The early morning light woke me from my slumber while Corwin nudged me. "Avery, come on! Let's go play!" A grumbled left my lips as I squinted at the ball of energy. His fluffy tail was brushing against my side while he stood over top of me.
"Mmhh...give me like five minutes, please?" I rolled over to my side and made sure I put no pressure on my foot.
"Come on Avery, you say that every day! We are leaving tomorrow and won't have time to!" I didn't open my eyes but instead curled deeper into the furs. I could still feel him over me but he had gotten suspiciously quiet. Not to long later did a pair of hands yank the fur covering me free leaving me to hiss as the cool hair hit my skin. My eyes sharply darted around to find the proud looking perpetrator standing in over me. His smirk was remorseless as his handsome beastmen form stood tall compared to my laying form. Blush spread across my face as I looked away and shielded my eyes from his nude body.
"Jesus help me, Corwin! Put on a skirt. You don't see me naked do you!?" Carefully I worked my way out of his shadow and towards a wall to help me stand. The silence that fallowed made me wonder what exactly he was thinking in this moment.
"Right...anyways Avery, what do you want to play? We can throw that seed back and forth from yesterday. Or we can try to make that frisbee. Or-oof" Corwin had the wind knocked out of him as Milori hit his stomach with a folded skirt in hand. Milori looked at me with apologetic eyes as he held a basket in his other arm. Around Milori's waist was a grey short fur animal skin skirt.
"Good morning Avery, I hope you slept well," Milori spared Corwin a glance before walking closer to me. "If you would like to sleep more you can."
"No...I'm wide awake now..." I rubbed the back of my neck before looking back at the basket Milori had. "What is that if you don't mind me asking?"
Milori handed me the small basket with care. Inside I could see a scrap of animal skin, a small pot, and underneath soft looking animal furs.
My body felt stiff as I looked at the smoky copper fur before focusing my gaze back up at Milori.
"Are these-?"
A warm smile bloomed on his once robotic features. "Yes, after helping me for the past few days I thought it was only fair you get to keep a pelt of your own."
I couldn't stop the infectious smile that painted my face silly as I sat down outside to inspect the gifts more closely. Inside the small clay pot I had made a few days ago I found dried yellow flowers, smelling like vanilla and gardenias. The large patch of fur in the basket was indeed something I helped Milori in tanning and caring for the delicate hairs to maintain their softness. This one in particular was the sample I admired most. The shimmering holds from the ginger reds of the fox fur sparkled in the morning suns rays. The soft musky ash grey coated a smokey pattern over the reds and gave off a very rich ensamble of patterns to follow. I traced the lines carefully as I thought of what to do with it. It was quiet large compared to what an earth fox would be, almost taking up five coats of fur in one.
"These flowers can be used to wash your hair, there is a small spring nearby to do that." Milori smiled while watching me embrace the fur pelt. "If you need anything just ask. I have to go and see if the area is still safe before you go off to the spring. Corwin will be here with you today."
I nodded my head while I watched him take off in his wolf form. Looking back at Corwin I began asking him questions.
"Should I make a blanket? Should I try making clothes? Gah I don't know even a pillow sounds nice to make." My indecisiveness caused Corwin to laugh aloud.
"Why not make them all? I can help you if you want! I-Im not as good as Milori when it comes to sewing but I can give you some furs I have saved and-" I stopped Corwin with a shake of my head.
"No it's quite alright Corwin. You don't have to give me anything. I've settled on just making another set of clothes. I can't keep wearing this anymore." I gestured to my worn outfit which has been abused in the past week. "It needs a wash and I need a wash." I signed when looking down at the fur.
'But I've never really handled real fur before and it's not like my sewing skills are the best. All I can do are simple alterations, not make new clothes from scratch.'
"But can you help me sew these? I'm not very good myself." Corwins tail moved vigorously at my request while his goofy smile became wider and more charming.
Gingerly he took off into the cave before coming back out again with sewing needles and thread. The needles where thin and curved resembling fish bones while the thread was thinly cut leather strips. Carefully walking me through the steps we designed, measured, patterned and cut out the pieces needed to sew together. With what I had all I could make was a pancho and a simple short skirt. Despite how pretty the fur was I wanted it to be inverted and bracing my skin so I was kept warm which seemed to both amuse and disgruntle Corwin.
"It's a shame you are hiding how pretty the fur is," He signed as he sewed two pieces together. "I mean how else will you be able to show off in the village?"
