FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The trek had become easier as the road began to have patches of brickwork laid upon it. Even with the more stable ground, Norton had some trouble keeping a steady pace. Lydia and Ava seemed to falter themselves, a shake here an uneasy step there. He felt happy knowing that there was one thing he had over them. Maybe stamina wasn't worth gloating about. Either way, his feeble human form could still keep up with the beastly powerhouses.

“Lerwick is just around the corner, along with a fresh mug of beer," Ava said, a hint of exhaustion in her voice. She had begun to swing the bag back and forth.

“Are you sure you should be doing that?" Norton eyed the bag as it swished in the air. It was like all of his money was dangling on a string.

“Sure I should. Watch." Ava tossed the bag across the group. Lydia caught it with one hand and slung it over her shoulder.

“No more games. We're almost there." She looked over at Norton. He could feel her icy gaze grind over his skin. “You will not speak to anyone. You will not ask any questions. You will do what you are told. Do you understand?"

“Yes, Ma'am." He struggled to make eye contact, settling on her cute pink nose. Her animal-like features were surreal when paired with her harsh demeanor.

Ava piped up, “This is for your safety. Don't think you're being kept in the dark here. Just keep your eyes on the prize and everything will be A-OK." Her arm snaked into his pockets and pulled his knife free, causing him to snap to her. “Oh, and mind your person." She twirled the blade around with a smile and bopped him on the head with the handle.

“Right." He rubbed his forehead and took back the weapon. “Where are we staying?" Something told him he should have asked these things earlier.

“Standard inn. In fact, that's where we're dropping off the package. And then we never look back."

“Do you two know the owner or something?" Norton started to look about for any sign of civilization.

“In a manner of speaking, yes," Lydia said. “I would suggest you do not get to know him."

“I didn't plan to."

“Good. That's one more precious human we can keep out of trouble," Ava replied. Norton instinctively pulled up his hand to cover his shoulder, but no assault came. “You behave and I'll buy you a beer. Free of charge!" Then the slap came crashing down on him, just as his guard was down.

Lydia perked up. “And what do you plan to pay that with?" She leaned over to look at Ava.

“I have money outside of the job, dear. Some of us don't live on the scraps of payment." Ava let out a smug breath of air.

“Is that so? Where was this wealth of money when I had to pay for your bar tab? I can still remember your fresh tears." A smile tugged at Lydia's mouth. Norton was surprised she could show emotion.

“Oh come now, not in front of the new boy." Ava batted at the air. “I'm a changed girl." She looked at Norton. “Believe me, I don't drink nearly as much." She rolled her eyes in exaggeration. Norton gave her a nod and a smile, but the gash that worked down her face made her expressions still slightly unnerving. He looked back to the road and silently chided himself.

“There." Lydia pointed off into the distance. “We've almost arrived."

“There... what?" Norton squinted at the road. It was the same rundown mess of a trail.

“There." Lydia grabbed at the man's head and crooked it harshly at a distant object.

A small wooden pole stuck up out of the ground, next to the road. It looked as though someone was about to put up a sign but forgot the rest of it. “The— The stick?" The iron grip left his skull. His head started to drum as he rubbed it. “That's not a very good landmark."

Ava chortled. “It's not as though Lerwick really needs a sign. It's like an outhouse. You can smell it from a mile away."

“Well, let's get it over with then."

_

The entrance to the town wasn't very grand, to say the least. Instead of an entrance or any sort of magnificent sign, the village simply started as if the buildings sprouted wildly from the ground. The road work didn't improve either. Norton expected at least a main paved road, but it was as neglected as the miles before it. Usually the peak of the afternoon sun made anything look pretty, though even at its brightest, the buildings seemingly only just barely stood upright. There wasn't any noticeable smell. It was hard to tell if that was a metaphor or the other two smelled something he didn't.

“Remember what you were told," Lydia hissed.

“Yes Ma'am," Norton whispered. His eyes scanned the environment for any threats.

“I can hold your hand if need be." Ava stuck out her fuzzy paw and shook it about. Norton seriously considered it a moment before shaking his head. “Your loss, dear."

Norton followed his partners exactly. Every step was cautious creep forward. Most passerbys paid them no mind, and the few that had, rushed out of sight. There was a significant lack of pickpockets, murderers, or thugs in general. They must have been watching from the shadows, waiting for the man to slip from the safety of his escort. Probably. Regardless, the trip was an awkward one. The buildings had been made more haphazardly than he had ever seen, creating bizarre alleyways and hugging towers. Lerwick was bustling in terms of architecture, but lacking in civilians.

