Chapter 65

‘You smell good,’ Shadow made a slow series of growls, yips, and other sounds after they had finished with their greeting ritual.

That’s the gist of it anyway. Sophia furrowed her brow as she replayed the sounds in her head, picking out the parts she recognized. It’s a lot more detailed and specific than that. No surprise Wolfish has a zillion different words for scent.

“Thanks,” she replied in English, relaxing her jaw to form a wolfish smile. “Tired though. You and Candice have been keeping me busy the last couple of days. And that’s on top of work and school.”

At least it’s Saturday, and work is done. Leaning forward on her hands and knees in the snow, she gently mouthed his black and gray furred muzzle in a display of affection. I have the rest of the day to spend with him. 

Shadow stood face to face with her, his thick undercoat making the rest of his dark fur seem to glow in mid-afternoon sunlight. Uncannily sharp golden eyes watched her intently, even as he kept an eye, ear, and nose on their surroundings. His tail swayed happily, and he snuck in a quick lick-kiss as she pulled back. 

I wish we could meet more during the day; he’s so handsome. Her heart fluttered as a current raced through her body where his tongue had touched her. Oh, to run and hunt with him every day with only my own fur. Poor Candice just doesn’t understand what she’s up against.

“You smell really good, too,” Sophia murmured as she crawled a few inches closer to rub her nose against his muzzle, savoring his scent. “Like a warm summer evening.”

Okay, that was terrible. She chuffed awkwardly. Probably for the best, he didn’t understand that. 

‘Come with me,’ Shadow told her gently after resting his head against hers for a time.

That last Wolfish phrase she understood perfectly. Even though she was far from being fluent, she was making rapid progress. Since Thursday night, she had spent as much time as she could manage with him, eagerly listening and learning. Her ears were rapidly becoming accustomed to distinguishing minute differences in intonation and recognizing patterns in her mate’s utterances, even if she did not yet know their meaning.

Even Shadow seems impressed at how well I’m doing. A sense of pride warmed her as she got onto two legs and began walking north alongside her love. I only wish I could make the sounds in return, particularly since he’s having a hard time picking up two-leg sounds.

She had quickly come to understand that the lupine mouth and throat lacked the fine motor control that gave humans such precise control over their vocalizations. Even so, Wolfish made extensive and creative use of the comparatively limited repertoire of sounds made available by the wolven throat. Some of the higher-pitched whines were outside the normal human auditory range, and she had come to suspect a few were still frustratingly beyond even her ears.

One day I’ll be able to talk to him. The deep yearning to converse with her chosen mate was tempered by a sober recognition. Of course, it will likely mean I won’t be able to talk to Candice or any other two-leg.

“Where are we going today?” She asked aloud, despite knowing he didn’t understand her. “I don’t know that I’m up for going real far, but I would love to see more of our territory.”

Shadow made a low rumble in the back of his throat as he trotted alongside her. It was a sound Sophia intuitively understood was just his way of expressing pleasure at hearing her. The muscles at the top of her butt twitched as a thrill went through her.

“Although I could walk forever with you next to me,” she murmured adoringly. “Exploring with you last night was wonderful. I just wish I could smell as well as you can already, eyes are just so limited.”

Shadow made a sound that sounded like agreement before unexpectedly stopping and beginning to sniff the air. Sophia warily scanned their surroundings with her own senses, unsure of why the wolf had stopped. After a few seconds, Shadow said something that sounded satisfied, nudged her leg with his nose, and then turned east.

Huh, he’s not taking us deeper into the mountains. Sophia deftly ducked under a branch as she moved to stay with him. I wonder where we’re going.

Her mate again surprised her after a few minutes when he directed her towards a steep and rocky incline in the direction of town. Soon, the narrow path forced her behind him as he led them up the snow-covered hill. Sweat appeared on her shoulders and back as she heated up beneath her snowsuit. Her breathing quickened and her tongue poked out of her mouth as she started panting, reigniting the raw feeling in the back of her throat she had been battling the last couple of days. She had worried briefly that she had picked up a cold, but as she seemed to have had no other symptoms, she had shrugged it off.

Probably just some nasal drainage or something. My stomach has been a little achy, too.

“Whoa! Slow down!” She called out breathlessly as his pace quickened, and she started to fall behind.

His tail and ears flagged in embarrassment as he looked back at her. ‘Sorry.’

Sophia chuffed with amusement when she caught up with him, “Wherever you’re taking me, you’re certainly excited about it.”

Shadow resumed trotting, albeit at a slower pace and keeping better track of where his companion was.

