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Twitter: @XsQuestmistress
AskFM: https://ask.fm/XSQuestmistress

Previous thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2454830/
Character & Archived Threads: https://pastebin.com/EP5wUbjSSpellbook (in Progress): https://pastebin.com/q9WUkeBM
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Lynnette: The over-tall volleyball player and gal-pal, BFF, wing-gal, etc.
Professor Tanner: Preternatural Biology Teacher.
Eddie: Rock hound and computer geek.
Adele: A young woman who once needed Caitrin's help.
Max: A werewolf with a problem.
Belinda: Max's problem - a werewolf who might be enchanted.
Rebecca: Hateful, stuck up, snobby bitch, Jack's sister.
Christina: Rebecca's flunky, hates and fears Kiora.
Valerie: One of Caitrin's friends, though she's usually trying to set her up on dates.
Shelby: A rather nice young man, friendly with Caitrin and Lynne.
Cam: Local and rather infamous artiste.
Paul: Wants to be a member of the Preternatural Investigative Team with the police.
Jack: Yummy would-be MMA star, potential dating material, Rebecca's brother.
Evian: Aos Si who works at Saks Fifth Avenue, potential contact.
Cinnamon: A werewolf with a clue.
Breanne: Leader of a tribe of fairies (demifey) in the Westfield Center Mall.

>>2471762
[] Ask her how she can see through Kiora's glamour; she might have a charm or four-leaf clover on her.

>>2471762
>[] Ask her how she can see through Kiora's glamour; she might have a charm or four-leaf clover on her.

>>2471762
>[x] Ask her how she can see through Kiora's glamour; she might have a charm or four-leaf clover on her.
A good icebreaker.

>>2471762
>[] Ask her about pack interaction; she may know Max and you don't want to get anyone in trouble.

[X] Ask her how she can see through Kiora's glamour; she might have a charm or four-leaf clover on her.
[x] Ask her about pack interaction; she may know Max and you don't want to get anyone in trouble.

"Before I ask the things I really want to know, I am curious....you can see Kiora, can't you?" Kiora glances at you from your shoulder, which you see from the corner of your eye; you can't quite see her expression so you spare her an actual glance and she sticks her tongue out at you. "Really mature, darling."

Cinnamon's grin widens, and her teeth are definitely not quite human; the canines and eye teeth are more prominent, her incisors slightly smaller, and her molars look much more like premolars in their jaggedness. Max's were pretty normal in comparison. "I learned how to make faerie ointment from my teacher. I'm in training to be a shamakha for one of the northern packs. I thought it might be a good precaution when coming to a place as haunted and strange as this city tends to be." Your look of confusion earns you a wink. "Mine works on a few other things besides faeries. Ghosts and specters especially."

"Maybe we should trade some recipes later," you suggest and she nods pleasantly. "Anyways, what I really mean to ask you about has to do with werewolves, but nothing to do with the class." She looks interested, and you start to bite your lip, except Kiora pokes your cheek with her fisted hand. "First of all, I guess you're not from around here, so I guess you don't belong to any of the local packs."

"Pack. There's only one in San Francisco. I've paid them to allow me here for a week, to teach and explore, so they won't bother me." That brings up all sorts of questions, but those questions will probably get answered in class. Kiora tugs on your hair and you look back to see Lynne approaching from behind....and slowing down as she gets a good look at whom you are talking to. You smile and turn back to the werewolf, who has also noticed Lynne but has returned her attention to you.

"I have been asked to help the local werewolves in finding and making sure one of their number isn't in trouble, specifically enchanted or bespelled. She's apparently stopped keeping in touch with her brother or her pack at all, and they're worried. Is that unusual, or are they just being possessive, or is there some other reason she might do that?" Lynne walks up beside you and offers a finger to Kiora, who pats it lightly, with a grin. "Ah, Cinnamon, my best friend Lynne; Lynne, Cinnamon, who is obviously Professor Tanner's friend." Cinnamon nods her head in greeting but very pointedly leaves her hands behind her on the desk she's leaning on. Lynne picks up the hint instantly and doesn't offer hers. "I was just asking about Belinda, the werewolf we're supposed to find."

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Your question makes Cinnamon frown mildly. "How old is she?" You tell her, and the frown deepens. she glances down at her feet, and then notices your shadows, but doesn't ask about them in favor of answering your question. "Yes, that's incredibly unusual. Typically if they go rogue like that it's in their thirties or forties, when they're long past adulthood. Incidentally, she'll look older, but we keep a steady age once we get to that point until we get to about eighty or so, when we age really rapidly. So don't presume our age based on looks, it doesn't work. That said....if she's only sixteen, she'll be exceedingly temperamental and excitable, and probably randy as all heck. That's really bad news for humans."

"That's really not good," Lynne adds, glancing at you. You nod absently; if she's hanging out in a BDSM club, there's all sorts of horrors that could develop from that.

"She'll also be pining for her pack, if she's away from them all. We're even more a pack animal than humans are, and we get agitated without fellow werewolves around. so she's even more liable to be snappish and high strung." Cinnamon looks at you with concern. "All you're supposed to do is find her and find out if she's doing this by choice?"

[] Well, it could become more complicated, but yes, that's the current agenda.
[] If it's as bad as you say, I might have to do more; they're paying a lot of money for this, but i'm also concerned....
[] Do you have a problem with that? I'm not a private investigator really, but you seem more concerned than I'd like.
[] Write in?