“Over there," Ava said with a nod. Off in the distance, crushed by two flanking buildings, was a wooden pile of matchsticks poorly resembling a stable building. 'Inn' was emblazoned along the top of it in fairly immaculate lettering, betraying the building's poor construction. “Eyes on the prize." On their approach, Norton wasn't entirely certain he wanted to enter. The entrance had a wooden overhang with a splintered support beam. His only other option was to stay out in the muddy roads. Between the choices, he would rather be crushed instantly than stabbed.

A fairly pungent smell made itself known as Norton approached the front doors. Lydia nudged one open with a foot, releasing the full force of the aroma. It was alcohol. Cheap and simple. The smell itself was almost intoxicating. Norton must've made a disgusted face as Ava was quick to tease him. “First time in a bar, healer boy? You get used to it." He tried to come up with a response but his mouth refused to open. “Don't worry, you aren't alone. Lydia doesn't like it much either." The knight's only response was a hard glare, to which Ava snickered at.

Stepping inside, it was easy to see why the streets were empty. Cramped in wooden tables, wall to wall, were bar patrons of differing ages, sex, and species. It would have been the pinnacle of acceptance and friendship between the races had the place not been so scummy. No one so much as batted an eye at them, maybe either too drunk to care or the trio wasn't enticing enough to steal from. Whatever the case, Norton was happy to go along unnoticed. That happiness quickly faded once he recalled this would be the very same building he had to sleep in.

The group weaved and slithered around the mess of a bar, moving toward the counter. Some more curious beast folk dotted the crowd that Norton hadn't even known existed, such as goofy bushy-tailed squirrels and boisterous cat fish. He honed his staring skills at that point, enough to spy on others without being beaten to a pulp. The strange creatures made his own partners seem normal in comparison, for better or worse. Though, he still felt sorely out of place, even if no one paid him any mind.

Eventually they all sidled up to the counter, coming face to face with a withered and clearly tired human bartender. And unfortunately, shoulder to shoulder with more unsavory characters. Lydia plopped the sack onto the counter and eyed the man behind it. “We are here to speak with the owner." Norton looked away back at the crowd, trying to appear as casual as possible. His eyes landed on a curiously dressed fox woman taking up a sensual pose near a set of stairs. She instantly noticed him and gave him a wave and a wink.

A furred muzzle settled itself of Norton's shoulder, causing him to shiver. “Not even your best treatments could cure anything you get from her," Ava whispered. Her voice resounded through his body, forcing out another shiver. “I suggest you keep your eyes on a nice human lady for your first time, sweetheart." She rubbed his shoulder, a nice change of pace from its regular bruising. His ego took the beating on this one.

“I'm not a-" Norton started.

“What the fuck?" the bartender gasped. Norton immediately looked over at him, curious what could faze such a man. The gruff individual was staring straight into the bag, mouth agape.

“Ah, ah, ah." Ava's furred hand pushed Norton's attention back to the crowd. “You needn't concern yourself with that."

“If you... say so." Trickles of fear pricked at the medic's neck. “So then." He cleared his throat. “How about that mug now?"

“We haven't been paid yet, hold your horses." His eyes wandered over to his side, where Ava rested her head. That blind orb stared back at him. “Peekaboo." He slowly returned his gaze back to the sea of patrons.

“What is there to do in the meantime?" Norton's hand crept onto the counter, settling into a gentle repetitive tap in a vain attempt to soothe his nerves.

“Good question. Maybe you'd like to see our room?"

“No, no, I'm good. I like surprises." Norton looked at the creature sitting next to him. A ravenous pig-thing, messily chowed away at a bowl. “I guess the food here must be good." His tapping picked up the pace while he tried to focus on the conversation between Lydia and the man. It was in vain. “Can I ask you a question, Ava?"

“Didn't Ms. Lydia tell you not to?" Her hand ran through his black hair, twirling it about in her fingers.

“I figured this could be between you and me." He stopped his tapping.

“How secretive. I suppose I can indulge one question."

“This isn't a normal package, is it?"

“No"—her mouth curled downwards—“no it isn't. But it doesn't concern you. Believe me."

The two lapsed into silence, looking about over the crowd. A few curious eyes began to glance at them, but none of them threw a fuss over the group. A bang came from behind Norton, but Ava's looming presence made it impossible to turn. Whatever it was, it must've not been important, or at least nothing Ava wanted to draw any attention to. None of the patrons even cared to investigate the noise. That was probably the norm here.