“I kind of hope there’s meat wherever we’re going,” Sophia commented between pants as she carefully climbed some rocks. “I have to be careful not to eat too much of it around people, which isn’t anywhere near enough.”

And I’m almost out of money to buy it myself.

Shadow said something that she sensed was meant to be encouraging and then hopped up some bare rocks that formed a crude, if steep, staircase. He waited as Sophia carefully climbed up behind him. The above-freezing temperatures and sun of the last few days had melted much of the snow off the rocks, but they were still slippery.

Odd, something about this hill feels familiar. A sense of deja vu struck her as she stepped onto the last rock of the stairs.

She sniffed the air curiously, but was unable to find anything that might explain the feeling. Shrugging inwardly, she followed Shadow as he continued to guide her upwards. After a couple of dozen more yards of walking, they exited the trees, and Sophia found herself looking at a familiar rock outcrop. It still had large patches of snow covering it, but Sophia recognized it immediately. Shadow walked a few yards to a spot clear of snow and turned to look at her expectantly.

“This is… This is where we met!” She observed in awe. “You remembered how to find it!”

It’s even more beautiful during the day.

Getting to all fours, she crawled over to Shadow and gave him a heartfelt lick-kiss across his chin.

‘Love you,’ he rumbled softly before giving her one in return.

She turned her head to look through the gap in the trees. The entire valley and the surrounding mountains were lit brilliantly by the afternoon sun, and she could see almost the entire town of Woodbury. Even more striking to her was what her nose was telling her. Sophia closed her eyes and tilted her head, and just breathed. There was the smell of pine, of course, but also hints of many other scents on the wind. There were even a few she subconsciously recognized as human in origin.

So much I can’t “see!” I have to come back here during the full moon!

Shadow’s nails clicked against the stone as he moved to sit next to her, and she opened her eyes. Quickly, she pushed herself onto her knees and shook off her backpack. Then, she sat down with her knees to the opposite side of Shadow with her hands supporting her. 

“You certainly know the way to a girl’s heart,” she said softly, leaning her head against his. “I’m jealous though, I bet you can 'see’ the entire valley with your nose!”

‘Many scents, Many Scents!” Shadow chuffed quietly.

Sophia chuff-giggled. He’s making a pun with his name for me!

“Oh, you’re bad!” Sophia teased and playfully pushed his snout with her nose.

Shadow’s mouth hung open in a wolfish grin. Then he straightened up and said something slowly, pointing his nose towards the gap in the trees.

Two-leg… Sophia listened carefully. Something…I’m not sure what else he said.

‘Two-leg wolf,” Shadow said, aiming his nose towards Sophia.

Then he turned his nose towards the gap in the trees again and repeated the earlier phrase.

“The town!” Sophia exclaimed in understanding. “That’s what you call the town!”

Shadow’s ears perked up excitedly and then yipped, ‘Rock.’

Sophia lowered her nose to the rock they were sitting on, and Shadow made an approving sound. 

‘High rock,’ he said, and then added something she didn’t know.

When she didn’t respond, he repeated both things, touching the rock with his muzzle each time.

“Oh!” She said excitedly. “That’s wolf for bluff or cliff.” Then she squirmed, trying to get her clothes to stop clinging to her sweaty back. “Hold on a moment, I’m really warm.”

I’ll just open my snowsuit and let some air in. She tried to bend her face forward and grab the zipper with her teeth without success. Wait, I think I can get it off with my forepaws. I just wish I didn’t have to wear it at all.

Getting into a kneeling position, she brought her hand up to the suit’s zipper and, with some effort, managed to grasp it and pull it down. Feeling a bit dysphoric from the action, she quickly settled back onto her hands. The motion forced a puff of air carrying a strong mixture of her scents from the suit. Shadow got to his feet immediately, his ears standing straight up as his nose worked.

“I get kind of smelly when I’m sweaty,” she giggle-chuffled shyly, feeling flattered by his interest. “I’m glad you like it.” 

He asked something and then gently grabbed the collar of her suit with his muzzle. Sophia started pulling her arms through the sleeve while Shadow held the collar, the motion pulling off her gloves in the process. Once her arms were out, Shadow let go of the collar, and the suit fell down to her waist, leaving her in just her light-blue cashmere top. 

Cold, but it feels nice. Sophia shivered as the cool air hit her damp skin. I wish it was warm enough to take everything else off.

Getting back onto her stomach, she propped herself up with her arms. Feeling thirsty, pulled herself forward to grab a mouthful of snow before pushing herself back. She winced as her underwear chafed against skin that had been oddly sensitive the last couple of days. 

