt a lot more, if not for a spire of thorns that jutted up to intercept the limb.

Howling in frustration, the Warped turned its faceless stump toward the casters on the ridge. The shell creaked as it shifted and began to blast them with the sticky black goo it used before.

Bren, however, was prepared, and a wall of shimmering force appeared before them, stopping anything that would have hit them.

Rosalyn was busy casting something, but Ann couldn’t pay attention. She’d jumped back to her feet and had joined Kat in dueling the Snail’s hands. One formed a spike, curling its hand to point all four fingers at Ann and thrusting it forward.

Ann barely jumped over it, the claws nicking her back. Using the momentum, she sliced the skin beneath her with the falchion, rewarded with a stream of black blood and a gurgling screech.

Beside her, Kat had sidestepped a slam from one hand, driving her sword into the back of it, before tearing it free through its fingers.

The Snail howled with pain as it pulled its damaged limbs back. Unfortunately, the damage didn’t last as the Warped’s innate healing quickly repaired it. Skin rippled and distorted, restoring severed muscle, while bones snapped and replaced anything that had broken.

“Well, it’s definitely Guardian level. At least,” Kat shouted as she spat a red streak across the snow.

“Wouldn’t have needed help if it wasn’t, right?” Ann called back, preparing for the next trade, watching the Snail be harried by a mess of thorns that had sprouted from the slopes.

“Aye. C’mon. Got a bit o’ a plan,” Kat yelled as she charged the Warped with a mad grin.

Ann was right behind her, waiting for her cue. It came quickly. The Warped tried to slam Kat with its left hand again, seemingly frustrated it wasn’t able to knock her away. Kat dodged again, stabbed the hand, but instead of pulling free, pushed the weapon further in, pinning the limb.

Ann didn’t need to be told what to do. She raced past on the inside, once again trying for the main target.

The snail reared its right arm, preparing to strike, but was halted as a patch of brambled vines sprouted from the dead earth. The vines wrapped around the thing’s arm, holding it at bay as Ann continued her mad dash.

Reaching the center stalk of the Snail she pulled her pistol and fired a Smite enhanced bullet straight into the thing, followed up immediately by an empowered slash.

The smell of burning flesh filled her nose as the Snail reared back, raw red lips parting as it let out its cacophonous scream. Bracing, Ann was still knocked back, but she didn’t feel her ears bleeding this time. A quick check put her health at 200/250. Then 224. Bren’s healing at work.

Refocusing, she saw Kat pulling her sword out of the pinned appendage and returning to her side.

Nodding at each other, the two fighters moved back in.

With a mighty pull, the Snail dislodged its right arm, and part of the hillside, to swing at them. The spray of dirt and gravel blinded them momentarily before the Arm swept through, catching Ann and pulling her back.

“Fuck shit, fuck!” Ann cursed, hacking at the hand as it lifted her high above everything else. Looking down, she saw a spine on the Snail’s shell turn and was immediately blasted with the sticky black ooze.

A gurgling laugh seemed to echo from the creature’s mouth as it made to throw her to the ground again.

Ann braced for a bone breaking impact, but it never came. Instead, the thing’s hand spasmed as a crack of thunder echoed through the ravine. Smoking embers marked a charred portion of the creature’s main body, where Rosalyn had probably used Lightning Crash.

Wriggling, Ann wrenched herself free and tumbled down onto the shell below her. Looking around, she angled herself near a spine, taking a closer look.

It was a seemingly hollow tube, tapered toward the open end, with a ball socket at the base, allowing it to pivot. Almost like a natural version of a battleship turret she’d seen in a book.

Ann took her falchion, wedged it in the space between the main shell and the spine, and shoved hard. She heard something crunch before wrenching the blade free.

The snail beneath her, previously occupied with Kat berating its mother or something like that, lurched beneath her. Thankfully, and somewhat ironically, the ooze it had covered her with had given her enough sticking power she was able to stay latched on.

She repeated the process two more times, disabling three of the six turrets on the thing’s back before a hand reached back and pulled her off. Her claws scrabbled at the shell as she tried to hold on, but suddenly she was flying, the wind rushing past her ears. As she tumbled, she saw Kat’s head snap upwards.

The Protector immediately turned, running beneath her, before tumbling in the snow as she caught her.

“Thanks,” Ann gasped, trying to catch her breath from the impact and exertion.

“Any feckin time,” Kat grunted back as she pushed Ann off, getting back to her feet. Now that there was less firing up at them, Rosalyn could really let go. She made sure to angle her Thorns to take out the remaining spines the best she could, before turning her attention to the main body.

Kat and Ann re-engaged, but were quickly driven back as the creature let out another deafening scream.

Arms reached back as the Snail began to grunt. Each hand took a grip on the opening of the shell, and it began to strain. Drool and black blood dripped from its mouth as it strained, groaning with the effort.

Slowly, horrifyingly, it pulled itself out of the shell. Ann watched as pieces of flesh tore away from its body, muscle and bone exposed as the back half of the creature was slowly revealed. With a final scream, it pulled itself free and collapsed on the ground. As it regenerated, its back half slowly reassembled itself in a mess of tentacles, almost like a squid, with longer tentacles extending past the rest.

Kat and Ann were almost on top of it when its head swiveled up at them and it skittered to the left, up the side of the ravine.

“What the fuck!” Ann cried as she watched it move. It was much faster now that it didn’t have to carry around its shell. “Phase two, let’s get this fucker!”

Rosalyn was already tossing out Thorns left and right, with an Unleash the Storm. 

Bren, now that he didn’t have to work on protecting himself and Rosalyn, was standing focused on the fight in front of him, ready to provide healing.

Scuttling down the slope on all four arms and its many tentacles. As it ran, it grabbed rocks in the longer tentacles and hurled them at the two fighters in front of it. Without the shell, it was so fast all Ann could do was get behind Kat before it was on top of them.

Kat stood tall, blocking strikes with her shield and parrying others with her sword. Even then, hits got past her guard. A hit to the leg, quickly repaired by Bren, one to the arm that would have been crippling if both Bren’s shielding and her Reactive Defence weren’t stacked together.

Cursing, Ann moved around to the right, dodging tentacles whipping at her. She took a couple of lashes to her shins, three more to her side, but her armour reduced the impact significantly.

She got close enough to strike at the base of a tentacle, but as she swung, the creature shifted its position deftly to dodge the strike. An impact on her side sent her tumbling in the dirt before she rolled to her paws.

Changing tactics, the Snail turned and rushed up the side of the ravine and bore down on Bren and Rosalyn. Kat and Ann screamed as they rushed up the steep incline as fast as they could, but the monster was far more agile. 

Rosalyn leapt to the side, while Bren ducked forward. The experienced healer had apparently made the correct call. He slid down the slope, and under the surprised creature on his back. As he slid, a shimmering wall of shielding appeared over him, blocking or mitigating the thrashing tentacles he shuffled through.

Losing interest in Rosalyn, the Snail turned back to the other three. Gathering its limbs together, it launched itself over to the other side of the ravine. Letting out a hiss, it grabbed at any stone large enough for its tentacles to hold and began hurling them at the party.

Everyone scattered as they dodged the missiles. Bren did his best to deflect anything he could, but he had to be running low on Mind and Absorption at this point.

Kat and Ann ran forward, and the Snail met them with outstretched arms. Without a thought, both women sidestepped the strikes aimed at them, grabbed hold, and pulled as hard as they could. The loose gravel on the slope worked to their advantage as they dragged the thing off balance and tumbling back down to the bottom.

Righting themselves, they nodded to each other once more. 

With no time to waste. Ann leapt forward, this time aiming for the creature’s midsection. She watched as muscled rippled beneath pale flesh; the creature preparing to move, before vines snaked up from the dirt. Ann jumped clear of the patch of ground as Entanglement took effect, holding the creature still.

Landing on the Warped’s back, Ann drove her falchion deep into the grisly flesh. Pumping a Smite into the wound, she dug her foot claws in and drew her pistol. Aiming at what she figured was the spine, she emptied the gun and her Mind. After each flash of purple, a hole appeared on the back of the Warped, spewing black blood and smoke.

The shell-less Snail screamed and writhed beneath her. Every limb it had spasmed wildly, kicking up snow and dust. Each screech was loud enough it hurt Ann’s ears through the cotton, but she held firm to her sword. She watched as Kat advanced, shield up in front of her, blocking some of the force of the creature’s screams. Slowly, each step an effort, she reached the front of the creature, dropped her shield, and swung as hard as she could.

As the neck split at the edge of her blade, a crack of lightning sounded as Rosalyn Unleashed the Storm into the other side. With their combined force, the head split free in a shower of blood and gore. The body fell limp under Ann’s feet and she pulled her blade free, drawing heavy breaths.

Slowly, on shaky legs, she walked over to Kat and hugged her. Tension leaving her body for a moment as she leaned on her lover. Kat unfortunately, staggered under the weight, and they tumbled to the ground, sprawling next to the corpse. Both pulled the wool from their ears and sighed as their hearing returned.

“Fuck that thing!” Ann groaned, staring at the sky.

“Aye. Never wanna see somethin’ like it again,” Kat panted. 

“Hey! You two! The head is still moving!” Bren called from the side.

“I’m out of Mind for it,” Rosalyn said, sliding down to the rest of them.

“I’ve got it,” Ann groaned, taking Rosalyn’s helping hand as she rose. She staggered over to the wriggling section of neck that made what was left of the thing’s head. Its mouth gaped and hissed, but without its lungs, the sounds were pathetic. Ann pushed her blade down, leaning on the back as she cut it in half lengthwise. Leaving the sword there, she moved a couple of feet away and collapsed again.

“That was absolutely horrifying,” Rosalyn sighed, crouching beside the fighters. “Never seen a Warped tear itself apart. Not like that, for sure. Absolutely grisly. I wonder if that shell was actually part of it, or something it adapted to be part of it? Maybe the goo it shot out was part of the main creature, but that was damaged when it pulled free? I’ve got so many questions. Excuse me. I’m going to go poke at it. Be right back!”

“Be… careful ya twit!” Kat called after her as the Druid walked over to the Snail’s corpse.

“Is there anything you two need patched up? I am low on Mind, but can at least bandage anything needed,” Bren asked the two.

“I swear I broke a leg out there,” Ann muttered tiredly, “but you got it before it even fully broke. I’d be dead so many times over without you.”

“That you would,” Bren said with a smirk. “Someone needs to keep you two safe when you do something reckless.” His face softened. “Well done. Rest now. I will keep watch over you and whatever Rosalyn is doing. Is that a knife? Oh, good. She’s carving into it.”

Ann and Kat laughed at the commentary as both relaxed into the dirt and rested their tired bodies.

————————————————————————————————————————

The team stumbled into Rosalyn’s house, shucking their gear and flopping on the soft furniture.

“So, so tired,” Rosalyn sighed as she sank into her chair, rubbing her horns.

“Ye woulda been less tired if ye didn’t insist on haulin’ a piece o’ the shell back,” Kat laughed, then groaned as Ann cuddled in next to her.

“Hey. Not often you get a chance to look at something like that. Who knows? It might be good for something!” Rosalyn protested. “Armour, a shield? Patching the roof? I don’t know. Something!”

“What is done is done,” Bren said. He was the only one not completely exhausted, and he moved around the room preparing coffee and tea, along with some lighter food, to offset the day’s efforts.

“Done is right,” Ann laughed. “I’m done. Soooo done. Just wanna lay here and cuddle forever and ever.”

“Ye might just get tha’ sweetheart,” Kat mumbled, pulling her closer. “Ye’re so feckin’ warm.”

“Mhm. Cold resistance for the win!” Ann giggled.

“It’s awesome, isn’t it?” Rosalyn piped up from the depths of the chair. “Don’t have to have all those layers, underwear for warmth, all that.”

“So, anyone else level?” Ann asked, lifting her head from the crook of Kat’s neck.

“Aye, actually. Which means Bren probably did, too.” Kat glanced over at the man, who gave her a quiet thumbs up.

“Not me. Though I’m above all the rest of you, so that makes sense. A little more needed for me. So, what’d you all get?” Rosalyn asked as she pulled herself up into a sitting position.

Ann focused, eyes going blank as she pulled up the silver notifications. “Ooh! I got three this time! That means we’re all on the same level!” Reading through the notifications, she took a look through what she’d gotten. There were two skill choices, two per, and the normal stat boost.

“Huh. Those are interesting,” Ann said, looking over her choices. “I’m pretty sure I know exactly what I’m choosing.”

“Oh? What’s that?” Kat asked, sitting up from reviewing her own choices.

Ann laid out the choices to the group, deciding just to take more Dexterity since it seemed like the focus of her Path besides her other secondary stats.

“Wow, that’s pretty strong!” Rosalyn gasped as she read Burst of Speed. Just a straight increase in how fast you move. I wonder if your mental speed is increased to compensate for reactions? We’ll need to test. Does it increase muscle mass as well?”

“To that point, if it does increase muscles, would that cause damage to them afterwards?” Bren pondered. “It does not say anything about side effects, but I would imagine increased exhaustion from moving so quickly. We will have to experiment.”

“All I know is that it means ye might be able tae fuck me faster,” Kat laughed.

Ann rolled her eyes, but chose Burst of Speed. Death From Above, everyone agreed, was too risky and niche. Yeah, she was getting tossed around a lot, and Kat could launch her, but not something she wanted to do all the time. Fade Away was chosen for two things. It let her move around enemies to take advantage of Rogues Do It From Behind easier. Also, she was going to be famous fairly soon, if General Polaris’ warning held true. Being able to slip away into a crowd unnoticed would be really useful.

Kat was offered a choice between a percentage increase to her Resilience based on her Strength, while her other option provided further Endurance for a moderate amount of Tenacity spent. It would last for three minutes, but Kat decided the permanent increase to Endurance was worth it.

Bren had already made his selection. An aura spell that consumed Mind over time, but restored the stamina of those within twenty feet. It forced him to be closer to the front line, but if it meant Ann and Kat could fight longer, it was worth it. Or at least, that’s what he told them.

“Also three more hours until I need to fuck. That’s awesome,” Ann sighed, relaxing back on top of Kat.

“Yes. That requirement does sound rather inconvenient,” Rosalyn sympathized. Out of the corner of her eye, Ann caught her cheeks going red at the thought.

“Hells, ye don’t hear me complainin’,” Kat laughed, pulling Ann in for a quick kiss.

“I hear plenty, thank you very much,” Bren huffed, though his eyes gave away the joke.

As they talked, the sun had begun to set, amber light filling the room with a cozy warmth.

“It’s getting late. Do we just want to relax for the evening?” Ann asked.

“I’d like that, actually,” Rosalyn agreed, standing. “I could use some time after all the excitement today. I’ll be up in my room, though. If anyone needs me.”

The fluffy haired woman turned and walked up the stairs. Kat and Ann followed shortly, choosing to relax in bed, while Bren settled in by the fire with a book in hand.

Chapter Text

Ann and Kat were relaxing the next morning. Time wasn’t an issue today. With the Snail slain, and the rest of the Warped in the area dealt with, they were taking their time. They’d had their nightly passions, but this morning was proving to be similarly intimate. Something about being able to take their time, relaxing, and being so close was almost as exciting as the nights Ann was slamming Kat into the bed, or vice versa.

At the moment, Kat was gently petting Ann’s tail. Ann’s breath slowed as the relaxing strokes caused her to melt into her Protector. A soft chuckle from Kat made her heart skip a beat, heat rising in her cheeks. She loved that sound, and how easy it was to tease out of the woman. She had the same silly sense of humour. A goofy grin here, a poke or wiggle there, a playful kiss, and they were laughing happily as they embraced. It was bliss.

Unfortunately, that bliss was interrupted by a knock at the door. “May I come in?” Rosalyn called from the other side.

“We’re not decent!” Ann called back, as Kat continued to pet her tail.

“I… is it still ok?” Rosalyn stammered.

“Come in before ye fidget yerself apart,” Kat laughed.

Rosalyn cracked the door and slipped through, gently shutting it behind her. “Sorry to interrupt. I was just. I wanted to talk for a minute. Sorry if I interrupted. I could have waited. It’s just. This is stupid. I’ll leave you be.” She turned to leave, cracking the door before Kat stopped her.

“None o’ that. Sit yer plump arse down an’ tell us what’s the matter,” she almost commanded.

Rosalyn stopped dead in her tracks, frozen, before she turned back around and sat on the bed next to Ann as directed. She held her hands together in the same nervous habit Ann was starting to get used to. She also noticed how the posture pushed her rather large chest together under her loose shirt.

Kat, still petting Ann’s tail, not letting the other woman move under the covers, turned her head to face Rosalyn.

“So, what’s on yer mind? We’ve not known each other long, but ye didn’t seem the type tae not speak what ye’re thinkin’.”

Rosalyn fidgeted where she sat, wooly hair falling over her shoulders as she adjusted. “It’s… I’ve been thinking about what Bren was talking about the other day. I’m… nervous? Scared? Worried? There’s a lot going on in me. I think I want to. To join you all. Going around and figuring out the Warped issue? Working for Orenous? It sounds like the adventure I’ve always dreamed about. Thing is, I’m scared about leaving. This is pretty much all I’ve known. I’ve got family here. People who rely on me. I can’t just… leave. Can I?” Rosalyn turned to look at them, eyes almost pleading as she seemed to shrink.

Ann tore her eyes off the heart wrenching sight to meet Kat’s gaze. The woman nodded, and Ann threw off the covers and hugged Rosalyn. “Hey. No no no. It’s ok. It’s a big change,” she said comfortingly. As she held her, she felt the bed shift as Kat joined the hug, brawny arms wrapping around Rosalyn’s front.

“And ye won’t have tae worry about the duties ye’ve been handlin’. I’ve been thinkin’ about that since yesterday. I think I can work out a deal tae take care o’ that. Provided ye’re not the only one who can do it.”

Rosalyn shook between them, tears beginning to well up in her eyes. “You… really? I… I can. I can go? You can do that?”

“What’s bein’ a princess fer, if not tae help people?” Kat smiled softly, tightening her hug.

Rosalyn began to cry, burying her face in Kat’s arm. They stayed there for a while, holding the smaller woman between them, providing all the comfort they could. Eventually, Rosalyn’s tears slowed. She wiped her eyes and nose, sniffling heavily. “Thanks. I… I needed that. Something about me just…”

“Needed to hear that it was ok?” Ann tried to finish the sentence, leaning her head down to look into the Druid’s hazel eyes.

“Yeah. I got so wrapped up in the ‘what if’s that I felt like I couldn’t move,” she sniffled again, shaking as she suppressed another wave of tears. “I was so scared that I’d be stuck here. I like it, but I want more, and I wasn’t sure I could want that. Does that make sense?”

“Yeah. Gods above, I get it,” Ann sighed, pulling her close again. “Doing something new is fucking scary. Shhhh,” Ann whispered as Rosalyn started to cry again. Kat rubbed the Druid’s back in gentle circles.

This repeated a few times. Rosalyn would collect herself enough to stop crying, but would soon fall apart again. Ann’s front was damp from the tears that flowed, but she didn’t mind. The woman had clearly been holding in a lot over the years, and this seemed to be her letting it out. It was touching that she’d sought them out for this as well. Kat had laid her forehead on the curl of one of Rosalyn’s horns, being careful with her own long ears, and was whispering quiet reassurance.

Eventually Rosalyn calmed. She still shook now and then, as the exhaustion of the emotions she’d just gone through took their toll, but she wiped her tears and moved out of the hug.

“Thank you. Both of you. I really needed that,” she said before taking a piece of her shirt and blowing her nose.

“Any time, girl,” Kat said with a gentle smile. “Ye ok?”

“Yeah. I’m better now. Gods, my eyes hurt a bit. Ugh, crying sucks,” Rosalyned groaned. She blinked rapidly, wiping tears away with ebony fingers. “It feels so good, but then you feel like your head is all stuffed full of cotton. Not to mention you feel exhausted. Oh, and hungry. Guess I didn’t have breakfast yet. We should probably do that, right? Oh, Gods, you’re both naked! I’m so sorry!”

“We warned you,” Ann laughed. “Didn’t seem to have a problem with it until just now.”

“I was distraught!” Rosalyn tried to defend herself, completely failing, as her eyes couldn’t be torn from the two naked bodies in front of her.

“Think she likes the view,” Ann teased Kat.

“Aye. Not the first time she’s seen it either,” Kat purred back. “Ye’d think she’d be used tae it by now.”

Rosalyn squeaked and buried her face in her hands as the other two women shared a good-natured laugh at her expense.

Ann reached behind herself and offered her tail to wipe Rosalyn’s tears. The other woman took it gratefully, and after a short minute, she was herself again.

“That was a lot. Wow! I didn’t know I had all that bundled up in there. Thanks for just listening, and for helping me and the people and my parents. I don’t know how I could ever repay you. Anything. Anything you want.”

Ann and Kat shared a look, and Ann turned back to the Ovine. “Just come with us? That’s all we could ask, really. You good with that, Kat?”

“Aye. That’ll do nicely. We needed ya, an’ now that we know ye a bit better? I’d like tae have ye around.”

Rosalyn dissolved into gratitudes again, with Ann and Kat desperately trying to talk her down. Eventually, they were saved by Bren knocking at the door.

“Are you three all right in there? I believe I heard crying a bit ago,” he asked, voice muffled through the door.

“We’ll be out in a minute!” Ann called back.

She and Kat got out of bed and dressed. Nothing special was planned for the day, so they just stuck to their casual wear. Ann in her simple shirt and kilt, Kat in her tighter shirt and pants.

Bren was putting out cups and plates for them as they descended the stairs to the living room. An eyebrow quirked as he looked at Rosalyn, but Kat waved him off.

“Don’ worry about it. Things got a little emotional after we offered tae help her wit’ the wardin’ duties ‘ere so she could join us. Nothin’ big.”

“Ah, yes. I can understand.” Bren nodded sagely through the steam wafting from his cup. “Then it was agreed to? You will join us?”

“Yup! That’s the plan. Though the other plans are still a bit of a question, right? Like, I get you’re all important being a princess, but can you really do all that? Get someone out here to help with the rune stone? Oh! I didn’t answer your last question! It doesn’t have to be me to do it. Anyone with sufficient mana that knows the ritual can do it, no problem! Just got to teach them the words, the mindset and how to channel everything and it’ll just happen. Wow! I can’t believe you’re helping me this much. This is so great!”

Ann laughed as the woman practically bounced in her chair with excitement.

“Though I guess I’ll need to talk to my parents. That’s going to be an interesting conversation. Little lamb leaving the pasture. Oh, mom’s gonna cry worse than I did. At least we’re staying in the kingdom for now, so we can just hop a train back and come see them if we need. Just, yeah.”

“Honestly, not sure what tha’s like,” Kat said, chewing through her bread. “Ma an’ Da sent me off wit’ some gold an’ equipment tae help get started, but there wasn’t any cryin’ or disapprovin’ stuff. Just a ‘make us proud’ an’ off I went wit’ Bren.”

“You may not have gotten that, but I absolutely did.” Bren laughed. “Mother would not stop fussing about if I had enough rations, if I had my maps, bedroll, and more. I could not get a word past her. Father was not much better. I could see how much he wanted to fuss over me too, but he could see how much mother was doing already. He just began listing off advice he had read from journals of famous mercenaries, war heroes and the like.”

