It was night now. She wasn’t sure how she knew that without opening her eyes. All she knew was that for sure when she opened her eyes it would be dark outside.
Sure enough, when she did the darkness greeted her. Darkness that she was sure would have blinded her before. Now her eyes pierced through it like it was early in the afternoon. As she sat up she noted a few things quickly. She was in a stone house lacking much furniture. In fact, she was on the hard ground with some vegetation for a bed.
A vague memory from before reminded her that The First called these places dens. This had been one of the few open ones left. A single space on the second floor of a destroyed building. The entire first floor had been filled with debris but there was enough empty space on the first to accommodate at the very least the pair of them.
“Luck was on our side this time,” she said to herself.
Speaking of that she looked to her side and Snow was fast asleep beside her. She had been curled up around her but enough times sleeping together had taught Snow to relax when they slept to allow Ryza to move whenever she woke up in the middle of the night.
Climbing out of their makeshift bed, Ryza walked toward the end of the room. She wobbled slightly, using her tail to balance. She looked at her shaking legs and let out a soft whimper as she took another step. Turning around with a red face she smiled at Snow. “I didn’t quite expect the first time to be like that. But I’ll get you back tomorrow night. Don’t you worry.”
She walked over to what could have been called a balcony that overlooked their section of Luthagen. She could see the clear night sky as well as part of the courtyard and the paths outlining it. The city went much deeper than she’d guessed upon entering.
The First’s den was a straight shot from the courtyard. There were many entrances and exits to the desert from where they would go. Out down the east, there was a sharp drop off that went down to a natural pond and river that they used as a place to bathe. On the west was a thin area of grassland that tried to bring life back to this desert. Though even calling it that wasn’t fair. It was much more than that.
She could remember what The First had said when walking them over, “We hunt what we can. What we can’t hunt we grow.” There were crops grown all over the place though very few of them were concentrated together. One such crop was right near them. Sniffing the air, she could smell what she guessed were beats. It was a richer scent than she was used to.
Unlike what she remembered from the Free City though this place followed a typical day night situation. There were guards that roamed around but for the most part, people retired and slept now that the sun was down. There were a few lights in other dens
Going to the edge of the balcony she sat down and shivered. The cool night air against bare skin wasn’t exactly comfortable. She felt her wolf manifest and sit beside her, its tail swaying in time to her own. Flicking her ears, she looked at it but it continued to stare ahead. She reached out and her hand passed through it because it wasn’t real. It never was.
But it looked at her and sniffed at her hand regardless before rubbing it’s face against her hand as much as it could. She smiled and shook her head, “You’re not quite like Shriek. You have far more personality than that. But you’re also not quite real. I don’t know what to make of you.”
It sat up straight turning and she could hear it as well. Shifting in the sand, the rustling in the crops. Narrowing her eyes, she leaned forward and jumped down landing lightly on her feet. Crossing the distance to the noise she remained low to the ground. Ever since properly shifting the extra natural movement was amazing. Balance, speed, and strength she’d never had before.
She sniffed at the air, darting forward toward the end of the crops. She could see the tall sprouts separate and out came three shapes. All of them were small, barely up to her knee, and yapping aggressively. Three wolves, pups from what Ryza could tell, and one managed to run through her legs but the other two bumped into her.
One ran and pawed at her leg while the other went rolling backward obviously confused. The one that made it past her slid as it turned around and also stumbled down. Ryza stared down at the one pawing at her, its face angry at first but that quickly shifted to playful curiosity as it sniffed at her.
She bent down and picked it up, holding it under its forepaws. It kicked at suddenly being in the air but sniffed at her hands now. It was a dark grey baby with bright blue eyes. It leaned forward as best it could and sniffed at her hands licking her lightly. She made a face but heard the angry yaps at her ankles.
A russet red pup and a lighter grey one were trying to bite and gnaw at her ankle. She stared at them feeling their barely developed teeth at her ankles and then looked at the one in her hands. Its tail wagged, she glanced down and set him down with the other two who immediately jumped on him happily.
She smiled watching them play and turned away when another scent caught her nose. Stopping she turned and a woman came forward from around the crop this time. She was taller than Ryza, maybe taller than Snow. She was definitely toned like Snow but something about her face made her seem young. Early 20s at best. She had rich brown skin, light brown eyes, a broad nose, and long dark hair that seemed to flash purple in the moonlight. Smiling she doubled over for a second out of breath. Like Ryza had seen before she was wearing a regular shirt with the arms torn off and something like shorts.
“Sorry about that. They got away from me. They’re fast when they’re young,” she wiped her brow and the pups barked at her their tails wagging immediately. But the dark grey one turned to look at Ryza again and the other two followed suit.
“Who are you?” Ryza asked.