“Ava," Lydia said.

“I guess that's my cue. Hopefully we can have a more productive chat later," Ava whispered as she retreated. Her hand ran down from Norton's hair and across his shoulder. He let out a sigh of relief and turned back to the counter top. Norton didn't realize it until then, but Ava was quite warm and comforting, like a very snug blanket. A violent, snug blanket. He watched her disappear into a door next to the bar counter. Once she was gone, he felt oddly naked. Completely unsafe without her.

Another loud bang brought Norton's attention over to Lydia. Both of her armored gauntlets lay on the table, while her delicate palms rubbed her eyes. Light patches of miscolored fur stood out on her snow white hands. “Your eyes might as well fall out with how much you stare," the cat woman said. She slumped down and crossed her arms. Norton was quick to look away and settled on the scratched and battered wooden table in front of him.

“Sorry," Norton muttered.

The weary bartender shuffled into view, fervently wiping away at a cup. “Drink then?" he said. The apothecary looked up at him.

“I don't think so." He nodded at Lydia. “Maybe she needs one, though."

“No." Lydia gave Norton a hard glare. “No, I do not."

“Alright, alright. I don't have the cash, but-"

“If you want one it's on the house. Free. Free of charge." The man sped up his cleaning.

Norton furrowed his brow. “That's... kind, but no thanks."

Lydia perked up. “Go away." She shooed the bartender, who promptly nodded and ambled away. “I told you not to talk to anyone." She propped up her head with one hand. Her tail wormed up onto her lap.

“Sorry-"

“Stop saying that." She let out an annoyed sigh. “Maybe I should have gone in Ava's stead." Her blue eyes shot daggers at him. “She would have kept you busy."

“Look, I'll head up to the room if you want. Just show me the way."

Lydia glanced down at the table briefly before looking back up at Norton. “No. Never mind. Pardon me."

“Did I do something wrong?" Norton set his arms on the counter. He opened his mouth to apologize again, but snapped it shut.

“It's the job, not you."

“Right. The bag," he whispered.

“I can hear you."

Norton shook his head and gave a small smile. “Not used to beast-men yet."

“I'm not used to the generics."

“Generics?"

“That's what you are." Lydia nodded in agreement with herself. “A generic."

“What does that mean?"

“You're generic in comparison to the rest of us. What animal does man take after?"

His smile widened. “A monkey?"

“You would be offending quite a few beast-men with that." Another smile dared to tug at Lydia's mouth.

“You mean to tell me there are monkey beast-men?" The man let out a small chuckle at the thought. “Why didn't you pick one of those instead of me?"

“I wouldn't want to say this publicly"—Lydia leaned closer to the human—“but they're known for their temper. Generics at least keep themselves relatively levelheaded." Her eyes narrowed slightly. “Relatively." She settled back into her seat and ran a hand over her gauntlets. “Have you truly not spent time around us?"

“One of your kind? No." He shook his head. “I came from a very small human village. We kept to ourselves." Norton paused. “If you're not used to uhm, generics, then does that mean you haven't spent much time with us?"

“Felids tend to stay together."

“I guess that makes sense. I just thought a knight would be around humans more."

“The armor does not make me a knight, regardless of Ava's jests. I haven't earned that title yet."

“Then what should I call you?"

The cat's face softened more. “Lydia will do." They both fell into a comfortable silence soon after, occasionally trading awkward glances. Norton began to think of a new topic to help pass the time while Ava did whatever shady business was occurring.

A loud slam woke Norton from his silent stupor. “Catch." He snapped to the voice and shakily held his hands up. A fine glass bottle slapped against his palms and he only just barely caught it.

“Ouch!" Norton shook one of his hands about, desperately trying to fling the pain away. Ava settled back into the stool next to him with a sly smile. He held the bottle up. “What's this?"

“Your mug, dear," she said.

“It seems awfully glass-like for a mug." He shook it about, feeling the contents inside slosh around.

“Aren't you pedantic? Hmph." She turned to Lydia, propping her head up on the counter. “Kept our boy company?"

“I did my best. It wasn't difficult." Lydia began to replace her gauntlets.

Ava drummed on the counter excitedly. “Ready to retire then? Maybe a drink before bed?"

Lydia glanced back at the crowd. “It's probably for the best."

“I'll call the bartender then."

“Retiring, Ava."

“I joke." The wolf woman patted Lydia's iron-clad shoulder. “Now then"—she whipped back over to Norton—“I'll bet our fragile human is eager to rest." Norton realized she lacked the bag entirely, so the delivery must have been completed. “Well?"

