5-Biting the Apple

  -Chapter Start: August 3rd, 8PM.

  “I’m happy to see you again Mox Daegon!” A deep, enthusiastic voice boomed as heavy footsteps drew closer behind me. Before I could fully turn, two massive arms enveloped me from the sides, hoisting me into the air and shaking me about as Jaskrim embraced me in his powerful grip. Gasping for air, I managed to free an arm to tap out from his nearly suffocating coat of fur. “Oh, I’m sorry! I’m just so glad you’re doing well.”

  “It’s okay Jaskrim, I missed ya too.” I replied, feeling the ache of bruises and injuries from the past few days catching up to me. Thankfully, my work shirt and pants covered most of them, and I wrapped a purple bandana around my neck to hide the rest. Jaskrim looked his usual intimidating self, except for the noticeable scratch marks on his left shoulder plates, peeking out from under his uniform. I guessed he noticed my glance because he shifted slightly to hide them from view.

  “Strange, Mox Baku isn’t here.” Jaskrim remarked, walking over to peek behind the counter. “I wonder what our job is today.”

  The shop felt unusually empty, devoid of its usual ambiance. Even the typical aura surrounding the store seemed absent. Jaskrim, however, seemed unfazed by the quiet and took the opportunity to speculate about our next job and discuss the type of food he was looking forward to afterward. I tried to pay attention, but I was still processing everything from two days ago. Just looking at the back of my barren hand brought on a rush of residual emotions. As much of a curse as it felt to have, the Contract no longer being in effect also meant that a valuable protection was no longer granted. The light ringing of bells interrupted our conversation as Jaskrim and I turned to see who walked in.

  “Fight or Flight.”

  “Bbbbbzzzzggggeeeeezzzzzcccqqqqqq, ttttqqqrrrrrxxffffqqqlll.” The intensity of the sound emitted by the creature before me was almost paralytic at this close of a range, forcing me to wince harshly and close my eyes. A heavy ringing began in my ears, reminiscent of the death wails of some kind of deer choking on blood, as claws dragged across a chalkboard. After regaining my composure, I saw Jaskrim had taken a step forward with a paw slightly blocking its path to me.

  I immediately recognized the creature before me—A wendigo. It was on a completely different level than the one I had encountered recently. Despite feeling close to death in my previous encounter, this was a much more gruesome feeling altogether. This behemoth would have had an easier time on all fours, being well over three times my size. There was no realistic way it made it through the door, let alone occupy the massive space it did in the store. Reality seemed to give way, if only slightly, to allow its disturbing presence. Its emaciated body, bloodied antlers that scraped across the ceiling, exposed deer-like skull for its head, and tattered black fur with ripped ashen flesh hung off the rotting body made for a sight worthy of nightmares. Its black, hollow eyes, tormented my senses as drool pooled on the floor.

  “Hq hxrr nzeq yklq xd cqdy dj xdy xmdqmtqt lqgxbxqmd, dwzme sjk Rjlt jv Mxcwdy.” Jaskrim spoke in a fairly similar garbled tone, though it was much more pleasant comparatively. He accepted something from the still staring Wendigo, an unquenchable hunger driving its mind. “The scary part is that it knows better than to do anything right now. You would do well avoiding it when I’m sleeping.”

  “We will set out immediately to deliver your goods, M—” I began building my resolve, before being cut off.

  “Lord…” Jaskrim interjected hastily, his arm still in front of me, his tone uneasy.

  “L-lord…” I corrected myself, stuttering, as I realized the weight by that title. The creature seemed to no longer regard me solely as its next meal, and its mouth closed.

  “Ggggggzzzzzzzllllqqqqqqqqqq, wwwwwwwkkkkkknnnnnnzzzzmmmmmm.” The Lord Wendigo shrieked through its closed maw, the cacophony reverberating through the store. I winced once more, as sharp scraping sounds echoed around us. It ended as abruptly as it started, thankfully.

