Chapter 129: Face to Snout

Ann cracked her eyes open. At some point, she had dozed off. She was always the last one to do so, something she had no illusions Orenous was responsible for. To her left she saw Rosalyn’s back, pressed close to her. The Druid was breathing softly as she slept, exhausted after the fun they’d had earlier. Wendyl, bless that freaky Inlon, hadn’t lasted more than another round, but Kat and Rosalyn were used to Ann’s stamina at this point. They’d traded off taking Ann’s cock and performing more supportive roles for each other. Not a hole in that room was left unfucked by the time they were done, well, besides Wendyl’s mouth. She’d been much more interested in other forms of fucking, and getting to play with Rosalyn a bit. Sampling her new friends was how she’d put it, and while crass, Ann understood the feeling. There was a lot to go around, and a lot to enjoy.

She lay there for a few minutes, just listening to the sounds of breathing, and staring at the ceiling, letting her mind wander. After a while, she felt restless. Her arm was trapped under Rosalyn, though, so she had to gently wiggle her way out. Rosalyn groaned and shifted, letting her slip away.

Ann pulled free of the pile of bodies arrayed on Wendyl’s bed. She was, surprisingly, exhausted. Not an inch of skin in that room wasn’t covered with at least sweat. Most of it had cum on it, too.

Ann smiled as she saw Kat and Rosalyn had curled up in an embrace, dozing lightly with their foreheads pressed together. She pushed away the urge to kiss them both, not wanting to wake them.

Your mates are content, the Wolf growled in her mind.

Can you actually hear me? Ann thought back.

I am you, the beast chuffed back. The truest you.

Yeah, that was a bit worrying. Ann knew she was connected to the Warp somehow. That it was starting to manifest a personality concerned her. Kat had her own version she’d described, but this thing had only made itself known as instinctual urges. The talking meant it was probably getting stronger.

Any way we can meet? Ann asked the Wolf.

We are one. I am always with you, the Wolf growled back. Waiting. Hungry.

Ann thought back to her mom’s proverb about two wolves inside her and laughed at how literal that had become. Need to figure out if it’s a lady. Then I get to know if both my wolves are gay, Ann giggled to herself. The meme was becoming her reality. So stupid.

Well, if you’re with me, you know how Kat met whatever the fuck’s in her. How do I do that? Ann asked.

She had external… interference. I can draw you in. Our bond is stronger, the Wolf growled.

And you’ll let me out again? Ann asked. She wasn’t stupid. If she was going to be drawn into her own soul, she’d need assurance she’d be let back out.

Possibly, was the only answer.

No. You don’t get to give me possibly. This is my body, my soul. You pull me in, and I get to go when I want.

What do I get out of it? the Wolf snarled back.

Well, first thing is I get to talk to you and meet you.

Something we are clearly able to do. I want more.

Well, shit, what do you actually want? You’re a malevolent force dwelling in my soul, Ann asked.

I want you. Your body. I want to change. To be free. Hunt. Kill. Mate. Breed. Devour the very moon.

What are you, some cheesy werewolf? Ann laughed. She moved to take a seat on a plush chair in the corner of Wendyl’s room. She spotted the Inlon woman now, clung to Kat’s back in a position that hid her previously.

DO NOT MOCK ME! The Wolf roared.

Oooh, real scary, Ann rolled her eyes. Listen. I’ve got like four years of therapy I can weaponise here. You are hilariously late to the party if you think you’re the first voice in my head. Also, I think I’m a few thousand years older, so don’t disrespect your elder.

More disrespect, the snarl returned. I am part of a force far greater than your pinprick of a life.

See, now we’re talking. What’s up with that force? Ann probed.

I will not speak of this. It is forbidden, and irrelevant. You will be mine, and then none of it will matter.

Ann sighed and rolled her neck. Of course, that shit wasn’t going to be easy. Negotiations with something that had basically no power, but had secrets she wanted, would be tricky. Absently, she wondered if this was the right time. She was sitting there naked, covered in cum and sweat, and having a serious talk with a voice in her soul. Her pillow talk left a lot to be desired. Then again, the other three were out of it, so she didn’t have much else to do unless she wanted to fuck one of them awake. Kat would probably love that, but even Ann needed a breather.

Alright, alright. So you can’t talk about the super secret power that’s corrupting everyone. Not like it’d make my life easier. Shit’s going pretty well, so far. Can’t account for everything going to hell, so I don’t worry about it. You want my body, sure, but is that all you want?

I feed on your soul. Your energy. A piece. Give me a piece. Niggling nothings you will not miss. Excess when it is overflowing. That will be enough. For now.

For now. Right. Question on that, Wolf. What do you mean when my Soul is overflowing?

