It's Raining Cats and Dogs in Here... [Veles]

As Sybil laughed heartily, Veles allowed his wolfish grin to grow. He was sopping wet from their swim and then her amusing way of drying. Even in her human form, she still followed he beast's natural instincts. She was incredibly comfortable with herself, she must have had a very stable and good upbringing; most human settlements still feared weres. She was lucky to avoid such natural fear and suspicion. Veles had long ago come to terms that his human form had certain distinct differences than his beast's, ones that were likely completely unthought of by full humans or beasts. If he shook to dry himself, he was very likely to become dizzy while in human form and it wasn't nearly as effective. His skin simply didn't move as much over his frame, and there was no fur weighted with water to add to the momentum, eventually causing the water droplets to fly away. Perhaps that's why she shook, she had much longer hair than him.

Using his hand Veles simply skimmed the surface of his face first, followed by his body, easily pushing the water off him before flicking his wrist to send a small spray of water back at Sybil. "Thanks for that..." he offered with another grin. As he paid a bit more attention, he really took in Sybil as she stood in front of him. Her tangled brown hair was surprisingly clean despite its recent mud treatment, her brilliant green eyes shining with mischief, her cheeks were a bit flushed, along with her shoulders just above her collarbones, her stature and physique were definitely on the lithe side but she still was distinctly feminine. He didn't realize it until he was already doing it, the corner of his lower lip was caught between his teeth as he grinned at her.

She's a CAT! This can't really be happening... I must be going crazy. Veles' thoughts ran through his head, conscious reason telling him that his own personal experiences were good with her, unconscious instincts still screaming for him to chase and catch the feline in front of him, for she was the age old enemy. Two experienced predators, competing over the ages for common prey. It was difficult not to attack her outright just to ensure his own survival in the future when prey became scarce. She was definitely a match for him physically, their little scuffle had shown that clearly, but she was also incredibly witty. Sharp and quick, in many ways but also so feline. Curious, playful, taunting, his mind kept rattling off adjectives until they suddenly stopped. He had realized none of them were negative. All of his instinctual hatred wasn't hatred at all, it was a deep seeded challenge. He didn't hate cats because they were cats, he was so anxious around them because they represented the deepest challenge any predator can have.

Competition.

Veles couldn't help bit let his face drop as he chuckled to himself. When he glanced back up he looked upon Sybil again, with his new perspective. She was strong, poised, confident, and yes, even as a cat, very attractive. He noticed the red if her cheeks again as his own began to burn with the blood flow. Maybe she had similar thoughts. Maybe she had completely different, feline thoughts. But maybe she found him attractive as well. Maybe that's why she wasn't biting and clawing him right now in a flurry of feral blows.

Too many maybe's.... "You're too damn cute for your own good, d'you know that?" he playfully asked, his wide grin had returned. He didn't think himself crazy anymore for liking this cat. "Come on, I've got something to show you." he said as he approached her and stepped just to her side past her. As his strides lengthened, his bones cracked and muscles tore, his quick pace became a long lope as he reached his arms down to the ground and began running on all fours. His body contorted and eventually shifted into a full wolf. He was large and his coat was a dark gray that was difficult to distinguish clearly from surroundings when at distance. Sybil would easily keep up, he knew, so he continued his quick jaunt through the woods. With some quick hops up rocky outcroppings he lead her steadily up and into the center of the forest. When he climbed to the peak of the landscape, the surrounding trees had become scarce. He simply sat his rear down and waited for her. She was right behind him, but she would certainly enjoy the view for several long moments, when she was ready she would find her way to him.

They were at the exact center of what Veles considered his territory, and he felt good that she was there with him. Overlooking it all, the panoramic view was awe inspiring. She was a worthy competitor. He wouldn't begrudge her if this territory wasn't solely his after today. Cats.

Letting Sybil take in the sights and finally come over to sit by him, Veles was pleased as she began to purr. He was very happy to show her this view; she had a similar beast within her. She loved the outdoors, and she would love this spot as much as he did. The view was spectacular, tree after tree stretched out to the horizon. It seemed like any other forest might, but due to its location the unexpected appearance of Rifts made the area exceptionally dangerous.

Her tail flipped across his bringing his mind back to the fact that she was so close. Her scent was much stronger in her feline form, even without the added benefit of his heightened wolf senses. She was a cat, but she was also damn fun. His inner Wolf was beaming at the concept of her companionship, friendship, closeness. It was if he had finally found someone it was kindred spirits with. Someone he could consider part of his Pack, even though he had been a lone wolf for decades.