  “You should be fine now, Daegon.” Jaskrim said, releasing a sigh of relief. I opened my eyes to find the Lord Wendigo gone, and the door it entered from was once again normal. “We should probably get going. This is a time-sensitive package.”

  “Time sensitive?” I repeated, the ringing in my ears slowly subsiding. As I approached Jaskrim, he was holding his necklace to a –

  “I’ll handle the package; it would be bad if you paid too much attention to it.” Jaskrim said, turning away and concealing it in his shirt. It felt as though something whispered to me, sending a cold murky feeling down my spine.

  “Do you know what it is?” I inquired, sensing the linger of unease in the air. Jaskrim turned back with a wide grin, a smear of a viscous black liquid stained his shirt where he had stowed the package.

  “Don’t worry about it human, this should be an easy delivery!”

  What felt like four hours passed as we journeyed to deliver Lord Wendigo’s package. The environment grew increasingly claustrophobic as we delved deeper underground into an endless cave system, “in a never-ending spiral to hell”. I decided to activate my phone's light mode, much to Jaskrim’s surprise and delight. He expressed a desire for a ‘light-box’ for himself, mentioning his deep-sea dives where some additional illumination would prove useful. I secured the phone in my shirt pocket and followed Jaskrim's directions for the delivery. However, I found myself needing frequent breaks due to lingering injuries, which I explained to Jaskrim. He empathized, understanding the challenges of our line of work.

  “It’s okay Daegon, I get clients can be a bit unforgiving at times.” Jaskrim remarked, clutching his shoulder. “They sometimes forget we’re here to help them.”

  “I think it would have been worse if they were a client.” I replied with a forced chuckle, attempting to lighten the mood.

  FAMILIAR.

  “I think we could just wait. We’re really deep in their lair, they’re bound to find us. The package seems to feel we’re about in the right spot too.” Jaskrim said, settling down beside me and glancing at his necklace, which emitted a faint green hue.

  “How do we know where or when a delivery client is?” I asked, pulling my phone out from my pocket. To my surprise, it still had 95% battery life—an unexpected result of Lord’s ‘enchantment’.

  “Oh? Well, they tell us of course. Between the Traveler Rune system, the inscriptions on or notes left with the package, and our library of accepted deliveries and contact info, we can usually quickly find anyone who works in our system. You really haven’t read the handbook, have you?” Jaskrim inquired, looking at me curiously. The handbook, known as the CDS’s Handbook, was given to all employees before their first job, providing detailed instructions on how to handle various packages, clients, and situations. However, with the diverse array of client species coming and going, maintaining an up-to-date version was a challenge.

  “They don’t have a human translated version yet.” I confessed with a nervous grin, glancing back at Jaskrim. He looked at me with a mixture of surprise and confusion.

  “Right! You’re human! I’m so sorry Mox Daegon.” Jaskrim chuckled, his tone lighthearted. If he could blush, I was sure this would have been the moment. It felt rather warm, so I loosened and shook my bandana a bit, hoping to get some airflow onto my neck. Despite the eerie ambiance filled with minor clicks, the rustling of rocks, random echoes from the wind, face-level cobwebs, and the constant sensation of being watched… Well, at least Jaskrim’s humming was a welcome distraction, keeping many of the unnecessary sounds at bay.

  After another hour passed, I finally succumbed to Jaskrim’s persistence. I glossed over many of the details and names, but I explained the events of the past few days to him. He seemed concerned about my wellbeing, so I only mentioned the bruises on my arms, omitting the more gruesome aspects. He expressed intrigue at the fact that even outside of work, I was ‘mingling’ with so many ‘contract-bearers’.

  “You’re a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for. Most humans don’t survive multiple encounters. Even the ones that live or mate with them.” Jaskrim cheerfully remarked.

  “Wait, what did you say?” I said, flash-banged by words.

  “Oh, yeah. It’s really rare, but there are humans that live with other Contract-Bearers, fully knowing what we are.” Jaskrim explained, his eyes scanning the darkness of the cave below us. “In fact, our next delivery will be to one.”

