The Dog-Eat-Dog World We Live In

[Peter Howard]

It was a bright Saturday, a trait that didn’t adhere with the awful winter Scotland had had. The snow in Ariel’s village had all but disappeared. Some of the young lads were still clinging onto the hope that their snowmen and women would hold on until early spring. Orion was one of those boys. Ariel’s little brother was in turmoil now that Mr. Jennings had melted. Penny was finding it all too funny. Her brother crying over a snowman was something that the whole village needed to know about. She’d already told the milkman as well as the postman who had stopped to chat to Ariel who had been collecting the milk off of the porch. It was just a typical Saturday for their family. Fiona was still asleep and Ariel was playing the parent until she got up and began to encourage their mischievous behaviour.

The pancakes were cooking, as was the bacon and the eggs and the sausages. Everything was simmering away to the tune of whatever Penny had put on the radio. The two children were now absorbed in the television; watching Tom and Jerry or something of the like. Whatever it was, it was keeping them occupied and that was giving Ariel time to tidy away things that ought not to be seen by nosy neighbours or guests that would inevitably descend on them. Ariel had already disposed of the wine bottles from the night before. He’d woken up his uncle in the back room and put on some coffee for him. Also, like the good nephew he was, he’d kicked out Georgio’s bint and thrown his washing into the washing machine. Now Georgio was stood in the kitchen, nursing his mug of coffee and staring at the toaster that had just sent up the bread.

“Why didn’t you butter it you silly sod?” Ariel asked the Greek man as he bustled into the kitchen. He put the hamper of clothes on the table and rolled up his shirt sleeves to his elbows. Ariel took the toast from the toaster and dropped the slices onto the plate. He spared a glance at the pans on the hob and turned the bacon over before slotting two more bits of bread into the toaster. Ariel buttered the toast he had and added tomato sauce. He dropped the knife and picked up the pan of bacon. Ariel took a fork off of the side and put some of the bacon onto one side of the toast. He put the pan back down on the hob and turned that one off. Ariel placed the other side of bread on top and pressed his hand down on it. He cut it diagonally and tossed the knife into the sink.

Not bothering to spare a look at his no doubt hung-over uncle, Ariel left the kitchen, grabbing two glasses of orange juice as he did so. He entered the living room and put the plate and glasses down on the coffee table. The two children protested when his, quote, “fat arse” got in the way and Ariel smirked at them, lingering in front of the television before slinking back off into the kitchen, only to find that Georgio was trying his luck at smuggling bacon back into his cave. “Oi!” Ariel’s exclamation startled the Greek man just as the back door opened. Ariel looked over to see a mop of dirty-blonde hair and then the familiar face of Ollie. “Oh don’t tell me you’re here for breakfast,” Ariel sighed in frustration, taking back the pan of bacon from his uncle. Ollie nodded and grinned, shrugging his jacket off and dropping it onto the back of one of the chairs.

Ollie’s eyes drifted up to the stairs and Ariel found himself looking there too. He was sure Georgio’s eyes had wandered there also. Fiona had removed herself from bed and had chosen not to get dressed. She was still wearing the silken nightgown she’d worn to bed last night. It ended around her thighs and accentuated her bust line. She didn’t look like she’d given birth to three children; that was for sure. Ariel tore his eyes off of his mother and glared at Ollie. He picked up one of the wet tea towels and flung it at his friend’s head. It hit the Ravenclaw with an audible clap and the boy recoiled, falling into one of the chairs. Ariel heard his mother’s laughter and watched as she leaned over the counter to retrieve some toast from the side.

“Morning baby,” she blew her son a kiss. Ariel nodded, giving her a weak smile. A concerned look fell onto her features. Her dark, curly hair fell around her shoulders beautifully, her eyes were darkest of chocolate browns and her lips were the reddest of Cupid’s bows. She was not the woman that Fenrir had left with child. She was not the woman that sat and cried on the steps of the stairs when Richard slammed the door behind him. She was a young, carefree, vibrant creature that called herself his mother. “Ari-baby, are you alright?” She asked. “Haven’t you been sleeping well?”

