Blue Moon

Part One

A monthly, week-long vacation to an isolated cabin in the mountains is all well and good, but it's still nice if not better to come home afterward. Pyrrha pushes through her front door with her arms and shoulders loaded down with a few bags, luggage that she almost unceremoniously drops beside the sofa just inside so she can shut the door and lock it behind her. When the bolt slides to there's a sigh of comfort; safe and secure and home.

From there she goes about the routine process of putting her things away, sifting through the bags for dirty clothes to take to the laundromat, and sorting out her art supplies to relocate to their proper places at her desk in the living room. The soiled clothing goes into a plastic grocery bag that she tosses from the bedroom to the front door, counting on herself to remember them the next time she leaves her apartment. Once everything is back where it belongs, her bags stuffed under her bed, she changes into comfortable lounging clothes with the intent of vegetating on the couch for the next hour or two. The passed weekend had been rough and she needed a break.

A half hour of said break passes, by now she has the TV volume set on low with one arm draped across her eyes as she snores lightly, before her scroll buzzes on the coffee table. She'll sleep through the first collection of vibrations, aware but unwilling to answer -if it was important enough, whoever is trying to reach her would leave a message or call again. Turns out they would call again, and this time Pyrrha grumbles as she sits up like a zombie rising from its casket.

With a shrug she brings the device to her ear. "Hello?"

"Hey, darlin', did you make it home okay?"

The voice on the other end is soft and bright, coupled with a strong Menagerine accent it makes Pyrrha smile with a certain fondness. "Hello again, Tag. Yes, I'm home."

"Good, I hate to catch you when you're driving. How are you feeling?"

"I was in the middle of a nap."

"Oh, I'm sorry!"

"Don't be, it's okay," Pyrrha shakes her head. "I don't mind when it's you. But I'm fine."

"Everything at the cabin all right?"

"...I got another carcass." Pyrrha says after a moment. "A bear this time."

It's quiet for a short spell, and then Tag shrugs. "Are those even in season yet?"

"Yes, actually." she grins to herself.

"Was it killed and cleaned the same way as the others?"

"Yeah. Same scent on it too." Pyrrha takes a breath. "I'm certain it's an Alpha male now. I think he's leaving me gifts."

"Never heard of that, and I've been in the Lycan business for a long time. But you haven't found any tracks or markings, have you?"

"No, just what's left on the kills he leaves. I mean, not that I don't appreciate them," she laughs a little.

"Maybe he's wooing you. A blue moon is coming, after all."

Pyrrha feels herself tense. "What?"

"You didn't know? Oh, honey...yeah, there's another full moon this cycle."

When the young woman realizes she's been holding her breath she's quick to exhale. "Oh. I...I suppose that would make sense. But...well, like you said, you've never heard of this behavior before. Wouldn't he just try and...you know...like Alpha males do when the heat comes?"

"Clearly this male isn't like the others. There's an almost human intelligence to this, so maybe he's learned to control the change. And if that's the case, he's likely seen you before and knows what you are."

A reflexive fear rattles through her ribs, a fear born from a lifetime of having to keep a secret.

"But isn't this what you wanted?"

Pyrrha swallows, forcing the nerves down. "I mean...I guess so." because she's lonely, and has felt this way most of her life. "I just...I didn't expect it this soon." Pyrrha's only been out on her own, out from under a Handler's care for a couple of years, she's just starting to feel like her own woman; mentally she doesn't feel ready for a mate. However, it seems mother nature sought to force her hand. "What should I do?"

"Well, you have a few options. I'd be more than happy to let you stay here with Billy and me for it, I don't have a charge right now so there's space for you. You could also try and chase the male from your territory before then."

"But will I be able to? During a blue moon?"

"You're a strong Alpha, Pyrrha -you know that and I know that- and blue moon or not, your instincts are going to win out over mating heat every time. You'll know what you need to do."

She exhales. "I hope you're right." Then she groans and lets her face drop into the palm of her free hand. "I'm not ready for kids either."

