I'm very new but I hope you enjoy my first story. If you like it please let me know and I'll gladly write more!
Chapter 1:
The frozen wind was merciless, as an icy breeze swept across the ground, passing through the fabrics belonging to the merchant's loose clothing. Shivering from the cold, a young peddler reluctantly found himself praying to Mother Nature, hoping she would not enclose him in yet another one of her devilish games.
After seven years of traveling experience, Lawrence was all but familiar with how nature enjoyed throwing him and his belongings into her wrath. And seeing how it was the middle of winter, the silver-haired man could only fear that a blizzard was her next move. Though, in spite of the bad climate, the merchant couldn't help but complement on how magnificent the snow looked, glistening on the tops of the great forest tree's.
Slowly reopening his grayish blue eyes, the young man gazed around at his surroundings; attempting to find something within his vision that could deter his attention away from the harsh climate. Though, the more the peddler watched the frozen world pass by, the more Lawrence could feel his body numbing up by the constant frost.
In his mind, the merchant was no longer directing a wagon, but instead, he saw himself sitting atop a thick block of ice; cueing his fellow horse down a slippery snowy path. With below zero weather, the driver's seat on the wagon already felt like that ice; for with every passing second, he felt his bottom become colder.
Feeling an unneeded sigh escape his lips, Lawrence felt that his last option was to focus all attention back towards the road. Hopefully allowing himself not to think to much about the approaching storm.
With only a few minutes passing by, the young peddler found himself listening to the soft breaths coming from his fellow companion. Unlike him, freezing to death by the outside's wind, Holo was sound asleep in the back of the wagon, wrapped comfortably underneath his covers.
With a beautiful appearance and cute charms, Holo was a very sly and scheming wolf. Even Lawrence, who had many years of experience being an accomplished merchant, and sweet talking people into getting great deals, was no match for Holo the wise wolf. As a result, the young peddler found himself constantly being the victim to the woman's teasing. This left him to wonder why he even bothered treating her so kindly.
Knowing that he could do so little to resolve this current situation, the silver-haired man couldn't help but feel a bit envious towards the woman. There was even times, Lawrence found himself thinking of waking Holo up from her beauty sleep, and just taking the covers by force; However, within every chance he had obtained, the young merchant could never manage to bring himself to actually do it. In his eyes, if he did, he saw himself stooping as low as those who would abuse there wife for there own selfish needs. On top of that, he felt Holo was more sensitive to the cold than he was, and losing her would be like losing the greatest deal he could ever make.
Hearing the sound of a tail sweeping the wagon's floor, and the movement of ears perking up, was a clear indication to Lawrence that Holo had finally awoken from her delightful slumber. Slowly reopening her baggy, red-tinged amber eyes, she caught glimpse of a blurry figure of a man's head, sitting in front of the wagon.
With a sly grin forming onto her lips, Holo removed the covers that had kept her warm through her napping, revealing to the world, a brown wolf's tail with a white tip, and ears that matched it greatly.
Letting escape to another tiresome yawn, the woman found herself stretching much like a dog would, before finally lifting herself up from the wagon's floor. With her head now peering forward, the brunette smiled, gazing ever so happily at the man directing the horse.
"It is quite cold, is it not?" She asked, quickly wrapping the sheets around herself again.
Hearing her calmly speak about the climate, Lawrence narrowed his eyes, turning to give the woman a rather annoyed look. "You wouldn't understand how cold it has gotten since you've been all nice and cozy in the back. Though unlike you; I have been experiencing this harsh weather all morning. It's ashamed really; all I've been trying to do is get us to our next destination safely before the upcoming storm arrives; And to what circumstances do I have to do it under?"Turning away from the wolf deity, the silver-haired man shrugged his shoulders as if to make a sarcastic gesture towards the brunette, before he added on, "Well, let me explain it to you...Without my sheets to keep me warm, I haven't been able to think straight...I feel as if my mind is constantly thinking of how cold I've become."
