FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The freshly crisp autumn air was just starting to settle over the region, but the change in the weather was hardly noticed. The sound of shovels and hoes digging in the ground softly echoed among murmuring voices. The gritty clasp of metal striking into dirt was never a pleasant sound. It was starkly different to a farmer's hoe manually plowing through the soil. The sound was telltale for a burial, but this one was marked by an overhanging sense of fear. It wasn't from a passing of old age, which was rare for many rural villages and towns, but cold murder.

Ivan stood by and grimaced at the sight. He did his best not to look away, but the sight was gruesome for the young man. The body was unmoving in death. Wrapped in a sheet, faint blood stains were visible. Ivan was still a teenager, and death was always met with understandable revulsion. A burial was a mark of sadness, but despite this undeniable fact of nature, it was also a final moment of peace. He couldn't help but overhear a few of the other villagers talking quietly amongst themselves.

"I'm glad I haven't bothered hunting this season." One spoke with relief. "There's always the risk that a werewolf will attack even in the daytime." Another solemnly nodded at the possibility, no matter how rare. Normally the werewolves ate deer and elk, which meant there was limited meat for humans to hunt on any given day. It wasn't an issue of abundance, but one of practicality. If someone hunted then they would have to very quickly quarter the fresh meat and bring it back to the village. If the process took too long then there was always a risk of an attack. However, on occasion both herbivores could attempt grazing in the fields or simply cross to the other side. With limited hunting, the only other source of food was livestock.

"Have you noticed deer sightings change this season?" The other man continued.

"No. Not that I have noticed."

"It'll be a terrible winter if they're resorting to attacking and even eating humans." The older man somberly spoke. Ivan felt a cold chill run down his spine at the thought. "Tie any old or sick animals to a post near the woods in the coming weeks. Holding onto them will only entice those demons to venture out of the woods, especially if one dies here."

"I'll let the others know." He informed them before they split up.

"Hey, Ivan." A deep voice stirred the youth from his thoughts.

"Huh?! Oh. Hi dad." Ivan saw that it was just his father standing behind him. The older man was thin from working a hard life, and protecting his only child, Ivan.

"You've been standing here for a while. Are you doing alright?"

"Yeah. I'm just thinking." He relaxed and looked away from the grave, hoping to dispel the anxiety and fear that had bubbled up inside him.

"I understand." His father quietly nodded. He wasn't an emotional man, and preferred giving space than providing a shoulder to cry on. "I wanted to tell you before anyone else could that three others from a village a few miles away have gone missing as well." He spoke. "But I fear the worst." His tone grew sad.

"Through the woods to the southwest, or the field passage north?"

"The woods." He nodded towards the southwest. "That's where they were last seen. Be on the lookout for them, but don't run off the trail for anything." He warned him.

"Yes sir." Ivan nodded and left the new grave. The homes over his shoulders were modest and simple lodgings. Primarily made from wood, the cabins told of a rural lifestyle that had changed little over many generations. He lived in a small village where everyone knew each other to some extent. That made every attack much more personal and heartfelt. However, the entire region was rural and poor with little access to wider markets and lands. Towns and villages were like islands of human activity in the vast forested plains, hills, and mountains. They were connected by simple roads, often washed away by heavy rains, or even meager paths and trails. It wasn't the best place to be stranded during any season, particularly winter.

As odd as it sounded, daytime was completely safe. There were no worries or even a need to carry a weapon, because werewolves were seldom seen in daylight. It was exceedingly rare to even glimpse one during the early dawn, but when the sun set and darkness grew everyone was safely back in their homes. Only the most daring and possibly foolish were out alone during the night.

The humans could've attempted burning part of the vast forest, but that had been tried before in several villages. It was reckless to try, but it was a sign of desperation. All of the attempts ended in failure. After one instance, a werewolf attack claimed the life of the man who started the fire. They seemed to know what a forest fire would do to their chances at survival. Building a palisade fence was potentially just as dangerous. Not only was gathering the extra wood to build dangerous, but whenever construction began, attacks would increase.

Sometimes nature herself would suddenly gather a quick storm and extinguish the flames. According to some of the villagers, it was a fact that werewolves could manipulate parts of nature, like the weather. It obviously appeared like a tall tale to Ivan, but there were moments when he wondered if it was true. All of the human efforts to attack the ferocious beasts had backfired. It was a precarious stalemate.

Ivan walked along the edge of the village before cutting through one of the fields that tapered out towards a creek before being engulfed by the forest. They had four fields surrounding the village. The first two were for crops, the third was for grazing, and the fourth was at rest. Every year they rotated the crops and pastureland to replenish the soil.

Ivan slowed down as the field narrowed. He halted and stared at the wooded path ahead. The trees created a wall of impenetrable greenery. The forest was a beauty of nature that also created fear in the human's heart. It wasn't always that way.

'When I was a kid...' His thought trailed off. It felt like so long ago when he enjoyed playing in the forest without care. Ten years ago the woods were essentially safe compared to the present. There might've been a wolf attack once every year at most, but didn't always result in a fatality. Sightings of the the semi-mythical beasts were once rare, but that soon changed. Over the years, as Ivan grew through adolescence, sightings and attacks increased. Going into the woods alone and unprepared at night became a death sentence.

Glancing up at the overcast sky, there was plenty of daylight at hand to search for the missing men, but the faint image of the moon seemed to watch the human closely. Without dwelling on regrets, Ivan marched ahead to his favorite trail. Anything was better than staring at death so uselessly.

Footsteps quietly padded along a dirt path. The leaves all around and above were beginning to change color. Bright and fresh yellows were starting to mingle with the faded greens of the summer. The unseen distant birds seemed to chirp in agreement from every direction. Ivan calmly looked around the forest without worry. Despite all of the danger involving a werewolf attack during the night, he still liked to walk in the forest to collect his thoughts and enjoy the peaceful quiet nature around him.

"It'll be dark soon." Ivan worried that he had overstayed his welcome in the often unforgiving forest, but there was one last place he wanted to visit. Climbing the slope of the forested hillside, he arrived at a small open flat spot where sparse grasses and moss grew with rich green vigor. There was a gap in the trees where he could see further out in the forest, and one of the village's fields in the distance. Ivan looked away and approached a small stone poking out of the ground. It wasn't brand new, but worn from time. There were no words etched onto its lumpy surface, but it was memorable for the human nonetheless.

Laid to rest was a family dog that Ivan had grown up with. It was a reminder of more innocent times that he missed. He glanced at the direction of the grave marker one final time before hurrying down the slope. Without much to worry about, he could easily get back home just before sunset. The walk along the trail back to the village was no different than the walk from it. Glancing to his sides, he occasionally looked out into the endless foliage only to see a bird or squirrel once in a while.