"Oh heavens, I almost forgot that part. You're right." Blue moons not only brought increased desire to find a mate, and drove already mated pairs to engage in marathon sessions that could last for hours at a time, but it also made females the most viable to conceive. No one has been able to ascertain exactly why that is, only that it is at all, and that there were countless litters of pups to support the theory. "I'm going to look into it for you, alright?"

"Okay." though she sounds reluctant to the idea. She's skeptical of the chances that her former Handler will find anything useful. "If you find anything, you and Billy could come over for dinner and we could talk about it some more. I'd rather it be in person. Plus I miss you."

"Me too, darlin', it's been too long." the older woman's smile is audible. "Try not to worry too much, yeah? We'll sort this out."

"Okay." she responds again, not sounding at all reassured. "Take care."

"You too."

Pyrrha hears the telling click and lets her hand drift away from her face to rest on her thigh. For a moment she just stares at her scroll, at the dimness of her own reflection, and then shrugs before setting the device back on the coffee table. Now she can't stand even the low sounds of the television so she shuts it off before retreating to her easel to paint.

A couple of anxious days pass before Tag calls again and finalizes their plans to meet, the Otter Faunus and her Bison partner arriving in the early evening bearing hugs and a homemade cake. From the second she stepped inside, Pyrrha's former Handler could sense her anxiety and did her best to soothe it. Gentle, constant physical contact worked best as the young woman had a tendency to feel touch starved, especially when stressed. The two of them walk through the dwelling shoulder to shoulder, Tag's hand at the small of Pyrrha's back in a comfortable, familiar way. Billy follows behind like a towering shadow, and the trio eventually commune in the kitchen.

"Would you prefer to wait until after we eat, or...?"

"Tell me now," Pyrrha laughs as she hugs herself a little, leaning against the counter. "If it's bad news I'll have time to swallow it so it doesn't ruin my appetite."

"It's not all bad." Billy sort of grunts, setting the cake down on the counter. Then they chance to sniff the air and bend down to look through the glass window of the oven. "What are you making?"

"Bear." another nervous laugh. "I didn't want it to go to waste...and there was so much of it."

"Smells great, doesn't it, Billy?" Tag nudges her partner with a soft swat of her tail. "I've never had it, but I'm sure it'll be good."

Pyrrha nods. "So what did you find?"

Tag vertically straightens her tail and uses it to prop herself up, half sitting and crossing her heavily tattooed arms. "For starters, none of my colleagues could account for the kind of behavior your secret admirer has been exhibiting, at least not prior to mating, otherwise it's just typical provision instincts for a male."

"Sounds like he's sure she'll have him." Billy chuckles, though they don't appear at all amused. "Or it could be like you said before, Tag, that he's trying to tempt her."

"Point is that there's no way to be sure why he's doing it, especially since you haven't picked up on any markings in your territory."

Pyrrha nods. She already doesn't like where this conversation is going.

"But it gets better." Tag smiles when she sees the uncertainty in the younger woman's eyes. "I touched base with my mated charges and they all said that the blue moon never stopped them from refusing an unfit suitor."

Pyrrha exhales, feeling a warm wash of relief. It's a weight off her shoulders. "Thank goodness...although,"

"What's wrong?"

"What if he is fit?" she watches as Tag's head cocks to one side, her brows see-sawing over her eyes. Pyrrha feels heat rising into her face as she hugs herself a little tighter. "I've been thinking...and...I really like the scent of him...what little I've been able to get."

"That doesn't necessarily mean anything." Billy says. "Sure, your body is telling you he is a physiological match, but it takes more than good genes to make a solid pairing."

"Billy's right."

"But how could I possibly know any more than what my nose tells me? Especially during a full moon?" because being able to control the change only offers her so much relief from the wild madness that takes over at night, and she thinks it's not nearly enough to discern a good companion from a poor one.

