Wrong answer.

Ow...

Holding my freshly slapped face as I dip back into the bubbling water, I watch as Sammy jumps straight into the bath; only to notice something strange. The water was actively halting against the membrane that made her "skin." It appeared akin to oil's inability to mix with water; cranked up to hundred times.

"Warm..." Sammy murmers, smiling as she dips into the bath; leaving me unsure if she's drooling, or if her mouth is melting slightly.

Cilla takes a seat atop one of the towels, now laid onto the moist floor.

"Hurry up now." She says, not looking in my direction. "We don't have all day."

I mover further into the bath to avoid a second slap, saying. "Actually, I came in here to relax... not just bathe."

"Ugh..." She groans, following up with whispers of "dolt" and "childish."

"I can hear you, you know."

"And I can smell you. Get to cleaning."

Not wanting to stoke further fury, I begin cleaning myself, going from top to bottom. However, I try to make a bit of a show of it, partially out of spite, and partially for my amusement; hearing even more curses uttered by my Handler as I ever so slowly wash my chest in front of her.

"Teacher! Can you join?" Shouts an sneaking Sammy, emerging up from beneath the water in a massive splash; soaking Cilla head to toe is foamy suds.

Not saying a word, the now soaked, and seething, Cilla simply stares me down; I comply with her silent decree out of fear for my life, and turn around. A minute of straps being undone, clothes pulled away, and boots being flopped off is suddenly interrupted by a slosh of water.

"You can turn back around now." Says Cilla.

I do, seeing her neck deep in the bubbly water; not an inch of her body can be seen. Even her mane is hard to spot beneath the suds.

"So... we leave Bounty tomorrow." She says. "We'll be on the road. In the open... how do you feel about that?"

"Worried." I answer. "I went with some of the others to go shopping for supplies..."

Cilla stops me, saying. "It was when they bought contraceptive, wasn't it?"

"How did you..."

"Zana told me. She said you looked furious, terrified, and ashamed."

Cilla's arm appears from the foam, beckoning me over; Sammy decides to grab hold of that arm, looking bemused at the exo-skeletal form of her flesh. I sit beside Cilla on her right; her left now accosted by a curious slime, now pretending to chew on her limb with gummy teeth.

"You've been in fights to the **** twice now... what on Ruyanei can have you so worried?" She asks; dropping the emotionless tone with which she usually speaks.

I sink down into the suds as I think intently on those words. I think back over my journey; no, our journey. My Others being burnt away left me frightened of loss; even more so when I saw what became of them afterwards. The Siren incident had left me feeling... violated. It wasn't my choice to be with Cilla that night; nor hers to be with me. I had thought that feeling to have passed by now, but the recent encounter with Halicarnassus had reinforced it tenfold; salt in a fresh wound. It also called back to something inside me; memories yet to be remembered.

Lily... who is Lily... Why did I think of her...

My thoughts are interrupted by the sensation of a touch.

"Take your time." Cilla says, placing her hand on my shoulder; both eyes holding a hint of worry. "I'm here for you, Monster... even if you are a dolt who can't put on a towel to answer a door."

Snickering at her jab, I return to my thoughts. My Cardinal Urge; that was another issue that filled me with dread. It was akin to the sensation I felt when handing off my coin, but a thousand fold. A primal **** that overpowered my reasoning. My frenzy of panic back at the Library; that too has me worried, yet not for myself. Instead, I worry for my allies and friends, who would be left without me should I panic in a conflict on the road. All of these things have something in common... something amassing in the cracks of my mind; widening them, preparing to break something...

"I'm worried that... I have no control. So much of my mind enacts its will without my say. So many of my surroundings are subverted and turned against me. So little of myself remains... I have nothing holding me together on the inside. I can confide in you and the others as much as I like, but none of that can stuff three-fourths of a person back inside me. I have no recourse; I can only pray that all of you will carry the burden I'm putting on you, simply by being."

I sigh heavily, feeling no better than when I entered the bathing chamber. I feel Cilla move closer; our shoulders touching beneath the bath.

She turns to face me, Sammy being dragged through the water; still pretending to gnaw on Cilla's arm. "So, you need to be held together... do you have any ideas of how we could do so?"

I only have one idea; one I distrust greatly. It was Madness's idea, after all...

"You first. Please."