Her outlandishness, her humor, her sheer confidence around him. He was bonding quickly to her and the idea of her being around more often. He nudged her form with his head, his muzzle slipping along the underside of he jawline. He knew cats, he knew that they brushed themselves against thing to leave their scent behind. He hadn't expected it to be so potent at the source and nearly sneezed, being overwhelmed. But it wasn't so bad, she smelled good, and he hoped he had made is point. He liked her, and didn't want her to go running off never to return again.

Leaning hack, Veles took in a deep breath and let out a loud, piercing howl that seemed to echo throughout to endless expanse of woods. Birds flew and Veles pulled his ears forward on instinct. Glancing down the long, rocky hill, he saw a small does staring wide-eyed back up at him. After a mere moment, the deer seemed to register the dangerous threat of two powerful predators so close and bolted without looking. The fact that it clumsily bounded straight into a tree did little to slow it. It was running for its life even though Veles hadn't moved in the slightest bit.

As the crashing through the woods subsided, Veles couldn't help himself and felt his tail wagging as he sat side by side with the most unexpected friend, Sybil.

She had pounced of him again. Sybil had become incredibly comfortable around Veles in just a tiny amount of time. He certainly felt the same about her. As her purrs grew in volume, so did the playfulness of her sways, bites, licks and headbutt-nuzzles. She was having a ball, and he could easily tell. It only encouraged him.

His nips to her certainly weren't going to draw blood, the worst they might inflict was a tight pinch. He was enjoying the energetic play, it had been years since he last had. And many of the playful bouts started in his old Pack often escalated into an all out brawl until they were stopped, often times forcefully, by the Alpha. It simply wasn't a wolf's way to back down or yield to a peer. Veles still felt that way, though decades had tempered him. He had grown past the naivety of youth, he no longer believed himself invincible. While he would still fight and risk his life, he wouldn't do it for blind pride alone.

As she latched onto him again, relatively gently, he enjoyed pulling back his jowls and snapping his bared teeth together just inches away from her. He wasn't snarling, or going for actual bites, more letting out excited barks and howls. She even tumbled under him, and he stretched his wide paws and forelimbs across her. Standing over her, his tail raised high in the air, wagging quickly with his enjoyment level being so high. She had nuzzled her scent all over him and he had returned the favor. Their smells lingered together in the cool air and the though kept occurring to Veles that he really did enjoy this cat's companionship.

Leaning himself low against her, he let the weight of his chest lightly pin her as she bit along his neck. His rear still in the air, he arched his back to raise his head with his chest still against her. Driving his snout down quickly, he managed to get a good nip on her shoulder before he released and let his long canine tongue slip out and smear a lick across her neck. With a bit of a pounce, he raised and lowered his chest against her again, offering a playful WOOF before scrambling off her and sprinting in a wide circle around Sybil. Ending his circle, he skids to a stop with his front paws outstretched, leaning his shoulders low, but and rapidly wagging tail high in the air. He edges his nose right up against her side before woofing again and repeating the whole process. He was begging for a chase, and was sure she would oblige.

Maybe they would wind up simply chasing and wrestling with each other, they might even catch up to that startled doe. Veles didn't much care, he was having too much fun si,ply being around Sybil. Her brashness and clear enjoyment of his had seemingly reduced his age by decades. He was back as a young pup, playing with his Pack mates. As she landed an open pawed swat to Veles on his fourth frantic sprint around her, he decided that he was going to definitely work on keeping her around. Maybe begin a Pack of his own, and break the all mighty rule, and allow a cat inclusion.

Sybil had tapped Veles gently across his muzzle, goading him on, but she also tore off into the distance with all the grace of a feline suddenly in motion. With how fluidly she moved Veles allowed himself an internal grin of satisfaction, it was if she had done this everyday for years on end. Even though she was rather open vocally, whenever they were both in human form, her actions spoke volumes about her as well. And every sentence they spoke was a positive one.

With a scramble of his clawed paws scratching the stone outcropping for purchase, accompanied by loud barks of excitement, he was on his way after her. She had a small head start, but she was working hard to extend it. Good. I haven't hurt her too much if she's recovered this quickly. he thought to himself before shaking his head in slight disbelief. He was worrying about the welfare of a cat. He certainly wasn't the same wolf as yesterday.

