In the mist lies a werewolf, running with pride,

In the dark light there is a werewolf stalking your every

move,

In the snowy dark forest, a werewolf is seeking for a lover,

In the eyes of the werewolf, he sees you,

In the werewolf’s heart, forever will you be.

-From “A Werewolf’s Love” by Sarah Bishop

        I yawned and stretched as I awoke some time later, though how much time had passed, I wasn’t sure. I do know I awoke to nobody behind me, and miraculously ‘clean’ bed sheets, though I myself was still covered in cum.

        As the events of the… night? Day? Prior came to mind, and my face brightened with a blush as my brain proceeded to start shutting down due to overstimulation.

        It was around then I felt a hand wrap itself around me, pulling me closer to them as she inhaled my scent, “Mine,” she growled quietly enough that I thought I misheard, until I felt her fingers tracing over the mark she made during the event.

        I slowly rolled over in her embrace to face her, “What do you mean?” I asked softly, my eyes searching her face, “What’d you mean when you bit me, and what do you mean when you say… that?”

        She studied me for a few, agonizingly silent moments before pulling away and sitting up, a wistful look overtaking her face, as she asked ever so quietly, that I barely managed to hear from where I lay, “Did you not want to be mine?”

        I quickly realized my mistake and moved to sit in her lap, facing her as I peppered her cheeks with kisses and 'accidentally' grinded against her cock in the process, “Can you ask me again?” I ask just as softly, resting my forehead against hers.

        She clears her throat and sets me off of her lap, but keeps me facing her as she looks me dead in the eyes, a tear threatening to escape both eyes, “Did. You. Not. Want. To. Be. Mine.” She said, louder this time and emphasizing each word as if it were a dagger she was trying to slice me with.

        I began shaking a little as coherent me realized the implications of what we had done in our lust, between her biting my neck, which I realized her was essentially marking me as her territory, and her not only taking my virginity, but filling me with her seed as well.

        I took one of her hands in mine and kissed the back of it gently, trailing them up her arm and nuzzling into her neck after kissing and nibbling it a couple of times. Once the shakiness had dissipated, I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, “I never said that, did I, Mai?” I asked softly, nestling against her, “I loved last night. I loved that you wanted to make me yours in the first place. The only real question I have is, did you do it out of love, or did you do it out of lust?”

        She leaned her head against mine and sighed, wrapping an arm around my back and pulling me a little closer, “I think… It was mostly out of lust, heat of the moment,” she started softly, “but I won’t lie; I found you intriguing when I first caught sight of you, before you stepped into that fancy restaurant. And I’ve certainly wanted to fuck you since… well, you know. But….” She trails off, the dots connecting in my head unspoken.

        I merely nod as I slip away gently, putting together an outfit from what clothes were brought over, aiming for a casual and comfy look more than anything. As I go to leave, I clear my throat at the door, “Well… Then I’ll try not to cling too closely, or be too easily flustered, in case you make another…” I trail off much as she did, leaving the word unspoken and hanging in the air between us, “At any rate, I’m going to figure out where your kitchens are, or at least somewhere to eat, and then explore some more.”

        She solemnly nods as I step out, leaving her alone in the silent, sexually scent-filled room of our deeds, ‘I guess it was too much for her to fall in love with me in… what? Less than a week?’ I think to myself as I wind my way through the various hallways, before I come across a delicious smell and follow the trail, but not before I hear an intriguing conversation.

        “So, you really think what the Queen said about the girl is true? That she’s a Halfling?” a voice whispered.

        I stopped nearby, and followed close enough to keep them in earshot, but hopefully not close enough that they sensed my presence.

        “Nah, there’s no way one Halfling, provided she even is one, is the hope for multiple species. I’ve heard stories about their breeding capabilities, but I’ve never met one to put theory in practice. You?” another voice replied.

        “Nah, I call complete bullshit on everything about them, honestly. The fate of the world rests in her hands? If she really can do all those things the myths would have us believe, then I’ll quit my job, change my name, and go in for a sex change ASAP!” he joked.

        “Oh, really? You wanna make that a bet?” his partner, sounding a bit more feminine as they stopped at a doorway and I stood, just in earshot.

        “Sure, why the hell not? If, and only if, it’s true, I’ll stick to it! If not, then I’ll go out to a gay club.”

        The female snickered and held her hand out, waiting for him to shake it, “Alright. If it’s true, I’ll support you, and hell, maybe even make you mine. If not, I’ll take you to the best gay club in town, and let all the hung men know you’re single af.”

        He simply nodded and shook hands, as they went through the door. I sighed and shrugged, letting what I heard from them stew around in my head as I went looking for the source of the smell I found earlier. Some time went by, and I lost track of how many hallways I’d ventured down in following those two, nor how many hallways I needed to backtrack, but I managed to find it again. This time, though, I was able to trace it back to the source, where it seems a plate of… whatever breakfast was, was waiting for me, ‘Did Mai let them know ahead of time?’ I thought to myself.

