Of Wolf And Man

The three of you are exhausted. You had hoped to stay in the city for the night before moving onto trekking on the streets again, but with all the chaos you caused, that's off the table, and you needed to get as far away as you could before guards or vindictive civilians start looking for you. Thankfully, since you left before anyone really know who or what to be looking for, you were able to stay safe. Still, the Colonel wanted to continue past nightfall before actually stopping and breaking camp for the night. You had so little energy, even that proved difficult for you. The road food of salted meat and dry bread hardly lifted your spirits. It filled the hole in your belly, but was miserable on the way down. You had meager meals at the Cathedral, so it was at least a familiar kind of miserable.

Actually putting your head down on a pillow, such as it is, was all the more appreciated. Doing so next to Dilancia even better. Having this special person to travel with made it all seem less dreadful, and nearly comfortable. You feel like you could be out here doing this forever, so long as she was around. You search your mind and your heart for the words to describe what this is, and you stumble across it, with doubts.

Could this really be it? Could this be....love?

Your heart races instantly at the thought. You look at her, slightly slower in putter herself down for the night, and begin to wonder if this is it, and more importantly, does she feel the same way? You've certainly gotten to know each other quite well physically in such a short time, but physical lust and real love are different things. At least, that's what ArchDeacon used to say of the teachings of Phoenicia, and although you're no longer a member of that faith, you still feel that it's probably true. Remove the lovemaking, remove the quest you're on together, and what do the two of you have together? Not much, you admit. And yet, you start to think that maybe that's enough. You've certainly seen how much she cares for others, as well the deep inner strength and resiliency that you admire so much in her, just as she admires and respects you. So what if you'd never known about those things if you weren't on this mission? You do now, and that's what matters.

There's still the question of how much she reciprocates your feelings, whatever you figure out that they are. She isn't repulsed by your demonic nature, or by your unnaturally large cock, and that's something you'd never you would be that lucky. In fact, she seemed to find you attractive the moment you met, if you remember that conversation correctly. She's talked a great deal about how your relationship is against the rules, which by nature means that a relationship exists.

But is this love?

The uncertainty is daunting, and you feel the need to ask her, but lack the courage to do so. As she finally lays down in her cot next to you, you begin to work your way around.

"Dilah, can I ask you something?"

"Always, Demi" She responds as shifts to her side to look directly at you "What's on your mind?"

"Have you ever had, like, a burning question, that on one side, you desperately wanted the answer to, but on the other hand, you were afraid of the answers?"

She smiled gently "I think I know what you're really asking, and yes."

"Yes to what?" You ask quickly, unable to hide your excitement "What happened?"

"The more questions I asked, the more it led me to Mastro."

"Oh," You respond instinctively, somewhat depressed. You should feel happy that you share something in common with her, you both being converts, but having your expectations dashed caused you to lose sight of that. Still, you try to push it forward.

"Well, how did you handle it? Being afraid to ask the questions, I mean."

"In my experience, courage is a skill, rather than a trait of your character. You have to hone it. Wait to ask the question until you're ready for the answer."

"Right, of course..." You respond, being further disccouraged by the conversation. Is she not understanding what you're asking, is she not receptive to your affection, or do you just need to marshall up that courage? That's not going to happen tonight, you realize, so you roll over and try to sleep, your mind racing.

It doesn't come easily, but it does come. It's cut short by a terrifying sound, that bolts all three you awake immediately. It sounded like the howl of a wolf, and yet strained.

"What was that?" You ask as you rush out of your sack.

"I don't know," Xandria commented, his bow already drawn "but it was close. Really close" Using the power of Mastro, both you and Dilancia summon your holy weapons of light, providing some vision in the dead of night for the half-elf to aim by. He lets an arrow loose, and you don't see where it went or what he was aiming at, but you hear the groan as it hits it's target, having made the same sound as before. The three of you rush forward to see a deceased lycanthrope, bloody lacerations and abrasions all over it's dark furred body.

"A werewolf!" You shout out in surprise. You'd heard about them, but never thought you would see one up close.

"A dead one" Xandria says as he hovers over the body, looking at it's injuries "Guy was already a mess. That shot just put him out of his misery."

"Aren't werewolves supposed to return to a human form upon their ****?" Colonel Dilancia asked.

"That's the common wisdom, ya, but killing them is so rare, who's to say?" The hunter shrugs "I suspect there's been a few cases of petty murders comitted that were blamed on the victim being a Vampire, and who knows? Maybe some do and some don't. I think.."

His words are cut short as there were two other monstrous howls in the distance

"That we need to get a move on!" Following Dilancia's wisdom, you dispell your weapon, making it harder for them to see you. Your demonic heritage allows you to see at night, so you become the guide as you head back to camp, pack up in a rush, and return to the road, using whatever energy you have left to get to safety.