Caminah Smuts

Just Like Magic

"Why are you hiding?" the wolf asks, and Camila's wings flutter, her face drawing into a frown.

"I could ask you the same question," Camila huffs, landing on a branch closer to the wolf but not daring to fly low enough to be caught. She's taller than a wolf is on four legs, but the wolf looks a great deal stronger. "You have two forms, and you can speak to me as a person, not a beast."

"It's easier to be a wolf in the forest," she replies, but Camila can see her start to shiver, fur disappearing and body reshaping until there's a naked girl in her place. She steps forward, shameless and bare, and holds out a hand. Her voice is pleasant and low when she asks, "Will you come down now, fairy?"

"Will you hurt me?" Camila asks, hoping there's enough honor in this girl to tell the truth. Camila doesn't know much about werewolves besides their connection to the moon and their sad howls she hears sometimes at night.

"I promise I won't."

Camila takes a deep breath, putting her faith in the word of a wolf and hopping down to the ground, brushing dirt off her tunic. They're near the same height when Camila stands, and Camila watches the beautiful brown eyes sweep down her body.

"You're the first fairy I've ever met," the girl says breathlessly, stepping closer. Camila's wings flutter nervously.

"And you're the first lycanthrope I've met. Do you have a name, wolf?"

"Dinah," she says, bowing her head to show respect. Camila does the same, giving Dinah her name as well. "I'm usually with my pack, but I-" her face darkens for a moment, and then she meets Camila's eyes. "I'm supposed to be out finding a mate. I'm of the age where I'm supposed to have one, but it's not as simple as just courting any available wolf." Dinah shrugs, lifting a hand to run through her wild curls. "Do fairies take mates?"

"Not as a rule," Camila says, stepping back until she's leaning into the scratchy bark of the tree, somehow addicted to the warm gaze in Dinah's eyes. "Most fairies take multiple companions." Camila wrinkles her nose in distaste just thinking about it.

Dinah smiles, showing a hint of slightly longer canines than a human would have. "You disagree?"

"I have no interest in those kinds of orgies," Camila says haughtily, but her breath hitches suddenly as Dinah steps close, close enough to tuck her face into Camila's neck, nose brushing Camila's skin. Camila is frozen, heart beating fast, but all Dinah does is sniff before pulling back.

"Forgive me," Dinah says, looking suddenly flustered, the black pupils of her eyes wider than before. "Your scent is... intoxicating, Camila." Camila can see the naked hunger on her face before Dinah looks away, clearly embarrassed.

"What do I smell like?" Camila asks, curiosity getting the better of her.

"It's hard to put scent into words... Like earth, like the cool wind before it rains and the sweet smell of leaves covering the ground in autumn, of buds blooming on trees in the spring. You smell like life," Dinah finishes, lips parting as she stares at Camila.

Camila stares back, heart still beating so fast, and she leans in to whisper to Dinah, "You mostly just smell like wet dog to me."

Dinah laughs, and for a brief, playful moment, she leans in as well and licks a wet stripe up Camila 's cheek, pulling back and licking her lips as Camila stares at her in shock.

Camila only waits a second before she acts, the wetness already drying on her face, and she darts in to lick Dinah's cheek in turn, jerking back and watching Dinah carefully.

Dinah's eyes are dark, surprised, and Camila squeaks and starts to run, light feet hopping over branches and roots as Dinah starts to chase her.

Camila isn't sure where she's heading, this deep into the forest, or why she's leading a chase when Dinah is just as quick as she is, crashing loudly through the trees behind her. But she doesn't stop running, wings fluttering behind her with the temptation to take flight, until she passes the meadow - the one by her favorite stream.