He stopped and looked to his right where something had caught his eye. Everything suddenly felt out of place for a split second. Approaching a tree, he noticed a mark at eye level. His finger drew along a fresh horizontal cut along the bark. It was very clean and neat, obviously made by a person wielding a simple knife. He had just walked by this same path only a few days ago, but had never seen it before. Ivan scratched his head curiously. Normally a cut like that was a marker to return to a known path, but why was it facing the path? It didn't make any sense to the human.

'Unless...' He tried figuring it out. Unless the cut was made to alert anyone that they purposefully left the pathway. Ivan looked at the cut mark with an increasingly uneasy frown. The mood in the air didn't feel calm anymore. His eyes stared out past the tree and into the forest. The trees and underbrush were endless in their silence. Was something or someone out there? His mind raced unconsciously to imagine a scenario. Was someone lost and looking for help? It didn't seem likely given the obvious path, but it could happen. Was a werewolf setting a trap? Ivan shook his head even as the hair on the back of his neck stood up worryingly. 'That's not possible.' He told himself and took a reassuring breath to tamp down his irrational fears.

The human stared into the trees for another moment. It was as if the forest was calling out to him. Curiosity ablaze, he stepped off the pathway as daylight faded. Against his father's wishes and his own better judgement, Ivan walked deeper into the woods. The leaves crunched underneath his steps as he creeped forward to investigate.

'If someone left a cut facing the path, then they wanted to be found in case...' He worried that something bad had happened. His cautious steps led him deeper into the forest. Ivan looked around the forest to his left and right constantly. He paused and checked every few steps to remember where the pathway was behind him. His footsteps walked on bare dirt when possible, but the fresh leaf litter was starting to increase with the onset of autumn. The branches above were calm and quiet without a breeze to stir them. The chattering birds had disappeared.

"Not much farther." He murmured under his breath, telling himself. "I'll turn around in just a few more steps if I don't see anything." His cautious steps rounded another tree and ducked under a spider web. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. The sudden snap of a stick beneath his step broke the silence. Several crows he had not seen suddenly flew up from the ground and vanished into the canopy and sky above. Their cawing faded into the distance. A confused expression turned to shock as his eyes scanned the forest floor.

"Oh no..." He shielded his eyes from looking directly at the scene. His chest heaved an uneasy breath. Peeking an eye through his fingers, he knew what had happened. Three unmoving bodies were face down and strewn around the forest floor. Cuts, gashes, and bite marks were visible even at a distance. They had clearly been mauled by something with large claws and teeth. Ivan managed to look around at the other items in the fallen leaves. A bloodied crossbow rested out of the dead man's reach. He looked around and spotted a broken spear, a hatchet, and a sword either laying with their owners or littered on the ground.

'They were out here to kill a werewolf!' They were the three missing men. The sudden realization made his blood freeze.

"Aroooooo-oohhh." A terrifying chill descended down his spine like ice. The deep howl echoed throughout his head. Ivan's mind skidded to a halt. His heart began to race uncontrollably. Reaching over, he steadied himself by holding a tree trunk.

'Where did it come from?!' His head twisted from side to side. Only endless eerie trees obscured his view with their long dark shadows. Anything could appear around him at any moment. All of the regrets from idling in the forest too long ran through his mind, but it was too late to run now. He kept perfectly still and managed to avoid outright panic by breathing steadily. However, his terrified heart pounded like a drum in his ears. There was a strong belief that werewolves could sense fear, even the tiniest traces, like the smell of blood in the air. If there was a werewolf nearby, then his wits would grant him the smallest chance of survival. More than anything else he wanted to return to the village and see his dad again.

Movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention. His head snapped around and saw a large figure lumbering along the edges of a shadow. A canine snout and pointed ears were part of its large head. Long limbs and a large body all covered in dark mottled grey fur confirmed what his eyes were looking at.

'A werewolf!' His eyes widened at the sight. It slowly moved across the forest floor, emerging from the shadows like a nightmarish spawn. The ghoulish canine had a distinct limp in its gait. It was injured. Ducking down, Ivan picked up a short sword from one of the fallen men.

The beast paused as its ears flicked from the subtlest of sounds he had made. Its head turned, and its cold eyes bore into his own as it stopped to face him. Ivan stood petrified under the werewolf's gaze. Clenching the hilt tightly with whitened knuckles, his hands felt numb, but he could feel every pound of his heartbeat. The blood in his veins felt like ice as he trembled in terror at the beast before him. Its eyes glared hatefully at the glinting blade of the short sword in his hands.

"Stop..." The silent word fell flat from his mouth as it took a step towards him. Despite the weapon in hand, his back was pressed painfully against the tree behind him. But the creature didn't stop. The werewolf rose onto its legs, towering over the human like a giant. Both hands wielded large claws, each acting like separate weapons.

'Too close!' Panic set in. 'I don't want to die!' Crying out, Ivan swung the sword twice to fend it off, but merely cut through the autumn air. He dove to the side only to suddenly fall forward as his foot caught the crossbow laying on the ground. The human fell hard onto the ground. Glancing over his shoulder, the werewolf grabbed its side and fell back to all fours. With a labored breath it sat down with its head craning towards the ground. He was surprised but sensed the canine's weakness. It was vulnerable! Ivan scrambled to his feet and turned to face the hobbled monster. Teeth were bared as a low growl formed within its throat, but weakened, it didn't lunge at him.

The tip of his short sword aimed for the canine's neck. There was nothing but downy fur to protect its lifeline, and maybe a snap of its jaws. All he had to do was jump and take its life... but he hesitated. Ivan gritted his teeth and strained his muscles, but his trembling body resembled stone. Nothing would move, even as his thoughts continued. An odd sense of raw frustration overcame him as a recognizable memory came forth.

'Why..?' His eyes watered. "Why do you look like him?" His voice quivered. An image of the old family dog that had passed some time ago flashed before him. A large black canine, always faithful no matter the day. His dog was his best friend, and had been laid to rest years ago. The trauma mixed with the recent pain of burying someone else his family had known. It was too much to bear silently.

'I don't want to kill!' His thoughts screamed out. He hated death, even if it was for a monster. Ivan looked at his trembling hand for a lengthy moment. The memory was there. He couldn't do it. Was it a sign of mercy or weakness?

"I can't kill you!" His voice wailed as tears streamed down his cheeks. Ivan stared at the werewolf in the shadows. The icy eyes burning pure hatred at him and the glint of sharp teeth were only waiting to kill at the next opportunity. There was no weakness inside its void mind as far as he could see. But he couldn't take its life, even though his life may very well be in exchange for hers. Whatever had possessed him to summon his courage and strength didn't seek revenge.

Ivan breathed out of his mouth feeling sick to his stomach. Taking a step back, the weapon fell from his weak hand and landed on the forest floor with a dull thud. He turned around very slowly, but never let his gaze down from the werewolf's. His legs staggered with the sensation of carrying a heavy sluggish weight. All of his emotions had run through his body like bolts of lightning, and he was exhausted. Ivan felt nauseous as he collapsed to the ground. He groaned and clutched the dirt and fallen leaves in his hands. The forest around him went dark as he lost consciousness.