She approached the forest floor first and really took off, her claws must have been digging nicely into the soft loam here, giving her that sudden burst. Before she disappeared into the thicket, he saw the sunlight glint off her onyx fur. Her muscles were tensing and stretching with such fluidity, he couldn't help but admire. As the tip of her tail slipped out of view behind the trunk of a tree, Veles finally reached the forest floor and strained his muscles to work on catching up. If she was headed in this direction, she was likely to come up upon a slew of downed trees. He might luck out if she tried to land on one and it crumbled, that might buy him a few seconds to close the gap.

Was that acorn spinning? The thought flashed across his mind just a moment before coming to the small clearing, smashed flat be the toppled tree. A quick glance at full run didn't show any signs of her tumbling as he had hoped. Veles' ears perked forward for just a moment, he could have sworn he heard something, and her scent was potent here. His pace slowing slightly so he could corner safely between the upcoming trees was interrupted. His chasing target had stopped at the toppled tree, just not in the way he had hoped for. As she landed on him, he soon learned the error of his thought process. Even as they tumbled sideways together, she was a creature of pure balance. Time to change that Veles challenged himself.

As the two tumbled together, it was clear that the wrestling match was on again. He had enjoyed the chase, however short it might have been. She was crafty, and that was incredibly fun. He wondered if she was just as quick witted in close quarters. Veles had the advantage of growing up in a decent sized pack with a great many sparring partners and several not-so-sparring partners. He had grown and advanced through his might, yes, but also his wit. As Sybil's paws wrapped around his body to drag him down, he let the countless fights he had been in cycle trough his mind. It had been a long time since he had fought like this, but muscle memory was hard to forget.

As Sybil really got into her roll, likely intent on pinning him again once he had stumbled, Veles pounced. He pivoted most of his weight and momentum on one fore paw, fleeting her come more in contact with the ground than him, before he let the leg buckle and be pulled in her direction. With his paws crouched close to him, just as he came in close contact again, he let out a powerful jump. She just happened to between him and the ground when it happened. As he landed, he was sure he had at least caught he off guard, maybe even knocked a bit of the wind from her. He pounced at her again, this time without the powerful cat trying to pull him off balance. Both his front paws pounced together onto her tail in pure defiance at being pounced himself, pinning it to the ground just before she pulled away, scrambling to her feet.

Now was his time to really catch her off guard. Instead of a common head-on attack which he had lead with for most of their encounters, he had decides on something a bit more sideways. Skittering to his side in what must have seemed like the most awkward movement for a wolf to make, he closed the gap between himself and Sybil before ducking his head and bounding in the opposite direction. The odd sideways momentum of his body allowed him to get an unparalleled on the ground as he pushed forward hastily. His muzzle ducked under her side, just behind her fore paw and he heaved up after his whole head was under her midsection. Leaning his head back, he grasped her front paw in his jaws, careful not to break bones, but sure to hold her. His front legs collapsed carefully and his hind sprung with all the energy he could muster.

The peculiar wolf front flip went about as expected, with Sybil's paw held fast, she couldn't easily contort her way out of this one, and she had the full weight of her wrestling partner coming down on top of her in short order. Veles couldn't repress his internal laugh as he tumbled, escaping from his wolfish maw as a series of small yips.

Veles was pleased, he had completely caught her off guard. His tactics in wrestling were quite honed, and now she had found that out likely in the best way possible for a cat to expect from a wolf. As he heard her gasp for breath, he couldn't help but laugh inwardly. Boy she was not used to that, but she certainly was motivated by it.

As she latched onto him again and again, he could tell she had taken the kitten gloves off and was fully preparing to put him in his place for that little stunt. Oh how he was enjoying how fun Sybil was. Having spent nearly the whole day with her after attempting to kill her the night before, he couldn't believe how close he felt to her so quickly. She was just so... feline.

She had managed an extremely good hold this time, latched onto his back he really couldn't bat her off easily. Nor could he get a good grip with a bite. She was being difficult. She was being challenging.

She was SHIFTING?!

Her arms were wrapped around his neck, and she had even reached forward and nipped at his ear with her flat teeth as she cooed about how she had certainly won this engagement. She was definitely being feline.

Time to show this cat that he wasn't out of tricks either. He was sure she could feel his muscles stretching and his bones snapping, but he wasn't shifting as she had. His form grew as his muscle mass expanded exponentially. His fur grew just a bit darker, his limbs longer, he was held in her grip but barely. Twisting himself, she still had him pulled low to the ground, but his clawed limbs found their grasp and increased his leverage.

