A/N: Taking a step back from Lupus dealing with human things, to her getting in slightly more familiar territory.
Canon name = nickname:
Velouria = Vella. Keaton = Keaty. Hinoka = Hina. Setsuna = Seta. Corrin = Lupus. Sakura = Saku. Ryoma = Red. Azama = Monkundo. Subaki = Superman.
Tincanman123: Consider it done... I just need to find a reasonable spot to put it in.
Thankfully for Saku, Hina managed to return with Lupus's other clothes in hand first, and the first thing that happened after she puts them on? "Oh! I know! I'm gonna get you some really nice clothes!" Came Selkie's excited response.
"Huh? What's wrong with what I got?" Lupus looks her clothes over, "Well, these are kinda tight." She admits.
"Here, feel this." She struts over and pulls her skirt-like shorts out.
Tilting her head, Lupus strokes the cloth, "Ooo, that's soft."
Selkie giggles, "Not as soft as my fur." With her tail swaying, she also offers it for touching.
Lupus didn't need anymore motivation. "Ooo…" She hummed as she stroked her tail, "Really, super soft."
"Um…?" Hina asked, looking… well, not exactly bothered. Out of place?
"Heya! You wanna stroke my tail, too?" She looks at Hina.
"Uh…?"
"Do you have any itchy spots?" Lupus suddenly asked.
"Nope." She shakes her head, "I keep my fur too clean for that." A pause, "Kaden, are we going back to our hamlet?" And just like that, her mood drop.
Kaden remained silent, an unhappy… "Kaden, Selkie? Would you like to live with me?"
"H-Hold on, Corrin." Hina steps in, "We…"
"Aw, you mean it!?" Selkie interrupts.
"I… have to say, that might be a bit much." Kaden looks more hesitant, "Besides, just because you two accept us doesn't mean the rest will."
Lupus giggles, "Of course they will, my mother's the Queen."
"Corrin." Hina repeats, "You can't simply bring anyone in, there are other people to consider. Not everyone will share the same ideals as you."
"...but." Lupus frowns. No, wait, "Oh, you're right." Even though Keaty and Vella held a lot of similar interests, they didn't share it all. "So, I should ask the others, first?"
Hina smiles, "Exactly. I'm glad you understand."
Lupus nods, "Alright, I'll ask other people later, but keep that in mind you two." She turns towards Kaden and Selkie, who both nod.
"B-Big sister!" Saku comes flying in, whilst holding onto Superman on his Pegasus. Once they land, she is holding her 'Festal' in her hands. "I'm here."
"Oh, hey Saku!" Lupus openly greets, "Kaden needs healing." She points at the Nine-tails.
"A… Kitsune?" Saku tilts her head. "I've… never s-seen one before. Only read about them."
"Selkie has really soft fur." Lupus adds. "Can she stroke it?"
"Of course!" The tail swings Saku's way, who at first simply brushes by some of it, but after she felt it?
"O-Oh, that's… wait! H-h-hold on!" She takes her Festal and channels her glowing things at Kaden, mending the various cuts and gashes on him. With him healed, she turns her attention straight back to Selkie and her fur. "Y-you t-take really g-good care of your f-fur, Selkie." She says as she rubs it.
"I agree." Lupus adds, opting to feel her back fur… which meant getting under her shirt. Not that Selkie minds, as she clearly is content for people touching her fur.
Hina didn't take it the same way. "Gods, Corrin… Miss Selkie, pardon my little…"
"Huh? Do you wanna feel it, too?" Selkie asks, "There are plenty of spots left!"
"No, it's not that…" Hina sighs.
Had Lupus and Saku were not interrupted, they might have simply spent the day stroking Selkie's fur, but… Lupus's family finally caught up with her. The others came in to a scene of the female Kitsune sprawled out on the ground, with both Lupus and Saku constantly rubbing her fur. Hina stood to the side, apparently giving up on trying to get them to stop. Kaden sat next to Lupus, spending that time trying to get what blood was still relatively fresh out of his fur.
"Corrin?" Red is the first to ask.
"Heeey, big brother." Lupus lazily replies, "Where's Seta?"
"It's just us, little sister."
"Aw, she would like Selkie's fur." A light snoring could be heard from Saku's side, as she had slightly buried herself into Selkie's body.
"You guys are great." Selkie speaks up. "Hey, you wanted us to live with you, can I get like, daily rubs?"
"Selkie!" Kaden quickly chides her, "You can't keep asking for all of this. We need to repay our current debts first."
Selkie looks at Lupus, while Lupus looks at Kaden. "I don't mind, I like her fur."
"Wait, hold on." Red interjects.
"Is your fur also really soft?" Lupus disregards Red as she takes a step towards Kaden. "Alright, I have a favor, then."
"Whatever you need!" He smiles.
"Stay still so I can groom your fur. Gotta get that blood out."
"Huh? That sounds like you doing something for me." Kaden looks unsure.
"Well… if I can get your fur soft again, then I can stroke it. I wanna feel your fur, too."