“Yeah, me too. When I went off for college, I had the whole rundown of making sure I had a place to live, knew how to cook, all that. Had to move cross-country for the school I wanted to go to, so it was a big adjustment. Thankfully, we could just video call if we needed to talk or see each other, so it wasn’t much of a problem.”

“More ancient technology?” Bren asked, perking up.

“Oh, right, yeah. Basically, we had a way of talking from pretty much anywhere in the world. After like a hundred or more years of that, we figured out how to do video so you could see someone else while you were talking. It was pretty insane now that I think about it.”

“That would set so many people’s hearts and minds at ease,” Rosalyn sighed.

“It did have its downsides, but not like it’s likely to happen again in our lifetimes here.”

“Still. To see mom and dad whenever I wanted? What a wonderful gift.”

They continued chatting through their breakfast before everyone helped clean up.

“Right, so. I guess I should pack,” Rosalyn said, looking around her living room. A sigh escaped her lips as a sad look dawned on her.

“Do you want help?” Ann asked.

“No, no. I just. I need a minute? Could you all just, give me a bit?”

“Yeah, we’ll head up to the room. Let us know, though,” Ann said softly. The three of them stood and headed upstairs. Ann gave Rosalyn’s shoulder a reassuring pat, which was surprisingly met by the ebony hand, before she followed the other two.

Closing the door behind her, Kat spoke first. “Think she’s gonna be alright?”

“Yes. I believe she simply needs to work through the emotions. It is rather sudden. Maybe we could give her some time? Leave before her and have her find us in the Keep?” Bren suggested.

“That might be a good idea,” Ann huffed as she sat down. “It’s a couple day hike back for us. Polaris should already be gone by now to talk to your mom, Kat. Not to mention our equipment should be ready, and my clothes. It would also give her time to say her proper goodbyes. Though, I guess she might want us there for her parents’ sake. Know who their daughter is going to be travelling with. You know?”

“Aye. There’s ups an’ downs tae both options there,” Kat muttered. She’d sat herself on the bed and had flopped over so her head was in Ann’s lap. Her eyes were closed, clearly enjoying Ann stroking her hair and ears.

“I believe we should propose those to Rosalyn as a choice. I think I will be the one to do so. You two stay here,” Bren said, rising.

After he closed the door and they heard footsteps descending, Ann let out a sigh. “Gods, this part always sucks. Don’t like having put her in such a hard spot.”

“Aye, but she wanted tae do this. Ye heard ‘er this mornin’,” Kat reminded her. “Emotions just feckin’ suck. Illogical bullshite.”

“Even the better emotions?” Ann teased, wiggling a finger in Kat’s ear.

“Aye, even those, ya nutter. Keep it up an’ ye’ll lose that finger,” Kat grumbled.

“Fine. She does seem to be opening up to us at least. More comfortable.”

“Dinnae if that’ll be headin’ in the direction ye’re implyin’ though, Ann. Ye’re too hopeful sometimes. Anyone ever tell ye that?”

“Oh, sometimes,” Ann sighed. “Just, she’s nice. That nervous energy is really endearing. Ya know?”

“Trust me, I know,” Kat grinned, snuggling deeper into Ann’s lap. “She’s growin’ on me. Not quite there yet, but she’s gettin’ there.”

“I mean, the two of us hit it off pretty hot and heavy,” Ann said softly. “Not everyone’s gonna be giving me handjobs after days of knowing each other.”

“Don’t regret it fer a minute,” Kat giggled.

“I’d be upset if you did.”

The door creaked as Bren returned. “All right. She’d prefer us to stay and meet her parents. She is struggling, but believes things will be alright. We might as well just relax for a couple hours, while she gets ready. I have some reading to do. What about you two?”

Kat rolled over, craning her neck to the side so she could see past Ann’s bust. “Spar?”

“Sounds good to me. I’m on the level with you, finally. Sounds fun!”

“So prone to violence, both of you,” Bren sighed. “Let me know if you need healing. I’ll be listening.”

“We’ll be gentle!” Kat scoffed. “A few cuts and bruises at most.”

“Yeah. I won’t even use my Smite or gun. Just sword to sword, and shield, I guess.”

“Aye, can work on yer footwork, too. Ye’re still workin’ off instinct too much. Need tae give ye yer fundamentals.

A few hours later, and a string of thoroughly humiliating defeats for Ann, Bren and Rosalyn exited the house.

“I do believe it is time,” Bren intoned, a solemn look on his face.

“Yup. I’ve got my stuff. Got everything put away I need to. It’s all here. Just grab your things and we can get going. I… sorry, but I kinda don’t want to go back in? Feels like if I do, I’m not gonna leave. Ok?” Rosalyn rambled, fidgeting with her hands in front of her.

Groaning, Ann sat up from being tripped by Kat, batting away the hand she was offered. Kat cocked an eyebrow, but let her stand on her own. “All right. Whatever you need to do to make it right. Want me to get our stuff, Kat?”

“I can help. Ye don’t gotta do stuff on yer own, lass,” she chided.

“Yeah, yeah. I know. Still frustrating getting my ass kicked after I’ve gotten so much stronger,” Ann grumbled, kicking some snow off her paw.

“An’ tha’s ‘cause I’ve been fightin’ people fer longer than ye’ve been conscious. Skill still takes time. Ye’re good. Better than a novice, but ye’ve got room tae grow. And hey, ye’re doin’ way better than the fight on our date!” Kat laughed.

“You two fought on a date?” Rosalyn chirped, coking her head in a way that made her wooly hair bounce adorably.

“Yeah,” Ann chuckled. “It was more of a conversational fight than much else. Just our fists in a park back in Graven Keep. I swear I almost fu…” Ann trailed off, eyes widening as she realised what she was about to say, and that Bren was right there.

“Well, that certainly sounds friendlier than I thought it was. You two are pretty close, that’s for sure. In personality and physically. I can see why you two work together so well!” Rosalyn giggled, smiling brightly. 

Ann took a moment to save that sight in her memory. The woman was dazzling when she smiled. The white wool contrasting her pitch black skin, and the whites of her teeth shining even brighter because of it. Shaking her head, she leaned back on Kat’s shoulder.

“Yeah, and other things for sure,” she said with a mischievous grin.

“Aye, an’ other things,” Kat murmured, nuzzling her head into the hand on her shoulder.

“All right, you two,” Bren interrupted with a smile of his own. “Keep that up and we will be here all day. Go get your things. Be out here in fifteen minutes. We need to get to the village before it gets too late, and it is already past noon.”

“Yes, sir!” the two women shouted, throwing Bren mock salutes before devolving into laughter as they returned to the house.

“They really are something,” Rosalyn sighed once she saw the two close the door.

“Yes. Yes, they are. And don’t think I haven’t seen your glancing toward them, either. Keep that up, and you’re likely to be swallowed up by the same energy.” Bren warned with a smile.

“Oh, I don’t know about that. They seem happy enough together. I wouldn’t want to intrude. They’re so perfect. It’s just, yeah. I’m attracted, but I don’t want to make myself a problem,” she stammered, fidgets returning.

“Hardly perfect,” Bren laughed. “You just saw a small part of their imperfections. Annita is new to everything and desperately wants to improve. Kat has been at this for decades, and she’s the bar Annita’s set for herself. I see tension there, but not enough that they will let it get in their way. Regardless, I would be genuinely surprised if they had not already had something of a conversation regarding yourself.”

“Really?” Rosalyn asked meekly, not meeting his eyes.

“I am not blind, you know,” Bren chuckled with a wry smile. “I see the way Annita looks at you. Annita, Katlyn and I had a conversation regarding her passive, which you have read. Katlyn’s rule was specifically that they both be in full agreement before any romantic attachment be pursued.”

“Oh! Uh, that’s definitely more than I thought would be talked about. Interesting. I guess I’ll see what happens. Just not gonna count my chickens before they’ve hatched, you know?”

“A wise decision. Ah, I do believe they are coming back,” Bren sighed, preparing himself. “At least they did not become entangled in their brief time unsupervised.”

“All right, ye bastards!” Kat shouted as she thrust open the door. “Let’s get on the road! Gotta meet the parents and I’ll be damned if we do it after dark. Bad impression, that!”

The rest laughed as they nodded to each other, and followed Rosalyn into the woods.

Chapter Text

“Welcome to River’s Crest!” Rosalyn cheered, waving a hand dramatically over the small town before them. They’d left the woods a bit ago and had been walking through barren farmland covered with the ever present snow. There were no more than thirty buildings that Annita could pick out. With the setting sun, the people were lighting lanterns and candles, getting ready for the night to take them. All had sloped wooden roofs and log walls from what she could see, with the exception of stone chimneys. It was quaint. Something she’d read about in stories, but hadn’t ever thought she’d see for herself.

Rosalyn led them into town, mumbling greetings to the few people she passed. Despite knowing them, the woman seemed more reserved than she was further away from civilisation. Her chin had dropped, and her shoulders hunched slightly as she walked. Ann didn’t comment, but took note that this was not an entirely comfortable situation for the Druid.

They came to a specific building, and Rosalyn opened the door without hesitation, beckoning them all in behind her.

“Mom? Dad? I hope you have enough for a few guests. I have friends!” she called into the house as they kicked the mud and snow off their shoes and paws.

“Rosy? Is that you?” a soft, cheerful woman’s voice called from deeper into the house. “ We didn’t expect to hear from you for another month! Is everything all right?”

“Fine, mom!” Rosalyn responded, hanging up her coat and kicking off her shoes.

Through a door to the left, they entered the apparent living room. A pair of old, battered, overstuffed chairs sat before the fireplace. The room was cosy, a cabinet nestled in the corner next to a table large enough for six. Several chests and dressers, adorned with simple crafts or family portraits, stood around the room.

Rising from the chair on the left, Rosalyn’s mother looked over the unfamiliar group that had gathered at the door. “Who are these? You said friends?” The woman was similar to Rosalyn in stature, though she bore a stooped back. Her black horns curled back the same way Rosalyn’s did, but she didn’t share the distinctive woolen hair. Instead, the clicking of her steps indicated she’d been born with hoofs instead of feet. Laugh lines creased the corners of her brown eyes, and her plump cheeks had a rosy hue as she smiled.

“Yup. They actually came looking for me. You remember the monster all the hunters were scared of? They’d come from the Keep to help with it. They ran into me and we managed to put it down. This is Katlyn, Bren, and Annita.”

“Thank you for keeping my daughter safe, dears,” the woman said, her smile widening further. “She’s always been one to do things herself, but help should always be welcome. I am Lorna. The old goat in the chair playing deaf is Grollor. Say hi to our guests, dear.”

“Hello,” the gruff voice of the man in the chair echoed through the room with a weight Ann was not expecting. “Thank you. For keeping Rosalyn safe. You are welcome here.”

From what Ann could see, he was mostly normal. She didn’t see the horns like Rosalyn and Lorna shared. He had short cropped hair that was going white with age. Large, gnarled hands rested on the arms of the chair, but he did not move an inch from where he was sitting.

“Never mind him,” Lorna sighed. “He’s tired. Been out all day working on that new barn out with Trovas’ kids. Needs done before spring, so everyone’s been chipping in where they can. Come in dears, make yourselves at home. I’m sorry, we don’t have more comfortable chairs for all of you, but we’ve been just the two of us for some time now. Ever since Rosy left.”

“Mooom,” Rosalyn whined. “I told you to stop calling me that ages ago.”

“Oh pish. You’ll always be my little lamb. Now, why don’t you all freshen up? Wash room is across the hall. I’ll get dinner set out, and we can talk about everything that’s happened since we last saw you, Rosy!”

Rolling her eyes, Rosalyn walked from the room, quickly followed by the rest as Lorna began setting the table.

The four travellers took turns washing their faces. “So, that’s your mom?” Ann asked, leaning against a wall, listening to the sounds of Lorna getting a meal prepared.

“Yeah. Told you she was going to be a bit much. Though she’ll be more when we talk over what we plan. Oh, I expect a full breakdown. Less like the one I had more, um, my little girl is growing up? You all are a great reassurance though, once full introductions are done. It’ll be ok. I hope. I’m going either way. Uuuugh.” Rosalyn lowered her head and grabbed herself by the horns. It was clearly a show of frustration, but definitely a new one for Ann.

“We will do our best to allay any worries they might have,” Bren reassured as he dried his face, giving Kat her turn. “Your mother seems to be the sensitive type, but your father is a bit of a mystery to me. Is his current state simply exhaustion?”

“Probably? He can be a pretty cool guy overall, and not near as gruff. He might open up a bit more during dinner? At least I hope so.”

Kat returned as a waft of something tasty came through the hall. “Think it’s time. Let’s join ‘em. Hopefully this goes smooth like.”

“Oh, wonderful!” Lorna cooed warmly as they entered. “Sit, sit. Nothing special, I’m afraid. We have bread, mead, some beef and cabbage.” Lorna spoke as she set out the meal in plates and bowls. It was a poor meal, but for the rural farming town, this was a good night.

Grollar was quiet at the beginning, taking relish in his meal. Now that he was out of his chair, they all got a good look at him. He was a big man, human from what they could tell. Short brown hair streaked with grey covered his head and upper lip in a handlebar moustache. His eyes were tired, but after the first few bites of his wife’s cooking, they regained a light that was absent before. Turning to his guests, he spoke. “So, tell us. How did you run into our little Rosalyn?” His voice was rich and deep, a rumble in his barrel chest.

“That was me, actually,” Ann began. “I was being chased by the Warped that was terrorising the area, and I almost literally tripped over her.”

“Bad luck running into that thing,” Grollar mumbled. “I saw your equipment. Soldiers or mercs?”

“Mercs,” Kat answered. “Just got sent up from Graven Keep aimin’ tae help with the Warped.”

“You should have seen it dad!” Rosalyn exclaimed, putting her food down. “It was huge, as big as a house! The front half was this weird pale flesh thing that looked like a worm human with four arms and no head! Its back was all in this giant shell it drug around that could shoot this sticky black goop at you. It was so gross! Then, when we beat it up enough, it ripped itself out of the shell and tried to kill Bren and I! We lived, though. Kat and Ann got its attention, and it scampered away for a bit. It was such a rush! They took a beating, but we took it down in the end. I got a chunk of it, actually. Left it outside, since it’s kinda big. Drags well in the snow when you’re not exhausted from fighting. Might be a good sled, or something? I don’t know. Haven’t really decided yet.”

After Rosalyn’s rambling ended, Grollor leaned back in his chair with a booming laugh, and Lorna leaned her face in a hand with a fond smile.

“That’s my girl!” Grollor exclaimed. “Another monster falls at your magics. Thank you for keeping us and the village safe, Rosalyn. I will let the elder know of your victory, and the ones who assisted you in this trial.”

“I’m glad you were unharmed. That thing seemed to be more of a fright than the usual Warped we see. Do you think there might be more?” Lorna asked, a shadow of concern crossing her face as she looked at the other three.

“Oh, shouldn’t be. At least not the smaller ones. We got the Runestone all charged up the other day, so the Twinwolves and the like should be cleared out by now.” Rosalyn said in her bubbly way.

“We must know about you three as well!” Grollor insisted, levelling his mug at Kat, Ann, and Bren. “Tell us, where do you hail from?”

“Korvas, fer the two of us,” Kat began. “Grown up there all me life.”

“The same for me, as well,” Bren stated. “Though my family moved there a while after I was born, most of my memories are of the city.”

“And I…” Ann faltered. She hadn’t really come up with anything that’d work for where she came from. While she might be able to use the amnesiac story again, that felt off. She wouldn’t be lying to anyone important, but wasn’t sure if simple folk like these would be as accepting of her.

“Dearie? Is something wrong?” Lorna prodded her.

“No, no. I’m from pretty far away. Northeast. I don’t really have many memories of where I lived. I’ve been a traveller as long as I can remember. No roots to really claim.”

“Well, that suits your appearance well, I’d say. A little rough, a little wild, but there’s a spark of adventure in you,” Lorna smiled, placing her hand atop Ann’s larger one.

“Rosalyn has told us some of your past as well. Please, tell us of yourselves as well.” Bren inquired, leaning forward onto his elbows.

“Oh, we’re humble folk,” Grollor chuckled, the noise rumbling through Ann’s sensitive ears. “I grew up further east. Closer to Thalten, farmin’ and all that with my pa and family. It’s been in the family for generations. Grew up doing hard labour. Good work for a growing lad. Met Lorna here at one of the harvest festivals. Prettiest lass I’ve ever seen. The way she danced, her hair whipping around her horns in the firelight. Ah, it was magical. I knew then and there I had to be the one to make her mine. Thankfully, she thought the same about me.” He smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling as he leaned close to his smaller wife.

“You were quite the looker back then. Still are. Time has been kind to both of us, I’d say,” Lorna laughed. “As for me, I grew up in a family that were prominently hunters. I, however, did not take to the family business as readily as my siblings and parents did . I spent most of my time growing up either failing at using a bow or firearm, or with the older women in the village. With them, I learned to sew, to dance, to cook, and other necessities for a home. My family, bless them, never understood me, but loved me enough to let me be who I was. Father still tried to get me to hunt, but that was all he knew.”

“Eventually I met this absolutely gorgeous mountain of a man at a harvest festival. I can’t quite remember his name…” she teased, eyes twinkling at Grollor. “Time moved quickly as he courted me. It was thrilling to have someone so intently focused on me, I couldn’t help but fall for him.”

Kat and Ann shared a quick glance, cheeks blushing as they recognised the looks being exchanged with embarrassing clarity. Bren, for his part, looked at them smugly before returning his attention to Lorna.

“Then we married, and lived there for a time,” Grollor said, picking up the thread. “Rosalyn came about shortly after. Pride of both our eyes, the little lamb. Shoulda seen her as a babe. Black as coal, with fuzzy white wool for hair and little stubby horns. Never seen somethin’ as perfect as her.” The man’s face softened into a ridiculously happy smile as he recalled the memory. 

“Sadly, a few years after, a blight hit my family’s farm. A sickness in the soil that none could stave off or find a cure for. We made the hard choice to pick up and try our luck elsewhere. That’s when we packed up all we had and came to River’s Crest. Little Rosalyn was not having any of it, let me tell you. Never seen her so furious. Gave us all measures of trouble, but eventually we settled in to how we wished to live our lives here.” The man huffed, satisfied with his recounting of the past.

“I mean, you took me away from all my friends and everything I knew. I think I deserved to be a bit upset,” Rosalyn huffed.

“You did indeed, Rosy,” Lorna said with a smile, stroking her daughter’s arm soothingly. “I’m just glad we could move past it after some time.”

“Yeah. Me too,” Rosalyn murmured, leaning her head on Lorna’s. There was a soft clack as their horns met.

“So, what will your business be now that the Warped is slain?” Grollor asked, leaning back in his chair to the point he was balancing on two legs.

“Well, mom, dad. That’s kinda what we were hoping to talk to you about,” Rosalyn said, drawing back into a sitting posture as her eyes darted nervously between her parents. “I think I’m going to be going away with them.”

“You’re what?” Lorna gasped, hands clutched to her chest. “But, Rosy. Are you sure? You barely know these people. There’s… there’s such a good life here. It’s comfortable. You have your responsibilities to the town, and all that you protect love you. Why would you give that up?”

Grollor’s face had hardened slightly. He didn’t speak, but his body language communicated he was waiting for answers intently.

“Well, yeah. It is sudden,” Rosalyn admitted. “But I don’t think another opportunity like this is going to come again. These three? They’re more than just some mercs. Ann, can I tell them? About the whole, uh, you know who?” Her hazel eyes pleaded for understanding, and Ann couldn’t resist that face.

“Yeah, go ahead.”

“Ok, so Ann’s actually something pretty unique. She’s got a specific path given to her by Orenous, and a quest to see through because of it. Something big is happening, and they want me to join them. Kat, well. Kat is Katlyn Farragher. You know, the Princess?”

At that revelation, Grollor lost his balance on the chair and toppled backwards. Standing, he made a low bow to Kat. “Your highness! I didn’t know. I’m sorry if I was rude in any way.”

Lorna had sat up straighter, and all the relaxed energy had left the woman. “I as well offer my humble apologies, your highness,” she said as she bowed her head.

“Ah sod off wit’ all tha’,” Kat groaned. “I don’t give a rat’s arse about the pleasantries or any o’ tha’. Sit down, an’ talk tae me like anyone else. S’ how I prefer it.”

“Um, yes, of course, your hi… Kat,” Grollor stammered. 

It was a little funny seeing the massive man so befuddled by the mere presence of Kat, but Ann hid her smile.

“And Bren,” Rosalyn continued, “is from a family of mages that work in the capital, right?”

“Yes. My parents and I were close to the royal family. I grew up with Katlyn, and, well, that’s a long story,” he sighed.

“So, can you see why I want to do this? To go with them and see what the world has to offer? To see the wonders of the world with my own eyes, even if it’s all dangerous?” Rosalyn asked, hands clasped firmly in her lap.

Lorna fidgeted in her chair, indecisively glancing between Grollor and Rosalyn. “I… I don’t know, love. I’m worried about you. Even with a princess at your side, this is such a big change. Are you sure? Really sure?”

“Don’t let the promise of a possible future blind you to a known one,” Grollor advised.

His words were stoic, devoid of emotion, but Ann could see the worry in his eyes. He wanted to tell his daughter not to go, but was holding himself back with great effort. Ann felt her heart melt for the man.

“I know, I know. It’s a risk. I know, mom,” Rosalyn repeated, offering an arm as tears gathered in her mother’s eyes. “I just… I feel like this is right. Something is telling me I need to do this. Either that’s just my heart, or something greater, considering Ann’s whole deal. I need to do this.”

Tears began to flow in earnest from Lorna’s eyes as she clung to her daughter. “I’m sorry, my love. My little Rosy. I want to be happy for you. So happy you’ve found something important to you to do. At the same time, I’m so scared of you leaving. What if you get hurt, and sick, or lonely, or want to leave? Will you be all right?”

“Mom, I’ll be fine,” Rosalyn spoke softly, comforting her mother the best she could. “I’ve got a wonderful healer in Bren, and none of them are the types to keep me away if I wanted to come back.” She looked around at Ann, Kat and Bren, asking for confirmation.

“Yes. That is the truth. Should she ever wish to leave and return to the village, for whatever reason, we will be fine with that.” Bren affirmed.

“Having someone along who doesn’t want to be there would be a huge bummer, too,” Ann agreed. “I’d rather she be happy where she is than be with us and miserable.”

Lorna took a few minutes of assurances and soothing from Rosalyn before her tears calmed. “You three better look after her,” she warned. “She is my everything. If I see even a nick on her horns, I swear on the Gods.”

“Lorna,” Grollor cautioned. “They seem to be fine folk. The type to run off with our daughter and get in trouble wouldn’t be the ones to stop by for dinner before leaving. That being said, please. Please do keep her safe. It is a dangerous world out there.”

“Aye.”

“Yes.”

“Absolutely.”

The three answered at once, nodding to the man before them.

“Then you have my blessing,” Grollor nodded back. “It is getting late. We have a spare room you can use for the night, though you will have to share, and we only have the single bed.”

“Shouldn’t be a problem,” Ann grinned at Kat.

