Mother of Midnight

Chapter 86 – Fittings

The next day, Rava set out to retrieve the custom harness for Vivienne and arrange a wagon for the group. They planned to have everything packed by evening or early morning. At Rava’s suggestion, Vivienne shifted into her lesser wolf form, her shadowy figure towering just enough to draw attention without causing outright panic. Her dress transformed seamlessly into a single, sleek collar that rested elegantly around her neck, its subtle craftsmanship a source of quiet pride.

The journey through Serkoth’s bustling streets quickly became a spectacle. People parted before them like ripples in water, their eyes fixed on Vivienne as she padded beside Rava, her claws clicking faintly against the cobblestones. Her long tail swayed lazily behind her and her dark fur seemed to drink in the light, leaving only a faint, shimmering edge that hinted at her form.

She caught sight of her reflection in a shop window—an imposing silhouette with eyes that gleamed like embers in the dark. Her tail wagged ever so slightly at the sight.

When they reached the leatherworker’s shop, Rava turned and gave Vivienne a pointed look. “Wait here,” she said with a smirk.

Vivienne tilted her head, letting out a loud groan like a particularly uppity husky but complied in the end, lowering herself onto her haunches beside the shop’s entrance.

“Good girl,” Rava teased, patting Vivienne’s neck as she passed.

Vivienne’s ears flicked, and she watched Rava disappear into the shop. The streets around her seemed to hold their collective breath. Passersby slowed to gawk, their eyes darting between Vivienne’s massive frame and the wicked glint of her teeth, visible as her mouth parted in a relaxed pant.

A merchant carrying a bundle of crates froze mid-step, his grip faltering slightly as his gaze locked onto her. Vivienne turned her head toward him, her molten eyes meeting his with an unwavering stare. He swallowed audibly, muttered something incoherent, and hurried past, nearly tripping over his own feet.

Vivienne’s tail wagged, the slow, deliberate motion exuding satisfaction.

Across the street, a child pointed excitedly at her, their voice carrying above the hum of the market. “Look at the big wolf, Mama!”

The mother, eyes wide, grabbed the child’s hand and pulled them away, casting a wary glance over her shoulder as she quickened her pace.

Vivienne’s lips curled into something resembling a smirk, and her tail thumped lightly against the ground. Lowering herself further, she rested her massive head on her paws, her sharp eyes still tracking every movement nearby.

She didn’t have to wait long. Rava emerged from the store along with the goblin leatherworker, who was wiping her hands on an oil-stained apron, and a stocky lekine woman hefting what could only be Vivienne’s harness. At the sight of them, Vivienne perked up, her massive ears swiveling forward and her fluffy tail wagging with enough force to stir up a cloud of dust as it thumped against the ground.

The lekine woman gawked, her thick fingers tightening around the straps of the harness. “Grezza, you weren’t kidding. That wolf is enormous!”

Grezza smirked, crossing her arms with a smug look. “Told you. Now pay up, Ilyn. You owe me four copper.”

Ilyn grumbled under her breath as she fished out the coins and handed them over. With the transaction done, she cautiously approached Vivienne, stopping a few steps away. Her eyes flitted over Vivienne’s sleek form, the shimmering collar, and the faint glow of her ember-like eyes. The mixture of awe and trepidation on her face was almost comical. “She is safe, right? I mean, I’m not going to lose a hand trying to fit this thing on, am I?”

Rava let out an exasperated sigh, though a sly smile tugged at the corner of her lips. “Safe? Mostly. I’ll admit, I’ve seen her take down a shadow hydra alone, so she can be dangerous when she feels like it.”

“A shadow hydra?” Ilyn’s voice rose, her disbelief evident. “That sounds like the kind of tale you share over ale.”

“Maybe another time,” Rava said with a casual shrug. “But yes, she’s a bit of an idiot. Don’t worry; she knows when to bite and when not to... mostly.”

Vivienne’s ears flattened against her head, and she lifted her massive snout indignantly. “I am not an idiot! I am an intelligent and refined lady! In fact, I am probably the most educated person in this entire city!”

Grezza froze mid-step, her head snapping toward Rava. “Did... did your wolf just talk?”

Rava’s eyes widened in mock surprise, and she turned to Vivienne with a raised brow.