You generate energies by living. Normal humans live and eventually wither. Their souls are depleted. Yours has been infused. Altered. Did your goddess not tell you this? Such irresponsibility.

She mentioned something like that. I know I’m not normal at all. So, what does this whole overflowing thing do for me?

Nothing. Nothing as you are. It merely seeps out into the world, dissipating into nothingness. As I said, you will not miss it.

Right. Hey, Orenous, you listening? Need to check if this is alright to trade here.

Nothing responded audibly, but a gentle warmth, like a comforting hand pressed against her chest.

Gonna take that as a yes. Alright. You get a small amount of that overflowing soul energy stuff. You only take it when it is overflowing, and you do not take any more than you need without asking. Deal?

It will do, the Wolf growled.

Suddenly the room went black, then Ann was falling. Freezing wind whistled past her ears as her tail flew out behind her. Snow appeared below, and she hit a drift with a loud whumph. Digging herself out, she shook the snow from her hair and fur, flicking her ears to dislodge some that had gotten stuck.

The sky was dark, and a skeletal forest surrounded her. White dead trees as far as she could see blended with the snow and stood in stark contrast to the sky. She was at the centre of a clearing about fifty feet wide, and an imperfect circle.

She was also naked.

“Cool, so this is what the inside of my soul is like? Thought it’d be more like home after what Kat described,” Ann said, getting to her paws.

“This is my domain,” the Wolf’s voice growled. The very air seemed to vibrate, causing Ann to flinch. “My space within your soul, little cub.”

“Alright, mutt. You gonna show yourself or am I gonna be talking to the trees?”

“It is not my nature to show myself so freely,” the voice echoed from every direction at once.

“We share a body. I’m gonna meet you eventually,” Ann huffed, starting to pace.

“Share is a poor word for what we are,” the Wolf growled.

Ann spied movement behind trunks. A black shape flitted past, impossibly large and silent. Her ears perked and started straining to hear threats approaching as her hackles raised.

“You have all the control. All the volition. I am left caged by that damnable woman.”

“Hey, don’t talk shit about Orenous. She’s pretty damn nice, all things considered.”

“SHE TRAPPED ME HERE!” A massive head burst from the woods. Black fur covered a wolf’s head larger than Ann was tall. It stared down at her with furious silver eyes as its lips pulled back in a snarl, revealing foot long teeth. Rumbling growls shook the snow, and Ann stumbled back in shock. “TRAPPED ME HERE WITH NO WAY TO LIVE! NO WAY TO HUNT! NO WAY TO DEVOUR YOU! I hate her.”

Ann recovered from her shock, getting a better look at the gigantic creature. Past its head, she could barely make out strong shoulders retreating into a canine body. Paws braced against the snow as the creature snarled. Despite her being able to see the body of the creature, she couldn’t focus on it. Every time she felt like she defined a detail outside of the clearly visible head and front paws, it slipped away. The effort started to make her feel sick, so she turned her focus back to the Wolf’s head.

“Well, you look healthier than I expected you to be,” Ann said, trying to sound confident. The way the Wolf’s ears twitched told her she failed. “Seriously, Kat’s creature is all emaciated and sickly. Thought you might be the same.”

“I have been here for a long, long time,” the Wolf growled. “I have adjusted.”

“Hey, you and me both,” Ann sighed. “I kinda walked for five thousand years in my own head. Let me tell you, I know a thing or two about being stuck in a void of nothing.”

“This is true,” the beast sighed.

“So, you already know my name. Right? What should I call you?” Ann asked.

“Why would you care? Names are for those you seek companionship with. I am not one you should do so with.”

“Makes talking easier. Also makes referring to you easier when you tell me to eat my friends,” Ann shrugged. Her tail still swished nervously as she walked, brushing snow from her thighs. Adrenaline was doing its thing, and her body was constantly on the edge of running. Pure determination kept her still.

The wolf looked at her for a long moment, then lunged.

Ann closed her eyes, raising her arms defensively, as teeth snapped shut. No pain. Opening her eyes, she saw glistening spears dripping with saliva an inch from her nose. Taking a step back, she saw purple chains around the Wolf’s neck, holding it back. Good thing I didn’t approach, Ann thought.

“Well, looks like you’re on a leash, at least.”

“For now. I will break these bonds, host. I will be free. Even if it takes decades. Decades are nothing compared to what we’ve lived.”

“True that,” Ann nodded. “So, while you’re too weak to do shit about it, why don’t we just sit, relax, and have a talk, yeah?”

“Very well,” the Wolf retreated back to the treeline, then settled down, resting its massive head on its paws.

“So, not exactly nice to meet you, but I’m Annita Kronforst. Friends get to call me Ann. You don’t. What about you?”

