Worried Wolf and the Comforting Coils

## Content Information

It was late Tuesday night and Burgundy had just left the room they shared with Didi. Left for good.

Didi was alone, the room half-empty. She couldn’t shake the image of a bull’s-eye on the door. She wasn’t going to abandon her room, her dorm, but… she didn’t want to be there, alone, right now.

Setting the phone on the table, Iva was in deep thought. Getting messages like that from a strong able person like Didi was concerning. It was enough for her to think about it. The thinking overrode her focus on the various chemistry books and texts scattered on the small dinette table. Iva has been studying for most of the day because one of her midterms is tomorrow, and she felt pretty confident about the material.  She had changed clothes as soon as she came home, donning a oversized, mono-printed design T-shirt that reached her ankles. She wore these oversize T-shirts because she like to morph while she's settled down and have no intent to accept company. However, she felt like she had nothing to hide with her upcoming guest.

The speaker was mostly playing instrumentals to help her focus while she studied, and she took the remaining time to straightening the place up until she could hear Didi coming to the dorm, which was indicated by Luci, the noisy hair snake that won’t stay as hair on occasions, peered out of her dreads, pointing toward the door.

Didi knocked and then waited with her back to the door, peering into the night. She wanted to go run through the darkness and kill something, to feel strong, but more than that, she wanted Iva to be safe… and she didn’t want to be alone.

As the door opened, she gave one last look into the night, then turned to step inside.

She was in her favorite sweatshirt -- the battered grey one with the NASA logo -- and leggings, and she carried a well-stuffed backpack with her. Her worry was etched into her face, her mouth and brows tight, and her bloodshot eyes revealing that she’d been crying.

“Thank god you’re okay,” was the first thing she said.

“Never mind me. You’re a mess, come on.” Iva welcomed Didi inside, locking the door with one hand.  She led Didi on the sofa the best way she could, then embraced her in a tight hug.  The hug became tighter until the other girl heard her wordless message, Let it all out.

At first, Didi was as tense as knotted steel, but Iva gave the best hugs, and she let herself relax just a hair. When she did start speaking, it was a torrent.

“There’s a monster-hunter on campus, in Carter Hall, and she has this power to draw monsters in like a lure or a haze or something, and I’m on her radar, and so is another friend, and she’s already killed ‘’two packs’’ of werewolves, two entire packs, and so many other nonhumans that she’s lost track. And she’ll stop if I awaken her -- turn her into a werewolf -- so I promised I would.” Didi paused to take a breath and Iva had a chance to get a word in.

The gist of what was said could only be picked up in bits and pieces, so Iva had to pick up on choice words and lines.

“Damn...” It was only thing Iva managed to say in the end of it. The words ‘monster-hunter’ was enough to narrow her eyes, since she had a history with them. “Alright alright..wait here.” Iva was trying her best not to express her hatred for monster-hunters. Not here, not now.

She loosen up her embrace, got up, and went to the fridge. A pouring of liquid can be heard from behind Didi, then Iva returns with a glass of dark red juice that she handed to Didi, “It’s cold, it’s fruit kind of tangy, and helps with your nerves. Take a drink of that, and tell me everything once you’re calm. I’m here.”

The werewolf gratefully accepted the drink and closed her eyes, taking a sip and nestling back against Iva. The tart drink was definitely nice, too.

The version she told Iva might have been missing a little of the nuance of Burgundy’s journal, and it certainly didn’t mention their former roommate by name.

She *did* name Arsling -- and spelled her name, too.

“She has some kind of aura that attracts monsters, makes us want her. Then she kills us. That’s what… this person told me, someone I’ve known the whole time I’ve been here. I trust them but I’m not supposed to say who it was. They found out from Arsling directly; she told them all about it. They’re so scared that they’re moving away, trying to find somewhere safe. But they said, if I turn Arsling, it’ll break this spell, this lure. I think Arsling’s gonna ask me out.” Her confidence was coming back. “She probably thinks she’s got a clever trap waiting, but she’s the one who’s gonna get it.”

She blinked and looked up at Iva. “I wanted to warn you, in case she has something to do with the hunters you faced, or the other monster disappearances around campus.”

“The hunters in my backstory wanted me alive, so I have a strong doubt that this is the same case. This seems a bit different.” Iva mused. Her voice sounded calm, but astute. “As far as the other monster disappearances, I have suspicions on that but nothing concrete. So I can’t say that I can debunk that possibility, but I don’t know...”

Iva was in deep thought enough Luci came out of her dreads without getting scolded, flicking her tongue and bumping her head at Didi.

