Anya

It was the strangest dinner I have ever had in my life. Even the failed date in the Grand Levoir faded into the background, and I have almost got used to the idea that there have come times in my life when many things will seem the strangest, but this? ..

We sat at a neat table in the corner of the hall. They even gave Theo and me pillows for our chairs. It seems that they have not been taken out since the moment of purchase, and the owner imagined the establishment itself a little differently, but definitely not a place for grandiose evening drinking parties.

After the enchanting appearance of a huge dog, all those present at once calmed down and now looked at us with suspicion - two naked shifters wrapped in bed linen taken from a smelly bed. On me - an invariable sheet, and a black-eyed muzzle wrapped himself in a blanket and melancholy stirred sugar in a cup of tea, looking somewhere through me. I couldn't take my eyes off the Lipton logo on the tea bag. At least something familiar and familiar in this carnival of madness... But why does the roof start to leak even more? Lipton...

After the injection of konakion, the black patterns disappeared from Theo's body, and meaningfulness returned to his face. And only burns and scratches on the face reminded of what had happened.

- Leave, - the first thing the guy growled when Rustle tried to heal them. Obviously, the soul of a pervert demanded punishment for itself, otherwise how to explain the desire to walk with such a muzzle.

- He remembers everything. Don't be hard on him, okay? Theo is very ashamed of the loss of control, - the imperious furball asked while Theo wrapped himself in a blanket.

- I'll try, - she looked at the pervert's elastic ass, wondering when it would be necessary to put a new dose of medicine into it. It's better to play it safe, suddenly, Rustle will not have time to save me next time?

I've got even more questions. But I was given to understand that my pervert's mysterious illness was non-negotiable, and all I could do was devour the fried chicken legs one by one, ignoring Theo's grunt. Did you come to your senses? She looked up at him, trying to put as much hatred into him as possible.

- Combat rabbit, - a slight smile transformed the wounded face.

- Lustful dog.

Excellent. Stopped smiling. He narrowed his eyes, and I can directly hear how a nasty comment is formed in his head. But the guy obviously changed his mind, pushed his untouched portion towards me and leaned back in his chair.

- Do you want mine?

- Spit there? She wiped her lips with the back of her hand and pulled the edge of the plate.

- Nope.

Glancing with a challenge, waiting.

Oh, come on! Eat yours too.

- I remember, someone could not eat meat. Occupational deformation, or whatever you call it?

- Eavesdropping on other people's conversations is not good. And, in general, I'm a cougar! We're supposed to. We are predators.

- Well, well, and also you, a cat, a skunk, a rabbit and a mouse. The latter, by the way, eat their excrement.

I choked. Here is the cattle.

- Personal experience?

- At the academy, you are taught to imitate the habits of a real animal. They will say - there is litter, you will eat litter. They will tell you to kill a cute deer in the forest, in the guise of the same cougar, and you will obey.

Lost appetite. I don't want to study there anymore.

- Why are you telling me this?

- I'm cooking.

- It's clear. Is that why you turn into a dog, and not into a normal predator? Do you want to be faithful and devoted, and not to kill animals?

A new piercing look, as if hammering nails into me. Guessed?

Will he answer?

Added another bone to the impressive slide. Unusual chickens here. Delicate.

"Anya," Theo's nasty smile returned.

- What do you want?

- They're not chickens, by the way.

- Who?

Theo leaned forward, leaned over the table and spoke triumphantly.

- Rabbits.

Come on?! Nausea rose up in my throat. Hold on and don't show it. Damn...how difficult. Although, stop!

- Why don't you eat?

- Guess for yourself, little cannibal. And please, Anya. Don't turn into cows and chickens. Personal request.

Cheeks instantly flushed with heat. Even in this mocking phrase, there was something tender.

- I'll switch at the first opportunity.

“Then, I promise, I won’t disenchant you.” There must be at least some justice in life, I will become a vegan, and you will become a cow.

- Not fair!

- Well, it's you who want to doom me to the eternal eating of grass, why should I suffer alone?