“My names Stephanie. Puppy wrangler. At least for now. You smell new. One of those two newcomers right?”
Ryza nodded, “My names Ryza. My partner’s name is Snow. She’s up there.”
The dark grey puppy ran at Ryza’s leg and instead of biting it was slapping at her exposed skin with his paws. The other two followed suit, dancing and jumping around at her legs. She raised her eyebrow, cracking a small smile.
“They’ve taken a liking to you.” Stephanie laughed.
“Don’t they have a mom to go back to or something?”
“Unfortunately, no. These three are all orphans and haven’t found a real pack to join.”
“I thought this was one big pack,” Ryza looked up from them.
Stephanie nodded staring off into the distance to make sure she got it right, “We all are family but even within this pack smaller one’s form. There’s about forty wulves here? People come and go all the time. But accompanying them there’s another forty if not more actual wolves that roam around. Sometimes the pups lose their mommas through complications and we get orphans. Most of the time they get adopted into other packs. But then there are those who don’t get taken in by a wulf pack or a wolf pack. That’s the fate of these three.”
Ryza crouched down and brushed her fingers through their fur and they jumped to her and danced around her jumping for her hands and rubbing against her. Her eyes softened a bit as she looked at them. “That’s sad. I feel bad for them.”
“It happens,” her smile faded around the edges but she brought it back. “That’s why I’m around. I take care of them to make sure they can at least make it to adulthood.”
Ryza nodded, “What happens to them once they become adults?”
“Some leave the pack and wander. Others finally find a proper family.”
“I hope that they’re able to find one. They’re cute.”
She started walking away but as she walked the puppies barked and followed her. She paused as they jumped around her feet and crossed around her. They circled around her yapping and staring up at her.
“Uhm. What are they doing?”
“I think they like you. At least he does,” she pointed at the dark grey one. “And the other two are definitely following him around.”
Sure enough the dark grey one was staring right up at her with his blue eyes, barking as best he could and tail a blur of movement. “He likes me. Hm.”
“These three are very young. I think they’ve latched onto you like you’re their mom.” She rubbed her arm glancing away. “They didn’t warm up to me like that but at least they somewhat listened.”
“I am definitely not,” she said looking back at her sharply.
“I know that but he doesn’t know that. And my hands are kinda full right now. These three are the youngest but there’s at least six older ones that I’m taking care of. Too old for these three to play with.”
Ryza turned around to face her and glared, “You’re not suggesting what I think you are.”
She made a face and smiled shrugging her broad shoulders, “I may be. Just let them come along with you. Hunt with you. Play with them. All of that. They’re sweethearts.”
“I’m not a caretaker.”
“Trust me when I say they don’t take much maintenance,” she pressed her hands together and lowered her head.
“What makes you think I’d even take care of them instead of kicking them to the curb?”
“Because I saw it in your eyes. You already have a soft spot for him.”
“Ryry tries to be tough but she’s a big softy.”
Ryza’s smile was immediate and wide. She turned around to greet Snow and she yawned before grinning at her. Snow gave her a quick kiss almost picking her up but her eyes immediately fell upon the puppies and she dropped down to face them.
“Oh my goodness puppies!” her eyes shined as they jumped into her arms. Immediately they were in her face licking at her and sniffing her. She laughed tickled by their attention. “Where did you all come from? Huh? You’re so affectionate.”
“They’re local orphans,” Ryza said. “In fact, Stephanie was just talking to me about their position in the pack.”
She turned to look at her but she was gone now. Ryza could just smell a trace of her scent but she was gone gone. Scowling she turned back toward Snow who was surrounded by puppies at this point and loving every second of it. “She really left them with us.”
“What are you talking about Ryry?” Snow asked picking up the lighter grey pup as the brown one climbed on her. “Hey relax. Plenty of Snow to go around,” she said rubbing the fur of two at the same time. But the dark grey one jumped off and ran straight over to Ryza.
He jumped at her and she barely managed to catch him in time and sighed. Struggling forward he licked at her chin rubbing up against her jaw. She looked at the puppy and sighed rubbing his head slowly. Ryza groaned as she carried him back toward Snow. She stood up with the other two puppies in tow.
“You were saying something about someone else being here?” Snow asked.
“Yeah but she’s left them with us now,” she scowled and the one in her arms barked.
“Pretty sure they’re wolves,” Snow said. “Babies but still wolves.”
“Wolves. Dogs.” She rolled her eyes her tail twitching. “It’s the same thing in regards to them.”
“Will we have enough space in our den?”
“We are not keeping them.”
“Oh come on Ryry. How can you say no to them?” She lifted up the brown one and it barked looking at her which set off the other two immediately. Ryza sighed hard and walked away but the dark grey one was chasing after her quickly. She walked up the rubble path to their second floor room but the puppy was there waiting for her.
