Ann woke up… some time. Korvas had lights to tell you what time of day it was, but this place didn’t. It was always lit. They’d stayed up talking with Alruna for a bit longer. Bren got his own questions out of the way, and from there the Daughter of Worms had taken her leave.

Ann was still thinking about the worms. They were probably why her voice was as raspy as it was. Maybe the things had replaced her vocal cords? Seemed like a lot of her had been replaced by them. If they were moving like her eyes normally would, that’d mean some kind of brain or spinal integration. Those eyes, too. They weren’t the crimson of Lucia’s, and were decidedly not like any other eyes Ann had seen. The red ring of colour didn’t even meet the frayed edge of her “pupil”. That and the horizontal blinking made for an otherworldly appearance. Well, so did the thousands of worms coming out of her skin, but Ann was trying to forget that for the time being. It had been a little disturbing, and she was doing her best to be kind when Alruna revealed what was obviously a vulnerable part of her being.

“Mornin’ sleepyhead,” Kat mumbled next to her. 

The princess had fallen asleep on Ann’s arm, and it was full of pins and needles. Trying to get some circulation back, Ann traced the missing scales on her lover’s neck.

“Morning. Sleep alright?”

“Well enough. You know.”

“I know.”

“Been a lot o’ shufflin’ goin’ on outside, but no one’s decided tae knock. Awful polite o’ Warped.”

“The exception to the rule,” Ann whispered back. “There always is one. Even to that statement.”

“Statistics’re borin’.”

“Fine, you are going to find a passive cougar if you go through enough of them.”

“That I understand,” Kat chuckled.

“You understood me the first time,” Ann giggled. She leaned in and gave Kat a gentle kiss. “My big blockhead.”

“If it gets me kisses like tha’, I’ll play as dumb as I can,” Kat said, grinning up at Ann.

Ann traced the scars with a hand. She kissed Kat’s cheek, then her good eye, then peppered the scars with more love. “So damn gorgeous.”

“Hey, that’s my line.”

“Come and take it back,” Ann teased.

As expected by now, Kat wrapped her in a tight bear hug and gave her a ravenous kiss. Ann matched the intensity and coiled her tongue around Kat’s. Each of them pawed at each other. Hands rubbed against skin. They were a hair away from making the morning really wonderful when Rosalyn sat up. “Um, you know we don’t have the sound things up, right? Like, I know Kat’s got a thing, but I figured it was a “getting away with it” thing, not broadcasting to everyone that we just met, so maybe not this morning? Tonight, though, I wanna get one of those kisses.”

“Morning, lambchop,” Ann laughed. She rolled off Kat, two more times, then used her weight to roll Rosalyn under her. The druid squeaked as Ann slid her tongue out between her lips, poking at Rosalyn’s for entry.

“So weird!” Rosalyn said.

Those words let Ann’s tongue slip in and coil with her Druid’s. Her lips weren’t far behind as she gave Rosalyn exactly as deep a kiss as she’d given Kat. The woman melted, arms draping around Ann’s neck as her chest rose into Ann’s.

“Still want to save it to later?” Ann teased.

Rosalyn mewled her frustration. It was clear she wanted to keep going, but her common sense won out in the end.

They got ready for the day, putting on clothes but skipping armour. They all took their weapons, though. If Alruna was lugging around her hammer, better they not get caught unarmed if something went wrong. They didn’t have the woman’s ridiculous strength.

Sure enough, they poked their heads out to a crowd. A whole gaggle of mismatched bodies, limbs, and faces looked at them as they walked out. Murmurs spread through the group as some jostled others, trying to get someone else to talk first.

“Hi!” Ann cleared the air. “I’m Annita, this is Kat and Rosalyn. Our friends Bren and Lucia are in the tent over there, probably getting ready. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, and I hope we can be friends for however long we’re here. Yeah, I’m some level of Warped, like you all, but very different. I’m blessed by Orenous, and cursed by what Eldest of All called the Taint. Others have told me that there’re two deities that have claimed my soul, but I’ve got no clue what the hell that means. What I know is that Orenous sent me here for a reason, and I want to help out however I can. I’m here to learn. So, yeah. Feel free to talk to me whenever you want. I’ll be around.”

“Alright, gawkers. You’ve seen the pretty ladies enough. Back to your tasks!” Eyes’ voice rose above the rest. “Come on, I know you have things to take care of. Bumbleboars need rolling, chattel need feeding. Let’s get a move on!”

The group dissipated quickly, but conversation was floating through the streets. Ann and Kat’s ears were twitching as they caught most of it. At least the first impression besides yesterday was a good one.

“Good speech,” Eyes greeted them. Her uni-antler was still in its spot, and her cornucopia of eyes were watching everything. Still naked, still fishy and so tall she crouched just to be normal tall. “A few of them won’t be able to talk. Not all of us got so lucky, but they’ll be around. Ah, Bren, Lucia! You two look like you had a rough night.”

It was true. The pair looked like they’d barely gotten sleep. Bren’s hair was a mess, and he smoothed it back quickly.

Weird.