- Look, you reconciled? - Rustle jumped on the table with a fairly emaciated purse.

- Not! - answered in chorus with a pokotsanny muzzle.

- So. Thanks to your orgy, - the rodent dragged on, and immediately received a murderous look from me as a reward. Our?! What side am I here? “Thanks to Theo’s negligence…” the chinchilla corrected herself.

- Here!

The guy grimaced and raised his hand like a clown, like a mischievous student in a lesson.

-... I could not finish the tournament and win us money for a normal stagecoach. Plus, it was necessary to put down an angry crowd. Tomorrow we have to travel by train.

"You'd think you were upset about the money," Theo grumbled. - You weren't allowed to get drunk with your thug friends. Anya, do you know what kind of competition it was? Who will drink the chinchilla! Only this furry ulcer does not get drunk. At all.

“But he didn’t molest me,” she said through gritted teeth.

- Shut up, shut up. Rustle is our hero of the day.

- Theo, calm your jealousy, we already understood everything. You like Anna a lot. I do not pretend, although I am sure that my animal magnetism acts on her without a misfire, - the chinchilla winked.

You speak the truth, Shore. Of the two of you, I would choose you.

The muzzle let out a loud chuckle.

- Which was to be proved, - the rodent said victoriously.

What's wrong with trains? - hastened to divert the conversation away from any hints about Theo and me.

The couple looked at each other.

- Tomorrow morning you'll see ... And now for the bunks.

- Just don't say that we're going there again... to the larvae.

“You can always lie down next to me,” the black-eyed bastard beckoned to him under the covers.

“No, it’s better that the parasites will devour me,” she got up from the table and proudly walked to the stairs, tangling her feet in the sheet.

- Anya! - He called again with his signature voice, and an invisible force made me turn around. Is Shorokh doing shamanism again?

- What?

- Do you like me.

- Not.

- And this is not a question, mouse.

The next morning, I realized what Rustle and Theo meant by scaring me with local trains. A short structure of only five wooden wagons was waiting on the tracks and was already packed. Arms, shoulders and even someone's belly were sticking out of the windows, and there was no crowding in the doors either. And we have to crawl inside this hell? And if a spark from the wheels gets on the boards?

Ready to reconsider my distaste for Theo and turn into a horse. Will you show me the way?

- Turning into a horse is not enough. You will be able to walk in such a guise with difficulty, you will get confused in your legs. And we don’t have much time, - the black muzzle grumbled, pushing me towards the car.

Behaving unbearably in the evening. He was offended that they refused to share one blanket with him. Or rather, I think I was offended. As soon as we returned to the room, I took my jacket and settled myself against the wall. Theo did not say a word, lay down with Rustle on the carpet and immediately fell asleep, but I wasted myself until the morning, tormented by cold and unhappy thoughts. As soon as I fell asleep for a while, a couple of kidnappers were already waking up for an early breakfast. After a quick bite of tasteless rubber scrambled eggs, we wandered to the owner of the clothing store. We hardly had enough money to buy the pervert new pants, and for me a dress that looked more like a potato sack and a pair of sandals that began to rub before we could pay for them. I calmed myself down with the fact that I was spreading ... Yeah, or my legs would fall off.

I shuffled down the road to the station, grimacing in pain, and Theo, groaning loudly, picked me up and carried me.

- It wasn't worth the trouble.

- I didn't ask you.

Here is the first conversation of the morning. And what did he expect after the scene on the table? But on the train, we will have a great chance to get closer, in such a flea market we will definitely finish what we started yesterday.

I can’t even imagine how miraculously I managed to squeeze into the car and cling to the wall. Theo loomed over me, hands on either side, obviously protecting me from accidental elbow strikes. Once again, he felt ashamed of his nasty thoughts about him. The guy is genuinely trying to protect me. And it doesn't feel like doing the job, or am I just fooling myself?