  “No, well, yes, I meant that. But, what else did you say?” I was flustered with dread for some reason, my mind conjuring flashes of the Lord Wendigo. Jaskrim seemed to partially ignore my question as he stood up abruptly. His gaze fixated on the rather large canyon to our left—except it hadn’t been there when we originally sat down. There was some ruffling from him, as he tossed a black bound grimoire over the edge. As I watched the object fall, whispers began to creep into my head. “Be quiet, I’m resting…” As quickly as they started, they disappeared.

  “Alright, we should get going. Our delivery is complete here.” Jaskrim spoke in a somewhat monotone voice, keeping his gaze fixated on the darkness. A small flicker of blue flames sprang to life before fading out.

  “Th-that’s it?” I asked feeling a bit dizzy. Jaskrim put a claw on my shoulder pulling me back slightly, suggesting we go back up. There didn’t seem to be a quick way out this time around. The air felt uneasy, but after what I assumed was an hour, we resurfaced at our entrance point with no noticeable problems.

  “Round two, here we go.” Jaskrim said, nudging me forward. I turned back to see him grinning and holding a blue envelope out for me to grab. “Just put your Rune on the stamped part, and then onto the socket next to the door.”

  I flipped the letter over, revealing an elegantly stamped mark, which I assumed was a depiction of a fluffy dog. Taking out my Travelers’ Rune from my pocket, I held it over the mark, turning it a faint green color. The socket next to the rickety old wooden door in front of me glowed the same color as I placed the rune near it.

  “Now you can just—” Jaskrim’s words were abruptly interrupted by a violent rumbling in the cave. The Traveler’s Rune burned in my hand, and a flash of a deep, fog-covered forest beckoned in my mind. I stumbled forward, trying to stabilize myself from falling, before being pulled through the door. The scenery was a stark contrast to the cave, exactly like the flash in my mind. As I stood up, a sense of dread swept over my body.

  “DAE—” Jaskrim’s voice was cut off as the door closed behind me with a massive, wood-shattering sound.

  “RUN, NOW!” I broke out into a dead sprint; my body immediately began to heat up as soon as the words escaped. I tried to glance back, but my neck stiffened, forcing me to look forward. It seemed like something else began to assume direct control of my actions.

  “NOW IS NOT THE TIME, FOCUS.” Would be much easier if I could assess what was behind me, I thought. The fog didn’t help either, being near impossible to see through, and heavy in my lungs. Despite it only being several seconds, my legs already threatened to give way. “Go left! There’s a stone wall and a door. Try to use it.”

  I felt my ankle twist as I fell to the ground, but quickly regained my composure as I scrambled to the left. The Traveler’s Rune burned again as the stone wall erupted from the fog, nearly causing me to run into it. A stone door-like outcrop was to my left with no door inside. Regardless, I hastily ran the rune all around and on the frame to no avail, just when—

  “Sorry, little Daegon.” I fell backwards into an endless black cloud, unable to move my body, and my senses began to fade. It took a while to realize, but I was sitting in the backseat of my mind as things slowly became apparent.

  -

  “Txylqczlt lqzrxds, Plxmc Vjldw dwq Tjjl X mqqt.” A hand I haven’t seen in a long time held the Traveler’s Stone, shining a brilliant white. The outline of the door before me… Us… Glowed, as it slowly began to materialize. We turned around, peering into the inescapable fog of the forest, now almost clear as day. Dark black flames, invisible to human eyes, bounced between trees at a rapid pace. Through these eyes, they were slow and sluggish in their advance. Through these eyes, they were nothing but play things to twist and break. We held out a hand, commanding them to stop, as longer dark nails replaced my old ones. Intricate lines resembling chains danced out from the cuff of our shirt, and the skin seemed to reflect hues of blue and gray. “Mxcwd glqzdklqy tzmgxmc vjl ns fxrq qmlzbdklqnqmd, pqcjmq vljn ns yqmyqy.”