“It’s strange. Arsling doesn’t seem like the killer for the sake of it.  I wish i knew more about this aura that you mentioned.  Is it her power, tactic or a part of something she can’t control? I feel I would have to meet her face to face to understand. “

Despite herself, Didi smiled at Luci and held up a couple of fingers for her to bump against.

“I didn’t think so, either. She just seemed kind of… repressed and a little goofy. She definitely has a fire in her, though, something waiting to be unchained.” She blinked and flushed slightly. “Um, yeah, face to face… oh, she said it was a fae curse, one of her monster-slaying ancestors killed the Fae King and they were like ‘fuck you now you’ll all be monsters’ so monsters are drawn to them, but… it’s kind of a shit curse because they’re monster-slayers. Bad news for everybody. But once they get turned, it’s done, curse satisfied, they stop slaughtering monsters who keep showing up and they stop being hunted by other monsters to be turned because, like, they’re a sexy werewolf now and can’t get turned into a vampire or whatever.”

  “A curse, that would do it. I know that from experience. I’m stuck with the one that I have.” Iva hugs Didi closer to her. “Fortunately for me, it’s impossible to create Gorgons so I might have some resistance to this aura.”

“If this is something she can’t control or turn off...it’s likely that she’s killing monsters out of self-defense rather than grudge. I think I can understand the reasoning behind the person you mentioned. It would stop needless deaths over something that. “ Iva sighed. This is troublesome and dangerous all together. “

“Whole packs of werewolves,” Didi said, again, trying to get closer to Iva. “I’m the one pack mother sent. I should talk to her.” Why had she come to Iva first? She sighed. “I’ll awaken her, if I can. When she asks me out, I’ll tell her I want to go stargazing. I’ll wolf out and turn her.” Looking up, she spoke a little faster. “It’s not a bad thing, being a werewolf, not at all. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“Didi…be quiet and slow down” Iva hugged the wolf girl more tightly, almost to the point that she was locking her in place. Sometime between her strong words and the even stronger grip, Iva had reverted into gorgon form.. Wearing a large long shirt, it wasn’t hard for her tail to show. “You’re stressed out  and not deciding things clearly, and I’ll be damned if I let you approach her recklessly.” Iva let out a sigh, “You understand if you die trying to forcefully turn her because of it, I won’t hesitate to kill her...and I might not even stop there. I feel I would hurt someone else with how far I would go. ”  Iva’s eyes were full golden and shining, much like how much she cares for her friends. Her friends are rarity and she would do anything to keep them safe. The rest can go to...

“Have you tried reasoning with her first on the matter?” Iva finally asked, after she took a moment to cool down.

Didi immediately fell silent, feeling the safety of Iva’s strength surrounding her. She didn’t speak until Iva’s question.

“If she knows I’m coming, I might not be able to awaken her.” She craned her neck to meet Iva’s eyes and saw their shine and resolve. She continued, quietly. “I won’t go in recklessly, I promise.” She had seen Iva angry but not… not ‘’gorgon’’ angry.

“But, someone else could reason with her… see if she’ll agree… or… could we do it anonymously? I don’t want you to be in danger either!” She wriggled a little bit, trying to hug Iva back, but gave up after a moment and just relaxed back into her grasp.

The shine in her eyes dimmed a little. “I find that on campus has a strong potential of danger because we both know we’re not the only non-humans around. So, one little level of danger  should be fine enough. I think I have my own way of helping you and everyone. Just requires some prep work. ”

*If this curse works the way I think it does, I don’t think it will affect me as badly or different enough that I’ll be in less danger. There is only one way to find out. I’m sorry, Didi..* Iva decided in her thoughts, slacking from her hug. The urge to just coil up around her, to keep Didi here and feeling safe, also present in her mind.  The feeling predates to her mother, after finding out about her nature and curse as a Gorgon.

Her arms free, Didi reached for Iva’s hand. “Okay, I trust you. And I’ve got your back. One thing, though… I ‘’need’’ to be the one to turn her. I can’t let her get snatched up by someone else. The pack is counting on me, and it’s the first important mission I’ve been given. Bringing someone new into the pack is a huge deal, and a big honor, like a rite of passage.”

“The most I can do is find information to make this easier. I don’t have the power to protect  her from anything else. Not yet anyways. . .But, enough talk about that.” Iva stood up and smiled.

“How about you stay here tonight? I’m not having you run back home all spooked like that and I don’t mind having someone around. Beats reviewing all by my lonely self.” Iva looked at the stacks of books, obviously reading ahead of chemistry as it is. “I can probably go out and drag Burgundy here,while she’s hard to catch,  and make our trio reunite for a girl’s night!”

“I’d love to stay,” said Didi, sitting upright on the sofa. “I can help you study, make breakfast in the morning… Burgs is out of town, though, visiting their parents they said.” She gazed towards the window a bit distantly, then turned back to Iva. “Another time, though, I’d love to get the trio back together.”

