I had to do better, and if this was what needed to be done, then so be it. I needed to remember that I didn't make the rules in this world.
As strong as I was, I needed to remember that rules were put in place for a reason. Even if they might not apply to me in my mind, I needed to stop making myself an exception.
"Okay, so what will I need to do?" I asked.
"Prove that you can survive with your bare hands and that you can hold your own. Karla is very strict, but she has had to watch too many people like you that thought that they could survive to die," Penny said, pulling a part of me, but then she looked away with a blush. "Can I ask something of you?"
"Hmm?" I asked, stuck on the name Karla.
Something about it was familiar, but there was nothing attached to the feeling. All I knew was that I needed to do my very best to impress this person to get what I wanted.
"I need a bit of your blood, and I can give you a ride," Penny said even more shyly, now completely turned around.
I frowned.
"Are you sure? Won't you have trouble controlling yourself?" I asked, but Penny turned around to shake her head cutely, making her ears flop around.
"I am yours now, and because I have devoted myself to you, your blood is safe for me to drink. I have always wanted to be able to control the beast inside of me. I could never find anyone that I could respect in combat like you, and I am happy that I waited until now," Penny said with more confidence.
"Well, if that is the case, then by all means. Everyone seems to want my blood," I chuckled, and Penny giggled.
"I heard about what you did to the Vampires! That is pretty amazing that your blood can cure something like that," Penny giggled, coming closer to me, placing one of her paws on my bare chest where my buttons stopped.
The shirt was made for a woman, so the buttons didn't go up all the way, and the chest was a bit baggy. This left part of my muscled chest exposed, and Peny pressed on claw into one of my pecs, drawing blood.
I gritted my teeth since it was like having a knife drawn down my chest, but it wasn't unbearable.
Penny leaned in and used a long flat dog tongue to lap up the blood that leaked out. She moaned deeply and then started to glow red as she stepped back from me.
I pulled magic into me to heal the cut, but my eyes were locked on Penny as she began to change, but this time it was different. Her body was covered in fur, but she looked like a large wolf-like version of a Red Heeler.
Penny's ears now stood up, and she had a darker red patch over one eye. The rest of her body was red mixed with dusty white hairs mixed in to give her a slightly patchy look, but she was beautiful.
"How do I look?" Penny asked, and I grinned.
"Like a beautiful majestic beast! Wow, not that I don't think the tall, two-legged version is amazing, but this is more refined and natural. You look great!" I said, and if a dog could blush, I am sure she would have been, but she did turn her head away.
"Thank you," Penny said shyly, and I walked up to her and wrapped my arms around her neck, and rubbed my face into hers.
"Oh God, you are so soft! Sorry, I don't think we are going to make it to the wall; I am stuck!" I laughed as I scratched between her ears.
"No! Don't do that here, or I will roll over and make you rub my belly! I don't want people to see me rolling in the dirt!" Penny complained, and I laughed, letting go of her.
"Sorry, you are just so soft and fluffy! I could just curl up with you and take a nap, but we have things to do, right?" I chucked, and Penny nodded her big head.
"You can get your fill of my fur on the run there, just don't scratch behind or between my ears when we are running. That feels too good, and I can't concentrate," Penny said, moving forward and lowering herself to let me on.
I smiled and stepped over Penny's furry body, and she stood up, lifting me up. I was a bit shaky at first, but I leaned forward and got a good grip on her fur.
"Is it okay if I hold on to your fur like this? It's not hurting you, right?" I asked.
"This is perfect; just make sure that you hold on. I am unused to this form, so I will have to go slow to start," Penny explained, and I nodded.
"Go at your own pace," I said, and then Penny took off like a bolt of lightning.
I could run faster than this, but Penny had just told me that she was going to go slow to start! Just how fast could she go once she got going?
Suddenly, Penny stopped. Unfortunately for me, inertia said that I wasn't holding on tight enough, and I was tossed forward.
I hit the ground, spun, and caught myself in the air, landing on my feet and skidding back.
"Hey! A little warning before you come to a complete stop from full speed!" I growled as I dusted myself off.
"Sorry! I have never had someone on my back before!" Penny exclaimed. "I have to check in before we leave, and I forgot about it in my excitement with my new body!"
I groaned and healed my dislocated shoulder, popping it back into place.
"It's fine; I just didn't expect it. Next time slow down, or let me know so I can get a tighter grip," I sighed as I walked back over to where the random gate guard was trying not to laugh at me.
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