Tag doesn't have an answer, and it's obvious she laments that fact as she looks at her former charge with silent sympathy. "Would...do you want to stay with us until it passes? You know you're more than welcome,"

"I know." Pyrrha's chin drops to her chest, eyes closing as she takes a stabilizing breath. "Just...part of me wants to...but another part of me wants to chance meeting him. I mean...what if he's the one?"

"It's possible." Tag smiles a little. "It would be nice."

Pyrrha can neither confirm nor deny because her brain wants her to do both. She tries to say something more after a moment, but the timer on the oven goes off. Perhaps that's better, it'll give her more time to think. She does her best to ignore her anxiety and put the serious business on her mind's back burner as the three sit down to eat. Thankfully the bear turned out all right, good enough to stop most conversation, though Pyrrha didn't think she would make it again any time soon.

They avoid the issues a while longer when the meal is over, deciding to reminisce instead over cake and coffee until long after dark. The matter doesn't come up again until Tag and Billy are about to leave, Tag asking if Pyrrha will walk with them back to their car. Down in the lamp lit parking lot, Tag opens the passenger door but only bends over, reaching for something and then straightening again, now gripping a brown paper bag in one hand.

"I got these for you." she passes it forward, lounging against the open door once her former charge takes the bag. "If you decide to go ahead with it, they'll keep pups out of the picture, just be sure to follow the dosing instructions to the letter, okay?"

Pyrrha doesn't question it, only nods unsteadily. She trusts Tag enough to take her words as they are.

The Otter Faunus is looking at her with sympathy again, unsure if there's anything else she can do. "And again, you can call us any time. We'll grab you up in a heartbeat."

"I know." another nod, this one more certain. "It's just...I can't decide. And I don't know if it's just me or...you know."

"Wolves don't know how to be uncertain." Billy says from the driver's seat. "They know what they know, just as the one that's a part of you knows."

"I guess it's just me then." Pyrrha laughs, though it sounds a little empty. "I don't want to be alone any more...but I'm scared."

"I know, dear, I know. It's a scary thing, change. Still, whatever happens, you've always got us." Tag tries one last time to reassure her, unsure if it works since Pyrrha's worried expression never changes. "Stay in touch, okay?"

"I will. And thank you."

"Anytime."

The two embrace in spite of the car door between them, Pyrrha hesitant to let go. Billy's content to offer a departing wave which the younger woman returns. She watches them until the vehicle is out of sight, taking a deep breath before turning on her heels to head back inside.

(II)

Pyrrha makes the trip to the cabin and is anxious for the entirety of the drive. It's an uncomfortable deja vu, and she hates how it attempts to encroach on the usual peace this isolated place gives her. Before heading inside she goes around the back and switches on the breaker, comforted by the electrical hum her already sensitive ears pick up. She then grabs her bags from the car and fumbles with a ring of keys as she walks up to the heavy wooden door.

Inside it smells of aged wood and sawdust and fireplace ashes, a collection of scents that reminds her of a few things she needs to do before she fully settles in for the night. Firewood needed to be carried in, some kindling made, and then she needed to take stock of the pantry before going in to town for anything else she needs. She shrugs to herself. It's going to be a long few days.

She'll leave the run to town for last, partly regretting the decision because she doesn't get to it until after sunset. Pyrrha's never been a fan of going out at night when she's here, for obvious reasons. By the time she reaches the main road, already she can see the almost bloated moon peaking over the trees, taunting her. She ignores the itch in her skin as she drives on, turning away from it.

She has only one stop to make, something she's both grateful for and discomforted over; Lotus Market is her favorite place, but it's also the source of her greatest anxiety as of late. Just putting her car in park in front of the building makes her heart flutter, and it drags the majority of her attention back to the worries over the mysterious male that's been ghosting through her territory. Timid and partly cowering in her seat, Pyrrha stares through the front windows, into the pale lights inside, and takes a deep breath to steady herself when she sees the young man at the deli counter at the far end of the store.

Does he ever go home? ...Never mind, just get in there and get it done. You don't want a human partner anyway, remember?

