Chapter 5 : Friends or Foe

Karenina

A scream came from the pile of bodies on the ground as a shadowy figure approached from the side. A quickly erected barrier stopped the blonde she-wolf from getting close. As her two opponents rose to their feet, Karen ducked low into the middle of the barrier. She pressed her hand flat against the ground and sent a shockwave of force in a fifteen-foot radius around the shield. The red-haired wolf woman was quicker than her friend and managed to dodge her attack.

Another scream broke the silence of the air as the blonde beauty was struck by the sacred moonstone light emanating from Karen. She fell to the ground, motionless and lifeless. Then the girl lowered her barrier because it was draining energy and she didn't want to use any more than necessary. However, she was attacked from behind. She tried to land on her uninjured shoulder as a small moan escaped her lips.

Her back was aching. She could barely turn her head to see the red-haired she-wolf licking the blood from her paws. The she-wolf smiled cruelly at Karen with her sharp canines before leaping up again to deliver the killing blow. Grabbing one of the arrows that had fallen from her crossbow, Karen rolled onto her injured back just as the wolf fell on top of her.

The she-wolf collapsed to her death, pierced by Karen's glowing arrow. The added weight did nothing to ease the pain in her own back. She pushed with everything she had until Karen was finally able to roll the body over and let go. She found kneeling very difficult at the moment, as any movement sent a jolt of pain through her injured shoulder. However, after several attempts, she was finally able to stand upright when she realized that Maya was nowhere to be seen.

Karen was shocked to realize that she wasn't there anymore. Then she called out her name but was met with silence. "Maya! Maya, where are you?" A voice came from behind her, so she spun around quickly, ready for another fight, but instead she saw Maya walking calmly towards her.

The girl smiled in relief, and the pain began to show on Karen's tiny face as she stopped trying to stand, realizing that she wasn't going to be attacked.

Kneeling with one foot in front of Karen, the woman then placed a clawed hand on Karen's uninjured shoulder. "You are hurt. Allow me to help you."

Karen winced and allowed Maya to take another look at her shoulder as blood began to ooze from the wound and from her back where she had recently been injured. After a careful examination, Maya assured her that the wound on her back was not too bad, but the wound on her shoulder was getting worse and needed serious attention. Slowly, Karen stood up and removed her outer clothing, exposing her bare arms and back. She felt a little embarrassed to be seen like this in the middle of the forest, especially at a time like this, and she didn't know when the next attack would come. "Karen, I have to suggest that we use the rest of your clothes as bandages. Then you can wear this," Maya said, pointing to her own clothes.

Karen blushed as she looked around the surrounding forest, not wanting to be naked in such an open area, especially at a time like this, not knowing when the next attack would come.

Seeing Karen's concern, Maya quickly reassured the girl. "Don't worry, Karen. I'll get it done soon." Seriously, Maya began again, "We really need to stop this bleeding. The smell of your blood might attract the enemy."

Karen sighed, realizing the truth in Maya's words. The wounds were not deep, but the blood was still flowing. She didn't think she was losing too much blood, but she was also a living being that needed blood flowing in her body instead of losing blood like this, and her body was getting tired. On days like this, Karen envied the stamina and ability of the she-wolf who had matured with great training.

Suddenly, Karen froze as she remembered the aura of the fourth, the mysterious leader of the would-be assassins. But the werewolf woman's aura was gone. Had she escaped when her accomplice was killed? Karen didn't think so. Then she remembered Maya returning from the direction where she last remembered the mysterious werewolf hiding. The tension drained from her body as she saw Maya lay down her clothes and reach for them.

"Let me help you take off your clothes. You need to put your weapons away, Karen," Maya said, putting her hand on Karen's crossbow string.

She nodded and allowed Maya to help her remove her arrows, then asked, "Hey, Maya? Have you taken care of the hidden leader of this group? I can't sense her anymore."

Maya paused for a moment as she put down Karen's weapon before smiling. "You don't have to worry, Karen. She's no longer a threat to you."

Karen began to relax as the adrenaline from their previous fight began to leave her battered body. Maya quickly stripped Karen of her tattered clothes, including her short green skirt stained with her own blood, leaving the young girl in only her blood-stained white bra and panties, her cheeks bright red.

Maya smiled at the young girl's obvious embarrassment at being undressed, even though her own clothes were a little bit exposed.

