A Monster Life Ch. 16-18

'They might look slow but they're actually agile and fast.' she said. 'That's why they're so dangerous.'

The ram shook its body and after a feint hit the igififun on the shoulder but received another hit back.

Ulric studied the creature. 'Do they have a weakness?'

Kaui thought it over. 'There was not much in the books about them but I think it was mentioned their underside and throat have the least hide thickness.'

Another sharp bang marked the two animals clashing their heads together and was followed by a blunt blow from the tail hitting the ram aside. It rolled across the grass but stood up again with some effort, and charged at the igififun once more.

'Unless he can get to its weak spot he won't last.' Elzbieta said. 'I don't see any sign of that thing weakening.' Iphigenia nodded and Ulric hummed.

The ram flew and slid across the grass once more after a hard hit from the igififun's strong tail. He swayed and pushed himself up on his shaky legs, and gazed at the curled up frightened lamb. His determination to fight was not just instinct, he wanted to see al of the flock lead peaceful lives. Even though his body hurt badly he drew in a deep breath and tried to steady himself. He had to give it his all to protect his flock even if it would cost him his life, and took one step forward before a black paw in front of him stopped him.

'You did well, let me take care of the rest.' Ulric said and stepped towards the igififun. The ram stared in confusion at the bloodwolf's back, the first time a predator seemed to protect instead of kill. Ulric pointed at the igififun. 'I'll take you down.'

The igififun hissed at Ulric while he stepped forward and it swiped his tail at him as soon as he came into reach. Ulric blocked the hit to his side with his armoured arm and stood his ground. 'You're strong, but not enough.' he said and lurched forward. The deadly jaws snapped at him but he turned to evade and punched underneath them with his spiked fist.

The creature screeched and jumped back with its head held low but Ulric didn't waste any time. He punched at its lower side but a third one missed when it rolled sideways and lashed out with its tail. Ulric blocked the repeated hits first, then snatched the tail under one arm and punched it. The igififun hissed and screeched but it couldn't free itself before receiving a row of puncture wounds first, and the pain didn't make it flee but only enraged it.

Ulric braced himself under a barrage of hits from the creature's tail and biting and clawing, but at the first opening he countered with his spiked fists and drew blood wherever he could. It jumped back, its breath hissing while blood dripped from every wound. 'You're taking it down!' said Iphigenia but Ulric shook his head. 'No, I'm not inflicting enough damage. Its skin is too thick.' He saw the ram staring at him from the corner of his eye. 'But maybe we can do some other damage.'

He charged at the igififun. It lashed out with its tail again but this time he ducked and rolled underneath, grabbed the monster's foreleg and thrust himself upwards. The igififun flipped sideways and Ulric grabbed it upside down from behind, pulled its forelegs back and wrapped his legs around its jaws, then pulled its head back. 'Hit here!' he shouted at the ram and stomped the exposed throat of the creature with one heel. The ram only needed a moment to understand Ulric's intention and bolted at them with all the speed he could muster.

A sickening crack sounded when the ram crushed the igififun's windpipe. It trashed around as it gargled but another blow from the ram's horns cut it short. Ulric released the limp body and sat down. 'Nice teamwork.' he said to the ram and chuckled.

The girls came up to him and inspected the creature. 'We should take this back with us.' Iphigenia said. 'I'm sure there's some use for it.'

Kaui handed Ulric his cloak and sash. 'I think its meat can be used and the books definitely mentioned its tough hide. The guild will tell us.'

Several other sheep came closer and one ewe moved up to Ulric with the lamb they saved. 'So you're the one who was lucky enough to have us show up today, eh?' he said. The lamb blinked at him and bleated cheerfully once while it wagged its tail furiously. The ram sat down in front of him and bowed its head.

'Looks like you earned his gratitude.' Iphigenia said and made a scissors gesture. 'Maybe we can get some wool now.' The ram moved to her and stood sideways in front of her. 'You understand? Can we get some wool from you?' The ram answered with a resolute bleat and she stroked his head. 'Thank you.'

While they all were busy shearing the sheep who volunteered their wool, Kaui chuckled at the lamb poking its head underneath Ulric's sash. 'I think she likes it.'

Ulric took one end of the sash, cut a ribbon from it and tied it into a bow around one of the lamb's ears. 'There. How's that?'

It bleated cheerfully and jumped around while other lambs dared to come closer and sniff at the ribbon. One moved a little closer to Ulric and gave him a shy bleat. 'You'd like one too?'