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  A horrendous grotesque symphony of cracking sounds and blood splatter echoed throughout the desiccated forest as the black flames slammed together, hurling themselves into the air and vanishing. Pleasure… Silence… Something seemed amiss after a minute’s pause. As many, many more black flames began to enter sensory range… No, not flames. Blackened life-forces. A rage burned forth, appalled by the very thought of their existence, their audacity to exist within her purview. “Ps ns zpyjrkdq Zkdwjlxds zy Ikqqm, kmwjrs lqdlxpkdxjm hxrr pqvzrr zrr hwj tzlq xmykrd ns yqmyqy!”

  Everything that approached froze, contemplating if their lowly existence was worth the risk. One… Two… Three. Another life force, same as the earlier ones, began to slowly twist and turn. Pops, cracks, and shrieks of pain as bones snapped and muscles tore. The torment drowned out the creature’s screams as its body caved in on itself before being launched into the air… One… Two… The life forces began to flee, but not before two more met a similar, blissful end. Euphoria. Tired.

  We opened the door and stepped into a hallway, where apartment numbers lined the walls next to each doorway. This was where we needed to be, it felt right. Just before we fully closed the door, a primal sense of dread shot through our body. Something was amused and very aware of our… Enthusiastic walk, through their forest. A smile… Devilish, sickeningly, crossed our face. Bloodlust spanning countless generations filled our inner-most desires. For a moment, I feared we would re-enter the door. But we recomposed ourselves and closed it, letting out a meager satisfied sigh. Immediately after, the same door opened wildly.

  “You’re not Daegon!” Jaskrim yelped slightly, moving back and hair beginning to raise up. We raised our hands up slightly, Traveler’s Rune in hand.

  “Sorry, little one. He’ll be back a little bit later. Perhaps you can amuse me until then?” We spoke. It was odd seeing Jaskrim through these eyes, such a massive yellow glow radiated from him. His lifeforce was more prominent and expansive than the life forces we just saw. Several more life forces were dispersed behind him, but of diminishing colors and returns. We reached into our pocket and pulled out the slightly crumpled letter for Jaskrim. He was still quite on edge, but accepted it looking it over.

  “You will need to explain this to me later.” He said quietly, flattening the letter on his hand. He was definitely on edge about our new appearance, or maybe it was something else. “The clients are waiting inside.”

  We elected to wait outside, leaning on the doorframe. The world grew into a faint blip as I was forced back into the recesses of my mind. There, a lone figure manifested. Slowly, but with intent.

  “How long will it take this time?” I asked, the words echoing across the nothingness.

  “Twenty or so minutes. A queen has to stretch her wings and remind the world its place every now and then.” The figure spoke, revealing more of its form as it sat upon a throne of countless souls. Leather-bound wings sprung from her back, asserting their dominance over all below her reign, her benevolence. Purple eyes, that of which souls pledged themselves to, demanding the most from all which met their gaze. Her gray skin with a blue undertone was only flawed by the scars of ethereal-wrapped chains as they slowly moved, spanning her body. Upon her wrists, ankles, neck, and chest, long-forgotten seals were inscribed on the flesh. “Admiration only gets you so far in my heart, little Daegon.”

  “You could have warned me this time, before taking over.” I spoke, snapping back.

  “Warn you, take control quicker, let you handle things, stop bothering you, tell you more about situations. Oh, you’re just an absolute wreck of demands once things quiet down.” She spoke, standing up and walking forward. She was the same height as I, but that didn’t stop her from playfully looking down on me every time. “Do you want my power, my help, or not?”

  “If you’re residing within me, I demand it.” I said glaring back. It wasn’t a question, but more of her reaffirming the obvious. Toying with the emotions, and keeping things the way she liked. But that question goes both ways. “You need my help, right?”

  “Show me more of your fangs little one. Maybe you’ll be able to borrow more than my power.” Her expression changed as she brushed a hand over my face, a seriousness I’ve felt many times before. Those eyes enraptured my senses, demanding more from my very soul. Not for her, but for me. In the recesses of my mind, time was meaningless. She let go of my face, and broke her gaze. Things seemed to be fluttering back to reality. “Alright, Daegon. I’ll let you have this one. Perhaps these events are exactly what I… Well, what we needed you to go through.”