“Now, could you please give us some time with our daughter?” Lorna pleaded. “If this is the last we’ll see of her for a while, I want to make sure we have all the time we can.”

“Of course,” Kat said with a soft smile. The three mercs rose and left the room quietly, entering the small side room.

“This went just about as good as I could have hoped,” Bren sighed, sitting on the floor, back against a wall.

“Yeah, though those looks from Lorna and Grollor nearly broke my heart,” Ann sighed, relaxing on the bed with Kat.

“Know what ye mean. Tha’ giant bulk o’ a man has a soft spot fer ‘er. Good folk, the lot o’ ‘em.”

“Guess we’re gonna have to deal with my Libido tomorrow,” Ann said, stretching her lanky limbs across the too small bed. “Actually, Bren, you want the bed? I don’t really fit in here. We can just use the bedrolls.”

“If you would like, I would not mind a proper bed to sleep in,” Bren grinned, standing as they swapped positions. “And thank you for not trying anything while we are all stuck in such close proximity. I do not think I could take it after the other night.”

“We really need to get you laid,” Ann laughed, falling onto the bedrolls Kat had laid out.

Kat flopped next to her, laughter echoing in the small room. “Aye, that we do. Been lookin, not gonna lie tae ya. Just ‘aven’t found the right one tae throw at ye yet. Rosalyn’s cute, but she’s clearly intae women.”

“Yeah, I’ve caught her staring at you way too much,” Ann giggled, poking Kat in the ribs.

“My love life is none of your concern,” Bren huffed, despite his cheeks flushed brightly. “I can find my own partners quite well on my own.”

“Aye, but sometimes ye need a lil help,” Kat grinned.

“Good night,” Bren declared, rolling over to face the wall, done with the conversation.

“Nighty night, loverboy,” Ann laughed, pulling Kat into a warm embrace.

Soon, snores echoed through the room as the three slept peacefully.

Chapter Text

They woke early the next morning to what Ann assumed were roosters crowing. Groaning, she stretched as best she could, with Kat still clinging to her from their usual sleeping position. She smiled, nuzzling the Alf’s forehead with her nose, giving it a gentle kiss. The barest cracks of dawn filtered through the rough glass window, giving the room, and Kat, a cozy, warm feeling. The smell of coffee and the sounds of Lorna and Grollor moving about as they prepared for their day were soothing. Like a distant memory of her old life.

Turning her head, feeling the bedroll beneath her flattening the fur that ran down her back, she saw that Bren had also risen early, likely on a walk or helping Lorna with the early morning chores. Another smile. He was such a dependable guy, always there to help with whatever was needed. She really needed to find someone for him.

For now, with a rustle of the blankets, she turned back to her girlfriend. They had a moment of privacy, and they hadn’t had a chance to fuck last night. She’d gotten so used to it, she felt pent up even from that simple delay. Checking her Libido, she was still safe for a couple more hours, but why wait?

Feeling her cock stiffening at the thought, her hands began to explore. Kat had fallen asleep with simple undergarments on, a loose shirt and underwear. Deft hands traced under these garments, easing them aside while the sleeping woman was none the wiser. Grinning, with her heart full of mischief, she gently slipped a hand between Kat’s legs. She oh so gently ran a finger between the woman’s sensitive lips, testing her sleeping companion’s reception to the touch.

Kat shifted, gently mumbling, but not waking. If anything, her muscular arms gripped Ann tighter. How she managed to be so strong even while she was sleeping was beyond Ann, but she wasn’t complaining.

Growing bolder, she slipped a single finger into the warm folds, feeling the heat quickly surrounding the digit. She didn’t move yet, just resting it there until she was certain Kat was still sleeping. Slowly, she began to move the finger, only pushing in up to her second knuckle before slowly removing it. Kat’s breath hitched slightly, her eyes screwing tight, but she slept on. Ann repeated the gesture, this time rewarded with a sigh, and her finger coated with the slickness of Kat’s inner walls.

“Annn…” Kat moaned in her sleep. “Don’ teeeaasseee.”

Ann felt her heart jump at the voice, but grinned all the more as she heard the request. Pulling back her hand, she gently lined up her cock with Kat’s lips. It was a bit of an awkward angle, with them laying face to face, but as she slowly dragged the sensitive head back and forth across the mounds of Kat’s sex, she found the right angle, nestling the tip into her lover.

Kat’s breath quickened again, arms tightening once more as she adjusted to the intrusion. It really was a testament to the woman’s hatred of the mornings that she was able to stay asleep even now.

Gently, oh so slowly, Ann eased her way further in. She felt Kat’s walls spreading for her. Making way for her cock as they wrapped it in the slick, velvety embrace she’d come to love. She could never get tired of this feeling.

Kat was not faring well in her dream. “Mooore,” she mumbled, “Annnn.” Unconsciously, her hips rocked and pushed several more inches into herself, eliciting a moan. “There ye are,” she whispered with a dreamy smile.

Satisfied that the woman was clearly dreaming of some version of what was happening in the real world, Ann worked the rest of her shaft into Kat. Eventually, she bottomed out, their hips meeting, as Ann carefully wrapped one of Kat’s legs over her hip. “Gods, you’re sexy even when you’re asleep,” she whispered.

She dragged herself back, feeling Kat’s folds grip her as the thick cock was pulled away, before pushing back with equal care. Kat’s hips shifted in time with hers, sleepy murmurs and moans becoming more frequent. Ann settled into a slow but steady rhythm, stopping any time she felt Kat starting to wake up, and resuming once she felt the woman relax again.

After a couple minutes of this gentle fucking, she felt a hand rest on her cheek. Looking down, she saw Kat looking up at her; the woman’s bleary ice-blue eyes were full of longing. “Hell o’ a way tae wake a girl up,” she grinned with a moan as she pushed her hips down to the base of Ann’s cock.

“Couldn’t help myself with someone so sexy sleeping right there,” Ann teased. “Gotta be quiet, though. Can hear people moving.”

“Mhm,” Kat nodded, biting her lip. “Speakin’ o’ movin’.” She rocked her hips again. “Think ye can keep me quiet?”

“Sure as hell can try,” Ann grinned, trapping the mouthy woman’s lips in a kiss as she thrust again with conviction. She swallowed the Protector’s moan as she set to work taking her apart. Quickly, she found her cervix, that ever so sensitive knot in the woman’s innermost depths and began to push into it with each thrust. She knew the thing wouldn’t let her past, but it didn’t mean she wasn’t thrilled at how Kat shivered and shook every time she battered her way against it.

Eventually she had to breathe, more than she could with their lips locked, so she broke the kiss. Almost immediately, Kat let out a loud moan, cut off almost instantly by a hand covering her mouth.

“The fuck did I say about quiet?” Ann hissed, not stopping her thrusts. An impish look from Kat told her the perverted woman had absolutely done that on purpose, confirmed by a second moan into her hand.

Keeping her lover’s mouth covered, Ann sped up her thrusts. The tension of the secrecy, along with the early intimacy, was doing wonders for her. She felt her orgasm building as Kat’s walls massaged her length, begging her to let go. To cum and paint her womb white. Gods, it was always difficult to hold back, but that wasn’t the point this morning, was it?

Biting her lip to keep her own moans at bay, Ann sped up, feeling the heat of her lust as she neared her own orgasm. She felt the wall break, the searing heat racing up her cock. She took the hand that wasn’t clamped tightly over Kat’s mouth and pulled the woman’s hips securely against hers, making sure she was as deep as she could get from this angle. Ann wanted everything inside Kat. No mess, no drips. Every drop of cum would be in Kat and stay in Kat.

Kat’s eyes rolled back as she felt the first jets of cum explode into her. Her body trembled with her own orgasm as she felt herself being filled. Gods, Ann lived to see that reaction. To see the woman so consumed by the carnal pleasure they shared. It was part of the reason she loved Kat so much, and she’d make sure to show her that love as much as possible.

Slowly, they both came down, breathing heavily, laying there in each other’s embrace. It took a few moments before Kat began to mumble, muffled by Ann’s hand still firmly gripping her face.

“Oops, sorry,” Ann laughed sheepishly, removing her hand. There were red marks on Kat’s cheeks where she’d squeezed. Her insides curled with embarrassment that she’d held on that tight. 

“I’m feckin’ not. Gods damn girl, ye can wake me up like that any time. Ya ken?” Kat giggled back with a randy grin, cheeks still flushed with arousal. 

“Oh I hear,” Ann grinned.

“Can ye?” Kat asked, reaching up and gently stroking Ann’s furry ears, working her thumbs into the fluffy fur inside them. Ann gasped as the sensitive area was massaged, and moved to return the favour to Ann’s long, delicate ears. Both of them laid there, taking their time to give each other the care they needed.

Finally, Kat groaned and stretched. “Make me a mornin’ girl if ye keep that up.”

“If only I were one, too. C’mon. Let’s get up,” Ann said with a moan as she slowly unsheathed her still hard cock from Kat’s depths. Shivers ran up and down both of them as their sensitive bodies rubbed against each other. “Got a long day of walking ahead, and a Rosalyn to help say goodbye to her parents. Ya know, sometimes having all that stamina from Orenous is kinda inconvenient,” she grumbled as she looked down at her erection.

“Oh no, ye’ve got a cock that won’t stop. Truly the worst of challenges,” Kat teased.

“Shut up, you,” Ann grumbled, pulling up her underwear and awkwardly stuffing her junk into it.

“Why don’t ye make me, sweetheart,” the mischievous Alf laughed.

Seized by an impulse, Ann grabbed Kat by the long ear, pulled her in and kissed her. Kat moaned and melted into the kiss instantly.

“There, nice and shut up.”

“Cheat,” Kat whispered breathlessly as she tried to recollect herself.

The morning meal was as simple as their dinner. Black coffee with eggs and porridge were today’s offerings. Conversation was light around the table, with Bren and Kat sharing news of the nearby areas and telling stories of their travels around the area. Grollor listened intently to any news of Warped in the area, even with the assurance that the Runestone would be maintained in Rosalyn’s absence. 

Ann had gotten to talking to Lorna about some of the sewing pieces she’d been working on. Ann had tried out cross stitching when she was growing up, but didn’t have the patience for the art form. Lorna, on the other hand, had found it quite the hobby, and had begun making pieces for her neighbours and friends. Flowers and the smaller animals of the woods that surrounded them were her subjects, and she took great care when recreating them with needle and thread.

Soon enough, far too soon for the parents, it was time to say their farewells. Lorna once again broke down, fussing over Rosalyn’s every detail as she made sure her precious daughter would be safely heading out. Grollor wasn’t much better, giving advice where he could between Lorna’s worried rambling. Both had a sadness in their eyes as Rosalyn embraced them warmly, whispering reassurances, and finally, goodbye.

Turning, the Druid joined her new companions, who waited a respectful distance from the family.

“Let’s get going. If I turn around now, I don’t think I’ll have the nerve to leave. C’mon!” Rosalyn said quickly, taking Ann and Bren’s hands and pulling them.

From behind, Lorna and Grollor continued to call their farewells, and Rosalyn waved back to them without turning around. Soon, they were out of sight of the small home, and Rosalyn’s shoulders slumped.

“That was so much harder than I thought it’d be. Oh my Gods, I’m tired already,” she sniffed, holding back her own emotions. “Mom was being so strong, and dad was so worried. I’m. Holy shit. I’m doing this. C’mon Rosalyn. You’ve got this.”

“Not like ye don’t ‘ave help,” Kat laughed, dancing a few paces ahead of them to walk backwards, facing the rest. “Adventure wit’ friends is what makes this life worth livin’!”

“I will drink to that,” Bren chuckled.

“Damn right ye will. Now, back tae the Keep next, yeah? Ol’ Polaris’ll ‘ave gone by the time we’re back. Check an’ see if anythin’s been sent back yet. An’ if not, wanna try hittin’ another Seed?”

“I’m game. What’s another few life or death fights?” Ann grinned. “Need to see what happens next time I touch a Core as well. Wonder if it’ll hurt as much as the last one did.”

“Honestly, I’m surprised you survived. That kind of power coursing into someone’s being must be incredibly harsh on the system. Overloads from things like lightning can fry a creature like nothing. A conduit of corruption and the power of the Gods? I can’t imagine interfacing with something like it!” Rosalyn was off again, her thoughts spilling from her lips without any filter.

“Still hurt like a motherfucker,” Ann grimaced, remembering the experience. “Guess it’s something I’ve gotta deal with earning this second shot. If I get more of this Warped power out of it, though, could be interesting.”

“Speaking of,” Bren interjected as they moved out of the village and into the woodlands proper, “any thoughts on what that might be tied to? We are supposed to be investigating the source of this anomaly. I admit I am still in the dark.”

“Nope, not a clue,” Ann sighed. “Though we’ve only just started, so I can’t be all that disappointed.”

“A long road is ahead of us,” Bren agreed. “You received a choice the last time you obtained a level of corruption, yes? I do wonder if the options for mutations will reappear. It does not work like that with someone’s Path, however, we are dealing with an unknown power here.”

“I kinda hope it does. That Minor Cosmetic Mutation could be really handy for not looking like me anymore. Especially if I get all famous when Kat’s mom announces who I am. Wait, do skills ever upgrade or grow?” Ann asked, turning to Bren.

“They can. It depends on the skill and the Path walker, but it is a possibility.”

“Well, if I get that option, I’m going to take it, then. It says it’s minor. To me, that sounds like there’s more to it,” Ann decided after a moment, pondering the possibility.

“Tired o’ bein’ all dark an’ sexy?” Kat teased, flicking one of Ann’s furry ears.

“Hells no. I like how I look,” Ann laughed, batting the hand away. “Would be cool, though. Just imagine what else could change about me? I can turn off and on my own fertility as a starter!”

“Pervert,” Bren huffed.

“I didn’t even say anything!” Ann gasped, staring at him with mouth agape.

“No, but your mind is easy enough to read. That, and you are blushing,” he replied with a wry grin.

“He’s got you there,” Rosalyn laughed. “And yeah, there’s a lot that a Path? Is it a Path? We should probably figure that out. Anyway, there’s a lot that something like that can do. I wonder how extreme the changes could get? Could you get extra limbs? Weird tentacles like that Snail thing? Oooh, maybe you can take features from other Vulhardrin or animals! How cool would it be to have wings? Or even scales to defend yourself without armor! What if you could get bigger or smaller? Change pieces of yourself. The possibilities are literally endless, and that was mostly considering external changes. Internal is a whole other frontier. I’m so excited to see where you go with all of this!”

Rosalyn, while talking and without thinking, had drawn closer and closer to Ann as she talked. Taking the short woman by her shoulders, Ann heard a surprised squeak as she pulled the Druid into a hug. “And you’ll have a front-row seat to all of it. You always so interested in the Warped?”

“Absolutely! They’re twisted nature and nature’s just about the oldest friend I’ve had. Being able to figure out how they’re changing is almost as interesting as figuring out the why. Did you know that a lot of these creatures started out as one thing, then over time are merged with more and more the older they get?”

“Aye, that’s the general theory, right, Bren?” Kat nodded, turning to Bren.

“The issue with the theory being that no one has seen it in progress. Guardians or higher grade Warped are always found at the end stage of their mutations, never in the middle. This is something scholars and researchers have been seeking for generations. To be honest, some of the reason for going along with you was to be seeing how you change further. There’s so much unknown about this situation and yourself, I can’t help my curiosity.” Rosalyn sucked in a breath before nodding, signaling the end of her thought.

“Having an adorable woman want to study my body?” Ann teased, brushing up against the shorter woman and wrapping her tail around her waist. “Don’t threaten me with a good time.”

Ann watched with a wolfish grin as Rosalyn seemed to shake at the touch, the fur surrounding her setting off mixed instincts. She didn’t pull away, though, and made an effort to remain calm despite her thighs drawing closer together.

“Aw, leave the poor thing be, ye beast,” Kat cackled. “Ye’re scarin’ ‘er. Big ol’ wolf gonna eat the precious sheep.”

“I am not precious,” Rosalyn protested, shoving off Ann’s tail. “I can take care of myself, thank you very much.”

“Oh, we’ve got no doubts about tha’,” Kat laughed at the sight of the woman a full foot shorter than her glaring up with hazel eyes. She leaned down, putting her face right up to the Druid’s. “But ye’ve got no idea what ye’re temptin’ there. Or maybe ye do? Ye saw us that night.”

Rosalyn’s eyes somehow widened further as her entire posture shrunk into itself. “I remember, believe you me,” she muttered under her breath.

“Gods above, both of you lay off,” Bren called back, having kept walking while the women taunted each other.

“Yes, brother dearest!” Kat shouted, mockingly imitating his manner of speech, before running to catch up.

“Just gonna say I do like you, and it seems like Kat’s warming up to you pretty quick,” Ann continued, a gentle hand resting on Rosalyn’s shoulder while they tried to catch up. “No pressure. Take this as slow as you want. I’m just a fan of putting my feelings out there, so there’s no confusion.”

“I, uh. I appreciate the forwardness, I guess? Still working on it. You’ve got my word. I’ll let you know if I feel like doing, um… more? More. Yeah.” Rosalyn stammered slightly, tripping over her words.

“Good. God damnit, Kat! Wait! Holy shit, she walks fast,” Ann grunted as she saw Bren and Kat disappear behind a tree.

Chapter Text

Rosalyn

Graven Keep loomed in the distance. She felt her heart race as she saw the towering edifice of the central keep and the massive black stone walls surrounding it. Her family had avoided any big cities when travelling to River’s Crest. Too expensive. Too crowded.

She stopped herself from jumping as a large, and by now, familiar hand landed on her shoulder. Ann, her wolfish companion, looked down at her with a hint of concern in her eyes. Rosalyn hadn’t noticed she’d stopped walking, staring at the city before them.

“You all right?” came that rich, smooth voice. It was a pleasant sound, of a lower timbre than most women she knew. A little lower than Princess Katlyn’s voice. It seemed to move through her and out with each sentence. 

The woman herself was so very kind. In their time together, she’d been exposed to more than what she’d expected to be her share of excitement. Every time she’d been around anything unusual, such as the woman’s god given lusts, she’d always received comfort and support. When they had thrown themselves into battle, Ann had checked on her afterwards. This wasn’t something special to her. She did this for Kat and Bren as well. Still, there was something exciting about being around her. Something that sent a thrill of fear and intrigue mixed into one down her spine.

“Yeah. I’m fine. Just a bit intimidated I guess? Never been to a city this big. There’s so many people I can see just from here! Even those people over at the gate number more than the entirety of River’s Crest! I… I will not lie. I’m nervous. Never been around all that much commotion. You know, being in that house, out in the woods and all. Ugh, can’t stop my hands from shaking.” Her words came out in a tumble. She hated how she rambled when she was nervous. It was something she’d struggled with all her life, but the tall woman next to her simply smiled.

“I get it. Just stick close to us, I guess. Nothing’s gonna happen,” Ann reassured.

“An’ if it does, feckers’ll learn who they be messin’ wit’,” Kat chuckled lightly.

Katlyn. Another wonder that had dropped into her life. The Alfhindur didn’t match her mate’s height, but still towered over Rosalyn. Smooth, pale skin dotted with freckles and ornately braided brown hair gave her the misleading air of elegance. She’d quickly learned the woman was anything but. She was blunt, honest, and had an instinct for protection that Rosalyn already admired deeply. The warrior also had a body to back it up. Rosalyn caught herself remembering the morning she’d watched the woman dressing. The way her muscles rippled in her back as she lifted her shirt. Errant thoughts that set her heart racing. Along with those qualities, the woman was always ready for a fight.

She’d seen it a couple times now, when Kat and Ann sparred. Both women were cut from the same cloth in that regard. Even as they traded blows that would leave Rosalyn bruised and winded, they grinned madly. It was a fierce dance of predators that both enjoyed to its utmost. These fights always ended with Kat as the victor, but Ann was gaining ground each time they duelled. She also couldn’t ignore the looks they gave each other after each contest. Like they were a moment away from stripping each other’s armour and continuing their bout in a more carnal manner.

Shaking herself as she felt her cheeks begin to burn, she placed a hand on Ann’s side, grounding herself to something to better keep her wits.

“Thank you. Not sure what to expect with everything. We’ll be staying at an inn, right?”

“Yes. We already have two rooms reserved at the local Mercenary Association’s headquarters,” Bren informed her. “Whether you wish to stay with Katlyn and Annita, or have your own room, is up to you.”

He was a kind man. Considerate, but not to the point of being walked over. His dirty blonde hair cut short and brown, intense eyes, coupled with his precise manner of speaking, gave him the air of the scholar he apparently aimed to be. He’d been a comforting presence for Rosalyn during her time with the group. Ann and Kat could get ahead of themselves, driven by the excitement of the moment, and he grounded them. He had also offered her plenty of insight into their dynamic she’d have to learn herself. She appreciated his attentiveness when Ann or Kat began to tease her, not that she really minded, but the thought itself was a comfort.

“My own room, for now,” she decided, her voice coming out far meeker than she’d intended.

“Oi, no pressure or nothin’,” Kat called back as she led the way down the grassy hill to the outer walls. “Ye’ve earned more ‘n enough tae ‘ave yer own space.”

“And, if you ever change your mind, that’s easy enough to settle,” Ann teased, the joke obvious in her voice, while also keeping the flirty airs Rosalyn was quickly becoming accustomed to.

“I… I promise I’ll let you know,” Rosalyn stammered back, catching one of her hands as it reached for one of her horns. A nervous habit when she felt embarrassed. Lowering the rebellious limb, she focused on her hand, touching Ann’s side and walking as they approached the gate. 

They waited in line, like everyone else. She’d half expected Kat to exercise a bit of her station to skip to the head to get into the city quicker, but that apparently was not how the woman dealt with things. When their turn came, she presented her citizen’s badge. It was the standard wood with the minor enchantment that bound it to her identity. 

Rosalyn caught snippets of Kat warning the guard not to cause a fuss, after which the guards processed them quickly. She kept her eyes on the ground as she handed over her badge, and the guard greeted her as “Lady Rosalyn.” She almost laughed at how ridiculous it sounded before she raced to catch up with Ann. The guards probably assumed she was someone important just to be travelling with the third princess. How funny was it that they were all important because they were travelling with Annita?

Annita was another one that defied, or at least ignored, the importance of who she was. At least for now, she simply interacted with everyone as if she was any other person. Not some god-sent warrior tasked with changing the world. Rosalyn was still coming to terms with the task she’d been caught up in. It was a bit too much for her to handle, mentally, so she’d decided to just ignore it and take things day by day. Staying alive, learning about her new friends, maybe getting to know one a bit better than normal? Nope! Getting ahead of herself again. She shook her head, trying to re-order the chaos that was her thoughts.

They’d made their way through the labyrinthine city streets and were standing before one of the largest buildings she’d seen since they crested the hill overlooking the city. She stared up at the black stone and wooden edifice of the place as Ann held the door open for her.

“C’mon. It’s where we’re staying. Welcome to the Merc’s Association.”

Inside was almost more overwhelming. The inside was grand, spacious, and filled with decorations of trophies and awards all over the walls. Rosalyn could guess that each told the tale of some noble hero or great hunt that had taken place in Korvas’ history. Gods, this place had to cost a fortune to stay in. She didn’t have this kind of money. She didn’t have any money. She’d have to take that offer from the girls to bunk with them.

