Chapter Text
Just stay at work then go straight home. If he comes near you then you’ll page me. Don’t go off plan. That was what Azula told her before leaving the house. How lovely and romantic, she scoffed. Full moon behavior was not an excuse for anyone for that kind of morning wake up call.
Getting out of her car she felt something tugging at her collar. Whipping around she was met with beady eyes and a waving feathered wing. Were birds able to smirk? Releasing a breath she let her shoulders sag a bit. A smile crossed her face. Reaching out to scratch the top of the bird’s head she let out a throaty chuckle. “You did that on purpose. Now you get to be patronized.” She moved her finger to scratch under the black bird’s head.
“You could be grateful I’m watching over you today.”
“Azula.”
“Yeah.”
“I think this makes me more worried about it all than anything.”
“Try not to get any gray hairs today.” Before Ty Lee could chastise Mai for such a comment Mai took off into the trees around the Ranger station. She wasn’t above climbing a tree to get her but she probably lost all her luck not being caught talking to a crow in the parking lot. Huffing and adjusting her uniform she marched inside.
The day passed agonizingly slow. She wasn’t helping herself by looking at the clock every five minutes. She couldn’t remember how many times she was told she was chewing her pen into oblivion. And in front of the visitors. She needed to put her energy somewhere. When she was told about her pen she would pace, bounce her foot, rap her fingers against the desk. She wanted to do something. She knew it wasn’t her 9-5 getting to her in particular. She wanted to be out with Azula. She wanted to know what was happening.
Her thoughts trailed on until she saw the little hand strike five on the clock. She had settled it within herself that she was going to go straight home and be there for the next morning. She should pull out some first aid supplies. Just in case.
Sluggishly she stepped out and waved bye to her coworkers. Out of sight of others she heard wings flapping and then felt a light weight settle on her shoulder. “Hope you appreciated the easy day I gave you.”
“Someone sounds like they need a nap.”
Did she let her crankiness slip out? “I’ve resigned myself to what Azula told me.”
“Ah.” Mai shifted her weight. “How brave.”
Ty Lee chuckled wryly. “Make sure you guys don’t set the place on fire.” She lifted her arm up and moved Mai to her forearm. “I’m sorry, you guys are just looking out for me when I just want to go on some fun adventure. And maybe get back at Chan.”
“I know, it’s hard to keep you contained.” Starting to fly away Ty Lee heard though in no uncertain terms. “But don’t do anything stupid.”
Nodding to herself she mumbled, “right, right,” and climbed into her car.
She was determined to make her evening as enjoyable as possible. Worrying won’t help her at the moment. Rolling down her windows she popped in a favorite CD and meandered down the drive. The sun was inching below the hills, the trees reaching up and birds diving the only things etching itself into the sun. Peaceful. She checked her rearview and found she was alone on the road. She eased on the gas and hung her head out the window. Resting her head on her arms she took a deep breath of the sweet warm air. The flowers of wild carrots always added a calming smell to the air. It hit her in calm waves. She was lucky to be here.
Pulling off the road she thought she could stay for just a little bit longer. She knows once twilight appears werewolves start to stretch and get ready for the night. She thought she could push Azula’s plan slightly. Laying on the hood of her car she unwrapped her uneaten snacks and closed her eyes.
“Didn’t know you liked this spot too. Well, maybe I could have guessed since you told me about it.” That voice. Ah, yeah she did push her luck. Chan. She heard footsteps stop in front of her car. Werewolf reflexes sucked when they’re used against you. She remembers times when she was still getting to know Azula where she would practically pop out of nowhere. Azula thought it was normal to do such things but she didn’t think so, getting caught in multiple states of undress, distress and holding a frying pan of oil. A hunter’s instinct and speed put her at quite a disadvantage. Again, not working in his favor, flirting wise.
Just get out of here. He knows he doesn’t have much time. “It’s nice to watch the sunset here but I must get back home. Dinner doesn’t make itself.” She emphasized the sun going down. Maybe he forgot. Sliding off her car toward the driver door she steadied a shaking hand against the door handle.
“Ty Lee if I didn’t know any better I’d say you think it’s dangerous here past sunset.”
“Well it’s hard to see in the dark and bears do live here.” She kept her eyes down. Where was Mai? She thought looking at him would cause him to keep her longer. Her heart beat faster. It was dark on the ground now. The sun was either brushing the tops of the trees or was fully sunk now. She couldn’t bring herself to see if there was a telling glow in his eyes.