"Then… that's you doing a favor for me." Lupus pouts. "But… if that's what you want, sure." Lupus smiles.
She then grabs his furred hand and leads him on, "Come on, then! I know a good lake near here!"
"A good lake?" Selkie echoes as the other two leave, "Hold on then, wait for me!"
With Saku still sound asleep, Hina and Red share a concerned look.
Like with any other lake, one of the first things Lupus does is strip her clothes and jumps in naked. Selkie doesn't hesitate in doing the same. Kaden does, however. "Ooo, come on Kaden, she's right!" Selkie swims around, giggling in the water. Soon enough, he gives in with a shrug. "Woo! Playtime."
"H-Hey, hold on! I thought I was getting washed." Selkie stops swimming towards her brother and the two share a look at Lupus.
...Who smiles. "Oh, I'm sure we can get you a bit cleaner if we played around."
"You're the best, Lupus!" With that confirmation, Selkie picks up her speed. Lupus approaches at a different angle. Kaden seems to accept his fate… but then tackles Selkie as she almost lunged on him.
"Not so fast." He smiles, "I'm not going down without a fight!"
"Don't forget about me!" Lupus exclaims as she jumps on Kaden from behind, sending all three of them into the water. A moment later and they all resurface.
"Oh, it's gonna be like that, huh?" Selkie has a mischievous smile on her face.
"We can play rough, too." Kaden smirks.
"I like it rough. Or gentle. Or fast or slow. I don't care which, playfights are playfights!" See, now this is what Lupus wanted to do earlier. The brother and sister Kitsune pair share a look, before they both look at her.
"Two on one?" Kaden asks.
"Ooo, sounds fun." Yet, they both look at Lupus for permission.
"Come at me." With that said, they both spring from their position to Lupus. She barely managed to avoid Kaden, but that's more due to him recovering, Selkie on the other hand? Hers connected and she sent Lupus underwater.
Unperturbed by being submerged, Lupus pushed back up, sending Selkie up, then pushing her forwards. Selkie gasps as she drifts back several feet, surprised that Lupus managed to shove her that far. "Ooo, she's strong." She giggles as Kaden attempt to come from behind.
"I got her." He proclaims as he jumps on her, only to be thrown off as Lupus moved in the same direction, causing him to be easily tossed. Lupus was then tackled again by Selkie, being unable to react fast enough for two.
"Hey, psst." Selkie smiles as she keeps Lupus just slightly above water, "Let's get him, okay?" A pause, "You're fun, Lupus."
Lupus giggles, "You got it." By then, Kaden has already come in for another tackle, only to get side-struck by Selkie, then pounced on by Lupus.
"Aw, come on! Seriously?" Despite his verbal complaint, there's nothing but joy coming from him. "Well, I'm not going to hold back." A flash of light follows and he assumes his Nine-tails form. "Alright, show me what you got."
"No fair! I can't do that yet!" Selkie pouts, but shifts anyway.
"...At least you can shift." Lupus also pouts.
A half-second passes before Kaden charges again, this time it was so fast, that even Lupus wasn't able to keep track. The Wolfskin-raised human was sent gliding across the water. The Nine-tails hopped back as the Kitsune failed a tackle. Speed over power, it seems. With that in mind, she gets herself back up and focuses.
This has went from a 'gentle' playfight to a 'rough' playfight… rough and fast. Lupus never really had a lot of these types of fights with the Wolfskin, as even if she is more durable than most humans, she wasn't so tough as to be able to take a lot of hits from their shifted Wolfskin forms. Lupus scored a glancing blow as Kaden attempted another head-on charge, though due to his speed, it sent him literally flying off-course… he even ended up skipping on the water's surface.
...Wow.
However, Kaden didn't even finish skipping before he already recovered. He then leapt off of the water's surface and went for another tackle. Selkie intercepted this one. Due to their speeds, Lupus worried for a moment that that would actually end up really hurting Kaden. But then one of his tails actually reaches out and snags Selkie by on of her legs, then he tosses her. Both of the siblings laugh and Lupus follows suit.
Kaden jumps towards Lupus's direction and she was ready this time. She reached out and snatched him by the chest. He yelped, more out of surprise than pain, as his momentum was still high enough to carry Lupus along with him.
...He's really fast.
Lupus likes him.
The two end up splashing their way onto the grass, with Lupus on top of Kaden. "Whew." He has already shifted back, "You're lucky I haven't… recovered." A beat passes. "For a human, you're really good, too." Another awkward pause, "Uh, Lupus?"
She has yet to budge, instead opting to stare at Kaden, with her strength keeping him pinned down. "You're really good, too." An urge starts to come over Lupus, but unlike those mysterious feelings with Seta, Lupus knew what these were. This was something the alpha explained.
Kaden recognizes it, too. But he ends up forcing her back, "Oh no, not that easily." Lupus's eyes flick downward, "It's going to take more than one of those before I choose you."
"Eww." Selkie mock-gags, "Seriously? Mating? Here!? I thought we were playing!"
"Well, she was going to give me a bath…" Kaden looks at Lupus, his gaze is slightly wary.