Kaui leaned close to whisper in Ulric's ear and he smiled. 'Oh, that's a great idea. Go get them then.'

Kaui jogged towards the town and Iphigenia looked at Ulric. 'What's a great idea?'

He grinned at her. 'A little surprise for our woolly friends here.'

***

'They are the ones who turn your wool into clothing and other useful items.' Ulric said to the sheep when Kaui returned with Ameda and Roran and several short rolls of cloth.

Ameda looked at the lamb with the ribbon and wagged her tail. 'Ooohhh, that's so cute!' she said while the other lambs looked curiously at the rolls of different colours.

Ulric chuckled and looked at the ram. 'How about it? Trade your wool for what they create from it?'

The ram watched the women tie bows on the lambs with their choice of colour and it became clear what the strange bloodwolf meant. Several ewes moved up to the women and he confirmed what was obvious with a bleat.

***

'Are you sure?' Kaui asked after several bales of wool had been collected.

Roran nodded. 'The value of half the igififun is more than enough to compensate for our work and a large stable for the flock to take shelter in. And now that they'll trade us their wool they can have pretty much anything they need from now on.'

'No need to wait for someone to take up the quest or buy more expensive wool from afar.' said Ameda, wagging her tail and petting a lamb with a blue ribbon on her tail in her arm.

Ulric stretched and picked up the travois they'd made to carry the dead igififun. 'All right, let's clear this quest at the guild and have them handle the business of dividing and selling this thing.'

From the moment they reached the town curious onlookers appeared and children tagged along on the way to the guild, daring each other to touch the monster and asking Kaui about the fight. Iphigenia chuckled at Kaui trying to keep up with the questions but the children listened eagerly and were in awe over the fight with Ulric and the ram. They looked at the hooded figure carrying the heavy monster with wondrous eyes.

Rufert whistled at the sight of the igififun and called on a few of the children to fetch their parents, who'd process it to get the useful parts. He grinned at the fresh party. 'Yep, the name Quaint fits you. Never imagined someone take this down together with a wild animal and on top of that, making those deals.' He gestured for them to come inside. 'I'll update the quest and your card. Unfortunately there's no quest to kill this igififun so no extra reward.'

Ulric grumbled soft and Kaui nodded. 'My master doesn't mind. The price for the materials is plenty enough according to Roran.'

Rufert nodded. 'True. And we're glad you killed it right away. Most would just run or only be willing to kill it after a quest with high reward is posted.'

Ulric noticed the quick glance at the Shadow Wolves who sat rather quiet in the corner, trying not to look at the igififun outside and the crowd around it, and sipping their ales with a clear sulk on their faces.

Rufert returned the card to Kaui after updating it. 'Rank C?' she said.

'Although there was no quest for it, as the guild we are allowed to give a bonus for unexpected work.' said Rufert. 'It's not as high as an official quest but it's the least I could do as an appreciation.'

Kaui smiled and nodded. 'My master gives his thanks for all of us.'

Rufert nodded at Ulric. 'I'll send a message when they're done with the igififun.'

Ulric's stomach rumbled and Iphigenia chuckled. 'Yeah, I'm getting hungry as well. Some rest would be nice too.'

Ulric grinned. 'Time for a bite and get some sleep at the inn then.'

The inn had a few local customers when they arrived and Monna greeted the four with a wide grin. 'There he is, one half of the wolf and sheep saga.'

Iphigenia chuckled at Ulric's embarrassed expression. 'Which half would that be?' she said as they went up to the counter where Monna stood.

'My master would like to eat and rest in a room with us for now.' Kaui said.

Monna frowned a little. 'I can't give you a room though.'

'You're full?'

Monna shook her head. 'No, I have empty rooms.'

Kaui looked down and fiddled with her fingers after Ulric spoke. 'My master wants to know if it has to do with us being slaves.'

'Yes. I'm pretty sure you're more than just slaves, especially after I heard my sister's opinion of you.'

Ulric growled low and Monna held up her hand. 'I know what you're thinking, but you're not getting a room.' She watched the disappointed expressions on the girls' faces and Iphigenia putting her hand on Ulric's arm, and laid a key on the counter. 'That's why you're getting a cabin at the rear where you'll have more privacy.'

They watched her grin wide with some mischief and groaned their chuckles. Kaui turned red after Ulric spoke again. 'My master wants to tell you you're a meanie, and thanks you for your thoughtfulness.'