“I can take you out of here. Keep the bears off you.” She felt his presence looming closer.
“Ah, that’s nice but,” she took a quick chance to look up, his teeth were growing and his eyes were sharp. She opened the door slowly. “I’m good.” She steeled herself ready to fight off of a werewolf long enough to get away.
He took in a shaky, deep breath before opening his mouth again, reaching out to her. “Or maybe keep the wolves off you. Most don’t really associate with humans.” Chan shook his head and scoffed. “Or park rangers.” He knows.
Ty Lee was about to hit him with the door when a moving blur launched out of the long grass and sent Chan flying into the forest. Four seconds passed before she heard a low thump and saw a treetop shake with the impact. She turned her head back to where Chan was launched and felt a wave of relief. Azula lowered her arm, shaking out her hand, and breathing a little heavy. She whipped her head towards her, black hair spilling over her back and shoulders, her hair must’ve fallen out on the way here, she looked at her with wild eyes. A soothing familiar golden glow pierced her. “Get in the car and drive!”
There wasn’t any need to tell her twice, she was halfway in her seat when Azula leaped over the hood and jumped in the passenger seat. Tires squelched as they sped down the once quiet, scenic highway. Ty Lee only got her door closed when she pulled out of the shoulder. She thinks she unintentionally got what she was pouting about the past few days.
Azula groaned, a little loudly, in the seat next to her. “I hate just punching my way through things. I’m above that.”
“Oh? Well I certainly appreciate it. You must have knocked him out cold.”
“It will probably keep him out for a second but not for the night. Transformation is one hell of a thing to beat.”
Ty Lee pressed a little harder on the gas. “I know you hate doing that, punching, but I, uh, kinda, liked it.”
“No, no,no,” Azula dragged her hands, now growing sharper, over her face, “I would have liked to take care of all this through psychological means. It’s easier and less messy. But no, no of course the full moon would ruin that.”
Ty Lee was frantically checking all her mirrors to make sure they weren’t being chased by a giant form or the like but tried to keep her voice relatively calm. “It’s no fault of yours that it comes with being a werewolf.”
“Agh, I can keep it under control but why not today? Why did I just want…” Azula looked down at her hands, breaths coming out in heaves. Ty Lee’s headlights were on causing the drive to be more difficult. A blanket of eeriness settled over her as her senses were heightened to any movement as they twisted down the mountain. “It’s hard to control it around you.” Ty Lee didn’t think she was supposed to hear that. She pretended not to for Azula’s crumbling confidence. Taking a second to look at her passenger she realized the heaving breath reminded her of the nearing time of darkness. She saw how her ears were now ending in points and Azula’s shirt didn’t hide the peeking forms of fur around her collarbones. Leaning forward Ty Lee could see a large full moon hanging in the sky through the windshield.
“Not to ruin the dear and delicate moment we’re having, but I don’t think you can transform in here and it still be used as a working getaway car.”
Azula flexed her hands. She felt her senses heighten and the usual early changes in her bones. She reached up to lightly touch now furry, pointed ears. “I can’t have you see this.”
“‘Zula-”
“Ty Lee stop the car before I jump out.”
“Are you serious? I’m not doing that!”
“I don’t want you to see me transform!”
“Oh but you can watch mine,” Ty Lee threw her hands up. Azula was about to open her mouth to argue. “I’ll start patronizing you if you argue again.” She might’ve been the cause of a popped blood vessel when she saw tufts of fur break out over her partner’s face. Ty Lee put on a nervous smile. “Okay I’ll stop but I’m not leaving right away.”
An ear twitch. Ty Lee was about to switch to the brakes, that twitch was the end of the line for her, when the car shook. A metallic thump emanated from the roof. Metal creaked under weight and limbs. “How timely,” Azula growled.
Ty Lee hit the brakes as she let out a cursed scream. The large body let out a gurgled noise as it rolled across the car and landed tens of feet in front of them. The car went quiet except for the breathing of the two women. Ty Lee could barely hear anything over her own heartbeat in her head. What brought her out was the sound of something thumping against the beaten upholstery. Raising a brow she confirmed her suspicions: a tail wag. Guess she did something right.
After a couple of seconds her vision focused on what jumped her car. Furred claws came into the light. Shaking its head, two tall ears stood at attention. Headlights caught slobbering fangs in a long snout. Eyes met hers behind long brown fur as it stood on two back legs to a staggering height. Werewolf, yup, she knew it. She frantically swatted Azula. “Transform. Transform. Transform, Zula, please.”