Chuckling with a low growl, even his amber eyes were grinning. Turning himself inside her grip, he reached for her forearms, gripping them in his powerful hands and pinning them to the ground beside her. His tail wagged slowly as he nudged his cold nose against her. She had surprised him, that was certainly true, but he believed he had reacted quite appropriately. With an extra amount of slobber, he laid a single lick along her shoulder.

His muscles contracted again, he grumbled away the pain, his fur shortened until it all but disappeared. He was changing again, this time to his human form, following her lead. With her forearms still in his grip, he smirked down at Sybil.

"Who exactly has who?" he asked playfully before nipping along her collar bone.

Veles had managed to pin Sybil better than he had anticipated, then again, by the brilliant flush of her skin, and scoffs of frustration she likely wasn't choosing to fight back at this very moment. His taunt had surely struck home as she somehow blushed even more. His lips against her skin likely hadn't hurt either. He tightened his grip on her wrists just barely, tugging her arms just a bit wider. It wasn't meant to pin her any better or worse, instead to simply remind her of the fact.

As his playful grin verged on changing to a satisfied smirk, Veles continued to trail his lips over the exposed collar bone in front of him, extending up along the nape of the neck, and to the bottom of her ear just at the back of her jaw. She was squirming and clearly flustered beneath him, he decided to taunt just a little bit more. "Be careful kitten, you're with a wolf who can smell your anticipation." his scruffy beard close enough to scrape against her.

Oh this was fun, far too much fun. And to think Veles was feeling this way about a feline. He couldn't help but chuckle softly against the nape of Sybil's neck. The way her body arched against his certainly felt right. The scent of her hair mixed with the loamy forest floor was enticing. The bright shine in her eyes and pink flush of her skin were a sight to behold. Her murmurs and mumbles as he tormented her body were very encouraging. The taste if her skin, a slight bit salty from her excretion as a human, but definitely feline through and through, that was the best part; completely new. Veles was revelling in the newness of the situation, likely for many different reasons than Sybil was.

She was squirming a great deal, was she unsure how wolves showed affection? Was she unsure if how humans did? Had she ever been in a situation like this before? Had she ever been with a male before at all? Questions flowed through Veles' mind. All the answers he could think of were enticing, or maybe that was just how well their bodies were pressed together. He was beginning to think very ungentlemanly thoughts regarding the lithe female pinned under him, and judging by her body's reactions, she was feeling similarly.

Leaning himself back just barely, he positioned himself just above her, his shoulders tense with anxious energy. Bringing his lips just above hers, " Your call kitty Katy, where do you want this to go?" he asked in his deep voice. It might have been a little more tense than his normal gruff tone, but he was attempting to restrain himself. With his lips a fraction of an inch from hers, it was a very tough thing to do.

Smirking to himself for so effectively taunting Sybil, Veles was thoroughly enjoying himself. He was leaning against the pinned werepanther, just a breath away from her lips with his own, and tormenting her shyness. Had keep caught her in this position a night before, he would have been lunging for her throat with his teeth. Maybe she had cast some sort of magic on him, somehow convincing his inner wolf to not loath her inner panther on an instinctual level. He didn't much care if she had, he was still having fun, and wasn't hampered in any way. The fact that his vision no longer turned red upon seeing her, the need to spill her blood so strong he wasn't entirely in control of himself was good. When he enjoyed the flush of her skin and just wanted to nip her to encourage its brightness was better.

She was at a complete loss for words as he had taunted her. When he positioned himself just over her, she was practically communicating in silent squeaks. She shivered for barely a moment before leaning into him. He hadn't known she reciprocated the feelings of desire until her lips touched his. Soft and tender, they were burning hot against his. How could she be cold enough to shiver when her blood was boiling so much? Maybe it wasn't from the chilly onset of night, but twitch of nervous energy after being torments by a wolf and not allowed to run away. When she pulled away, he gasped softly, he wanted so much more. His inner wolf was demanding it. But Veles chose a slower, safer route. He simply leaned himself against Sybil and kissed her deeply. No sense in rushing when the feel of her body squirming against his was so enjoyable.

Veles wasn't entirely surprised when she murmured in enjoyment of his attention, but was taken aback at just how much her back arched to bring herself just that much closer to him. It was just enough space, almost an invitation, he let his right hand loosen releasing her wrist and brought it behind her. Brushing a tiny bit of dirt from her skin, his rough hand explored the small of Sybil's back, tugging her just a bit closer to him in the process. The ground was cold, but she was certainly warm. Perhaps the shiver had been from the chill. That only meant he need to try harder and ensure the next uncontrollable movement of her body was solely due to his teases.

