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The trip had tossed them back into the thick of things. At that moment, the trio had moved back to the exterior of Hull. In the distance Norton could see that shining golden bell. It was merely a speck now, and hardly noticeable through all the foliage, but he so desperately wanted to be back there. Maybe he should've just stayed with Ava there. Forgotten about all of his woes behind the safety of large walls and even larger military. But Lydia? He couldn't just leave her either. Norton cursed himself for running circles around in his head again.

"This is far enough," Lydia said.

"And so we simply wait here?" Ava asked. "Days? Of this?"

"It may not be days, Ava," Norton replied. "Miriam is coming toward us, right? Then Mehni will only reach her quicker." Lydia had already begun setting herself up against a tree, undoing her armor.

"Look at her, already on her exhibitionist show." The wolfess scowled. "And I'm the disgusting whore?"

Lydia undid her gauntlets and sat down on a log. "You are," she said simply.

"Fine." Ava took Norton by the hand and pulled him over to a flat rock, where she and him sat down. Norton didn't know whether he should stay the distance or just go along with it, but it had already begun to wear on him. "I'll claim my partner then, as the slut." She wrapped an arm around him and pulled him close. Lydia didn't reply, but she didn't seem upset either. "Have you chosen yet? Norton?" Ava mumbled.

"You know I can't do that," Norton replied simply. "Look, is this really the time to be arguing so pettily? We have to deal with the rest of our lives here."

"This is the rest of my life." Ava cast her gaze to the ground.

Norton frowned. "Whether we live or not, is what I meant."

"Every job was a matter of life or death, Norton," Lydia said.

"It wasn't for me. I'm out of my element. If you so desperately want to be with me, then perhaps consider my feelings for one moment." The two beast-folk stared at him for a moment. Ava pulled off of him. "I'm sorry, but I can't stand this smothering when we can't even be sure we'll survive." He crossed his arms. If they were going to kill Miriam, then it may yet be possible for him to leave all of this. He still had some of his share, he could make some living off it back home. The only problem would be getting away now and... Did he want to?

Norton was still male after all. The idea of two women battling over his hand didn't go unnoticed by his masculinity or libido. What other scenario would that ever happen in? The golem and the broken were his choices, however, and it seemed unlikely either would heal. "Do either of you like me?" the man blurted out. A question he needed to ask, but not one he wanted to. The damage was done.

"Of course."

"Naturally."

He heard both of the responses, yet no faces to tie to them. Truly? "Why?" Norton asked. "Because I'm here? Because I'm your only choice?" He looked to Ava and then to Lydia. "That's what you said, isn't it?"

Lydia crossed her arms, affording herself some decency. "In some way, yes," she said.

Ava bowed her head. "As trite as it might seem, you've been the only one to accept me. That's not to say I don't like you for other reasons."

Norton sighed. It hurt that much more that their reasons were pitiable. Then came his libido speaking again. Why not both? No. He was better than that, or rather he wanted to believe he was better than that. They were both better than that themselves. He assumed. If there was one thing he knew for sure, is that he liked them. They were crude, brutal, and yet they had touches of feminity. Those scraps of delight in what was a war-torn psyche that he found all the sweeter. Lydia, the calm yet angry ball of fluff. Ava, the smug but fragile scarred. He did want to hold them, for many reasons. Some good. Some terrible.

"Shall we make a fire?" Norton said finally. "It may be some time before Miriam makes an appearance, right?" Making a fire had become routine now, and Norton had already gone about clearing a space for it. Lydia gathered some of the firewood. Ava lit the thing. The sun hadn't quite yet set so there was little to light that wasn't already covered by the calming blue light that filtered through the forest. What was he doing here? The siren call of the city still cried in the distance. He could just retire there for a bit, couldn't he? Lydia wouldn't follow, and Ava wouldn't be allowed to follow. Could he manage that at least?

The apothecary placed his hands on his knees and stood up. "I'm going to head into Hull to see if I can buy more healing supplies," he lied.

"You can not. It is far too dangerous," Lydia said.

"We're right next to Hull. I'll be fine."

"I'd best go with you anyways," Ava said.

"You need to be here if Miriam arrives, right?"

"The cat said she wanted to fight the lamprey on her own."