Ann took her hand, the warm strength reassuring as it squeezed gently. “Hey. C’mon and sit here. Bren and Kat are getting the paperwork for our little expedition.”

As she’d said, Kat and Bren were chatting with a handsome receptionist sitting behind a counter off to the side of the tavern. As they spoke, the man pulled a stack of papers, sliding them across the desk to the princess.

Ann led her over to a table in the corner, blessedly away from the crowded rest of the room. There had to be ten or so people there, but it was a larger gathering than she was used to. “Want anything to eat? Drink?” Ann offered as they sat in comfortable wooden chairs.

“Um… ale and food? I’m not sure what there is, and I probably can’t afford it. So bread?” Rosalyn glanced at the other tables, filled with rich food, sheepishly. It looked delicious, but had to cost a fortune.

“Nah, you’re gonna be fine. My treat this time, though,” Ann chuckled with that grin which flashed her sharp teeth. She waved down a waitress who hurried over to them.

“Oh! Welcome back, miss!” the bubbly woman exclaimed. “Hadn’t seen you in a few days and thought you’d moved on.” Rosalyn couldn’t help but notice the woman’s slight blush as she spoke. Not enough to say they were familiar, but that she was clearly interested.

Ann gave the woman another dazzling grin. “Nah, just had to go deal with some stuff. What’s on the menu today? Uh…”

“Rachel,” the woman reminded her cheerfully. “Honestly, I don’t think I ever told you before. Anyway, today’s a mixed bag. We’ve got some steaks, salads. The sandwiches for today are pretty good. The bread from the baker turned out fantastic. Chicken, lettuce and cheese. Nice and balanced.”

Ann paused, considering. “All right, four ales and sandwiches. That should handle it for now. Thanks, Rachel!”

The woman’s professional smile brightened into the realm of being genuine as Ann thanked her. “Oh, yeah. Any time! It’ll be five silver for the lot.”

Ann paid her and watched as the woman left with a bounce in her step.

“How do you do that?”

“Huh?” Ann asked, turning at the quiet question.

“That,” Rosalyn gestured, pointing to the beaming waitress. “You just talked to her, and she’s falling all over you. What’s the deal with that?”

“Uh, not sure really?” the Lupine admitted. “I just kinda talked. Might be this body, might be an Orenous thing? Kinda doubt it’s the second one, though. She’s all about consent and subverting attraction feels like cheating. Guess she made me look good enough that people are just attracted to me by default. Or at least, maybe, if I tick any of their boxes, I really tick those boxes.” Ann shrugged, her gorgeous messy mane of hair bouncing off her shoulders. “I try not to think about it. Starts getting into questions where there isn’t an answer to, and that’s just a pain in the ass.”

“And Kat doesn’t mind? That you seem to attract that much attention?” Rosalyn asked.

“I mean, I don’t think she cares about the attention much. Hells, sometimes she seems to enjoy it. As long as I don’t take off and get with anyone she doesn’t approve of, we’re good.”

“A unique approach to a relationship, for sure,” Rosalyn mumbled.

“Yeah. Normally, I think I’d be happy with just her, but this whole Champion thing, and that skill? Orenous seems to be pushing me to expand my horizons a little. Yay, more things that are weird to think about!” Ann cheered sarcastically, throwing a fist up into the air.

Rosalyn laughed. The sincere confusion and admission of her lack of knowledge only made the larger woman more comforting to be around. The more they spoke, the more the intimidating persona Rosalyn had constructed around the Champion began to fall away. After that first night, gods, that first night, she’d felt incredibly intimidated. Now? Far less so. There was still that pit of nervousness in her stomach whenever those piercing green eyes and sharp teeth were directed her way, but it was getting easier to ignore.

Kat and Bren slumped into their chairs, passing out pieces of parchment. Forms, from the look of them, with fields to be filled out detailing Warped, their numbers, details, and manners of death. 

Bren took a distinct form and began to work on it. Leaning over, Rosalyn read that it was a notice of completion for a posted task. He was filling in their names, the details on the Snail creature they’d fought and other bits she wasn’t quite sure of.

Kat slid a sheet her way, along with a quill and ink. “’Ere. Ye’ll be needin’ tae register yerself ‘ere if ya wanna be runnin wit’ us. Pretty simple form. Just need tae fill out yer name, personal info, name o’ yer path and advancement, an’ a general description o’ yer role in a team.”

“Is that it?” Ann asked, leaning close to Rosalyn’s shoulder. 

“Didn’t you have to fill one of these out?” the Druid asked.

“Nope. Had to have mine specially filled out by the General. ‘Cause of my Path and all that. We figured keeping it more of a tight kept secret was the best idea.”

“Still do,” Bren said over the shuffling of papers. “Until the Crown is ready to announce your presence more officially, it is best to keep quiet.

“Yeah, yeah,” Ann sighed, grabbing a form of her own to fill the time.

Rachel returned, her bouncing gait limited by the four plates and mugs she carried expertly. They thanked her for the meal and passed the woman her due. Rosalyn caught the quick wink she gave Ann before turning away, and apparently so had Kat, who raised an eyebrow at the Warrior. Ann gave her an innocent shrug that only received further raised eyebrows and an exasperated shake of her head before Kat returned to her work.

“Gotta put a leash on ye,” she heard Kat mumble.

“Aww, gonna get me a collar, too?” Ann teased back, still focused on her writing.

“Keep that mouth runnin’ an’ I might muzzle it too,” the other woman retorted.

The way they slipped from a normal reaction to scandalous flirting amazed Rosalyn. Feeling her body heating up, she decided it was best for her sanity to focus entirely on her registration.

“So, you were talking about taking on a Seed, after this?” Ann asked around a mouthful of sandwich, not looking up from her own form.

“Aye, think there’s one hereabouts that should be perfect fer us,” Kat grumbled, still focused on writing.

Bren, always efficient, had already finished his work and was sipping on his drink. “Hmm, there should be one to the east that should have regenerated by now. A lake God’s Seed. Or Goddess. I will need to do a bit of research before we depart.”

“Why do research when we can just figger it out ourselves?” Kat groused. “’At’s half the fun o’ the adventure.”

“I would rather not be surprised by anything that could get us killed, thank you,” Bren huffed.

“I’m a bit in the middle on this one,” Ann mumbled, before stretching and fully joining the conversation. “Enough to know the idea, but not enough to ruin the fun. Whatcha think, Rosalyn?”

“I… well…” Rosalyn stammered. She’d not expected to be included in the discussion. It made sense. She was part of the team. Why was she surprised now that they were including her? She signed, focusing again. “I would appreciate not dying. Definitely not anytime soon. Too much to see and do, really. I believe I agree with Ann on this matter. We should know enough to be informed, but not enough to take out the fun of the journey.”

Ann nodded, returning her gorgeous green eyes to Bren. “So, how much does get documented on a Seed?”

“Oh, quite a bit,” Bren chuckled. “Expected environs, weather, approximate time of year if it does not follow the natural seasons. The Warped within change frequently, but usually follow a theme. For a lake based Seed, I would imagine more aquatic based creatures.”

“Oooh, interesting!” Rosalyn piped up. This was something she could talk about. “I wonder if it will be restricted to the normal lake population or will it be more generalised? Crustaceans or other creatures could provide similar challenges to what we faced with the snail. Carapaces resistant to striking or cutting damage, hardened limbs. Scales and the like are quite a common possibility, I would imagine. I wonder if they would be adapted into something akin to leather armour. There’s so much that could happen. Not to mention, whatever happens when we reach the Core. I’m so excited!”

Ann laughed. A warm sound that gave Rosalyn confidence in her speech. “Yeah. Gods. I wonder what’s gonna happen with the next one. I’d rather not re-experience the magical shock blast from hell again.”

“Bets are gonna be that ye do,” Kat said with a smirk. “Don’t ye worry. Can reward ye nice an’ proper after, if ye catch me meanin’.”

“Just as long as I can remain out of earshot,” Bren sighed.

“Aye, we’ll make sure yer ears are nice an’ protected. Whoever’s watchin’ over the Seed might give ye the reward themselves instead o’ droppin’ and runnin’ like Estvall did.”

“Well, it would be nice to have company.”

“I’ll be there?” Rosalyn offered, patting his shoulder comfortingly.

Bren muttered something she couldn’t hear, but gave her a thankful smile.

“Anyway, I’m fucking tired,” Ann groaned. “Been walking all day and nothing is slowing down any time soon. You figure out how you want to do rooms, Rosy?”

Rosalyn bristled. That wasn’t something anyone but her parents could call her. Taking a breath, she soothed her temper. “Please, call me by my name. Only my parents get to call me that,” she said firmly. “And yes. I believe I’d like to have my own room. Issue is I don’t have the money for it…”

“Yeah, ye do,” Kat assured her. “This mess,” she gestured at the paperwork, “it’ll net us a pretty penny. More’n enough tae get ye a room fer however long ye need.”

“Oh, wow. Ok. And they’ll just take it out of that?”

“Yup, it’ll just come out of how much they pay all of us. We’ll adjust the split,” Ann said. The woman had withdrawn slightly, Rosalyn noticed. The easy familiarity she had tempered by a caution that wasn’t there before.

“Hey. Ann, it’s fine. You didn’t know. No need to get fussed over an honest mistake,” Rosalyn said, patting the Lupine’s hand comfortingly.

“Yeah. Yeah, sorry, though,” she mumbled.

“Apology accepted. Now, I agree. I’m tired. I want to pass out and move on to tomorrow. How do I get a room? It doesn’t have to be through talking to someone, does it?”

The table laughed, and Bren patted on her back.

“I am afraid it does.”

Chapter Text

“Mmm, g’mornin,” Kat mumbled, blinking sleep from her tired eyes.

She and Ann had passed out just after their nightly passions, and she felt the member still inside her. Ann was already awake, simply resting next to her lover and taking in the lovely warmth of Kat’s body. If this is how she woke up every morning, she’d be happy for all her life.

“Morning, sunshine,” Ann teased, pushing a lock of messy hair out of Kat’s face. “Sorry, no morning surprises today.”

“Mmmm, but yer still in there,” Kat moaned, clenching her insides around Ann’s member. “More’n enough o’ a good wakeup.”

“Finally getting used to me? Aww, I feel a little let down…” Ann teased, pulling out an inch. Kat sucked in her breath. “Oh? Or are you not? Woulda thought after an hour or so last night the princess would be satisfied.”

“Mmm, for that monster? Never.” Kat whispered in a low growl.

“Oh? A monster is what you want? Hmm,” Ann bared her teeth, rolling over and trapping Kat underneath her. She panted heavily, letting her tongue slip out and lick up the other woman’s cheek.

Kat struggled playfully under her, each movement stroking her length and drawing another moan from her. “’Elp! ‘Elp!” she cried in mock terror. “I’m bein’ ravaged by a mad beast!”

It was a full hour before they were ready to get dressed and head downstairs. Kat was covered in bite marks, some of which would probably need Bren’s healing, and Ann swore her sides were bruised from how hard Kat had latched on to her.

“… every morning?” they heard Rosalyn ask Bren as they joined them at the table.

“Not every morning, no. Usually they keep things to nights,” the man answered, giving the late comers a grin.

“Gossiping about your team’s love life?” Ann joked, taking a piece of bread and buttering it.

“Merely acquainting our newcomer with your normal routines,” Bren responded airily as he slid bags of coin to each, having already divided their earnings.

“You are kinda late. I was wondering if this is how things normally went,” Rosalyn clarified, brushing the wool from her face.

“Only when we get distracted in the morning. Or, well, actually, Kat can be late in general. Takes an act of God to get her to wake up most mornings,” Ann laughed.

“I… can’t say anythin’ tae that,” Kat grumbled.

“Damn right. So, what’s up with today? We had a card under our door saying my clothes are ready. I’d assume our equipment from the last Seed would be too. Should we split and go get all that?”

“Probably fer the best,” Kat agreed, tearing a piece of her bread off with gusto. “How about the girls hit the armour and weapon area, then go pick up yer clothes? Bren, ye’d need tae hit the magical district, yeah?”

“Correct. I would not say no to the company, however, it is out of the way for the rest of your errands. We do also need to see what we can get done with that piece of the Snail shell Kat has been so considerately carrying.”

“Heavy piece o’ shite,” Kat grumbled. “Not sure what anyone’d do wit’ it, but doesn’t hurt tae see if armour or sommat can be made o’ it. Especially if ye aren’t usin’ it as shingling now,” she grinned, elbowing Rosalyn’s side.

“Yeah. It was too uneven and rounded to be much use for that, anyway. Not unless I cut it down, which would be a massive pain considering my arms,” she giggled, waving arms that lacked any sort of definition. “Can stand up and endure, but boy are feats of strength, not my thing. Anyway, yeah. I wonder if they might be able to make a shield for you, Kat? Or maybe a shoulder piece or two? It’d be heavy, but considering how much trouble you all had damaging the thing, even thinned down to actually be usable, it’d be a considerable defensive increase.”

“Maybe a breastplate?” Ann suggested. “Like, you’ve got your normal hardened leathers, but I feel like a Protector would have heavier equipment.”

“Just me startin’ out fer a while. Gotta save up fer the good shite,” Kat said, finishing off her mug of ale. “Heavier armour is feckin expensive. Modifyin’ somethin’ like that shell? Probably a bit less so, since the armourer gets tae work wit’ a novel material. Can always see. Already ‘ave who I want tae get in mind.”

“I guess that settles it,” Bren declared, pushing his seat back. “You three run your errands. I will pick up my wand and head to the Qu’sella temple to get information on the Seed we are looking at. Not too much, I promise,” he grumbled, catching the rest of the table glancing at him.

After quick goodbyes and a further grumble from Kat about not over-researching things, the four parted ways. The women’s first target was an armoursmith Kat had commissioned to work on her ironbark equipment. She hadn’t told the rest what it was, so Ann spent most of the trip speculating to herself.

As they walked, she also noticed that Rosalyn stayed unusually close to them, always in some physical contact with the other two while they wound their way through the busy streets. Once the crowds of the main thoroughfares thinned, she backed off slightly, but her eyes never lost the shifting nervousness.

“You don’t do well with crowds, do you?” Ann pointed out the obvious, hoping to distract the timid woman with conversation.

“Nope! Never have! Or at least, I guess I’ve never really had the opportunity to find out? Everything has been small and remote in my life. Have I told you this? I probably have. Ignore me. But yeah, crowds. Sorry if I’m crowding you. Heh,” she chuckled at her accidental joke.

“Nae, yer fine,” Kat reassured her. “Just let us know if ye’re getting overwhelmed. Don’t want ye passin’ out on the street.”

“I totally will. It’s just so much happening around me. I try to listen to it all and pay attention to everything, but that’s not possible and I just kinda spiral and shut down? I barely remember the walk to the Association yesterday, or the gate. This dumb brain keeps going a mile a minute with nothing actually happening.” She let out a sigh, lowering her head dejectedly as she gripped her horns.

“What’s tha’? The whole thing wit’ ye holdin’ yer horns like tha’?” Kat asked.

“Old habit,” she said with a start, realizing where her hands had gone without thinking. “It calms me down, to just hold on to something solid. Usually that’s just been me, so I got used to it.”

Ann wondered if she should ask. She was desperate to know what someone else caressing the ebony curls of bone that almost matched the woman’s skin would do. How they felt. She’d gone to petting zoos before, but wasn’t sure the experience translated to a human sized set. She decided not to, though. It felt awkward. Almost intimate? Something to ask later if things played out well between them.

Soon, they arrived. The building was squat with nary a speck of snow on its steepled roof. One squat floor was all there was to the building. Utilitarian and built to resist heat, built with the customary black stone bricks and shingles that appeared to be fashioned from the same material. Smoke rose from a thick chimney set in the side of the building, and light flickered in the windows. The clang of hammers on metal sounded from within, and muffled curses rose above the other noise as they entered the front door.

 “Jeb!” Kat called as she kicked open the door. A blast of hot air met them, blowing back all of their hair and instantly drying out their eyes. “You ok back there ye arsehole?”

“I’m fucking great!” the sarcastic reply came from the back. It was surprisingly high pitched, and not what Ann expected at all. “Piece of metal that’s really not wanting to behave. Who is that?”

“Katlyn and friends! Come tae pick up me order, an’ mayhaps give ye another.”

“All right! Be right out, let me quench this bastard real quick,” he called back, followed quickly by a hiss of heated metal being dunked in something.

Wiping his hands on a dirty cloth that did absolutely nothing to clean his gnarled hands off, Jeb walked out from the forge to the front room. He was a Bultrong, and an absolute specimen of one. Thick red hair flowed from a widow’s peak down his back, ending in several braids. His beard was a darker auburn of similar length, with patches that looked singed and mangled. Behind that beard were sparkling emerald eyes with deep crow’s feet etched into the corners from a life of squinting into the fires of his profession.

“Got a good crew with ya this time!” he belly laughed. “Here, got your pauldrons like you ordered them. Should be a good addition to your gear. Give me that old chest piece of yours and I’ll get the buckles put on for ‘em.”

“Thanks,” Kat said simply, handing over the armour as requested. “I actually mean tae talk to ye about that. Picked up an interestin’ scrap thanks tae this one,” Kat said, patting Rosalyn’s back gently. “Thick shell o’ a Warped. Piece o’ what was a snail shell. It took a feck o’ a beatin’, so Rosalyn here took a bit o’ it back. Was thinkin’ about keepin’ it fer roof work, but since she’s joined up wit’ us, figure ye might be able tae do somethin’ wit’ it.”

“Let me see, then.” Jeb gestured with a meaty, calloused hand. Kat heaved the large chunk of shell across the counter, and Jeb picked it up with a single hand. Ann’s jaw dropped as he turned it over deftly, inspecting the quality. “You ok there girl?” Jeb asked, knocking her out of her stupor.

“Sure. Just, that thing’s heavy as fuck. Surprised you can just do… that,” she explained awkwardly, gesturing in the air.

“Benefits of the trade. Gotta be strong to work with metal, let me tell you. Stronger than a good amount of fighters I know, but not a lick of combat in me, so I get all the practical uses.” He let out another booming laugh. Every time he did so, his eyes closed tightly, and Ann came to realize that the crow’s feet were from equal parts squinting and laughing. “Anyway, Katlyn, you’ve got yourself an interesting piece here. I can fashion this into a chest plate for you. Simple, attaches to your existing armour. With it being as large as it is, I could get a full front and back plate. It’ll be solid pieces on each, no fancy interlocking. That would need more material to trial and error with.”

“I’d be careful with it, too,” Rosalyn piped up. “It was really strike and impact resistant, so grinding might be a better method of wearing it down. Especially if it works like shells I’ve seen on smaller things. They can crack so easily if you weaken them enough.”

“Right you are,” Jeb affirmed, waving a hammer at Rosalyn. “That was the plan. Grind a groove in the middle here, use it to split, then grind the rest down to shape. Bolt a plate of light metal onto the back to reinforce it and give it places to anchor. Once done, you’ll have some fine armour there. Distinct too, considering how brightly white this stuff is. Makes good contrast to tall, dark, and leathery there,” he chuckled, hooking a thumb at Ann. “Anything for you two, wolf and the lamb?” he asked, turning his eyes to the others. “Royal entourage has to be well equipped, you know.”

“Maybe, if I figure out anything more than this sword,” Ann said, showing him the blade of her falchion. “It’s nothing special. Picked it up at an outpost. Lady named Pile showed me it.”

A curious thing happened. Jebs' eyes widened, then glanced down at the sword, then back at Ann. “Ye met Pile?” he asked.

“Uh… yeah?” Ann replied, giving him a nervous look. Rosalyn and Kat had perked up at the interaction as well. “You know her?”

“Know her,” the man heaved a sigh. “Lady’s a bit of a legend. What in the hells was she doing hanging out in an outpost? Let me guess, super curt, informal, always talking about a line that wasn’t there?”

“Aye, that was ‘er,” Kat confirmed.

“Voltid’s rumbling crack,” he cursed again. “Quick story, ‘cause I gotta get to work. She’s not what she looks like. She’d been around for ages. No one knows how long or why she’s like that, but she’s a figure in the smithing community. Rumors of her not being entirely of this plane have been going around because of her habit of rushing people along for unseen customers. She didn’t give you anything special this time. You run into her again, try to get her to make something for you. I guarantee on my name and my profession you’ll have something special. She’s made relics passed down in noble circles. Shit, I’m surprised you don’t know about her, Katlyn.”

“Nope, somehow passed me by. Always heard o’ the legendary swords, who used ‘em fer what, but not who made ‘em.”

“Well, not all of them were from Pile. I’d actually say the minority are, but the ones that are, they’re legends. Not only swords, neither. Just, yeah. Keep an eye out for her.”

Ann was taken aback by how much reverence was in Jeb’s voice as he spoke. He was clearly awed that they’d had the chance to meet what she’d thought was just a weird weapons lady.

“Anyway, anything for you, horns?” Jeb asked Rosalyn.

“Rosalyn, and no. I deal mostly with this,” she said, summoning her staff. “There’s a little pocket dimension enchantment on it so I can do that, but that’s it. I don’t believe that’s your forte, however.”

“Damn right it’s not. You ever want some metal plating for those horns of yours, though? Come asking. Not the first time I’ve worked with special Vulhardrin requests. Even metal caps on the tips for glamour’s sake.”

“Oh! I thought that would be the work of a jeweler, not an armourer,” Rosalyn mumbled, eyes never meeting Jeb’s.

“The disciplines cross enough, I’ve picked up some simple things. Tell you what,” he reached down under the desk. “If you’re in town and want to work with a jeweler for those, frankly, very nice horns of yours, head down to Timbolt’s. I’ve worked with him a couple times on jewel faceting into armour. Good lad, if a bit green. And I don’t mean skin colour, though he has that too. Enough jabber. Be back in a couple.”

He shuffled back into the worksop, and soon the sound of metal being hammered rang out again.

“Is horn jewelry something common for people with horns?” Ann asked Rosalyn.

“I wouldn’t know. Way too fancy for my skin, almost literally. Mom said she’d seen a couple of others with some fancy chains driven into their horns, all sorts of things. People can get really creative if they have a lot of money,” Rosalyn explained. As she spoke, with the focus only being from Kat and Ann, they watched her body language uncoil, her eyes relaxing.

“Is that something ye’d want?” Kat asked, appraising the horns on the Ovine’s head in a new light. “Think a simple chain or somethin’ o’ the like’d suit you well.”

“No, uh, maybe? I don’t know. I don’t… didn’t have money. I’ll need to send some of this home. Is that something I could set up, Kat? With the mage who’s going to be maintaining the Runestone?”

“Aye, tha’ can be arranged. Just gotta give Polaris the details. Guessin’ she’s not back since we’re not bein chased up tae the keep yet.”

“You, of course you know a General. You said she’s away? What’s she like? Is it something related to us, since she’d be asking about us if she were here?” Rosalyn inquired.

“Yeah,” Ann answered, taking her time to parse the response. “To not give out too much with current company, though I doubt he can hear over that racket, she’s gone to talk to Kat’s mom, the queen, about me. Who I am, what I’m here for. We’re expecting it to kinda blow up, but we’ve got some time.”