“Curses, foiled again!” Iva said playfully. “I will probably call to check up on them later. ”

“Since you volunteered for breakfast, then late dinner is all on me.” Iva went to the motions to get herself up in gorgon form. When she transformed, her body was at such an awkward angle, so it was harder to make herself upright without putting some strength to lift herself from the sofa.

“Oh, you haven’t eaten?” she got up to help. As they prepared the meal, she asked, “Are there any special meals that you like that you can’t talk about with most people? Gorgon delicacies? I’d love to figure out how to make them. Me, I sometimes get the craving for raw ribs -- seasoned, but raw. I like to crack them and get the marrow. Nothing wrong with cooked meat but sometimes raw and juicy is how I like it…”

Iva was stunned at the question and statement of Didi's preferences, “No special foods needed and I’m thankful for that. For the most part, I can eat just like any human with a bit more stronger stomach to stranger things.” Iva had batted some of the snakes away from snatching pieces of the cooked ground beef she was straining for Pastitsio, a Greek baked pasta dish.  Their persistence rewarded them with Iva’s grumbling as she went into the fridge, grabbed a few pieces of raw ground chuck and tore pieces for each of them to catch.  This was after she had prepared the dish and put placed into the oven.

“I guess I’ll know to make your lamb a bit more red next time you come” Iva stated, as the timer on the oven was set, “Gorgon delicacies? Nah, I can’t think of anything outside of traditional sisterhood dishes, but that’s more of a culture factor than a dietary one”

“Okay,” replied the werewolf, agreeably. “I’ll just keep making the stuff I know you like, then, when I get a chance to cook for you.”

It was nice getting to cook together, too. It was like old times, except Iva’s kitchen wasn’t a wreck like the communal one at the dorm -- and Didi could sneak treats to Iva’s snakes.

The meal was delicious, and Didi felt much more relaxed after the chance to chat about inconsequential things, knowing she’d get to stay with Iva tonight.

After dinner, she gave herself a sniff.

“I still smell a little like anxiety,” she said. “Do you mind if I shower off?”

“Yeah, that’s the smell of anxiety and running hard dealing with it. Not at all.” Iva said as she led Didi to the bathroom. It was modestly saved for the wider accessible shower setup on the back. The shower was especially good for something with a larger build, and one look from Iva’s snake form would give an idea for what it’s for.  It had a handheld shower along with a shower head.

“Go ahead. I’ll get you some shampoo, towels and a set of clothes. I think I can find something you can use for tonight.” Iva spoke as she left, thinking of the really large shirts she wears around the house because pants are uncomfortable while relaxing.

Didi’s overstuffed backpack included some clothes, but it sounded cute to borrow something, so she just thanked Iva and stripped down to try out this glorious shower of hers. The hot water felt so good, so relaxing. She’d showered after getting back to the dorm, but she could still smell Arsling on her hair and she wanted to forget about that whole situation for a while.

Meanwhile, the shower smelled like Iva -- well, mostly like her cleaning products, but they were scents she associated with the Gorgon. It was warm and safe, and though some of her anxiety returned in little bursts as she let herself relax, it was finally fading into the background.

The gorgon returned sometime later with a heavy stack of towels and clothes. Iva had reverted to her legs briefly to grab some of the more perfected versions of her hair care product from the high cabinet. Didi requested one that didn’t have much of a scent and neutralized some scents, and Iva thinks back how she used her Gorgon’s snakes to test the newer version. Then the incident came to mind that led to Fluffy’s fur having a rainbow tint and a chuckle broke out in face.

“Didi, I..” Iva paused, looking at Didi in deep relaxation. She hesitated to say anything, and moved to drop the items next to the shower and leave. However...

Noticing the chuckle, Didi narrowed her eyes in mock suspicion, but her smile made it clear she wasn’t serious. “You scheming about something? Gonna dye me pitch black this time maybe? Come on, do your worst~”

"Didi, I'm hurt. Are you suspecting me of using you like a lab puppy when you're in such a state? You're making me sound like an actual villain." Iva said in jovial malice, “How about this? I’ll wash your hair and prove that I have no scheme intended and you can bite my hand if you suspect something. Deal or perhaps you’re too scared?”

“If I get scared I’ll just nibble on you like you suggested,” replied Didi. “Might do that anyway~”

Iva chucked, “Well, well, do it without provocation and I might strike first, like snakes do.” She continued this fun act as she directed Didi to sit on the shower bench because it’s hard to reach her hair. Iva had slipped off the T-shirt and got into the shower with the shampoo bottle at hand.

