“Well, that throws a wrench in things,” Ann sighed. “Sorry Bren, I promise we’ll have our history talk on the way there. Stuff keeps happening.”

“Such is the way of the world,” Bren said, a slight glint of eagerness at the promise. “Is there anything we should know, Katlyn?”

“Well, there’s not too much that came through. It’s big, whatever it is. Scared the shite outta the locals, so it’s not a Quillbear or something like that. They should be used tae those. They wanted tae give us backup, but I staved it off with the promise we’d be tryin’ tae get the local witch fer help.” Kat said, leading them by default back into the city proper.

“I don’t think anything but our normal weapons or the rest of our stuff is going to be done by tomorrow,” Ann pointed out, keeping pace with Kat as she walked quickly.

“Nae, gonna have tae deal with what we’ve got. Bren, wanna come wit’ tae pick up Ann’s armor?”

“I don’t see why not?”

“Think it’ll be ready, Ann?”

“Hells if I know,” Ann shrugged as they turned toward the craftsmen district.

It wasn’t long before they reached the disheveled storefront once more. Bren gave the place a disapproving look, but shrugged as they entered.

“Riva? You here?” Ann called out as she ducked into the cluttered shop.

“Oh, fuck, yeah! That you, wolf girl?” a voice cracked out from the back.

“Yeah, it’s me and friends. Take your time.”

“Cool, I’ll be out there in like, half an hour or something? Just, uh, take a seat and I’ll be out. Almost done.”

Chuckling, Ann found a mostly comfortable pile of furs to sit on, while Bren and Kat made themselves as comfortable as possible with what they could find.

“This place is a mess. How did you decide to be outfitted here?” Bren asked disapprovingly.

“People recommended her. I asked around, and they said she’d be the best I could ask for.” Ann shrugged. “Figure the people around here would know best.”

“I mean, ye’re right about that, just didn’t expect it tae be such a mess.” Kat said, curiously picking through hides.

As they waited, Bren filled Ann in on the rest of the Gods they’d not been able to get to.

Bryltia was apparently the Goddess of the hunt and the patron Deity to the Thrundol. She was known as a wild goddess who constantly sought greater challenges and urged her adherents to do the same. Many worshiped her, from soldiers sent to fight the Warped, to the more mundane of hunters. She was usually depicted as a Thrundol with wild dreadlocks and antlers, eyes always scanning the horizon for the next adventure.

Voltid, up next, was the God of the earth and forge. Patron of the Grrn. He was a slow god. Embodying the patience and skill required of a blacksmith, he was a big deal in Korvas with its multitude of craftspeople and mining culture. If he was depicted, it was in the form of either a Grrn or a literal mountain.

Lastly, Bren explained that there were innumerable minor Gods. They usually presided over certain areas and creatures. An example of it being Estvall and his region of woods. Some presided over rivers, lakes, birds, fish, mountains, plains. The list went on and on. They were worshiped in the general temples, like the one placed at the end of the lines of temples. If it was a smaller city or village, they’d have altars set up for the nearby Gods in some way shape or form.

During the middle of the explanation on the minor Gods, Riva had made her way out of the back with a bundle of black leather and had cleared a section of counter by tossing the furs to the side. Not interrupting, she set out the pieces of armor across the only clean space in the shop.

“Ah, you’re done,” she said as the conversation ended. “You must really be from out of town if you don’t know all that,” she chuckled at Ann. “Now get over here. Need to make sure I got it all right for ya. Strip.”

Looking over at Bren, who shrugged, Annita pulled off her loose shirt, tossing it and her kilt into a small pile.

Riva bustled over, carrying what looked like the top of the outfit. It was almost a corset, made of thick studded leather. As she knelt for the Inlon to get it on her, she noticed that while it hugged her body, it never pinched, never pulled on anything, and most importantly, didn’t squash the fur running down her back. Above the corset, covering her chest, parts of her shoulders, and about half her neck was a span of leather that looked like it was fashioned out of several strips cleanly stitched together. The whole chest piece was split down her left side, with ties to fasten it to herself. The shoulder and neck pieces utilized small but sturdy clasps to stay in place.