I can’t see the town from down here, but I can still smell it’s there. She chewed on the snow thoughtfully, welcoming the cold against her sore throat as she swallowed it. Two-leg things are actually kind of interesting… from a distance.

“Eep!” Sophia squeaked in surprise as Shadow pressed her damp shirt into her back with his nose.

She turned her head to look at him, and he flattened his ears and bowed his head in apology. He made a series of sounds that Sophia only partially understood.

Something about my fur? Or ‘not fur?’

Shadow thought for a moment and then tried again.

“My fur has water?” She translated hesitantly. “Oh! You’re wondering why my shirt is wet and are worried.” Relaxing her jaw, she gave him a reassuring look. “I guess that would be strange to you since wolves don’t sweat. I’ll try to remember to explain it during the full moon, but it’s nothing to worry about.”

I guess I’ll eventually stop sweating too; that’ll be nice. She shivered. At least on days like today.

The tension eased in Shadow’s posture, and he bent his head to sniff at her back. Sophia relaxed and resumed looking forward, letting him explore. His scent changed noticeably as he sniffed, and Sophia felt heat start to rise in her lower stomach and face. Suddenly, the sniffing stopped, and Sophia felt his nose caress the exposed skin just above the waistband of her sweatpants, sending tingles up her back.

“Mmm,” she moaned, arching her butt slightly.

Another set of excited tingles reverberated through her body as she felt the feathery touch of Shadow’s tongue against her back. He licked slowly along her spine, and she curled her fingers into the rock in response. A moment later, she felt a gentle tug on her sweatpants, and she turned to find him with the band of her pants twisted in his muzzle while he looked at her hopefully.

Why not..? She flirted with temptation and then sighed regretfully. No, if we start, I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop.

Reluctantly, she twisted her body, pulling the waistband out of Shadow's muzzle. “As much as I want to have some fun, I can’t.”

Shadow made a disappointed whine as he plopped down next to her. Turning her head, Sophia touched her nose to his apologetically.

“It’s hard to wait, I know,” Sophia told him regretfully. “It’s just… Candice thinks she can convince me to stay human right now, and it wouldn’t feel fair to her.”

Shadow let out what sounded like a defiant growl and cuddled against her.

Sometimes I wonder if he’s just pretending not to understand English.

“Right?” Sophia scoffed. “She just doesn’t understand how anyone could want to be anything other than human.”

The nondescript mix of odors from the town began to feel alien and unwelcoming.

“She’s trying to pamper me,” Sophia chuffed in amusement. “But all it’s doing is convincing me this is what I really want.” She gave Shadow a quick lick on his head. “You are what I want. So, don’t you worry.”

Sophia shivered as the breeze picked up.

“And yeah, shelter and warmth is nice,” She admitted. “But I’m a wolf, I belong out here.” Her tongue flicked over her upper lip, and then she chuffed. “Yesterday, she was telling me all the reasons she thought it would suck to be a wolf. You know, like hunting and eating animals. What, exactly, does she think these are for?” Sophia opened her mouth and ran her tongue across her small fangs before continuing. “It was really hard to resist telling her how amazing fresh meat is! Or that blood is actually really tasty!”

Speaking of… Sophia squirmed on her depressingly empty stomach.

“She also doesn’t understand why it’s important for us to leave our scents for each other or how much you can learn from pee and poop. Like, how does she expect us to let other wolves know where our territory is?”

Shadow chuffed quietly next to her, even as he dutifully kept an eye on their surroundings.

“Okay, eating poop is a little gross,” Sophia commented wryly. “That’s something I can skip.” She blushed. “And maybe eating food you regurgitate when I’m too pregnant to hunt, too.”

Actually, I find that one weirdly romantic.

“But I didn’t know what was wrong with anything else she listed,” Sophia said and then scoffed. “I had to correct her when she said wolves see in black and white. Can you believe that?”

It’s kind of strange to think about how much less interesting vision already is for me. Will I even notice when I can no longer see reds or greens?

Shadow let out a disbelieving huff. Sophia rubbed her body against his affectionately. For a few minutes, she just enjoyed his body pressed against hers while she tried to identify some of the stronger smells surrounding them. As ever, her relatively feeble nose tormented her.

Why does it have to be so slow? Her teeth started to chatter from the cold even while she ached to be free of her clothes. How long will turning into a wolf take?

Shadow yawned next to her, and Sophia finally acknowledged a growing urge in the back of her mind. Rolling away from Shadow, she got to all fours.

First, I need to get my ‘fur’ back on because I’m freezing, but then…

“Our scent is missing from up here,” she announced. “We need to fix that! And then I want to learn the name of every smell up here!”