What a strange and contradictory girl, Maya thought.

Surely someone who lets so much of her skin show is nothing more than a slut, and yet this young girl smells so pure and acts so out of character in her clothes. She was also curious about Karen's underwear, which she found unique.

The sensation of a tongue moving down her back suddenly made Karen gasp in surprise and look back in amazement as Maya licked her bloodied lips.

"What are you doing?" squealed Karen, her cheeks growing even hotter.

"Karen, there is no water to clean your wound. I'll clean it with my saliva if you want," Maya replied in a calm voice, her face expressionless except for a glint in her eyes that Karen couldn't understand.

Nodding her head in understanding, Karen turned her head and fixed her eyes on a tree not too far away, trying to ignore the awkward situation she found herself in.

Then she felt Maya place a hand on her uninjured shoulder before she again felt a warm, slippery tongue lick her back, cleaning the blood from her flesh and wounds.

She felt Maya's breath on her skin, sending shivers down her spine. The ordeal lasted only ten minutes, but it felt like hours to the embarrassed young girl. She couldn't believe that a woman, yes, a she-wolf, could touch her so intimately. She knew it wasn't sexual, but she couldn't help but remember that in her time, people were much more open about same-sex partners. No, she was not aroused by what Maya was doing, but if anyone saw or found out, she would die of embarrassment!

Then Maya was in front of her, kneeling so close that she could feel her breath on her cheek and smell her own blood, the metallic smell on her breath. She had to hold back her disgust so as not to appear ungrateful for the other's help.

"This may be painful. Be patient," Maya whispered as she looked into Karen's eyes before retaking her uninjured shoulder. She leaned down, her copper hair brushing Karen's chin. Maya's tongue came out to lick Karen's injured shoulder.

Karen hissed as Maya continued to smear her shoulder with her tongue. Karen barely noticed Maya's other hand on her bare left thigh as she tried to ignore the stinging pain caused by Maya's licks.

Finally, Maya lifted her head from Karen's shoulder and licked her bloodied lips with her equally red tongue. Karen looked away from the sight and stared at her shoulder. The bleeding had slowed to a trickle and she could see four cuts about an inch deep and a quarter of an inch wide.

She grimaced at the sight of the cuts, knowing she would have more scars to add to the few others she had received since coming to Moonlit Grove. She didn't think her back would be scarred because of what Maya had said, but it hurt every time she moved.

A ripping sound brought Karen's attention back to Maya, and she watched as she tore off her damaged clothes, using the cleanest part as a bandage. It didn't take long for Maya to wrap the pieces of cloth around Karen's body, sometimes accidentally grazing her chest with her knuckles before moving on to her shoulders.

"Here, Karen," Maya said after tying the last knot on the bandage.

Maya held up her own clothes, but when Karen moved to take them and started to thank her, Maya tugged at her arm and took hers.

"I think it will be easier if I help you," Maya explained as she moved behind Karen.

Karen nodded her thanks and let Maya help her put on the green outfit with the tree branch motif, ignoring the way Maya's hands seemed to linger. Karen was sure she was imagining things. Then Maya moved in front of Karen again and took the outer garment off her own body to put it on Karen's body to cover both sides. The garment was long, almost as long as her skirt.

Karen breathed a sigh of relief when she was finally fully clothed again.

"Maybe we should rest and let you get your strength back," Maya suggested.

Shaking her head, Karen replied as she picked up her bow and shook it. "I have to find Xavier and solve this problem. Obviously I shouldn't be here."

Deciding not to argue with the girl, Maya compromised. "Then let me carry you."

Seeing Karen open her mouth, probably to argue, Maya raised her hand to silence her. "If you insist on searching for Alpha Xavier, then I will carry you. You need to rest your frail body or you will pass out from exhaustion."

Sighing, Karen agreed, but when Maya moved to carry her, Karen stepped back. "Wait, I think it would be best if I stay behind you in case we are attacked."

Just saying that made Karen's heart ache as she remembered the hundreds of times she had ridden on Rylan's back.

Not understanding the young girl's mood swings, Maya shrugged her shoulders and offered her back. She bent down slightly to ease her consent.

Climbing on Maya's back, trying not to hurt the she-wolf, Karen accidentally pulled a gash in her own back but didn't complain, and soon Maya was running through the forest, although neither of them knew where to find the Alpha of the Westwood.