Pyrrha growls to herself, a little surprised that the sound came so easily, and then gets out of the car. She's chanting the reminder to herself in her head as she goes about her business, over and over, the little voice trying to overpower the fact that she does indeed like him. He was easily likeable from the moment they met some...maybe a year ago, long before she started receiving "gifts" from her secret admirer; he was easy on the eyes but delightfully average, soft spoken, polite, then again she could attribute some of that to his occupational obligations. Although that didn't hold much water as he invited her to dinner almost every time he saw her. Not on their first encounter, of course, but after that, any time she came by, he would chance an invitation that she would gently turn down. It's something she quietly regrets every time, because she really wants to like him and really wants to accept. But, again, for obvious reasons...

Oh, if only he weren't human.

Pyrrha will move about unseen, dropping items she plucks from the shelves into the plastic basket hanging from her arm, a small load she almost tosses into the air as she's startled by a high pitched exaltation of her name. Turning her head she sees the co-owner of the Lotus Market almost scurrying down the aisle towards her, smiling from ear to ear with her arms wide open in preparation for a hug. Pyrrha lets it happen, patient as the other woman squeezes her almost too tightly, and returns the enthusiastic greeting with a more restrained version. Looking over her shoulder Pyrrha spots him, catching his attention as well as a wave and a smile from him. Her gut sinks a little.

"Hello again, Nora."

One more punctuated squeeze before the smaller woman lets go. "So what are you doing here so soon? Usually we don't see you but a month at a time."

"Well," she sighs with a slight roll of her eyes, "it's been...stressful these last couple weeks. I thought maybe getting away for a few days would help me sort things out. Sorry for getting in so late, I promise I won't take too long."

"Pfft, you're fine," Nora waves a dismissive hand. "It's always nice to see you, anyway. Looking for anything in particular?"

"No, just stocking up on the essentials."

"Okay." Nora sighs, almost like she doesn't quite believe her. "Be sure to stop by the deli, lots of the baked stuff is discounted -it'll just get thrown out if we don't sell it so help yourself if you can."

"Thanks."

"Let me know if you need anything else, okay?"

"Of course." And Pyrrha holds on to her meager smile through another hug and until Nora disappears around to the next isle. She chances to look in the other direction, see if he's still looking, and sure enough he is. Her heart flutters but she tries in vain to quiet it. At this point it would seem rude no to talk to him at least, so she casually makes her way towards the counter he keeps.

He has a smile for her, and she knows it's just for her because he can discern between it and the welcoming smirk he gives to the other customers. When it's for her it reaches his bright blue eyes, his cheeks rising and his lips revealing all of his near-perfect teeth -everyone else only gets half as much.

"Hey, Pyrrha." he greets her, easy as anything, one hand propped on the counter. Just beside him is the glass top of the meat case, and he sees her looking at it before she looks at him. "Nice to see you again. And so soon?"

"Yeah. I'm sure you overheard." she smirks timidly.

"I might have." his head lilts towards his shoulder. Then his expression becomes a little serious, sincere. "Is everything okay?"

Pyrrha nods. "Sometimes the city just feels claustrophobic, you know?"

"Can't say I do, but I can see why someone would feel that way. With that being said,"

Oh boy, here it comes...

"Is it safe to assume you don't have any plans while you're here? Because I'd really love to have you over for dinner. I get off in an hour,"

"Jaune," she sighs and smiles a little wider, hoping it might soften the blow, "I'm sorry."

He straightens, shuffling back a step or two, exhaling in apparent acceptance. He's still wearing something like a grin, though. "Don't apologize, just thought I'd ask. Though, I hope you're not saying no because you think I'm a creep or anything."

"Oh no," she readily shakes her head, her long crimson hair swishing against her back. "Not at all. Persistent, maybe, but not creepy. It's just," her lips tuck between her teeth as she searches for the words.

"You don't have to explain if you don't want to, you're entitled to your feelings."

"I know, just...I feel like I should. I guess," she shakes her head again, slower this time. "It just isn't the right time. If that makes sense. I have a lot going on right now and,"

"It's okay." he assures her. "How about this; the invitation is always open, so you can accept whenever you want, alright? No obligation, and I stop harassing you."

