With a motivated vigor, Annabel rushed from the barn to sneak away some wrapping cloth and an old tunic from the cottage. Beatrice was pacing through the cottage muttering to herself, fortunately, paying no mind to Annabel's absence. Taking advantage of her neglect, Annabel stole from the kitchen a handful of dried venison and potatoes, also. Returning to the barn, she found Dirk where she had left him, still sitting semi-concealed in a stall of hay. After giving him the food she had acquired, she reluctantly gave him the tunic, stifling her desire to see him uncovered. Interestingly, he, like her, seemed to be embarrassed over his nudity despite his slender frame; Dirk had sat holding his arms around his chest in much the same way Annabel had done when feeling self-conscious about her own appearance.
She again examined his amber eyes. They were bright as day and possessed a shine, as if to suggest the vibrancy and honesty with which he lived life. Looking into these big pretty eyes, Annabel felt as if she could open up to Dirk about anything or anyway. It wasn't just the urge to pursue the means to satisfy the physical cravings she had. Yes, she did want a man to find her attractive and lovely. But she wanted to be able to leave her emotional guards riven and allow her suitor to be interested by her inner beauty as well.
"Are you cold, Dirk?" Annabel asked as she began to wrap the Lycan's wound.
"No I'm fine," he replied.
"It's just that … I was wondering if you uncomfortable with … oh, never mind."
"With what?"
"You just seemed a little uneasy with being so exposed. I can find some more clothes for you if you want. I may be able go into town tomorrow and pick up some more."
"Exposed? You mean naked? No, of course not. You Homin are the ones that get embarrassed by nakedness."
"Well, some of us more than others," Annabel responded sheepishly, her attention now focused on the wrap.
"Why? Are you afraid of the cold? I've seen the fires your people make. Surely those would keep you warm instead."
"It's not just that. It just isn't done," Annabel was beginning to struggle to explain human customs of modesty without revealing her own insecurities. "It isn't considered correct to be so open with your body. It's something Beatrice taught me, ‘a man only wants to see you unadorned on your wedding night'."
"Who's that?"
"My, uh … my mother. Anyway we simply don‘t let people see us without the proper coverings."
"Not us. It's a thing of pride for Lycan's to be exposed to the open elements. To run through the wild Wood with nothing inhibiting the wind on your skin," Dirk exclaimed jubilantly but then his voice dropped too. "Just so long as you have the great bulk and sinew to show off." This change in attitude piqued up Annabel's interest again.
"Really? Why is that?" Annabel asked, now noticing that he did put on the tunic.
"Well, if you're in a Lycan pack, your body's everything. It's a demonstration, a boast of what your capable of, for the rest of the members of the group. Being bulky and hulking demands respect, while being lanky and … " Dirk's voice trailed off again and the excitement in his auburn-shaded eyes faded. Annabel was being to understand where he was coming from.
"You know, I don't really share the same values of the rest of the people, uh Homin, around me. Why look at these loose fitting dresses I wear. They aren‘t exactly the concealing garments Beatrice wants me wearing," she laughed gaily.
"But you still wear them."
"Well, I have too. That and I do feel a little … uncomfortable."
"With what? I haven‘t met many Homin but the ones I have aren‘t nearly as open as you are."
"My people believe that as women, we're supposed to be thin and slender. Not rotund and so unshapely." Annabel bit down on her lip, cursing herself for blubbering out her own insecurities. Dirk looked confused then tilted his head and smiled.
"So it would seem I want your body, and you want my type of body. It seems we were born into the wrong families."
"I guess we were," Annabel chuckled quietly. Her mood rose with the phrase ‘I want your body'. She had never heard such words of praise from another man, not since her father died. Even if he didn't mean it in the prurient manner Annabel desired it was still nice to hear.
She looked again into Dirks eyes to see the intent behind his words. Their steadiness and clarity indicated honesty in his statement. The two of them were kindred spirits, not just for being considered physically unfit for their respective societies, but also for desiring affection. Annabel moved in closer to Dirk and placed her hand on his.
"Do you think you can move this leg well enough to leave?" she asked softly. He accepted her hand and then guided his other hand up her arm. While lightly brushing her soft skin, he answered, "No I don't think so. It'll take a while to heal yet."
"I'm glad to hear that," she replied.
"How can I repay you for such kindness," he asked.
"Like this," she responded by grabbing both of his hands and guided him to both her copious breasts, which Dirk began to rub, slowly at first, but with increased vigor Both of them were now breathing audibly through their noses and about to perspire, responding to the heat between them. Annabel leaned into Dirks face, but rather than responding in kind, Dirk began to snarl. To Annabel's shock, his face began to contort in agony and he shoved her from him with tremendous strength and pulled back. He lied curled and writhing, covering his face, trying to muffle tortured screams and huffing air. After a spell of staying still, Dirk's breath returned to an even pace. He had stopped twisting in pain or crying out in agony. She rose to carefully approach him, curious of what had happened.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm alright. It's just that I can't control when I change," he replied, his breathing still somewhat heavy.
"Why not? What did I do? Did I make you upset or something?" She continued, this time waiting warily at the edge of the stall.
"We skin changers, long ago we tied ourselves to the natural world using the Mist. And in the case of the Lycan, we took on the strength and ferocity of the wolf and bound ourselves to the moon. So whenever we get excited or passionate, it triggers the change. Most of us learn to control it when we are young by focusing on something that gives us greater emotional satisfaction than the feeling of the moment."
"And what about you? What do you focus on?"
"I haven't learned how. I haven't had anyone to teach me," he said, his face turning to the ground with a feeling of anguish written on his face.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn‘t know."
"It wasn't your fault, it was mine. I‘m especially prone to the turn since I‘m wounded."
"No, I meant for asking. It wasn‘t any of my business and I shouldn‘t have pried," she hurriedly gathered herself to leave.
"It's okay," he said.
"You are welcome to stay here for as long as you like until you heal." And with that, she whisked off to the cottage.
The next day, Annabel continued with her routine as she always had but with a new twist. She performed her chores, gathered her herbs, but would now, in secret, steal away to the barn to aid Dirk. The two of them would converse; Annabel would talk about her day and in return, Dirk would give her stories about his life growing up in the Wood and about the mysteries of the Mist. The Mist intrigued Annabel, she had heard numerous stories about them, but most of them were contradictory or vague. However, Dirk‘s tales were far more consistent and detailed.
The Mist, he explained, was the source for all thinking beings, both men and the skin changers. It was an almost living field of great magic, which contained all of the creativity and wildness of minds' emotions, but lacks the body to put it into form. Instead, the haze is a collection of light, sound and color, which reacts to those with bodies in spectacular and fantastic ways.
"That place sounds amazing. Where is it?"
"In the lost South," Dirk explained. "Far away where most do not dare to find."
"Why, it sounds wonderful. Why hasn't anyone attempted to enter into it?"
"Fear," Dirk replied flatly. "Some have tried, but most have been consumed."
"Consumed? What do you mean by that"