Deciding that a moment of rushed breathing might be a good thing, Veles slowly backed his lips away from hers before trailing them in a string of nips and kisses along he nape of her neck. While breathing heavily on his own, he was pumping the air through his nose as his mouth had much better things to do. The end result was Veles becoming intoxicated on the overwhelming scent of feline. It was so wrong and right all at once, so taboo, so passionate. His heart thudded faster and faster, he was sure that half the forest could likely hear it.

It hadn't been so entirely long that Veles had gone without female companionship, but nothing lasting had ever come of it. Humans were far too fragile to handle his wolf. Demons were generally looking at him more as a meal. Even the young fox who had fluffed her tail in his direction during an early morning hunt had only been looking for a roll in the underbrush. Maybe this wouldn't turn into anything more, but that wasn't going to stop him from enjoying. He was only kissing the cat after all. His wolf burned the caveat into his mind, so far...

Veles nearly chuckled to himself, perhaps this cat would be very good for him. Certainly she could take her licks, and her wit was constantly catching him. She looked fantastic even when he had plopped mud onto her head, and she felt even better against him. Humans had a very strange rumor about wolves because they bonded so closely, that they would only mate with one for life. Some rumors even exaggerated this to some form of mating link so strong that one would die alone should their mate die. Veles knew the foolishness of this. The bond did exist, but it had nothing to do with mating, it was completely due to love. Sometimes a love so strong that heartbreak and grief could be fatal. Leave it to humans to disregard that animals could have such feelings. Veles thought to himself what Sybil might believe about wolves, if she had even heard anything at all. She was young and raised far away from most humans. He had lived a long time and certainly knew nothing of how mating affected felines.

Perhaps she wouldn't consider this anything more out of the ordinary than digging her claws into a tree to sharpen them. But Veles was determined that she'd find it a whole lot more satisfying as his kisses trailed back up her jawline and he kissed her again. His teeth lightly caught her lower lip and he let out a low moan as he did so. He was certain that she had shivered again at precisely that moment. Mmhmm, the cold. he laughed to himself internally.

From killing to kissing, this cat certainly knew how to keep it interesting.

As Sybil shifted ever so lightly on him, Veles knew she was awake, and had been long before he was. Her slender form was quite warm against his, but with his hand on her back, he felt that she was enjoying his warmth and was just a bit cooler by comparison. She certainly wasn't last night. Veles thought to himself with a sly grin. She had probably noticed the twitch of his lips. With nothing else to keep a cat occupied, she had likely noticed the subtle shift in his breathing. She was very observant.

Determined to keep her a bit on her toes, he tugged her a bit tighter against him as he opened his eyes to look over her form. "Stuck around for an encore performance? I'm flattered kitty cat." he taunted ever so lightly, desiring a glimpse of her blushing at least one more time today. With the sun trickling down through the canopy of leaves, he would get to see it clearly. She grinned at him and nuzzled herself a bit firmer against his chest.

Reaching up to pluck an errant twig with a dry leaf from her hair, Veles' back shifted over the soil and he was pleased to note each scratch her nails had left along his skin previously. "So I'm your perch now, am I? I could certainly think of worse things to be in life..." he trailed off. Slowly he let his hand slip down her form again, tickling her back lightly with just his fingertips. He allowed his palm to rest against her back and was sure she was a few degrees cooler than he was. It figures a cat would enjoy curling up and sleeping on the warmest thing available on a cool morning.

With a slight grumble of his stomach Veles decided to play host, these were his woods after all. "Your choice of breakfast, either we can scavenge something out here, or I could cook you some steak and eggs. The first would involve a lot of running, the second just a short walk though some of it is steep. The second also boasts indoor plumbing with a shower that gets hot enough to scald humans." he offered. She had glanced up into his eyes as he spoke, the emerald of her eyes was astounding in the morning light. They were still full of mischief as well.

Cats were no long the bane of existence.

With her acceptance, Veles grinned, wolfishly as always, and started off towards his home within the woods. He had several tiny cottages hidden among the trees that he would have lead her to if he hadn't trusted her. To go from killing one another one night and bringing her into his home in such a short order, she had certainly done a number on his perceptions of cats. "Come on then, if I can't walk behind you and stair at your... behind, you better at least be walking beside me so I can still enjoy this morning's view." he offered in his usual deep tone, but the playfulness was clear in his voice.