A piercing low howl cut straight through the night air. Ty Lee’s blood ran cold. Azula sprung up and opened the driver’s side door and pushed her out. Ty Lee scrambled to keep her balance when she felt Azula push herself out of the car and run up behind her. Azula quickly grabbed Ty Lee and carried her off at a fast pace into the trees and up craggly rocks as the howl came to a close.
“Whats the point of my morning runs if you just pick me up like I’m groceries all the time!”
“You know they’re good for you,” Azula said just loud enough for Ty Lee to hear. “Plus it’s fun to do this.” Ty Lee curled closer and let her blush spread across her face. At least she could enjoy this little moment. Azula’s ears shot straight up then they veered off into a cluster of pines as they went higher up the mountain. They must have confused Chan enough when he hit the blacktop for him to lose their trail for a bit but he must have gained ground.
Azula looked around and must have deemed them safe for now because she let Ty Lee down. She barely got her feet on the ground before her arms were grabbed and she was being sniffed. Quiet aggressively.
“What are you doing there’s a werewolf after us!” Ty Lee hissed.
“I don’t know how I’ll act,” Azula stuck her face in the crook of Ty Lee’s neck, “I want to make sure I’ll know you. Without a doubt.” Azula stepped back and held Ty Lee’s hands close to her face.
“I don’t think I can get you out of here.” Azula gripped her hands a little tighter. Ty Lee could feel her claws, fur, and hardened palms. She was holding back from transforming. She thought Azula mentioned how doing that makes the transformation worse in some capacity. She wished she remembered why.
“I know you don’t like it but I kinda wanna be your cheerleader while I watch you win this,” Ty Lee said softly hoping to make Azula laugh.
A quick smirk went across her face. Then a grimace. “Go hide somewhere close.” Goosebumps went up Ty Lee’s arms hearing the choked guttural noise from Azula. Ty Lee nodded and backed up against a boulder and bush. At least she wouldn’t have to watch her back.
Azula stood a few feet in front of her, still close enough for Ty Lee to make out her shape in the dark. The golden glow from the werewolf’s eyes gave some light to the area. Ty Lee made sure to keep her breathing as quiet as possible, straining to hear any noise of crunching leaves and twigs. More noises of growling and harsh snapping poured from Azula who was curling in on herself. She doesn’t think she’s ever seen Azula transform fully or so slowly. Azula told her how she trained herself to not have to deal with full moons in this manner anymore.
Now she remembered. Witholding a transformation made it hurt . She cringed as Azula fell to the forest floor at the point where her bone structure was halfway through the change. She remembered it not being fun. Azula was barely focused on her surroundings at this point.
Ty Lee thought she heard sniffing and shuffling to the left of them. She knew she wasn’t hearing things when Azula’s head, more wolf than human, swiveled to look behind her. Ty Lee didn’t think Azula had much more to go but she didn’t think time was on their side. She felt around for any sort of forest floor weapon and landed upon a decent sized rock and a backup weapon of a thick branch. Her mouth had gone dry but she tried to keep her wits about her.
Ty Lee spotted two golden dots before the whole werewolf. He barged through the long grass and pushed the trees out of his way. His long snout was slightly open showing long fangs in the bright moonlight. He breathed heavily as he looked between her and Azula. Azula was trying, wincing slightly, to turn around and get up. Ty Lee saw Chan turn his head slowly away from her and to Azula. She didn’t give herself time to think she grabbed the thick branch and ran the few steps to where Chan leaned over Azula. She could see Azula was starting to stand up and shake off the last bits of brain fog, that didn’t stop her from acting as a guard for her much larger girlfriend. Ty Lee dug her heels in and posed the branch as if she was going for a home run and right as Chan lowered his maw Ty Lee yelled, “fetch this!” She swung the branch against his head and closed her eyes against the splintering wood.
Ty Lee felt that she at least swung the branch hard enough to turn his head. She hoped she hurt a tooth. Before she had to face him again with the broken branch Azula unfolded to her full height, the transformation complete, ripping off the last few shreds of clothing, and pushed Ty Lee behind her. So much for digging her heels into the dirt as one claw was as big as her torso and easily pushed her back.
