Beauty and the Beast

## Content Information

### Fall 2020

Didi enjoyed patrolling with the pack, but there was an ominous scent on the wind and they were trying to cover more ground until they figured out what was going on -- aside from the three new pack members, who were paired with the more senior ones.

She was enjoying the crisp autumn scents when the tang of pepper spray with an undercurrent of intense human fear reached her nose. Immediately she broke into a run towards its source, hoping she’d be in time.

The human in question was some hapless out-of-towner who had been wandering the streets sightseeing. She had no idea what the dark corners in this town could be hiding, not that walking alone in a strange town late at night was a good idea regardless of which town it was. But it seemed this girl had run into something that couldn’t just get pepper-sprayed and called a creep.

The creature was humanoid, but its face opened into a maw of ringed teeth, slick with drool. It was looming over the girl when Didi leapt out of the alley and tackled it into the light, snarling and tearing at its neck. A second creature then emerged from the open manhole nearby, creeping up behind the wolf with black talons on pallid fingers.

The girl screamed, and yelled “Watch out!” to her rescuer, pointing towards the creature in the manhole.

Didi dropped the first creature and pivoted away, but the new arrival darted forward with unsettling speed. The wolf Didi yelped as claws raked across her left flank, then limped between the creatures and the girl, letting out three loud barks and then a rumbling growl.

Now that the wolf was still, the girl could see how enormous she was -- over four feet tall at the shoulder and heavily built. Her fur was shaded grey, for the most part, with gradients of white and black -- and of course a blossom of red on her haunch where she’d been hurt.

The two creatures hissed back at her, the injured one dragging itself back to the manhole and the other licking blood from its claw, then following down the hole and away.

No longer frozen in fear, the girl rushed to Didi’s side. “Oh my god, are you ok?! I’m so sorry wolfie, gosh, how brave you are, saving me from those whatever-the-fucks. What did that weird looking fucking thing do to you, huh?” With an immediate over-familiarity and no sense of danger the girl started to fluff and scratch the wolf around the neck and ears with one hand, while the other hand was carefully parting the fur near the wounds. “Ouch. I think those wounds need some stitches if you want them to properly heal.” She moved closer to Didi’s front to look her in the eyes. “Can you be a good girl and stay here while I call the wildlife vet?”

Didi leaned into the pets, though she flinched at the hand near her injury. Lights were flicking on nearby as people stirred and she knew she couldn’t stay here.

The girl was so sweet and fearless, though. She met her eyes with a look of instant affection, and turned to lick her face.

Hopefully she’d wise up and stay away from Night Falls from now on.

But for now she was just laughing and cooing the big wolf.

### January 2021

A few months later, thick snow lay over the town and the crisp winter air was alive with the smells of students returning from their winter breaks. Didi herself had gone back to Vermont for a while; she’d even seen some of her old high school friends, for good and ill. And one night she’d gone out and met the wolves who lived nearby, paying her respects and joining them for a moose hunt.

So it had been a wonderful break, and she was in good spirits already when she caught a familiar scent on the wind one evening. That kind and fearless girl had returned, after all.

The girl was walking down a street in the direction of Carter Hall, carrying a bag of Chinese take-away while talking on the phone. “Yes mom, I have gotten settled in. Yeah my roommate is nice enough, seemed like the previous girl moved out cuz she couldn’t handle her loud music, but we actually share a lot of the same tastes, so I think we’ll be fine.
...
Yeah yeah, I’m loud too, I get it, jeez mom.” She laughed.

From the trees at the side of the road, Didi trotted out, her tail wagging. She was glad to see the girl again, curious to sniff at her and learn more about what she’d been up to.

The girl spotted the wolf, and immediately hurried to end the call with her mom. “Oh, gotta go, see ya mom!
...
Yes, love ya too!
...
Alright bye!”

She then went towards holding out a hand to let the wolf sniff it, and to pet it. “Hey there, wolfie! Where did you come from? Oh, aren’t you that good girl who saved me some months ago? Come to see me again?”