“Yeah, well, nothing to do here." He hefted up the bottle. “Might as well get to the room I guess." Lydia was already up and out of her seat, marching off to the stairs.

“Looks like she's in agreement."

_

The room was one of many, but surprisingly had a level of cleanliness and order, even homely to a certain degree. It was almost suspicious in its appearance, considering everything else. Norton was in no position to complain, however. His joints still slightly ached from the long walk. He set down his knapsack in the corner of the room and eased onto one of the beds.

Included in the room was a small mirror atop a desk, a table shoved in another corner, and two beds with a night stand in-between. Norton twiddled his thumbs and enjoyed the comfort of the bed for as long as he could. While his politeness demanded that he relinquish a bed for a lady — if he could even call them that — his body begged for the relief of packed feathers and cotton. He stood up, pulled his cloak up and over his head, then discarded it alongside his bag. With that out of the way, he collapsed back onto sweet softness.

The gentle sound of a doorknob turning made Norton shoot back into a sitting position. “Oh, it seems a skeleton has wandered into our room," Lydia said. Norton looked down and crossed his arms.

“Such a tease," Ava replied as she walked in after the feline. She held a pair of drinking glasses in one hand. They glimmered faintly in the light of the candles that lit the room.

“I suppose you have claimed that bed for your own?"

“No, no, no, I'll take a bedroll." He stood up and presented the bed. “Please, go ahead."

Ava leaned on Lydia. “See? He's a priceless catch." Norton shuffled to the side.

“I'll be taking the other one," Lydia replied. She immediately walked to the bed at the far side of the room.

“Well, I guess this one's mine then." Ava hopped onto the mattress and set down the glasses. “Come join me“ She beckoned Norton. He carefully crept over and sat down on the bed. “No need to be nervous. Or has it been a while since you shared a bed with a lady?" She chuckled and slapped her thigh. “Sorry, sorry."

“It's fine." It stung.

“Here." She held up a glass. “Go grab that bottle and we'll have a small celebration on a job well done."

“You sure?" Getting drunk here was probably the worst idea he could think of.

“Yeah, yeah, go on."

Norton thought on it for a moment and trudged off to his bag. “Do you mind?" Lydia suddenly spoke up. He glanced over at her. The feline had flattened her ears and covered her bare breasts. A subdued giggle could be heard from across the room.

“Sorry!" He spun around to the wall and frantically searched for the bottle before scuttling back to Ava's side. He wordlessly handed her the bottle with a frown.

“Smooth." Ava nodded. “The alcohol, however, is not." She gave a wink. Norton sighed and rolled his eyes. He was somewhat curious about Lydia's sudden interest in decency, but embarrassment overrode that entirely.

“Shouldn't we give Ms. Lydia some? She contributed as well." He motioned toward her, but was careful not to look.

“The good stuff doesn't agree with her. Now I, Ms. Ava, on the other hand"—she draped a hand across her chest—“agree with it very much." She bit on the cap of the bottle, tore it off in one easy motion, and spat it across the room. Expertly she poured two glasses of the reddish brown liquid, not letting a single drop go to waste. Norton could only think about how he'd have to retrieve that cork later. Ava set the bottle on the floor, yanked her cloak off, then gulped down the entire glass. Norton might have described it as “wolfing down“, but chided himself for the silly joke.

Ava picked up the other cup and pushed against Norton's chest. “Go on, you've earned it." He slightly panicked at the thought of the liquid staining his shirt.

“I'm not sure this agrees with me either." He eyed the liquid.

“Come on, we've walked all this way and you don't want to celebrate?" She pressed harder against him.

“Alright, alright." He took up the glass. “What is it?"

Ava hefted up the bottle and poured herself another round. “I thought you liked surprises."

“Good point."

Lydia suddenly spoke, “Good luck."

Ava stared intently at her drink. “Oh hush, you," she grumbled, and downed another glass. She fell back onto the bed and laid an arm across her eyes. “Nothing better than a job well done." Norton sipped at the mysterious liquid, stifling a cough as it hit his throat. “Give me another." She held up her cup and shook it about. He merely poured her his own drink, all the while wincing from the aftertaste. Ava was quick to down it again. Small droplets dribbled down her chin.

“Had enough?" Lydia asked. Norton glanced over at her, relieved to find her in more acceptable wear. A tattered and worn gown hung from her frame. Patches of dirt covered it in worrying amounts, making Norton wonder when she had last cleaned it.

