Thoughts/Telepathic Communication between characters

Animals/Animal Spirits Speaking Human Tongue

Normal Text

While the two were gone, their house guests got some much-needed rest after the eventful morning. She-Wolf woke sometime later, feeling much better now that the bullet was out of her leg. But I still felt weak from the injury. Louata was asleep beside her on the cushion. She smiled at her pup, giving her head a kiss as she slept.

Oh, sweet pup. What are we going to do now?

In the market Maurice was speaking to the butcher while Belle went to the cart of a traveling bookseller.

The merchant saw Belle coming over to his cart, "Bonjour ma petite dame."

"Bonjour Monsieur," Belle greeted him with a big smile, "How are you this morning?"

"I am well my dear," he smiled back to her, "Can I say the same with you?"

"Yes, very well," she nodded back.

"Wonderful. Now how can I help you my dear?"

"I finished my book," she smiled up to the man as she returned her book, "Do you have anything else I can borrow?"

The bookseller smiled back at her as he took the book back, "Well most are interested in cookbooks, or the fashion pages from Paris, but for you my petite dame. I have a something special."

He reached above the window of his cart to a shelf of books and took down a book with a bright blue cover with a title painted on in silver.

"This is one of my favorites," the seller smiled as he held the book, "My mother would read this to us when we were working around the house. It is about a noble knight who falls in love with a beautiful fairy Queen."

Belle's eyes lit up at the new book, "Thank you, monsieur."

"You're welcome my dear," he smiled back as he gave her the book.

"Belle, it's time to go," Maurice called out to his daughter. Belle waved to the seller as she took the book and ran back to her father, excitedly showing him the new book. The seller waved back to her as she disappeared with her father.

The pair walked back to their home, Maurice carried bags of food in each arm while Belle walked behind him, already reading her new book. Her excitement grew as they got closer to the small cottage, looking forward to sharing her new book with her new guests.

As the two returned the She-Wolf removed her wolf-skin coat, combing out the fur. Louata was awake and was chasing her tail beside her mother as Maurice and Belle entered the cottage. Maurice almost dropped the bags of food when he saw the strange naked woman in his home.

The She-Wolf quickly covered her breasts, "Oh! You are back sooner than I had expected. I am sorry."

"Who...where...what," Maurice stuttered, "Where's the wolf?"

"Oh well, that is me," she replied.

Belle noticed the wound on the woman's leg, it was bleeding in the same spot the wolf's had been.

"How did you do that," Belle asked as she came closer to her, "Are you magic, or a werewolf like from my stories?"

The She-Wolf chuckled at the small girl, "I am not sure about your stories but I can change with my wolf coat. When I wear it, I am a wolf, without I look as I do know."

"Wow, can I try it," Belle asked excitedly bouncing in place.

The She-Wolf giggled, "You could but it would not be the best idea. If you are not familiar with such things, it can be hard to keep your mind straight and taking the coat off is difficult. Like for my little pup here."

She gestured to Louata as she ran about the room before bouncing onto Belle, making her chuckle as the two began to play together. She then picked up Louata, taking off her fur revealing a little girl around the same age as Belle.

"It's cold," Louata complained.

Maurice got one of his night shirts for the She-Wolf as Belle got one of her nightgowns, so they would have some clothing on.

Belle helped Louata into the nightgown.

"Clothes feel weird, but I kinda like it," Louata giggled. Belle giggled as well before they went back to playing.

After putting on the shirt she bowed her head to Maurice, "Thank you my good sir. We will not be much longer in your home. I just need to rest a bit longer. Though I do hope you will allow us to stay bit longer to make sure it is safe for my daughter and I to leave."

"It's alright, my dear," Maurice smiled with a blush, "I'm still a little shocked at all this is all."

She giggled a little at that, "I can understand why. Few get a chance to see a werewolf without her pelt on."

He blushed at that as he stumbled over his words as he tried to speak again, which made her laugh even more. Belle came back over to the two with Louata.

"She's pretty papa," Belle said in a whisper to her father, then to the She-Wolf, "Are you going to be living with us?"

"Well, that would be up to your father, little one," the She-Wolf chuckled at the child in front of her. Louata gave a small yip as she sat next to Belle, "But I do not believe so. I just need time to heal then I will return to the woods. I would be in your debt sir if you allowed my daughter and I to stay for a few days and not mention us to anyone in the village,"

"You have nothing to fear here my lady wolf," Maurice bowed his head to her, "You and your daughter can stay as long as you need to. We will not breathe a word of this to anyone outside this house."

She-Wolf gave a grateful nod to Maurice as Belle and Louata continued to play with each other around the cottage. The two played for hours before falling asleep cuddling up to each other on the rug. Maurice smiled at the two as he laid a blanket over them before sitting down with the She-Wolf at the kitchen table, each with a cup of tea,"I don't mean to pry but what will you do after you are healed?"

"Hopefully my pack will be back from hunting, and my mate from his own travel," she replied sipping her tea, "But he's been gone for some time in the human cities, so I am unsure about his return to us."

"What man leaves his wife and child to fend for themselves," Maurice asked, a hint of anger at Louata's father for leaving the two all alone.

The She-Wolf sighed heavily as she took another sip of her tea, "Conflicts with hunters often lead to us separating to gather information. Even when we can walk among man in his cities it is still an uncertain journey.'

Maurice was silent at that, realizing that the family did not want to be separated but that much like he and Belle they had to for their own safeties, "My apologies."

She shook her head to him, "No need. I can understand why you would think that. It is kind of you though to offer it though."

"What of your pack?"

"This season has not been favorable for us. They have had to travel deeper in our territory for hunts since the herds have not been back in this area. I have had to hunt in the nearby farms."

Maurice gave a small snicker, "So you have been the chicken thief."

"Guilty," she giggled back, "It would be a little difficult to walk into the market for a shopping day."

Maurice nodded with a small chuckle, "That would be difficult wouldn't it."

The two spoke for some time more before carrying their children to Belle's room for the night, tucking them into bed. Belle cuddled up to Louata in her sleep. With the girls tucked in bed they went to Maurice's room where he offered her his bed while he slept on the couch.

"Oh, I wouldn't want to take your bed," she shook her head.

"My dear you are my guest, and you are injured," Maurice countered, "I insist. I will be fine in the living room."

She nodded back to him, "I see I can't change your mind on this matter."

"No," he smirked back at her making her giggle.

"Then I appreciate your hospitality and wish you a goodnight."

"And to you Madame."

The two then went to their chosen sleeping areas to rest.

Meanwhile in the woods a bright red fox was poking around the She-Wolf's den.