She turned and sat on their bed and the puppy hopped in after her. He curled up next to her lap and let out a wide yawn flashing his tiny teeth before settling in. Snow came up with the other, holding one in her arms and the other bouncing beside her. Snow was careful not to brush against Ryza’s puppy and cradled the other two in her lap.
Ryza sighed stroking her fingers through the fur of the others, “How did we get saddled with this already?”
“Come on Ryry don’t be that way. They’re cute and they didn’t have anywhere else to go. They just want to have someone to be with. To love and follow.”
“Are you projecting onto them?” Ryza asked.
She smiled shaking her head, “No. I can sort of feel it from them. They’re not exactly hard to read. They don’t have anything to hide. Just honest.” She propped the brown one up staring into her eyes and rubbed her nose against it. She licked her nose and let out a happy bark her way.
“Sounds like a certain someone I know,” she said staring at Snow properly this time.
Snow beamed at her, “That’s true. Nothing to hide from me. I’m just here to live life. Well, live my life with you now. Hey, we’re starting our own pack now!”
“What?”
Snow set her puppy down and turned around to face her. “Me you and these three. The five of us. It’s small but.” She trailed off looking at Ryza and frowning. “Okay maybe this one is a bit of a stretch, right?”
Ryza looked at her then at the dark grey puppy and then the other two she stroked her finger across the puppies back. She looked at the small puppy pile near Snow and she nodded her head.
“If we keep them, we’re going to need to get a bigger bed. After all they won’t stay this small forever.”
Snow looked down at them and repeated what she said to herself. Looking back at her she smiled widely and leaned over kissing her, bringing her down into their bed. She pulled Ryza close against her chest and rubbed her face against her curly hair and held her tighter.
Ryza smiled against her neck and then titled her head upward and kissed her hard pulling her close. Digging her fingers through the pale silver of her hair and the dark of her skin. She kissed along her face, her cheeks, her forehead, her eyes and then her lips again holding her close once more.
Snow leaned forward and her teeth came first, biting at her lips and neck. Teasing with her teeth and promising more with her lips and tongue. Ryza shuddered pulling back slightly and pressed her forehead against Snows, meeting her eyes. “Really more?”
“I can’t get enough of you Ryry. Honestly, I’ve been wanting to have a bite of you since we first met.”
“You mean all the way back in the bar?”
“Yeah. You were cute in a very awkward way.”
“So what made you look at me twice then?”
“You were different. Not like anyone else in the village. I wanted to at the very least get to know more about you.”
“Well you got a little bit more than you bargained for with me no doubt.”
Snow looked up at her from their bed and pulled her down into their bundle of clothes. Snow snuggled herself close to Ryza taking a deep breath and being within her arms like this. “I wouldn’t say that much Ryry. If anything, you got more than you were expecting with me.”
“Come one. A wulf isn’t any harder to deal with than saving the world from my insane mother.”
“Well when you compare me to that how can I even compete?” she chuckled.
“Easily. You gave me a home again. Right here in your arms,” she kissed her again softly and pulled her closer. “My parents. My brother. I lost them all. I had allies but family? A home? I didn’t have that. Not really. I could have stayed in the Free City but it didn’t feel right.”
“Why not? Alison and Vincent seemed really nice.”
“They are. I wish you could have met Morrigan and Alistair as well. They’re very good people. But they’re not my people. Not where I belonged. I traveled for a long time losing other friends along the way until I met you. You were the first person I ever felt something like that was more than just passing.”
“I’m your first crush?”
She blushed, “No Snow. I’ve had crushes before you.”
“So then what am I Ryry?’
“Hm?”
“If I’m not your crush than what am I?”
Ryza got the feeling that she was being loosely teased right now. And looking at Snow’s face, seeing her grin, and feeling her arms tighten around her and their legs tangle together she was sure of that. Ryza smirked and pushed her off slowly and then shoved her down.
She got atop her and stared down at the wulf that had given her a purpose, that had given her a goal. Something, no someone, to fight for. And then made her feel like she mattered. Not just as a mage but as a person. Someone whose gaze warmed her from the inside out like no fire could. Made her blush, made her angry, made her defensive, and made her protective.
“You’re the person I chose Snow. The person that I somehow fell in love with,” she whispered and kissed her again.
Even that took Snow off guard but she kissed her back holding her close. “And I fell in love with you.” She whispered when they pulled apart. “No matter where we’re going or what happens, I’m with you Ryza. Forever.”
“Don’t go promising that just yet.”
Snow shook her head, “You don’t have to worry about me Ryza. Also wulves are loyal.”
Ryza smiled rubbing her nose against hers, “I’ve noticed my wulf.”
“My necromancer.”
Ryza sat up slightly and looked at her, “Promise?”
“Promise.”
The Harlequin Library 