It was indeed the same wolf, but her flank was completely healed, without a sign that it had ever been hurt. Didi wagged and happily accepted the pets, her mouth hanging open in a big wolf smile. It was nice to be remembered, though she suspected the girl would have a hard time forgetting that night.

“Well,” continued the girl, “you might be seeing a lot more of me from now on. That’s right wolfie, I, Laura le Fanu, have enrolled into Monsterhearts University.” She said proudly. “So anyway, I’m sorry I can’t stay and chat, I got to get back to the dorms with this veggie stir-fry, half of it is for my roomie and stuff, and I shouldn’t let her wait. Maybe you wanna follow along for a bit?”

Excited, the wolf ran a loop around Laura and then started leading the way back towards the dorm, wagging. The girl had a name! A pretty name, too…

### March 24, 2021

The two of them became regular companions whenever Laura was traveling alone after dark, and the girl never had to see the horrible things stalking the night that might otherwise have tried to make her their prey.

In time, Zenni on the radio started talking about “Fluffy” the wolf, and sure enough, the enormous canine responded to the name when Laura used it.

Then came spring break, and Fluffy seemed distinctly distracted and in low spirits several nights in a row.

“Hey Fluffy, are you ok? Seem a bit down there, girl. You haven’t eaten something infected and gotten sick, have you?” Laura said, scratching the big wolf behind the ears as they were walking.

The wolf gave her a smile and a little huff that sounded like a laugh, then became thoughtful again, slowing her pace and enjoying the scratches. One of the nice things about being such a tall wolf was that people’s hands were just right there at petting height or licking height. She became thoughtful, then, slowing her pace.

Coming to a decision, she stopped walking and took a seat in the middle of the path, looking up at Laura with the most serious expression the girl had ever seen on her.

Laura turned around to face her with a worried look on her face. “Fluffy? Is something wrong?” She paused for a moment before continuing. “Do you need me to call a vet, maybe?”

Then the wolf shook her head ‘no.’ A clear ‘no,’ and met Laura’s eyes with an expression of concern and uncertainty.

Most likely, Laura just wanted an uncomplicated, pettable wolf to keep her company, not to be drawn into a world of ``creatures`` like Didi.

Laura kneeled down in front of Fluffy, which meant she was now looking up at the wolf, as she scratched her gently around the neck. “Gosh, you are so clever, aren’t you? It is like you want to say something, but of course, you’re a wolf so you can’t.” Laura gave a sympathetic smile. “It would make it a lot easier though to find out what is bothering you, huh?”

Fluffy’s expression was almost guilty as she gulped and steeled her resolve. Then she paused and just took a moment to lean into those pets to her neck, until her right leg started kicking and she reluctantly drew back to maintain some dignity.

“I can, Laura,” she said, in a low, rumbling voice that betrayed her trepidation. “And I want you to know.”

Laura froze wide-eyed, as she rapidly started to consider how she should react. First, she held back from recoiling in shock or yelling out, it was still Fluffy the sweet wolfie that saved her, there was (hopefully) nothing to fear. Secondly, she considered whether she actually did hear Fluffy speak, concluding that yeah it was pretty clear, the wolf did actually fucking talk. Thirdly she went through as many possible ways to react without thinking too long on it, so after half a minute of stunned silence, she finally said:

“Holy shit?”

The wolf nodded in seeming agreement. "I wanted to tell you, but please don't tell anyone else. Magical people are in danger right now." She sighed. "You have such a good, kind heart, though; I know I can trust you."

“Aww, thanks.” Laura said, her smile returning. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.” She poofed out her chest and put her hands at her hips in a very ‘trust me’ pose. “So... you’re a talking wolf then, huh?”

Fluffy stood and wagged intensely, her relief obvious.

"Sometimes," she replied, then gave a laugh. "I sound all cool and mysterious when I say it like that, don't I?" She shook her head. Golden eyes met Laura's as she continued. "I've never told anyone like this."

“Sometimes? Does that mean you’re a werewolf or shapeshifter or something?”

The wolf gave another laugh. "I guess it's not as mysterious as I thought." She was wagging up a storm, now, delighted that the clever Laura was figuring right. "A werewolf, but not scary like in the movies. And you can keep calling me Fluffy; I like it." The enormous beast seemed almost shy about that last comment.