"You're not harassing me." she actually giggles, feeling a touch of warmth in her cheeks.

"Good to know." he nods. "So can I get you anything or were you just stopping by to say hi?"

"Six of one," she admits. "Nora said there were some goodies you're trying to get rid of."

"Yeah, my mom brought in a tray of her apple turnovers, and wouldn't you know it I haven't been able to sell a single one."

"No," she gapes at him. "That's just wrong. There should be a law against it. How many?"

"Baker's dozen, and you're more than welcome to the lot."

"Perfect."

"They're on me."

Now she blushes fully, fumbling on an attempted refusal that he further squelches with his insistence. Before she can get a word out he has a white box full of turnovers on the counter and is pushing it towards her. Out of some strange, learned reflex she tries to push it back towards him, but he keeps his hand on it and they both laugh stupidly at each other as neither gains any ground. They're too wrapped up in each other to notice the head of the other shop owner peeking through the half-open office door over Jaune's shoulder. The raven haired man just shakes his head and smiles before returning to whatever he's doing.

"Please," Jaune asserts one final time with one last push of his hands. "Let me do this much, okay?"

Now her face is almost red enough to disappear into her hair, and she just nods and accepts, unable to look him in the eye now as she carefully places the box in her basket. "Thank you." Why do you make it so easy to say yes and so hard to say no?

"Anything else?"

"N-no, I think," she clear her throat, "I think I've got what I need. Thanks again."

"Have a good night." He watches her unashamedly as she moves to the register and pays for her things, sighing longingly as she walks out the door. Her scent hangs in the air around him and he greedily takes it in until it dissipates.

"How about you close back here and head home, Jaune?"

He twists around to see Ren stepping through his office door. "Isn't it early still?"

"Pyrrha was the only customer we've had for the last couple of hours, much longer and I'll start losing money." the Mistrali man chuckles lightly. "Besides, you've still got work to do elsewhere."

Jaune nods slowly, eyes on the floor. His hand cups his neck and rubs. "Is it wrong for me to do it like this?"

"That's not up to me. As your Handler I've already given you what advice I can, the rest is between you and her."

"That's what scares me." and he laughs in spite of himself. "What if she rejects me?"

"Then we'll take it from there." Ren exhales as he rolls up his sleeves, revealing a mesh of intricate tattoos. "At least you know the two of you are compatible, so you've got a good chance. Although,"

Jaune lifts his head to attention, very dog like in his manner.

"The blue moon starts tomorrow, so you need to make it clear to her what you're up to tonight."

"Yeah, I had already considered that."

"Don't just consider, do it." he doesn't mean to be harsh on his charge, but Ren knows Jaune needs a firm push from time to time.

"Or else she'll chase you off anyway," Nora adds as she saunters up to the counter, propping her elbows on the glass and her chin on her palms. "I mean, I think you'll be fine, you two are obviously ga-ga for each other, but you can't be too careful."

"I know." Jaune blushes and takes a breath, exhaling in a way that puffs his cheeks.

"Just get going, Ren and I can close up." and she shoos him with a wave of her hand.

"Okay, okay. Thank you."

(-)

Pyrrha is meticulous about her preparations at night; with the groceries now put away and dinner on the stove, she goes about the house with obvious purpose in her steps. First of all she takes the pills Tag sent along with her, doubling the dose as per the instructions since she meant to change tonight. They're awful smelling horse pills but she chokes them down anyway, a small price to pay compared to what she was trying to prevent. From there she grabs a set of warm looking lounge clothes from her suitcase, leaving them folded as she takes them to the kindling box beside the fireplace and places them inside atop the splints of wood. The radiant heat from the hearth would keep them warm, and the other side of the hatch that led to the woodpile outside would give her easy access to clothing when she returns in the morning. A spare key to the only door is tucked into the pocket of the flannel shirt she stashes there.