“For now," Ava replied. Norton set his glass down and got up from the bed. “Where are you going?"

“I was going to get my bedroll."

“What kind of host would I be if I let you sleep on the floor?" Her arm shifted a little, revealing her nearly blank eye.

“That's awfully kind"—he let out a laugh—“but you don't need to take the floor."

“Who said I was taking the floor?" She snuggled into the bed and covered her eye once more. “Lydia would be happy to take you as a bunkmate."

Norton looked toward Lydia cautiously. She gave him a slow shake of the head, quite firmly dissuading any notion of that happening. “It's fine, really, I'll take the floor." He took another step to his bag.

“Free spot on this bed." Ava practically pounded the mattress where she lie. “We only paid for two beds, dear. Any more and it'll come out of your share." Norton couldn't tell if she was joking at this point, and a small spark of fear didn't want him to find out. He ambled over to the bed in defeat and sat down. “That's better." Ava let her glass go, dropping it to the bed. Then she snaked her hand over to her chest, where she unhooked the few bags that hung from her. She pushed them off in one shove where they fell to the floor in a loud clatter. The only thing that hung from her frame looked like a patchwork of different clothes wrapped over her to form a very short shirt and skirt, like a raggedy dress.

“Does this door have a lock, by the way?" Norton asked Lydia, who indifferently stared at the lazy wolf.

“It does, but if you believe that is enough to keep you safe, you need to dwell on the matter more." She settled into her own bed and looked straight up at the ceiling. “Keep an eye open."

“Right." He nervously looked at the door before turning his attention back to Ava.

“Like we need a lock. Do you think the people out there can even hold a sword straight?" The man thought back to some of the patrons, and their awkwardly huge muscle proportions that would make even the largest of beasts green with envy. “One little prick"—she jabbed at the air with her finger—“and they're down." That was a grim reminder that the pair had murdered a squad of people merely hours before. The prospect of sleeping in the same bed seemed less and less like a good idea.

“Now quit fidgeting around and lay down." 'No' wasn't even a concept Norton knew anymore. Not wanting to creepily stare at Lydia and not wanting to face Ava, he opted to lie on his back and admire the ceiling. The very creaky and punctured ceiling. “That's better, isn't it? Hay and cotton certainly beats rotting wood." Norton was slightly disappointed his original guess of feathers had been incorrect.

“Definitely," the apothecary responded. He clasped his hands over his chest, feebly adding to what little sense of security he had. “So, in the morning it's straight home."

“Are you hankering for more adventure?" Ava asked. Norton thought briefly to the bodies strewn about on the ground.

“Maybe some other time."

“Oh? Really? Well, I had considered you an excellent apothecary, and I'm sure Lydia thinks the same. Good enough for a rehire." Norton saw Lydia nod and shift onto her side, away from the pair.

“I barely did anything."

“It's not how much you do, but how you do it."

“If you say so."

“I do say so. Even if Lydia won't." She let out a chuckle. “Tell me"—she rolled over to face Norton—“how did you do that plant thing?" Ava shook her glass with every word, as if she were begging for more.

“Well, uh, it's a kind of moss that grows in particular swamps. See, the toads there mix it with their bile and— Well, it produces that effect. I suppose it's symbiotic." That was the first time he had ever explained it out loud. It seemed incredibly ridiculous.

“I have not once ever met a man who carries toad vomit around." Ava slapped his shoulder and let out another laugh. “You'd best apologize to Lydia," she said with a snicker. “No, I joke. She's been through worse." Ava sat back up, giggling all the way. It was kind of a cute display. “Care for another round?" Ava pulled the bottle back into view.

“No, I'm good. Really."

“You're going to learn to love the bottle eventually." She took a swig straight from the bottle itself and set it back down, along with the glass. “I've never met a man so unwilling to drink." With that she pulled her simple dress up and over her head faster than Norton could object, revealing her faded grey and white fur. She was still covered from Norton's angle, but it was clear even from that position that she was completely bare. Ava fell back onto the bed with a bounce. Still being male, Norton couldn't help stealing a look. From the brief glance it seemed her fur did a good job of covering her less than presentable bits.

“Aren't you warm in that?" Ava asked.

“No, I'm good. Don't have the fur you do." He tugged on his shirt to emphasize his point. It was a lie, though. The room was getting awfully muggy and his shirt had begun to stick to his skin. His pants didn't fare much better.

“Good luck, Norton," said Lydia, once more. She pulled the sheets up to her neck. Norton was surprised at the sudden use of his name.

“Oh, quiet!"