Laura giggled. “Alright, Fluffy. I will keep doing that then. And I am assuming the head and scratches should continue as well?” The girl had gone incredibly fast from the first initial to now being amused and amazed by her werewolf friend.

Fluffy approached with a distinctly canine excitement for more pets. "This Is such a relief! I realized last week what a recipe for disaster it could be if I didn't come out, but it's scary, too, so... thank you for being so wonderful, Laura." Clearly the wolf was speaking from Hard experience.

“Of course!” Laura cooed, while petting the big wolf. “I suppose stuff like that can be tough, huh? Oh actually, if you’ve just now decided to tell me you’re a werewolf, do I already know you in human form?”

"I don't think we've talked, but I've seen you around... Now it's gonna be creepy if I don't tell you." She shut her eyes and just enjoyed the pets for a moment. "Okay, I trust you... Lend me your coat for a minute? I'm gonna transform and don't wanna be naked right now." She didn't consider wolf form to be naked, not really.

“Oh? Oh! Um, as much as I want to see your human form, do you really want to do it out here?” Laura said but still readied to take her coat off before pausing for the answer.

"Hmm. Maybe I'll Just Pay you a visit later when you've finished dinner..." She Studied the girl's face and cocked her head. "There's something I've been dying to ask you... after what happened that night when you were visiting Night Falls, why did you still decide to come here for school?"

“Pfft, like I would let something like that stop me from attending the university with one of the best facilities for organic chemistry. They even have this one class I’m aiming to attend next semester where we can go out and take samples to study from the local flora, since a lot of it is fairly unique to the area.” Laura grinned before having an epiphany. “I guess I now know why it’s so unique, just the local Night Falls charm.” She giggled.

“Besides, what other colleges can boast of having cute wolves protecting silly little girls from freaky monsters?”

Didi laughed again at that. "You think I'm cute now, you just wait! " The phrase 'wolfish grin' Is named for the expression Didi made then. "And there are definitely plants around here with scents I've never smelled anyplace else..." She looked up at the girl. "Orgo is cool... I'm a Mech E major! Anyway, your food's getting cold so let's get you home!"

“Mech E, nice!” Laura said, starting to walk back to the dorm again alongside Fluffy. “And wow, you’d become even cuter as a human? Can hardly imagine that, but I guess I’ll just have to wait and see.”

* + -

A couple of hours later, Laura had finished her dinner, and was waiting at a bench outside the dorms. Her and Didi had agreed on meeting again tonight, but this time the werewolf would be in her human form, so Laura could meet that side of her as well. She was feeling just a bit nervous.

Didi was nervous as well, revealing herself like this. Zahra had warned her many times about humans reacting violently to their kind. It could be a trap... but Didi didn't think Laura would do that, and she desperately wanted to be seen and accepted in all her forms by a normal human like Laura.

She was wearing gold-and-black flannel over a scoop-neck grey t-shirt, with tattered black denim shorts over charcoal leggings. Usually she only did makeup for derby or maybe a date, but she wanted to live up to her boast and had done her dramatic eyeliner look just a little tined down from the derby look.

The blued-haired girl walked up to the bench and grinned at Laura, flashing golden eyes.

"Hey, Laura."

Laura looked wide-eyed Didi up and down. “Gay- uh, I mean, Hey, um, Fluffy, yeah?”

The girl’s grin broadened. “You can call me Didi,” she said. “Didi Hunter.” With that, she extended her hand to help Laura rise from the bench.

Laura accepted the hand and rose from the bench. “Oh, nice name. Much better than just calling you Fluffy for both forms.” She giggled, and held unto her hand for just a few seconds longer than necessary.
“So, we were going for a walk?”

“Yes!” She led the way, and the bounce in her step reminded Laura of Fluffy’s canine enthusiasm. “There’s a meadow in the valley with a kind of flower I’ve never smelled anywhere else and I’d like to show you, if you want. It blooms at night, and if it’s not of scientific interest, well, it’s certainly pretty.”

“I’d love to see it, that sounds amazing!” Laura followed briskly behind the werewolf.