The arm pieces were the same black leather as the rest of the outfit and fashioned as evening gloves. She pulled each on, testing their flexibility as she flexed her arms and fingers. They were smooth, with pads on the elbows and knuckles for unexpected falls or collisions, similarly studded. They fit, and Annita berated herself for the pun, like a glove. No restrictions whatsoever, but she did notice the tips of the fingers were closed off.

“Hey, Riva. How hard would it be to cut out the tip of the fingers? My fingernails can extend into claws.” Ann asked, pulling a glove off and demonstrating.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

“Fuck me, that’s a neat trick,” Riva swore as she pulled the hand down to her level. She looked over the extended weapons for a minute, muttering to herself, before releasing Annita’s hand. “That’ll be easy. Ten minutes or so. Just need to cut out the part and reinforce the edges there. Probably gonna have colder hands, but you said that wasn’t a problem for you, so fuck it. Try on the rest, they’re easy. Be right back.” With that, she shuffled back into the back room. A crash was heard as she moved things off to the sides of whatever she was working on.

“She’s a feckin’ great time,” Kat laughed as she watched Ann put on the black leather skirt. It went down to the Lupine’s shins, flaring out comfortably for her hips. Several thicker strips dangled from the belt, connected by sheets of cloth and leather alternating in horizontal stripes down the length. To keep it light, but still durable, Riva had explained. Running her hands down the sides, she felt loops set into the sides for something to be held. Not enough for a holster or her scabbard, but maybe a couple knives or potions.

“Ye can turn around, Bren.” Kat called to the man who had pointedly kept his back turned.

Ann finished up, strapping the shin guards over her canine lower legs, pulling them tight. A low whistle from Kat as she looked her over brought a blush to her cheeks.

“So, you approve?” Ann asked, running her hands over herself, feeling a stirring between her legs.

“Damn right I do,” Kat returned, walking over and running her hands over Ann’s leather clad body. “Damn sexy. Not a piece o’ ye left tae the imagination. Except this, I guess,” she grinned, grabbing between Ann’s legs and drawing a grasp from the taller woman.

“One track mind on you,” Ann grinned, pulling Kat in for a kiss.

This, of course, was when Riva decided to come back with the gloves. “Oh! So that’s who you were talking about. Shit, I didn’t stand a chance,” she laughed her raspy laugh.

“Don’t be too hard on yourself,” Ann grinned back.

“Aye, if it weren’t fer me bein’ selfish, I’d imagine ye’d already have a tumble wit’ ‘er,” Kat grinned, hugging Annita closer.

“Well, I’m not one to get in the middle of two lovely ladies. Not that I’d mind being in between you, now that I say it. Shit, sorry. Anyway, here are the gloves. They’ll be perfect for your claws.”

“Thanks, I really mean it,” Ann said, looking down at the Inlong who stood with her hands on her wide hips, admiring her work.

“Fuck, the helmet and mask, one sec.” Riva dashed back into her workshop and returned with another couple black pieces of leather. “C’mere you massive mutt,” she beckoned down.

Ann knelt down and Riva secured the helmet over her head, making sure her ears were comfortable, and adjusting her hair to flow out the back in a plume. She then took a polished half mask out. The thing was formed in the shape of a wolf’s muzzle, a toothy snarl engraved into the surface. Taking it in both hands, she pushed it up over Ann’s face and clipped it over the fasteners in the helmet, tugging to make sure it was secure.

“There, that really ties it all together. What’cha think, girlfriend?” she asked as she turned to Kat.

“I would jump ‘er bones here an’ now,” Kat purred, licking her lips. “Ye really didn’t hold back on showin’ ‘er body off, did ye? The mask is a good touch too. Proper fierce an’ protective. I approve.”

“Then that’s that, oh yeah, and the fittings for enchantments. You’ve got a couple inlaid in your shoulders, one on each glove, on the shin guards since you don’t do shoes, and two in the helmet. Should hold up to some serious enchantments, but if you run into troubles, come on back and I can figure it out.” Riva said with a satisfied look.