“Yes. A new place filled with people I am uncertain I can trust does that,” Bren said calmly. Even his voice was tired.

“You need some coffee?” Ann asked, pulling out her mug.

“For once, I would appreciate it,” the haggard man nodded, holding out his cup.

Ann poured it full, the rich aroma filling the air. She waited until he was mid-drink.

“So, you fucking her all night, or was it the other way around?”

The spit take was glorious.

“W-w-what?” Bren sputtered. “No! Your accusation is uncalled for!”

Lucia was blushing!

Kat’s eye was narrowed, studying her all-but-brother’s face.

Ann let it hang in the air for a minute longer.

“Nah, you’re probably right. A lot of new sounds to get used to. I can’t imagine what the One of Bark sounds like if they snore.”

“Literally sawing logs. It’s hilarious,” Eyes giggled. “They get so grumpy when you talk about it, but never hold it against anyone.” She dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I think they like it at this point, and play along because it makes everyone laugh.”

“I can understand that,” Ann joined Eye’s laughing.

“A good morning to all,” Alruna called, her skirts and dress flowing behind her as she clicked her way over. She’d gone without the hood today, letting her worms flow behind her. It was a strange sight, almost like they were underwater and Alruna was swimming upward. “I hope they didn’t make too much an embarrassment of us.”

“Nah, they were good. Gossip is going to be crazy though. Ann laid it all out for them, and I’m pretty sure most didn’t believe her.”

“Well, had I not seen her sheet myself, I would be among them,” Alruna shrugged. “Now, first things first, you are hungry, yes?”

Everyone nodded, several stomachs growling.

“Wonderful. We have stew and bread. This way.” Alruna turned on her heel with all the propriety of an old schoolteacher and marched off.

“Ye think the worms help wit’ ‘er posture?” Kat muttered to Ann. “Look how straight that is.”

“You’re checking out her ass.”

“No!” Kat lied terribly. “Swear, I was just followin’ along.”

“Well, damn, cause I was.”

“Kinda like Eyes better,” Rosalyn joined in, briefly distracted from Eyes. “She’s nice and talks a lot and is reeaaaaaaaly tall. Her boobs might be scaly, but I can deal with that, and then the gills? I wonder if she has to breathe like normal. Hey Eyes, do you still have to breathe like normal?”

“Yup! Gills don’t work on land, so I’m stuck breathing like normal.”

“But what if you were underwater?”

Eyes’s head lowered to their level as the immensely tall woman bent down at her waist. “Then, yeah, I’d be breathing through them, but the elk part of me doesn’t like it, much less my eyes getting all irritated. All of them. So annoying! But yeah, if I really needed to, I could breathe underwater. I’ve gone swimming when it’s warmer on the surface a couple of times. Just not my thing.”

“Thanks!” Rosalyn waved to her new friend.

Eyes stood back up, towering over everything.

“See? Nice. I like her.”

“Yeah, but we’re still bound by our princess’s issues with expanded intimacy. We shall uphold our promises to the end,” Ann said with exaggerated pomp. 

“Well duh. Just cause I like her doesn’t mean I’m gonna go run off with her,” Rosalyn rolled her eyes. “You’re all that’s important to me, Princess.”

“Now ye’re startin’ in on that shite?” Kat groaned.

“What, you want me to call you hun? Babe? Sweetheart?”

“Nae, nae, feck,” Kat flustered. She clearly liked it.

“Yeah, you’re right, that sounds like Ann stuff. Hmm. How about Sugar? Blue? Scales? Ears? Oh, right, Ears was a thing. Gotta remember that. Blue’s kinda obvious, though. So’s muscles. Ugh, pet names are hard!” Rosalyn let out a frustrated whine. “Ann, help me! You’re good at this kind of thing!”

“Blue is too easy. Brown sounds like shit. I always liked beefcake, but that’s more my style. Hmmm. Dear and Love are just universal. Kat’s too big to use some older names like Sparrow, though it’d fit her hair.”

“Moose!” Rosalyn blurted.

“Wut?”

“Moose! She’s all big and strong, and has brown hair like a moose! Kinda cantankerous sometimes, like one, and super stubborn. Yup! Congratulations, Kat, you’re Moose.”

“Gods if I get horns that’ll never leave me, will it?” Kat groaned.

“Nope! Already gonna stay like that. Hey, Moose, help a girl up to talk to Eyes a bit more comfortably for her?”

“Why’re ye askin’ me? Ann’s taller,” Kat grumped.

“Yeah, but you’re stronger and can do it for longer.”

“We have arrived,” Alruna’s voice cut through the banter like a knife.

It was a humble display. A big pot set on a fire was bubbling merrily. A brown stew filled half of it, many of the other denizens having already eaten. A Warped made of crystal, bug and fish was stirring the pot with a long ladle held in a crustacean claw. Eye stalks swivelled toward them, and they bowed. They didn’t have a neck, so that was the best they could do.

Around the central pot were benches, but they were sparsely populated. Most of the town was out doing chores or other morning duties. Even if the town was one of what others would call monsters, work still needed doing. There were no trees down here, so this wood had to come from somewhere. Repairs to structures had to be done as well, even with how simple they were, and a dragon had to be fed. Ann highly doubted some livestock could sustain something that big.