>>2471793

[] Well, it could become more complicated, but yes, that's the current agenda.
[] If it's as bad as you say, I might have to do more; they're paying a lot of money for this, but i'm also concerned....

>>2471793
>While we haven't sealed the deal yet, the tentative arrangement is "whatever I need to do to help her."
>[] Do you have a problem with that? I'm not a private investigator really, but you seem more concerned than I'd like.

>>2471802
I might be misunderstanding a bit, but here's the part in question
>"You want me to determine if she's charmed or enchanted and by whom?"

>"Yes."

>"That would be three hundred dollars. If you want me to remove it, that's going to be at least five hundred, and I'm going to need to get help if she's a werewolf, so it may cost more. If there's a witch involved, I won't charge more, but if there is a faerie or a sorcerer involved, my rate will double or triple depending on what I have to do to help her." You hope that scares him off a little.

>"We'll pay you a thousand dollars up front, and you can do whatever you need to do to help her, and discuss further payment after." Shit, shit, shit! You don't know if that's just a werewolf thing or if you've just been duped into something a lot more dangerous than you're ready for.

Like I don't know, while Caitrin's initial offer was just finding out if Belinda was controlled, Caitrin did include potential upgrades and it sounds like Max is gonna purchase the deluxe package

>>2471793
>[] If it's as bad as you say, I might have to do more; they're paying a lot of money for this, but i'm also concerned....
>[] Do you have a problem with that? I'm not a private investigator really, but you seem more concerned than I'd like.

>>2471805
Like I don't know, I feel like there's at least an implicit assumption on Max's part that we're going to break whatever kind of spell Belinda is under, though I guess Caitrin might not want to let Cinnamon know that for some reason, and is this bending the truth.

>>2471811
As a point of clarification, Caitrin may bend the truth all she wants. she can't ~lie~ but she can obfuscate, obscure, hide, twist, and omit as much as she likes.

>>2471793
>[x] Well, it could become more complicated, but yes, that's the current agenda.
>I can't say I expect it'll stop there unless there was a simple and easy resolution. I also can't imagine what that would even be.

>>2471814
Yeah, it's kind of hilarious how not being able to lie outright in no way makes someone more trustworthy.

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[X] Well, it could become more complicated, but yes, that's the current agenda.
[X] If it's as bad as you say, I might have to do more; they're paying a lot of money for this, but I'm also concerned....
[X] Do you have a problem with that? I'm not a private investigator really, but you seem more concerned than I'd like.
[X] Write in? This is complicated, but I'm to do whatever it takes to solve the issue, really.

A half dozen responses go through your head, and you glance at the clock. Fifteen minutes before class starts. Running a hand through your hair, you take a deep breath. "Well, the gist of it is, I'm going to find her, find out what has a hold of her, and then deal with it in as an expedient a manner as possible without getting Lynne or myself hurt or killed or cursed." Cinnamon's eyebrows pop up.

"Is getting cursed something you actually have to worry about often enough to add it to 'getting hurt or killed'?" she asks, and Lynne covers her mouth with one hand and grins into it, her other arm across her belly and supporting. Kiora is watching Lynne with great interest, and you rather wonder what's going on that you're missing.

With Kiora on your shoulder you can't shrug without annoying her, so you lift your hands in a helpless gesture. "It's a possibility. It's happened before, when I've dealt with faeries, and it can definitely be a problem with hags or witches, but it's not likely to happen with sorcerers or spirits. So, I kind of do include it as a real problem." You gesture at your shadow. "That's not a curse - it's something to do with my nature as a witch. But I have to think about such things realistically. Does what I plan to do bother you for some reason? You seem even more worried than Max was. Or am I not getting paid enough...?"

Cinnamon looks thoughtful, and then shakes her head. "No problem with it, but if it's just the two of you, you're going to have a heck of a time if she's doing this willingly. Do you know how virulent her strain is?" That startles you. "Ah. There's different strains of the virus. If it's especially virulent then a simple French kiss can be infectious. If it's not, then a heavy exchange of blood might be the only vector."

"If she's willing then it's not our problem any more, but to know that, I have to actually get close enough to study her - or let Kiora study her." Kiora's relationship with magic is far more intricate than your own, and her eyes can see far more of it than yours can - unless she shares her sight with you, which she has been known to do on occasion. "I have another friend who might be able to help, if things get dicey...." Lynne looks slightly relieved that you're taking her suggestion to get help seriously. "If all goes well, it won't be troublesome. If it's a sorcerer or a faerie, I'll have to rethink any strategy I come up with, so I'm not planning too far ahead just yet."

She looks at the clock and you notice people starting to stream into the classroom. "....after I help Professor Tanner, I'd like to talk some more," she says, preempting your suggestion for the same. "You'll get some good information int he class, but I have the feeling you're going to need more than that."

[] Invite her to the cafe after; it won't be too crowded.
[] Invite her to your house - Lynne has a meet tonight anyways.
[] See if Professor Tanner minds you using his classroom after it mostly empties.
[] The gym might be ideal - Jack may be there, and that's where Lynne has to go.
[] Write in?

>>2471825
>"Ah. There's different strains of the virus. If it's especially virulent then a simple French kiss can be infectious. If it's not, then a heavy exchange of blood might be the only vector."
And the virus has like a 95% fatality rate, with the survivors also becoming werewolves?

>>2471829
>[] The gym might be ideal - Jack may be there, and that's where Lynne has to go.