"Got carried away." Lupus breathes. "Wanna do that now? No playing around this time." He nods, easily able to discern her sincereness. They both return to the water and Lupus begins rubbing the dried blood out of Kaden's fur…
Then squeaks as Selkie starts washing Lupus's back. "You're really dirty back here, Lupus." She hums. "You never had anyone wash it?"
She shrugs, "Didn't care for it all that much." Well, the Wolfskin couldn't exactly spend a lot of time out of the dens.
"Aw… baths are fun!" Selkie giggles as her rubbing gets rougher. Lupus can feel the caked on dirt slowly get forced off. "Wanna wash me, next?"
"...Next time, sure." Lupus nods as more and more of the leftover blood leaves Kaden's pristine fur. "But for, ooooh… right there…" She sighs as Selkie's nails hit an itchy spot.
"Y'know, you wouldn't have these if you kept yourself washed." Selkie chides her.
"B-But… I'm fine. Ahhh, with that. Scratching itches is a good excuse for bonding." Lupus's hands have ceased to work as Selkie continues to give those wonderful scratches.
"I...never thought of it like that." Selkie stops for a moment, "I'll try that, actually. Just a small spot, though. I love my fur soft!"
"Hey, Selkie. I like you." Lupus said… before letting out a whimper of satisfaction.
"Hee hee, I like you too, Lupus." Seriously, how do the Kitsunes and Wolfskin dislike each other?
With the two Kitsunes and one human washed, they left the lake and are on land with their clothes back on. "So, Lupus?" Selkie asks as she brushes of now-clean fur, "Whaddya make you leave your pack?"
"I wanted to learn how to better wield a sword so I could protect them… all I ever did was disarm traps." Lupus kicks some dirt around, "And now, apparently I can shapeshift into a dragon, but I'm waiting on mother to get a Dragonstone."
"...What are the Wolfskin like? The older Kitsune said they were… uh. Well, savage. No offense, of course."
"To be fair Selkie, I was told the same about Kitsunes." Lupus points out. "And I can't speak for the other packs."
"Same for hamlets. Our daddy always made things nice and peaceful, then Kaden did the same." Selkie looks at Kaden, who nods. "I don't get why we gotta be mean to each other, the poachers are a real problem."
"Exactly!" Lupus quickly agrees.
"Then, what are you going to do, Lupus?" Kaden asks, "After you think yourself strong enough to protect your pack?" His expression is serious, "From what I can see, you want to be with your real family, you want to be with the pack you grow up with, but you also want to mend what's between the Wolfskin and Kitsunes, and you can't do that if you stay with either."
"I… haven't really thought of that." She admits, "Everything was easy until I spent some time with my real family." And Seta. "I thought I was just going to find a sword trainer, learn some skills, and return… but now everything's so difficult." Selkie gives Lupus a concerned look, while Kaden keeps that serious face on him.
What does she want to do?
"Hey, I didn't mean to sound like I'm pushing anything on you." Kaden assures her, "I'm just curious."
"Yeah, but… I've never thought to consider it. I always thought I'd just go back to the pack." But now? After spending so much time and actually enjoying herself? Her bag even has lost the scent of Keaty and Vella and… it doesn't bother her as much as she thought it would. She wants to spend time with Seta, she wants to be with Keaty and Vella, she wants more time with her family, and she has already taken a liking to Kaden and Selkie.
Why does everyone have to be so far apart?
"You're worried." Selkie speaks up. "Y'know, for a human, you do a lot of things we do for body language."
Lupus nods, "I still want a tail, though." For emphasis, she shakes her rear.
"Hey… wanna know something?" The Kitsune scoots over a bit, "Tails aren't always so great. Even though I've had one my whole life, I still sometimes get it caught in things, and it hurts!" She even whimpers from just mentioning it, "Let me tell you, few things hurt as bad as suddenly having your tail pulled."
"And it also messes with your fur, so you have to brush it again." Kaden adds.
"Oh, don't get me started, Kaden. You remember that one young kit? The one that would sneak up and ruffle tail furs?" She looks at him with a distressed expression.
"Like I'd forget." He scoffs, "I can't count the number of times I had to re-brush my tail fur because of him."
All the while, Lupus's eyes went from one to the other, "There was never a pup who tried that. Playtimes didn't happen a lot." She kicks some dirt, "Especially when we got older, too many threats."
"Aw…" Selkie whines, "Oh! So, that's why you were so into our playfight earlier!" She looks at each of them, "Hey, since we're almost all rested up…?" She wags her eyebrows.
"I'm not recovered yet…" Kaden takes a step back.
"Lupuuuus?" Selkie sings.
"Yeees?" She smiles.
"Wanna play?" She returns the smile.
"Chase?" Lupus gestures towards Kaden, who now has a rather worried look.
"Kadeeeeen." Selkie's smile turns mischievous, "This won't be fun if we can just jump and catch you…" With that, Kaden runs off, complaining about 'women'.
"Wooo! Playtime!" Selkie laughs as she begins running.
"This better not end in a minute, either!" Lupus follows suit.