***

There was nothing, only emptiness at first. Ivan stirred from what felt like an uncomfortable nap, but he couldn't feel anything at first. Everything felt dulled into nonexistence. A soft rushing noise entered his voided senses first.

'What the... What happened?' He stared at the ground in disbelief, not knowing where he was. Despite blinking several times, he couldn't see the ground in front of his face. His ears then began to hear the soft chirps of crickets throughout the air. Looking farther out, his vision began to focus. The silver moonlight filtering through the tree branches illuminated the forest floor. He realized it was nighttime in the forest, and he wasn't dead. An audible gasp filled the air when he rediscovered the three dead men in the moonlight.

"I'm alive!" He croaked. With a shaking body, he rose onto his hands and knees. He quickly pieced together his most recent memories: the pathway, cut in the tree, the dead men, the werewolf, and then nothing. Looking around, the werewolf was gone, nowhere to be found amongst the shadows of the silver lit forest.

'I need to get... out of here.' He blinked and told himself. He steadily rose through the dizziness using a tree. His first steps were weak. He felt helpless as his tired body used the trees to walk away but he gradually regained his balance. He desperately ran back to the pathway, running into snags, twigs, and spiderwebs with only the moonlight to guide him.

There was no sound of shovels in the morning air, however, three new grave markers had been erected along the edge of one field. Each roughly hewn stone served as a reminder of how precious life is; never to be taken for granted. Ivan stared longingly at the new graves. Two days had passed since his encounter in the woods, but little had changed. It was another day, but people had to work and live. The trees hadn't moved and livestock didn't cease grazing. Yet, all of the recent events unsettled the young human.

'Gods...' He closed his eyes feeling uneasy. 'Make all of this stop...' A strong hand suddenly rested on his shoulder. Ivan jumped fully awake at the sudden touch.

"Oh. Hey." He found himself looking at his dad.

"How have you been?" He asked, but Ivan didn't answer. There was a lot that he felt from that night; lucky, scared, tired, confused, and maybe even a little survivor's guilt to name a few. He told his dad what had happened the other day, and it didn't surprise him that word had passed so quickly through the village.

"You're lucky to be alive." His dad said with a soft gratitude that only a parent could understand. Ivan didn't smile at the fact.

"They're not." He mumbled.

"But the other village will be glad to hear that we could at least give them a proper burial." His dad explained. "That's something to be happy about." He had to find a silver lining in the despairing news. It was one of the ways for everyone to cope with the situation that was almost entirely out of their control. After all, when all seems dark, create your own light.

"I'm glad that you're safe." He gave Ivan a hug. It must have the been the seventh or eighth hug he had given his son since the night Ivan survived his encounter. "I don't want you running around in the woods during the late evening, do you understand?"

"Yes sir. I do." Ivan nodded.

"Alright. Just try to take it easy then." His dad offered a sympathetic smile before leaving.

"Thanks." Ivan's dad had a rough life growing up and never easily opened up emotionally to anyone. He didn't mind though. Ivan wanted to sort through everything on his own. With a hasty sigh, he looked around the edge of the village and then the vast forest ahead of him. It was early morning. Dew still lingered on the grass, and birds were noisily active even at a distance. Everything felt so precious like a foggy dream. It was unreal that he had survived unscathed that late evening, and early night.

'Why did this happen to me?' He wondered without an answer. It didn't make any sense. Surviving an encounter with a werewolf at night? That was unheard of.

"Maybe it was just my imagination." He told himself despite the vivid memories replaying inside his mind. The glinting of teeth, the eyes, furry body, the knife in his hand, the shadows around him... There was no way it was his own imagination, but Ivan couldn't comprehend how he could survive such an encounter.

'If she was injured, could she have swiped at me anyway?' He thought only to shake his head. Searching for answers to unsolvable questions wouldn't lead him anywhere. He pushed his thoughts aside about the other night, and walked towards the closest trail, something that most others would've considered insane after experiencing what he had went through. Just as important, Ivan didn't want to fear the forest like so many others in the village did. Fear warped people too easily and depraved them of their inner light.

He trekked back into the woods and followed the same trail where he had fled the other night. His footsteps lightly padded over the pathway, occasionally crunching on a fallen leaf or twig. The subtle sounds of the village dissipated behind him as the branches and foliage hid him from view. The brilliant yellow and orange leaves around him created a sight of endless beauty. Taking a deep breath, he relaxed and looked around the sunny forest. It was eerily normal as if nothing had happened. Birds were chirping and squirrels were darting among the freshly fallen colorful leaves or scrambling up tree trunks. The dappled sunshine reaching the forest floor was as beautiful as ever.

However, In the back of his mind, nature's beauty was a cloak in daylight. Ivan paused by the marked tree which had piqued his curiosity that fateful day. His hand felt over the rough surface of bark and found the horizontal cut. However, it had changed. Someone had added a vertical cut to create a cross, a final moment of respect and peace to the deceased who unfortunately lost their lives nearby. Images of the fallen people and the werewolf flashed through his mind. An immediate shiver ran up his entire body. The other night's events haunted him to no end. Ivan offered a silent prayer to the three men.

'It's daylight.' He reminded himself and continued on despite the lingering fears. Ivan meandered off the trail, but avoided the area in question. Instead, he climbed up the gentle slope of the wooded hill and onto a wider plateau. There were no terrifying howls, or snarls. It was just a peaceful morning in the forest, less than a mile from his home village.

Glancing back down the slope, he could see part of the path that continued on for a few miles, leading to a neighboring village. A thicket of young saplings obscured his view in that direction though. Ivan walked along the flat ground, hopping over thick tree roots, and passing by a large stone boulder jutting out of the earth. For a blissful moment he felt carefree.

A shape made him look back at the same spot twice. Everything seemed to freeze in place. His eyes widened, easily recognizing a large furry shape on the forest floor. Dark mottled grey fur, claws, and a long snout. He could feel the color drain from his face as his heart pounded inside his ears. Despite the urge to flee, a strong sense of fear kept him frozen in place.

'The werewolf...' The simple word brought him to terror. It was there, half propped up on an arm, only a handful of meters away. A large pointy ear turned to face him causing his muscles to tense. It was aware of his presence, but didn't bother looking at him. The furry beast didn't lunge at him, or even move a muscle against him. It remained on the leaf littered ground, clutching its side with its other arm. It was like looking at a nightmare that wouldn't unfold. Ivan could look at the terrifying beast in clear daylight for the first time in his life, something that was incredibly rare or often the last moment in someone's life.