        After breakfast, which I think had been something to do with eggs, I pulled the bobby pins I kept my bangs back with and tried to trace my steps from yesterday, to at least one of the rooms that had been locked yesterday.

        After what felt like hours, though was more realistically like half whatever I thought it might’ve been, I finally found one. ‘Yes!’ I thought to myself, having spent the last while flipping the bobby pins around in my hands.

        I kneeled down and quickly got to work, listening carefully, both to the sounds the lock was making, and for any unexpected passersby, and began the slow, arduous, grueling task of picking a lock that I presumed was as old as time itself.

        It took me some unknown amount of time, which I always assume to be an untold number of hours, before I finally heard the lock click open. ‘Now to see what’s hidden behind Door Number… Well, sure. Door Number 1, though I know it’s not the first locked door I came across yesterday.’

        I opened it ever so slowly, cringing at how loud it was creaking, as if someone would show up and haul me off to a dungeon, ‘Does this place even have one?’ I thought solemnly.

        Once inside, I lit the few candles I could make out before taking in my newfound surroundings, letting out an appreciative whistle as I do so, “No wonder they want this locked up,” I muttered to myself in awe, eyeing the various jeweled and some alloyed weapon and armors.

        “Curiosity killed the cat, you know” an etherealic voice said behind me, “But it seems locked doors don’t stay locked for long with curious Halflings walking around unguarded.”

        I turned around, searching for the source as my eyes darted around the room, my head on a swivel. “Who’s there?”

        “These days I’m not much more than a ghost, a figment of most people’s imaginations,” the voice replied, echoing throughout the room.

        “Then… can you show yourself?”

        Silence greeted me in response, and I sighed, “Okay… then… can you tell me what you are?” I asked hesitantly.

        “A Guardian,” the voice replies simply, “There’s several of us, though we’re all in hiding, because we are like you, in that we’re just figments of stories passed down for centuries.”

        I nod as if understanding, “Then… why are you making yourselves known to me?”

        “Because we’re supposed to, somehow. We’re here to guide you in your search. Though it’s been so long… None of us remember what it is you’re supposed to find., though we do have a rather… vague idea of where it’s supposed to be, I think.”

        “Just… how long have you been waiting for me, or another Halfling?”

        Silence fills the air again and I sigh, this conversation doing nothing but frustrating me with every passing second. “Okay, you said there’s an object in here, somewhere, meant for me?”

        Silence again, “Do you know… where it is? Or maybe what it is?” I asked, barely able to keep the frustration out of my voice at this point, “Because I mean, if this is just a wild goose chase I’d rather—” I was cut off rather abruptly by a loud sound from somewhere off to my left.

        ‘Of course,’ I thought sarcastically, ‘whatever it is, is hiding in the BIGGEST pile of discarded stuff possible,’ I added with a frustrated sigh.

        ‘Just WHAT am I supposed to be looking for?’ I thought as I dug through the pile, tossing all sorts of weapons, armor, accessories, and other things throughout the room.

        Some time passed as I dug through the pile, and, where it once stood near the ceiling, was now dwindling to just under my chin and I sighed, kicking something at my feet in frustration as I slumped forward against the pile.

        “What am I supposed to be looking for?” I yell at the empty space.

        I sigh and stand up straight, stretching out my back and arms, taking a moment or three to breathe and recuperate a little, “Okay,” I say aloud to nobody in particular as I begin digging through what’s left of the pile, “if I were a magical item, or whatever the fuck, where would I be?” I murmur softly.

        This time, though, it doesn’t take long before a soft but distinct ‘clink’ sound catches my ear, “Clink?” I ask, digging towards the source, “What ‘clink?’”

        A few seconds, or maybe minutes, after I heard the initial clink, I heard a couple more, and began digging towards the bottom of the pile, not bothering to toss things out of my way anymore. Shortly after, a faint glow caught my eye.

        Digging until I found the source, I was met with two glowing daggers. One had a faint red glow to it, with a gold jewel on the hilt, while the other had a faint golden glow, with a red jewel on the hilt. There wasn’t much else special about them, with the exception of the inscription on the blades, which seemed to be my name, though I couldn’t be sure.

        “Good-bye, now.” The mysterious voice said at last, after… minutes? Or maybe hours of undisturbed digging.

        “What do you—” I started, but before I could finish, the scenery changed, and I was met with a four-poster bed covered in purple.

        As I blinked in extreme confusion as to what just happened, I felt an unfamiliar weight in my hands, and I looked down. I was even more confused to see the daggers I’d spent… hours? ‘Safe to assume it’s been several,’ I thought to myself.

        I didn’t have long to ponder exactly what happened, as there was a knock on my door and a soft voice, “Miss Rosalyn, are you awake and dressed?” they asked.

        “Er, yes,” I said, hiding the daggers under my pillows for now, “Who’s asking?”

        “Just a simple servant girl; the Queen’s summoned you,” they answered, “Do you need help putting an outfit together?”

        I shook my head before realizing I was speaking to someone on the other side of my bedroom door, “No, thanks! Just wait out there, okay?”