'Oh great now I have him pouting like a child.' I rolled my eyes while a smile formed on my lips.
"Sorry for wanting to be warm. Besides I'm not wearing clothes to show off, I'm doing it to not walk around naked," I pulled the thread up as high as it could go before sticking it through again. "But if I where to show off it would be through my design. But I don't have enough fur or skill to do so."
The air seemed to feel soft and quiet as it blew past while I continued to busy away at making clothes. But even with the silence I almost didn't catch what Corwin was mumbling under his breath. "Well...you could just ask me. I would make anything you want you just have to tell me."
I turned my head in his direction and tilted it curiously. Corwin met my gaze with water coated eyes and a frown tugging at his lips. "You need to get better at asking for things that you want. You don't have to feel guilty for asking or accepting anything we are offering you. We are doing this because we want to, you don't owe anything. It's just something we do naturally." His eyes where fierce and focused as it matches his over all matured demeanor. Sincerity rolled off him in waves as sadness pushed it forward. But it wasn't pity he was looking at me with, instead I saw the soft empathetic glow of his core.
"We are here for you now and I'm here for you no matter what. I've gotten to know you in the past week and what I've learned is this; you put other needs before your own," His hand came up in a nervous slow approach before coming to pat my head. "So would you let me take care of you?"
I couldn't help but look away and feel ashamed. "What did I do to meet someone as sweet as you? I don't know what I did but it must have been good." Tears prickled my eyes as heat radiated from his touch. Though the pit in my stomach remained.
'Maybe I'm reading Corwin wrong but...does he have romantic feelings for me?'
I jumped at the thought as I embarrass myself to no end.
'No, well maybe, wait no. He says he's doing this because it's in his nature. It doesn't mean he likes me that way.' But Miloris words still occupy my mind.
"Well I feel sick now." An annoyed grumbled walked passed us. I pulled away for Corwins touch to sit up straighter when facing Liam.
"No one asked you." My face still felt flushed while my hormones kept all my emotions bare at the moment.
"What? With how you where talking I thought the conversation was about 'feelings'." Liam flicked his tail at me while he walked away. Before he had gotten too far I heard him spit out a few words. "Get a den."
Now it was Corwins turn to scowl. "What, jealous?" Corwin taunted while forming a smirk at the end. Liam turned his head sharply as his whole body went stiff in agitation. His eyes burned in fury and embarrassment as he gripped the basket in his hands.
"Jealous of what? You're too full of yourself, gods help me." Liam quickly spun around on his heal and muttered to himself strange swears belonging to this world. Maybe after he's cooled off I could ask him what they mean, so we can communicate better in our clash matches.
I chuckled a little at his reaction. "I think out of everyone you are the only one to make him close to blushing."
"That's scary. Don't even joke like that." I watched as Corwin shivered and his ears flick back in a wince. But his eyes lingered a little while on me before turning back to look at the direction Liam left in.
The morning slowly melted away as I finished up the clothes with Corwins help while Milori was busy collecting more fruits. Buds have started to blossom on the trees as whites and oinks dusted the once bare brown branches. It was a beautiful sight truth be told and I couldn't help but marvel at how the forest seemed to come to life.
"Should we go to the spring now? It's starting to get late in the day." Corwin was sitting across legged as he teetered side to side. His eyes where focused on the blue sky as a few clouds passed over.
"Yes please. I can't hold off my bath any longer." I sighed while stretching my arms causing some popping sounds to crack and echo about. It not like I haven't this entire time, washing myself at least. But it was never a good, relaxing soke.
"Well let me take you then."
Corwin proposed while I nodded my head. A glowing light consumed Corwin before his fluffy wolf form replaced his human one. Carefully I climbed onto his back with my basket in arm before feeling the jolt of motion shake my body. The wind whipped my hair unforgivingly while Corwins back bent and bucked with every long step taken. My stomach bounced to my throat while I held on for dear life.
"And here we are." My body flung forward as I held on to Corwins body tightly. My hair was frizzy and my stomach felt flimsy while my eyes struggled to focus.
"T-Thank you Corwin. I...I want to get down now please." Carefully Corwin bent down and allowed me to slink off with a thud. His eyes widened in concern while I waved off his worry. "I'm fine...just need to catch my breath." I couldn't stop my insides from being coughed up as the upturned motion of breakfast left me.