Cilla rises from the bath, not hiding her shame even a bit as she full-**** flings Sammy away, and into the wall just across of where we were sitting. As the slime splatters and reforms; still as amused and cheery as ever, Cilla sinks back down into the water, before pulling herself onto me. She wraps her arms across my neck, pulling close. Her knees touch mine, just before her calves come to rest on the outside of my thighs, as she presses against me. I feel her breath against my neck as she rest her head on my shoulders; her mane softly tickling my collarbone.

"I wish I knew how to help you myself..." She whispers. "I really do..."

"Prissy, why are you getting so... touchy?"

"You're the first man who's touch hasn't made me miss Ed." She says; squeezing tighter as she speaks "And I can't help you... Gods... why can't I help you."

I rest a hand over one of her wrists, trying to meet her eyes as I ask in surprise. "Wait, what do you mean by that?"

She squeezes even tighter. "In that Domain; with the fake. When we were together... when it was our choice. I only thought of you..."

I feel wet, warm spots appear on my back; where the bath couldn't possibly reach.

Cilla whimpers; speaking to herself. "I'm supposed to protect you, and I let you be broken. I'm supposed to teach you, and I've missed half the lessons. I'm supposed to restrain you... and I want you to rut me like a savage. Gods what a failure I am. Maybe I can do better with Sammy... oh, who am I kidding. She'll eat someone by tommorow..."

"People taste bad!"

Not now, Sammy...

She pulls back, eyes red and teary. "What am I supposed to do? I want to help you be... you. But I can't..."

"I might have a way!" I blurt out; damn it! I couldn't stand seeing her beat herself up.

Her eyes go wide. "...What do you mean?"

Regretting speaking, I answer. "One of my Others suggested using one of Ariel's Powers he bestowed to me; saying it might heal my mind..."

"Then, why haven't you?" She asks, now looking incredibly indignant. "I'm crying my eyes out trying to help you, and you have a fix ready-made by a God!?

"I... It might... Uh..."

Cilla grabs me by the jaw with one hand; the other grabbing something farm more sensitive beneath the water. Something that had fully erected from her deep embrace, and mention of "Rutting."

"Agh! I don't know how to use it!" I yell.

"Then go ask the God himself... he's a across the hall from your room..." She whispers through clenched teeth.

"Please don't hurt me..." I whisper; half joking, half scared of losing a few inches to Cilla's claws.

"I won't..." She whispers, both eyes flaring red. "I'll just make you remember to not mess with my feelings anymore, Initiate."

I'm partially frightened when I feel something at the tip of my shaft; Cilla's secondary lips.

"I'll make you remember..." She whispers, pressing down; forcing me into her tight sex. "... every thrust, every moan, and every last drop you pump into me."

I feel myself inch ever deeper into Cilla as she slowly sinks onto me; my body screaming to just grasp her hips and use her like a toy. She begins to stroke up and down my cock with her hand as she lowers herself; doubling the pleasure, and nearly bringing me to an early orgasm.

"Tell me how those other two felt..." Cilla purrs out; her grip tightening in a clear threat.

"Um... not as..."

The grip tightens further.

"Ashes tits felt great! Zana was so tight it almost hurt!"

"Oh yeah? Well then... I hope you like surprises." Whispers a gleeful she-beast; pulling herself off of me.

Cilla begins an Incantation.

"Gone now, form of Elf."

"Become like beasts; my cursed self."

"Worgenfaust: True Form."

Cilla's being starts to unravel like a roll of parchment; spilling out a blinding emerald light which darkens and howls like the wind. Once my sight returns, I pinch myself to see if I'm dreaming or not.

A woman standing at my own height; more supple and shapely than any I had seen, now stands in the bath. Luscious silvery blonde fur covers much of her body; except her swaying breasts, her glistening sex, or her gorgeous face. Her eyes are red, with star-like pupils; a scratch-mark scar running down from one eye, past her lips, and to her chin. A large, fluffy tail the length of her entire body sways behind her, as her long flowing hair reaches from her head, and down into the bath at her hips.

"Well?" Asks Priscilla, cupping one of her large breast and squeezing gently. "Is this enough for you?"

A fully reformed Sammy looks on in awe. "Teacher got hot..."

I blink a few more times; just to be safe. "I'm very confused, aroused, and intimidated."

She laughs as she approaches me, swaying her wide hips, and sinking herself into the water. "Did really you think an eyepatch was all I used to hide my identity? Silly little Monster..."

"Now. You're at the mercy of The Wild Hunt..."