  “Your Queen shall depart for now. Don’t give him too many problems. I am always listening, after all.” I felt the final words leave my lips as I popped back to my senses. We were back in the confines of the shop, its familiar appearance a stark contrast to the job we just completed. Jaskrim, Baku, and even Lord were all present. I couldn’t make out much past that as my senses were slowly coming back.

  “H-how long...” I began asking as my head rang something fierce, forcing me to wince and cover my ears momentarily. The more she stayed out, the longer it took me to recover from it. This definitely wasn’t the worst, but was up there. Normally it would take several hours to feel better, but perhaps I was getting used to it as well. It seemed the pain was already draining away. I recomposed myself, noticing all eyes to be on me. Except for Lord’s, who was more interested on something outside behind me. It was odd, but everyone seemed to glow indescribably.

  “Well, that was fun. Later.” Lord’s casual tone cut through the moment as he walked past me, offering a light pat on my shoulder. “I’ll hold up my end of the bargain as promised.”

  “I should get going as well. My partner will be furious it took so long.” Jaskrim announced as the door’s bell gave off a light ring, still visibly concerned as he glanced at me once more before heading towards the door.

  “Hey, Jaskrim. I’m good, I promise. I’ll explain things next time.” I reassured him with a forced smile and light laugh. His concern seemed to ease a little, as he smiled back at me. Baku grumbled something unintelligible before retreating into the back of the store.

  “Good. I don’t want to lose my favorite partner again, even if they are safe.” Jaskrim said sincerely before turning back around to leave. I let out a sigh as the bell rang, signaling Jaskrim’s departure. The store seemed restored to its usual peace, and I looked around.

  “‘Lest one’s worth be snatched by another’… You really have a way with words…” I mused aloud. Despite knowing I couldn’t linger, it felt right to indulge browsing for a moment. The glass cases on the wall, bathed in a mixture of store light and moonlight, held an assortment of peculiar treasures. Daggers, trinkets, and baubles of all sizes gleamed with meticulous care. Perhaps it was the lingering effect from the transformation, but these items felt different. Even just looking at them, I could tell there was an aura of significance beyond their physical appearance. Lost in contemplation, a movement caught my eye. A figure, unassuming yet intriguing, standing near the door. It didn’t appear hostile; rather, it seemed to be patiently waiting.

  “Hey there Daegon, so about getting luc- WHAT THE FUCK.” Valia’s scream cut through the air as her eyes glanced up from her phone to meet mine. She took several steps back, her wide-eyed gaze fixed on me as if I were some sort of apparition. Despite her attempt to blend in with her baggy hoodie and jeans, her unmistakable wolf-like features, including her tail swaying behind her, and intense blue eyes made her stand out even in… This rather dark area…? I glanced around briefly and realized the outside store light, usually flickering, was completely off.

  “What?” I responded, perplexed. I ran a hand over my face, checking for any abnormalities. Nothing was amiss. Perhaps she simply hadn’t expected to see me, despite addressing me moments before. I couldn’t say I was particularly thrilled about her presence either, especially given all that transpired in the last couple days.

  “What the fuck happened to your eyes!?” She said recomposing herself and edging unsettlingly close. “Not close enough.” “Hold on I’ll take a picture.”

  Snap! Valia flipped her phone around showing me the image, revealing my altered eyes. “They suit you very well, little Daegon. I thought a little valuable gift was in order, being such a strong and dependable soul that you’re growing into.”

  “Uh, dude, you’re freaking me out just staring like that.” Valia interjected, snapping twice in front of my face breaking my trance. “Oh shit, you can just turn those off? Wait do it again.”