Vivienne let out a deep, exaggerated sigh, her fiery eyes narrowing as she attempted to save face. “Umm... woof?”

Grezza stared at her for a moment, blinking slowly, before turning to Rava. “That is not reassuring.”

Rava shrugged, biting back a grin. “You will be fine. She likes being a good girl, don’t you Viv?”

“I don’t even know how to process this,” Ilyn muttered as she exchanged a look with Grezza.

Vivienne huffed dramatically, lowering her head as if to sulk. Her tail, however, continued its steady wag, betraying her amusement. "If I were less agreeable, I’d refuse to wear that thing,” she grumbled.

“Oh, don’t start,” Rava quipped. “We’ve already paid for it and may I remind you, the harness was your idea.”

With a resigned sigh, Vivienne finally stood, her full height looming over Ilyn and Grezza, her sheer size enough to make them take a cautious step back. She tilted her head down and shifted slightly to give them easier access to fit the harness.

“Okay, then,” Ilyn said, her voice edged with nervous resolve as she looped the straps around Vivienne’s body. “Let’s get this over with before I start questioning my life choices.”

Grezza chuckled dryly, adjusting a tool at her belt. “You and me both,” she replied, her tone sympathetic but tinged with humor.

The leatherworker and her assistant moved quickly, each with a practiced efficiency. Ilyn worked swiftly, but there were moments when Vivienne had to lower herself to allow the goblin to reach up to her. She did so without a word, bending gracefully and waiting for the necessary adjustments. Her tail flicked lazily behind her, betraying the relaxed patience she had for the task, even if she wasn’t overly thrilled by the idea of being so restrained.

After a few more adjustments, Ilyn tightened the straps one last time, while Grezza stepped back to survey the work. “Yeah, this was definitely worth the all-nighter,” she muttered, inspecting the harness with a critical eye. She gave a quick nod of approval. “Should hold up for a while.”

Rava stepped forward, her sharp eyes scanning every detail of the harness. She reached for the chest strap and tugged on it with more force than Vivienne expected. The sudden pull caused Vivienne to stumble forward a few steps, her claws scraping against the cobblestone.

“Careful there!” Vivienne shot back with a hint of surprise. Her ears flicked in mild irritation, but it was more reflex than genuine offense.

Rava grinned. “Just making sure it’s secure,” she said, her eyes still fixed on the fit of the harness, clearly satisfied with the work.

Vivienne stood up straight again, readjusting her posture as she tested the harness's tightness. “Well, it certainly feels secure. Almost like I’m a war beast now.” She half-turned to look at the others, with as smug a grin that a wolf could make..

“Good,” Rava said, her smile tinged with a knowing edge. “I’ll need you to be one.”

Vivienne’s grin widened, and her tail swished in satisfaction, the thick fur brushing against the ground. “I’m always ready for battle,” she said, her voice rich with playful confidence. “Though I do hope you’re not planning on actually treating me like one of those battle-hardened beasts.”

Rava raised an eyebrow, her smirk deepening as she looked Vivienne up and down, eyes lingering on the freshly fitted harness. “We’ll see,” she replied, her tone heavy with unspoken meaning. “You’re already halfway there, after all. Looks like you’re just missing the battlefield.”

Grezza, still standing off to the side, adjusted the tools at her belt, clearly entertained by the exchange. “I think she’d give even a seasoned warrior a run for their money,” she said with a dry chuckle. “No offense, but your wolf’s got some impressive muscle behind her.”

Vivienne puffed her chest slightly, both from pride and the simple satisfaction of hearing the praise. “Of course. You didn’t think I was all just looks, did you?” she teased, her voice laced with humor. “There’s strength under all this beauty.” She gave a little half-spin, letting her tail flick out behind her, the motion giving her an air of elegance despite the people serving to give her a wide berth.

Grezza shook her head with a small laugh, her sharp teeth glinting faintly. “Not at all. It’s just…” She muttered a quiet curse under her breath. “How can you be so fluffy and terrifying at the same time?”

Vivienne settled back on her hind legs, her tail wrapping neatly around her paws as her dark eyes glimmered with mischief. Somehow, despite the limitations of a wolf’s face, she managed to pull off a smug grin. “It is a skill, darling,” she said, voice dripping with theatrical charm. “You can’t go terrifying the average person if you don’t look fabulous doing it. That would be amateur’s work.”