Monna laughed. 'Your packs are in the last cabin, freshen up and I'll have your meals ready here.'

***

After a satisfying meal and drinks while Kaui told the story about the fight to Monna and the other curious guests, they plunged down onto the large bed in the cabin and sighed. Iphigenia snuggled up with Ulric. 'I haven't slept in a comfortable bed in a while, but you're still the best pillow.'

Ulric chuckled. 'I'm a natural at being a pillow.'

Elzbieta hopped out of bed and checked the corner with a stove and cupboards to store food and drinks. 'No water.' she said as she looked into an empty jug. 'I'll fetch some.'

'I'll do it.' said Ulric and gently slipped away from Iphigenia. 'The barrel for bath water is almost empty so I'll fill that as well.'

He went back to the inn and showed the empty jar and barrel to Monna. 'Sorry, I've been so busy it slipped my mind. I'll fill the jar, then bring you the full barrel later.' she said. He shook his head and gestured at himself while pumping. She smiled and pointed at a water pump in the corner of the kitchen. 'All right, the pump is over there.' She watched him fill the barrel without tiring after bringing the jar with drinking water. 'It would have been no trouble to do this.' Ulric shook his head again and patted on his chest. She chuckled. 'Those girls are lucky with such a gentle man. Or wolf.' His embarrassed glance at her made her chuckle more.

Iphigenia rolled on her stomach and looked at Kaui who folded her clothes at a table in another corner. 'So, you do like our Ulric, don't you?'

Kaui blushed. 'He's certainly nice and gentle.'

Iphigenia's smile turned a little devious. 'Just nice and gentle?'

Kaui's cheeks became a darker red. 'I, don't know otherwise?'

'I did notice you call him my master while calling your old one the master.'

Kaui stared at the dress in her hands. 'It's just..'

Iphigenia hopped from the bed and embraced Kaui from behind. 'Even if you weren't bonded, would you still leave us if you found a place to stay? Wouldn't you want to experience his strong yet gentle embrace?'

Kaui's imagination latched onto that just as Ulric came in carrying the barrel in his arms. He noticed her flustered face. 'Are you okay, Kaui?'

She turned away and unfolded and refolded each of her clothes again. 'I'm all right! I wasn't thinking of anything!'

Iphigenia chuckled while Ulric put the barrel in its place. 'I have something to give you,' he said. 'but since I don't like the original reason much I made my own reason to make something positive out of it.' The girls looked on while he pulled out the package he brought from the tailor shop and unfolded the cloth. 'I couldn't think of a better look for a slave collar than this.'

The girls gazed at the slender black leather chokers with three vertical slim and red jewels at the front. 'That looks very stylish.' said Elzbieta.

'I don't want it to mean that you're my slaves or property even if it seems that way to others, but I want to express my gratitude for the trust you have in me and being at my side despite the difficulties we've had so far, and also to pledge myself to protect and care for you for as long as I can.'

Iphigenia wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed and nuzzled his cheek. 'You're so sweet, Wolfie.'

The girls stood side by side while Ulric fastened the chokers around their necks. 'Ameda said this leather will keep a perfect fit and will never feel tight or loose.' he said.

Elzbieta touched hers and smiled softly. 'It's almost as if it's not there, just enough sensation to be reassuring.'

Kaui blushed and smiled a little as Ulric fastened hers. 'It may be my just own preference, but these do look great on you.' He stepped back and smiled at them. 'A feast for a man's eyes.'

Iphigenia hugged him tight and kissed his muzzle. 'Let's sleep.' she said and looked at Kaui. 'Do you want to sleep on the left, the right, or on top of Wolfie?'

Kaui blushed hard again. 'Don't tease her like that.' Ulric said and slapped Iphigenia's behind. Not only Iphigenia, but Elzbieta and Kaui let out a cute squeal at the same time. With large eyes he watched a flustered Kaui, frowning and blushing Elzbieta, and giggling Iphigenia biting her lower lip while each held their behinds. 'Did you all just..?'

18 - Busy Days

Ulric yawned and smacked his lips as the four waited inside the inn for their meal.

'Someone didn't sleep much?' Monna asked while she took back empty bowls to the kitchen and smiled a little mischievously at the girls.