The monstrous canine was long in shape, but powerful and large as well. Its fur coat was thick for the oncoming colder days, only adding to an intimidating size. The human couldn't think of something stronger or more cunning. The hair on Ivan's arms stood up hearing the leaves rustle. Would the beast attack in broad daylight? He nearly jumped when it shifted its body only to result in a pained canine whine.

'It whined!' He was shocked to hear a large beast make such a pitiful noise. The moment of weakness made him realize the beast wouldn't strike, whether it wanted to or not. That realization rang like a bell inside his head. The opportune time allowed him to think for once. Questions from the other night arose.

"Why did you kill them?" The human's voice wavered as he blurted out angrily. "Tell me!" He wanted answers despite the many barriers between them. All of the pain and suffering... wasn't there a reason? The werewolf spoke of no answer. Its face contorted in pain, revealing teeth as it silently snarled. The large hand clutching its side slowly moved. Its palm was stained crimson with blood. Ivan expected the wound was the result of a blade or arrow. One of the men must have injured it during the ensuing slaughter. How else could it have been hurt?

"Did I cut you?" He remembered swinging his knife twice in the air, but it was unclear to him if he had indeed slashed the beast.

'I'm making it suffer.' He winced at the possibility. Suffering was something he and everyone else in his little rural village knew all too much about. A harsh winter could freeze the toughest person, and a late frost could decimate an early crop leaving only meager rations leftover. How humans survived depended on the severity and duration of the winter season. This greatly influenced the activity of wolves in the forests as well. However, Ivan's eyes widened once the large hand moved away from its side. The werewolf revealed not one long red gash, but three more running parallel along its side.

'Claw marks!' He easily recognized the parallel wounds cutting deep into the monstrous canine's skin. Only another werewolf could have done this! The discovery was unbelievable, and Ivan had to look two more times before believing what his eyes could plainly see.

'Was the werewolf attacked... by another werewolf?' It didn't make any sense. The question in his mind nearly shattered everything he once understood, or thought he understood. No one would've believed that wolves attacked each other, or maybe it didn't matter to anyone living in the village. How could that be true?

He stepped closer and saw that the red cuts looked serious. The glistening red still appeared to ooze, matting some of the wolf's surrounding fur. Whatever had happened, it was serious. The werewolf propped itself onto an arm, and Ivan immediately froze. It raised its large hand once again, wielding thick black claws that could no doubt cleave flesh from bone in an instant. The threatening gesture terrified Ivan. He held up his arm instinctively to defend himself from the potential attack. He froze for a full minute, but the deadly force never came. The werewolf stared at him, but didn't attack. An expected menacing glare in its eyes appeared tired and out of focus.

'Should I run?' He second guessed his actions, but it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to witness a werewolf in such a weakened state. If anything, he had to know if another werewolf had indeed attacked it. Slowly lowering his arm, his legs tensed, ready to jump back. To his surprise the large furry arm gradually lowered as well. Rather than flee, the human took his ounce of courage and cautiously stepped forward.

He stopped once he could see the individual hairs rising and falling with every labored breath the beast took. However, Ivan knew he was too close for complete safety. The werewolf's head was looming directly beside him. Despite barely sitting upright with the aid of an arm, the beast was still only a foot or so shorter than him. Its long snout nearly touched his arm. He could feel light puffs of hot breath blowing on his shoulder and side like a hot wind. Sweat beaded along his forehead and his skin became clammy. Despite the sickening feeling forming in Ivan's gut, he didn't run.

'I need to know...' His eyes focused on the wound, but his vision started tunneling. His heart raced wildly as he reached out, but the overwhelming anxiety overpowered him. A wave of dizziness overcame the human. Ivan fell forward as his knees buckled, and caught himself on extended arms on a furry leg. His eyes widened in shock that he was touching the werewolf. The downy fur of her inner leg felt soft and warm, but nothing about his plight felt comfortable. The forest rushed around him as if he had fallen into a dizzying dream.

'Oh no! Help...' In an instant, nausea formed in his stomach, but he fell unconscious before hitting the ground at the beast's paws.

***

"Ugh..." Ivan's eyes snapped open. He came to and found himself laying on the forest floor. Had seconds passed, minutes, or hours?

'I feel sick.' The nausea and dizziness from earlier still lingered noticeably. The sky and trees above him swirled in spinning madness, but he didn't whine for help. 'Stop spinning.' He closed his eyes and breathed deeply. His body shook uncontrollably for a minute. The discomfort of the twigs and ground beneath him prickled under his back like thorns. The spinning eventually stopped as he regained his bearings. The sickness subsided with it. Everything around him looked the same. The fall colors were all around him.

"It's daylight." He managed to say, although the ringing in his ears made it difficult to hear. A chirping bird noisily tweeted above him before flying away. A sudden snort of air made his head spin around.

"What-!" He sat up only to nearly lose his balance. Holding onto the ground, he spotted a large canine creature covered in fur merely watching him. It was as if she was guarding him. The werewolf from before was still seated in the exact same spot, just a mere arms length away from him. Ivan could reach out and touch her if he wanted to. However, his nerves kept him paralyzed.

'Stop panicking!' He told himself and clenched his teeth angrily. A rush of anger disrupted the fear that constantly paralyzed him like an infant. Ivan balled his hand into a tight fist and hit the ground. He was tired of the fear that gripped his mind and body so easily and tensely. The silent earth was the only thing he could vent all of his frustrations out on for the moment. Despite his anger, the leaves rustled in front of him.

'It's moving!' Much to his shock, the beast managed to stand on its hind legs. After a second of wavering, the canine pulled itself up to its paws and slowly walked away. Bits of leaves and pine needles were stuck to her fur as she laid down at the base of a pine tree. The beast wheezed before steadily breathing.

'Is it laying down to die?' The thought sickened Ivan and soured inside his stomach like vinegar. The young human had seen enough death already, and in such a short span of time. It didn't matter who or what was passing away at this point. Ivan rose onto shaky feet and steadied himself onto the same tree. Once the human's final dizziness passed, he had a decision to make. His legs wanted to run away, but he opted to do the opposite. Carefully stepping forward, Ivan crunched through the leaves until he was standing before the weakened wolf. There were so many questions that he couldn't answer.

"You didn't kill me." He sounded surprised by his own words. The werewolf looked up at him with suspicious eyes, but didn't interfere. The four parallel cuts furrowed through her fur and flesh made him grimace. Reaching down, he touched the beast's furry side. Chill bumps formed on his arms, making the hairs stand up.

'I'm touching her.' His mouth felt dry, but the wolf's fur was surprisingly soft to touch. His shaky hands quickly plucked the afflicted wound and surrounding fur clean of debris. The werewolf only looked at him without interfering, and didn't utter a sound.

"I hate seeing blood." He justified to himself what he was doing. "I hate death... I even had a pet dog who looked a lot like you." His voice deeply shook with past anger and grief, but also present fear. "I don't want to die, just like you." Ivan was confronting his fears, as well as many others' all on his own. No matter how long or short life was, he did not want to live his in fear. It was an odd form of closure for him.