>>2471829
>[] The gym might be ideal - Jack may be there, and that's where Lynne has to go.
Can't see much reason not to I suppose

>>2471829
>[] The gym might be ideal - Jack may be there, and that's where Lynne has to go.

>>2471831
That is correct.

I just gotta say good luck XS and anons, I have to pass out.

Also those season girl pictures are just the best, love seeing those.

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[X] The gym might be ideal - Jack may be there, and that's where Lynne has to go.

"Do you know where the gymnasium is?" Cinnamon nods and you give her a smile. "We can meet there. I'll be on the far left. Lynne has a meet today, but there's a chance someone else who might be helping me will be there." Kiora gives you a speculative look, and Lynne smiles, making you blush and Cinnamon grin, rather wolfishly if you have to admit to it. "I don't normally say this, but thank you."

"It's against her religion, kind of," explains Lynne when Cinnamon gives you a confused look. "If I don't get the chance, it's been really nice meeting you," she adds, smiling warmly. Kiora flutters her wings and she rubs the sole of her foot along your collarbone, and you reach up and trace the side of her thigh lightly.

Cinnamon smiles and nods her head, keeping her eyes on yours. "Actually, if you don't mind I'd like to borrow you for a moment more, Lynne....and you're welcome Caitrin. I'm looking forward to talking with you more." You curtsy slightly, and Kiora takes to the air to deliver a floating curtsy of her own before settling on your shoulder again.

You make your way up to where you usually sit, and you're entirely unsurprised to see Max is there, waiting for you. He waves, rather unnecessarily, but you wave back anyways. Kiora turns over and lies belly down across your shoulder, and parts your hair slightly so she can watch Lynne and Cinnamon. you settle down and pull out your notebook, not worried about using a textbook today. He has a small white envelop, which is rather thick, and a manila envelope with a couple of small objects inside. "Hair and fur, and her favorite comb," he says. "Payment," he adds, sliding the white envelope towards you.

With a sigh you turn towards him, and look at the envelopes. If you take either of them or both for that matter, then you're bound by your word to fulfill his request to the best of your ability, unless something incredible happens or you discover something you can't possibly deal with. You see Lynne, who seems awfully flushed, heading up the stairs to where you're sitting; Cinnamon has hopped up onto Professor Tanner's desk and is very amused by all the conversation her presence has caused.

[] Tell him it's going to cost him a cup of his blood as well; you may be able to make a spell that will effectively immunize you and Lynne from his strain of lycanthropy.
[] Tell him in no uncertain terms that you need much more information, and he's going to have to be very clear on what he does want from you.
[] Tell him that you've reconsidered - you won't be able to do this on his current terms, as much as you might regret it.
[] Tell him that you're doubling the price because you've discovered him withholding critical information.
[] Write in?

>>2471861
>[] Tell him it's going to cost him a cup of his blood as well; you may be able to make a spell that will effectively immunize you and Lynne from his strain of lycanthropy.
>[] Tell him in no uncertain terms that you need much more information, and he's going to have to be very clear on what he does want from you.

>>2471861
>[] Tell him in no uncertain terms that you need much more information, and he's going to have to be very clear on what he does want from you.
>[] Tell him it's going to cost him a cup of his blood as well; you may be able to make a spell that will effectively immunize you and Lynne from his strain of lycanthropy.
I'm not sure why the Balm wouldn't be enough, since it sounded like the strain varies in how easy it is to catch it and not how fast it kills you. Then again, we're not exactly saying that's what we're gonna use the blood for.

>>2471873
The balm isn't permanent.

>>2471875
got it thanks

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[X] Tell him in no uncertain terms that you need much more information, and he's going to have to be very clear on what he does want from you.
[X] Tell him it's going to cost him a cup of his blood as well; you may be able to make a spell that will effectively immunize you and Lynne from his strain of lycanthropy.

"Understand, that if and when I take payment and the objects you've given me, it's a bargain. You can't back out, and neither can I, unless the circumstances change so drastically that the bargain can't be fulfilled." He doesn't look surprised, but Kiora turns around and starts staring at him. "However....I'm going to need two more things from you."

He doesn't look at all surprised. "What are those?"

"First, I'm going to need much more information, and not just about your sister. That also means I'm going to need to know exactly what you expect from me when I find her." No 'if' there; between a favorite comb, hair and fur, it won't matter what form she is in. Unless someone is using really powerful magic to hide her, you'll find her, and if they are, you'll know that much more. "I know you want me to remove any spells or compulsions or enchantments from her, and I can do that with most of them. But if she's there of her own free will - and I will know the difference - what then?"

Max looks annoyed, but he only gives it a few seconds thought. "Well, if it's her own free will, then there's not much that can be done about it, aside from involving the police. Which we can do, but it has risks that I've mentioned. Still, if it's the only way, that's what will happen." Lynne slides into the seat on the other side of you, glancing at Max and then setting up her laptop and pulling out her own books. He glances at Lynne, then to Kiora and finally back to you. "What else?"

"How contagious is your strain of lycanthropy?" He grimaces, and glances down at Cinnamon, who is talking with the professor. "I'm not planning on getting it, but if she's in a BDSM club, the chances of it being caught at random are huge, and I have to be able to tell people what's going on if something bad happens, like her going berserk or being compelled to assault people. I've seen it happen." You've seen worse, really, but he doesn't need to know.

