Werehuman

Healing Breaks

Daria sighed as the pack changed, but still did not speak. Her face wasn't nearly as bruised as it had been last night; Katie said that werewolves healed quickly, but not quickly enough for Daria. Casey paused before running after the pack.

"Can I come back on Sunday evening?" she asked. "I can check on Daria then and..."

I didn't think Mel or Ralph would like that and shook my head.

"I could meet you half way?" I suggested. "At the creek?"

She nodded and changed. As a wolf, she was also injured, but had been hiding it well. Casey bounded out of sight, and Daria and I headed back inside.

"Is there anything I can get you?" I asked Daria.

She shook her head, handing me the now warm ice pack.

"Would you like another?"

She nodded.

Katie and Susie Lynn were playing cards on floor of the living room as we entered. Ralph and Mel were talking quietly in the kitchen though they stopped when Daria and I appeared.

"You know, I might have some liniment down at the barn," Ralph suggested. "It would help with the bruises."

"That is for cows and smells vile, Ralph," Mel told him. "Can you take ibuprofen? It makes Conor sick."

Daria nodded. Katie hopped up and stepped into the kitchen.

"Give her two now and then two in an hour," she said. "Our metabolism is crazy, but that should help with the pain and swelling. Though honestly, Daria, the fastest way for you to get better is shift a couple of times."

"How does that help?" Ralph asked.

"Our bodies basically reboot when we shift; it's painful, but regrowing the right bones and fur and then back means that broken and bruised parts are fixed as we shift. It's not ideal cause it hurts like hell, but it does work." Katie offered a hand to Daria. "This is probably something you should try in the bathroom, you're liable to get blood everywhere."

Daria nodded and took Katie's hand, leaving us in the kitchen.

"Are you two okay?" I asked, wishing I had thought to do so earlier today.

"We're getting there," Mel said. "This is all so new and insane. We heard the word werewolf, what? Four days ago? And now our daughter has been dragged into this. Please don't misunderstand me, Conor, I don't blame you, but I am so angry at this situation."

"I do understand you," I said. "Being this way took me away from my family and my home. And while I miss it, I'd be dead if I wasn't a werewolf. Keith's pack killed the rest my pack."

"Really?" Ralph asked and shook his head. "I'm sorry; I didn't know."

Mel scoffed. "For all his bluster about werewolves being safer away from humans, he's given no thought to the neighboring ecosystem. Absurd."

"Not everyone is so conscientious," he laughed. "Do you think they'll come back?"

I shrugged. I was still a little surprised that Keith had not dragged me along, but perhaps he was picking his battles. Perhaps he was done with this farmhouse and me and we'd never hear from him again. We heard a shout come from the farther in the house. Susie Lynn stood up in the living room, her face wrinkled with worry.

"It's Daria," I told her. "I can go check on her."

Everyone nodded. The first floor bathroom was empty; Katie must have taken Daria to mine. Downstairs, I could hear weeping and then the door opened to my bedroom. Katie was speckled with blood but gave me a nod.

"She's better," she said. "But it'll take a bit to adjust."

"A bit?" came a groan from inside the room.

When I stepped inside, Daria was nestled in my bed. She was wearing a pair of my shorts and a baggy T-shirt. All my clothes were going to start smelling like my new pack at this rate.

"You're talking at least?" I said.

"My jaw is the least of my concerns." Daria was muffled in the pillows, but raised her head to face me. The bruising had gone down, but her eyes were swollen with tears. "I feel dead."

"Now, now, it's not so bad," Katie told her with a wry grin. "Anyway, the worst is over."

"Piss off," Daria mumbled. "Katie. What kind of self-respecting werewolf is named Katie?"

"I could break your jaw again if you'd like," Katie grinned.

Daria groaned again and turned over in the covers. Katie shut the door, leaving the other woman to sleep. I didn't know that changing would affect how we healed, and was glad for the knowledge, though not the experience.

"Werewolves are such babies," Katie said.