“You really haven’t gotten any sleep have you?” Ann asked, a concerned look crossing her eyes. “You’re all over the place.”

“Not a wink! Though that’ll be fixed here, soon. Pay time. Two gold, as promised, fifty silver for the enchantment slots.” Riva held out her hand.

Smiling, Ann handed the woman her due, which was quickly deposited into a pouch on her belt.

“Pleasure doing business with you. And pleasure meetin’ you, ah…” Riva trailed off, extending her hand to Katlyn.

“Katlyn,” she smiled, shaking the offered hand.

“No shit? Heard the princess was in town, didn’t expect her to come to my little place. Or her girlfriend. Well, good to meet you all the same. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to go be unconscious for a few hours,” Riva said with a wide yawn.

“See you later!” Ann called as they were waved out the front door.

“Well, she took that surprise in stride.” Bren chuckled.

“Aye, I’ll give ‘er credit fer that. An’ I see why ye were tempted tae take ‘er up on that offer, Ann. She’s a small thing, but she’s got a fine set o’ assets on ‘er.”

“You approve?” Ann teased her lover.

“Maybe in the future, when I’m feelin’ less greedy wit’ me girlfriend,” Kat laughed back, elbowing Ann’s side.

“Not much else I’ve got left to do today. It’s getting a bit later. Should we just turn in early and head out early?” Ann asked as they walked.

“Nay, should be good tae settle in, get ye off, and pass out,” Kat said, drawing close to Ann as they walked, wrapping a muscular arm around her leather clad body.

“Save it for the bedroom, if you would please,” Bren grumbled. “I do agree that we should get an early start if things are as urgent as that report made them out to be.”

“Ye just want yer history talk, ye liar,” Kat ribbed him.

“I simply wish to protect the land and do it as expediently as possible,” Bren huffed.

“Uh huh,” Ann laughed as she hugged Kat closer.

A short time later, Ann and Kat were in bed, lights turned down and leather stripped. Their previous nights had been hot and heavy, but the energy tonight was different. They had time.

“Your eyes are really something,” Ann said softly, tracing a finger across Kat’s brow. They’d wound up just laying in bed, facing each other, slowly running their hands over the other’s body.

“Mm, yeah, so’re yers, such a beautiful green,” Kat whispered back as her hand idly traced through Ann’s strip of fur running down her back.

“So, you like the armor?”

“Feck, yeah, I do,” Kat blushed. “Just really hugs yer, well, everythin’.”

“Gonna be a problem?” Ann asked, kissing Kat’s nose gently.

“Nae, not unless me wantin’ tae jump ye after a fight is a problem.”

“Hmm, nope. Not a problem then,” Ann giggled. “Cause I’m gonna be real. My blood is pumping after a fight. Wouldn’t be hard to change where that energy is pointed.”

[A short smut excerpt here that can be read on Scribblehub! Promises of lewdness to come.]

A few minutes later, they laid there, panting, sweaty, and all kinds of sticky. Their foreheads had pressed together, and as they relaxed, they fell into a deep kiss.

“Ye’re feckin’ amazin’,” Kat breathed, tightening her arms around Ann slightly.

“Says the woman who got me all riled up,” Ann giggled breathlessly. “I don’t want to, but we should probably get cleaned up and pass out if we’re heading out early tomorrow.”

“Awww,” Kat whined, hugging tighter. “Carry me tae the bath?”

Ann rolled her eyes, and kissed her girlfriend again. “Sure thing princess. Ow!” she exclaimed as Kat nipped at one of her nipples.

“None o’ that,” she said, with a blushing grin betraying her true feelings.

Laughing, Ann picked her lover up and carried her to the bathroom.

A relaxing soak in the warm water later, they both returned to the bed, taking a spare set of sheets that had been left them, and snuggling in together. Slowly, their breathing slowed, hearts beating together as they drifted off to sleep.