The Winter Ranger's Den (Heavy W.I.P)

6 - Wet Fur

The pair had made their way to the cabin's bathroom. Despite Fjolla's occasional groan of discomfort and incessant quivering. Keith was glad he had someone to share his newfound home with, throughout the previous week loneliness was slowly creeping up on him and he secretly wished he could've brought one of his friends at home over to stay with him. Even for just a few nights whilst he was settling in. All the changes that accompanied the risk Keith took when he'd decided to change his lifestyle drastically were causing negative feelings that were finally catching up with him. He didn't yearn to be back home though, he hated where he used to live. He just wished again that he could've brought someone with him to comfort him while he adjusted to the changes. Fjolla, whether she knew it or not was helping Keith overcome that feeling of loneliness and anxiety for the future. He was helping her as much as she was helping him. "Fjolla, I know you're still worried about what you saw on tv. You don't have to hide it from me, please tell me if there's anything I can do to help you." Keith said in an awkward and overly formal attempt at comforting Fjolla to which she replied, "Uhm, I know this is awfully sudden but.." Fjolla said in a voice near akin to a whisper before momentarily pausing, "pl- please let me sleep in your bed." Fjolla asked in a frightened and pleading tone," I'm not sure if this is something humans do but whenever I get worried at night my brother always made sure to comfort me by sleeping closer to me." Fjolla explained, "I know we've just met... But I've never slept on my own before there's usually always someone right by my side. If I could at least sleep in your room I'd really appreciate it." Fjolla added whilst blushing, her cheeks had gone all rosey. Keith didn't know what to make of Fjolla's request. So many things had happened in the span of two days that he was looking forward to crashing into his own bed and sleeping it all off. That wasn't to say he wasn't against Fjolla sleeping in his bed, at least not entirely. But he still thought it a little weird to sleep in the same bed with a girl he'd just met, never mind that Fjolla wasn't even human. Sleeping with her in his bed would be almost like sleeping with a wild animal. But after hearing what she'd just said he didn't want her to be alone if she was frightened. And moving one of the beds into his room would be a bit of work at this time of night and he couldn't be bothered. "Uhm, if you want to sleep in my bed Fjolla I don't mind too much. Just, please keep your space. We're still practically strangers and I've never even slept with a girl before." Keith explained. He meant that in both ways, he was a virgin and he'd never actually slept in the same bed as a woman before. Good thing I quit league of legends, Keith thought whilst chuckling to himself. "Thank you," Fjolla said in a polite tone. Keith nodded whilst smiling in response, "Ok, let's get you in the shower then alright?" Keith said to her as he twisted the nozzle to a warm setting and turned the shower on. Fjolla watched bewildered by the contraption, she had stopped shaking now and her face had begun to light up. "Alright, if you want to turn the shower off just press down on this thingy like so." Keith pressed down on the shower nozzle thus turning it off. "Just use one of those towels over there to dry off and call out if you need me." Keith said to her as he walked out of the bathroom and shut the door, "Oh and take my clothes off too please, I don't want them wet." Keith lazily waltzed over to his bedroom falling facefirst on his mattress, he was completely exhausted and couldn't even really be bothered getting into his sheets despite the cold. But he did regardless and almost instantaneously after shutting his eyes and lying on his pillow he fell asleep.

 Keith awoke to Fjolla laying right next to him, he had completely forgotten to make room for Fjolla in the bed when he fell asleep and the poor girl had a small amount of mattress left to sleep on. Thankfully he had a large bed so there was enough space for the two of them. He considered getting up to make breakfast but he didn't want to wake Fjolla as she was fast asleep, looking at her from close up on the side he couldn't help but admire her beauty. Her face wasn't like that of a wild animal despite being most likened to that of a snow leopard, she had an inexplicable cuteness to her semblance. He didn't want to be a creep and stare whilst she was sleeping, but he couldn't help but marvel at her figure as he'd just noticed how voluptuous she was up close. Keith was finding things out about himself that he hadn't even considered the notion of beforehand, of all the weird traits Keith had acquired since birth finding a Khaedae attractive was probably the weirdest of all. He was a human after all right? But she isn't, yet she's got such human qualities and moreover a charm to her that Keith hadn't encountered in any of his previous relationships. In just a day she had flipped his worldview completely upside down.