"It's about average - saliva in an open wound, blood to blood, sexual contact with blood involved....simple sex won't do it, if you're careful. she's not much of a biter - we get that trained out of us very fast. Our wolf forms are actually wolves though, so if she's changed, and she bites you, there's a high risk." You nod, and he seems surprised you're not taking notes. "Anything else?"

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"She's actually your sister, right?" He nods shortly, annoyed again. "Then I need a cup of your blood. At least eight ounces. Ten would be better." He stares at you like you're insane. "Yews, I'm aware that it's illegal and I'm aware it can be considered murder to introduce lycanthropy to anyone, but I need it anyways. I warned you I might want something more than money. But I'll want the money too. on the other hand, when you give me your blood, I'll swear oaths not to use it in certain ways. And I'd rather die than see what happens if I break that oath."

"Like faeries, huh?" You nod. It only makes sense he'd do some research. "Fine. Anything else?" You wrack your brain, but the basics are covered, and you have enough potions and balms to cover any serious injuries. Even death, if you dared.

"No. that's it. You can give me the blood later - but you'll have to let me take it. The last thing you want is me working magic with contaminated blood." He nods slowly and pushes both envelops towards you. With a sigh you take the envelopes and open them, glancing at them both. Hundred dollar bills, photos, a comb, a plastic baggie with hair, and another with bristly black and grey fur. You look at him. "It's done. I will find your sister Belinda, break any spells I can that are on her, and deal with whatever has her enchanted as long as it's possible for me to do so, in the effort of rescuing her if she needs to be rescued, with the understanding that more cash payment may be needed, in addition to one cupful of your blood. If she is not under a spell or compulsion, I will tell you that, and be done with her and you." He nods shortly. "You have to answer aloud.

He looks confused, but he does answer. "I agree." Max' eyes go wide and he half stands as the feeling of the bargain settles over him like a thick, warm blanket. You're used to the sensation, and it's not discomfiting. If anything, it's a measure of security for you. "Was that...."

"Magic," you reply calmly. "Goodbye, Max. I have to pay attention to class now." He nods, to you and Lynne, and hesitantly nods to Kiora, before leaving quietly as Professor Tanner introduced his guest.

"Kinda cold," Lynne comments without rancor.

"Well, he was hedging, and I don't like not knowing things that can get my friends hurt," you tell her, sighing softly. Kiora smiles up at you fondly. "Just watching out for my darling Kiora and my bestest friend eveah." Lynne snorts, and she too turns her attention to the young....young looking woman who hops off the professor's desk.

"I'm called Cinnamon," she says into the microphone attached to the edge of her vest, "I am here to scare the piss out of you."

Well, that's a promising start to Preternatural Biology....

>To Be Continued....

Thank you for reading and playing. We continue tomorrow night, if all goes well.

>>2471915
Thanks for running, Cinnamon definitely seems interesting so far.

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Cinnamon smiles up at the auditorium, the laughter and chuckles pervasive, but hinting at a touch of nervousness. Unsurprising, given her unusually forthright delivery and her faintly inhuman mien. Lynne leans over and whispers softly, "This ought to be good."

"I'm hoping that is is good," the werewolf replies, confusing almost everyone except you and the few people near you who glance back at the now blushing and rather shocked Lynnette. "First of all, let me introduce myself properly. I am called Cinnamon, because my actual name in Dutch sounds silly for a woman." More relaxed laughter, with less of the nervous undertone. "I am a lycanthrope, specifically one of the Northwestern breed of wolves. I am here to tell you about werewolves, and a little about other lycanthropes, but I'm not going to go over the things you can learn in your books." She gestures to the fully inflated kiddy pool. "and for the show stopping finale, I'm going to turn into a monster for your education and pleasure." The strange young-looking woman pauses, playing with the fringe of her leather vest. "The strip tease is an added bonus."

That nets a lot of laughter, but not from you. Almost everything she's said makes the hair on the back of your neck stand on end, and not just you - Lynne, Kiora, and a couple of others in the room are not amused. You glance at Lynnette, who is shifting uncomfortably in her seat and looking a little worried. Kiora is sitting up and she lifts a hand, which prompts you to place your hand near her. Her tiny hand rubs your wrist slowly, her need to touch and stroke your skin a sign of how nervous she is. "It's not just you," you tell Lynne conversationally, since whispering isn't going to actually prevent Cinnamon from overhearing. "She's throwing off energy into the room, a lot of it. I don't know if it's intentional or not but it seems to be part of her nature. Predatory, maybe."

Lynne relaxes when you admit to feeling the same way. "Glad to know it's not just me," she replies gratefully. She's got Bettany all riled up too....it must be some kind of psychic thing." Bettany is in fact a low grade psychic, just talented enough to know she's not talented enough. Still, whatever Cinnamon is doing is setting of anyone with any kind of talent it seems.

"First of all, let me tell you what the book doesn't about species. There are nine: four kinds of wolves; two kinds of big cats, specifically lions and tigers; hyenas; and two kinds of reptiles, snakes and Komodo dragons." That gets a lot of whispers and murmurs again. "The tenth kind are people who have been infected by one of the others. It is worth noting only three kinds of wolves, lions, hyenas, and Komodos have an infectious virus. The Arctic Wolves, tigers, and snakes are actually not contagious." She grins wolfishly. "That doesn't mean I would suggest getting bitten by them." That nets her more laughter of course.

Professor Tanner is leaning back in his chair, watching the class while Cinnamon speaks. He seems to be looking for specific reactions, but it's hard to say exactly why. Cinnamon is a surprisingly good public speaker; you suspect she's learned a lot of tricks from being a shamankha and teller of tales. Lynne is relaxing, and looking a little bit....not quite 'down' per se, but maybe a little regretful.