A monstrous gnashing of teeth forced them to clutch at their cheeks and wince, and then the wooden colossus twitched forward, and the passengers rocked sharply back. The black-eyed man stood on his feet, and did not even allow someone's sweaty body to crush me. I met Theo's gaze for just a moment, and I was struck by lightning. Great, well, let's fall in love with him for such a trifle. You might think that no one held the door to the store for you, Anya, or did you protect it in the flea market? No... My ex-boyfriend had no idea about such things. He wasn't bad, but I terribly missed these everyday little things, and I felt extremely stupid when I had to catch the door with my shoulder or carry heavy packages, because he urgently needed to answer the phone. Someone will say - stupid, but what about equality? To hell! I wanted to feel like a princess, not a horse. Am I to blame for this? But with Theo, I feel like a crowned special even in a stuffy box shaking at the joints of the rails. It's good that you can snuggle up to his chest and blame everything on tightness. It's nice to feel his hand on my shoulder and hot breath in my hair. He buried his nose in the top of my head and whispered something. I want those long rabbit ears back so I can hear what he's muttering. A spell, a prayer, a declaration of love? My captor's heartbeat eclipsed the sounds of the train, the smell of his body erased the stink from the rotten overcrowded car, and I fell into a light trance, and then the fatigue that had piled on after a sleepless night plunged me into a slumber. But she was not destined to last long, so fresh air suddenly burst into the salon that I coughed and woke up. Am I to blame for this? But with Theo, I feel like a crowned special even in a stuffy box shaking at the joints of the rails. It's good that you can snuggle up to his chest and blame everything on tightness. It's nice to feel his hand on my shoulder and hot breath in my hair. He buried his nose in the top of my head and whispered something. I want those long rabbit ears back so I can hear what he's muttering. A spell, a prayer, a declaration of love? My captor's heartbeat eclipsed the sounds of the train, the smell of his body erased the stink from the rotten overcrowded car, and I fell into a light trance, and then the fatigue that had piled on after a sleepless night plunged me into a slumber. But she was not destined to last long, so fresh air suddenly burst into the salon that I coughed and woke up. Am I to blame for this? But with Theo, I feel like a crowned special even in a stuffy box shaking at the joints of the rails. It's good that you can snuggle up to his chest and blame everything on tightness. It's nice to feel his hand on my shoulder and hot breath in my hair. He buried his nose in the top of my head and whispered something. I want those long rabbit ears back so I can hear what he's muttering. A spell, a prayer, a declaration of love? My captor's heartbeat eclipsed the sounds of the train, the smell of his body erased the stink from the rotten overcrowded car, and I fell into a light trance, and then the fatigue that had piled on after a sleepless night plunged me into a slumber. But she was not destined to last long, so fresh air suddenly burst into the salon that I coughed and woke up. that you can snuggle up to his chest and blame everything on tightness. It's nice to feel his hand on my shoulder and hot breath in my hair. He buried his nose in the top of my head and whispered something. I want those long rabbit ears back so I can hear what he's muttering. A spell, a prayer, a declaration of love? My captor's heartbeat eclipsed the sounds of the train, the smell of his body erased the stink from the rotten overcrowded car, and I fell into a light trance, and then the fatigue that had piled on after a sleepless night plunged me into a slumber. But she was not destined to last long, so fresh air suddenly burst into the salon that I coughed and woke up. that you can snuggle up to his chest and blame everything on tightness. It's nice to feel his hand on my shoulder and hot breath in my hair. He buried his nose in the top of my head and whispered something. I want those long rabbit ears back so I can hear what he's muttering. A spell, a prayer, a declaration of love? My captor's heartbeat eclipsed the sounds of the train, the smell of his body erased the stink from the rotten overcrowded car, and I fell into a light trance, and then the fatigue that had piled on after a sleepless night plunged me into a slumber. But she was not destined to last long, so fresh air suddenly burst into the salon that I coughed and woke up. declaration of love? My captor's heartbeat eclipsed the sounds of the train, the smell of his body erased the stink from the rotten overcrowded car, and I fell into a light trance, and then the fatigue that had piled on after a sleepless night plunged me into a slumber. But she was not destined to last long, so fresh air suddenly burst into the salon that I coughed and woke up. declaration of love? My captor's heartbeat eclipsed the sounds of the train, the smell of his body erased the stink from the rotten overcrowded car, and I fell into a light trance, and then the fatigue that had piled on after a sleepless night plunged me into a slumber. But she was not destined to last long, so fresh air suddenly burst into the salon that I coughed and woke up.

Theo is gone. And a car with people too. I was standing in the middle of a flower meadow, which rested on the horizon from all sides. Even screaming makes no sense - no one will hear and save. Well, except for a strange fluffy butterfly flying from bud to bud. Her wings are the size of a palm and without a single pattern, gray as the hair of an old man.

She stretched out her hand to the only living creature, and it, without fear, settled on my finger, gracefully folding its wings, which immediately took my breath away, and familiar ringing strings trembled in my heart.

A second - and the butterfly disappeared in a growing flash. The second - I'm lying under someone's body, sweetly smelling of flowers.

"Sorry," a chuckling voice sounded above me, and the stranger quickly released me and sat down next to me.

- I must have guests! I almost forgot what it's like to be human.

She watched, dumbfounded, as the young man shakes out the petals tangled in his gray hair and wipes pollen from his lips.

- How I want normal food, - the stranger drawled dreamily and rewarded me with the warmest smile in the world, and only his eyes did not smile. Extinguished gray eyes, full of viscous longing, from which a lump instantly rose to the throat.

I've already seen him once. I don’t remember where or when, but his face is all too familiar, striking powerful sparks in my heart and tickling with a pleasant chill on the back of my head.

- I know you!

Another sad smile.

Of course, otherwise you wouldn't be here. And who am I?

- I do not remember.

Facial features slipped away, erased from memory, mixed in my head with a kaleidoscope of colors and scattered like colorful petals. A strange place... A strange young man.

“Forgive me, Anya,” the former butterfly whispered gently.

- For what? You have already apologized for your sudden fall on me.

Quiet gentle chuckle and cunning little devils in the eyes. And really, who are you?

I've waited so long for this moment that I can't help it. Don't fall, Anya.

Apparently, my fate is this - kissing a hundred times a day and not feeling anything, but this one left a persistent honey taste on my lips and tongue. She opened her eyes and almost fell into the crowd of people. Two strong hands picked up in time and did not let fall. She looked up and met with sad black, viscous eyes, like an abyss.

- Theo?

- Are there other options?

I shook my head, and the pervert frowned and pulled something out of my hair.

- When did you have time? - the guy was puzzled, squeezing a tiny petal between his fingers.

- Um... She's in shock.

And only Rustle did not look surprised at all, but hastily turned away from me, dangling his long gray tail from his best friend's shoulder.

By the end of the trip, the people had not diminished, on the contrary, people were only arriving, filling the non-existent empty seat on the train. Someone still managed to hit me on the cheek with an elbow, and I physically felt how Theo could hardly restrain his anger at the careless passenger. She pinched her protector on the side to distract him, or I'm sure the guy would have bitten off his arm.

On the street she breathed a sigh of relief, kneaded her stiff back and legs for a long time, and barely resisted not to show the middle finger to the departing train. I will definitely study hard so as not to repeat this adventure again.

My pervert, meanwhile, pulled off his clothes and put them in a backpack. She didn't even try to look away. She deserved every second of this spectacle after all the trials, especially since Theo himself does not turn away. Knows there is nothing to be ashamed of.

- It's not about embarrassment, Anya? - Reading thoughts Rustle jumped on my shoulder.

Uh, ask him about the strange behavior on the train. Didn't it seem to me?

"Your ability to get inside my head bothers me more than Theo's ass."

- She'd be pushing you. Gorgeous butt? - the rodent whistled and weighed me five with its tiny paw.

- Indeed!

- I can hear you, actually, - the black-eyed muzzle threw me a jacket. - It will be cool, put it on!

- In the meantime, it's very hot.

- Haha. At the academy, you get used to it quickly. The rustle is right. Being shy is not about shifters.

- Why didn’t they come up with some way to reduce and increase clothes? Well, or conjure a new one?

- We can't do that. This is practiced in the faculties of illusions. By the way, if you decide to meet with someone from there, keep in mind, there are too many surprises, - shared Rustle, and Theo cleared his throat. - Oh, sorry, I forgot that Anya is now like your girl.

- As if? - the black-eyed muzzle grinned, and it was as if they pulled me up by the stomach with a hook.

- Good good. Yours... Probably, - the chinchilla wrapped its tail around my neck and sang sweetly. - Or mine. Didn't expect it, right?

Fools.

- Anya, have you ever ridden? - asked the pervert and winked for some reason.

- Skated. Don't you come with a bit? And then you talk a lot.

Rustle giggled, and Theo gave him a sly look. I hear this joke still haunts me. Well, what else is left to do when a completely naked guy openly flirts with me? To yell back. I have such a defensive reaction!

I have seen the transformation of my personal bastard more than once, but it is still fascinating. A sparkling black haze covers the legs, arms, the whole body, moves shaggy hair, and now a huge black stallion with a thick shiny mane and shiny sides is already standing in front of me.

- Show off, - commented Rustle. - Knows that girls like friezes.

- Some kind of frieze-overgrowth. Not impressive.

- Oh, I'm sorry, dear, perhaps it was worth turning into a pony? Theo leaned over for me to climb onto his back.

And who am I kidding? He's really good, and he knows it! Cattle. Now in the truest sense of the word.

After only fifteen minutes of driving, she was ready to return to the shaking train. I was notably seasick, and even my ass was bounced off, despite the soft gait of the pervert frieze. That's what his smirk was about! The feeling is that I was severely beaten. It's a miracle if I can walk...

But we quickly left behind the station, a small wood, and a swampy area dotted with heather. All she could do was turn her head, admiring nature. During her studies, she almost never went out of town, pored over books, prepared for sessions and only occasionally went to the cinema, where she slept safely after nightly cramming. After all, if you think about it, all these five years I did not really live. That's why going to the second circle scares me more than getting into another world. Yes, and it is not much different from mine: the same animals, plants and even a flea market in transport. I'll get used to it.

When my ass was completely numb, a castle appeared ahead. Still, it was something else! Institute of glass and concrete? Aha! Turrets ending in tiled cones, lancet windows, stone figures along the walls. Classic. And I will definitely have a cheerful neighbor, and from the first minutes I will quarrel with the local beauty queen from the faculty of illusion.

Nerves were notably shattered when we drove through a high archway into the castle complex. Stables, technical rooms, a field with cut grass and a track around. Wow! Will there be exercise too? Love. I skipped it without regret, and then at the end of the year, I wound penalty circles at the stadium, practicing couples in order to get admission to the offset. Nostalgia!

My pervert suddenly reared up, and I almost fell over on my back, but he deftly picked me up and put me on my feet.

“Welcome to the best academy of magical disciplines, Anya,” Theo said pathetically, and I would certainly have neighed like a Friesian mare, if not for my bruised ass and knees trembling with fatigue and horror.

Right in front of us, two elemental wizards were literally destroying each other. How do I know they are natural? The couple threw fiery flashes and giant boulders, and only timely erected invisible barriers did not allow them to be crippled.

- That's what it's like to show off, Anya, - Theo played with his eyebrows and, faster than I had time to be surprised, dived right into the thick of magical flashes and turned into ...

...a dragon! A real, motherfucking, black winged dragon, holding in its clawed paws two students dangling their arms and legs in the air by the scruff of their necks.

- You made me shake for half a day on the train, and then several hours on your back, while we could fly?!

"Couldn't," Rustle intervened. - No one knows the principle by which these lizards rise into the air. So yes. Dragons are really show-offs. Oh, and there the rector and the deans are in a hurry. Theo, let the trespassers go. Well, Anya, are you ready to say goodbye? We have just completed the task. You are at the academy.