“M’fine,” Ariel shrugged half-heartedly, averting his eyes from her knowing gaze. “Just...go into the living room – everyone – I’ll bring breakfast in, in a bit okay?” It was a command, albeit a polite one. Fiona nodded and walked towards the door, only stopping to plant a kiss on her son’s cheek. Ariel smiled gently and watched them until the door clicked shut behind them. A groan of disbelief left his mouth and he ran his hands through his hair, across his face and down his front. “F-ck,” he closed his eyes and exhaled shakily. It was Saturday and there had been no word from Fenrir. Ariel was beginning to lose sleep over her, now; not that he got much to begin with. What was worse was that his mother was noticing, too. He could hide a great many things from her, this would be one of the things she’d find out about, though.

[Risé Lehmberg]

It was cold, so cold. Dirty locks of hair fell into Rise's eyes as she shivered. A fresh cut on her cheek showed that she had been misbehaving again, and it seemed that Fenrir had had enough of it, or had gotten bored of her, or something.. because here she was, sitting in a car, going who knew where. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and she couldn't see due to the blindfold that had been placed around her eyes. She was scruffy looking, hair that was far to long and needed to be cut hung limply about her shoulders, dirt plastered her face and hands, her clothes were dirty, and she definitely needed a shower. She wore a rather low cut blouse, that in her position, made it obviously clear that she had a fresh scar between her breasts.

Suddenly the car stopped and after a moment of quiet, the door was flung open and she was pulled out of the car, literally thrown into what felt like snow, and then the car was gone again. Rise whimpered softly and pulled herself up onto her hands and knees, shivering hard again as she struggled to get the blindfold off. Her hands ached, and she was so stiff she could hardly move. Why they had chosen to take her here by car she would never know, but it had been a long drive, and possibly more then that, she couldn't remember most of it. But here she was, sitting on the ground, who knew where, being looked at by who knew what. Luckily for her though, it smelt nice, like bacon, and food. Food...

Rise finally got the blindfold torn off, and sat on her knees looking up at a rather nice looking house. There seemed to be a bustling family life going on inside, and she could see someone in the window. A familiar looking someone, someone she never wanted to see again in her life. It was Ariel Greyback, the boy who had bit her. "No..." She whispered, a familiar knot clenching in her stomach. Her body wracked with shivers, and she felt completely and totally drained. She had recently gotten up the nerve to try to run again, it hadn't ended up well, and she had been beaten more harshly then other times. That should have been her first guess that Fenrir was about to get rid of her, but to give her to him? She staggered to her feet and realized that there was something around her wrist. Pulling it off, she unwound it and read the note that had been tucked into it. It was addressed to the house she was at, and there was an eye written in dark ink where the stamp should be. Rise knew what it meant, and knew that she didn't have a choice on running now or not, they were watching her.

So, taking all of her strength, Rise took a few staggering steps and stopped, an painful jab hitting her in the ribs. She whimpered and nearly fell over but finally made her way to the door. Leaning against the door frame for a long moment, she reached out and rung the doorbell to the house. Knowing that she didn't have a choice on how they saw her, or what happened after that, because she no longer belonged to Fenrir, she belonged to his misbehaving son. "Delivery.." She said in a weak voice, and almost laughed at the thought that she wasn't bringing the delivery, she WAS the delivery.

[Peter Howard]

Alone with his thoughts, Ariel felt more isolated than he’d ever been. He turned his attention back to the food, deciding to busy his body and his mind with loading the plates up with food. He’d lost his appetite now so instead of splitting his plate with Ollie, he gave it all to the plucky blonde. He could hear the laughter in the front room. Georgio had probably said something stupid, either that or Ollie. They were all probably hungry. Ariel had made another bacon sandwich for Penny and Orion to share. The two were probably munching away as he moved.

But when they plates were full and the pans were empty, Ariel’s thoughts dived back to the girl he’d had the unpleasant first experience of turning someone with. He could remember how creamy her skin had been, marred with the dirt that living with them brought. He could remember the feel of her soft, baby-like skin against his lips. He could recall her smell, so strong in his mind. Everything about her now made him feel sick. Not because he was disgusted by her but because he was disgusted by himself. Ariel had ruined a great beauty. She had probably had so much potential. Now he’d reduced her to having nothing. Werewolves weren’t accepted. Werewolves were punished for turning people. Ariel didn’t know what he was going to say, or do. Fenrir probably found it funny.

“Ariel?!”

“Yeah I’m coming!”

The blonde snapped to attention and he picked up two of the plates. He turned around and walked towards the living room. He opened the door with his foot as his mother shouted for him again. He lifted his gaze and it froze on the front door. You could see it perfectly from the doorway of the kitchen. Georgio was stood by it, staring unseeingly at the person leaning heavily against the doorframe. Suddenly, Ariel’s hands unclenched around the plates, sending them tumbling onto the floor. They smashed, startling the children and Ollie, all of whom had been absorbed in the television. Fiona turned her chocolate gaze on her son and bored them into him, searching for the answer to her silent question. Ariel’s eyes fell to the parchment in the girl’s hand and he felt his blood run cold.

Fenrir. They’d dumped her.

“Ariel...who is she?” Fiona asked slowly.

Ignoring his mother, Ariel stepped over the plate wreckage and approached the door. He brushed passed the dark-haired man lingering by the door and looked at the girl curiously. He lifted his arm up and hesitantly reached out to her. Ariel’s hand went to the neckline of her blouse and pushed it down, knowing what to expect. The wound was throbbing. Blood had crusted over it, no doubt increasing the pain she was in, and dirt covered that, increasing the already high chances of infection. The wound always had to be clean. They never closed but if you were lucky a thin layer of skin grew over. Regardless of whether you were lucky enough to have that or not, you needed to keep it clean. Fenrir probably had someone lick his; the smarmy git. They weren’t cleaning her. Being without your maker never really helped, either – Ariel being an example of this.

“I am so sorry,” He whispered, removing his hand slowly. He moved closer and wrapped an arm around her waist. He nudged her arm onto his shoulder and lifted her legs up; reminiscent of the way he’d held her that night. Ariel kicked the door closed and turned around, heading for the staircase. He ignored his mother’s exclamations and picked up pace. He was exhausted mentally, this just about made up for his turmoil. She was safe now, but not out of the woods yet.

Once on the landing, Ariel went for the bathroom. He entered the large room and kicked that door shut. He laid the girl down in the large bathtub and went back to the door. He locked it and turned around, pressing his back against it. He exhaled and inhaled a much needed breath of oxygen. The bathroom hadn’t been the best move but it had a lock and here he could wash her. She was coherent for the most part, though. He doubted she’d want to be touched by anyone, let alone him.

[Risé Lehmberg]

The door had opened to a beautiful woman, standing in her nightgown. A family having a normal breakfast when of course she came and ruined everything. "Erm.. I'm here to see Ariel." she said in a hoarse voice, her body slowly letting her get more and more exhausted as she leaned heavily on the door frame, she had no doubt that if she stayed there much longer she would faint. Suddenly her head snapped up when she heard the smashing of a plate, her eyes flew to the food that lay on the floor but found she wasn't hungry for that, she wanted something.. bloodier.. and it sickened her to no end. "I.." She whispered but he was already crossing to her, when he reached towards her, she automatically flinched away from him, but he pulled down her blouse anyway. Showing the wound that pained her to no end.

The air on the wound made it hurt even worse and she felt herself inhale sharply, her eyes clouding over with tears that she didn't want to shed. She heard him apologize and before she knew what he was doing he had picked her up and her mind flashed directly to that night, the night he had bit her. Her mind went into overload and she nearly made him drop her when she struggled, but she was to exhausted, and with only a kick or two in defense, she let her head drop against his chest, unable to fight anymore. She heard a door open and then close and she was set onto a hard surface, a hard clean surface that was so different then what she was used to, she had to open her eyes and look. She was in a beautiful clean bathroom. Of course it probably wasn't as beautiful as they come, but from what she was used to, it was heaven. Her hand reached up and touched the porcelain surface of the tub, and her head lifted up slightly, staring at the cotton towels, the clean sinks and mirror. Her own hand was covered in dirt, and she hadn't realized just how dirty she actually was until she saw it compared to the bathtub she was sitting in.

Finally her eyes moved to him and she sat up straighter, trying to look less weak then she actually was. "Don't you.. I... Get away.. "She whispered her eyes turning wild with fear. She could almost feel his lips against her skin again, feel the jolt of pain as it coursed through her body, sending wave after wave of torturous pain. Pain HE had caused, pain His kind had made her go through! She was shivering hard and she pulled her knees to her chest, staring at him with a wild fear etched onto her face. "Don't touch me... don't.. you dare.. touch me again." She whispered hoarsely. "It's your fault... your fault." She whispered and hid her face from him, unable to even speak anymore, her body shivering so hard she was sure she looked absolutely pathetic sitting there. She hadn't done anything to deserve these last few months, and now... she lay in the first safe spot she had been in since that night, and she was to afraid to even look at the one person who might help her, because the one person who could help her.. was the reason she was so hurt.

Gasping for breath, Rise put her hand on her chest, feeling the nearly infected, dirty wound and she let out a small cry of pain, feeling another shock of burning pain flow through her body. "It hurts... so bad.." She whispered, rocking back and forth slightly. She hadn't dared to let herself know how much pain she was actually in on the ride there, the entire time there, her body had ceased to work like it should have, shutting out most of the pain she had been in. Fenrir had lost his willingness to keep her around after she had been bitten. Mostly because she no longer smelled of herself, she smelt like a werewolf, smelt like one of THEM, and now.. she was one of them, and she hated herself, and them, and everyone else in the world for letting it happen to her. "I want to go home..." She whispered suddenly. "I just.. I want to go home.."

[Peter Howard]

The bathroom needed cleaning, Ariel observed. But first, the girl in the bathtub did. He brought himself away from the door and unlocked it. He opened it up and listened to the sounds coming from downstairs. They were moving about, cleaning up the mess he’d left behind for them. Ariel bit his lip and opened up the bathroom door wide. He stepped out onto the landing and crossed over to his bedroom. He threw the door open and went for the chest of drawers that held his shirts and various other titbits. He opened one and took a pair of boxers that he’d taken out of the airing cupboard that morning. They were still relatively warm too which was good news. Ariel grabbed a random shirt from one of the other drawers and left his bedroom, crossing back once more to the bathroom. He entered it and once again closed it, locking the door again.

Ariel approached the girl but her cry made him stop. He bit his lip and tossed the clothes onto the lid of the toilet. They fell off, as he’d thought, and fell onto the rug. Ariel rolled his eyes and knelt down on the floor beside the bathtub. He rested his arms on the side and looked at the girl. Behind the grime was a very pretty specimen. Ariel hated himself for killing the innocence in her. He would remedy it though. He didn’t know how but he would. “I’m sorry,” he heard himself apologize again and wondered how long he’d keep it up. “I know it’s my fault you’re in this mess. Merlin knows I wouldn’t have done it if I had known. It is my fault but I have to touch you if we’re going to get you clean.” Ariel said firmly.

Her abrupt movement made Ariel’s heart jump into his throat. He swallowed back a gasp and watched as she curled up in pain. He knew it was the wound. Fenrir had put it in a stupid place. He was banking on Ariel rejecting her, he was sure of it. The Lycanthropy would kill her instantly in that case. The young ones needed their makers. Ariel didn’t know why and he didn’t know how but they needed them. They shared genes. It was just like a child needed its parent; the pup needed its mother wolf; or father in Ariel’s case. Deciding to take action or have to deal with a corpse, Ariel put his hand on her back. He brought her forward and pulled at the blouse she had on. When the material wouldn’t budge, Ariel leaned forward and put his teeth into it, cutting the weak material with his canines. He pulled it off of her and tossed it to the side.

With the material away from her body, Ariel could see the extent of the damage done to the wound. “Oh for-” he hated Fenrir more than ever at that moment. Ariel took his wand out of his pocket and took pointed it at the bath taps. They sprang with water and began to fill the tub. With a severing and vanishing spell, the rest of her clothes were gone. Ariel, deciding to be bold, took his socks off and unbuckled his belt. He dropped his trousers down and rolled up the boxer shorts he had one before throwing one leg over the side of the bath. Once in he knelt down as far as possible, without getting the boxers wet, to get a better look at the wand. The bath for some odd reason could quite comfortably fit at least three people. He didn’t know why because it was tiny but he was sure it was an illusion Fiona had put on the tub. It was probably quite large and circular. The side nearest the wall most definitely did not feel real. Still, he wasn’t about to complain.

“Oh f-ck it,” Ariel let his knees drop to the bottom of the bath and he flicked his wand at the taps. His hands went to the girl’s ankles and he held them firmly. “Look, I know I must seem like the worst person in the world to you. I am sorry but I want to help you. I really do. This is my call, my mistake. We need to make the best of it. I’m not going to look at you inappropriately or anything of the like – I’m not my father – but I need to see to the wound otherwise you’ve got a one way ticket to the crematorium. Do we understand each other?” Ariel waited for a nod or some form of agreement. “Okay, how about you tell me your name?” He reached over and picked up the bar of soap and a flannel. He dropped the latter in the water and let it soak up before lifting it out. Ariel pressed it gently against the wound in a hope to loosen the dried blood. He let it drop and frowned slightly. It was red-raw, furious. “Ah,” he smiled knowingly. “Someone’s puppy isn’t too happy. What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

[Risé Lehmberg]

Rise watched as he left and nearly tried to get up, but she was to weak to even lift her arm to put it up on the side of the tub. So she lay there, watching as he came in and locked the door again. He had a bundle of clothes in his arms but that was all she really saw before the pain took over her again. When it had calmed down, she looked over to see him on the ground next to the tub, watching her, apologizing, and she didn't want to look at him, but she couldn't look away. He had made her like she was, and yet, she couldn't hate him. There was a connection there, a connection she wished didn't exist, but it did, and she couldn't turn away from it. He truly wanted to help her. When he tried to get her blouse off, she whimpered and then felt his teeth brush against her back lightly, but it made her flinch so bad she nearly stood up, but once her blouse was off, she found herself folding her arms over her chest, despite the pain there, she didn't want him to see her naked, there was only so much a girl could endure before she had to say no.

Of course it didn't appear that he had the same ideas in his mind, as he turned the water on, and started to cut and vanish her clothing completely off. Luckily for her by the time her clothes were off all the way, the water was high enough that she could cover herself easily. Her eyes darted to him when he suddenly started to undress and she whimpered loudly moving farther back into the tub, her eyes darting everywhere around, looking for an escape and knowing he had locked the door. She was to weak to stand up at the moment, let alone run, but that was the only thing on her mind, that and the fact that he was stripping to his boxers, and climbing in the tub with her, and she was completely naked. Her eyes grew wider as he moved towards her and she tried to scoot herself back farther away from him, her dirty hair falling in her eyes.

She felt his hands on her ankles, and her mind flashed back to the night she had gotten bitten. Her mind went into overdrive mode and she almost screamed, but gulped it down and listened to him talk. He wouldn't look at her inappropriately, he wanted to help her, or she would die. Die.. let him touch her, or die.. at this moment she'd rather die, but she slowly nodded and let him move closer to her. When he asked her name she had to gulp and close her eyes, clearing her throat several times before she could say. "I'm Rise... Rise Lehmberg.." She said hoarsely as she watched him slowly move forward and touch the flannel to the wound between her breasts.

It was horribly red and raw, and it hurt like crazy, but he started to smile, and said that her puppy wasn't happy. She had no idea what he was talking about, but suddenly he was looking up at her asking what was wrong. She shivered and looked down at his hand, which was still pretty close to the wound. "My puppy?" She asked softly, her eyes on him fearfully. "It's probably because I'm sitting naked in front of the last person I want to see.. after being shoved out of a car after a really long car ride, after being beaten, humiliated, and almost driven insane over the last few months.. so yeah.. my puppy isn't happy." She said and then flushed deep red out of embarrassment and then looked down, covering up her chest with her hands.

[Peter Howard]

Ariel was going to take credit for how clean the wound was in cut. It was in awful shape hygiene-wise, left untouched by anyone let alone him, but it was a nice well done bit of...body modification? Compared to his own, that was like a bit of designer tailoring. Fenrir had taken two bits and a nip before deciding on Ariel’s ribcage, the bastard. Said wound would have let him bleed to death. Nine-years-old and he would have been exempt from having to suffer. Fenrir took precautions against that, though, something Ariel knew he should have done for Risé. He looked at her when she said her name, his concentration switching from the wound to her. Ariel dunked the flannel back into the hot water and brought it to her face. He dabbed it across her cheek, taking great care with the gash that marred her skin there. She was in a lot of pain with the wound. Fenrir hadn’t just felt like being an asshole last night – mostly because he already was one – there was a method to it.

The Ministry was a worry quickly bubbling in the back of Ariel’s mind. The Ministry didn’t like Werewolves; they also didn’t like werewolves who turned humans into other werewolves. Ariel was both. How he’d managed it he didn’t know. He’d been faced with what felt like a dream. This was reality. He could feel it. He could feel her. She was his reality, the end product born out of his own failure to understand his father. They’d both pay for it. He’d go to Azkaban with a double sentence – one for being a werewolf and the other for biting a human – and she’d get a cell next door to his, just because she was now technically a Greyback. It was a dream. His sister was knocking about the house somewhere. Ariel now had this girl to look out for. He didn’t know what he was supposed to do. He could only do but follow instinct because anything else wasn’t going to help him.

“It’s just...” Ariel smiled bashfully, “What I refer to the dog as. You probably don’t even know it’s there yet. It’ll be in a foul mood if this is any indication, though.” Ariel gestured to the raw wound on her chest. “The bites are always a good judge of the wolf’s mood as well as your own. It’s why you have to keep it so clean – well, one reason.” Ariel dunked the flannel back in the water that was quickly changing colour and he dabbed it against the wound. Ariel moved closer to get a proper look at it and gently skimmed his thumb over the surface. There was power beyond there. Ariel understood now what Fenrir meant when he spoke about new wolves. They were wild in every sense of the word. It was scary, actually but it was nothing Wolfsbane couldn’t control; not that the potion worked for Ariel much anymore. That was the scary part.

Ariel sighed, keeping his eyes on the wound, as he wondered how he was going to bandage it. “I could put one of those cotton plasters over it couldn’t I? Then give you sash-like bandages that cross.” Ariel made the appropriate hand gestures. Ariel put his hands on either side of the bathtub, bracing himself as he contemplated getting out. “I’ll give you some privacy shall I?” He pushed himself up and stepped over the side onto the carpeted floor. Ariel pulled it shirt off and chucked it in the direction of the hamper, managing to get it in. He grabbed his dry clothes from the floor and looked at Risé. “I’ll leave the door open a wee bit. Tell me when you want to get out, okay? I want to go and get changed quickly. I’ll be across the hall. Just remember that I want to help you, Risé. You only have to ask,” Ariel smiled gently and dropped his arms down to his sides, his right arm brushing the wound on his ribcage. He moved to say something but thought better of it and turned, leaving the bathroom and heading back to his bedroom to change.

[Risé Lehmberg]

Rise took the time he spent staring at her wound, to examine his face. He was a handsome boy, older then her by maybe a year or two. Dark features, but a nice face, he was looking at her wound so intently, she found herself looking down at it herself. She hadn't given much thought of it since it had been inflicted, only when it caused her great pain, she had tried to deny it, denying she had been bitten, and it didn't help that right after Ari had left, they had beaten her a lot harder then before. She hadn't transformed yet, she hadn't even felt different yet, it was just an incredibly painful wound, that looked infected and raw. She flinched away from his touch again, but when he spoke she stopped and listened.

Watching him as he spoke and stared at the wound, she felt a soft whimper escape her throat. There was something else with her? Something in her body, sharing it, waiting to come free? She shuddered hard, and when he was done talking, he started to dab at the wound again, only this time it REALLY hurt, and she yelped loudly, half pushing him away as she curled up even tighter into a ball, protecting her body from him. But he wasn't really paying attention to her she didn't think. For after that, he started to wipe off the cut on her face, which made her wince and pull away hard, turning her face away from him.

When he stood up, Rise shuddered and felt warm water rush against her again, his body had been blocking it and she could see the dirt specks coloring the water around her. She had never been so dirty before in her life, but when you lived in a tent, was pushed into dirt, cut, beat, kicked around, well you got dirty. And she was proof of that. Rise looked up at him as he left and left the door open a tiny crack, just enough that she couldn't see out of it, but she could tell it was open. The second he was gone, she grabbed a wash cloth, and got it wet. Water... it was like her mind was finally allowed to enjoy what she had been put in, the second he had left, she had let herself stop thinking about him, and work on getting herself clean. The water was pretty dirty already, so she pulled the stopper and waited for it to drain, still sitting in the tub as it did. Once it was drained, Rise started up the water again, warmer this time, taking her time in rubbing herself down with the bar of soap.

Once her skin was clean, Rise shakily got up and found some shampoo and conditioner. After applying a generous amount into her hair, she made sure to scratch long and hard at her scalp, making sure that it was clean and free of any dirt left, letting her long hair untangle around her shoulders, falling limp against it, finally free of dirt. After she had shampooed, Rise put a little bit of conditioner in her hair, and then set to shaving her legs (Which at this point weren't the best looking in the world) and after she felt nearly clean, she washed out her hair the rest of the way, and soaked in the tub a bit longer, feeling the warm water surround her body, she closed her eyes and felt exhaustion take over. But she couldn't sleep yet.. not yet.

After a long moment of sitting in the bath like that, Rise finally managed to pull herself to her feet, and look down at the cut between her breasts, staring in shame at the mart that marred her flesh. She had never been one to wear a bikini, but she did enjoy the one she did have, but now... well she might never go swimming again with this mark on her body. Draining the tub, Rise stepped out of the bath and stood there shakily, trying to regain her balance as she stood there, her eyes locked on the mirror in front of her. She had changed in the last few months, and it was easily visible to her in the mirror.

It had been a long time since Rise had even SEEN herself in something so nice as a mirror, but here she was, staring at her now clean skin, her wound just visible at the bottom edge of the mirror, her hair wet and limp around her shoulders, her skin almost glowing in the light, well she felt like she was glowing because she had scrubbed so hard to get the dirt off, it was slightly red. After a moment of taking in her new appearance, Rise wrapped a towel around herself and dried off, before going to the door, realizing she had no clothing anymore. She cleared her throat, and opened the door slightly to look out into the hall. She was feeling a lot better after her wound had been tended to, and her body had been cleaned, and she glanced into the hallway, unsure of what to do. "Ariel?" She whispered softly, glancing around before stepping out in the hall..

Halfway out of the door her chest started to heave and she felt weak and dizzy. She hadn't taken more then a half step while in the bathroom, but now that she had actually moved more, she could physically feel the effects of the pain and turmoil she was going through. It didn't help that she was in a sort of state of shock now that she was free from Fenrir, only to find out she was a Werewolf. "Ariel?" She asked again and half fell half guided herself across the hallway, where she opened the door quickly and slid inside, still clutching the towel against her skin, pressing the door closed softly she turned to look at the room and look at Ariel, for the first time since being clean.

[Peter Howard]

Pulling the door to, Ariel gave Risé a bit of privacy. He padded across the carpet, glancing down the stairs in case Ollie or his mother had decided to linger there. Instead, it was Penny, playing with one of her toy horses. She brightened when she saw him and jumped to her feet, hopping up the remaining stairs. She wrinkled her nose upon seeing him in his boxers before giggling. Ariel felt his cheeks heat slightly and Penny continued to grin her gappy smile at him. She’d lost her two front teeth earlier in the week much to the dismay of Fiona who’d never even heard of the Tooth Fairy before Penny mentioned that the other children got money underneath their pillows. Fiona, ever the smartest of mother’s, gave Penny fifty pound – twenty-five for each tooth. Ariel was beginning to wish he’d lose his teeth now. Perhaps the dog would then he’d get twice as much.

“How come you can have your girlfriend over, Ari?” She asked curiously, her eyes dancing over to the bathroom door. She did not move though. “Lolly isn’t allowed his girlfriends over...”

Ariel laughed and gently tugged on his sister’s pigtail. He picked her up and chucked her up in the air. She squealed and Ariel caught her by her legs before dangling her upside down. She continued to giggle as he walked into his room. He chucked her on his bed and crossed the room to his chest of drawers. Penny jumped up on the bed and began to bounce, her pigtails jumping up and down with her. She hugged her pony to her chest as Ariel grabbed some pyjama bottoms from his drawers. “She’s not my girlfriend,” he said finally, pushing the drawers shut. “And Ollie isn’t allowed his girlfriends over because not only does he not live here but I can’t stand any of them!” Ariel picked Penny up again and set her down on the floor. “Fly away, little bug. Go and see your brother. He’s probably stolen your dolls.”

Penny gasped and scuttled away. He listened to her slide down the banister and the subsequent shouting at her brother. Ariel chuckled to himself and dug out a pair of boxers. He quickly changed and pulled on the first pair of pyjama bottoms he’d put his hands to. Ariel took his wand out from behind his ear and flicked it out the wet boxers, vanishing them from existence. He put his wand down on his desk and turned around to go to his bookcase. Instead, his eyes fell on his reflection. Ariel diverted towards it and looked at himself critically. He blew some of his hair out of his eyes and ran his finger across one of the scars that crisscrossed across his chest. A sigh left his lips and he turned his head to the side, half expecting a difference. There was none.

Ariel turned slightly, lifting up his arm to look at the bite on his ribcage. It didn’t look bad but it wasn’t good either. Sighing in frustration, Ariel walked over to his bed. He sat down on it before throwing his legs up onto it. He dropped his head onto the pillows and closed his eyes, listening out for Risé. He didn’t have to wait long for her, either. She entered his bedroom and closed the door quickly behind her. Ariel raised an eyebrow and opened his eyes. He pushed himself up into a sitting position and looked at her. “Are you alright?” He asked, obviously concerned.

[Risé Lehmberg]

Rise stared at the room she had just entered. Clean, and smart looking, she stood there for a long moment before her eyes finally fell on Ariel. She blushed hard and pulled the towel around her tighter. He had asked her if she was okay, but she didn't say anything as she looked around the room silently, pushing her wet hair out of her face, her eyes studying his bedroom. It was such a boys room there was no mistaking it. Ariel laid on the bed in a relaxed position, and she tried her hardest not to look at him. Finally she said very softly, as though afraid of her own voice. "I don't have any clothes.." She whispered and her eyes flickered over to him before going back to a poster on his wall.

"I... I need to borrow some.." She said softly, her eyes finding a spot on the poster and not moving from there. She could feel her body shaking slightly as she slowly moved into the room, and let her eyes wander over it with only a mild interest, obviously keeping her eyes from him, as she turned so that she could see him out of the corner of her eye, but wasn't looking directly at him, and sat with one leg on his bed, making sure that the towel covered her up completely. She stared at her lap and then glanced up at him, her eyes finally falling on the boy who had turned her, and the boy who was now trying to help her. "I need... a hairbrush too... and.. could I please brush my teeth?" She asked suddenly, her eyes boring into his all of a sudden. The only thing she wanted to do right now, was cleanse her body, wash away the grime, the hard ache, the pain over the last few months. She just wanted to be clean now.