{Willow Vastos}

She was laying in the antlers of the queen of the forest. It was hard to believe that she and Daddy were once afraid of this gentle giant. Now her and the queen had become good friends. Her Daddy had taught her to use magic and one of her skills let her talk to beast or at least feel their feelings. Willow was high in the antlers where the queen's young were growing. In just a few seasons, she would help the queen lower one to the ground to grow into a forest elk. If it lived long enough, it may become a queen or lord too. Willow would have loved to see a herd of Elk Lords, but so many didn't make it to the queen's height. Her wolf friend Betty was laying at the queen's hooves sleeping in the sun. It was just a lazy mid-summer day and Willow was a bit bored. She loved her life in the woods, loved Mama and Daddy, but like most women her age she wanted more. She had been living here for nearly twelve winters and longed to see the world. She was on the edge of falling asleep when something caught her eye. Something sparkled in the distance, and she needed to know what that was. Quickly, she made her way down careful not to rip her hide dress. it hid her scent and helped her tan skin blend into the shadows of the woods. Long black hair flowed wildly behind her as her long wolf ears were focused on the direction of the shiny thing. Betty stood as Willow made her way down the body of the queen. She sent the queen a beam of love and affection to show her thanks for letting her rest on the queen.

{What} Betty asked.

"Somethin new." She replied to the huge wolf, hopping on Betty's back. Willow was an adult by all that she knew and longing to see the world. This was an excuse she would happily use. The wolf and wolf woman made their way through the forest to where she had seen the shiny thing. She knew there was a clear watering hole that was just up ahead. It was a nice place to cool off when Daddy was being mean or needed time with Mama. Mama changed ten winters ago and became nice but lost all her memories thanks to a cat lady that visited them. Willow would have liked to meet the cat lady again. She dismounted Betty and made her way through the brush. There were two of the large creatures sitting by the watering hole and she moved slowly making sure not to be seen. A sound of something splashing in the water came to her. It didn't sound like an animal or anything she knew of. If anything, it was the sounds she would make when she went for a swim. Moving like the wind she made her way to the edge and saw something that made her heart stop and her breath catch in her throat. Moving through the water was a large male humanoid. Daddy called her a beast because she had animal like tail and ears. This person had to be a beast, but it was a man. He swam through the water, and she could see he wasn't wearing any clothing. It was so scandalous; she couldn't help but lean closer and watch every movement every of muscle. It made her belly feel funny and she licked her lips. She wondered what he smelled like, what every part of him looked like, and what his lips tasted like. She would often see Mama and Daddy kissing and wondered what it would be like to have a man of her own. Suddenly there was a sharp blade at her neck.

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"He is mine. You got me. I have waited ten winters, and I won't let you have him." It was the voice of another woman. Why was she acting like this? "Ten winters and I had to fight tooth and claw, so I didn't have to wait longer. He is mine, got that?" Willow smiled.

"And what will you do about her?" Willow asked as Betty moved to put her jaws around the woman's neck. The man in the water stopped moving and stood in the shallows. She heard the other woman let out a low growl of delight and she fully agreed. That man looked tasty in a way that made her belly tingle. He pulled his wet hair back making his flat chest flex in a strange way that made Willow feel weak. He turned to them and smiled showing white teeth. Large dog like ears lifted showing cute white tufts of fur angling them to the women and wolf.

"I can hear you and if you three will please move away, I can get out and get dressed. Then we can have a talk like normal people." He wore a collar like Willow did and she knew he was a slave too. He had a strong jaw that didn't look like anyone Willow could remember.

"I'm okay watching you get out from here." The woman still holding the blade to Willow's throat said.

"I don't mind either, iffen you don't." Willow added in the country twang she had picked up from Daddy. The woman behind her yelped and then Willow joined her in protesting as Betty grabbed the two by their shirts. "Betty, not fair. I was likin the show." The wolf sniffed and Willow looked over before her blood went cold. The woman next to her looked just like Mama. "Why do you look like Mama?" Willow asked.

"Sounds like we found our target." The man called out.