@Serpentess health_and_safety language
Mardicos barely heard her words as he fell asleep. He didn’t even move when Farah covered him with the blanket. Though, her simple, calming touch seemed to release some hidden tension in his limbs. For the first time in a long, long while, he had restful sleep.
However, when the moon finally started its rise some time later, Mardicos woke. He slowly turned his head, his mismatched eyes appraising Farah. When he was certain she was asleep, he gently set aside the blanket and leaned down to take off his boots. He picked them up and slowly stood, walking out of the room without a sound. He didn’t want to wake her, after all.
Then, he set his boots next to his axe, before taking off his weapon belt and placing it on top of the boots. He turned for the door, but paused. He looked back toward the little library, and couldn’t help going back in there.
He moved up behind Farah, towering over her. Using the chair as a sort of balance, he leaned down and deeply inhaled the scent of her hair. He lingered a moment, then moved away to finally head for the door.
He gently opened and shut the door as he exited, then he undressed, folded his clothes, and laid them on the porch railing in easy reach. Then, he headed for the magic barrier.
The moment he stepped out into the moonlight, his still human eye became the wolf’s eye, and he started changing. He deliberately kept as quiet as possible, gritting his teeth and holding back his screams as his bones broke and rearranged themselves, and fur mercilessly tore through his skin.
Within a few minutes, Mardicos was the wolf. He looked back at the house, framed in moonlight, and couldn’t resist a howl. He wanted Farah to know he was out. He wanted her to await his return.
Then, he turned and charged out of the barrier, racing through the trees with a purpose. He remembered where that bear cave was, and he planned to get revenge on those bears for nearly killing him the night before. And, he had something special in mind for Farah as well.