FSE

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Chapter 2

Slightly irritated, but strong-willed, Seth's mare put one leg in front of the other, skirting obstacles, galloping fast as the wind towards the edge of the forest, driven by the wafting scent of the stallion that had taken this path before her.

No matter what, she had his scent in her nose, knew instinctively that where he was someone lived who could help her wounded rider.

Seth himself was oblivious to all this. He was flapping around almost lifelessly in the saddle, if he had been trotting he would have been lost long ago, but fortunately he had tied himself to the saddle with the last of his strength and the knot held.

After an hour a hut came into sight, after another few minutes the mare slowed down, changed into walk and crossed the gate, landing in front of the door of Elvira's dwelling.

Loudly she neighed, stamping her hooves, alerting help, whatever it might be.

Elvira had come home not much earlier, had just entered her cabin from the stable after rubbing her stallion dry with straw and feeding him.

Standing in the living room, she had fired up the fireplace, letting soothing warmth move through the rooms. "Well, time to prepare dinner" she started and looked around, "So, mushrooms the old she-wolf still has, as well as some sparse supplies for seasoning, a few potatoes in a dark corner. I should do some magic then."

She was about to light the fire in the stove, about to start the preparations, when she heard the noise outside the door, the neighing of a horse and a desperate, almost angry stamping of hooves.

Hastily leaving her hut, she rushed outside the door and saw the disaster.

"Damn it," she screamed, running toward the horse, unhitching Seth from the saddle and yanking him to the ground, grabbing him under the armpits and dragging him into the house.

After looking around outside, sure he had no pursuers in tow, she closed the door, dragged the hybrid to a blanket by the fireplace, and laid him down.

She quickly found a pillow, another blanket, got water hot on the stove, poured it into a bowl, and finally knelt beside Seth.

"I'm sorry, mister. But I'm going to have to undress her now," she said, opening the cowl, exposing the body and with it the stab wound, "Son of a bitch," she sighed, "what did they do to you?"

She bent over his face, listening.

He still seemed to be breathing.

She went into the living room, got some herbs, and knelt by Seth again, stirring some solutions, cleaning the wound, and finally applying a camphor bandage.

"The rest will have to come from you, unknown savior named Seth. I just hope we get to know each other better later."

Days passed, Elvira changed the bandages, cleaned the wound, which was improving very slowly. Seth was in a fever, weak, barely moving.

She fed him as well as she could, gave him fluids, washed him, changed the blankets, which he soaked regularly because he was unable to use her toilet.

The times when he lay unconscious and delirious with fever became fewer as the weeks passed.

More and more, the hybrid became more alert, observing his surroundings.

Then, one morning, the question suddenly came, "Where am I?"

Elvira sat next to him, looking at him wearily, "Well, who is it? The great hero is back."

"I know you. You're the wolf-woman from the market. I had bought berries from you and later freed you from the clutches of a madman."

"That's one way of putting it. You ran me out of town and got yourself stabbed. You may be a fighter, but you're not particularly smart."

"Thanks for thinking of me that way. How long have I been here?"

"You're at my place. Your horse led you to my cabin with pinpoint accuracy."

"Your name has slipped my mind, I must admit."

"Elvira, and no, I have nothing to do with the devil."

"I know, however, the locals are likely to have a different opinion. Especially since they also know that I don't have feet, but hooves, so they think I'm the devil directly," Seth said, lifting one leg, showing the hoof.

"Oh how awful. I've seen worse things and believe me, I've been through and experienced a lot."

"I'd love for you to tell me more about yourself," Seth relented, smiling slightly.

"I'd love to, but tell me about yourself too. And no, I don't want to hear about sexual adventures. At least not yet, or better yet, keep those all to yourself. Maybe later I'll get carried away with my own adventures with you. I don't want to hear about prequels then."

"I wouldn't want to tell you about that either, and thank you for caring about me."

"Must be my motherly nurturing instincts and had less to do with you the last few weeks."

"I'd like to get up and get cleaned up," Seth hubbed.

"You're as clean as can be. After all, I've been constantly changing the blankets and disposing of your messes," Elvira growled.

"Why did you take care of me anyway?" echoed Seth.

"I told you, I guess I have a mother complex and always have to take care of the needy, and you were needy. Besides that, there hasn't been a male in my den in a long time."

"Do you know you're cute," Seth snapped, "you have adorable little wolf ears."

Elvira looked at him sharply. "You're lucky I have wolf ears on my head and you didn't mean my tits when you used the term ears."

Involuntarily, the jackal-mule's gaze drifted to the wolf-woman's bust. "They're not small either," he stated.

"Typical guy, but I'm honestly glad that was your second look and not the first. I tend to know differently with my physical attributes."

"Oh, really? You have beautiful eyes and a very sassy look," Seth followed up.

"Stop flattering me or I'll get the impression that you want something else and that's all you care about."

"If I only wanted to penetrate you to vent my horniness in you, then I wouldn't talk to you so much and above all I wouldn't give a damn about your past and your life story" Seth countered.