As the two wound their way through the thicket and trees, they eventually made it back to the rockier outcroppings that they had perched upon earlier in their adventures. Climbing steadily, Veles didn't need to look over his shoulder to know Sybil was by his side, but chose to anyway to watch her tone form as she climbed deftly. With each of her graceful movements, the muscles of her legs flexed ever so slightly and shifted below her fair skin. Veles certainly enjoyed his choice of partners last night, and recalled those legs wrapped around him.

"Almost there... this way." he warned before taking her hand and walking steadily into a large stone. The image of a large stone at least, entering a small cave, the apparent illusion had hid the opening well and the two stood before a massive door that looked near impregnable. After a playful squeeze of her hand, Veles let Sybil go and proceeded to shove against a massive store at the side of the cave. With his supernatural strength put to the test, he slid slightly back before gaining his grip and shifting the stone, opening another hallway, this time thinner. Stepping through, Veles rested his hand against a new door and it automatically scanned his identity, confirming that he was the one opening the door. Pushing inward, Veles stepped into the great-room of his home and held his arm wide as Sybil followed him in. "Welcome to the wolves den, kitty cat." he teased, letting her get a glimpse of the place.

The large space that was viewable was carved from the very mountain itself and had dozens of hide rugs sprawled over the floors. A massive set of couches established a sitting area and a glistening kitchen could be seen against the far wall. His extensive weapons rack stretched over an entire wall and sported many types of weapons from melee to ranged, physical to technological. On a small counter near the sitting area, a wet bar was set up, liquor bottles gleaming. "Bathroom is that way, how do you prefer your eggs?" Veles motioned to a doorway leading down a wide hallway.

Smiling softly to himself as Sybil began to wander and take in his home with wonder, Veles began towards the kitchen, he would need to pull the meat from his cooler to let it rest, hopefully getting to room temperature relatively quickly so that when he cooked it the flavor would be its best. Stopping for a moment, he turned on his tap and scrubbed his hands vigorously, cleaning well up onto his forearms before continuing on. Stepping into the walk-in cooler, he felt his skin clench at the chill, but he was in and out in a flash. Two medium-sized slabs of venison steak, a large white onion, a metal bowl filled to the brim with fresh eggs and the rarity for him, a small glass bottle of milk; carefully Veles set out his ingredients onto the polished stone countertops.

Veles wasn't much of a milk person, somehow it never tasted right to him, but when he was in the small village just a few days before, bartering away some meats for produce, the old lady who always gave him a deal absolutely insisted he took the small bottle. Veles had built up rather positive trading relationships be never bringing foul meat, and always claiming his cuts weighed slightly less than they actually did. His customers always got fresh food, and a bit extra, and because of this, whenever Veles did go to the market, he never needed to carry back unsold goods, and rarely didn't receive what he came looking for. Eggs were his favorite. He didn't have the patience to not eat the chicken whole, to ever collect eggs.

Sybil finally followed him into the kitchen, despite the hallway to the bathroom being in the opposite direction. She was checking up on him, and wrinkled her nose as she described how she preferred her eggs. Typical for a cat to be picky about their food, but Veles simply grinned, he had a great deal of practice cooking food, and as eggs were one of his favorite things to eat, he cook cook them any which way she desired. He was reaching for two skillets when she leaned in for a quick peck on the cheek before scampering off for the shower. She trusted him already, not just with her life, but with her meals too, he had made a very good impression. Setting a wide cast ion skillet on the stove top, Veles turned the heat on low and letter the mana-powered coil slowly heat the pan.

Collecting another bowl, a cutting board and a chopping knife, all within reach, Veles deftly cracked over a dozen eggs into the bowl before adding a light pour of the milk and whisking it rapidly. The results were quite frothy and Veles set the bowl aside to settle, cracking a mixture of salt and pepper out a grinder just before turning his attention to the onion. With uncanny speed and precision, Veles diced the onion down to roughly one inch strips, plopping them into the warming skillet as he went. Just after finishing, he doused a tiny boy of oil into the skillet and left to onions be to simmer.