In the time it took for Azula to shove Ty Lee behind her Chan quickly shook off the splinters in his fur. He snarled and lunged at Azula who was ready to meet him. Since Azula was quite smaller than Chan she ducked his claws and rammed into his core to push him off balance. Amidst the noise of growls and howls Ty Lee carefully inched her way back to her safe hiding spot pressed against the boulder and bushes. The moon helped show her the two masses of fur more clearly. Azula had knocked Chan onto the ground and held him down. Ty Lee expected she would have to quickly turn her head away from the scene but instead she thinks that Azula was trying to talk to him. She couldn’t really understand anything since it was all in werewolf noises and grunts. Chan’s eyes quickly flitted up and down Azula’s torso and then he scoffed. He got his right foot free and tried to push Azula off him. He couldn’t do much more than free his leg as Ty Lee could see that Azula dug her claws in deeper, close to drawing blood. Chan did the next best thing he could and slashed his foot’s claws across Azula’s scar on her side. Ty Lee couldn’t help but let out a gasp. Even after almost a year there still wasn’t enough fur covering the three slashes on the woman’s side.
Chan knew he hit a sore spot by the look on his face, his snout twisting into a devious smile. Blood started to flow from Azula coating the forest floor in dark blobs. It wasn’t automatically healing. Only a werewolf’s claws could counteract the fast healing of another werewolf Ty Lee remembered. Azula seemed to bite back a scream. She looked over at Ty Lee and must have silently asked her something. Ty Lee saw a bit of light go out in the golden eyes. She swallowed. Azula’s irises grow sharper as she turned back to Chan. She raised a claw and just as soon as it was up she brought it down, stopping Chan from escaping once more. Ty Lee twisted her eyes close. She could hear a pained howl and thrashing.
Ty Lee took a few deep breaths. Cautiously she opened one eye and saw Azula was still standing. Azula had Chan’s head pushed into the dirt as she lifted a muscled arm again. She looked back at Ty Lee and stopped. Ty Lee saw she was battling herself. Then Azula sighed and rolled her eyes. Putting the arm back down she lifted Chan’s head and brought it down on something hard. His lights went out but when Azula stepped back Ty Lee could still see his chest go up and down. She let out a held breath.
Azula stood there holding her side trying to hold the gaah together. She turned around, teeth bared and hackles raised. Ty Lee froze. She heard huffs and eventually the standing fur slowly folded back down. The eyes widened in shock and Azula shook her head. With a calmer air Azula made to walk over to Ty Lee. Azula stumbled over her feet which made Ty Lee bolt over to her despite the behavior from a few moments prior. A gentle breeze rustled the trees and long grass causing the moonlight to cut through the leaves like rain allowing Ty Lee to see shimmering glimpses of the forested clearing. The air carried the sweet smells of wild carrot and mountain laurels.
Ty Lee reached out, as if she could hold up a giant wolf if her legs gave out, and was given a rough grumble in response. She gave Azula a look that she hoped came across as “are you serious? You’re literally bleeding.” The moonlight gave Azula away showing a pinched look and a heaving chest. Warm breath poured over Ty Lee as Azula swayed from side to side.
“Azula. You’re hurt again and we both know how that went. Get down here.” There was no bite in her voice. Ty Lee hoped the anxious need to make sure Azula made it to the morning would convince her to rest.
Azula looked down at Ty Lee and that was it for her. Lowering herself to her knees she pushed her head into Ty Lee’s hands and hummed slightly from feeling scratching fingers.
“Did you fluff your fur lately?” Ty Lee tried to add a little levity.
Breathing slowly in and out, Azula took from some last well of strength and let herself de-transform slightly. Shrinking back down to her human size she kept up her fur, claws, and ears but lost the large animal head. Just enough to be able to talk to the woman in front of her. Azula looked thoughtfully at Ty Lee, whose eyes were more dilated than she thought they would be in the dark, and questioned the Ranger, “fetch this?”
“What? You didn’t get it? You know fetch, I had a big stick and you guys are just big dogs.” Azula rolled her eyes. “That’s what we’re taking away here?”
Azula chuckled though it came out as more of a cough. Ty Lee winced in empathy as she continued to caress Azula's face. “Your cheeks are all pink,” Azula got out in huffs.
Ty Lee knows Azula’s voice is only low and gravely because of the fight and injury. It still was her favorite noise to hear, her voice sounding exactly like it does in the morning. She knows it’s from the fact it’s a full moon and it just does something to Azula she can’t look away from. She likes how the full moon turns Azula. Ty Lee thought she shouldn’t like watching that fight go down as much as she did but maybe she likes the way the moon turns her too. And right now she liked holding the werewolf in her hands with a perfect view of her face, the peeking fangs and the piercing eyes just for her. It drove her wild.