  “What the hell do you mean?” I shook off the lingering effects, noticing the darkness enveloping us once more. I could barely make out Valia’s figure in front of me. “Just focus.” With another blink, clarity returned, and even Valia seemed to emit a faint, nearly indistinguishable glow. There was definitely some strain from using her eyes, but it felt more natural than my own. Valia appeared mesmerized by my newfound ability I acquired. Amidst the curiosity, a question crossed my mind. “Why are you even here?”

  “Oh, I had to pick up mail. Zylas is uh, busy.” Valia explained, holding a rather blue envelope similar to the one we delivered earlier.

  “Huh… Well, I’m going home.” I replied after a moment. Even though it resembled the mail I initially delivered, I had no intention of getting involved.

  “Hey wait a sec, you’re not going to leave poor little me—” Valia began, but I turned and glared at her, the tone of her words echoing a past encounter that filled me with both fear and anger. She flinched before timidly walking up next to me. “Sorry... Hey look, how about this.”

  “I’m not interested in anything you have to offer.” I stated firmly before turning to walk away. I could sense her following behind me in silence, but I didn't dwell on it. As we continued, the road transitioned into a wooded street, and a cold breeze swept past us.

  “Let me crash with you tonight, I’ll head back in the morning… I don’t do that well in the dark, or the cold...” Valia's voice held a hint of vulnerability as she spoke, almost like she was mustering the courage to ask.

  “What do you mean you can’t see that well? Aren’t werewolves’ nocturnal hunters?” I inquired, feeling a sense of unease in the air. Valia drew closer as I stopped, her voice soft as she leaned towards my ear.

  “I’m only half…” Her whisper hung in the air before she pulled away shyly. It seemed like she was revealing a significant secret or taboo information. How could someone be half were- Oooh… “You didn’t think that was possible, did you little one?” I’m sure my face showed a wide range of emotions as Valia lightly laughed. “I’ll answer all the questions you have, even not relating to me, if you let me crash.”

  “I-Well…” I hesitated, considering my options. Learning more about supernatural beings was one of my goals, and that included a situation like Valia’s. She didn’t strike me as someone who would lie either. If anything, I’d say she was a bit too honest. “Fine.”

  Her eyes lit up with excitement, and for a moment, it seemed like she might pounce on me. After a few minutes, we arrived at my house just off the road. I unlocked the bottom lock and pushed the heavy door open. Flicking on both lights, my barren abode sprung to life.

  “So uh, I don’t have much.” I began, leaning against the wall and subtly obscuring the hole and the mostly-cleaned bloodstains. Valia walked past me, her expression a mix of disappointment and curiosity. I noticed the small backpack she was carrying, as if she were ready for an adventure. “Kitchen in front, bathroom in the back of it. The living room doubles as the bedroom.”

  “W-woow. You live a uh, life of… Luxury here…” Valia remarked, her tone tinged with sarcasm as she observed the lack of furnishings. She pulled her hood down, revealing her wolf-like ears as they ‘flooped’ upward, and made her way into the living room. I took the opportunity to drop the bars onto the door.

  “Sorry, just a precaution. I’ve had some nasty run-ins before.” I explained, demonstrating how easily the bars could be removed. I could sense Valia's gaze lingering on the wall behind me, where the hole was. She glanced around before settling onto the couch, placing her backpack at her feet. “Go ahead and get comfortable, I need to wash up.”

  It felt weird, knowing another creature… No, another being was in the house. Normally, I would have prepared some food from what I picked up, but Valia’s unexpected presence threw me off. I probably had enough ingredients for some garlic noodles, but my supplies were lacking in the meat and vegetable department. After turning the shower off and drying myself, I examined the multitude of bruises that still adorned my body. The area where Zylas had kicked me was mostly healed, but it had definitely left a mark where the ribs were previously broken. A lot of the other nicks and cuts were still in the process of healing, which was a bit of a relief. Sighing, I got dressed and headed towards the kitchen.

  “You uh, like noodles?” I called out as I opened the door, still drying my hair and scanning the kitchen. There was an unopened box of noodles and a few other ingredients that I could use to spice up the dish. Since I had a guest, I might as well go all out. Valia didn’t respond, but I noticed the faint scent of incense wafting from the other room. Poking my head in, I saw her lying face-first on the couch, her legs slightly curled into the cushions. She was probably cold, I thought, as I walked over to one of the chests on the far wall.

