Chapter 107: Beneath the Skin

Ann stirred, blinking blearily as she came out of a dream filled sleep. It was a good set of dreams, filled with Kat and Rosalyn goofing off with her. The stranger ones were the few that had been made up scenarios where they’d grown up together. Kat and Ann running around wrestling and scrapping. Rosalyn tailing them while telling them stories of Warped during their downtime, and Bren doing his best to make sure none of them got into too much trouble.

Ann opened her eyes. She felt Rosalyn on her back. Still asleep, but she could tell by the sounds of her breathing that her rest was light. She’d wake up soon.

Kat was still where she’d left her, passed out with her back to Ann. Muffled snores meant she’d fallen asleep on her arm, mouth mashed against her bicep. Among all the things Kat was, graceful was not one of them. Despite being the little spoon, the woman took up most of the bed. Ann bent her head down and nuzzled the back of Kat’s head.

Ann felt her heart swell for the big lug. They’d had a lot of fun last night, and even when she was insulting Kat, she put love into the act. If that’s what the princess liked, she’d get it. A whole lot of sweet, loving sex as well, but they’d play mean now and then.

Distractedly, Ann brushed at the braids still woven down Kat’s back. They’d have to undo those and get her hair washed soon. Tracing her fingers deeper, her fingertips caressed smooth skin, warm to the touch. She trailed them down, then felt something.

Something hard? Smooth?

Ann knit her brows. She couldn’t figure out what she was feeling. Kat had a bit of a rash back there, but it wouldn’t feel like this. Had she left on a piece of armour? No. No, there were segments to this. Small, oblong, and definitely not metal.

She pulled back the hair, then scrambled backwards.

Rosalyn yelped as she was jolted awake, scrambling for blankets to cover herself with.

“What in the hells is that?” Ann gasped.

“Mmmm, quiiiiet,” Kat grumbled, trying to snuggle deeper into the bed.

Ann and Rosalyn looked at each other.

“Katlyn, dear, I um, I think you really need to wake up right now,” Rosalyn said.

“Can it wait fer a bit more?” Kat groaned.

“Kat, something’s happened,” Ann said urgently. “You need to get up.”

“Fiiine. What the feck ‘appened that’s got ye both… so… why’re ye lookin’ at me like tha’?”

“Could you feel the back of your neck, Kat? Where you’ve been scratching?” Rosalyn asked.

“Doesn’t itch anymore,” Kat said, reaching back. “Why, what… the feck? What the… what is tha’? Feels like…”

“Scales,” Ann completed.

Kat brushed her hair to the side, and there they were. A patch about the size of her palm of bright blue, interlocking scales covering the back of her neck.

“Kat, you have scales.”

“Bullshite.”

“No, you do, Kat,” Rosalyn insisted. “Like, hold on, I had a couple mirrors somewhere in here. I’ve got this one minute… aha, here.”

Rosalyn handed one mirror to Kat, then held the other behind her. Ann helped keep Kat’s hair out of the way while the two aligned.

“Well, those sure as feck weren’t there afore,” Kat mumbled, running her hand over the scales. “The feck happened?”

“Check your sheet? Maybe it’s a disease or something? We should get Bren,” Rosalyn said, leaning in and getting a closer look. “Fascinating. They’re so smooth and tough. Can you feel when I tap on them?”

“Aye. Feels like yer tappin on me fingernails, but on me neck. Kinda a muted feelin’?”

“I’m gonna go get Bren. Get dressed,” Ann said, quickly pulling on her own clothes.

A quick run through the camp and she found Bren already up and relaxing in the cold morning air with Lucia perched nearby.

“You need to come take a look at Kat,” Ann said, not wanting to explain.

Bren gave her a concerned look, but was on his feet and following immediately, Lucia in tow.

“Is she ill?”

“Don’t think so. Just… you just need to see. I still kinda don’t believe it, and I’m me.”

Bren brushed into the tent. Kat and Rosalyn had thankfully made themselves mostly decent, but night shirts were still being used.

“What is the matter?”

“Erm, I’ve got scales? I guess?” Kat shrugged, turning to show him.

Bren moved in closer, and Lucia hovered over his shoulder. They both stared at the exposed patch of brilliant blue scales in awe.

“This is where you were itching? Where the rash has been?”

“Aye. It was kinda bad last night, but we were too preoccupied wit’… activities, an’ I just didn’t care. Then Ann wakes me up yellin’ an’ ‘ere we are.”

“Rosalyn, Lucia, have you seen anything like this?” Bren asked.

“Um… no? They look sort of snakelike, but they’re too large. Lizards generally have leathery skin, despite most commonly held notions.”

“Not fish,” Lucia said. “Too bumpy. Bad for swimming. Not bird either, like on feet. Maybe something different?”

“Wait, you’re not thinking?” Rosalyn asked, trailing off.

They spoke together. “Dragon?”

Kat and Bren’s eyes went wide.

“Ye’re shittin’ me.”