[] Ask Lynne what Cinnamon told her after you left in a roundabout way.
[] You'll ask a little later; even if Lynne is recording this, it's better to pay attention.
[] Just rub her back and let her know you're there to support her.
[] Write in?

>>2473038
>[x] Just rub her back and let her know you're there to support her.

>>2473038
>[] You'll ask a little later; even if Lynne is recording this, it's better to pay attention.
>[] Just rub her back and let her know you're there to support her.

>>2473038
>[] You'll ask a little later; even if Lynne is recording this, it's better to pay attention.
>[] Just rub her back and let her know you're there to support her.

>>2473038
>[] Just rub her back and let her know you're there to support her.

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[XX] You'll ask a little later; even if Lynne is recording this, it's better to pay attention.
[X] Just rub her back and let her know you're there to support her.

With a glance over at Lynne, who is clearly distracted, you lightly place your hand on her shoulder. She doesn't jump, but she stiffens for a second, before relaxing into the gentle touch. You leave your hand there, while Kiora turns to watch you, greedily drinking in the sight despite the lack of real intimacy.

She relaxes as you rub lightly, feeling the tension in her body start to ease.

Cinnamon slowly walks back and forth in front of Professor Tanner Desk, and explains some of the other unusual aspects of lycanthropy that aren't mentioned in the books. Wolfsbane and hemlock were used to attempt to counteract the retrovirus infection that werewolves carried; the difference in virulence of the virus being different not by species, but by biology; how a lycanthrope who shifts form often takes on features of the other form. The latter works both ways; her unusual, elfin features are a result of her shifting back and forth often. Likewise her wolfen form is somewhat....alien, apparently. But one of the more important lacks in the book is an explanation of the strength and speed of the lycanthropes.

This prompts both you and Lynne to take note, of course. It most likely will be important.

"There are three basic qualities that lycanthropes consider when comparing one another. Strength, speed, and resilience or endurance. The cats are the fastest overall, though the reflexes of the reptiles is nothing to sneeze at....unless you happen to be allergic to them. Wolves are physically the strongest. It may not look like it, but I can bench four hundred pounds." That nets some laughter, and she grins. "I can also poke a hole through a man's ribs with one finger, so keep that in mind." Cinnamon walks over to the kiddy pool and pulls out a piece of steel rebar from behind it. She casually starts twisting the steel around her hand, slowly working it into a slightly angular coil as she walks back to Tanner's desk. "The reptiles are the toughest. A shotgun blast will probably stop most lycanthropes cold....if you can hit them before the hit you of course!"

She smiles and waits for the laughter to die down as she finishes coiling the rebar, and tosses it to one of the students in front. He nearly fumbles it, and the weight of it shocks him enough that it does hit his desk despite his catch. He stares at it, feeling it and trying to bend it, then hands it off to another student. "A snake or a Komodo dragon won't be stopped by a single blast, unless you manage to take out most of their brains or heart and spine. They've been known to recover from even that, so when dealing with a rogue, make sure you either hit them multiple times in the head or heart, and then run away while they heal. Cowardice is a survival trait." She glances around the room. "And not just for humans."

"So why the silver allergy? Is it magical?" one person asks.

Cinnamon smiles ruefully. "Ah. Well, colloidal silver is an anti-infection agent. It kills the virus, for one thing, by being a more tempting target for the virus to attack while not allowing the virus to actually multiply. It's also a non-reactive metal for living flesh, meaning it's harder for our body to heal around and over, and it kills the cell-structures that promote healing and regeneration by binding to the essential proteins and preventing them from chaining together." She grins. "Sorry, but that part is actually biology."

Lynne looks at you and you smile. "I'll make some tinctures." Cinnamon doesn't respond to that, but glances up at you sidelong. Kiora leans closer, as though trying to study Cinnamon, despite that it only brings her about two inches closer.

She goes on about the family structures, and clannishness of most werewolf packs, and the very strict family structures of the Komodo and their human island-dwellers, the Atamodo. The snakes are even more secretive, and even more clannish apparently, while the hyenas are not. They are matriarchal ("No, the females do not have pseudo-penises, sorry!") but they don't arbitrarily kill other female hyenas either. "We're mostly civilized. I can't speak for the Komodo or the snakes on that matter!"

Finally she comes to the end of her discussion. "So, time to display the thing you're probably most interested....aside from my hot little body," she says, doing a pinup pose, and embarrassing a fair number of people.

[] Encourage Lynne to join you up close to observe everything.
[] Just watch from here - no reason to make anyone think you're unduly interested!
[] Have Kiora study the magical elements of the transformation - there are some, you know for a fact.
[] Write in?

>>2473105
>[] Encourage Lynne to join you up close to observe everything.

>>2473105
>[X] Encourage Lynne to join you up close to observe everything.

>>2473105
>[x] Encourage Lynne to join you up close to observe everything.
>[x] Have Kiora study the magical elements of the transformation - there are some, you know for a fact.
Most the class will be going for an eyeful, and I doubt we care as much what others think.

>>2473105
>[] Have Kiora study the magical elements of the transformation - there are some, you know for a fact.

[X] Encourage Lynne to join you up close to observe everything.
[x] Have Kiora study the magical elements of the transformation - there are some, you know for a fact.