"You know you can't let her do that," the man replied. He looked to Lydia. No doubt she didn't want Ava to go with him nor did she want her to stay. "I won't be gone long." The two presented no more complaints. Norton knew it probably wasn't best to leave them alone, but at this point he needed the faintest shred of solitude from them. He took his steps toward the distant town, eventually relaxing into a steady gait after not being pulled violently back. He marched onward and only glanced back once he was near the edge of the road. One grey figure and one white remained. He was free. For now.

_

Norton found himself back on a bench somewhere in the maze of Hull. His thoughts were not of the violent way set out before him, rather instead he pictured himself living here. Enjoying the people go by. Indulging in one of the many stores. Watching a play, as Ava mentioned. His mind came to a stop. Even here in the cityscape he couldn't escape it. Not having them breathe down his neck helped somewhat. It was merely a delay, he knew. They would be right back next to him, and soon, something larger and more menacing would too. Miriam, the violent fish. Someone he had only ever seen once and was now the centerpiece of his dilemma. If it weren't for her, he wouldn't be here.

Wouldn't have met Ava.

Wouldn't have met Lydia.

Wouldn't have shared those moments with them. He really was to blame for some of this. The stress and the allure of their different forms tugged on his libido in much the same way his willingness to indulge them did to their hearts. Who was to say he didn't really deserve their violent struggle? He roped them in, in much the same way they did to him. Norton looked to the city streets, at all the people sauntering by without a care for what happened outside these walls. Why not join them? You have the coin. You could run away, as always. No one could really find him in this mess, right? He glanced up at one of the walls, noting the feline guards. Assuming Lydia wouldn't enlist the help of her father, as unlikely as that was.

The man rubbed his eyes. The one time he had made a choice, to go on this job, and it was the worst one he could've made. He pulled his hands away to find a familiar wolf walking toward him. Oh God, not now. "What is it?" he asked. Ava sat beside him. "Well?"

"Just thought I could join you," she said, staring out at the road.

"I'm surprised you came."

"Lydia simply told me that whatever I tried wouldn't work." She shrugged. "I guess at this point that's true, so no harm in talking, right?"

"No, not really."

"I suppose you didn't find any good supplies?"

"No."

"Do you remember, back on the boat? I said I wouldn't be a great wife. Thought about that a lot."

"Ava, we really don't have to talk about this now."

"Yeah. We don't, but you did say you wanted to make it work, right?"

"I did." A mistake, maybe.

"I was only thinking that, what future could I give you? I've never managed a homestead. I've never had a litter. All the work I've done in my life is to steal or... or to kill. What kind of partner would that be?"

Norton sighed. "Aren't I much of the same? I've never sired a child, nor have I managed to run a home. I was a chef before masquerading as a healer. I could feed someone, that's it." He looked to her. "That's simply how relationships work. You grow into them, don't you?"

"Can't teach an old dog new tricks." She put on a half-hearted smile. "I'm not too much older, but I suppose I can see that edge of my life. I can't stay like this, running around, getting into trouble."

"I don't think I could see you any other way." His gaze shifted to the ground. "I... haven't committed to Lydia. I'm not sure where I sit anymore. I'm sorry that happened."

Ava's smile shifted to a small frown. "I guess I can't blame you. Much. You don't live this life. We all need our release." Her head shifted to look at him, scarred eye coming into view. "I'm sure you know."

"Yes. I do."

"I guess I'm just saying, I'm not sure if it's good we try."

"Ava. I do want to try."

"Wouldn't prefer Lydia, then?"

"I don't know what to say about that." Not as though he preferred her. They were two sides of the same coin. "I would say you're inseparable, in a way."

"Best not be suggesting you have both of us." She let out a low chuckle. "I guess we were for a time. Before you. Lydia wasn't so much a friend as she was just a fact of life. Couldn't really picture getting up in the morning without her staring me down." Ava shook her head.

"I think I'm starting to feel the same way about both of you. Not that I don't consider you friends." Or more. "Just in our situation."

"It's probably really funny we'd break up over a boy. Surely it should be the reverse."

"I already feel bad enough about it."

"I know." Ava placed an hand on his shoulder. "I think we lost sight of you for the chance." Her ears flattened. "But I still love you." The word made Norton uneasy and lightheaded. It must've been the first time she used it. How could such a plain word hold so much power over him. "Maybe love isn't... quite the right word."

"I guess I wouldn't know either. Love doesn't treat me well." Nor did it continue to do so. "Do you think you will love me?" What a sad thing to say, but it's really all he wanted to know. Ava looked back up to him. A twinge of doubt was in her eye. She pushed forward, bringing their lips together in a short kiss. A bit of tension slid from his mind. They pulled back. His body whimpered for another shred of closeness. "I think I could love you," he whispered. There he was, pulling himself back into this hell he constructed for himself. Dare he do more?