Lawrence could tell by Holo's wagging tail, that she was becoming rather irritated by him...Usually at this point in time, people wouldn't dare to speak any further to the wolf, but unlike them, the young merchant was different. When he felt the need to get his thought across he would do it right then and there, with no hesitation...After all, he was also the one escorting the wolf back north to her homeland Yoitsu, so saying something like this wasn't much of a problem.
With his best merchant smile, the young man continued with his lecture, hoping to have Holo come to an understanding with what he was trying to hint across. "Now if I had my sheets. I probably wouldn't be complaining like this; Now would I?"
With her amber eyes now fixated onto his, she gently grabbed her tail and began to softly brush its smooth fur. "If you are truly as cold as you say...Then why did you not wake me and simply ask for the sheets? Do you not wish to be seen sharing the covers with one like myself?" Holo replied back dropping her ears, and slightly tilting her head to the side.
"You know as well as I do Holo, that, that wasn't the reason I hadn't ask for them..." Feeling a slight blush surface onto his cheeks, the young peddler glanced away from the beautiful woman, before adding on. "It's just...You looked so peaceful resting back their. I couldn't bare to find it in me to wake you is all...So as a gentlemen would. I left you be." He admitted, feeling as if he was no match for the brunettes cute an innocent charm.
"You are just too adorable Lawrence." She spoke, holding her hand to her stomach, as she began to defeat, the peddler, deterred his gaze away from the mocking wolf, and back towards the front; Hoping to hide his embarrassed expression from the woman.
As any curious person, Holo found herself quite entertained by the man's reactions towards her words. Jumping to the driver seat beside the merchant now, she decided to reward the peddler for his previous complement, by covering both of them up with the torn sheets.
Letting her long bushy tail rest onto the man's thighs, she glanced up curiously to see his reaction to her gesture. Noticing how pleased the young gentle-man's expression was, Holo could only grin happily, before leaning over and resting her head on to the merchants left shoulder.
"Thanks" Lawrence said, guessing that her tail was the brunettes way in apologizing to him.
Even if it was meant to be used against him later, the merchant was pleased to finally be accompanied by the women's presence again.
Wrapping his left arm around her delicate body, Lawrence grinned surprised to see that Holo did not try to resist him."They say the warmth of another person's body heat, comes in handy during the harsh winters like this...So if you don't mind, I would like to sit close to you for a while."
The truth was far more embarrassing for the young peddler to admit out loud. Turning his eyes back towards the road, he did all he could not to look to suspicious...Hoping that his companion would let this act slide.
" Why must you constantly make up silly excuses to hide your real intention for doing so?" Holo asked annoyingly, knowing that he was to oblivious to answer her correctly.
"No, this time I mean it. The only way you and I are going to survive getting to our next destination, is by sitting close like this." Lawrence explained once again, trying to hide the slight flush forming onto his cheeks.
Holo only could laugh, as her crimson eyes gazed over at the merchant. "Have you forgotten that I am a wolf. In my true form I would not need to sit so closely to you. You are getting quite bad at making up excuses Lawrence." She chuckled again, watching the peddler's flushed expression.
Finding his composer, Lawrence cleared his throat before tossing the wise wolf a nervous expression. "This may be true, however I am also aware that in this form, you do not have the luxury of staying warm under a thick coat of fur."
Holo simply sighed as she glanced at the young male. Not wanting to exhaust her energy any further, she backed off and closed her eyes.
"If that is how you feel Lawrence, then it is not my place to argue with you." The wise wolf explained, not wanting to deal with the merchant's constant excuses any longer. Instead, she quietly leaned her head against his shoulder and smiled, before allowing her body to finally relax.
Lawrence simply chuckled. Not wanting to ruin the moment, he turned his attention back to the road and smiled. There was no further conversation from there on out, but neither was there teasing between the two. It was pleasant quietness, and Lawrence seem to rather enjoy it greatly. As the horse plodded along, morning had passed and evening soon fell upon the two, indicating that there destination drew near.
