White Wolf

Ch. 9

Kina sighed as she curled into a warm embrace, a strong embrace. Someone had their arms wrapped around her waist. She sniffed them, as her nose was nearly pressed to their flesh, to which a very male scent assaulted her nose. She sighed contently, not feeling threatened, but comfortable, relaxed. She opened her eyes to be greeted with dim lighting, almost to the point she couldn't see as there were no candles lit, but she could make out her partner's silhouette.

She noticed her hands were between them, and lifted one to experiment with the room's current lighting. She could barely make out her hand, but found entertainment in watching it's silhouette twist and turn in the air above her. Growing bored, she brought her hand back down to her, and felt her knuckles brush the curls of hair on her partner's chest. She'd never felt a man's chest before, not shirtless, anyway. She lightly brushed her fingertips down it, feeling the course hair as it gave way.

Growing bolder, she lightly placed the palm of her hand on his chest, feeling him breathe, feeling his heartbeat. She noticed that the man was well muscled, as was normal for warriors, and lightly traced down his abdomen. She noticed the hair grew thinner the farther she went, then began to get thicker again. She pulled back her hand upon this realization.

She jumped when she heard him chuckle, "Not so bold as we thought, eh?" "Vilkas! I-uh.." "It's okay. I get it. It's dark, you just woke up with someone holding you and you wanted to know who it was, correct?" Kina nodded and curled her hands to her own, clothed chest. "Why are you...not....wearing anything?", she nervously asked, "Did we....you know?" "No. I won't take advantage unless you give consent in your right mind. And I am wearing pants. They just tend to ride a bit low when I'm trying to sleep." The brunette breathed a sigh of relief.

"However, I thought you were going to jump me there for a while." "What?", she squeaked. This apparently got his attention. "Wait a minute. Are you a virgin?" " No! It's just...been a while.", she said defensively. "How long is a while?" "Umm....awkward conversation is awkward." "Only because you're making it so." She sighed heavily, burying her face in her hands, "I just....I find it difficult to...find someone to do.....that....with."

Vilkas adjusted his position so he was still on his side, but his head was propped up on his hand. "Plus, it doesn't help when people don't typically like you." "Hey, now. I liked you from the moment we first met. Farkas did too. He wanted you as a shield sister right then and there in the tavern. So did Aela after you helped kill that giant, and you saw Kodlak's reaction."

"You guys are different. You're not normal humans." "So what? If they get intimidated by your power, then they don't deserve to even know you, let alone...anything else."  Then he kissed her. It was slow and passionate....at least until Vilkas ran a hand over her ribs. She squealed and swatted his hand away. "Are you ticklish?", he slyly inquired, repeating his previous action, which produced the same result. "You are!" Then he began to outright tickle her ribs. "No! Nonono! AHAHAA! STAAHAHAHAAP!" He relented his assult, and she curled in on herself, hands blocking her ribcage as she caught her breath. "Careful. I think the entire hall just heard you.", he said playfully. "Sh-shut up!"

----------------------

"Oh, look who's finally up!", Aela greeted the duo. "What do you mean 'finally'? Dawn hasn't even broken yet.", Vilkas asked. "Maybe not, but how are you, Kina?" "Um...fine, I guess." The brunette felt her face heat up. Aela laughed, "Losing oneself is nothing to be embarrassed about. If anyone understands, we certainly do. On the bright side, I don't think you'll have to worry about Njada again."

At this, Kina had flashbacks to the fight, and she was horrified by what she remembered. Vilkas, Farkas and Aela trying to get through to her and pull her off of the other woman, then keep her off. The satisfying cracks of bone under her hands, and her victim's screams of pain and terror. The way she dragged the twins as they weighted her down. Skjor was there somewhere. In that moment, Kina realized just how pissed she was, and realized just how likely it was that she could have easily killed her fellow Companion if nobody was there to stop her.