"I think I could too." Ava embraced him and gave him another kiss, slipping in some of her large tongue. Norton relaxed as he returned the gesture, carefully running his tongue around hers. Ava retracted her tongue and whispered, "Maybe we should go somewhere more private?" Norton glanced toward the road. Indeed, they were getting a few odd stares from pedestrians. Anxiety turned to embarrassment. The wolfess stood up and pulled him off in-between the alleyways of the buildings. They zig-zagged for a while before stopping in a small clearing between more buildings.

For the briefest moment it felt as though they were star-crossed lovers. That sense of escapism lingered and then quickly disappeared, leaving Norton stuck in an alleyway with Ava. The towering buildings let little light filter in. They were cut off from the city despite being in its heart. The two of them lay back against a wall. They traded glances between one another before sliding to the ground. "I know I should be worried about that nonsense with Miriam, but I can't really care right now," Ava said.

"It's hard to feel like it's relevant here." Norton looked up. A small fragment of the blue sky was visible. "I almost wish I could just sleep here and forget about it."

"We'll let you have some well deserved rest after we take care of her. We can agree on that much."

"You really need to make up over this. It feels wrong to have you so bitter between one another." The comfort had evaporated. "I don't want you two to kill one another."

Ava shook her head. "I don't think I could. Friend or not, she's the status quo. As for her not wanting to kill me, well..."

"I don't think she would."

"I suppose you would know more than me now." A simple statement, but it stung. It wasn't exactly a betrayal, and yet, it felt like he had done so a thousand times over.

"If we're going to get together, how does she fit in?"

The wolfess perked up. "Don't make your choice yet." Ava kept her cool, but he could tell by the flitter of her ear and the twitch of a nose that wasn't entirely true.

"I hate it being called a choice. As if I'm choosing what to eat so casually."

"We could part, after this was done." She leaned over and buried her snout into his neck. "If that's what you'd like."

"I'll be honest, Ava. I don't know what I want anymore."

"Where would you go now, if you could?"

Norton glanced down the alley. "I think back to the bar. Have another rack of meat." He adjusted his head against hers. "I would like company too."

"After that?"

"Like I said. Sleep. Guess I would like company there too, but I'm not sure if that's because I'm used to it."

"I'd say that's a good thing. Getting comfortable with someone." She placed a hand on his thigh. "I think I'd like to sleep too. Haven't gotten much these past nights." The wolf let out a low whine. That little sound reveberated through him.

"Then I can promise one thing. We'll sleep in a proper inn again."

"Not sure what lies in the northern territories. Hope it's nice."

"You know, without Miriam, we don't have to run much farther than that. What do you plan on doing then?" Ava could probably have stayed in Hull, had she not been so recognizable.

"Would I sound silly if I said settle down?"

"Not at all."

"As much as I tire of cats," she mumbled.

"Maybe then we could... try?" Without the fear of death.

Ava giggled. "You know how to make a woman feel teased." Her hand shifted on his thigh. "I can tease back."

"Wouldn't you want to save that for after?"

"There may not be an after, right?" Somehow there was a calming factor to that sentence. Enjoy everything while you can, right? The idea didn't sit right with him regardless.

"Don't say that. We'll get through this."

"We." Ava nodded. "That's right. We." Her hand shifted again. "Let me give you a small treat. Just one. I think you deserve it."

"I don't deserve much of anything, Ava."

"That's for me to decide, isn't it?" She licked at his ear. "Just a treat. For the future." Her hand inched toward his crotch, bumping against his stirring erection. Her hot breath and sultry voice still had their effects on him.

"Alright," Norton whispered. Stress and lust pushed him over the edge again. How miserable were you to be so easily swayed? Swayed so close to the end. Doesn't matter. Ava's hand pulled his erection free. The air was intensely cool. A sense of shame hit him, quickly overridden by whatever treat Ava had in mind. She wasted no time, gripping his erection and gently stroking it. Her digits were soft, just like the rest of her, but also firm in their grip.

"You know, I like how smooth you are down here," she whispered. Her wet nose bumped against his ear, sending a tingle down his spine. "I think it's time for the main course." She leaned over and rubbed her snout up against the side of his cock, elliciting a gasp from him. "You have a lovely scent as well. Has anyone told you that?"