Once her wound was modestly "cleaned", he noticed that it wasn't the only injured area. There small cuts along her ears and random spots on her shoulders where fur had been sliced short. Living in the forest had to be difficult, even for a werewolf, he assumed. Ivan stood up after performing his little act of kindness. Piercing amber eyes could only stare up at him. He looked at the werewolf, still breathing, wondering if it was guilty of murdering humans or another victim to another werewolf. His body was no longer trembling as he walked away from the weakened beast.

Despite the chill of late autumn, there was optimism in the village. The past harvest had been good. Many nights of stories being told around a fire through a chilly early night were common. The autumn foliage withered away until the trees were naked and bare. An occasional howl would dampen the mood of everyone, but miraculously there were no further incidents or even sightings of werewolves in the area. Even when the first frosts began to occur, there were no attacks or sightings.

Life returned to normal at a slow pace over the autumn for Ivan. He didn't tell anyone about the most recent encounter with the injured werewolf. He knew most people would have taken the opportunity to take the hide of the beast without a second of mercy or remorse. In a way it was justified for all of the attacks and suffering the villagers had endured, but Ivan simply wanted to put it all behind him. He had put a suffering werewolf, a beast no doubt, to rest. For once he felt at peace.

'It'll snow in a few weeks.' He glanced up at the partially obscured grey sky, happy to have a coat. The naked branches above resembled nimble narrow fingers trying to grasp at the clouds whenever a breeze shook them. Ivan was walking through a trail in the forest, having left a town known for its workshops earlier in the day. His father had owed a family a payment in grain for the purchase of tools, and he had delivered it without trouble.

'I wonder if I will have a lot of time to help collect firewood this evening.' He thought to himself, but a louder rustling in the leaves caught his attention. The sudden fast paced heavy crunching of leaves close by made him pause. The blur of a dark image escaped his view as quietness quickly returned. Ivan looked around the naked forest and hesitated.

'Was that a deer?' He guessed. It was daytime, so he shouldn't have felt worried, right? The human continued walking along the trail, thinking nothing of it. He followed the twists and turns of the dirt trail that he had passed over for many years with ease. A soft crunching in the leaves up ahead didn't bother him, until he passed by a large elm tree. The plodding of his boots came to an unexpected stop. His eyes widened as a silent gasp hung in his throat. Walking on all fours was a canine beast that he had seen too many times for any living human. Long powerful limbs carried the large beast in a dominant strut that was nearly silent when needed. The werewolf moved like a stalking shadow, but its amber eyes were very much alive and real. Walking onto the pathway, the beast stared him down. Paralyzed with fear, the human stood completely still, wishing that he could turn into a tree. The thundering of his heart beat in his ears like a drum.

'Run! Just run already!' His thoughts screamed, but he didn't act until it took another step towards him. Ivan spun around and broke into a run. Heart pounding, his legs carried him as fast as they could, but even that wouldn't be enough. A human couldn't outrun a werewolf over any terrain, and hiding from its keen nose was impossible as well. At any moment he could be tackled and then...

"Help!" He cried out in the forest, but all he could hear behind him was the beast running after him. Glancing over his shoulder, the werewolf was trotting behind him without difficulty. Snapping his gaze back ahead, he narrowly avoided an overhanging branch only to miss a thick tree root below. He tripped and rolled over the pine needles and dirt, but scrambled to the closest pine tree. Sitting up with his back to the tree, he could see the dark mottled grey werewolf looming over him. Ivan had nowhere to go. His luck had run out. He covered his eyes, unwilling to see the end.

'I'm a coward!' His brain managed to think as he faced certain death. The seconds ticked by as he prayed for a painless ending, yet, nothing happened. The puffs of hot air touching his skin didn't stop. He could hear the wolf breathing. Ivan dared to peek through his fingers only to feel something warm and wet glide over his hands. The human tensed expecting a final bite, but it never came. Warm leather pads touched his hands with surprising gentleness. Bulky clawed fingers gripped his hands.

"What..." The larger hand gently pulled his hands away from covering his eyes. Ivan found himself staring at a black nose mere inches from his face. A wide pink tongue emerged from its fuzzy lips and washed over his face.

'Huh?' His face screwed up into confusion as it licked him a second time, and then a third. "Yuck." He squirmed as the werewolf bathed his face. Ivan caught his breath once the tongue bath stopped. He tried wiping his face but was unable to move. He looked down. It had pinned one of his hands to the ground while still holding the other. Ivan knew he was completely immobilized. Kicking back came to mind, but something didn't seem right. The beast wasn't attacking him.

He gulped nervously and managed to raise his gaze to meet the amber eyes watching him so closely from above. The deep gaze seemed to cut right through him. The long muzzle full of sharp teeth loomed closer once again. Ivan winced, still half expecting a bite, but instead felt the wide wet tongue lick from the bottom of his throat all the way to his chin. Ivan felt an icy chill run up his spine at just how vulnerable he was.

"Wh-what d-do you want?" He said through his quivering jaw. The amber eyes didn't waver, as if he had said nothing. The gaze was so powerful that he couldn't look away. A tug made him blink. The wolf's large claw wielding hand was gently pulling his arm closer, and the rest of his body too. His cheek brushed by its cool damp nose.

"Stop." He managed to speak. Ivan didn't know what was going on. His face was so close to its left eye that he could see the individual lines to the amber iris. A brief image of the werewolf swallowing him whole made him shudder. Ivan felt his hand disappear into the dense fur along its side. He registered the soft sensation of the fur, and the warmth of the body underneath. Ivan clenched his teeth, wondering if he should hope to pass out when he felt something peculiar. There were four long bumps on the wolf's side that his hand was forced to touch. He felt four scars underneath the thick fur. Four very recently healed scars...

"No way..." He couldn't believe it, but the image of a grizzly bloody wound flashed through his mind. "Y-you're that werewolf!" Ivan's face lifted into a shocked gape. The werewolf seemed to understand as his hand was released. Ivan blinked several times with an open mouth of confusion. The canine's long muzzle brushed across his face before easing back enough for him to process everything. Looking down, the large hand overtop his own moved. In silent awe. He watched it stand up before him, towering above him like a fur covered tree. Large paws standing by his balled up legs stepped away. The amber eyes looked at his shocked gaze a final time before looking out, deeper into the forest.

Ivan blinked, hearing soft steps quickly dissipate. By the time he scrambled to his feet, the werewolf was already disappearing behind the trees. The human silently watched as it walked away into the forest on its hind legs, just like a human, but much taller.

"Oh my god..." Ivan whispered so softly that he didn't hear himself speak.