  Opening the chest, I pulled out an old but trusty thermal blanket. As I made my way back to the couch, I noticed the source of the incense smell – Valia had set up three small bowl-like holders next to some of my travel supplies. Unfolding the thermal blanket, I tossed it over both her and the couch in a single fluid motion. If that didn’t keep her warm, I wasn’t sure what would. Quietly, I returned to the kitchen and began the process of preparing some grub, getting everything ready.

  Finishing up, I could hear Valia shifting on the couch, indicating she was awake again. The cooking wasn’t going to win any awards, but I was rather proud of it. I had found some canned sausages hiding in the back of the pantry and ended up frying them into delicious bite-sized portions.

  “Noodles and meat if you’re interested.” I announced, walking over with the entire pot in hand. Valia seemed to have rolled herself in the blanket and was engrossed in her phone. It struck me as odd that she was using such a device despite being a different being. Nevertheless, she noticed me approaching and sat up, her eyes fixed on what I held.

  “That actually smells good… Are you sharing?” she asked eagerly, scooching closer as I sat down. While I didn’t have extra plates or bowls, I did have an unhealthy number of utensils. I passed her a larger spoon, and she quickly took a bite. It took a moment, but then she squealed with approval.

  “That was just what I needed.” Valia said sprawling across the couch, letting out happy coos. She ended up eating most of it, but I wasn’t mad. Honestly, I felt happy. As I washed the dishes, I realized I had a bit of a predicament I was putting off until later, and it was now later. With only one decent sleeping surface, I wasn’t going to deny it to Valia. I rummaged through the chests and dressers, finding another two blankets and a pillow I had stashed away. Valia was cuddled up, looking at her phone with her head facing the doorway. It was kind of funny, since that’s how I normally slept. I decided to position myself with my back to the middle of the couch. I had a blanket under me for comfort and wrapped myself in the other. I was a bit unsure about using Valia as support for the pillow, so I just kept it on my chest.

  “It might not be tomorrow, but I’ll definitely follow up on asking you questions.” I said with a stretch and yawn.

  “Mhmm. Yeah, that’s fine.” Valia responded, shifting about to get comfortable. She moved a rather large amount, which went on for several moments as I closed my eyes. Then, it felt like she sat up, rustling about more with a plop before there was another abrupt pause. Curious, I looked behind me. She had wiggled herself, wrapped in a blanket, deeper into the couch cushions.

  “Are you that cold?” I asked, puzzled by her actions.

  “N-no, I’m fine.” Valia said, burying her head into the blanket. She lied as easily as she breathed. I sighed and stood up, hoping the blanket I wrapped myself in would be sufficient.

  “Alright, sit up. I’ll get you another.” I said simply. Valia unburied herself and sat up with a slight smirk, dropping the thermal around her. I placed my blanket around her as she wrapped herself lightly in it. She seemed content, so I turned around to hopefully find a final blanket hidden away for myself.

  Before I could take a full step, I felt two furry arms wrap around my stomach and pull me back, wrapping me in the blanket she just surrounded herself in. My heartrate tripled as I froze up from such a sudden interaction. I was conflicted; on one hand, I was still incredibly terrified of her kind, and this sudden closeness has my mind racing. But on the other hand… Was I really afraid of Valia? She was practically purring with her arms wrapped around me. It was an odd feeling; one I hadn’t felt for a long time. It wasn’t the same, but it definitely wasn’t wrong.

  A small flurry of emotions shot through me again, but my mind was still sore from days before. I was tired, too much to deny just this small bit of unbiased warmth. I felt her squeeze slightly tighter as she nuzzled my back. I was emotionally drained and mentally exhausted. Our needs were probably different, but it seemed the end result would be…

  “Fine… You win.”

  Valia seemed to hum with a bit of glee, as she wrapped us both in the thermal blanket.