“Enough tae get that seed, I’d wager. Takes a day by train tae get to Korvas proper. She’d be cuttin’ through red tape tae talk to mum, but she can do that if it’s important enough,” Kat sighed. “And lemme tell ye, Ann, ye are.”

“Don’t I know it,” Ann chuckled halfheartedly.

“Well, that will be intense. I, um. I’m not sure how I’m going to handle that, honestly. I fall apart when a couple of strangers are looking at me, much less a queen, and more important people. Oh, I’m getting light-headed thinking about it.” Rosalyn swayed, her eyes going slightly unfocused, but was caught by Kat’s strong hands.

“Easy there, lass. Don’t get ahead o’ yerself. Ye’ll ‘ave us. Or at least one o’ us wit’ ye. If it’s not Ann, it’ll be me, or if it’s neither, Bren. No need tae fret.”

“THERE it fucking goes,” Jeb shouted in his workshop. Soon, the man bustled up to the counter and shoved Kat’s modified chest armour over the counter. 

The shoulders were beautiful. The Ironbark they’d received from Estval was set over metal pauldrons that would hang down over Kat’s shoulders and upper biceps. Surrounding the tough wood was a frame of polished brass that shone in complement to the lacquered bark.

Taking a moment, Kat tried the piece on. The normal leathers fit over her chest tightly, keeping her more delicate parts secure while still, at least to Ann’s eyes, being incredibly enticing. The shoulders fit well, with a strap over her biceps to keep them from flapping around. Clanking around? The verbiage escaped Ann. Regardless, the armour looked tough and brilliant.

“That’ll do. Here,” Kat said happily, sliding a few silver over to Jeb, plus a few more. “Advance for the plate attachments.”

“I thank you kindly, Katlyn. Anything else you’ll be needing?” He said, scooping the coin off the counter.

“Nope, see ye in a week or so,” she called as they stood to leave.

“See you then! I’ll have this all ready for you!” he replied as the door swung shut behind them.

“So, what’s next again?” Kat asked, adjusting her armour slightly.

“Clothes. I need to get my clothes,” Ann reminded her.

“I’ve never been in a clothes store before,” Rosalyn piped up.

“Maybe not just for me, then,” Ann smirked, looking down at the Druid beside her.

Chapter Text

Rosalyn clung to Ann’s kilt as she opened the door to Nolton’s shop. Not seeing the snake man anywhere, she walked up to the counter and rang the bell with a flick of a claw. Quickly, Nolton slithered out from the back room with a soft hiss of scales on wood.

“Ah! Welcome back. I’m glad you returned safely. I was going to send you a runner this evening, but this saves me the time, and coin. So, your clothes. All prepared. The patterned kilts, the shirts that fit your specific needs, and a little something extra.”

“Extra?” Annita asked, cocking an eyebrow. “Didn’t pay for extra. What’d you make?”

“This was entirely of my own volition, I assure you,” Nolton said calmly, arranging the ordered garments on the counter in neat stacks. “We were talking about finery last time you were here, and I simply could not get the idea of you in that evening dress and hat out of my head. I admit I must see it, so I put something together for you. If you would?” the man gestured, bowing his blonde head as he directed her to a changing room.

Ann gave Kat a nervous glance but was wholly unsurprised to see her girlfriend with a giddy grin watching her go. Rosalyn was too busy looking around to notice her embarrassment as Nolton drew up beside her. “Will you need assistance? It is a simple garment, all things considered, however it is form fitting.”

“Um, yeah, some help would be nice,” Ann said, blushing, feeling her heart race with nerves. She’d never been one for fancy things, even before her coma, but Nolton’s fervour was contagious.

“’Ands tae yerself in there!” Kat called, teasingly.

“I assure you, ma’am, we will be as chaste as a pair of monks,” Nolton reassured her.

“She’d just messing with you,” Ann sighed. “No offense, but you’re not my type.”

“None taken. None at all. Though I must admit a level of personal attraction, professionalism comes first. Now, let’s get you out of those clothes and into this. I can hardly wait to see your girlfriend’s reaction.” He spoke with excitement, barely able to contain his glee as he helped Ann undress.

Soon, with some effort, and a good deal of wrangling her tail through the slit cut out of the back for it, Ann smoothed the black silk down over her body. True to Nolton’s words, it fit her like a glove. Every curve of her breasts and hips were on display, and when she moved, the garment moved with her. The bust fully supported her breasts and a low cut left her with ample cleavage. Her stomach, while covered, hid nothing of the toned muscle underneath. The hem of the dress ended just above where the fur on her digitigrade legs began. Seemingly knowing her preference without asking, Nolton had also gone with a sleeveless approach as well, leaving her olive skinned arms bare.

“It’s so pretty,” Ann marveled, twisting and turning in the dress as she tried to see every angle.

“Yes, I think I chose right there. The black is perfect against the dark grey of your fur. Very dark. Very alluring. If you will notice, there is also a long strip cut out of the back, allowing your spinal fur to breathe freely. To maintain the structure, I could not have it fully reach to the base of your tail, however it should not cause any discomfort.” As Nolton explained, he ran a casual finger down Annita’s spine, making her shiver as the finger went through the fur. She forgot how sensitive that fur was at times, she’d done such a good job of avoiding making it uncomfortable. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t expect such a reaction. I meant nothing by it, simply showing you where the edges of the cloth were. Anyway, now, the piece that completes it.”

He turned, or more accurately pivoted on his tail and reached for a large round box. Opening the lid, he handed Annita a black satin hat with a brim as wide as her shoulders.

“You really shouldn’t have,” Ann giggled with a grin, taking it from him.

“Like I said, I simply had to. Please,” Nolton gestured to the hat, clearly eager to see the outfit complete.

The hat was simple with a rounded crown, and as Annita inspected it, she found the cut outs for her ears. Lining it up, she placed it gently upon her head, adjusting it until her ears popped free. They twitched a few times, adjusting for the new sensations around them, but it settled perfectly.

“My word,” Nolton whispered almost reverently. “Simply stunning. Absolutely worth it all. Oh, you must show your girlfriends.”

“Just the one, for now at least,” Ann corrected him. Passingly, she noticed that she was smiling. A wide, excited smile that she could not quell if she wanted to, and she didn’t.

Stepping out from the curtain and around the corner, she found Kat and Rosalyn speaking quietly. Both women turned their heads at her approach and just about fell over. Kat’s mouth hung open as she stared, while Rosalyn’s hands had flown to her cheeks, hiding her face except her wide eyes that were travelling up and down Ann’s body.

“I take it you like it?” Ann asked bashfully, moving side to side.

“Gods damn,” both women said at once, blushing furiously as they glanced at each other. Kat continued. “Aye. Aye, I feckin’ do. Ye look like a dream come tae life. Gonna need tae beat the girls an’ the guys off ye if ye go out wearin’ tha’. Gonna have tae beat me off ye.”

“The hat is… wow. It’s a wonderful touch,” Rosalyn said quietly. “It’s… intimidating, but in a good way? Like, it draws on the more predatory aspects of the wolf. You’re so tall it doesn’t really hide much of your face, but with the shadows and how your eyes catch the light, it’s incredible.”

Nolton beamed as Ann turned this way and that at the women’s’ requests, twisting her body to show the dress off. “Exactly the reaction I was hoping for. You would strike a figure even in a royal ball, I daresay. Simplicity really does suit you. Ah, well, I do suggest you either wear some constricting undergarments for your lower half or manage that carefully,” he said after a brief stutter.

“Aww, ye ruined the fun!” Kat griped as Ann looked down, her skin darkening as she noticed the massive erection that was clearly visible under the tight fabric.

“I’m… I’mma go change,” Ann squeaked as she covered herself and ran to the changing room.

Kat

“Gods I love that woman,” Kat sighed, sitting back down. “Don’t think I didn’t catch ye starin’, neither.” She turned a wry grin to Rosalyn.

“She’s attractive. I’m sorry, I can’t help it. I know she’s yours and all that. Just, like you said, she’s gorgeous,” Rosalyn mumbled, fidgeting with her hands between her thighs.

“Ye thinkin’ about makin’ a move?” Kat prodded, leaning closer, taking a small hint of pleasure as Rosalyn shrunk both from the accusation as well as the closeness.

“No! Never! Nope! I mean, wow, you two are so good together. I just… I’m sorry?” Rosalyn blurted, backing up as far into the corner as the bench would allow.

Kat laughed. It was too fun to tease the little thing, but she relaxed and backed off. “We’ve talked about it, ye know,” she admitted, eyes focusing on the corner Ann had fled around. “She ‘ad a feeling early on about ye, ‘specially after tha’ night she lost control. Somethin’ about ye calls to ‘er, be that a divine influence or just ‘er bein’ way too sweet fer ‘er own good. I’m sure Bren’s filled ye in on our situation somewhat. It’s pretty much up to meself whether a partner makes it intae our bed.”

“I see,” Rosalyn almost whispered, peeling herself out of the corner.

Kat felt her heart restrict; the thoughts and feelings going through her weren’t ones she’d wanted to tackle. Time was working against her on that front, though. Rosalyn was clearly interested in Ann, and possibly herself. She’d caught some of the glances, even seen the way the woman almost stuck to them after they’d gotten to the city. Illdall be damned, she’d started keeping track of the diminutive woman like she did with Ann and Bren. A skill she’d developed that wasn’t linked to her Path. She sighed, and Rosalyn flinched. Grimacing, Kat forced herself to relax.

“Sorry. It’s a lot tae get through me heart. Mind accepts it as an inevitability, but the feckin’ heart keeps doin’ this squeezy thing whenever I think about it.” Kat heaved another frustrated sigh.

“I think I understand,” Rosalyn said, moving over to sit next to her. “It sounds a lot like how I was feeling right before I left with you.” As she spoke, she leaned her head back against the wall, her horns resting against the wood with a soft thunk. “It was terrifying to give up the comfortable, to move on to something new. To change.”

Kat felt a small hand rest gently on the back of her own.

“But sometimes the push can be worth it? I’m here to help you all, and explore this world. I don’t want to cause any problems that’d interfere with any of that.”

“Then ye go an’ do that an’ make it so damned hard tae be mad at ye,” Kat grumbled, taking Rosalyn’s hand in hers. “Feck, we’re gonna have this talk. Not ‘ere, later. But we’re gonna ‘ave it soon. Don’t like feelin’ like this around anyone, much less Ann.”

“I think that’d be for the best,” Rosalyn said, squeezing her hand. “Sounds like she’s coming back though.”

“Aye, shoulda heard her cursin’ the dress in there. I love these ears,” Kat chuckled, pulling her hand back.

Annita

No matter how sexy she looked, she hated getting out of that dress. Making sure she didn’t accidentally stretch or damage it was such a pain in the ass, she cursed Nolton’s taste. By the time she’d gotten one of her new kilts and shirts on, and returned to the main room, something must have happened. There was a tension between Kat and Rosalyn that hadn’t been there before.

Cocking an eyebrow at Kat, she asked without words what was happening. A subtle shake and tilt of Kat’s head said she’d tell her later. Trusting her, she turned to Nolton.

“Well, the dress is a wonderful gift, no matter how hard it is to get out, but I appreciate it. I’ll definitely keep it for fancier things, but I need to pay for it. You will not slither your way out of that.”

“I would object, but I can see that it’s pointless,” Nolton laughed, slithering behind the counter and taking out a coin chest. Ann paid the man, an extra three silver for the new outfit, and two more for him just being him.

“So, what’d you say to taking Rosalyn here under your needle?” Ann prodded at the semester, leaning on the counter.

“Hmm, an Ovine. Interesting. Not much in the way of unique features impeding normal clothing. What is your style, darling? Do you prefer functional or fashionable? One does not have to come at the cost of the other, mind. Not petite, you appear to have wonderful curves under those robes. I do think some closer fitting garb would suit you well.” Nolton slithered over to Rosalyn, who instinctively clung to Kat. “No need to fear, just getting a proper look at you. Would you prefer a woman for your clothing needs? I have an associate who would be happy to look after you.”

“N-n-no, that’s fine,” Rosalyn stuttered. “Just not used to attention. At all, really. Sorry.”

“Quite all right. I apologise for not respecting your space,” Nolton said as he backed up. “A nice blouse, do you experience cold like most folk?”

“No, I don’t. Have a skill for that,” Rosalyn informed him.

“You and Annita both, lucky. Then, hmm, yes. A pair of blouses, white, cut off right above the navel, a pair of loose pants of warm earthy colours, deep greens and browns. Yes, yes. And simple to prepare. No custom fitting, like I had to do for Annita here. What do you say?”

“How much?” Rosalyn asked timidly. “I’ll be honest, I’m not used to money.”

“Ah, for the lot? A silver would do you fine. I can have it set up by tonight and send them your way tomorrow morning.”

“I… I have that. Ok. I’ll try it. Thank you, Mr. Nolton.”

“My pleasure, Madam Rosalyn,” Nolton said with a courteous bow that made the Druid blush.

“Time to, uh, get going, I think?” she said, standing and brushing her robes smooth over herself.

“Aye. We’ve been out fer a while. Time tae check back in wit’ Bren. Drop off Ann’s fancy new outfit,” Kat said with a grin, holding open the door.

The streets were still bustling as the afternoon turned to evening. The trio had safely deposited their things in their respective rooms, and took some time to relax. Ann and Kat laid together on their bed, fully clothed for once, while Rosalyn had retired to her own space.

“Ya know? I worry about how she’s going to handle what’s coming,” Ann said, laying on her back with her hand beneath her head as she stared up at the ceiling.

“Ye mean wit’ all the attention we’re gonna ‘ave? Aye. I’ll say I’ve been thinkin’ about it, too,” Kat murmured. She’d wound up on her side, head on Ann’s left bicep. Her long ear pressed against the other woman felt amazingly warm as she cuddled up. “Can’t say I’ve really thought o’ anythin’ that’ll ‘elp ‘er though. It’s gonna be a big deal. We’re all gonna be a big deal. Well, bigger than some o’ us already are.”

“Someone forgot they were a princess for a minute there,” Ann teased. “But, yeah. I can deal. You’re used to it, as much as you hate it. I don’t think anything could ruffle Bren. At least, not anything related to public attention. Rosalyn? She’s a leaf about to be riding a powerful wind.”

“Who knew ye were a poet?” Kat giggled. “We’ll ‘ave tae talk to ‘er about it. She’s already got that camouflage skill o’ ‘ers. Maybe she’ll get somethin’ better tae ‘elp wit it?”

“Somehow I doubt it,” Ann sighed. “We’re just gonna have to be there to keep her safe, I guess. Keep an eye on her. Fuck, Kat, I’m afraid of even coming on to her when you come around to the idea.”

“Oh, is it a when now? Not an if?”

Ann rolled her eyes, giving Kat an incredulous look.

“Ye got me. I’ve been thinkin’ about it. Was part o’ what ye walked in on at Nolton’s. There’s this jealous streak in me, somethin’ that’s scared ye’re already movin’ on from me. Tha’ I’m just the first an’ most convenient. Feckin’ sucks an’ it’s been festerin’. Rosalyn an’ I talked about it a bit, while ye were changin’ outta yer dress.” Kat sat up, curled up, and hugged her knees. Ann rose to sit beside her, gently stroking her back.

“She’s cute. Feckin’ adorable. Orenous’ ass I like her. I feckin’ said it. I’m just worried about us, ye know?”

“I get it,” Ann whispered. She didn’t say more. Kat was struggling, and it hurt to see the stalwart woman so confused. So vulnerable. It wasn’t the right time to speak, though.

“Ye’re not gonna. Right? Leave me?” Kat asked in a small voice, barely audible even to their enhanced hearing.

Ann stopped and pulled Kat in for a hug. “No. No I will not, Katlyn Farragher,” she proclaimed, drawing Kat’s forehead to her own. “We’re in this together, you and I. Even if Rosalyn wants to join us, it will be us. You, me, and her. Not just me and her. And definitely not you alone. Fuck that. I’ve said it before, but yeah.”

“Ye know, she gives good advice too?” Kat asked with a weak chuckle. “Said she felt a lot o’ the same when she was packin’ up tae leave ‘er life. Said sometimes the new an’ the scary can be rewardin’. Somethin’ tae that effect at least. Hit me in the heart, it did. Think it's time I push past all this shite in me. Face what’s comin’. Cause what’s comin’ is cute, an’ I think we can make it work. Heart just is how it is. I gotta let it be open.”

“Yeah,” Ann whispered into her forehead, kissing it softly. “I’m sorry I’m making you feel this crap. I didn’t plan on this. Was gonna be fine with just you for the whole time. I just, things changed. This Path. I swear Orenous is just nudging at something she knows about me I don’t yet. Even then, what do you say to just you, me and Rosalyn? I wouldn’t be averse to a couple of flings here and there if we all find some cute girl we want to have a fun night with, but the core is us. You and me, being the big idiots we are, and the gentle Rosalyn to balance us. I think we can make it work.” Ann hugged her girlfriend close. Her heart raced, hoping her words were making sense to Kat. That she hadn’t put her foot, or paw, she guessed, was the right term now, in her mouth.

They sat there for a while in silence. Kat’s breath was shaky, and Ann tried to bite down on her anxiety as she let her lover think and feel.

Kat mumbled something, too quiet for her to hear.

“Come again, love?” Ann whispered, turning her fluffy ear.

“All right, ye mutt,” Kat said louder, sighing deeply. “We can talk tae ‘er. It’ll be ‘er choice ultimately, though I’ve got a feelin’ I know what the answer’ll be. Ye see her oglin’ ye in that dress?”

“Her eyes were as big as dinner plates,” Ann giggled softly. “Same as yours.”

“Tonight, though. After dinner. Before bed,” Kat mumbled.

“Yeah, we can talk then. For now, more rest.”

“Aye, hopefully Bren gets stuck in the temple fer a bit longer. I need a nap after tha’,” Kat said as she flopped back onto the bed, closing her eyes.

Ann laid down next to her, holding her close as she listened to the Protector’s breath slow, her heartbeat steadying as she began to drift.

“Love ye,” Kat whispered. “Startin’ tae think I always will.”

“Love you too,” Ann whispered back, kissing her gently. “As long as we’ve got. You’ve got me.”

Kat squeezed her. Ann felt her body complaining, but she ignored it until Kat relaxed next to her, having drifted off.

Chapter Text

Bren returned as the sun began to set. He knocked gently at each of their doors, and they gathered in the main room, around their normal table with food and drink.

“So, I have heeded your requests and have not gone overboard in my research. More importantly, this is my new wand,” he said, placing it on the table and beaming with pride.

It was beautiful. About the length of his forearm, it was made of a rich, polished wood. It didn’t quite look carved, so much as grown, and the gem that he’d received from Estvall was near the tip. The wand didn’t appear to have the golden gem set within it; rather, it looked as though the wand grew around the gem, with tendrils surrounding it before reforming at the tip.

“That is a gorgeous wand,” Rosalyn gasped, lifting it delicately. “It looks as if it were like this naturally and you plucked it from the tree it grew from. You found a wonderful enchanter for this work.”

“Yes, I had met them some time ago, in one of our earlier visits to the region. They were kind enough to accept my request.” Bren beamed at the praise. He didn’t show off much, but he was clearly ecstatic. Rosalyn handed it back with reverent care.

“Anyway, as I was saying, research,” he continued. “As we’re aware, it will be a lake based Seed. Climate appears to follow the surroundings. Since it is a lake, this means it will largely be frozen over. The core, as reports have it, will be in the center of the domain, as is typical. The issue being that this means it is currently encased in ice.”

“I don’t have enough lightning to blast our way into that,” Rosalyn muttered, leaning on her hand as she thought. Ann took a moment to admire how bouncy her woolen hair was whenever she moved, before refocusing.

“So we’ve gotta figure out some other way, right?” she asked.

“Not necessarily,” Kat interjected. “Some o’ the seeds like this ‘ave methods o’ reachin’ their core without ‘avin tae blast. It mighta changed itself tae better facilitate the climate. Who the feck knows what that’ll mean, though.”

“And I purposefully did not investigate further, besides the fact that the core is, indeed, accessible. As requested,” Bren muttered. “We will face resistance, no matter the situation. As we thought, aquatic Warped are common, as well as some avian types.”

“So fish and birds, that can’t be that awful, right?” Ann asked hopefully.

“Remember the centipede thing I talked about?” Rosalyn reminded her.

Ann’s heart sank. Would it hurt to have somewhat normal monsters to fight for once? Not some body horror freak that would make Cronenberg proud? The Twinwolves were close. More a zombie movie kind of thing, but still. She slumped across the table, and felt Kat’s hand patting her back.

“At least when they’re all freaky, ye don’t ‘ave tae feel bad about killin’ em?” she tried to console her partner.

“Yeah, but still,” Ann pouted. “Kinda surprised you’re not more scared of them, Rosalyn,” she pointed out, rolling her head on her arms to face the woman.

“That might just be because I’ve had to deal with them for so long? They’ve been a factor of my life since, well, since I knew how to tell what was Warped and what was just some weird animal.”

“Right, that’s normal for people,” Ann sighed as she rolled her face back onto her arms.

“Nature may be twisted, and much changed since your time,” Bren said the last part quietly, to avoid any prying ears, “however, it is our reality. Something that must be contended with for life to continue. At least they are in a manageable state for now. Gods forbid another Swarm breaks out.”

“You and Orenous talked about that, so they just kinda start spawning out of Seeds like crazy now and then?” Ann asked.

“About every century,” he clarified. “No one knows why, or where so many of the things come from, but it happens and all the Kingdom’s might is called to bear defending the cities and exterminating the outbreak. We are, unfortunately, due for one fairly soon. It has been ninety-three years since the last Swarm and the people are growing somewhat anxious. Hence my question to Orenous.”

“That makes sense,” Ann said, sitting back up and smoothing the fur on her ears. “Well, I’m probably a bad sign then, like you seemed to guess. God given champion showing up right on the cusp of one of these? Can only mean the best, right?”

“Riiight,” Kat said, completely not reassuring at all.

“Fuck, well. I guess we get to fight things not in Seeds, then. Speaking of, how the fuck was something as strong as that Snail outside of a Seed?”

“That can happen,” Bren advised. “Time and again, some creature will grow too strong to be contained by the Seed’s walls and it will escape. It is, confoundingly, usually not the Guardian of the Seed. Something will absorb enough of the energy that changes them, and enough other creatures, that it will just override the barriers and terrorise the surrounding lands.”

“And that’s why mercs ‘re such a thing,” Kat explained. “Military is good at defendin’ cities an’ workin’ in big groups, but fer dangerous shite like tha’? Gotta ‘ave specialists. ‘S why the Kingdom sponsors the Merc Association. Gives folks who wanna get their hands dirty a way tae do it officially.”

“Yeah, gotcha. Ugh, and that’s what we are, and what Orenous wants me to do. Well, guess I won’t hold it against her, seeing as she kept me safe all that time,” Ann sighed again.

“Do you not like that she saved you?” Rosalyn asked, leaning a bit closer in her chair.

“No, no. I’m pretty damn grateful, especially after meeting you all. I just sometimes wonder if she chose the right person? It’s a stupid thought. She knows me better than I do, so of course she did. I just have to convince myself.”

“Well, ye’ve been doin’ great. Especially fer someone ‘ere just over a month. Speakin’ of, congrats on makin’ it this far,” Kat said, raising a mug to her. “Oh, just a thought, the feck’re ye gonna do if someone wants tae know yer birthday? Not like ye can just use whatever calendar ye all used before.”