Rava exhaled in a long-suffering sigh, folding her arms as her lips curled into a faint smile. “Ignore her,” she said dryly. “Scaring almost every person she meets is her personal hobby. She won’t actually hurt you. Probably?”

Ilyn turned her head toward Rava, her brow furrowed. “Why did you phrase that like a question?”

Rava didn’t bother responding, her sharp golden gaze shifting back to Grezza as if Ilyn’s inquiry wasn’t worth dignifying with an answer. The goblin smirked knowingly but said nothing.

Vivienne, for her part, puffed herself up, fluffing out her glossy fur as she tossed her head with mock indignation. “I am nothing if not a refined and cultured lady, I’ll have you know. My artistry is unmatched. I strike fear into hearts with elegance and grace.”

Grezza rolled her eyes, though there was a grudging smile tugging at the corner of her lips. “Artistry? Sure. Stress-inducing artistry, maybe.”

Rava cut in with a small, amused shake of her head, her gaze flicking to the harness snugly fitted around Vivienne. “The harness fits well. How much do I owe you?”

“One gold, twelve silver,” Grezza replied, still smirking. “And yes, that’s with the friend discount. Any bigger, and I’d have had to charge extra for the sheer amount of leather involved.”

Rava nodded, pulling the required coins from her pouch and pressing them into Grezza’s oil-stained hands. “Thanks for the rush job,” she said simply.

“No problem,” Grezza replied, pocketing the payment. She gave Vivienne one last glance, shaking her head in faint disbelief. “Fabulous and terrifying. What a combination.”

The pair made their way back to one of the clan-owned warehouses, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows over the bustling streets. As they approached the towering wooden doors reinforced with iron bands, Vivienne’s obsidian eyes glinted with mischief. She remained in her wolf form, her massive paws making almost no sound against the packed earth. The prospect of more people to intimidate was too good to pass up.

Every glance of fear, every quickened step, sent a faint wisp of aether her way. The fear-laced essence wasn't as potent as what she'd get from a real confrontation, but it was intoxicating in its own way—a thin, flavorful soup that left her wanting more. Her tail flicked in lazy satisfaction as she lapped up the subtle flows of energy, letting it weave into her own essence like the threads of a fine fabric.

However, as they neared the warehouse, her sharp ears picked up something curious. Two laborers hauling a crate paused as they noticed her, their steps faltering. One leaned toward the other, whispering just loud enough for Vivienne to catch.

"That's Lady Ravanyr's new pet, isn’t it?" the first murmured, his voice tinged with nervous awe.

The other chuckled nervously. "Pet? Looks more like a monster she dragged in to scare the life out of us."

Vivienne's ears twitched, and her pace slowed for a moment. Pet? she thought with a mix of bemusement and indignation. Is that what they think I am? A rumbling growl of mock offense escaped her throat, just loud enough to make the laborers jump and shuffle faster toward their destination.

Beside her, Rava glanced down with a knowing smirk. “Learning how quickly word travels, are we?”

Vivienne’s sharp gaze flicked toward her companion, the corner of her muzzle twitching upward in a lupine smirk. “Apparently I’m your pet now. Should I be wagging my tail on command, or is that reserved for special occasions?”

Rava chuckled under her breath, her pace never slowing.“Oh, you’ve been strangely obedient since you decided to follow me around the city in that form. You’ve already learned sit and stay after all.”

Vivienne let out an exaggerated huff, her tail swishing behind her with a dramatic flourish. “I’ll have you know that this pet is far too dignified for such trivial tricks.”

“Dignified?” Rava teased, arching an eyebrow as they reached the warehouse. “Says the overgrown puppy trying to scare labourers for a snack.”

Vivienne didn't reply immediately, opting instead to let out a low, theatrical growl, ensuring that another group of laborers caught sight of her. The effect was immediate; their steps quickened, and one nearly tripped over his own feet in his haste to get out of her line of sight. She turned back to Rava, her grin unmistakable despite her current form.

“Dignity is a matter of perspective, darling. Besides, if I’m your pet, you’re responsible for feeding me, and fear just happens to be my favorite flavor.”

Rava snorted, a sharp smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. “Remind me never to let you near the livestock pens.”