Veles could hear the water flowing from down the hall, he could smell the strong scent of his soap wafting down the hall amidst the steam. Sybil was enjoying a steamy shower, but she was taking things a bit quick. Perhaps she was more hungry than she let on, he would attempt to be done as she finished. That was just before he heard the water cut off, damn she was quick. She called his name rather timidly from the bathroom, which immediately caught his attention, and asked for a towel. Of course he had forgotten to set anything out for her. "One second!" Veles called back, wiping his hands quickly and nearly sprinting down the hall. Rummaging in the many cabinets within his own room, he collected not only a towel, but a fresh change of clothes, in case she desired it and rushed around the corner to the bathroom. Stepping in without thinking, Veles caught a glimpse of Sybil hiding behind the shower curtain, amusing and cute considering she had just spent the previous day naked in his company.

"Towel and a change of clothes if you'd like them.. but I recommend these." Veles explained as he set down the bundle of fabrics and reached for a switch on the wall with a flick five large heat lamps glowed to life in the ceiling, warming the already steaming room even more. Shuffling through one of the drawers, he also pulled out a comb, holding it up to show Sybil, but she was staring at the lamps above with wonder. He set the comb down, in lue of a brush, and stepped back out of the room, hurting back to the kitchen.

His onions were nearly perfect, he had just enough time to start his large skillet of eggs before he scrapped the slippery onions aside and set the venison steaks onto the already heated and seasoned skillet. The sizzling of eggs and deer meat was loud, the aromas were potent, within just a few moments all the food would be ready. Veles reached for a set of plates and glasses, along with some utensils setting the high countertops quickly, knowing right were the tall kitchen stools were even though he wasn't looking for them. Pulling the meat from the hot pans and letting them rest, covered with onions, Veles scooped out several large helpings of perfectly scrambled eggs.

Sybil stepped through he hallway just as he placed a helping of venison on both plates and two glasses of milk out. Looking up to her, she looked considerably more comfortable now that she was clean. "Breakfast is served, little one, hope you're hungry." he offered with a grin.

Just as Veles finished setting out the last of his prepared meal, Sybil slowly wandered down the hallway and into view. She had elected to only wear a bit of what he had offered her, though he didn't mind the additional time to glimpse her lithe legs. He couldn't recall her hair ever looking so untangled, though he certainly hadn't helped with that previously. It was much more luminous after a wash with shampoo rather than a glob of mud that he had provided before.

"Hot damn kitten, you sure do clean up nicely." he catcalled as she crossed the room and sat comfortably on the bar stool. As he made his way slowly around the bar from the kitchen side of the counter to the dining side, he noticed her fiddle with her silverware for a moment. When she noticed his glance, she immediately rushed a few quick bites, almost as if she was caught doing something odd and trying to make up for it. He couldn't help but grin widely as she proclaimed how good his cooking was.

Considering how quickly she devoured her eggs, he knew he must have cooked them to her liking. The thought of her scrunched nose at runny eggs made him chuckle for a moment, but she was also practically inhaling the venison he had cooked. "Glad you're enjoying it." Veles offered before digging into his own meal. His pace wasn't quite matching hers, but he was also distracted by her sitting next to him and enjoying herself so thoroughly.

After several long minutes of eating, the most frequent sound being silverware clattering against a plate, the two finished their meals. Bellies stuffed with steaming food, Veles didn't know about her, but he was feeling both incredibly alive, and the distinct urge to hibernate for a bit of digestion. Though, a steaming shower sounded fantastic as well.

Collecting the now empty plates and utensils, Veles piled them all unceremoniously in the kitchen's deep sink. "I think I'm going to find that shower as well, feel free to relax." Veles announced, but instead of walking directly down the hallway, he stepped into the living area of the great room. Leaning to the coffee table, he clicked a remote without lifting it. Light canvas screens slowly descended from crevasse in the ceiling and projectors blinked to life from across the room. The scene displayed was beautiful, the very forest outside of the stone walls of his home. Veles had spent months establishing all the cameras and transmitters to make this panoramic view truly a marvel.

Stepping back near the kitchen, he opened a thin doorway in the outer wall of the great room. Instead of a pantry, this cutout into the very mountain itself was extremely long. At least fifty feet separated the now open door and the far end of the narrow hall. A tiny light blinked to life, illuminating a stuffed dummy. Stepping back towards the hallway leading to the washroom Veles added, "The bow at the end has a very heavy pull, I wouldn't use anything but the metal bolts stored with it... if you're interested, that is. I'll be back in just a few minutes."

Stepping into the bathroom, Veles grinned it was still steamy from Sybil's shower despite the time spent eating. Stepping to the counter top, he applied a generous portion of toothpaste to a brush and scrubbed vigorously. His teeth were a prideful point for Veles, he was always sure to clean them carefully.