A cold breeze blew snow from the tree branches and into the air like a cloud of flour from clapped hands. For a brief moment the cloud became a ghostly veil only to descend into the few inches of snow covering the ground. Ivan looked up at the grey sky as he marched through the powdery snow. The forest path beneath his feet had long been obscured. His breath fogged in the air as he exhaled. Flurries were still lingering in the cold air of the late morning winter, but the sky hadn't yielded fresh snowfall since nighttime. It was a typical early winter for the region, but it was an entirely different world from the early autumn. The once brilliant oranges, yellows, and reds of leaves changing colors were now entirely absent. The dull naked branches carried snow, and the ground was a blanket of white.

The snap of a twig alerted him. Looking around the trees, he could see a shape moving towards him. A large werewolf emerged from inner forest. Fresh snow dusted her head and upper back from dipping under branches.

"Hi there." He waved as the beastly canine approached him on two legs. She was carrying a deer leg in her jaws, no doubt the remains of a successful hunt. Ivan was also fairly certain that the werewolf was female. Despite her large size, she lacked any obvious masculine equipment between her legs. He gave a smile as she came to him and placed a large hand on his shoulder. She pulled the deer leg from her mouth and brushed her furry cheek over his face.

"Hey, hey!" He laughed and patted her back, clearing it of snow. "You can't keep greeting me near the edge of the woods. Someone might see you." Ivan looked over his shoulder, but no one was within sight. He turned back to the werewolf looming over him. She was easily a foot taller than him, and likely by more.

"How are you?" He asked despite knowing that she couldn't answer, even if there wasn't food in her mouth. He narrowly avoided the drool dripping from her mouth. "At least you're never hungry around me." He half joked, hoping to never seriously question that statement. She knelt down and started eating the leg like a human seated by a fire. The human resemblance was uncanny. In a weird way it was like he had a pet again, but it was obviously nothing of the sort. She was more of a protector, and a friend. The werewolf was intelligent, even human like in some instances. It almost bothered his mind. There was a very strong chance that she was just as smart and intelligent as any human. If her conscience was that incredible, then every werewolf held the same ability.

'If that's true...' The realization dawned on him that the werewolves were more than just vicious brainless monsters. Ivan didn't believe that she killed the three men months ago, or any other human. However, To his knowledge, she was the only werewolf who regularly lived in this area of the woods. After all, she was the only one he had seen, but there easily could've been more. She visited him nearly every time he entered the woods, and stayed with him until he reached the tree line. Usually it was just a casual walk or trot, but it took some adjusting to get accustomed to for Ivan. But she never attacked him even though she clearly had the strength and opportunity to do so.

"Someone mentioned to me that I have a power to repel werewolf attacks." Ivan half grinned at the ridiculous idea. "But I guess I would say the same thing too if I didn't know..." He reasoned only to worry about something else.

'My dad... the entire village will be suspicious of me if I'm not careful.' He worried that someone would follow him into the woods one day, and discover his secret. Ivan watched her continue eating the deer leg to the bone. He wasn't ready to tell any of these secrets he had discovered to anyone though. Gauging his father's reactions alone was nearly impossible. Being cast out of the village as a heretic, or laughed at as a liar, or even deemed insane for the rest of his life were all equally possible. It was too risky for now.

"I have to go to the town through the woods." He informed the munching canine. "We need to buy a few more tools because a few are old and broken." Once the werewolf finished eating the deer leg to the bone, she stood up and followed him. Ivan wasn't sure how to describe it, but he felt invincible with a werewolf tagging alongside him. There was nothing he had to fear with the werewolf.

Despite her size, she barely made a sound. Glancing down at the snow, her large paws disappeared underneath with only the softest of steps. Ivan sounded like the clumsy behemoth by comparison. She walked with him part of the way, but wandered around the edge of the trail, guided by her nose towards something more interesting. Ivan didn't pay her much attention and continued walking without her.

After a few more minutes he approached a wide stream where the snow covered trail ended. Despite its modest appearance, the waterway was several feet deep. During the summer shallower areas were easy to pass through, but during winter the widest section produced enough ice to safely cross. Water trickled noisily a little ways upstream. The dark icy waters churned from the current upstream, spilling over some of the ice, but mostly continued underneath the frozen surface.

'The snow must have melted on the mountain tops from the sunlight.' Ivan reasoned, and paused for a moment and wondered if he should cross. He stared at the water as his thoughts churned with equal force. The human had three options: to cross, return home, or go upstream. Going downstream was not an option. The water led into a marsh which would be impassible. The ice appeared stable, but he wasn't sure how thick it was. On the other hand he didn't know how far upstream he would have to walk to find a place narrow enough to jump across. The water carved its way from the mountains and into the forested hills.

"I think it's best to cross." He chose the thickest section of ice and began to carefully step across. The slippery surface made falling a possibility, and that could generate enough force to break through the ice just as easily. Ivan crept halfway when a loud crack made him freeze and hold his breath. Yet, nothing happened. He scanned the forest around him and blew a sigh of relief.

"I should turn back..." He decided only for an immediate series of cracking sounds to snap through the chilled air. His eyes slammed shut just as the ice beneath him caved in. His scream was silenced by the sudden plunge into the cold depths. The brightness once around him was quickly swallowed up into darkness. In a flash his senses were cracked open by the frigid water. A painful shock touched every inch of his body. His feet hit the silty bottom, and he attempted to spring back up to the surface but the cold water was quickly sapping his strength. Panic set in as his hands tried grabbing onto the ice above, but his grip continually slipped.

'I can't climb up!' He feared when suddenly a strong hand grabbed his wrist and pulled him out of the water. The human emerged with a loud splash as he was pulled onto land.

'Y-you?!' He blinked in disbelief at the werewolf holding him. But the human didn't have time to wonder why she had continued following him. The deadly cold from his wet plunge immediately sunk in.

"C-c-c-cold!" His teeth chattered madly. Soaked to the bone during winter in your clothes was extremely dangerous, and his body was shivering madly. He barely managed to yank his dripping wet clothes off, but he began shivering too much to move any further. If he wasn't going to drown, then he might freeze to death.

The werewolf loomed over Ivan before wrapping both of her arms around him. She quick to lifted the human up and held him tightly. The werewolf suddenly ran through the forest while Ivan held onto her body with a freezing grip. She ran with such speed that the air touching his wet skin felt like a gust of wind.

'I don't want to die.' Ivan pressed his face against her and held onto her for his life. The trees blurred by the corner of his eye as snow flew past him on occasion. The subtle thwacks of branches and snapping of sticks caught his ear, but it was becoming harder to focus. His body had numbed and he was becoming disoriented. An arm cradled him as they suddenly slowed down and dropped low. The cold wind no longer bit and nipped at his naked skin. The human suddenly found himself being placed on a softer surface where he shook like a helpless infant. His entire body seemed to sting from the bone chilling cold.