“Yeah, good question. I think I might just use the date I showed up, and run by that. How does your calendar work, by the way?” Ann asked, cocking her head.

“Pretty simple, really,” Bren spoke up. “According to research, it is based on the older calendars, however, there are thirteen months. Each has twenty-eight days, and every thirteen years, we have a special holiday to honour the gods. You came to us in the Month of Ice. The coldest month of the calendar, on the ninth day, year 583 F.R.”

“Oh, that makes sense,” Rosalyn mumbled under her breath. Noticing Ann glanced her way, she raised her hands defensively. “It’s an old superstition. Those born in the Month of Ice are said to be hardy souls. People who were born to weather hardship and turmoil, but come out the other side better for it. Just being born then is tough for the parents, having to provide for a babe in the harshest months of winter is no easy task. The cities have magic abounding, but the larger population in the countryside isn’t that lucky, and the cold is as deadly as any Warped.”

“Well, let’s hope for less hardship, more friendship,” Annita laughed, raising her mug in a sarcastic toast.

“Ye joke, but I think that’s fer the best, considerin’ current company. Blessed be our days, an’ may we all find love under Orenous’ guidance!” Kat cheered, raising her mug to meet Ann’s.

“To adventure and knowledge! By Qu’Sella may our paths be enlightened ones,” Bren toasted.

“I don’t have any fancy things like that, but I just really hope we can see some really cool animals and Warped. Hopefully stopping them as well, you know,” Rosalyn added meekly.

Ann took a moment before she drank. It was funny. She’d known these people a month, or less, in Rosalyn’s case, but she could see a future with them. It was a good feeling, and she revelled in it as she tipped back the glass full of amber liquid and drank deep. 

“Ahhh, y’all are the best,” she laughed, slamming her cup down. “Needed that. Now, what’s gonna be with the rest of the night? Just turning in?”

“Actually, wanted tae ‘ave a talk wit’ the girls before we left, so can we do tha’?” Kat asked, an uncharacteristic nervousness in her voice.

Bren looked at her, then Ann, then Rosalyn. Ann could see his brain connecting the dots, intuiting the unsaid purpose of the conversation she proposed.

“Remember, Ann, what I said.” He spoke calmly, but the seriousness of his tone sobered any buzz Annita was enjoying. She remembered the conversation they’d had at this table after Orenous had visited. That he’d never forgive her for making Kat unhappy.

“I know. It’ll be fine,’ she reassured him.

“That it will be. I will turn in, leave you three to it. First light tomorrow we set off, correct?”

“Aye, that’s the plan. Good amount o’ walkin’ tae do.” Kat confirmed.

“Then a good night to you all, and do not stay up too late. A sleepy mind is as dangerous as a clouded one,” he advised sagely, before heading upstairs.

“Soooo, our room?” Ann asked, standing and scanning the other two women.

“I’m ok with that,” Rosalyn agreed, joining Ann.

Kat was the last to stand, but the first to the stairs. They piled into the room, with Rosalyn and Kat taking the bed, while Ann sat cross-legged on the floor, brushing the fur that covered her lower legs.

“Ugh, this is gonna be awkward no matter what,” Kat groaned, flopping back on the bed like she always did when she was frustrated. Even on the floor, Ann could picture her chestnut hair splayed over the sheets, with her long ears spread to the sides. “Rosalyn, largely about ye. Ye’re doin’ a damn good job o’ makin’ it hard tae be selfish with Ann ‘ere.”

Rosalyn curled into herself. Ann could see the anxiety coursing through her as her eyes darted. “I’m… sorry?”

“Sorry fer bein’ so nice? Fer bein’ cute as shite? Fer bein so supportive? Little sheep ye’ve been nothin’ but great an’ that’s the part that’s frustratin’.” Kat chuckled begrudgingly. “Would be a damn sight easier tae tell me ‘eart tae shut the feck up if ye were a bitch.”

“Sorry.” came the quiet reply again.

Ann sat there, watching the two go back and forth. Kat clearly was trying to get her feelings across, but the aggressive woman was not doing a great job with the timid Druid.

“An’ what’ve ye got tae be sorry about? Ye’ve talked me outta me feelin’s, ye’ve saved Ann’s life a couple times, shit probably mine too considerin’ the Snail, but I ‘ave a hard time trackin’ tha’. What I’m tryin’ tae say is that ye’re good. I like it. I like ye. Makin’ me spell it out, feckin, feck.” Kat grumbled, burying her face in her hands.

“She’s grumpy she can’t stay mad at you.” Ann tried to explain a bit more clearly for Rosalyn’s sake. “And that she’s considering giving us the go ahead to have you, if you’d like.”

“Ooooh, ok. That makes sense,” Rosalyn said, clarity sparking in her eyes. “You should probably work on being a bit more gentle with your words, Kat,” she chided. “I was scared you were actually mad at me. That’s not something I’d want. Not from you at least, that’s for sure. Cause you’re kinda really awesome, you know that?”

Ann laughed as Kat sat up, giving Rosalyn a confused look. “I mean, I know I’m pretty good, but awesome? Nae, better at fightin’ than most, but that’s nothin’ great.”

“Not just that, though that’s impressive in itself. You and Ann take hits that’d terrify me. I wish I was that tough, I could do so much more.” Rosalyn’s eyes drifted, lost in a sea of thought, before she snapped herself back. “But no, just you. You’re so considerate. I’ve noticed you watching out for me since we got to the city, and it’s only been one day. Heck, both of you have. I’ve been terrified of so many people, and neither of you have said anything about me clinging to you. It’s nice. Nice to have someone to rely on that’ll help me without asking. I can only hope I’m able to support you too.” Rosalyn patted Kat’s shoulder, fingers lingering as they traced the definition of her muscles none too subtly.

“I… er… thanks? Thanks,” Kat said with a decisive nod, her blush betraying her matter-of-fact tone. “Sorry tae make ye feel worried. Wasn’t what I wanted.”

“I know, you told me a lot in the clothes shop, even if you didn’t say it,” Rosalyn assured her.

They sat for a moment in quiet. Eventually Ann could feel the silence suffocating her and spoke up. “So I guess the main topic tonight is us, right? The three of us? I like you, in more ways than one, and from that last exchange, is it safe to say you like her too, Kat?”

“Aye,” Kat confirmed quietly, still receiving shoulder pets from Rosalyn.

“So, what are you thinking Rosalyn?” Ann asked, leaning forward so her elbows rested on the floor, stretching with her increased Dexterity.

“I… wow, on the spot and my mind goes blank,” Rosalyn giggled nervously as the other two women focused on her. “I’d say I like you. Both of you, that is. I told you I like other girls, right? Yeah. I’m sure I did. But yeah, anyway. You two are, wow. Talk about gorgeous and strong and… big.”

Kat chortled but silenced herself with a glare from Ann.

“Not that way, but also yes, wow. Um… words. Words, words, words…” she trailed off, trying to organize herself as she fidgeted. “I would like to try this out? With you two? But I don’t know how any of that’d work. And I don’t want to get in the way of anything, or anyone. I’m not here to be stealing anyone. No no no. If I am, I’ll butt right out. I just want to make sure everyone’s happy and safe and can be to-hrf!” Rosalyn’s rambling was cut off as Kat grabbed the back of her shirt, deftly pulling her back and flipping the Druid on top of her, locking her lips in a quick kiss.

“There, tha’ convincin’ enough fer ye?” she grinned.

The sheep woman nodded dumbly, her eyes unfocused and, from what Ann could see, not a little aroused.

Ann pulled herself up to the bed, sitting on the edge, then laying back next to Kat. “I think that just about settles it. Though I don’t want to push you into anything you’re not ready for. So keep your separate room until you feel more comfortable with things. I’d appreciate a date or two before we get more serious, too.”

Kat laughed, rolling Rosalyn in between them. “Ye didn’t take tha’ long wit’ me,” she teased.

“No, but you were practically jumping my bones despite insisting on doing things all proper,” Ann retorted as she felt Rosalyn, who was now facing the ceiling, sinking into the gap between them. She shuffled to make the space a bit more comfortable.

“You two are a lot,” Rosalyn’s soft voice came from between them. “Though, I think I can be ok with this version of a lot.”

“Hmmm, and now I’m feeling a bit jealous. Kat got a kiss, do I get one?” Ann asked with a toothy grin, sharp teeth shining in the crystal lighting. She watched as Rosalyn’s eyes went wide, transfixed, but soon after, there was a slight nod.

Leaning in, she slowly brushed her lips against Rosalyn’s ebony skin, meeting olive. Rosalyn instinctively flinched, but quickly resisted the urge, and kissed her back. It was a chaste kiss, no tongue, nothing more than a scant couple seconds of lips on lips, but it set Ann’s heart racing. She pulled herself back before the temptation to try for more overwhelmed her. Rosalyn still had her eyes closed, lips slightly parted as she panted. Kat had lifted herself on her elbows to watch, and she and Ann shared a glance, both exceedingly entertained by the reaction, before the Druid shook herself.

“More intense than I thought it’d be, wow!” she mumbled. “Less scary too. I mean, you’re a whole two feet taller than me, and so much larger, but it’s almost… comforting? There’s still that danger warning in me that won’t be quiet, but that was… wow,” she whispered, trailing off as a hand reached up to trace her lips. “Both of you, just, wow.”

“An’ now ye’ve got permission tae want that,” Kat laughed, flopping back down on the bed.

“Wow,” Rosalyn whispered again.

Ann was briefly worried they’d broken her, but soon after, the woman sat up, stretching her fit, but decidedly curvy, body. “I… thanks. I definitely want to try the whole date thing, too, Ann. Maybe with both of you? Just, some time less busy, since we’re heading out to the Seed and everything tomorrow.”

“Yeah, definitely to all of that,” Ann laughed. “We’ll figure it all out. No worries or rushes. Though it’s getting late, and Kat and I have something really specific to do. Might be best to say our good nights unless you’d be joining or watching.” She sat up, feeling her kilt rising slightly as she thought of the debauchery she intended for Kat tonight.

“Nope! Not tonight!” Rosalyn decided quickly, standing and skipping, literally skipping, to the door. “You two have fun, though, maybe another time.”

As the door closed behind her, Kat and Ann burst out laughing, laying on the bed.

“Tha’ was a li’l mean,” Kat giggled.

“You see her face? She almost said yes,” Ann laughed, rolling over to face Kat.

“Hmmm, she’s gonna be a lot o’ fun, fer both o’ us,” the Protector sighed, rolling to match Ann, faces dangerously close.

“Speaking of fun,” Ann teased, tracing an extended claw across Kat’s forehead, down the side of her face, and then along her ear, “I think I have some fun ideas for us tonight.”

Kat shivered at the touch, eyes closing. “Mmf, you do?”

“Oh, I definitely do. Let’s put that mouth to better use,” Ann growled as she locked her grip behind Kat’s head and pulled her into a kiss.

Chapter Text

General Candalaria Polaris

Candalaria was ushered into the antechamber, guards to her left and right standing on the sides of the large double doors. Their plate was resplendent, polished silver with gold trim, and brass in the patterns of trees up their breastplates. A man and a woman each, staring straight ahead beneath visored helms.

The room itself was deceptively humble. A pair of benches on either side of the wood panelled room. The carvings on the wood were the expensive part. As she waited, Candalaria took her time to observe the intricate figures that depicted the history of the Korvas Kingdom. All the way from the Bultrong founders to the current house’s rule, the kings and queens were depicted alongside their major accomplishments. The doors themselves were pieces of art, each depicting a half of the tree and mountain emblem of the kingdom in full detail. Had to cost a fortune.

She was in similar armour, but fitted for her Thrundol physiology, and lacking the helmet, which she’d left behind in her assigned rooms. She hated wearing the thing and would only do so if needed for combat. It had been just over a week since the middle Farragher child had brought the Vulhardrin Champion to her, to discuss the matters at hand. The Keep had been in the middle of an exercise, performing field training for soldiers that demanded her attention for that week, but once that had ended, and she could shrug her duties off on her Lieutenant, she hopped a train directly to Korvas.

Word had gotten ahead of her, as it always did, and she was quickly met with a personal guard upon disembarking. Not that she’d ever needed one. Someone who’d been through as many battles, a skirmish with a neighbouring kingdom, and the assortment of other dangers she’d put herself through, was hardly in danger from any but the more skilled assassins. Still, she accepted this formality and was ushered to her rooms.

They were spacious, well decorated, and utterly boring. She’d been informed that the Queen wouldn’t be able to see her for another day, some diplomatic bullshit occupying her, and that she would rest here for now. The time crawled by, and she’d exercised her rank to go out and get a drink for the evening.

Now, now she was here, waiting for her old friend and queen to be ready for her. A couple minutes later, the doors opened and the herald clacked his staff on the ground.

“General Polaris, if you would?” the spindly man requested. He was human, with pure white hair and a pristine handlebar moustache. He’d been in the service of the crown for most of his life, though Candalaria had never gotten his name. She stood, taking a look at the doors one more time, before following the man into the throne room.

The place was immaculate, as always. High ceilings of marble, sandstone, granite, and other types of rock Candalaria wasn’t familiar with mixed in a chaotic, but fascinating pattern. Columns joined with bannisters lined the main floor, providing a gallery for the nobility to gawk at the proceedings of the court. The floor itself was another stone mosaic of the kingdom’s crest, but with precious metals mixed in to further accentuate the wealth of it all. Gaudy, in Candalaria’s opinion, but she could respect how damn old this place was.

Her name was called to those who cared to attend as she marched to the throne, her back straight and her head held high. The pomp and circumstance was expected of her, and she’d bear with it. This was the formality, the actual conversation would be after this farce.

As she reached the end of the long room, she knelt before the thrones, occupied by the queen and king. Like most things in the mountain capital, they were also metal and stone. The Bultrong that had made them in ages past clearly loved their natural resources.

“Your majesties,” Candalaria said clearly, her head still lowered.

“General Polaris,” Queen Olara Farragher greeted her. The woman’s voice was stern, but familiar to her ears. She could hear the familiarity under the layers of officiousness. “It’s been some time since we’ve ‘ad the pleasure o’ yer company. I trust the Keep is well?”

“Yes, majesty,” Candalaria replied, rising to her full height, and meeting the golden eyes of her queen. 

The woman was a warrior, just like her daughter. That build would intimidate anyone, and she never went anywhere without some armour on her. Today, she was dressed in a regal gown with metal pauldrons adorning her shoulders. Not showpieces, either. Those polished steel pieces radiated magic of Gods only know what enchantments. Olara chose to let her hair fall straight and clean down her shoulders, reaching to the small of her back. Despite this, Candalaria had never seen her get tangled with the locks, something she’d always wondered about.

Sitting beside her was her husband, Kremdol. He was essentially the opposite of his wife. Slim, almost wispy, but with keen blue eyes that felt like they could pierce your soul. An Alfhindur, like his wife, his pale ears broke a tide of wavy black hair that was slicked back over his scalp. Despite his frail features, his eyebrows were unreasonably bushy. Candalaria had heard him joke that he must have some Bultrong somewhere in his family line, though she wasn’t quite sure how true that was.

“The Keep is well. The walls stand strong and the people stronger. Exercises were recently carried out, and the reports came back favourable, as I’m sure you are already aware.”

“Quite,” Kremdol droned, lacking his wife’s accent. The man spoke in such a flat manner that it grated on Candalaria’s ears. She knew him well enough by now that it was just how he spoke, but it still bothered her. “I am sure you have been doing a fine job protecting our kingdom and raising its newest warriors. Do you have any reports on the Warped, or incursions from Bortislav?”

“Minor sightings, the usual for this time of year regarding the Warped. One exception to the north west that has been assigned to a mercenary team. It should be handled soon, if it is not already, considering it was Katlyn who took it.”

Candalaria watched Orlana’s features shift as she tried to hide a smile. “Ah, so that’s what the little one’s been up tae. I’m glad she’s keepin’ in touch, despite her ‘atred o’ formality.”

Murmurs from the observers reached Candalaria’s ears at the comment. Katlyn’s distaste for the court and royal duties was well known, and a frustration within the political sphere. Any news of her antics was going to spread like wildfire.

“But,” Kremdol continued, “this all seems rather mundane. A letter would have sufficed for this information, General. What is the meaning of this personal visit?”

“If it pleases,” Candalaria replied, meeting the eyes of the royal couple, “I would prefer to relay that information in confidence. It is a matter of, well, larger import, to put it mildly.”

The buzz of the nobility increased at the words. Speculation was going wild as to what this could be. Military matters were, as always, held behind closed doors, but it didn’t stop the gossipers from spinning their tales.

“O’ course,” Olara smiled, golden eyes narrowing as she tried to read Candalaria’s expression. “We’ll talk in the council chamber. Make yer way back there, an’ we’ll be there in an hour. Ye know the way.”

It wasn’t a question, and with a wave, Candalaria was dismissed. She walked to the left of the room, guards opening the door for her, and she made her way to the council chambers. 

Chambers was overdoing it, it was one room. A massive round table adorned with a detailed map of the kingdom dominated the space. Chairs surrounded it, with benches lining the walls. Each of the eight walls were lined with pieces of armour or some weapon Orlana decided she liked. Candalaria settled herself in a larger chair meant for someone her size and let her mind wander while she waited.

Just past an hour, the doors opened, and the queen and king entered, along with a scribe. Candalaria would’ve preferred it just be the three of them, but records needed to be kept of such things. The moment the doors shut, Orlana relaxed, her normally ramrod straight back curving as she let out a heavy sigh.

“Sorry about all tha’, Candy,” she apologized as she took her seat. “It’s been non feckin’ stop lately. Needed tae make a show o’ bein’ all proper an’ shite. Expansionists are gettin’ loud an’ we’ve gotta make sure we’ve got the image o’ stability an’ strength tae keep ‘em at bay. Ye know, politics.”

Kremdol chuckled dryly, sitting perfectly in his chair. His propriety wasn’t a necessity like his wife’s, just how he was. “Quite. We do have quite a bit of work on that front. That side of the spectrum is getting restless, thinking that we should have more than we do. We are strong, yes, but that strength comes from our stability. I will be buried in council and meetings for months to come, trying to placate them.”

“An’ I thank ye fer makin’ tha’ sacrifice,” Orlana smiled warmly to her husband, her hand resting atop his on the armrest of his chair.

“I get it,” Candalaria laughed, her rough voice making the sound more of a bark. “Kat’s still taking after you, Orlana. That’s for sure. Your kid’s found something interesting this time, though. She’s the reason I needed this to be private.”

“Oh? And what has our daughter done this time?” Kremdol asked dryly, with a faint smile at the edge of his lips.

“Well, you know how I said there was nothing major going on with the Warped? There’s something major going on with the Gods. She dragged in this Vulhardrin girl. Must have been in her mid twenties. Wildest lupine I’ve ever seen. I swear she was half wolf herself. Grey, tall even by their standards, with ears, teeth, claws, fur and the lower legs of a wolf.”

“A deviation? Warped, possibly?” Orlana asked, leaning forward.

“In some ways, yes. Girl told a story that was hard to believe if Kat and Bren hadn’t backed her up on it. She’s shared her Stat Screen with Kat, by the way. Anyway, says she’s sponsored by Orenous. Claimed her path was Warrior of Orenous, with a title to back it up. Champion of Orenous. And let me tell you, Orlana, she looks the part. If she was my type, I’d have made a pass even with the age difference. Something otherworldly about that beauty.”

The royal couple sat there for a moment, likely going through the same mental recoil Candalaria had gone through over a week earlier.

“Dear, have you heard of anything like this before?” Kremdol asked, turning to his wife.

“Nae, nothin’. There’re priests, paladins, all that o’ the Gods. The title is somethin’ special. What else was there, Candy?” Orlana pressed, locked in on the conversation now. Any exhaustion she was showing had fled the woman’s muscular frame.

“Well, then there’s the part where she said she’s met the Goddess herself. Talked to her, even. Kid says she’s been given a quest to figure out what’s going on with the Seeds, to figure out how to fix the issue with the Warped.”

Kremdol actually laughed at that. “Preposterous! Scholars and priests have been striving for any information on this for centuries. How does this child claim to have a chance at doing so?”

“You’ve got me, but she was telling the truth. At least from what I could tell. Kat and Bren seemed to believe her, too. I trust those two quite a bit. Neither of them would lie to me.”

“I don’t even know where tae start,” Orlana sighed, slumping again. “If that’s the full truth, the expansionists aren’t gonna be the biggest headache anymore. The Gods damned churches are. They’ll be ecstatic, aye, an’ all the more eager tae help the, wait, did ye say her name?”

“Oh, no, Annita Kronforst is her name,” Candalaria corrected.

“Well, Annita is gonna ‘ave all the support she could ask fer, that’s fer sure. Just worried that the devout might get a bit too zealous in that support,” Orlana said, rubbing her temples.

“If I might,” Kremdol interjected. “It may be for the best to meet with her discreetly first. Speak with her, Katlyn, and Bren, and get the full story.”

“That would be my suggestion, as well,” Candalaria posited. “I can get them the message without anyone else knowing. They’re just registered as a mercenary team at the moment, so no heads have been turned, and I handled Annita’s registration myself before you ask.”

“Good, good,” Orlana sighed. “Looks like that’s gonna be one more thing on our plates. Ye really know how tae bring a storm, Candy.” The queen laughed, leaning back in her chair.

“What kind of General would I be if I didn’t sniff out trouble in the ranks,” Candalaria chuckled back. “Gods, you know I hate you a bit for this appointment, right?”

“As you tell us every time you visit,” Kremdol said with a smile. “Who better, though, to lead this force? You have demonstrated your loyalty to the kingdom time and time again. I, personally, would have it no other way.”

“Ye just need a good night out,” Orlana said, playing with a strand of her hair distractedly. “To talk about more personal things, ye find anyone ye’re interested in? It’s been so long since ye’ve been on the front lines, I woulda thought ye’d ‘ave someone in mind by now.”

“No one, no. It’s driving me somewhat mad. How hard is it for a girl like me to find a guy who wants to treat me like a lady? I put up all that bluster when I’m on duty, but it doesn’t mean I want to be like that all the time,” she sighed, putting her face in her hands, being careful of her tusks.

“Well, your physique does attract those who prefer strength in a partner,” Kremdol advised. “I would not advise changing this, however, it is a significant barrier. If you would like, I could put out some inquiries into possible suitors? It would not do to have the General of our mightiest city to go lonely for her later years.’

Candalaria waved away the offer. It wasn’t the first time the meddling man had offered as much. The annoying thing was that she was beginning to consider his offer. She had a type, and that type certainly rarely had her. She’d be drinking again tonight. That was for certain.

“So, anything you need of me? Or am I just gonna head back to that stuffy office you’ve chained me to?” Canadalaria huffed, glaring playfully at the royal couple.

“Sorry, Candy. We’ve all got our burdens tae bear,” Orlana apologized. She actually looked sorry, bless her. “If ye’d like, or if ye ‘ave the time, I’d like ye tae keep up wit’ Kat an’ ‘er party. Not anythin’ complicated, just make sure they’re safe.”