Vivienne didn’t bother justifying that with a response. Instead, she turned her attention to the massive warehouse doors, sauntered forward, and gave one of them a purposeful nudge with her large head. The solid wood groaned slightly under her strength, but it didn’t budge. She huffed and gave a low, theatrical whine, tilting her head to look back at Rava with a pitiful glint in her pitch-black eyes.

“Oh, don’t you dare.” Rava crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. “You’re not fooling me with that.”

Vivienne whined again, louder this time, before nudging the door once more for good measure.

Rava pinched the bridge of her nose and groaned. “Just transform and come inside normally.”

“Normal?” Vivienne’s voice practically dripped with amusement as she tilted her head the other way. “What exactly qualifies as normal for me?” Before Rava could respond, she added with a cheeky edge, “Besides, the harness doesn’t transform with me, remember? We’d just have to refit the whole thing once I’m inside. That sounds like so much work.”

Rava gave her a long, exasperated stare, her tail flicking behind her in restrained irritation. “You’re impossible,” she muttered under her breath before finally relenting with a sigh. “Fine. Stay there. Stay.” Her tone sharpened slightly, like she was addressing a disobedient pup.

Vivienne barked once in response, the sound startlingly loud in the otherwise quiet alley. Her fluffy tail wagged, clearly pleased with herself.

Shaking her head, Rava made her way toward the smaller side door, ducking slightly under the low beam as she entered. It was a subtle reminder of just how tall the lekine really was compared to most. “And don’t even think about trying to squeeze under the big door, Vivienne,” she called back over her shoulder. “I’ll know.”

Vivienne sat back on her haunches, watching Rava disappear inside. Her tail swished lazily behind her as she muttered to herself with a grin, “Spoilsport.”

Vivienne didn’t have to wait long, the massive warehouse doors creaking open slowly. She perked up, ears twitching at the sound, and moved aside to give them room.

It quickly became apparent that opening the doors was no small task. More than four workers were pushing and pulling at the heavy wood, their faces red with effort. Among them was Rava, who stood out not just for her height but for her calm, composed demeanor. While the others grunted and strained, she appeared unfazed, as though she were merely stretching after a nap.

The moment the doors were wide enough, the first laborer caught sight of Vivienne. His eyes widened, and without hesitation, he grabbed the axe at his waist and charged her.

Vivienne cocked her head, bemused by his boldness. It wasn’t the first time someone had rushed her in panic, and she doubted it would be the last. As he closed the distance, she sighed internally, her posture remaining loose. This man was fast—surprisingly so—but not fast enough. She’d seen Rava move during their encounter with the wolf whose form she now mimicked. Compared to that, this was almost leisurely.

With a single graceful motion, Vivienne leapt aside, her massive paws barely skimming the ground. Her tongue lolled out of her mouth as though she were still playing. The man stumbled to recover and lunged again, this time with more force, his axe gleaming in the afternoon light.

Vivienne’s response was just as swift. She twisted her body, one paw swiping out with alarming precision. The axe was knocked clean from the man’s hands, skidding across the dirt road in a sharp clatter. The impact sent the man sprawling as well, tumbling head over heels before landing in a disoriented heap.

Before he could scramble back to his feet, Vivienne loomed over him. With the exaggerated energy of a playful pup, she planted a single paw on his back, pinning him effortlessly to the ground. Despite her massive size, she maintained a careful pressure, enough to hold him without harm.

The laborer froze, his breath coming in short, panicked gasps. The other workers stood rooted in place, their expressions shifting from horror to something closer to outright terror as Vivienne lowered her head toward her quarry. Black saliva dripped from her open mouth, landing in sticky droplets on the man’s shirt.

“Vivienne,” Rava’s voice rang out, sharp and firm but laced with amusement. “Just because he attacked you doesn’t mean he’s food.”

Vivienne let out a long, exaggerated whine, her ears drooping in mock disappointment. With a dramatic sigh, she lifted her paw, releasing the man. He scrambled away immediately, clutching his chest and gulping down air like a drowning man surfacing for breath.

The tension lingered in the air for a moment longer, the workers staring wide-eyed between Vivienne and Rava. For her part, Vivienne sat back on her haunches, still panting like an excitable dog, her tail wagging slow and steady behind her.

Rava rolled her eyes, muttering something inaudible under her breath before staring at the foolhardy laborer. “Next time, maybe try asking questions before charging at something twice your size.”