Monna's expression and intonation of her voice were enough for Elzbieta and Kaui to blush while Iphigenia giggled at Ulric waving his hands in denial. Kaui cleared her throat. 'My master is used to a different sleeping habit so sometimes he can't sleep well during common rest.'

'Ohh, I see. I did expect it would take more than three to tire him out.' she said and chuckled as she entered the kitchen.

Kaui glanced at the only other customer who sat with his back to them but it appeared he hadn't heard what was said. The dark and smooth furred canine fumbled in his pocket and placed a few coins on the table before leaving quietly.

At the end of their meal a boy arrived to deliver the receipt for the igififun and Kaui read it. 'This is the price offer for the igififun's parts if we want to sell what we don't want for ourselves.'

Monna passed by to clear their table. 'The meat's good. You can sell that for a good price because it's not easy to come by as you've noticed.' She stared a little into the distance. 'I can still taste the roast and stew the last time I got hold of some.'

Ulric chuckled and Kaui made a note. 'How much do you want?'

Monna smiled. 'Well, I think I can afford one or two lumps.'

Kaui shook her head. 'It's a gift from us. Just say how much.'

Monna's tail wagged hard. 'I don't know if I could accept.'

Ulric chuckled again. 'My master's sure you can.' Kaui said.

Monna gave in and Kaui wrote down how much meat to deliver to the inn. Monna grinned. 'I'll make you the best meal I have to offer from this.' she said. 'And what will you do now? You can take it easy for a while with the money you'll get.'

Kaui handed the note to the boy and he hurried back to the guild. 'We'll have a look at the rest of the quests to see where we can help.'

The four ended up later at the guild staring at the quests board. Ulric hummed. 'There are so many older and relatively easy ones, which do we pick first?'

Elzbieta gestured at Rufert who put up a new one. 'Ask him?'

Rufert folded his arms while he gazed at the board. 'I'd suggest the one for collecting herbs for our healer. A good stock of medicine and potions is important for our town.'

'That one I can do alone because I have some knowledge on plants.' said Kaui.

'But there are some dangerous animals around so it's better to have someone armed to guard you.'

Iphigenia looked at Ulric. 'You can guard her and help with your nose while we take up another task.'

He nodded. 'But is doing that by yourselves allowed with your slave status?'

Rufert nodded after Kaui asked. 'No problem here. Everyone should know your group by now.' he said and turned to the board. 'I know just the quest you two ladies are perfect for.'

***

Ulric glared and growled low at the bear who thought Kaui would make an easy meal and it quickly turned to settle for a vegetarian dish, preferably far away from that red eyed demon with intense killing intent. Kaui held on tight to Ulric's arm and let out a long breath in relief. 'Thank you.'

Ulric smiled gently at her and laid his hand reassuringly on hers. 'No need, it's why I'm here.'

They continued their walk through the short stretch of forest towards the fields where they should be able to find the herbs listed on the quest and Kaui suddenly realised she hadn't let go of Ulric's arm. She blushed and glanced up at him. He had kept his hand on hers and kept his eyes on their surroundings, and she smiled softly at the warm and safe sensation it gave her. She couldn't remember ever feeling this before with someone else, and could certainly not imagine it from what was essentially an extremely dangerous demon species. The memory of the first time they met popped up and her heart pounded harder at the question what might have happened if he was a real bloodwolf, but instead of an answer where she'd be eaten alive, the wild image of him taking her long and hard filled her mind and her face turned hot and red.

'If you're not feeling well we can return and do this later.'

She looked up at once. 'Later!? You still plan to take me if we don't do it now!?'

Ulric stared at her. 'You do know most about herbs so you're the only one of us that can do this task. But only if you feel comfortable enough after that bear attack.'

Her mind returned to the present. 'Oh! Of course! No, I'm fine now!' she said and took a deep breath.

'Sure?'

His concerned look filled her chest with warmth and she smiled. 'Really. I'm glad you're here.'

He nodded and she leaned a little closer against him while they continued their walk.

The fields provided a good yield of the plants they needed, especially with Ulric's sensitive nose pinpointing the location after Kaui let him smell the scents of the ones they were looking for. He sniffed the air for the latest one and pointed in one direction. 'I smell some there.' he said and after a short walk they looked down a low and long crevice. 'It's not too deep for me so I'll jump in while you wait here.'

Kaui nodded and watched while he picked randomly from the plants scattered around the grassy bottom. She spotted one more of the plants on the list and gestured at it. 'Can you get the one next to the one with those tiny purple flowers?'