"Was it that bad!?" Corwins hand supported my back while holding up my hair. My head was still hazy and I couldn't get a good grasp on what was happening until the vomiting stopped.
"Corwin...I-I don't think I could do that a second time." Shock flooded his face as he led me closer to a tree to sit down while running off in the direction of the stream. The trees seemed to laugh at me as their colorful branches swayed back and forth. The cool spring was right ahead where the stream pooled and rested between rock beds. The breeze has picked up again while my sweatshirt was now stained with my stomach acid and in dire need of cleaning.
"I'm so so so so sorry! Please drink some water!" Corwin had his hands cupped and was quickly loosing whatever water was in there. I didn't even get a word in as he brought his hands up to my lips and forced me to drink the water. Despite being from a random water source in the forest the water tastes clear and refreshing. But what was it that Mary said about doing that, that it wasn't safe? Meh not important right now. I need to clean myself, now!
As if reading my mind Corwin gestured his now empty hands to my clothes. "Here I'll wash these, you go and clean up." Shame was all that I could see in his eyes as he didn't even dare to look at my body and instead opted to focus on the bark of a nearby tree.
I only managed to gather the courage to take off my sweatshirt as I kept on the rest of my clothes. "I'll leave the rest by the side of the spring. Can you give me some privacy so I can get undressed?"
"I-I understand." Corwins ears fell flat against his head as the shame in is eyes worsened. He led me to the spring side with care while carrying the basket I had brought along. The spring curled against many smooth stones in this shallow area as a nice boulder acted as a barrier from prying eyes. There was mist in the air as the sun beamed down while the pink branches above where bleached in gold. I waited until Corwin went around the boulder to begin stripping, carefully observing my surroundings before setting my clothes to the side in a neat pile. Carefully my body entered the warm waters that clashed with the cool spring air. It was a strange occurrence of nature indeed. The fresh water flowing from a creek leaked in and mellowed the steaming water before continuing down a shallow stretch.
"Corwin I have the clothes in a pile my the rock, can you leave the basket here while you wash the clothes?" I heard a low hum before watching as Corwin came around the boulder while I stayed fully submerged. His eyes looked my way briefly before his whole body tensed. His eyes widened before swiftly looking away and focusing on the clothes. He left in a hurry with the pile in hand while the basket was left behind.
My self consciousness ate away at my insecurity again, hoping he didn't see anything. I was covering myself with my arms under the water and the light was reflecting in his direction. It was a quick thought that passed through me as I smoothed over my skin with the silky water as I felt myself flush at the thought of Corwin. I washed my hair and privates with the flowers careful not to leave the water all the way.
Though as I left the spring to dry myself I realized that all I had where my shoes and my new clothes. The chilling spring air reminded me of a crucial article that I should have brought, a towel.
"Oh great. Thank you me for remembering that right at this moment." I grumbled under my breath as I shook off the loose water and picked up my clothes from the basket. The pancho was long enough to keep my arms covered but the skirt only reached half way down my thighs.
"Avery, are you done?"
Corwins soft words called from the other side of the rock before he poked his head around. His eyes fix themselves on me as the rest of his body remains hidden behind the stone. My heart felt itchy under his gaze while his ears stand at attention.
"Woah...you look very pretty."
I blushed and held my arms over my chest under the pancho while my foot scratched the other leg. My eyes darted between Corwin and the ground.
"You think so?" I smiled shyly. "Thank you."
His eyes seemed to grow wider while his hand came up and gripped the rock. Before I could do anything a gust of wind brushed against me before the warmth of another body wrapped around my figure.
"You are so so cute~!"
Corwin cooed as he held me tight while nuzzling the top of my head. The pounding drum in his chest hit my cheek rapidly while my brain tries to process what was happening.
'Too much affection...brain doesn't work...'
Though my former ridged form melted as I hugged him back. It felt nice and soon my heart was beating along side his in sink. Heat crept over me as Corwins breath hitched as I nuzzled into him as well. His skin was soft and radiating heat which saved me from the cold air.
'Can I...feel like this a little longer? It feels safe and warm...and-'
"I'm sorry for before Avery. I didn't know that running so fast would make you sick. I'll be careful next time, so please...don't be mad at me." His voice almost squeaked with how soft and quiet it was, almost like he was about to break down into tears. "So please, will you let me take you back? I'll be more gentle this time."
'Sir, please stop. You are melting my heart.'
"You promise?" I felt a nod against my head. "Then alright. I trust you to be more careful."