“How can you tell?”

“Well, besides Warped, which have all sorts of animal traits all mashed together, I’d assume this is gonna be some kind of animal. We’ve gone over most types, and they don’t really fit, plus the colouring is way too vibrant to be most other reptiles. Lucia ruled out fish, which she’s right; the scales would be thinner and more flexible. They’re hard, thick, and crazy blue. It really makes sense.”

“Need to talk to expert,” Lucia said, tapping at the scales with a nail. “Know hunter, frequents Temple. Has run into dragons. We ask him.”

“Nae, we don’t,” Kat objected. “Don’t get me wrong, I want tae figure out what the feck is happenin’ tae me, but can ye imagine that shite gettin’ out? The princess is growin’ scales? I feel feckin fine, but that’s some shit people will think is a sign o’ bein’ Warped. We need Rowena tae check on this, if not Orenous ‘erself. Ann, she’s not sayin’ anythin’ tae ye.”

“Like she ever does,” Ann shrugged. “For being her Chosen, she really doesn’t speak to me, does she?”

“Right, but Rowena should ‘ave somethin’ tae at least get a message. We get tha’ confirmation an’ get it fast.” Kat said, rubbing, then scratching slightly under her right eye. “Feck, an’ I think fast is an understatement.”

“Wait, itching there, too?” Bren said, locking on to the motion. “Does it feel the same? Any other sensations?”

“Nae, just rubbin’ me eyes,” Kat grumbled, waving him off. “’Ad some o’ Ann’s cum on me face is all.”

Bren blushed a deep red, but mustered himself. “Kat, you need to pay attention to this now. If you are changing, we do not know if this is malicious or not. If it is, we need to keep you safe and get you help.”

“Bren, I’m not tryin’ tae dismiss it. I’ve got goddamn dragon scales. O’ course we’re gettin’ this checked out. Just don’t need ye jumpin’ at shadows when it’s nothin’.”

Bren sighed, then relaxed. “No, you are right. I was jumping to conclusions. Just please tell us if you do get itchy anywhere else?”

“I mean, I’ve got an itch somewhere,” Kat said, then paused. “Think Ann can reach deep enough tae scratch it.” She gave Ann a wide, shit-eating grin.

“Alright, and with that, I will see you all for breakfast,” Bren said, clapping his hands and hurrying out of the tent.

Lucia stood there for a moment, too stunned to move, then staggered out after Bren.

“They are way too easy to tease,” Ann laughed.

“Bets on how long they’ll take before they’re feckin’?”

“I give it a year,” Rosalyn said.

“A month,” Ann put forward.

“Nae, three months. Bren’s gotta get used tae the Life Debt thing, then get feelin’s sorted out. Then I don’t think we’ll see ‘em fer a couple days.”

“I’ll go bring them back,” Rosalyn sighed, hopping up and running out of the tent. A few minutes later, she returned, with Bren and Lucia trailing behind her.

“Returning to bigger topics, though,” Ann said. “Do you think this is my fault?”

“Why would it be yours?” Rosalyn asked.

“Well, I mean, I’m the one with all this Warped stuff happening, and I’m also changing as I absorb more of whatever’s in that black goop. No way that Kat’s scales aren’t related, right?”

“So ye’re sayin’ tha’ cause I’m around ye, or feckin ye, that ye’re changin’ me?”

“Or just that something around me is changing you? None of your family were dragons at any point, right?”

“Nae, just Alfhindur as far back as we can trace it,” Kat confirmed.

“I’m still interested. How did they grow in? You said you had a rash, right?” Rosalyn asked. “Did they just grow up under the skin and force themselves out? Seems like it’d get a lot of skin stuck between them. Maybe they grew inside the rash, then the skin flaked off? Ann, did you notice any dead skin on you this morning?”

“No?”

“Then it might just be magical, but I think it would be the second option out of the list. Most things follow a natural way of doing their jobs. Growing in scales like that would proffer them protection while they grew and hardened. Once that was done, the skin just flaked off.” Rosalyn leaned it, squinting. “Yeah, and the edges are still a bit flaky, raw, and red. They definitely just emerged. Some further irritation around the area, as well. Dry skin. Bren, come look.”

Bren leaned in next to her. “She is right, Kat. There is more of that rash. I do not think this is going to stop. For now, we can hide it, but if it travels much further down your back or to the sides of your neck, it will be a problem.”

“We need more information,” Ann said, retreating to sit on a stool, letting the others more familiar with beasts and medicine inspect Kat. “Do you think we can pull one free? Might be able to give that to your expert, Lucia. Just say you picked it up in a Seed and wondered what it was?”

“I… dinnae if that’d feel good,” Kat grimaced. “Feck it, give it a go.”

“I’ll do it,” Ann said, moving over and popping out her claws. Carefully, she prodded at the scales. They were definitely attached to skin beneath, and when she pressed down in the center, they flattened as one with the pressure.

“Tha’ tickles,” Kat giggled.