'Hay?' He managed to glimpse the noisy bedding before a wall of fur obscured his view. Ivan felt a weight of soft fur lay over his entire front. A pleasant body heat made contact with him. A tongue began licking him dry wherever fur couldn't. Warmth slowly began to creep back into his body, melting the chill that had suddenly overtaken him. Ivan's breathing became more relaxed as his shuddering gradually ceased. Exhausted from his ordeal, the human fell asleep.

***

Blinking awake, Ivan fully awoke from a good slumber.

'I'm not dead!' He realized with wide eyes only to feel confused. The human was staring at a wall of fur that nearly obstructed his entire face. Rather than roll away or immediately sit up, he took a moment to savor where he was laying. He felt incredibly warm and cozy, no longer shaking or soaking wet. The werewolf was laying down alongside him, much like a blanket, keeping him warm. Ivan ran a hand along her side, feeling the werewolf breathing slowly. The human reveled in how soft she was.

The hay underneath him softly crunched as the werewolf shifted an arm. A tiny gap formed allowing cooler air between them. He snuggled as close as he could back into her warm fur coat. She kept her leg and arm around him without complaint, but Ivan felt her muzzle brushed over the top of his head in response. The human looked up only to find his face in her downy neck fur.

"You saved my life." He hugged her neck with gratitude. The wolf's hands moved to coddle his back reciprocally. "But where am I?" Ivan turned away and sat up. The air around him was cool, but surprisingly insulated from outside. He rose to his knees and tried to see his surroundings better. The space was dim, but surprising well lit for a den. He could see all around the walls that were maybe seven or eight feet across in the back of the den where they were. Towards the curved entrance, the walls narrowed somewhat, but were still wide enough for a werewolf or two to manage leaving side by side. His gaze wandered towards the back where they laid. An antler and crushed leg bone by the adjacent wall reminded him that this was a werewolf's den, and not a typical winter hideout for a human. This place had likely never been seen by humans before. Ivan couldn't have felt more lucky in his wildest dreams. He touched the closest wall and felt ancient claw marks in the earthen abode.

"This must've been dug out by hand a long time ago." He reasoned. The human failed to realize that during his curious stare a part of his body dangled temptingly before her nose. A warm exhale of breath, and then the sudden flicker of a tongue made him jump.

"Ah! Don't lick me." He covered himself. "I'm still naked." A light nip to his knee made him sit back down. She licked her nose wearing a half grin of amusement along her muzzle. The werewolf rested her large head in his lap, and Ivan started petting her. She blew a content exhale that made him grin.

"Your ears are soft." He touched the tall furry triangle shapes. The human had a moment to think about what had happened.

'How many times could I have died this past autumn and winter?' He silently wondered. 'Probably as many as I passed by this den... wherever it is.' Ivan was more than thankful to have events unfold the way that they did. Had anything different occurred, even the slightest, then maybe he wouldn't be alive. Maybe the werewolf with him wouldn't be alive either. It was his belief that they had helped each other. In an odd way they were even. He had saved her life, and now she had saved his.

Looking to his side, the source of light piqued his curiosity. Ivan wondered where she had exactly taken him. He carefully extricated himself from the wolf and left the bedding of hay. The air became colder the closer he crept to the den's entrance. Snow became visible and he glimpsed a view of the outside forest, still coated in a thick white blanket.

'Wow. I thought it would be warm enough to melt.' He looked outside only to feel fur touch his back. He looked over and the giant werewolf was on all fours like him, looming directly overtop him.

"It's still cold out there-" He blinked feeling a strong furry arm fold over his chest. With ease, the werewolf dragged the human back into the warmer chamber of her den. "I'll have to leave as soon as I can." His thoughts returned to the village and his dad. "But you are warm..." Ivan murmured and sunk into her thick winter coat. He expected the werewolf to lay down alongside him as she let go of him, but the canine walked back to the entrance instead. He watched her hindquarters and tail curiously, wondering if she was going to leave. Being left in a werewolf den completely naked would leave him utterly helpless, and reliant on her.

The wolf turned around and had a garment in her hand that he instantly recognized.

"My shirt!" Ivan forgot about stripping off his soaked clothes, but then again he could have froze to death. He eagerly grabbed it from her without realizing a claw tip was caught. A loud rip alerted him and the werewolf. They exchanged glances and saw that his shirt was suddenly torn in one spot.

"Oops... It's ripped, but I can still wear it." He managed to grin. "That shouldn't be too difficult to explain." He blinked only to see a red streak slowly ooze along his forearm. "You cut me!" Ivan gaped in surprise. The werewolf's ears folded flatly against her skull, a clear mark of sadness.

"You do not have to worry. It's not deep." He sighed with relief. "I guess I shouldn't have yanked my shirt from you." Ivan felt stupid for a moment and rubbed her cheek. She brushed against his hand but her nose zeroed in towards the minor cut. A puff of warm breath warmed his skin, but Ivan was surprised as a wide pink tongue slipped past her lips and licked him.

"Woah..." Ivan instinctively recoiled but a strong hand easily held him in place with a gentle grip. Chills formed along his skin as she continued licking his fresh wound. The fear that she had a taste for his blood entered his mind. He glanced over at the large claw wielding hand rested on his arm, but didn't sense any harm. Instead, he looked at her human-like hand in great detail. The claws were like that of an animal's, thick and durable, but her bulky fingers were not very different from his own. They were jointed almost the same as a human, and had comparable dexterity. She could probably hold any tool however she wanted.

"Huh?" He felt a puff of breath descend down his stomach to somewhere more private. Ivan blinked at looked at her head directly in front of him. Both ears were touching his shoulders, but her long snout was pointing down low towards his naked lap. His eyes suddenly met her canine ones, making him hesitate under her predatory gaze. But her eyes slowly blinked, completely oblivious. Her damp nose lowered a little more, and touched his sensitive skin. A cool chill excited him, but simultaneously snapped him from his idle state.

"No." He shifted away, denying her a second time. "We shouldn't... Do anything like that." He would be breaking all doctrine with his village, not to mention his already conflicted conscience. Her black nose wiggled, undeterred. She huffed a gentle breath and touched his arm, wanting to pull him closer again.

"No." He resisted her tugging hand and remained sitting upright. Ivan saw her tail swish once behind her. The challenge seemed to thrill her. She quickly sat up and placed an arm around him. The canine pulled him into a wolffish hug that nearly buried his face into her shoulder. She held onto him and began nuzzling his face, licking him when he was unguarded.

"Hey! Cut that out!" He laughed, unable to escape her loving assault. He ended up on the ground trying to battle her furry face from licking him.

"Ahh too much!" He wheezed as the werewolf laid on top of him. The loving assault ceased much to his relief. She sat up and gently placed a hand on his naked chest. Chill bumps rose from the sensation of her claws against his unprotected skin, but quickly fell under the warmth radiating from her large palm. He watched his front rise and fall with each breath. He could uniquely see how massive the female werewolf was compared to him. There was no doubt the force she could generate with a single arm could break many, if not all of of his bones.