From there, he stepped over to the shower, setting the water to scalding and stepping into the steamy flow. Veles closed his eyes and let the water flow over him, melting away the tensions of his muscles, clearing away the sweat and dirt from several days outdoors. He was certainly capable of living outdoors and off the land for weeks and months at a time, but he did enjoy the luxuries of staying clean.

Veles collected a bit of soap, scrubbing his body with the thick lather, feeling all the grime flow away as he stepped below the powerful blast of water again. Oh it felt good to be home again. He was already feeling more comforted by his rituals and surroundings. He was able to relax in his den.

Stepping out of the shower, Veles flicked the switch for his heat lamps, letting himself dry slowly. It felt as though he was basking under the bright sun, his skin dried and firmed up slightly, the excess moisture steaming away from him.

Sauntering from the bathroom to his adjacent bedroom, Veles heard the occasional slam of a bolt impaling the target dummy. Sybil was enjoying herself, which was very good. Slipping on a pair of boxers and stretchable exercise shorts, Veles collected another set of objects from his bedroom. His prized bow, a massive compound bow build just for him, along with a quiver of metal arrows.

Making his way down the short hallway to the great room, Veles stopped in his tracks when he caught a glimpse of Sybil. She was practically naked and lining up a perfect shot. Arrow knocked, bow drawn, her body was flawless. She slowly exhaled and let the bolt fly, streaking to its target with accuracy and precision.

With a wry grin, Veles knocked his own arrow. Drawing his own bow took some of his supernatural strength, but as the cams rotated and locked, it became easier to hold as he lined up his shot. Veles knew the sights and ranges of his bow by heart. This range was perfectly spot on, and he let the arrow loose.

Soaring across the room, the fully metal arrow shot across the wide room, narrowly avoiding Sybil, and slamming into the dummy. His target was at the neck, just between the collar bones. When his heavy bolt impacted the dummy, the dummy toppled. The momentum of the blow was brutal, both in speed and weight. That was why this particular weapon was his favorite. Its attacks were much like his own, brute power, speed, and deadly accuracy.

Lowering his bow, Veles grinned wolfishly at Sybil. "So you like archery, eh?" he asked.

Veles grinned wolfishly as Sybil slowly approached him after having observed his compound bow's brute power. She didn't show the least bit of concern that he would use the weapon on her, even as the arrow had whipped past her head. Her eyes looked carefully over the contraption, noting just how it all seemed to work. The compound bow with unique cams and pulleys was certainly different than the elegant recurve she held.

After she looked over the weapon, she seemed to come back to her senses, becoming aware of Veles again, and herself again. She grinned and blushed lightly, a look that was very enjoyable on her. Her dark hair had fallen over her face and shoulders, as she looked up, her emerald eyes peeked through the brown locks. Her eyes held a great deal of playful energy, though as her brows rose slightly, she seemed to become suddenly less comfortable.

As she replaced the weapon, she stammered a few small sentences out. She was being shy, but she also wished to be helpful. Offering to do the dishes, she commented as well about her mother having raised her. She had regained her bearings, it seemed, being proud of her upbringing.

Sybil was quite the enigma, completely confident at some moments, completely awkward at others. It was sometimes difficult to follow which she was feeling, but Veles had spent time enough around her to at least recognize what she was currently feeling. Perhaps with more time, he would know as her moods were on the verge of changing. If she ever let him that close, that is.

Veles slowly followed Sybil into the kitchen. Her smile was enjoyable, though she teased that she had been taught men were evil.

"While I have no clue just how evil men are, I can tell you that werewolves are most certainly the most evil of the bunch." Veles quipped, a wide grin spreading across his lips. He helped by collecting a few of the pans, knives and cutting boards from the kitchen. He picked up a towel as Sybil finished rinsing the first plate, and he quickly dried it. "So evil in fact, that we even take time out of our days to kiss cats that we come across." he teased and landed a light kiss on her shoulder.

Helping her finish all the dishes and storing them away, Veles turned and explained. "I had no true plans for the day, though I do need to refill my stocks before my next trip to the market. I will likely need at least seven deer and elk to butcher for good cuts. The villages I trade with aren't as resourceful as wolves, they only desire certain cuts of meat which they know how to prepare. Though I likely should check in with Librium, it has been a few days, jobs have likely stacked up. You're welcome to accompany me on either, if you wish, though the tasks my office gives me are rarely very nice." Veles explained in response to her earlier remark about him being busy.