“Kat’s gonna hate you for that,” she warned, raising an eyebrow. “If it’s a request from you, though, I’ll deal with it. Times are going to be complicated enough. I do know they’re looking for a heavy hitting front liner, along with a caster. Annita seems to be progressing as a rogue, so I might be able to get someone in there. They did leave with word saying they were gonna pick up a local witch to help with their latest assignment. Knowing Bren, he’s likely done his research and there’s a high chance she’ll be joining the group.”

“That sounds likely. Then their front liner might be more influenceable,” Kremdol pondered. “Likely not a military sort. Katlyn would balk at that immediately. A mercenary. Possibly military background? Someone we can trust to have their best interest in mind, and I would think around their age would be best.”

“I think I may ‘ave a few candidates in mind,” Orlana mused as her eyes unfocused in thought. “Aye. I’ll ‘ave tae check in wit’ a few contacts, but I think I know a few people that’d work.”

“The temples are going to want a representative there, as well,” Kremdol advised, his eyes rolling slightly at the thought. “Though with Annita being a literal representation of Orenous, we might argue them down. What a mess. I’m almost excited about how complicated this will be. Plus, we are disregarding the other political factions within the Nobility themselves. They will try to sink their claws into our daughter’s friend as soon as possible. Who wouldn’t want a champion of the divine under their house’s protection? The power that would provide could change the entire landscape. I will need to make sure preparations are made to solidify our protection of the girl.”

“Well, about that,” Candalaria sighed. She’d not wanted to get into this and let the girls do it themselves, but it was relevant. “You are probably going to have an easier time with that than you think.”

“Oh? Do tell. Anything to make this go smoothly,” Kremdol almost crooned as he leaned forward, listening intently with a slight tremble in his long ears.

“Listen, this is private, so I feel kinda bad for sharing it, but time is of essence here. From what I could see of Katlyn and Annita, and reports from elsewhere, including a guard I had shadowing them, they’re more than friends. I’d say by now they’ve well crossed the threshold of lovers.”

Orlana and Kremdol sighed in unison. “Well, aye, that does make things easier,” Orlana said first.

“I have things I need to take care of,” Kremdol said with urgency, rising. “Announcing both the presence of a divine champion, and the fact that she’s entangled with our daughter. Yes, I need to get to work setting up safeguards within the political spheres. Excuse me, ladies.” He gave Orlana a quick kiss before striding regally from the council chambers.

“Katlyn’s always been trouble,” Orlana griped in their privacy. “I love ‘er fer it, cause it reminds me of me younger years. This is a new level, though.”

“Don’t have to tell me twice. All we can do is keep moving and make the best decisions we can,” Candalaria replied, making to stand as well.

“Aye. Well, I ‘ave work tae do as well tae prepare fer our guest. Get that summons out tae Kat as qucikly as ye can. We need tae stay ahead of this.”

“Yes, my queen,” Candalaria said with a bow. She did so because she knew it annoyed Orlana a bit when they were in private. A friendly little game they played of testing each other’s patience.

She turned and left the room, pulling aside a soldier and requesting a trusted courier be brought to her chambers. A few hours, and several reports from the local garrison, later she was able to escape to her room. She stripped everything but her undergarments and laid down on the incredibly soft mattress. “I fucking hate politics,” she grumbled to no one.

Chapter Text

It was another crisp morning when the team had gotten to the Seed. Travel, unsurprisingly, wasn’t without its challenges, but with Rosalyn added to the team, they had staved off the Twinwolf packs easily. They’d stumbled upon a nest of Chittering Crawlers, but had enough forewarning to skirt the mess of bony limbs and eyes. It had taken three days. Slightly longer than Bren had expected, largely due to having to avoid the Crawler nest, but they were still happy with the time.

Staring up at the nauseating wall before them, the four took a moment to prepare themselves. Rosalyn stood close between Kat and Ann, as had become a bit of a habit, while Bren stood off to their left.

“Ever been in a Seed Rosalyn?” Ann asked, glancing away before the oil slick patterns made her stomach worse.

“Nope. Seen one from a distance, but never went into one. I can’t imagine what we’re going to find. I’m excited, but nervous, and a little scared, but with you three, we should be fine, right?”

The woman rambled in the most adorable ways sometimes. Ann looked at Kat, giving her a grin, before they both patted the wooly hair atop Rosalyn’s head in unison.

“We’ll keep ye safe, little lamb,” Kat laughed, further digging her fingers into her hair as Rosalyn tried to dodge away.

“That we will,” Bren chuckled to himself. “It is the third time I have been in one. Katlyn and I entered one before we met you, Annita. It was with a larger group earlier on, but it was a formative experience.”

“No shit,” Ann laughed. “Seeing the source of those fucked up things we fight is interesting. Wonder what the Guardian’ll be like. My bet’s on some weird clam.”

“Nah, fish. Oooh, or some kinda lizard?” Kat pondered.

“Reptilian, fish, there are all kinds of insects around a lake as well. Maybe it’ll be a bird? It could be something that lives off the lake rather than in it,” Rosalyn proposed, finally winning her freedom from the playful hands messing with her hair.

“We will never know if we do not enter,” Bren sighed. “It will probably be frozen, though. For the record, my bet is on some amphibian.”

“Knowing these things, all of us could be right,” Ann shuddered as her imagination ran with the suggestions. “We keeping the normal order? Kat in the lead, me in back?”

“Aye, best way tae handle an ambush. Let’s do this!” Kat cheered as she held her hand out to Rosalyn.

Once they were all linked, hands held firmly, Kat led them through. Ann shut her eyes again, not wanting to test how awful that wall looked from the inside. A short walk later, and the pressure surrounding them faded, leaving the air crisp and clear once more. 

Cracking her eyes open, then fully, Ann took in the view. True to its description, it was a lake. Smooth ice stretched out past the rocky beach they stood on, covered in a soft blanket of snow.

“This is kinda normal compared to the last Seed,” Ann commented, feeling slightly disappointed.

“Aye, tha’ probably means this is gonna be more complicated, an’ dangerous. The Core should be accessible, just gotta figure out a way tae get to it. Let’s check the shore around, see if we can find an entrance or somethin’.”

They walked, keeping an eye out for any signs of danger or ingress, but nothing came of the first half of the lake. It was slow going and surprisingly relaxing. Just a hike around a pristine, gorgeous lake.

“Have you all ever been ice fishing?” Ann asked as they walked.

“Can’t say I have,” Kat replied, never looking back as she tracked the horizon.

“It’s this thing, especially from when I was from. People probably do it here too, but not surprised you haven’t. Basically, you cut a hole in the ice and fish out of it. You can set up a little hut, bring some food and drink and hang out while you do so. There’s water under the ice, so you can just sit up here, while the fish looking for food hit your line. You have to be careful, though. Ice can be pretty thin sometimes and you don’t want to get trapped under.”

“No you do not,” Rosalyn confirmed. “We lost a villager last year to something similar. It was a frozen river that was too thin to cross. She decided she wanted to risk it and the ice shattered halfway across. Poor lady never came back up, and no one could see enough to try to help her. It was a reminder that nature can be as dangerous as any Warped.”

“Well, that certainly is a good reminder,” Bren sighed. “A little dour a topic, but such dangers lurk where we least expect them. I guess we should test the ice, though. I do not see any space out on the shore that indicates a way down.”

“Aye, time tae go an’ test it,” Kat decided. “After me.”

They walked out onto the ice, the first few steps tentative as they tested their weight. Fortunately, the ice seemed thick, and more than capable of holding their combined weight. Ann knelt and brushed the snow aside, looking down into the clear frozen depths. They were murky, distorted by refraction, but she could see surprisingly far down.

“Hey, I see it,” she called, waving the others over and pointing. There was a dim light deep underwater, shining like nothing else could.

“Awesome. Now how to get down there?” Rosalyn asked, casting her eyes around.

“Maybe there’s a tunnel or something?” Kat pondered, taking a few steps to her left.

“Or a door we need to open somehow?” Ann suggested, rising. “What do you think, Bren?”

A crack of ice sounded and she froze, listening for more. Had the ice been thinner than they thought? This was bad.

She waited a moment, no response. She looked around and didn’t see him. “Uh, guys, where’s Bren?”

“He was right… where the feck is he?” Kat gasped, looking around.

“Over here!” Rosalyn called, waving frantically.

She stood next to an opening that was not there before. It led down into a smooth, icy tunnel that curved off into the unknown.

“Bren, ye down there? Ye all right?” Kat shouted into the opening.

“Yes, I am alright for now, but would appreciate some assistance!” the cry came back as a strange burbling joined his voice.

Kat was already jumping by the time Ann decided to move, the warrior disappearing quickly around the bend. Shrugging to Rosalyn, Ann let her go first, following quickly after. The tunnel was essentially a big slide, curving twice before spitting her out into a cavern. It was dimly lit by what sun poked through the snow covered ice, about fifty feet across and ten feet tall. Not cramped, but small.

The fish made it smaller. Or at least they were partly fish. Scales adorned their piscine bodies, and their bulging eyes were pretty normal, but these things got around on crab legs. The crustacean limbs burst out of the sides of the things at odd angles, not all of them touching the ground as they scuttled to and in the chaos of the melee. They bore distended gills which pulsated raw and irritated as a viscous white fluid dripped from the frills. The things were big for fish and crabs, too. Each one was about three feet long, and their legs were probably that long again. They swarmed the party like insects, trying to poke and stab with their legs as they grappled.

Ann fired off a shot at one that was latched on to Bren, a bloody leg poised to strike once more. It was knocked off by the impact, but the squirming legs told her it hadn’t been a lethal shot.

“Rosalyn, better or worse than the Chittering ones?” Kat laughed as she bashed one to the side, cutting a leg off another.

“Worse!” Rosalyn cried, flinching as one of the fish was caught on a spike of thorns, stopping it in its tracks from hitting her.

Ann was having a bit of a time of it. With so many of the things, parrying thrusts with her falchion and dodging what she couldn’t turn away. One of the fish came at her from the left, swinging a spined leg into her side. Her armour held, but the spines found a gap and dug into her flesh.

Cursing, she spun, using the thing’s grip in her to its disadvantage as she pulled it closer, impaling it through the bulbous eye. A gurgling hiss escaped its flapping lips as white pus-like blood gushed from the wound and over Ann. “Why do they have to pop?” she groaned, wiping away some of the blood.

“Isn’t it disgusting?” Kat cackled as she split the body of one in two, the pieces falling to the floor as the guts slowly oozed out.

“Absolutely vile!” Bren huffed. He’d made his way back to the entrance to the cavern, staying behind Kat and Ann as the fight progressed.

Tearing the leg from her side, Ann threw the dead creature at another, tangling it in the limbs of its own kind. “Not the worst, though.”

“Are you trying to ask the Seed for worse?” Rosalyn asked with utter disbelief as another spike of thorns erupted from nowhere, skewering two fish at once.

“No, just, not a bad warm up,” Ann said defensively.

Quickly, the team whittled down the creatures before the last remaining three turned and scuttled off into two tunnels surrounding the room.

“Oh, we’re not gonna be safe down ‘ere,” Kat gumbled as she watched them go. “No way’re they gonna leave us be fer long if they run like tha’.”

“I agree,” Bren said, taking a deep breath to settle his nerves after the fight. “We will have to be careful if we need to rest.”

“We’re probably going to need my camouflage spell for that,” Rosalyn advised, wiping away blood Ann couldn’t even see against her skin save for it looking slightly wetter.

The party took a moment to catch their breath and survey the room. They had choices on where to progress. Four tunnels led off, each with a slight downward slope. One to the north, one to the east, and one to the west, or as best as Ann could tell.

“So, what do we want to call these things?” Kat huffed, as she stood and kicked one of the crab fish over, its randomly placed limbs flopping awkwardly.

“Ooh, ooh! I’ve got this one!” Rosalyn cheered, raising an oddly enthusiastic hand. “Scuttlefish! Cause they’re fish and they scuttle around on those weird crab legs!”

Ann couldn’t help but laugh. It was way too perfect. The more she thought about it, the better it fit, and the more she laughed, the sound echoing through the cavern of ice. “Yeah,” she gasped. “We’re going with that one. Oh fuck me, that’s funny.”

“I absolutely agree,” Bren laughed, wiping a tear from his own eye. “I hope the Association shares our humour. Oh, Gods.” He groaned, feeling his chest where the Scuttlefish had stabbed him, apparently not entirely healed as he channelled magic into himself.

“So, they left down east an’ west,” Kat said, bringing them back on task. “I hear more of ‘em down the western tunnel, fewer down the east, an’ none up ahead.”

Ann paused, perking her own ears, letting them swivel freely as she listened in all directions. Like Kat said, she could hear the clicking of chitin coated legs down the west and east tunnels.

“I’d rather not run into those things again,” Ann said with a grimace. “Only thing is, we might run into something worse. Yay more monsters! I vote north. See what fresh hell awaits.”

“I would prefer the known against the unknown,” Bren muttered before making his choice. “I vote east. Fewer enemies sounds preferable.”

“Didn’t think they were too bad,” Kat said, pacing back and forth as her energy got the better of her. “West is my vote.”

“Then I get to be the tiebreaker,” Rosalyn sighed, looking up from the corpse she was prodding with a stick she’d pulled out of her bag. “I vote north as well. These are a nuisance, but not too threatening unless we’re separated. Even if they join a fight somewhere else, I think I can tie them down with Entangle pretty well. Didn’t want to waste the Mind here. If we can use a tunnel as a choke point, it would be even more effective. Hmm, yeah. Definitely north. Something new and interesting to see and study.”

“North it is, then,” Kat declared with a grin. “Bren, mind markin’ the wall so we don’t lose our way down ‘ere? Who knows how loopy this place is.”

“Ah, good point,” Bren said, taking out his knife and carving a rune into the ice about four feet up the wall.

“Good, let’s go.”

The light was, thankfully, still bright enough that they could see without a torch. None of them had brought a light crystal, but that was definitely on the short list of equipment when they got back. As they walked, Kat and Ann heard things moving in and out of tunnels they couldn’t see. 

The tunnel they walked in was rounded, almost like it was bored out of the ice by a worm of some sort. It made walking a little awkward since the floor itself wasn’t flat, and the fur between Ann’s pads interfered with her grip, but she kept her balance largely thanks to her high dexterity. A couple times they came to tunnels that branched out in odd directions. One was up in the ceiling and curved off upward, possibly to the surface, the other was to their right, but kept to the current path.

“Hold up,” Kat said, raising a hand for the party to stop as her pointed ears twitched, listening. Ann, taking up the rear, stopped just behind Bren, trying to figure out what Kat was hearing.

“Is that water?” Ann whispered, knowing Kat could hear her clearly.

“Aye. Doesn’t sound like it’s flowin’. Splashin’? Maybe a pond o’ some sort.”

“That’d make sense for a Seed based on water. I guess with the lake frozen, there must still be unfrozen water. Maybe the seed is incorporating that for its natural features? We should be ready for an ambush, though. Things could be in the water. Maybe more Scuttlefish?”

“I do not think those things could swim, much less breathe water,” Bren disagreed. “Those gills were not functional. I have a feeling we will be meeting something new.”

“Think it’ll be the amphibian?” Ann asked, elbowing him.

“Only one way to find out,” he sighed back, gripping his wand in one hand and his knife in the other.

Kat nodded and moved forward. They entered another cavern. Much like the first one, it was entirely made of ice, bluish light filtering and rippling across all surfaces. The difference came in the pools of water. There were three around the outskirts of the floor, four on the walls, and four on the ceiling. Fascinatingly, no water fell out of the pools on the walls and ceilings. The water was dark, and Ann couldn’t see anything past the surface.

“Are you ever grateful when a Seed just screams ‘fight’ with its design?” Ann asked, glancing between the pools, searching for any movement.

“Sure is nice o’ it,” Kat mumbled. “Though I’ve got me a bad feelin’ that the announcement means the Warped is gonna be tougher.”

“Not a Guardian, surely,” Bren posited. “Not yet, at least. Possibly just a tougher enemy, if not a common one that requires water.”

“Do we want to go in?” Ann asked, finger twitching against the cylinder of her revolver, rotating it slowly. The clicking of the weapon helped her focus, grounded her.

“Aye,” Kat decided. “Keep tae the walls. Careful when we cross the path o’ one o’ the pools. We’ll figure it out from there.”

Following her lead, the four of them skirted the side to their right, keeping one shoulder touching the ice as they made their way around the room. A couple times, a soft splash could be heard, ripples seen in a pool, but they could never catch what was making the noise. They came to a pool set on the wall. All four stopped short of it, looking at each other.

“’Ere goes nothin,” Kat grumbled, putting her sword out in front of the water first. When nothing came flying out, or grabbed her arm, she let out a breath, walking forward cautiously. After she passed the water, she turned back and motioned for Bren next.

He eyed the pool, and took a few ginger steps, but eventually passed unmolested.

Next, Rosalyn stepped forward. She tapped the ground with her staff, trying to bait anything out that was waiting, but nothing responded. She took a tentative step forward, then another. Gaining confidence, she strode forward.

As Rosalyn reached the center of the pool, the water burst. A surprised scream echoed through the room as she was pushed into the center of the cavern. Soaking wet and winded, Rosalyn scrambled backwards, trying to gain distance from the dark shape that now curled in the middle of the room. 

It was sleek, long, and leathery. Beady eyes glared at them from a triangular head, hydrodynamic and built for swimming. Whiskers dotted the cheeks, as its enlarged throat bulged with a breath. Smaller, dextrous arms made up the forelegs of the creature, while its hind legs were massive, webbed, and insanely muscular. A long greyish green tail extended from its rear, and swished across the floor, balancing the creature. The best Annita could use to describe it was a cross between an otter and a toad.

As they recovered and shook themselves into action, it opened its mouth unnaturally wide, splitting its cheeks to do so, and let out a bassy croak. Then it lunged at the Druid.

Chapter Text

Annita had always loved otters. Their little eyes. The way they used their hands to hold things and interacted with their handlers. Yeah, they could be vicious in their natural habitats, but that was just nature. They were curious, intelligent, and had just the sweetest faces.

She was reconsidering this stance as she ran at the thing that was actively trying to swallow Rosalyn. The otter’s face had split open into a wide mouth rowed with the long teeth otters normally had, just way too many to be normal. As she ran, it finished opening its maw, large enough to fit Rosalyn lengthwise, and barreled towards the prone Druid. Its frog-like hind legs bulged as it pushed its mass, dragging leathery skin across the ice while its normally adorable front paws reached out towards its prey.

This one is going to give me nightmares. Annita thought.

Kat was closer to the creature. She raised her shield and lowered her head as she charged. A dull ring sounded as she made contact with the creature’s forearm, pushing as hard as she could to divert it.

It scrambled, trying to correct itself and get at Rosalyn, but Kat’s Stand Your Ground kept it from doing so. Letting out a high-pitched squeak that quickly morphed into a deep croak, it lunged away, disappearing into a pool of water before anyone else could get at it.

Ann was at Rosalyn’s side, helping her up the next moment. “You ok?” she asked.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Took a good hit, but it moved me more than anything. Never seen something like that. Otter and frog? Looks like Bren wins part of the bet. I really don’t like how it didn’t even want to bite, just swallow. Oh, it’s not gone for long,” Rosalyn jabbered, nervous energy being channeled into talking as her eyes scanned the walls.

Following her gaze, Ann could now see the dark shape of the frog otter flitting back and forth outside the room. It seemed to be trying to find the best angle to get at them, swimming to and fro. For a moment it disappeared, swimming too far away from the walls for them to see.

A sudden splash and it had launched itself from one of the ceiling pools down at Kat. Taken completely by surprise, the Protector fell, driven to the ground as the Warped landed its full weight on her. Small paws and claws scrabbled at her leather armour and metal shoulders, to little effect. Then the thing got its hind legs under it and kicked.

Ann could hear the wind being driven from Kat’s lungs as the thing launched itself into the air off of her chest.

Whipping her revolver around, she took aim and put a smite enhanced bullet into its side. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to knock its bulk off course as it plummeted back down towards Kat.

Suddenly, shimmering light appeared between the two as Bren cast, but it was shattered instantly, barely slowing the creature down. There was a glint as Kat activated Reactive Defence, and the creature slammed down into her.

Ann heard Kat scream as something crunch beneath the weight of the Warped. Bren was already healing her, but Ann had to do something to allow their fighter the time to recover.

“Hey, ugly!” A great insult. Truly. One of the most inspired things she’d said. Fortunately, it got the Warped’s attention. Quickly, she dipped into Stoke the Flame, tapping her Desire reserves to piss the thing off even more. Snapping off another glowing purple bullet, she flicked it off with the hand holding her falchion.

The reaction was immediate. Large legs coiled under the thing’s long body and launched it at her. Stepping aside, she let it fly by, but not without getting a claw to the side of her head for her troubles. Cursing, feeling the welt forming beneath her armour, she spun to find that it had slipped into another pool.

“This thing is pissing me off,” Ann grunted, scanning for the next ambush.

“Aye, need tae feckin’ pin the bawbag down. Rosalyn, can ye snare it when it hits the ground?” Kat asked, having joined her in watching the sidelines. 

The group clustered in the middle of the room, with Bren and Rosalyn as close to the middle as possible. 

“Yes, I can. It might hit you, though. So just be ready for that.” Rosalyn warned.

“Danger o’ bein’ up close. No problem,” Kat chuckled to herself.

Another splash, again from above. Their party wheeled to put Kat and Ann up front, but before they had completed the turn, the Warped was gone again. It had jumped from one pool to another with incredible speed. A feint.

“It’s fucking with us,” Ann gasped, surprised the thing had the capacity to even think of a strategy like this.

“Ambush predator,” Rosalyn explained. “Not like the snowcats. This one wants to tire us out. Make us nervous and make mistakes. Any weakness and it’ll be on us.”

“Vexing,” Bren grumbled. “How about we give it an opening and bait it out?”

“Ye volunteerin’?” Kat asked, watching the shadow of the otter as it changed directions in the water faster than it should have been able to.

“Yes. Please keep somewhat close. I won’t be able to take a hit like you did,” Bren confirmed, a grim look on his face.

“We’ll try. Go on,” Kat said, waving him off with her shield hand.

Slowly, Bren walked forward, edging closer to a pool. The frog otter noticed instantly, changing course and disappearing into the dark water. A moment. Two. A third. Bren was almost at the edge of the water before a splash came from a pool to his side.

“Shit!” Bren cried as he was pushed forward, down, and into the pool.

“BREN!” Kat screamed, rushing forward.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Ann yelled as she matched her pace.

Rosalyn just moved with them on instinct. 

Kat didn’t even wait to see what was going on and dove in after her brother, only taking her sword.

Ann dropped her revolver and followed suit. The water was frigid and dark. She could see back to the room, light spilling out of where the pools formed exits they could escape to.

Bren was about twenty feet away from them, spun upside down and harried by the Warped. It swam with all the grace of its otter half, and tore at Bren with sharp claws and teeth. Blood clouded the water, both the creature’s and Bren’s, as he scored a hit with his knife. Without the strength or dexterity to back up the swing, however, it was a minor wound that quickly healed.

Kat and Ann reached him together, grabbing hold of his robes and pulling him back as they desperately swam toward the nearest pool of light.

A stream of bubbles rushed past as the Warped kicked Ann in the side, sending her floating and off course. She let Bren go, leaving Kat to drag him back to the relative safety of the cavern.