She eats quickly, quietly as she listens to the battery-operated radio sitting on the table in front of her. It's mostly to hear the weather forecast for the next few days, not that it makes much difference to her -her pelt at night is more than enough to fend off all but blizzard conditions. Still, a part of her is grateful that it will be clear and not too cold.

Mating in the rain doesn't sound at all pleasant, does it?

Pyrrha mentally flinches, assuring herself that it isn't certain enough to worry about. She's confident that if she encounters this Alpha at all tonight, she'll likely chase him back to his own territory; her body might be ready, but that doesn't say much for her heart. She trusts her instincts will lead her in the right direction, never mind her fence riding.

When she's ready, she steps out onto the front porch, all the lights inside and outside of the cabin switched off so it looks like whoever lives here is asleep. She locks herself out, even puts the padlock in place in the upper corner, and then starts to quickly strip down while she listens for any car that might be rumbling along the mountain road a few yards away. The change comes quickly, easily compared to before she learned to control it. It's still painful to do, but now it's only akin to the worst sunburn imaginable instead of being run over by a semi truck. Lithe, human hands and feet are covered in thick, scarlet fur as the bones come undone and morph into a strange hybrid between what they had been and clawed, lupine paws. A tail sprouts and bristles just below the small of her back as more fur spreads across her tanned, freckled skin. That luscious long hair of hers finds its way into the grain of fur, forming around her neck and shoulders as a regal mane. Fangs gnash together as the bones in her face finish reforming, and keen ears move independently on the sides of her head.

Pyrrha takes a moment for her mind to settle and to catch her breath; the change is still dizzying at times. In time she moves on all fours down the trio of steps to the ground covered in pine needles and loose gravel, lifting her bright green eyes and nose to look around and sniff the air. She lingers on the moon, still not quite full though she can feel the pull of it, and her lips curl into an unconscious snarl.

She doesn't pick up on the elusive male, but moves on into the forest all the same, meaning to check where he's left his gifts and see what there is to find, if not him. She bounds off through the trees, moving between them like she's little more than the wind. Sprinting along trails only she knows she rounds the borders of her territory, heading further up the mountain towards the ridge at the top. From there she can see most of the valley and the twinkle of lingering streetlamps in the small town below. Pyrrha sniffs around, searching for even the smallest trace of him, but finds nothing. She moves on with a snort, continuing along the invisible line that separates her range from everything else.

Pyrrha nearly circumnavigates the entirety of her territory, literal miles of forest, before she suddenly stops at the edge of a ravine, her ears at full attention and her body stock still. Then one ear cocks in the direction of a brief rustling, the sound of leaf litter and dry pine needles followed by a punctuated growl. She's off in an instant, leaping down the slope of the ravine in hot pursuit.

He should have been quicker, Jaune's instincts scream it at him as his jaws close around the buck's throat and squeeze until it stills. He should have been quicker because he knew when she entered the forest and thus knew it was only a matter of time before she caught wind of him. He isn't going to run, so his brain changes gears just as the large Alpha female comes bursting through a cluster of laurel bushes towards him. Immediately he loosens his teeth and crouches as low to the ground as he can without lying down, bracing for whatever retaliation is in store for him.

Pyrrha lunges, teeth snapping around a heavy growl. The male kowtows back and she keeps pressing, eyes wide with ears back until she's looming over him. Up on her legs she puts her arms out wide, making herself look larger, and her claws are splayed out to match the intent of her fangs. The pale colored male crouches, tail tucked, and squalls a little though his fangs are bared and his deep blue eyes bulge like hers. He's submissive, but he also means to show his intention to stay his ground if necessary. Otherwise he would have just left at the first sight of her. She'll test him once more, advancing again with her jaws aiming for his throat; the male drops on his side and cries louder, limbs tucking inward to protect his now exposed belly.

Being this close gives Pyrrha the chance to absorb his scent, commit it to her primal memory so she never loses it again. Sure enough, as before with even the meager trace amounts on the carcasses he left, she likes it -it's something like sandalwood and her senses devour it. He would make an all but perfect match for her physiologically; from his immune system to his validity as breeding stock, and when put against her own viability it's a wonder they hadn't come in contact sooner. It took a moment, but she quickly realized why.