You stand up and Lynne looks at you in surprise. "I want to see this up close," you tell her. "It may be the only chance to do it when we're not in danger." You hesitate and tilt your head towards the stairs. "Come with?"

Oddly, she hesitates, and glances down at Cinnamon, before nodding and getting up out of her seat to join you. Kiora takes flight and lands on her shoulder, rather than yours, and sits down, one arm wrapped in your friend's short blonde hair. The reassurance she provides is entirely mundane, no glamour involved, and it does seem to make Lynne feel better. It makes you all the more curious about what Cinnamon said to her.

You're not the only one moving up to get a better look, but you are one of the only sensitives to do so; all the others are keeping their distance, from the looks of it. Bettany is definitely keeping her distance - she's actually packing up to leave. You fine an empty desk at the front and stand in front of it, while Lynne leans casually and coolly against one. Kiora is greedily watching what is about to happen, especially since Cinnamon, true to her word, is actually taking her clothing off.

The fact that she's shedding moccasins and pants first seems odd, until she speaks into the microphone. "Those of you who are squeamish are going to want to excuse yourselves. There won't be any blood spatter - that's not what the pool is for - but there is going to be some very disturbing stuff going on when I change." Cinnamon glances around as she strips off her panties as well, revealing that she doesn't shave, and has a fine dusting of hair along her legs, as if she's never shaved at all. "Sadly, regeneration works right to the follicles, so shaving is a pointless effort. Laser hair removal works, but, ouch!" There's a lot of nervous laughter. "Also, those of you who study art and psychology are going to see a strong example of uncanny valley when I stop moving around."

She takes off the microphone, completely at ease in her own skin - much like the faeries are - and strips off her vest, revealing a lack of bra. You instantly see what she was talking about, having been around enough faeries to see more naked bodies than most, and the sometimes inhuman anatomy of them makes hers even more obvious to you. The way her muscles lie across her ribs, the way what should be smooth abdominal muscles are ripples oddly, and the seemingly double-jointed ease of movement she has. Her arms and legs are lithe and her hip area is slightly longer. A number of people remark upon her unusual body shape. Lynne is fascinated, and not entirely in a sexual way, though that's there too.

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Cinnamon speaks up, projecting her voice as best she can. "What you are going to see defies a few physical law, the two big ones being conservation of energy and the conservation of mass. The only explanation is magic, and that's why this is preternatural biology, and not biology." You already picked up on that - silver knives are still poisonous to lycanthropes, even by touch. If it was simple biology that wouldn't be the case, because other metals would also be poisonous to them. "Also, you'll never see a werewolf with piercings unless they're really masochistic or they're insanely tough, because it hurts like hell, constantly."

You whisper to Kiora to watch carefully, and she nods, understanding your intent. The werewolf walks over to the pool and steps into it, smiling. "Okay, boys and girls. The hard part is to remember I'm still intelligent and not going to eat you." cinnamon stands up and takes several deep breaths, and you feel your heart starting to race, the wash of power coming from her intense. Kiora shudders and leans into Lynne's neck, and Lynne lays her hand across the pixie's legs, protectively. She can feel it too, but no one else seems to react, except Bettany, who rushes to leave, and one of the other people who was sensitive to whatever Cinnamon was doing earlier.

Cinnamon had not been kidding when she said it wasn't for the squeamish. Her body seems to turn inside out, bones and skin shifting and turning as her muscles tear through her flesh and realign, reorient, twist and shift. Some clear, viscous liquid explodes from her as she shifts, pouring from around her changing flesh. A couple of people retch; one person actually throws up (and it wasn't a woman, surprisingly). The pool catches most of it, but the stuff spatters and has a kind of oily sheen to it. When she's done, she looks like a slightly attenuated, massive wolf, yet there are strange differences; her eyes are the same human grey-brown hazel, and her front paws hand elongated digits - notably, middle and ring finger being the same size. Her ears are slightly shortened and her fur is thin, though it covers all of her.

You might mistake her for a wolf at a distance, but up close she looks monstrously wolf like, not like a wolf. She pads out of the pool, and sits next to Professor Tanner as he stands up, clipping the microphone to his lapel. "That's all for today. Testing on the next two chapters next week." Cinnamon lolls her tongue and you glance at Lynne, who is awestruck by the transformation.

[] So....a slight crush, Lynnette? Dangerous, but understandable!
[] Tell her you'll see her on the court in a bit; you'll grab her books and laptop for her.
[] Ask Cinnamon if you can take a sample of the liquid left when she transformed.
[] Write in?

>>2473198
>[] So....a slight crush, Lynnette? Dangerous, but understandable!

>>2473198
>[] Ask Cinnamon if you can take a sample of the liquid left when she transformed.

>>2473198
>[x] Ask Cinnamon if you can take a sample of the liquid left when she transformed.
Maybe not right away, if everyone else leaves first that'd be great but we shouldn't let the presence of others stop us.
We can tease Lynne later.

I just wanna say XS I really like your lycanthropes. Feels very world of darkness and very original at the same time.

>>2473198
>[] Ask Cinnamon if you can take a sample of the liquid left when she transformed.
>[] So....a slight crush, Lynnette? Dangerous, but understandable!

>>2473198
>[] Ask Cinnamon if you can take a sample of the liquid left when she transformed.
Interesting, so it seems possible that she doesn't have elven blood after all, ...and possibly not native American blood either with a Dutch name, though that's less certain.

Anyway this is really cool and interesting. I wonder if feels as bad as it looks.

>>2473241
A lot of Dutch immigrated to Northern California during the Gold Rush, and in this universe there's still a very strong Native American presence.

>>2473246
Interesting, so she could be the descendent of converts?

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[XX] Ask Cinnamon if you can take a sample of the liquid left when she transformed.
[X] So....a slight crush, Lynnette? Dangerous, but understandable!

You can't help but smile at Lynne's reaction; a thought occurs to you and you walk over to the werewolf - emphasis on wolf currently - and the professor are. Lynne follows you, though only half out of curiosity. "Cinnamon, Professor Tanner, would you mind if I took a sample of the liquid left behind? I promise that I will not use it against Cinnamon or her pack at any time, as long as they do nothing to threaten me."

Lynne looks at you with a bemused expression. "It's a biologically neutral residue, Cait. There's no virus or biological stuff in it, it's more like a form of ectoplasm than...." Her expression lights up. "Ohhhh!"

"Well, someone's read the material," Tanner says with a smile. The wolf-like creature huffs and nods her head, though with a little difficulty. The professor is already getting a basting tube and a few test tubes for you. You feel the familiar weight of magic as the promise takes hold; unlike Max, Cinnamon is not bothered by the sensation, and you suspect she's probably used to it in other forms. There are Native American fae, after all.

Lynne chats with cinnamon and the professor, while Kiora eyes the wolf-creature warily. Cinnamon and a number of students watch you with curiosity and occasionally disgust as you sample the liquid and fill several tubes with it. "Careful," says the professor. "That stuff may be harmless to people and animals, but it will absolutely ruin fabrics and material. It takes serious work to save them." You nod absently and cork the vials tightly, tucking them into your pocket.

"Don't event think about it, Kiora," you warn your familiar, who snaps her fingers in an exaggerated 'foiled again' manner. cinnamon lolls her tongue and waves her tail back and forth, while Lynne laughs, though it's a little strained. You rejoin them, but Cinnamon moves over to the tub once more, and pads to the middle of it, shaking her paws as she walks into the sludgy stuff. That same feeling of power washes over you, Kiora and Lynne; better prepared this time, it doesn't affect you so badly. The remaining students and yourself watch as she transforms again, the process almost identical, except skin instead of fur coming to the top of the half-liquefied muscles and organs as the roil and twist. Cinnamon is crouched there, and breathing heavily, her hair and skin perfectly clean - except for the stuff she's standing in.

Laughing the professor hands you another trio of vials.

"Are you okay?" Lynnette asks cinnamon, who smiles wanly. You glance at Lynne with a question in your eyes, and she blushes, looking down....and smiling ruefully. Which is a little odd for her. Kiora leans into Lynne's cheek again, her eyes bright and eager.

That's not a great sign.

"I'm fine. It's tiring, more than anything else. It only hurts the first few times, but then your body gets used to it. It seems to hurt the infected every time, and they're far worse off physically when they are changed into a werewolf. They get the worst of it." Lynne looks down, averting her eyes, and you smile when Kiora lightly tugs her ear in exhasperation. Cinnamon watches the byplay, and then stares as Kiora rises up and flies over to her.

"You have the most delicate features, Cinnamon, and your eyes are lovely in both your forms." Kiora smiles sweetly, but you recognize that glint in her eyes as Cinnamon opens her mouth to reply.

[] Stop her from thanking Kiora at all costs!
[] She should know better than to thank the fae - she's a shamankha, so she should be fine.
[] Kiora's not just up to mischief, there's something going on here.
[] Write in?

>Last Vote.

>>2473279
>[] Kiora's not just up to mischief, there's something going on here.

>>2473279
>[] She should know better than to thank the fae - she's a shamankha, so she should be fine.
>[] Kiora's not just up to mischief, there's something going on here.

>>2473279
>[] Kiora's not just up to mischief, there's something going on here.

>>2473279
>[] Kiora's not just up to mischief, there's something going on here.

>>2473279
>[x] Kiora's not just up to mischief, there's something going on here.
>If our reaction to Kiora interrupts a possible ill-thought thanks, all the better.

>>2473279
>[X] Kiora's not just up to mischief, there's something going on here.

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[X] Kiora's not just up to mischief, there's something going on here.
[X] Write in? Gratius Interruptus!

"Kiora." You don't raise your voice or try to interrupt Cinnamon, but the lycanthrope pauses and looks to you. So does Kiora and the look of anger on her face reminds you that the pixie isn't a member of the seelie courts, but one of the unseelie - almost sluagh. Her terrifying expression is enough to make your heart skip a beat, but you control your fear, the very act of which makes Kiora lower her head and curtsy to you contritely. Despite her beauty, for that brief second she looked like she could rip her face off and something horrific would have been underneath her skin.

If she were sluagh that could actually be the case.

"If there is something between them, let it be between them, my darling." You offer your hand to her and she flits over slowly, still looking down, abashed. As she lands on your hand you smile at her fondly. "Though I know you meant well, and so does Lynnette." Lynne looks startled but you don't give any indication of noticing it. It doesn't take her long to catch on, though.

"I'm flattered to have you take me side and to have your protection, Kiora," she says, sincerely. Kiora looks up, hope giving her skin a faint glimmer. "Not everyone is as lucky as I am to have a champion such as yourself." Kiora composes herself and then turns, curtsying to Lynne.

"I was going to say, you are magnificently shaped, Kiora, and I have to admit, if you were about five feet taller, I would be more than flattered by your compliment." Cinnamon smiles at Kiora, who looks dubious. "I know that you couldn't catch lycanthropy from me."

Lynne flushes faintly and looks a little embarrassed, while Kiora's mouth opens in a moue of shock. "Excuse me, I have to get ready for my meet," Lynne murmurs. "Cait, could you-"

"Of course." You wave her off with a smile. Cinnamon watches her leave with a wry smile, and starts getting dressed. "I'll meet you at the gym, Cinnamon?" Lynne heads out and you wave her goodbye, glancing up at her books and laptop.

"I'll find it," assures Cinnamon. "Sorry about your friend. I'm afraid I had to let her down, and it hit her a little harder than I expected."

....Oh. Well....that's....Huh.

Well, at the very least it makes what Kiora was trying to do make a little more sense. The demifey takes off and makes slow circles over your head as you climb the stairs to collect your and Lynne's property.

"You're a wonderful friend to us both, Kiora," you murmur softly, and the pixie pauses, looking at you and back-winging slowly. She still looks ashamed of herself. "I didn't notice what was going on. I am glad you did." she smiles, a little more confidently, and slips close, hugging your neck as you put an arm up to your chest to support her.

She's a bit heavy to stand on your breast unsupported, after all.

>To Be Continued....

Thank you for reading and playing.

I like the snake shifters the best. Kinky stuff.

>>2473315
why are snakes always the center of the kinky sex cults? it's the tantric sex isn't it

>>2473316
Most snakes mate by having a few females in the middle of huge numbers of males. Literal orgies, and to complicate matters there are male snakes that pretend and smell like females to distract other males so they can get to the females instead.

Though being so flexible, yes, tantra has a lot to do with it too.

In my personal writings, though, the hyenas do have pseudopenises. But not in this universe.

>>2473315
Thanks for running, maybe meeting her at the gymnasium is no longer the best idea, but it'll probably be fine.

>>2473319
I'm not really sure why you needed to make a canonical distinction, though I guess it is something college students would be curious about. Regardless, I'd like to read an example one day.

>>2473319
I know XS, I'm the guy who told you about the hyena mongoose relation.

And that story /was/ great, with the princess and the gnolls and the orc.

>>2473325
She'd probably link it for you

>>2473325
Because it really is something that college students take an interest in and get a chuckle out of.

Also, there's a chance of meeting Jack there.

>>2473328
genitalia is funny

>>2473325
This story.

https://pastebin.com/Q6hXsyTx

Fun stuff, if incomplete. Cowritten with a friend of mine. She does like her powerful warrior orcs.

>>2473315
Actually XS, if you're still around, the komodo shifters are obviously in komodo and those surrounding islands, but where are the snake shifters? Australia? India?

>>2473344
They were originally from Persia, but as Persia collapsed they moved to both India and China. In one they helped create an empire of their own, and in the other they became a hidden people, much like other creatures of myth and legend. The two clans are much diminished, and they pooled their resources and bout several Polynesian islands, where the bulk of their people live. They have small groups in many countries, but only one group to any given area, and there is a great deal of fostering required to keep the bloodlines from becoming too homogeneous (which is what those groups are - attempts at maintaining genetic diversity). They see themselves as two families still, and there is a rigid caste structure, with three or four very particular bloodlines bypassing those lines due to mystic or psychic power.

>>2473351
Did they quarrel with any of the other supernatural peoples in those lands? I'd imagine the tiger shifters would be in the same area.

>>2473353
On occasion yes, but by and large, no. In one they were synonymous with the ruling class, in the other they were simply one among many. China is a hotbed of preternatural and supernatural creatures.

Not that there weren't issues in both places. The White Snake of legend in China was a family line that tried to become a part of the ruling families, and failed utterly; the rakshasa of Hindu mythology were possibly tiger lycanthropes who fought against the control of the naga-people.

Cinnamon's knowledge is somewhat (understandably) biased and there's much unknown about the history of preternatural creatures across the world.

Incidentally, Cinnamon's name is Kaneel.

>>2473358
thanks for sharing

have this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1_FxaOg1Go

it may give you some ideas

>>2473358
I forget if you went over this already, but are the children of infected people "true" shifters or still just infected?

>>2473368
Infected can't breed true fortunately. They involuntarily shift during certain lunar phases, and that destroys any fetus that could be growing inside - they transform even more violently than Cinnamon does.

Yes, this means a pregnant lycanthrope has to remain in human or animal form the entire time. fortunately they can smell pregnancy, and will know if they have become pregnant.

>>2473362
No worries there - I've been studying such things for a long time.

It was only recently that the Ata modo had reason to fear the Ko Modo, and the spiritual belief of the Ata Modo includes the concept of the Ko Modo and the Ata Modo being two parts of a reincarnation cycle, one dying and being reborn as the other and then being reborn again as the former upon their next death..

>>2473373
Huh that does make sense, though I wonder if there's a difference between people who were born in human or animal form.

>>2473330
Also that was both really hot and also an interesting setting

>>2473418
>if there's a difference between people who were born in human or animal form
There are differences, mostly in behavior, but not in biology. The major behavioral differences tend to be trained out of them by the time they're in their twenties, but there are always clues.

>>2473373
>Infected can't breed true fortunately.
Well there goes my semiplausible idea of preternatural evolution. No reason the rules couldn't have changed party way I suppose, but it's not like other beings could be explained away as such.

>>2473554
Infected lycanthropy is known as a 'curse' for a very good reason. Well, bad reason.