"Not... not that I can recall." He wanted to look around, see if anyone was watching. Unfortunately, his eyes were glued to Ava as she pushed up against his crotch. Her short, quick breaths were teasing, only increasing his arousal. "Ava," he groaned.

"I know." She stuck her tongue out and ran it along his erection. Norton sighed, relishing that warm and wet member slide across him. A jolt. A spark. He was now putty in her hands. It might not have been as tactful as a human's tongue, but its sheer size more than made up for it. The wolf's sharp grazed along his fragile flesh. A dangerous and exciting dash of spice to the event. Ava wouldn't dare harm him, he knew. The man's hand settled on the back of Ava's head, gently stroking her. "No more teasing."

The wolfess adjusted herself. The tip of her nose nudged against the head of his penis. She opened her mouth and carefully lowered down to fully take his length. So close. Norton stroked the back of her neck. He hardly noticed, but it was his body's way of encouraging her. Then she closed her mouth, enveloping him in that warm wetness. He relaxed, all the stress pulling out of him like a string. Due to her anatomy, Ava couldn't quite blow like a regular human. She still had her own ways of working his cock. The wolfess suckled gently while her tongue circled around the shaft. Norton tensed for a moment before melting into her mouth.

Ava continued on, leaving Norton in something of a dazed state. His thoughts about what would happen quickly evaporated. The town? The camp? The incoming battle? None of it mattered. Ava pulled away with a parting lick. "Am I doing well, dear?"

Norton hummed a yes. That didn't do it justice enough.

"Good." She returned to her work, adding a gentle bob. The roof of her mouth rubbed against his head, giving him that much needed friction for him. Her sharp teeth slid past. A flicker of danger for every tooth.

"God," Norton muttered. Ava giggled, sending more jolts through him. Her bobbing sped up. Her tongue working in tandem to pleasure what it could. With its length, her warm muscle was able to reach down to his balls, giving them a swab of spittle every time they bumped. The man couldn't help but push her head in tandem with her work. Only a little harder. Only a little further. There was a quiet pop of spittle every time she came up. The raw, primal side of him wanted to push all the way back to his throat. Not that he could manage with her muzzle. Regardless, his hips slowly joined the effort. He was getting far too into it, he knew. And he loved every bit of it.

They sat there for quite some time. Licking, slurping, bumping, grinding. Ava seemed to be able to keep him from pushing that edge too far. Whether she was teasing him or drawing it out, he could hardly care at this point. "Ava, please," he moaned. "I can't stand this much longer."

Ava pulled back with a loud lap. "I was having too much fun with myself there. So be it." She shifted again, this time onto her knees. The wolfess then pushed him back against the wall. Her other hand settled on his thigh. "We'll finish up." With that, she plunged down and then back up. Norton's hips inadvertently pushed forward as she assaulted him. Up and down. Up and down. Without end she loudly took his erection into her mouth.

"Ava." She sped up. "Ava!" Faster. "Ava!" Norton's hips bucked as a hot stream of semen shot into the wolf's mouth. She didn't stop. "Ava!" Another stream. He groaned as his hips bucked again. "God." One more dribble of cum. Norton was loudly gasping at this point. Ava merely came to a stop and looked up at him. A curl of a smile tugged at her wide mouth. Gently, her tongue ran around his member, cleaning up the mess of semen that dribbled down it. Once that was done, she pulled up and tilted her head back. Despite the haze, Norton could see the bump of her throat, taking in all of his seed. She wiped her mouth along her sleeve and settled back next to him.

"I think that was a good enough reward. Don't you?"

Norton barely managed a nod.

"I'm glad." She rubbed his softening penis and carefully slipped it back into his trousers. "Do you mind if we sit here a while longer?"

"I don't think I can move much."

"Then it's settled." She leaned on him once more. "Maybe a little ridiculous to say after what I did, but I can think we can make it work." Norton wanted to say something about relationships not being built on lust, but he knew his mind wasn't in the right train of thought to argue such a motion. They would get better, perhaps. And Lydia? What would he do about her? Did he deny her in turn? Was this the end of their own little affair? He couldn't deny. That night had something bloom in him, seeing that softer side of her. He sighed. "Don't worry about a thing," Ava said. "Everything will be alright." He wanted to believe that. Could he?

"Thank you. For being here with me, that is."

"And the little treat?"

Norton's ears burned. "That as well." Hopefully a treat no one saw.