Twisting, she looked around desperately for the creature. Her body felt heavy, her legs sluggish and her tail not moving how she was used to. A dark figure appeared to her left, and she barely had time to extend her claws before the thing hit her again. She was more prepared this time, and twisted in the water to avoid the worst of the impact, but she still felt like she’d bruised a rib. As she did, she sunk her claws into the creature’s hide, hanging on for dear life, and securing her hold with another Smite.

Another strange chirp-croak vibrated through the water as the Warped tried to shake off Ann’s grip. She clung doggedly on, feeling her fingers burning with the effort. Her lungs were aching, breath quickly leaving her as she hoped the Warped would make for the cave.

Another croak reverberated through the water and the Warped turned. Seems like Ann’s prayers were heard as she saw the light of an entrance growing before her. Letting go of her grip, she let the thing splash through the entrance ahead, before following after it.

She had no way of knowing which way was up at the moment and had to climb out of the water, back on to the slick, smooth ice, gasping for air.

It took a couple moments of gasping before she heard the commotion of the others fighting nearby. It looked like the frog otter had tried to make another escape, but had been caught by Rosalyn’s Entanglement. The Warped strained at thorny vines that cut into its hide and held it still. It didn’t do any damage, but the things frustration was clear in its erratic movements.

Kat was nearby with Bren. The Healer looked incredible for someone who’d been on the business end of the Warped’s claws moments ago. Kat was breathing heavily, but looked relatively unharmed. 

Rosalyn, in the meantime, was splitting her focus between keeping the Entanglement up and skewering the Warped with Thorns. As her hands and staff wove patterns in the air, magic rippling from them like heat waves, an arc of lightning struck the creature, the smell of burning flesh and fur filling the room.

“Oh ew!” Rosalyn squeaked, wrinkling her nose at the stench. “Ann, now’s the time to get at it! Kat needs another moment, c’mon!”

Spurred by her words, Ann dug the claws on her feet into the ice and darted toward the Warped. Her revolver was still on the other side of the room, so she stuck to her falchion. A slash took a chunk off the side of the Warped’s left leg. Skin fell away to reveal a thick layer of yellowish fat and red muscle. The flesh squirmed underneath, giving Ann the unfortunate close up view of how the Warped healed themselves. Muscles twisted, the nodules of fat wriggling as it snaked here and there.

She had to tear her eyes away before she puked. Focusing on stabbing now, more than cutting, she twisted to the right as a kick sailed past her, the wind from the movement not quite moving her sodden fur and hair. Taking advantage, she dug her sword into the thing’s knee and pushed another Smite into it.

The Warped chirped with surprise and pain, the high pitch noise hurting Ann’s ears as it writhed. Fast, but not durable, she noted. She set about it, cutting the tendons in the back of its legs, letting her skills increase her damage from its flanks and rear. Kat joined her shortly, taking the Warped’s attention from the fore and hacking away at its face.

Another two spires of thorny vines hit the sides of the creature, and torrents of blood began to pour out of it, staining the ice red.

Kat scored the killing blow, driving her sword through the Warped’s brain. Apparently, it was hard to heal from that, since it did continue to struggle for a moment, but quickly collapsed.

A silver notification appeared, indicating a level up. Ann sighed, dismissing it for the moment. There were more important things to check on. She walked over to Bren, who had knelt on the floor, head hung as he huffed. “You ok? You scared the shit outta me,” she said, putting a hand on his shoulder.

“I will be fine. Honestly, that frightened me quite a bit as well,” the man admitted shakily. “I think I’ll do without swimming for a good while, thank you very mu-!” his sentence was cut off as Kat dragged him into a bear hug.

“Don’t ye feckin’ scare me like that again, ye manky git. I swear on me mum an’ Orenous’ arse that I’ll kill ye if ye do,” she whispered, holding him as close as she could.

Bren’s face was a mask of shock, before his look softened, returning the hug. “I would never plan on it, Katlyn.” He patted her back, holding her as much as she held him. After a moment, Kat broke free, wiping her face.

“Sorry. Just, aye, that,” she mumbled to the other two.

“No, no. I get it,” Rosalyn said, nodding understandingly. “If I had a brother, I’d totally freak out if he almost died like that. Not like I do, but I get the feeling. We should probably figure out how to warm up though. Being in the water then in this cold isn’t good for anyone, even those of us with skills to help with the cold. Need to dry off as fast as we can. I picked up some sticks and stuff along the way, so we can get something started. We might want to move… that, though,” she said, pointing to the corpse of the Warped.

“Eugh, yeah,” Kat grunted, getting to her feet. “Help me out?”

The girls got to work moving the body, while Bren set about setting up the fire. Soon enough, they had it dumped into one of the pools and gathered by the fire. The ice, surprisingly, didn’t start to melt at the heat, and just behaved like a normal floor. “Magic ice, huh? Nice,” Ann grunted as she sat, back to the fire so her tail could dry out.

“That was surprisingly vicious for something that was not a Guardian,” Bren spoke up, putting his hands to the flames. “Though eliminating it will earn us a good amount of gold. Not to mention the level I received.”

“Oh, so it wasn’t just me?” Ann asked. 

Kat and Rosalyn nodded, indicating their advancement as well. Kat was busy shivering and trying to warm up, and Rosalyn was helping dry her off with a blanket.

“Just an even level, though. At least stat increases are important,” Ann said, flicking her window open and adding her two points of Dexterity, bringing it up to an even 30.

“Thirty Intellect!” Rosalyn cheered, making her own selections.

“Same fer me Tenacity,” Kat said with a self-satisfied grin.

“Just more Intellect on my part as well,” Bren said softly, eyes returning to focus on the flames.

“So, what’s the plan now?” Ann asked, turning around after shaking her tail out. “I’m kinda wiped after that fight. I could use a rest.”

“As could I,” Bren admitted. “Not quite ready to throw myself back into life or death quite yet.”

“How ‘bout we take a rest ‘ere,” Kat suggested. “Rosalyn an’ I can take watch while ye two nap.”

“Sounds good to me,” Rosalyn said, stretching and standing back up. “Shame we didn’t bring one of those Scuttlefish. I would have liked to look at how its skeletal structure worked with an endo and exoskeletal creature mixing.” The woman sighed, clearly a little put out.

Ann shuffled herself over to the wall, setting down her bedroll and curling up on it, closing her eyes. Bren had done similar and sat beside Kat, head resting on her shoulder as he drifted off.

Kat and Rosalyn kept quiet conversation for the duration the two slept, mostly trading stories of Warped they’d run into. Rosalyn took particular interest in the freak they’d run into before encountering Ann. It wasn’t like anything she’d ever heard of, and the Druid seemed genuinely upset she didn’t get to see the horror herself.

After a time, Ann woke and stretched, claws extending habitually and scraping against the ice. Something soft and warm was snuggled up next to her, and looking down, she saw Rosalyn had sidled up to her while she slept. Smiling, she stroked the woolen hair that tumbled between the Druid’s horns. “I’m up,” she said softly.

“Yeah, I could tell,” Rosalyn whispered back. “Kat and Bren looked so comfy I wanted someone to lean against too, so, uh, yeah. Guess this is what happened.”

“Hey, you won’t hear me complaining,” Ann giggled, pulling Rosalyn closer. “Seriously, no need to be nervous about it. I like having you this close.”

“Oh good, ‘cause I like it too,” Rosalyn murmured, nuzzling into Ann’s side. “You’re so warm and big. Just so comfortable, despite the whole wolf thing. It feels nice.”

“Hey, Rosalyn?” Ann whispered, lowering her head just shy of the top of Rosalyn’s.

The woman turned to see what she wanted and was instead met with a soft kiss on the lips. Her eyes went wide for a moment, before closing and melting into Ann’s lips.

Ann deepened the kiss slightly, tongue slipping out between her lips to request access to Rosalyn’s. She readily accepted, her breath hitching, and Ann got her first proper taste of the woman. She tasted fresh. Like a mountain breeze, with a hint of ozone. It was a strange taste that made her tongue tingle and her body shudder. Pulling back, she pressed her forehead to Rosalyn’s, letting the woman’s horns hold her in place.

“You taste really nice,” Ann whispered as she watched the Druid.

“Mmmm,” was the only response she got. Rosalyn still hadn’t opened her eyes, she was so lost in the kiss. Slowly, she came back to reality, hazel eyes fluttering open to meet Ann’s green pools. “So do you. Though I’m not sure if that’s just ‘cause I like you,” she admitted, head trying to lower as she embarrassed herself.

“I’m not really sure why,” Ann said, leaning back and pulling Rosalyn on top of her, letting the smaller woman snuggle on top of her. “For some reason I’m able to get a sense of someone from how they taste. It was like that with Kat, too. She tastes like the earth and the trees. Natural, steady, firm. You taste like the mountains, and a hint of a storm. Fresh and clear, but dangerous at the same time.”

“Mmm,” Rosalyn mumbled from where she lay. “Sounds really nice. Wish I could say what you taste like, but all I can say is that it tastes like you.”

“Eh, that’s good enough for me,” Ann laughed, running her hand down Rosalyn’s back, gently stroking the woman’s hair. “Maybe Orenous can help with that if we ask nicely next time she pops up.”

“That’d be fun. Both to meet her and to find out what that’s like,” Rosalyn hummed. She turned, burying her face between Ann’s breasts, taking a deep breath. “Though I can tell you one thing,” she said. “You smell like sweat.”

Laughing, Ann pushed her off, sitting up. “Yeah, I probably reek. Even after taking a dip with that thing. Eugh, that might have made it worse. Sorry for subjecting you to that.”

“Nah, it’s fine. Hazard of the trade and all,” Rosalyn giggled as she sat up.

“Ye two’re gettin’ along nicely,” Kat commented, grinning at them from a few feet away.

Bren was rousing himself, blinking sleep from his eyes as he sat up. “Time to move on?”

“Aye. Take yer time. Somethin’ tells me this one’s gonna be a bit longer than most,” Kat said, eyeing the singular exit to the room.

Chapter Text

Ann fluffed her tail and the fur on her legs, trying to get it back to normal. The dip in the lake had left her feeling scummy, and being covered with Warped, and a bit of Bren’s blood, sure didn’t help. She’d washed a bit in the pools, but there was only so much she could do without soap.

Groaning, she joined the other three, who were waiting at the exit to the room. “So, hear anything down there, Kat?”

“Nae, quiet as the grave,” the Protector stated ominously

“Feeling dramatic after resting, are we?” Bren asked, cocking an eyebrow.

“Just gettin’ a li’l more anxious the further down we go,” Kat grumbled, looking around. “More ‘n more water above us. More ‘n more weight tae come crashin’ down if it wants.”

“I get it,” Rosalyn piped up, running a hand along the icy wall. “Even enchanted to be resistant to heat and that kind of thing, it’s still ice, right? Who knows if it can break. Though I guess it’s a Seed’s terrain. It can do whatever it really wants to do. Magic is pretty awesome like that.”

“Indeed,” Bren agreed. “I do not believe we will have to worry about a cave in as long as we do not cause extreme damage to structural points.”

“When the walls are all that’s holding water back, isn’t everything a structural point?” Ann asked, taking her place at the rear as they began to march down the tunnel.

“Correct, however there may be places that bear the load of the weight more than others. Pillars, struts, any type of reinforcing geometry should be avoided. My parents taught me some about maintaining pressure and withstanding it due to their research, and it seems to be largely applicable here, only on the inverse.”

“So don’t break the walls. Gotcha,” Kat said, tapping her sword against the ice. “So, we’ve had fish, crustaceans, amphibians and an otter. Any other bets on what else we’ll find?”

“Well, we did run into plants in Estvall’s seed,” Ann said, remembering the Croaking Oak and the vines. “Down here, I’d think it’d be more grass or reeds. Not sure what that could do to us. Maybe make it harder to walk?”

“Harder tae walk while somethin’ harries us. That’d be a bloody problem fer sure.”

“You know,” Ann thought out loud, “I’m Orenous’ champion, right? Kinda surprised having a divinely blessed person coming in here isn’t changing anything. Wouldn’t a divine domain react to that kind of thing?”

“A question we will need to explore the more Seeds we investigate,” Bren advised. “It is possible that your patron’s influence may affect the Seed, but these are fresh waters. Theoretically, I would wonder what such a thing would manifest as.”

“Knowin’ Orenous, probably somethin’ lewd. Or heartwarmin’? Maybe a bit o’ both,” Kat posited, guiding them around a bend in the tunnel.

“Ooh, I wonder what she could come up with. Or what her Seed would be like. Do any of you know where it is? It shouldn’t be far if Annita wound up here just from walking.” Rosalyn asked.

Ann stumbled and fell behind for a moment. Had she really heard Rosalyn being intrigued by that? Looking past the Druid, she saw Kat’s wide eyes looking back at her, before they shared a grin. Maybe this sheep wasn’t as innocent as Ann had been interpreting her.

“It is southeast of the Keep. It is one of the largest Seeds in the Kingdom, and thankfully well within our borders. The problem with it being the largest is that it is one of the most difficult Seeds to conquer. To this day, it has been bested a total of five times. Every time, it was by a once in a generation talent. The stories they brought back were all, well, scandalous would be underselling it,” Bren recounted with a blush. “She is the Goddess of her domain for a reason.”

“You’re making me want to try this out,” Ann laughed, letting her imagination roam. “A whole seed full of lewd stuff? You’re coming too, right Rosalyn?” she asked with a playful elbow to the Druid.

“I would… oh wow, that would be a lot. I don’t know. Maybe? Maybe in the future? We still haven’t, ya know,” she bumped her fists together. “Just give me some time and I’m sure I’ll warm up to it?”

“Oh, we’ll make sure o’ tha’, little lamb,” Kat grinned back at her, wiggling her ears and eyebrows. “But, aye, sounds like fun. Not sure what ye’d get intae, Bren. Doesn’t seem like yer scene.”

“I would remind you all that just because I do not want to engage with someone who’s with my all but blood sister does not mean I do not have my own desires,” Bren huffed. “I have no conception of what a Seed affected by Orenous’ influence, or her own seed, would include, but if necessary, I would participate.”

“Oooh, didn’t think you’d actually be all right with that,” Ann whistled, the sound echoing off the walls in an odd, almost musical way. “Now I’m really curious, and I haven’t really asked. What are your desires? Who’s your type?”

“I will keep the former private,” Bren huffed, keeping his chin held high in an attempt at dignity. “The second, well…” he took a moment for thought. “I do prefer women, that is for certain. Their body type does not matter much to me, though taller might be nice? It is hard for me to have much of a preference. Personality compatibility is key when seeking a partner.”

“Ok, cut the shit, boobs or ass?” Ann asked, a randy grin crossing her lips as Kat cackled in front of them. Rosalyn, who was walking just behind Bren, looked slightly mortified at the conversation.

“If I were forced to make a choice, ass, as you so crudely put it.”

“So, a tall lady with a great ass. Hmmm…” Ann thought. “I mean, Polaris does have both. Though she’s a lot older. You’re not into that, are you?”

“Gods, no, not her,” Bren gasped, taking his turn to look mortified. “Let's put aside that she’s known me for a good portion of my life, the pressure of that position must be immense. Also, with my obligations to this team, I would have to leave that person for extended periods of time. I do not feel that would be fair.”

“Guess I’ll have to keep looking, then. Maybe we can find someone who’ll be down to traipse through hell and back with us. I’ll see if I can ask Orenous for some pointers,” Ann teased with a wink.

Bren just sighed and refused to reply, focusing on the cavern.

“So, ye thought o’ anythin’ ye wanna do fer a date?” Kat asked Rosalyn as the cave made another turn. “Shite. Hold tha’ thought,” she grumbled as they heard skittering up ahead.

Around the bend, chitinous legs scrabbled. A mess of Scuttlefish charging at them with reckless abandon. With Kat forming the bulwark, they easily defended against the rush. Ann squeezed to the side, moving past Bren and Rosalyn to help cut down the creatures on the front lines, while Rosalyn made do with her Thorns. There were only seven or eight of the monstrosities, so the crush wasn’t the worst, but Ann still suffered a cut that snuck past her guard. Kat suffered a similar cut across her cheek as one of the Scuttlefish’s haphazard legs managed to clatter over the edge of her shield.

Bren patched them up with ease, and they took quick stock, once again covered in the white pus and black blood as the Scuttlefish popped upon death. 

“Man, they’re not tough, but they’re fucking nasty,” Kat grumbled, wiping gunk from her gloves.

“Not my favorite, nae,” Kat agreed, taking the lead again. “Where were we? Oh, right, Rosalyn, date?”

“Hm, I’ve been thinking. I don’t really know much about how to date. I’m a mockingbird with how much I’m repeating how alone I was. Don’t know how you city people really do stuff. Could we do something more comfortable to me? Maybe take a walk or something? Somewhere quiet and alone? Preferably outside the walls, if we could make that safe. Just, not too intense. That’d overwhelm me and then I get light headed, and then I pass out and make you all worry, and that’s not great and, and…” Rosalyn’s words became a waterfall as she got wrapped up in her own head.

Annita rested a hand on her shoulder. “Yeah, we can do that. We’ll figure out plans later, but that can absolutely work.”

“Not like the city is the only safe place, neither,” Kat explained. “There’re farms an’ other smaller towns all o’er the place, like River’s Crest. Us bein’ outside the walls fer a date shouldn’t be a problem. At worst, can ask Polaris tae give us a shadow, not like she won’t have one watchin’ anyway.”

“Then I guess that’s what I’d like to do. I can make us lunch and we can go out on a walk and just be out in nature. Not all geared up for a fight, but just to be out and about. Sounds perfect to me,” Rosalyn sighed, clearly imagining her plans.

“As long as it’s what you want, I’m cool with it,” Ann said with a smile as she ruffled Rosalyn’s wool affectionately. “Nature walks are really nice. Just looking at trees, plants, and all the animals that live out there.”

“I know. I had sketchbooks I’d work on when I went out,” Rosalyn said, turning to face Ann as she walked backwards. “Full of little drawings and notes. All the birds, little critters, bigger critters, rocks, trees. There was so much to learn and study out there. Then there were the Warped. Oh, I want to write more about them. It seems like there’s so much to learn from their bodies. How do all these pieces work together? Especially when they’re from different animals. Where do they connect and how? Why those species, and not more varied ones? Ugh, I want to know more!”

“And here I thought I was the scholar,” Bren laughed. “Different fields, I suppose, but you certainly have the curiosity of one.”

“I do? I guess so. Just always been like this. See something, need to figure out why it’s like it is.” Rosalyn shrugged. “Nothing too special.”

“I disagree. The commitment to learning and knowledge is not something everyone possesses. Take our lovely Katlyn here,” Bren joked, laughing at the rude gesture Kat sent back at him. “She knows much of battle and martial strength, however when it comes to a book or the more intellectual pursuits, you would have better luck teaching a stone.”

“I got plenty o’ education in me first thirty years, thank ye,” Kat huffed. “Just got tired o’ it. Might be able tae pick it up later, but fer now? It can sod off.”

“Little Katlyn, all dressed up by her maids and sitting with her tutor. Oh I hope your mom has pictures,” Ann laughed, with Rosalyn tittering politely as well.

“There are… paintings,” Kat grumbled, hunching her shoulders as she stalked forward.

“Bren, please, I need to see these,” Ann all but begged.

“I will let Katlyn be the decision maker on this topic,” he laughed. “Or her mother. Gods know if you convince her to do something, you will never sway her.”

“So, a lot like you, Kat?” Ann asked.

“Kinda pisses me off how true tha’ is,” Kat huffed. “Get called the spittin’ image o’ someone enough o’er fifty years an’ it puts a chip on yer shoulder. I’m me own damn woman, cocksuckers. Not some doppelgänger treamsgal.”

“Ok, touchy subject, sorry,” Ann apologised, cutting herself off.

“It’s… fine. Ye’ll get tae know it all soon enough. Better ye know the problems afore ye meet everyone,” Kat sighed.

“Don’t want to intrude, but I’ve heard an ok amount about the Queen. Is she really that similar?” Rosalyn asked. Before Kat or Bren could answer, she continued. “’Cause I’ve heard she’s nice. Overall, a good queen. Maybe a bit distant and militaristic? Keeps us safe, though. Graven Keep’s never been stronger and the outskirts never safer. The king… honestly, I haven’t heard much about him, just that he’s the queen’s husband and that they’re really different. Like really different.”

“Aye, aye. Can confirm all o’ that an’ more. Da’s not someone who puts any focus on ‘is body. Politician through and through. He’s… all right,” Kat sighed again. “He means well, but ‘es all proper an’ wants tae ‘ave us all be like tha’. Can be a bit overbearin’. But, overall, he’s da’. Love ‘im an’ all tha’.”

“They do good by the kingdom, too,” she continued. “At least, the best they can while workin’ with the courts an’ nobility. There’s a traditionalist faction and an expansionist faction. They’re part o’ the traditionalists. Defendin’ the people, promotin’ stability an’ diplomatic everythin’. I tried. I did. Wanna make me da’ proud. Just never was me strong suit.”

“Katlyn was always at odds with her mother,” Bren explained. “Two headstrong women that are convinced their way is the right way. The friction was inevitable. King Farragher, however, is someone I look up to aside from my own parents. He has a tact about him few others possess. A polite word, placed in the right place, can move nations, and he seems to be a master at this art. No doubt a product of a couple of centuries of practice.”

“Starting to see the picture,” Ann said. “Families never change, era to era.”

“Nope. Or at least I assume they wouldn’t. People change a lot, but how they interact with those who raised them? Gotta be pretty similar,” Rosalyn laughed.

“Oi, somethin’ comin’,” Kat called. 

A soft slither filled the tunnel, seemingly coming from everywhere. Ann watched the back of the group while Kat was readied in the fore. The sound got louder, and louder, until whatever it was made the turn behind them. A dark shape at first which quickly clarified into a massive snake. It was big enough that it all but filled the tunnel. As its yellowed eyes spied them, it let out a hiss that shook Ann’s bones and opened its mouth.

“RUN!” Ann shouted as she picked up Rosalyn and bolted, the rest of the group following suit.

The thing was fast, and it gained on them quickly. The ice around them shook as its length writhed against the walls, speeding its pursuit. Kat and Bren were in the lead, Bren breathing hard as he sprinted forward. They made a turn, not sharp enough to stop the beast. A long passage stretched before them, but they had no choice of a retreat.

As they reached the end of the stretch, the snake was almost on them, and Ann could feel its hot breath whenever it opened its mouth to hiss its fury at them. Rosalyn cast a few prodding Thorns at it, but they all shattered off its scales unnoticed.

After the left turn at the end of the straight tunnel, they reached a fork. One went further down, and the other up. Making a snap decision, Kat called to head further down. The three runners took off down the path, and were wonderfully surprised to find the tunnel narrowing as they descended. Not by much, but after a few seconds, it was to where Ann’s ears were scraping the ceiling.

Behind them, the snake tried to force its way down, pushing hard against the walls. The ice shook, pieces falling off and skittering down the slope past Ann’s paws, but the beast had reached its limit. Glaring at them balefully, it gave them a final hiss before backing itself up. As it did, Ann saw through the gaps between its side and the walls, hundreds of small lizard legs working in unison to pull it backwards.