“Don’t think this will, though,” Ann warned. “Ready?”

“Aye, ready.”

Ann gently slipped the tip of her index claw under a scale, gripping it against her thumb claw, and pulled. It resisted, holding fast to Kat’s skin, but with a hard tug, it came free. Kat groaned, and blood began to seep from the gap. Bren healed away the damage. Interestingly, the scale didn’t regrow immediately, leaving Kat with a gap in her new armour.

Ann turned the scale over in her grip. It was diamond shaped, like most other reptiles, and that brilliant blue extended all the way to the base, where a strip of flesh still clung. She pulled that off, tossing it aside. “Well, there we go. Guess that’ll work for information. We still need to talk to Rowena, though. Need her to tell us if Orenous can detect anything fucky with Kat.” On a whim, she tried to scratch the scale. It resisted, her claw just sliding off the object without damage. “Shit, that’s hard.”

“Aye? What’d ye do?” Kat asked, rubbing the back of her neck.

“Here, try scratching it with something,” Ann said, handing the scale to Kat.

The princess took it and inspected it. Seeing the thing in the mirror didn’t seem to be the same as having it in her hands. She reached out for a knife, always having one nearby, and dragged the tip across the scale lightly, then with more effort. Ann could tell she didn’t use her full strength, probably wanting to avoid pulling another one.”

“Aye, tha’ is tough. Feck, does this mean I’ll get me own armour?”

“It really depends on how far this spreads,” Bren said, still inspecting her neck. “If it covers a significant portion of your body, likely? If it is just patches like this, then you will need your equipment to cover any deficiencies.”

“Gonna be even ‘arder tae kill, Bren,” Kat laughed, reaching back and patting him on the side. “Means ye don’t ‘ave tae worry about me as much.”

“No, this means I have to worry about you doing even more foolish things,” Bren corrected, tugging at a scale to make Kat wince. “Just because you have armour on your skin does not make you invincible.”

“Ye ‘ave tae bring the mood down,” Kat laughed. “Ye’re right, though. I’ll be careful. Well, as careful as I normally am.”

“Which is not as reassuring as you think it is,” Bren sighed. “At least you have people around you to hold you back from the worst.” He looked at Ann first, then shook his head and turned his gaze to Rosalyn. “We know those two are not going to hold each other back. I would not be surprised to hear of Ann trying to hit her over the neck to test the scales.”

“I would… now that you mention it…” Ann muttered.

“As I was saying, can you please try to keep them sane?”

“I’ll do my best,” Rosalyn promised solemnly. “Well, about the danger part. Other things I can’t really promise much on. I’m kinda maybe a bit terrible about the other things we get into? Like last night when we-”

Ann clamped a hand over her Druid’s mouth, muffling the rambling. “When we had a lovely evening together.

Lucia and Bren both raised an eyebrow at the exact same time. It was almost eery how well it was synced up. Bren just shook his head while Lucia hid her face.

“So, I believe we now have a plan to deal with this. We get home to Korvas, get some rest, then the next day we’re going to see Rowena. Then we visit the expert Lucia suggested, yes?” Bren said, firmly changing the subject.

“If he’s in town. Might be gone. Can check when return,” Lucia nodded.

“If this is something I did, man, I hope it’s not gonna spread,” Ann said in a quiet voice. “At least, if it’s a bad thing.”

“Well, Katlyn has had the most, ehem, intimate contact with you for the longest. If this were to be infectious, it would stand to reason that she would be the first to exhibit signs. If this were some disease, I would put my bets on Rosalyn showing symptoms next, considering your relationship.”

“Then it’d be you,” Kat pointed out. “Ye’ve been around ‘er as long as I ‘ave. Just ‘aven’t been in bed wit’ ‘er.”

“I… yes. That would fit the scenario. I will say I am not looking forward to that if it comes to pass. Hopefully, we can find a way to stop it before more changes take place.”

“I would be last,” Lucia nodded. “Maybe not. Maybe with Bren. Bond connects us, might make it faster.”

“You’re definitely right,” Rosalyn said. “If that was how this was all happening, you two are connected by two oaths. I don’t see how anyone could be more connected than that. It’s like you’re married, but even closer!”

Bren and Lucia both devolved into a sudden fit of coughing, sputtering, and desperately trying to hide their faces.

Ann couldn’t help but laugh. She knew Rosalyn hadn’t meant to, but she’d scored a critical hit in teasing the pair.

Kat chuckled as she patted Rosalyn on the back, reassuring the Druid as she looked on in confusion.

“This is all conjecture,” Bren said. His face was bright red. He was avoiding looking at Lucia, and she at him. “We do not know if this is unique to Katlyn yet. If she is changing by some other factor than Annita’s presence and intimacy. It could very well be another God or Goddess meddling with our party, helping or doing whatever they feel like with us.”

“Never heard of that.”

“Well, Lucia, no one’s heard of someone like Annita before, either. We are at the centre of strange times, and the Gods are watching.”