“Are you threatening me with a good time?” Didi teased back, biting her lip as Iva directed her and then joined her in the shower. When the Gorgon started massaging shampoo into her scalp, she leaned in and let out a purr, visibly melting beneath the pressure. She imagined getting a full-body fur massage in hybrid form and had to stop herself from shifting right then and there.

“Maybe, “ After she covered Didi’s head with lather, Iva went over a certain spot again with a skilled pressure, where she knew had a very strong reaction. Her tongue flicked slightly and her sensitivity to motion were sharp enough to tune into what was the water hitting the tiles, and a certain foot thump.

“Mmmph, there, that's… mm...” said Didi, unnecessarily, until she noticed her foot slapping the floor of the shower. A little absently, she accused, “You did that on purpose!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Iva spoke up in her playful denial, feigning offense. Her stroking continued along the sides, nearing the ears. “I’m just enjoying the heat and the view…” Iva wasn’t lying. Through the steam of the shower, Iva could see though her snakes in brief moments. The gorgon was getting drunk with visions of Didi’s naked body from every angle, along with every thought promoting more naughty trouble.

The werewolf stretched up into Iva’s hands and reached out to stroke her thighs. The Gorgon was delicious; this form was a brand-new way to enjoy Iva, make her feel beautiful and cared for and… a few other things besides, if Didi got the chance.

“You enjoy lathering me up, don’t you~” she said, rising to her feet even though Iva wasn’t done.

“You’re not hating me for it, are you?” Iva backed up in reaction, but stood with full confidence, not sorry at all for her actions.  “Did I do something wrong? Did I earn being nipped somehow?”

Didi closed the distance again, pressing into Iva, threatening to press her against the cold wall of the shower.

“You’re doing everything so right, I do think you’ve earned a nibble.” With that, she leaned in to kiss and nibble the other girl’s neck.

“Mmm..” Iva moans at her nibbling punishment, exploring the contours of Didi’s body in exploration with her hands. Her little snakes joined in on the action of the nippling back with didi. It was chaste kisses, before Iva took the back of Didi’s head and kissed her furiously with her little forked tongue working in and out, daring and urging the other girl to break her grip.

She’d been about to object to being outnumbered, but only got out a muffled sound as Iva drew her close, into that blazing hot kiss. Iva could feel Didi start to yield into her, then catch herself and press forward, letting the cold tiles press into the Gorgon as she pulled back to give her a provocative grin.

Iva smiled shamelessly at Didi, giving her charming snake eyes.  Meanwhile, her body had shifted back to having a snake body sometime between the kiss and being cornered to the wall. The shampoo had already rinsed away from Didi’s hair, so she’s feeling less guilty about what she was about to do. Her tail had poke Didi’s back distractingly, before Iva allowed her body to slide backwards along the shower wall. She wasn’t going down alone, as she pulled Didi close with her, guiding them both down. Her snake body contoured around Didi’s until she got her on her back with Iva above her.

“Got you...” Iva saidly breathes in a sing-song way as she kisses Didi’s neck in a brief chaste kiss foreshadowing the restraint that’s about to go away. “I think I did alright. I think you earn something too.”

The werewolf’s eyes were wide as Iva moved her so effortlessly. She squirmed in her coils, the taut thrill in her core intensifying as she tilted her head and exposed her neck to the gorgeous Gorgon.

“Yes, please~”

“Alright, I’ll give you a fair chance.” was the last thing said before Iva had reverted her lower body with human legs.  They continued this rather intimate dance along the tile floor. The water beats down on them, steamy and steaming against their bodies.

[*Some time later…*]

“How’s the shirt? I hope it’s isn't too uncomfortable for you.”

Didi smiled and climbed back into bed with Iva, wearing an enormous t-shirt that reached to her thighs. “It’s cozy! I like that it’s yours.”

The apartment was kept pretty warm, but Iva still felt a little bit cool to Didi’s touch as she snuggled up to the Gorgon and put an arm around her, tracing gently along the scales of her back. She drew Iva’s other arm in and hugged it to her chest. So relaxed and cozy, she knew sleep would come soon.

“You’re so good to me,” Didi murmured.

“You’re so good, too. Thanks for not giving up on me, for trying to be a friend so long ago...” Iva snuggled closer. She was losing to her wonderful endowed exhaustion, positive outlook despite the danger over her head, and the wonderfully snuggle-able body next to her...

Didi snorted gently at the idea that she could ever have ‘’not’’ been Iva’s friend, or that the friendship could ever be a chore, then pulled her closer still and gave her a good-night kiss.

“You might have noticed I’m quite tenacious. I’m just glad you can handle me.” Her cheeks warmed. “I don’t just mean in a sexy way, I-- you know what I mean.”

The other woman chuckled, “I know what you mean…” Iva said as sleep slowly took over, “I know…”