Elvira thought about it for a moment. "You may be right about that. And if you don't mind, you should cover up. I'm seeing things I haven't seen before and didn't want to see anytime soon."

Seth looked down at himself and realized that his distinctly male body attributes were showing, and in a way that was extremely exhibitionistic. He quickly pulled the blanket over it, "Sorry about that."

Still, the wolf-woman couldn't help but look a little longer than was proper at the spot on the blanket where something else was emblazoned before.

Seth grinned slightly.

"I can clearly see you grinning. Funny man! You really do seem to be getting better. But now, why don't you tell me what brought you to this place?"

"I don't. I'm just a wanderer, I have a permanent place to stay, but curiosity drives me around. New places, foreign cultures, new faces, and that's how I ended up in this settlement whose name I don't even know."

"It's called Nemera and it's actually very cozy there. Well, the place was cozy until you showed up. I'm sorry, but you thoroughly messed it up there," Elvira sighed.

"I can't help that, though, and most importantly, I didn't grab you by your ears and pull you up by them. I didn't cause you any pain," Seth defended himself, wondering if he was being blamed.

"I didn't mean it that way either. But you have to admit that it's strange that I've been in and out of there for decades, nothing happens, and then you show up, I get attacked, you intervene, almost get killed, and we end up sitting together in my cabin" stated the wolf-woman.

"That's what I'm wondering too," Seth replied. "Usually humans have a problem with hybrids or complete animal-humans like me."

"That's why I asked you in the beginning how it is that you, as a complete animal-human, can just wander through the crowd and nothing happens."

"Elvira," Seth started, taking a deep breath at first, "you know I'm well hidden under my coat and hood. You saw the reactions when I took off my coat and stood there half naked. It had not realized before who and what I am. With you, the characteristics of the she-wolf are vanishingly incidental with small ears, tail and your dentition is not seen unless you are baring your teeth."

"I agree."

"Exactly, and then when by chance my hooves were noticed I was declared Satan."

"And then someone had actually tried to kill the devil," Elvira clarified.

"Exactly. I don't think the people in this place believe in heaven and hell as much as some elements who have mingled with the carefree populace. There's something else going on. Somebody is very much afraid for his supremacy."

"Are you going to look into it?" inquired the wolf-woman.

"When I get my strength back, yes."

"Then so be it. But let's eat something first."

"May I help you, or do you already have everything ready?"

"I've got something ready there, but you're welcome to go into the woods and gather wood if your wound will allow it."

"I'll do my best," Seth said and rose, turning quickly.

"Very kind of you to spare me the sight, but I've already had the pleasure," Elvira murmured, scratching behind her right ear.

After covering his nakedness, Seth went outside the door and looked around, finally walking towards the forest and disappearing into the undergrowth.

Elvira, meanwhile, got everything ready and waited for his return. However, the jackal mule took his time, more time than she thought.

When it took her too long, she became nervous and also went outside the door to check. There was no sign of Seth.

She went into the stable, thinking that he might be checking on his horse, but other than the contented snorting of his mare and her stallion, there was no sound.

Full of worries, she left the horses alone again, slammed the door and started on the path that led to the village on one side and into the forest on the other.

Suddenly branches cracked, rustling, and Elvira went into a crouched position.

Seth appeared, came out of the undergrowth, had a big bundle of thick twigs under his left arm and over his right shoulder a person who was definitely unconscious.

"What the hell is this? Where did you just come from?", Elvira called out to him.

"Firewood, what else? And it takes what it takes," the jackal mule replied loudly.

"I can see that, too, you Stoffel. I mean, what do you have on your right shoulder, who is that?"

"I don't know that either, but brought that one along so we could find out."

"Was he already lying on the path, or did you knock him down?"

"Dear Elvira, you sound like we are a couple or is it already?"

"No, it's not there yet, I don't know you well enough for that, but I'm still worried about you."

"That's very nice, but don't worry your head about me for once. I can take care of myself."

"That's right sweetie!" growled Elvira sourly, "You proved that perfectly at the town hall square."

Seth rolled his eyes. "Now let's get inside before this guy comes to and starts kicking again."

The wolf-woman wiggled her ears in amusement, trying to grin. "You really are impossible. It will be my pleasure to get involved with you and raise you."

"Dearest Elvira. I'm actually very easy to educate. Put me on a leash, but give me some leeway and I'll never run away."

"Oh yeah? All that's missing is food and fucking?"

"You can put it that drastically, but you don't have to?"

"We'll see. Now get it all in the hut, you funny critter."

"Jackal mule please, so much time must be," Seth replied with a grin and entered the den.

"Please just leave the mule's hooves, I don't need a stallion," she muttered softly.

"Put the human in front of the fireplace," Elvira ordered, "And you still haven't told me where you got him?"

"He ran into me, made some naughty remarks about my background. So I couldn't resist."

"So the fist bump," Elvira stated.

"Right! The only question is why he was up to his mischief here of all places. I don't like it."

"Are you a little worried about me?" the wolf-woman teased.

"It's my job and my honor to look out for you and protect you."

"Is that why you burst into the place so conspicuously, sought me out, and then saved me?"