All this pondering was hurting his brain, when he looked at Fjolla again he realized that without his jacket she could be getting cold considering she hadn't even gotten into the bedsheets. But then he realised Fjolla wasn't human after all she was covered in a thick layer of warm fur and it was likely she was warm anyhow. He still contemplated going out to get Fjolla some clothes to wear regardless, he felt mean just having her wear his old clothing even if there really wasn't any other choice to it. It wasn't like Keith owned any girly clothing for her to wear as cross-dressing really wasn't his forte. Fjolla had begun to open her eyes to which Keith met her gaze, they both simultaneously blushed. "Mraa-" Fjolla let out an embarrassed mrow upon noticing Keith's gaze. She was stunned by the presence of a human so close whilst just waking up. She turned her body away from Keith as her thick tail smacked him right on the nose. "Yowch!" Keith let out a pained noise, he didn't quite realise how strong Fjolla was up until this point. Even a flick of her tail hurt like crap, especially when on the nose."Eek-, I'm so sorry Keith! I'm not used to waking up and seeing someone other than my brother." Despite knowingly falling asleep in Keith's bed, after being with only her brother for so long Fjolla couldn't help but be a little jumpy. Fjolla placed her paw on Keith's nose, Keith blushed soon after, "Oh!, Sorry just a force of habit. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable," Fjolla said with a flustered expression. Fjolla couldn't help but treat Keith like her brother, in just a day he'd unknowingly done a lot more for her than just medical treatment. Around Keith, Fjolla felt as if she didn't have to worry about surviving as she did in the wilderness. All her life even when she was with her brother the only thing that was on her mind was usually ever things like how they were going to get their next meal or how they can be stealthy and stay in their Khaedae forms for as long as possible. Fjolla hated being forced to hide out in the woods all her life when plenty of good food and shelter was accessible if they just interacted with the humans. Whenever she'd transform into a snow leopard it went from feelings of adrenaline and thrill to annoyance and forcefulness. It was never that she turned into one because she ever just wanted to, but rather always because something called for it to be done out of necessity. In all honesty, Fjolla felt like if she didn't meet Keith when she did she would've eventually gone against her brother's wishes out of animosity for her situation. Animosity for the fact she'd been forced to hide out in the woods as a wild animal for all of her life. To spite the humans who killed her parents and show them she wouldn't keep hiding any longer. Deep down, whether she revealed it to anyone or not. She felt complete antipathy for those people, if she ever found them again she knew exactly what she'd do.

Keith didn't say anything in response to what Fjolla had just done as he was completely flustered by everything that had occurred since he'd just woke up. "Uhm, can I use the show-er? And uh," Fjolla's face went a little red. Keith realised that he perhaps needed to spend the day showing Fjolla everyday things so she wouldn't get confused. It'd be really helpful if he had someone to aid him with small chores, although he wouldn't get her to do too much as she was still injured. "Well, I think I'll make breakfast now Fjolla. I think it's safe to say we're both hungry." Fjolla nodded in agreement as the pair got out of bed and Keith helped her get to the bathroom. He hadn't noticed it before, but Fjolla's fur was still somehow damp from yesterday's shower. It was likely that combined with the freezing temperatures, her thick coat of fur was likely the reasoning behind why she still wasn't completely dry. He was wondering why it smelt so strongly of wet dog earlier. Or perhaps wet cat was the more appropriate term considering Fjollas face was most likened to that of a large feline.  Fjolla entered the bathroom as Keith went off to begin breakfast considering it was Saturday perhaps he'd treat himself to his first successful week on the job, some nice unhealthy pancakes paired with bacon would be a great way to pay homage to his newfound success. Although it certainly wouldn't pay homage to his figure he decided it'd be a nice treat for him and a new experience for Fjolla. He walked to the kitchen to get the ingredients out of his refrigerator and got started on the meal. He'd also realised it'd probably be a good idea to go shopping, especially if he was to be catering for an extra person. He put the pan on the stove and began sizzling the bacon with some oil. When he heard someone knocking at the door... He turned off the stove and rushed over to Fjolla, "Fjolla! Be quiet someone may be coming into the house!" He heard the shower turn off, he hoped whoever it was, wasn't interested in entering the house. As he walked over to open the door...