Their cook chimed and tinkled as their malformed mouth tried to speak. Despite not understanding anything said, Ann got the distinct impression that the person was happy. A set of six crab legs that had replaced their other arm lifted bowls and filled them with stew. Each of them took the breakfast gratefully and moved off to get their seats with a parting thanks. The cook waved their crab claw behind them, still making that musical sound.

“They are one of the less fortunate,” Alruna said as they sat. “They have difficulty moving and have lost their speech. They are a friendly soul, and well-loved by all, but I can’t imagine how frustrating it must be not to hold conversations anymore.”

“What’s their name?”

“None of us know. Eldest of All titled her the Crystal Cook, since she was able to scrawl out some few words once. Sadly, they haven’t been able to do much besides cook for a long time.”

The party fell into a solemn silence as they ate the meal. It was good! Root vegetables, potatoes, and pork, from what Ann could tell. Apparently, the Crystal Cook still knew spices well enough, and none of it was bland. A hearty breakfast, all told. Still, there was a gnawing in her gut that wanted to help the old person. She didn’t know how to even start, though. She could only mutate herself, not others. Well, not intentionally.

“Feck, feel bad fer ‘em,” Kat said, voicing Ann’s thoughts.

“You will see many such fates. Do not despair. We help those who seek aid, and provide as much as we can to those who stick around. Crystal Cook does seem to liven up when new faces are around. You simply being here is doing more than you think,” Alruna said, taking a prim mouthful of her stew.

“Make it sound like hospice care,” Ann sighed. Her appetite was warring with darker thoughts. “Keeping people happy and comfortable until they die.”

“Only for the worst off,” Alruna corrected gently. “The rest live as normally as we can. There are but a handful in Crystal Cook’s position.”

Ann looked back at the creature. They were back to happily stirring their pot, but one of their eyes caught her looking. Arms waved her way as they bounced up and down. It was hard to interpret the action as anything but happy.

Ann got up and walked over to the pot. “Hey. You doing ok? Want a break? I can help out with that.”

Ann reached for the ladle and got a firm smack on the back of her hand.

Crystal Cook looked up at her, clinking away in a tirade. Halfway through, the ladle was levelled at Ann, waving emphatically. It pointed at the stew, then the bowl, then Ann. The cook was acting like Ann didn’t know what she was doing.

Ann narrowed her eyes and used Lover’s Intuition. The purple flash of her eyes that always accompanied the skill made Crystal Cook flinch, but they recovered immediately and resumed their tirade.

Ann’s mind was filled with the desire to cook. She wanted to provide and give back to the people who’d helped her so much. Those who’d been kind to her when everyone else had abandoned or condemned her. She would do her very best until she couldn’t. And now this strange wolf creature was trying to mess up her stew and not taking no for an answer. Couldn’t she understand her? The nerve!

Ann chuckled, then burst out laughing. The cook was just that. They were happy with what they were doing. Good.

“Hey, thanks for helping them all out. They might not understand what you say, but they’re all grateful for you. I’ll let Alruna know what you want, alright?”

The eye stalks focused intently on her. She felt the Cook searching her face. The ladle was put down gently against the rim of the pot, and crab limbs were spread wide.

Ann had no choice in the matter. She leaned into the hug, accepting the strange feeling of carapace wrapping around her. It wasn’t a long hug, but it was satisfying. A hard claw patted her head between her ears as the Cook released her, then poked her away, pointing with another arm at her friends. The message was clear. “Go back to your friends.”

Ann walked back and sat next to Kat.

“What was that?” Alruna asked, her strange eyes flickering between Ann and the Cook.

“Got a skill to sense desires. They’re a good person. They’re still in there and just want to give back to everyone who took them in,” Ann explained around a mouthful. “They also think I shouldn’t be allowed near a cookpot, and that I’m dumb for not reading their body language. Still, yeah, I feel like you should know, Alruna. They love all of you dearly.”

Alruna’s face melted into a beautiful smile. Her strange eyes closed partially in a way that would look lovely were they horizontal, and her thin lips spread wide. “That is a relief. I do wonder if there was more we could do for them, but now I know they are happy.”

“Give back. Even giver needs gifts,” Lucia said with her mouth supremely full. Broth was dripping past her tusks as she spoke, and she wiped it off with the back of her hand. “Know. New pot. New spoon. Better spices. Good gifts. Show love.”

“She is right,” Bren nodded. “Kat here is bad about asking for things that aren’t a woman’s hand, so I have to suss out her current wants myself. What was the last thing, Kat?”

“Me sword belt,” Kat muttered into her bowl.

“Yes, and do you like it?”

“I do,” came the reticent grumble.

“And why did you not ask for it?”

“Cause I can get what e’er I want, usually, an’ I feel bad about it. Feckin’ bullshite bein’ princess!”

“Excuse me, princess?”

Everyone turned to see Alruna covering her mouth with shock. Her worm hair was writhing everywhere, completely out of control.

“Ah feck me life!” Kat cried.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep