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>”You’re next Anon.”

>”I raise my mace and attack the gnoll outlaw in front of me.”

>”Did you hit?”

>You shake the die and throw it onto the table, your buck toothed crypt master looks over to the result

>”You hit, now roll for damage.” He flatly orders

>You shake the die and roll again

>”I hit for 6 damage, I guess.”

>”Wait-wait-wait!” Shouts your wolfy girlfriend sitting next to you. “Don’t forget to add your strength modifier!”

>”Thanks Ava. Right, six plus two so I hit for eight damage then.”

>”Your mace connects with the gnoll’s shoulder plate, crumpling it and wounding her. She roars in response and swings her axe towards your chest in an adrenaline fueled rage. Roll for your saving throw.”

>You shake the die and drop it onto the table

>Two

>”You’ve failed the saving throw. The gnoll’s axe connects with your chest plate and does six damage. The force of the hit knocks you onto your back and forces the air out of your lungs. She raises the axe above her head for another strike. You’re down to one hit point Anon.”

>”I know…” You reply glumly

>He looks over to Ava

>”Your turn huntress.”

>She pushes her thick framed glasses back up on her muzzle and looks down to her character sheet

>”I see that Anon is in mortal danger and try to shoot the gnoll’s hand with one of my dragon bone arrows so she drops the axe before it can hit Anon.”

>”Most of the gnoll’s body is hidden from your view and the lack of sunlight makes such a shot very tricky, are you sure you want to continue?”

>”Yes!” She confidently replies

>The rat sighs, then looks down to the table

>”Roll to see if you hit.”

>Ava leans in next to you, whispering as she shakes the die

>”Don’t worry brave paladin, with my high dexterity stat and natural proficiencies I'm sure to save you.”

>You smile at her act of selflessness

>”Thanks Ava.”

>She then throws the die onto the table

>Everyone seated at the table leans over to see the result and it’s a…one

>The rat leans back in his seat

>”Critical failure. Your arrow instead hits the blade of the axe, deflects downwards, and hits Anon right in the helmet for one damage knocking him out.”

>Ava looks down as her eyes begin frantically scanning her character sheet, rulebook, and notes for some kind of recourse

>”No-no, wait, are you sure that even with my proficiencies and racial bonuses that-“

>He cuts her off

>”No Ava, you aren’t weaseling your way out of another bad roll again like last time. Jessica, your turn.”

>Your eyes drift to the next player in line, a plump cow girl playing a cleric

>”I cast magic missile at the gnoll attacking Anon.”

>She rolls her die, fifteen

>”You hit the gnoll, roll for damage.”

>She rolls once more and it’s a…twenty!

>”Critical hit! The bolt of harmful energy surges from your fingers and flies towards the gnoll’s head, exploding in a bright shower of blue sparks and bloody giblets. Her axe falls harmlessly behind her and her body goes limp. That was the last gnoll, this combat event is done.”

>”Wait!” Says Jessica, glancing towards you. “I also rush toward Anon and cast spare the dying on him, saving him from an untimely end caused by a certain member of our party. After all, it would be a shame for him to die before giving me a…proper thanks.”

>The cow flutters her long eyelashes at you and you give a polite smile in response

>The crypt master stands up and begins packing away his things

>”Well he’ll have to do that next time since we’ll find out what was in the gnoll’s hideout during next week’s session. I have a test in differential calculus that starts in thirty minutes and I’ll be damned if I'm going to miss it.”

>With the game over you and Ava pack up your things and walk outside into a cool summer afternoon

>The university campus is bathed in a warm orange glow as the sun dips below the horizon, after classes and another excitement filled Crypts and Kobolds session you can’t wait to get back to your dorm and get some rest

>But first you’ll have to walk Ava to her dorm, it is the gentlemanly thing to do after all

>You feel a tap on your shoulder and turn to Ava, a slice of pizza held in her paw

>”Anon, you want some pizza? I saved you a slice before Jessica could take it all home again.”

>She presents it towards you but you wave her off

>”No thanks, I try not to eat anything heavy before going to sleep. All that grease gives me heartburn.”

>”You sure?” She asks, her ears flat and voice pitiful

>”You eat it Ava, a big wolfess like you needs all the calories she can get.”

>She shakes her head

>”No, I…I don’t deserve it.”

>She tosses the slice into a nearby garbage can and you raise an eyebrow at her pitiful state

>”What’s got you down? It’s not like you to throw away food like that.”

>She nervously shifts the straps on her backpack before responding

>”I’m sorry for letting you down. I was such a dummy for trying to shoot the axe out of that gnoll’s hand. I should have thought twice before shooting an arrow so close to you. And now in the next session that damned cud chewing cleric gets to nurse you back to health while all I can do is sit around and watch! It’s going to be humiliating! I should have done a better job at protecting my mate!”

>She lets out a pitiful whimper and stares down at the ground solemnly, you can’t help but chuckle and pat her on the back

>”Don’t worry about the game Ava, it’s just that, a game. I know here in the real world you’re more than capable of fighting off everything short of a polar bear hopped up on bath salts.”

>”I don’t know about that Anon. I’m hardly the most athletic wolfess on this campus. Or the tallest. Or the thinnest. Or the fastest. Or the bravest. And my vision is so bad I have to wear these thick glasses. And I-“

>*COUGH COUGH*

>Ava coughs into her elbow, based on the sound she must have gotten something stuck in her throat

>”What? Is it the pizza?”

>Yet she doesn’t respond, suddenly stopping in her tracks and putting a hand to her chest as coughing turns into strained wheezing

>You’re alarmed at the sudden turn of events but then again, this isn’t the first time you’ve seen this happen to her

>Ava’s paw shoots into her pocket and retrieves a asthma inhaler, putting it up to her lips and squeezing the top

>The poor wolfess takes a few deep breaths from the inhaler until finally lowering it to speak

>”And my stupid body can’t even breathe right!” She simmers, paws curled into fists

>”Hey.” You take one of her paws and uncurl it, your fingers interlinked. “None of that changes the fact that my girlfriend is a natural born predator with claws that could slice a cow clean in half.”

>Your words elicit a subtle smile from her

>”Thanks Anon. I’m glad to know that someone thinks I'm not a total embarrassment to my ancestors.”

>”No problem, though I don’t think your ancestors would mind you taking an archery lesson or two.” You intentionally mumble those last few words

>”What?”

>”Nothing! Now I think this is where we part.” You say, pointing to the entrance to her dorm

>”Yep, guess I’ll see you tomorrow Anon.”

>”See ya!”

>She begins walking towards the doors before suddenly turning around, a new cheery look on her face

>”Wait! I almost forgot to tell you! There’s going to be a renaissance fair at the park in a few days. You want to go?”

>”Depends, will there be food?”

>”You bet! And there will also be games and events and I even have a period accurate costume I can wear to it!”

>”Of course you do. I think I have some rags I can stitch together for mine, won’t be as pretty or well thought out as yours though.”

>”Don’t worry Anon! I can sew you together a costume real quick before it starts.”

>”You can sew? Since when?”

>She nervously scratches her head

>”Uhhh, I had to learn how to do it for a project.”

>”Project? For what class?”

>”I…uhhh…don’t remember. Now I’ll see you later Anon! Got to go!”

>”See you later Ava! You sexy beast!”

>She almost trips laughing as she jogs to the doors

>You wait until her fur disappears into the building then make your way to your own dorm

>As you walk one question remains on your mind

>What class could possibly require her to learn how to sew?

*************************************

>You step out of the bathroom and into the bright sunlight where Ava stands waiting for you

>”So what do you think?” She asks, an excited look on her face

>Looking down you survey the costume you’re wearing, she gave you it shortly after arriving to the fair

>Loose cotton tunic, faded red cloth pants, leather boots, and across your shoulders sits a green cloak

>”It’s great! Really comfortable. Did you make all of it yourself?”

>”No, the pants are the only truly custom part of that costume. Notice anything similar between them and my dress?” She asks, waving her hands across her body

>You take note of the ankle length dress she’s wearing

>It’s made of a flowing faded red fabric, with patterns of gold thread sewn across the edge of the neck and arms

>Across her waist is a thick leather belt with various pouches, flasks, and a scabbard for a small dagger

>Completing the outfit are a few leather bracelets across her wrists and a single yellow flower clipped to her ear

>It looks well made, authentic, and even manages to accentuate her curves enough to where you can’t help but stare

>”Well?” She asks, arms crossed

>”Same material?”

>”That’s right! I picked out our outfits so we can even have a little backstory going. Me and you are a husband and wife visiting the fair to have some fun after a long and difficult winter. You’re a fisherman by trade and I run a stall at the market selling what you catch, hence why I have the flower to combat the smell of all those stinky fishes. I hand made the dress after learning how to sew from my dear old mother but bought too much fabric by accident, thus why your pants and my dress are the same material. Though we aren’t poor we aren’t exactly rich either which is why our clothes are faded from so much outdoor use. And check this out!”

>She reaches into one of her pouches and pulls out a few gold coins

>”These are the profits from our last week of sales! They’re real gold!”

>You take one and twirl it in the light

>”Very cool Ava, though I think the local merchants only accept currency a little greener in color.”

>”Don’t worry, I got some of that too.” She replies, pulling a few dollar bills out of a different pouch

>”Nice.”

>You suddenly notice the absence of her thick framed glasses

>”You have contacts in Ava?”

>”Nope, wouldn’t be historically accurate.”

>”It’s not like anybody will be able to tell!”

>”I have a strong commitment to making this outfit as accurate as possible Anon. Authenticity is important to me even if you can’t notice some of the finer details.”

>”Fine, fine, just let me know if you need help reading signs or anything.”

>”Got it. Now let’s head out and get our fill of roasted meats and entertainment before the sun falls below horizon. Come Anon the fisherman! The festivities await!”

>And with that the two of you set off into the fair

>It isn’t long before you’re chewing on a turkey leg and she’s surveying the local shops for interesting trinkets

>After several hours of walking around the fair, enjoying the food, atmosphere, and a few pints of ale the sun begins to dim and everyone begins slowly shuffling to the parking lot

>You accompany her to her car but after unlocking it she opens the trunk, retrieving a duffel bag

>”I almost forgot Anon, there’s one more thing I want to show you before the end of today.”

>”And I'm guessing it’s in that duffel bag?”

>”Correct, but I can’t just show it to you out here in the parking lot. Follow me.”

>With a curious stare you follow her into some nearby woods, far enough away that the murmur of the crowds disappears and no signs of civilization could be seen behind the trees

>Apparently satisfied with her privacy she turns to face you

>”Okay Anon, I'm going to change my clothes behind this tree. Absolutely no peeking!”

>”And if I lose all self-control and end up taking a peek of my absolute smoke show of a girlfriend?”

>”Then I’ll stop tutoring you in chemistry, then you’ll have to retake Mrs. Bunsen’s class next semester!”

>I put my hands up in surrender

>”Fine, geez, just make it quick okay? I can already feel my iron will slowly rusting away.”

>Ava slips behind the trunk of a large tree and a couple minutes later reappears, this time in a very different outfit from her red dress

>Across her chest she wears a simple bra composed of several stitched together panels of leather

>A cloth skirt comes to her mid though, loose enough to not restrict her movement but still tight enough to hug her hips

>A few braided strands of fur came across one side of her head and several dangling metallic earrings hang from her left ear

>Two streaks of red paint are slashed across her cheeks

>Finally she wears a leather bracer on both of her wrists, a winding floral pattern imprinted onto the soft material

>She puts her arms on her hips, clearly proud of her handiwork

>”It’s a recreation of my Crypts and Kobolds character Avalon the wolven huntress! What do you think?”

>Finally the real reason she learned how to sew is revealed to you

>”Wow, that’s really something. No armor to slow you down and help your agility, bracers to protect your wrists while shooting your elven war bow stolen from Dark King Elmeder’s armory, war paint in keeping tradition with your tribe, and you even braided your hair like you described when you made the character. That’s incredible Ava.”

>”I know right? And I even have a bow and arrows!” She runs behind the tree to grab them out of the duffel bag then returns in front of you. “Granted, I don’t know how to use them, but they really complete the look don’t you think?”

>She poses with the wooden bow in one hand and an arrow in the other

>You can’t help but slowly clap

>”Very impressive wolfess. You have any plans to wear that to our next meet up? Or to a con or something?”

>”Not really.” She says, breaking eye contact and nervously moving a braid out of her eye. “I thought about wearing this to the fair but it leaves a lot of fur showing and you know how I'm, not exactly…proud…of how my body looks.”

>”Well I think you look great in it Ava, no need to be so shy. All that open fur just lets you show off what nature gave you. And it’s not like your milk and cookies are showing so you won’t be thrown out of anywhere for indecent exposure.”

>”Heh, I guess you’re right. Maybe we can-“

>She suddenly cuts herself off and focuses her attention to somewhere behind you

>”Anon?”

>”What?”

>”I don’t mean to alarm you, but there’s something moving around behind you.”

>You slowly turn your head to view the tan fur of a feral bobcat standing out against the brown and green of the forest

>”Oh jesus, that’s a bobcat.” You whisper

>”Get behind me.” She whispers back

>You very slowly step towards her as the feral bobcat maintains it’s focused stare on your back

>Once you’re safely behind her she places an arrow in her bow

>”What are you doing? Are you seriously going to try and shoot it? You don’t even have your glasses on!”

>”Avalon the huntress doesn’t need glasses, Anon. Besides, if it decides to attack us I’ll only be able to get maybe one shot off anyway.”

>”This is crazy you’re just going to piss it-“

>You cut yourself off as the she lets the arrow fly

>It streaks towards the bobcat and for a few split seconds you think she might actually hit it, only for the arrow to strike the ground a few feet in front of the crouching feline

>Yet this seems to be all it takes to scare it off as the bobcat dashes back into the forest

>Ava yells and shakes her fist in the air

>”Haha! Yes! Take that! Run away like the scaredy cat you are!” She then turns to you, her voice a whisper. “Did I hit it? I can’t tell without my glasses.”

>”No, you hit close to it though.”

>”Good enough! I can’t believe I just did that!” Ava wraps you up in a tight hug, her soft fur and plushy body feels good against your skin. “I did it! I saved my mate from a vicious deadly beast all by myself!”

>”That you did Ava.” You eek out, lungs compressed from her bear hug.

>She finally lets go and takes a step back

>”You were right Anon! I actually am a halfway competent fighter. Hopefully my *COUGH* ancestors won’t think I'm a total embarrassment now that *COUGH* I saved my boyfriend from a wild predator *COUGH COUGH*”

>Ava’s coughing fit gets worse and turns into what is clearly the start of another asthma attack, yet as she continues wheezing you don’t see her pull out an inhaler

>”Ava, where’s your inhaler?”

>”Didn’t take it with me! *COUGH* Wouldn’t have been- *WHEEZE* - historically accurate!”

>She looks to you with frightened eyes as she realizes the gravity of her mistake

>But thankfully you know her just a little too well

>You pull an inhaler out of your own pocket and hand it to her

>She happily takes it and takes a few deep breathes from it, quickly returning to normal

>”You’re a real lifesaver Anon, all of that excitement must have triggered the attack.”

>”A saving throw for a saving throw, I guess this makes us even.”

>”Even steven.”

>”So now what? You want to head back to the car?”

>She looks down at her outfit

>”Well Anon I would hate to have made this outfit and put it all on for nothing, and we are alone in the middle of the forest…”

>She raises an eyebrow and you get the hint

>”Oh? Trying to seduce me are you? You sure your stats are high enough for that to work?”

>”I suppose it depends on how receptive you are to my advances, as well as my proficiencies, charisma, and of course how well I roll.”

>”Well Ava, I’m happy to inform you that you just rolled a…”