"No, that was pure coincidence."

"There are no coincidences, certainly not such conspicuous ones," Elvira rebuked him.

"Let me put it this way, I get around a lot, I hear a lot, and when there are rumors doing the rounds that there is a place where a wolf-woman moves freely and is not threatened by humans, then I do get curious. That you were there on that day and at that time, that was really pure coincidence."

"And it was also coincidence that someone attacked me on that day of all days?"

"No. It was not a coincidence," it answered from the fireplace. The human had regained consciousness.

"You don't say?", Elvira became sarcastic, "is there anything else you have to tell us?"

"Yes. You should be careful and best get out of here. There's a bounty on your heads."

"Why?" echoed Elvira, "I've lived here peacefully for years and have no problems with humans."

"Good for you, wolf-woman," snorted the human, "maybe the whole thing was just a long-time trap for that one," he referred to Seth.

"What, what does that have to do with me?" the jackal mule asked, confused.

"You are a thorn in the side of some upscale ladies and gentlemen in the kingdom and should disappear forever," the human replied.

"That would have been easier to do. Excuse me, but such an effort just because of me, that's a bit too far-fetched then."

"But not so," Elvira interfered, "How do you snatch the prey when it comes voluntarily and you never know where it is beforehand?"

"You build a trap, which eventually snaps shut. It just takes time," Seth mused.

"Exactly. Dig a hole in the ground, camouflage it, and then let grass grow over it. Everything will look natural after years and the prey will run in all by itself," Elvira concluded the thoughts.

"I'm really digging the trap, though, because it's really adorable and cute," Seth whispered in Elvira's ear.

"Old suck-up."

"And how," Seth continued to whisper.

"You're embarrassing me right now, and that's not good."

"In what way?"

"I'm going to lose my temper if you keep this up."

"First we have to get rid of the human," Seth continued to breathe in her ear.

"You fucking hot, sexy animal," Elvira suddenly snapped.

"You know exactly what I like and like to hear," Seth continued to tease, "bite me, hit me, put me on a leash and call me dirty animal names."

The wolf-woman took a deep breath and looked at him sternly and spoke up, "You really want to know, huh?"

"I'd love to," Seth said and bit her left ear tenderly.

Elvira closed her eyes and growled, first slightly lustfully, then defensively. "Forget it. You're sex-crazed and your lance is dripping. See that we get rid of the human," the wolf-woman rumbled viciously.

"Yes, my love. How would you like it then? Would you like me to kill him?"

"Do what you like with him, the main thing is that we get rid of him."

"I will abandon him in the forest."

"And how will you prevent him from following us or finding his way here?"

Seth said nothing, he went to the fireplace, lifted the human, looked briefly at Elvira, took out his fist and hit him directly on the head.

When the wolf-mule let go of the human, the human went down like a sack of flour and stayed down. "You pack up our things, saddle your horse, strap everything on," Seth ordered, "I'm going to take the human to the place and clear up a few more things."

"I don't think that's a good idea. You're being targeted, remember?" cautioned Elvira.

"I haven't forgotten, but I'll just approach the place and stay outside the gate. I have a hunch and I want it confirmed."

"There do that, but take care of yourself."

"I will, otherwise I would miss something if I left you alone."

"What would you miss? I'm just a big, fat half-wolf," Elvira sighed.

"You are my half-wolf, big yes, but not fat. You're making yourself look bad, and you're not."

"If you say so," Elvira muttered, frowning.

"You're way too negative towards yourself," Seth said, walking over to her, almost tenderly under her chin, lifting her head a little, smiling and kissing her softly on her lips. "I'll be back," he still whispered and left the cabin.

While Elvira did what Seth had told her to do, he reached the last part of the way into the village with the unconscious human on the horse's back.

It had become dark by now, the guard elf stood leaning against the gate, bored, and only two large torches illuminated the surroundings.

Seth decided to dismount and lead his horse by the reins beside him. This should take a dangerous speed out of the situation that was brewing, besides it would drown out his own hooves.

'Let's see if you guard elves are in on it,' he thought to himself and walked alongside his horse, tense but sure-footed, turning onto the bridge that crossed the nearby river and headed purposefully for the gate.

The elf looked up and got into position. To him, everything looked quite harmless. A stranger approached under a hooded cloak, leading his horse, and on the very horse a human was lying and seemed to be asleep. How boring.

However, when Seth stood up in front of him, he saw the scene more clearly, "Wilhelm?" the elf called out.

Now he knew, the elves were in on it.

Quickly Seth threw his hood back, the elf could just see who he had in front of him, he reached for his lance, but it was already too late.

Seth snatched it from him, lashed out, struck and finally pierced him with it. First stunned, then lifeless, the adversary went down. Excellent', the jackal-mule thought, 'two birds with one stone'.

He quickly threw the elf over the parapet, sinking his body into the river, then repeated the process with the spy named Wilhelm, who still hung motionless over his horse.

A second time there was a splashing sound, then he climbed into the saddle and giving his mare to feel his own hooves in her flanks, galloped to Elvira.