She loomed over him but gazed at his body with human-like curiosity. He tensed as her claws harmlessly trailed down his front. He watched with a hint of excitement as her fingertips touched the curly hairs nestled below. But she paused there and stared at him intently. Ivan looked up at her and wondered what she wanted. That calm look in her amber eyes made him completely relax. It was her den, and she had all the strength in the entire forest to overpower him, but she didn't use it. It could've simply been restraint, but was there something more? Could it be the werewolf wanted him to let her do what they both wanted?

"I trust you... Just be careful." He quietly said and allowed her to touch him. The large hand resumed moving, and her bulky fingers curiously brushed against his soft skin. He was noticeably flaccid despite the excitement still coursing inside him. Ivan felt his manhood move from her gentle prod, but the gentle touch ended there. She laid down over his legs and rested her hands on his stomach, letting her claw tips prick his skin. It was a silent message to not interfere, and to trust her; although, she wore a noticeable smirk on her muzzle. The canine seemed to enjoy this particular view of him laid out for her. His heart rose into his throat as her nose dipped down to his groin. A huff of hot air made goosebumps rose on anticipation. Without further hesitation, a broad pink tongue appeared, delivering a slow and gentle lick. The smooth warmth immediately registered with his nerves. He audibly exhaled as his member subtly twitched, stirring to life as she carefully licked him again. She didn't appear rushed in the slightest. Each gentle swipe of her tongue slowly made his length grow until it began to rise. Ivan gritted his teeth as the pleasure only grew. He watched his member stand proudly erect for her, throbbing with desire that she would fulfill.

"Ughhh." The human broke his silence and groaned with a jerking nod, and shifted as her tongue starting licking his sensitive underside. He propped himself up and watched the most erotic thing in his life. Jaws that could easily chomp his torso into pieces contained a soft tongue that was gladly pleasuring him at a steady pace. Pointing upward, stiffly erect, his length lightly bobbed and throbbed under her care. The swipe of her tongue over his glans made another soft moan escape his mouth. He pet the bridge of her muzzle encouragingly, but she suddenly stopped. She looked at him with eyes he couldn't decipher. Her tongue darted over her black nose.

"H-huh?" He didn't understand. There was a brief moment of confusion. The werewolf's gaze returned to his length throbbing in time with his excited heartbeat. Instead of facing the underside, she rose up partially until she was looking down at his manhood, perfectly aligned. He could feel the heat of her maw with every powerful breath. His member jerked wantonly from the moist heat so close. Ivan had no idea that part of his body was that sensitive.

His skin formed goosebumps as her jaws parted. Teeth were visible but not bared towards him. Ivan held his breath as her mouth opened up and lowered, yet he remained still, completely trusting her. Her gaze never left his, even as her jaws surrounded his throbbing erection. Her teeth surrounded his hard length like a cage before softly closing.

"Ohh..." He exhaled in a groan as her lips and warm, wet mouth sealed around his aching flesh. He could distinctly feel her incisors touching the base of his member, and that helped keep him in check from a preemptive finish. Her unseen tongue began to bathe his entire member with constant, gentle licks. Ivan devolved into writhing and moaning. Looking up, a pair of eyes were intently watching him.

"Unnnngghh." He could barely speak. The werewolf seemed all too happy to continue. He eagerly pet her head and caressed her fluffy cheeks only to dissolve into holding onto the ground. His hips began slowly thrusting into her eager muzzle despite the sharp teeth teasing his flesh. The werewolf's maw was large enough, and her tongue wide enough to endlessly pleasure him. The pleasure only grew with every passing second. Ivan tried fighting back to last longer, but it was a losing battle. His groin felt like a heated flame, and his painfully stiff member yearned for release. His entire body shook with anticipation through the erotic fog.

'Oh gods!' He shut his eyes. The pleasure bubbled to the point of no return, and completely overwhelmed his senses. He didn't want her to stop for anything!

"Oohhh-aaahhh!" The crescendo of pleasure released like a tidal wave, echoing throughout the little den. She drew everything from each throb, leaving him utterly spent. It felt like there was a gap in time. The human's ears heard a light ringing amidst pure silence before his senses fully returned. He hastily exhaled as she lifted her head. His withered flesh was shiny as she cleaned him. Using his arms to prop himself up, Ivan was shaking from the erotic ordeal. She had brought him to such a tired state not from running or fighting, but from just using her tongue on him!

Ivan tried to sit up, but ended up rolling onto his side instead. Dizziness swept over him from the tidal wave of pleasure and emotions. She placed a hand on him with a look of concern in her amber eyes. Ivan managed to sit up with the aid of a stable arm.

"Th-thanks. I'm okay." He quickly spoke breathlessly, in partial disbelief. A grin appeared on her canine muzzle as she rose onto all fours. Ivan watched as the werewolf crept closer to him. Her cheek brushed by his face as she fully embraced him. He happily sunk into her warm fur in a complete embrace. Ivan rubbed her back and nuzzled her in return. It was the most pleasurable feeling he had ever experienced, and from a werewolf no less.

The canine moved and carried him back to the bedding of hay where she gently laid him down. She then eased onto him like a protective blanket. Fur brushed over his naked body as she laid down. Her body heat was irresistible given the winter weather outside. He closed an eye as her whiskers teased his skin. She lightly nibbled an ear before washing over his cheek with her tongue.

"Tired..." He answered only for her to huff in amusement. All of the feelings coursing through his body felt wonderful and blissful. He looked at the large furry claw wielding hand resting on his shoulder. The touch was very human, not unlike any other hand. He was in her warmth as she coddled him like a lover.

"Let's catch fish in the spring, or maybe go hunting one day." His eyes slowly closed.

Ivan dozed off for a while only to wake up on his side. His leg was tucked between her legs and pressed against the downy fur of her body. As tempting as it was to lay there with her for most of the afternoon, Ivan was eager to move once again.

"I've slept long enough..." He said despite a yawn interrupting his own words. The whole ordeal of falling into the frigid river still weighed heavily on his mind. Ivan was grateful to be alive, and he owed his life to the most unlikely of creatures. The human sat up causing the werewolf to stir. She stubbornly clung to him.

"I'm not going yet. Calm down." He reassured her. Luckily, she seemed to agree and let go of him. Returning his gaze towards the cave entrance, he wondered if it was a miracle that they had crossed paths on that eventful day.

'Are all of the werewolves like you?' Ivan wondered and pet her head. Would it matter if no one else understood him?

"I'm afraid that everyone will find out eventually..." He murmured and felt her ears. 'What should I do?' He wondered to himself. Even though it was below freezing outside, Ivan felt completely warm and safe. But how long would he feel safe in the den of a werewolf? As unlikely as the events that unfolded, the human felt utterly uncertain about what the future held for him. A subtle breeze blew snowflakes outside causing an eerie natural howl to echo inside the wolf's home.