“Something wrong?" Norton asked.

“Someone's just being a tease," Ava grumbled.

Doing his best to drop the subject, Norton said, “Time to blow out the candle, then?"

“Why so soon? Are you in a rush? Wouldn't you care to chat some more?"

“I'll be honest ma'am, it's kind of hard to do that." He squeezed his hands tighter. “Us generics don't do the whole naked thing."

“Where did you learn such language?" She sniggered. “Regardless, there's nothing to be embarrassed about." She tapped on his arm. “Come on now, let's talk like adults. This is normal for adventurers." A nearly inaudible noise came from Lydia's side of the room. Ava leaned up from the bed quickly. “It is!" she shouted at Lydia.

“Alright." Norton shifted onto his side. His eyes locked onto Ava's, not something he was hoping to do any time soon. Her visage was less frightening than all the other times. Whether it was acclimation or not, he couldn't tell.

“That's better, isn't it?" Ava said quietly. They both merely stared at one another for a few minutes. “You're pretty cute for a flat face. Or maybe it's the alcohol."

“Flat fa-"

“Hush," Ava said sternly, cutting him off. She stared into his eyes, piercing them cleanly. They then traced down his body and straight back into his eyes. She repeated this several times before speaking again. “I can see you sweating. Take off the shirt, at least." Norton fidgeted on the spot for a few seconds.

“I'm not sure that would be the best idea."

“Do it."

“Ma'am-"

“Norton." Her face hardened. “Don't argue." He eventually relented and removed his simple cloth shirt. “There we go." She brought her hand up tentatively and gently nudged against his chest.

“Miss," Norton said seriously.

“I. Said. Hush." Ava splayed out her hand and pressed against him. Her furred fingers were curious to the touch, and he might have enjoyed them more were they exploring him in a different scenario. The wolfess's digits traced down to his stomach and up to his neck. Her sharp claws became very apparent as they glided over him. “That's such a funny texture," she mumbled, as if Norton weren't even there. Her other hand quickly joined in the greedy experience, similarly soaking up his vulnerable form. He was uncomfortable, to say the least, even with the gentle sparks of pleasure that ran under his skin, causing goosebumps to cover his hide.

Just when it seemed like it couldn't go on any longer, Ava gripped his sides and pulled him toward her in an absurd display of strength. Instantly he was forced against soft fur backed by hardened muscles. “Ma'am, please, I-"

“I don't want you talking." Her snout dug itself into his neck, causing him to shiver. “Not right now," she whispered. Norton was more baffled than afraid, and he stayed ramrod stiff. Ava's nose was quite wet. It wriggled about against his skin, tickling his body. He could begin to feel her chest rise and fall. The gentle nudges of her bosom against his chest was very apparent. Subtle bumps under her fur revealed more of her form. His face burned with embarrassment as the bumps brushed against him. Norton's mind was learning more about her body than it cared for, but his raw flesh was eager to learn more about this alien creature in front of him.

Ava pushed Norton onto his back, although she was still firmly stuck to him, eating up his form. The entirety of her weight eased onto him, squishing her breasts against his skin. He looked to Lydia for assistance, but she was directly facing away, clearly not wanting to get involved. A few seconds passed of silent groping. Norton still couldn't decide whether he should be embarrassed or angry. Ava eventually settled into a comfortable bear hug, keeping him in her grasp. She muttered something into his neck. Her warm breath dancing down his skin, joined by the gentle massage of her soft fur.

“Do you think I did the right thing?" Ava asked in a hushed tone. Her grip seemed to tighten with the question. “Tell me. Did I do the right thing?" Norton didn't know how to respond. “Please."

“Yes." Ava relaxed. He grit his teeth. There was no way of telling what he was getting himself into, and he wasn't sure he wanted to find out. The beast-woman pulled out an arm and took up one of Norton's hands. Awkwardly she pushed it onto her back, forming a very uneasy hug between the two of them. Once she was satisfied, she returned her arm to its rightful spot. The man looked back over to Lydia once more. She barely looked back at him. The glint of her blue eyes was gone in an instant.

Norton remained in silence, wondering if this situation would ever pass. Ava hadn't budged, but from the occasional shifting and heavy breathing it was clear she was awake. He didn't dare say a word, for a myriad of reasons. Some he couldn't explain to himself. If anything he at least hoped this would be the first and the last time he would have to deal with this. Not that he was disappointed by the raw experience of it, but such a sudden emotional load wasn't something he was used to.

Norton closed his eyes. And hoped for the best.