He is easily the smallest Alpha male she's ever seen. Not that she had seen a great many, but those she had were noticeably larger than this one.

While she no longer feels threatened -she knows she could dispatch him in a heartbeat if need be- she maintains the tight posture and setting of her ears as she eases back, keeping her eyes on him as she slinks towards the now dead deer lying on the ground. She needs to watch him, needs to see what he'll do as she enforces her privileges -it's her territory, and regardless of the fact that he had felled the deer, it is still her deer. Eyes on him she tears into the animal's hide, a chunk of flesh coming easily off the ribcage with her first bite.

They watch each other for several tense moments, the male eventually easing not too quickly back onto his paws. So far so good, he thinks, considering he isn't dead yet. Tail tucked and posture still low, he creeps closer, mindful of the female's bristling fur and steady, deep growling. When he gets too close for her liking she snaps at him and swipes with one clawed paw, reminding him of his place. He readily complies, now knowing for sure that he needs to simply wait his turn. He's hopeful, feeling like this is the first step in a good direction.

Pyrrha only takes enough to sate herself, grunting in a sort of satisfaction and permission as she trots away from the carcass to lie down several feet away. She'll continue watching him from here, lips flaring to show her teeth when his eyes linger on her for too long. When he finishes, her eyes track him as he inches away from the remains and pads over to her, his posture gradually lowering as he draws near. With his body almost flat to the ground he lowers his head and gives her forepaw a testing touch of his tongue. She growls, a gentle reminder, but ultimately allows him to continue; he means to show her proper respect by cleaning the blood from her fur. Jaune starts to whimper as his ministrations lead to her muzzle, making sure she's aware that he means no harm as he laps around her still flared lips. When she feels she is clean enough she snarls sharply, bringing him to heel. The male flops on his back again, this time right beside her, and tries to sneak in another sniff of her. Pyrrha's aware and permits it.

Jaune's primal brain throbs with desire; what he'd give to be able to tell her how much he loves her scent, how it whets his appetite just as much as any fresh kill.

Pyrrha stands up abruptly and starts to saunter away, not wary of his presence but seemingly resigned and accepting, and her relaxed temperament remains even as he follows somewhat timidly behind her. The two disappear down the ravine, reaching the end and coming out onto the lower roots of the ridge. The pair ascend to the top and start to run along the border as Pyrrha had done before, sprinting abreast of one another though Jaune keeps a half pace behind out of unspoken concession to her. They will circle the entirety of Pyrrha's territory like this, part of this being her showing him all the places he was supposed to stay away from, but also her testing to see if he could keep up, which he does surprisingly well.

As the sky begins to blue with impending dawn, Pyrrha is heading back to the cabin, a certain defensive anxiety creeping across her instincts when the male continues to tail her. When she feels he's much too close she quickly turns on him, hackles up and teeth bared, this time meaning real business. He needed to leave and she meant to tell him as much in no uncertain terms. At first he cowers like before, baring his stomach and lapping towards her mouth with his tongue, but then she nips at his neck. The male yelps and scrambles a few feet away, a few more when she lunges with a snap of teeth. One more charge and a bite of warning sends him on his way, and she watches until he disappears into the early morning mist that is forming across the valley. When she is certain he is gone, she moves on.

Pyrrha changes back before the sun comes up, fetching her clothes from the kindling box and fumbling with shaking hands for the keys. As quickly as she can she gets inside and locks the door again, her exhausted brain gnawing at her for a well deserved rest. She flops into bed, nodding off immediately, swallowed by the dark, isolated security of her den.

Author's Note: I keep telling myself when I start these stories that they'll only be a one shot, and every time so far I've played myself. So there will be a part two, and likely that's when the wild smut is going to happen. Hopefully it will only be two, because I'm already tired and I NEED to finish Embers. Thanks for the support, everyone, love you all!