“I have no name. I am eternal hunger,” the Wolf said, lips pulling back in a sneer.

“Ok, no name. Guess I get to give you one. Fair warning, I’m terrible at it. How about Fluffy? Fido? Skipper?”

“Enraging me gets you nothing,” the wolf said with an ominous rumble. “We both know you hate those names.”

“Yeah, but I’ve always been a cat person. They’re fun. They even fit human names hilariously well. Dogs are a bit different.”

“I am a wolf, not some mere mutt,” the Wolf declared.

“Right. So work with me here. You want something proud, yeah? I can go off mythology. You fit Fenrir pretty damn well, but it feels weird to call you that. Could go more recent with Waheela, or if you prefer traditional, Amarok is pretty good.”

The Wolf lay there, staring at her. Ann let it think. She was in no rush and really wanted this first meeting to have at least a neutral parting.

While she waited, she experimented. This was her soul, she might have some level of control here. She’d tried this a lot when she was wandering the blank nothingness of her coma, but maybe this was different. Putting the picture of a campfire in her mind, she tried to will it into existence. Slowly, the snow shifted, and a still image of a campfire, perfect wooden logs and frozen flames, formed in front of her. Interestingly, it still radiated warmth, and when she touched the fire, it burned. It took no effort for her to heal the wound, but the Wolf snickered as it watched.

Maybe clothes, Ann decided. She focused on herself in something she knew well. Reality warped around her, and clothing slowly took shape. It was an old crop top she loved, with a silly beaver on the front, and a pair of baggy grey sweatpants that reached just above her digitigrade ankles. No bra, though. She was glad her imagination didn’t bring those things back.

“Waheela,” the Wolf replied. “You may refer to me as Waheela.”

“Awesome,” Ann clapped her hands, sitting down cross-legged and leaning forward. “Waheela. Good to meet you. Normally that name is for a white wolf, but I don’t really care. It sounds good. Now, pronouns, because I’m going to talk about you. Are you a dude or a chick?”

“I am no bird,” Waheela scoffed.

“Man or woman. Male or female,” Ann clarified.

“I am a force…” Waheela started, then knit their brow, thinking. “However, I feel the female is appropriate.”

“Thanks. Language can be a funny thing, and getting that all settled helps a lot. I also would have accepted neither and just used they and them to refer to you, but if you still like female…”

“Female is fine,” Waheela scoffed. “There is no weakness in this.”

So, my wolf is gay, Ann laughed to herself. Goddamnit, mom would never let me hear the end of this.

“Well, Waheela, I hope this goes well for us. I know you want to eat me and everything, but maybe we don’t have to do that?”

“It is in my nature,” Waheela grumbled back. “I will hunt you and your partners. I will have all of them as mine.”

“See, that’s part of what I wanted to talk about here,” Ann said, folding her arms. “I think we actually see eye to eye on a few things. I’ve gotten used to you grumbling in my head about mating and breeding, sometimes claiming. Honestly? When Kat and Rosalyn are into it? Really hot. That whole devouring thing you started adding on today? Not ok with that.”

“I will not apologise,” Waheela said. Ann almost thought she heard sulking.

“Didn’t expect you to. If you’re really a force of greed, horniness, and the wild, then you’re kinda bound by that. I say this because it’s a warning. You do not get to lay claim to those who are mine. They all trust me when, with this conversation happening, I don’t think they should. We both know I have the potential to be really dangerous if you win out. Kat’s mixed up in it too, at this point. Either we come to an understanding eventually, and figure out how to coexist, or we tear each other apart.”

Waheela growled, showing her teeth.

“Bitch, chill your tits,” Ann growled back. “Ah, that was offensive. Sorry. Chill your eight tits. This doesn’t have to happen today, next week, or in a year. Point is, I’m going to be working on trying to get you to not be such a shit.”

“And I will be doing my best to devour everything you are,” Waheela returned, lifting her head proudly. This time when she grinned, her mouth was filled with hundreds of teeth. Each was smaller than before, but still massive. Ann watched in horror as they moved, rustling like spines before Waheela closed her lips again. She stretched, her front paw changing to an emaciated human hand with fur running down the knuckles. Claws dug into the snow before it changed back to a paw. “I am ever evolving. Ever changing to better kill you, Annita.” Waheela snickered. “Do not get comfortable.”

Suddenly, Ann was back in Wendyl’s room. She nearly head-butted Kat as she launched herself out of the chair.

“Feck,” Kat cursed. “Careful fluff. Ye’ve been out o’ it fer a bit.”

“She always do this after sex?” Wendyl asked.

“For the tenth time, no,” Rosalyn sighed, apparently growing impatient with the Inlon.

“Sorry, I just… had a really interesting chat with a wolf,” Ann said, wiping sweat from her forehead.