“I really like,” Ty Lee licked her lips, “I really liked seeing you like that. Like this. Wild and in my hands.”
Azula’s breath hitched. Her eyes being dilated made a lot more sense to her. “You’re driving me wild right now but I am still bleeding.”
“Yeah,” Ty Lee said dreamily and a little breathless. “For me.” Her eyes lowered to Azula’s fangs.
Azula let herself be consumed by Ty Lee. She felt Ty Lee start to pull her face and rushed in locking their lips together. Ty Lee wrapped her arms around Azula’s neck, her hands trailing through fur and hair finding their ultimate destination tangled up in her hair as she cradled the werewolf’s head. Azula hesitated to grab Ty Lee with her bloody and rough transformed hands but as soon as she felt Ty Lee bite her lip and lick at her fangs she brought her hands up to hold Ty Lee’s face close to hers. Azula didn’t want to break the kiss first but broke away to catch her breath and keep a hand on her wound. Still she kept their noses touching and sharing the same breath. Azula could see she got Ty Lee’s face smeared with dark blood, her bangs sticking to her face or out in weird directions from her frantic motions.
“Yeah,” Azula caught her breath. “For you. He won’t be bothering you anytime soon. If he even remembers you.” She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “He didn’t even know who he was dealing with.”
“Royalty?” Ty Lee guessed. Azula nodded her head and smirked. Ty Lee went back in for small pecks.
“That and her Ranger.” Azula’s smile faltered. “I think I need to be bandaged up before this gets worse.” Azula said in between kisses.
“Oh. Right. Or I can kiss it better,” Ty Lee gave Azula her best pout. She could tell it wavered Azula’s stand by the scrunched brows but relented nonetheless. “Yeah let’s get you back before I find you crawling bloody across the road again.” Ty Lee threw Azula’s arm over her shoulder to help her walk.
“We can do that for our anniversary.” Azula said in conjunction.
“Is this going to be a long walk?”
“Probably.”
“At least I get to talk to you on the way back. Don’t think I’ve seen this form before.”
“Thought you’d want to keep a conversation up. As long as I’m mostly wolf I should be okay for the rest of the night. I fully transformed once already. You won’t have to shove all my fur in your tiny car.”
Ty Lee sucked in a deep breath. “We got that going for us.”
Azula had passed out by the time they collapsed through Ty Lee’s front door. A drying blood trail in their wake. More worried and concerned, and not getting lip back unlike their first encounter, she frantically made sure Azula wasn’t going to die. Not one to be the subject of a mother hen Azula told her that the werewolf’s body repeatedly heals itself but the toxins in the wound cause it to break the new scab. The bleeding then continues over the course of several hours until it reaches a fatal point in the regenerative system.
Ty Lee half dropped and half thoughtfully placed Azula on the couch. She was glad she kept an old towel in her car for just in case instances like this. She rolled her shoulders as she ran through a mental checklist of the supplies she needed. Bandages and antibacterial spray were the main things she used last time. She counted more on the werewolf body to do its thing but the bandages would allow Azula’s hands to be free from putting pressure on the gash. The towel helped a bit but it still wasn’t enough.
Peeling off her boots to stop any more blood from getting tracked further into the house Ty Lee got what she needed. She moved the sticky fur to the side as much as possible and started to clean up the wound. Grabbing a washcloth she dumped it into a bucket of warm water and started to clean out any dirt. Once the washcloth was more a lighter red she gingerly started to spray the antibacterial cleanser. She heard a hiss come from above and gave Azula an apologetic look. Azula nodded for Ty Lee to continue.
“I think you’re as cleaned up as I can get ya.”
“Did you really get a certificate for completing First Aid?”
“And who saved your ass last time? Now lean forward we need to start the bandages.” Azula obeyed, moving slowly. Ty Lee contrasted the movement by quickly wrapping the bandages, tightly, around Azula’s side.
“No attitude next time, got it.” Azula winced at a particularly tight wrap around. Ty Lee hummed an upbeat tune in response.
“Good girl.” Ty Lee hummed. “Okay…Done! How do you feel?” Ty Lee gave a light pat to the bandages as she finished wrapping up.
Before Azula answered Ty Lee heard thumping noises coming from somewhere in the couch cushions. Azula, without looking, swatted her hand down on her tail, “...better.”
“I bet,” Ty Lee chided as she rubbed one of the fluffy ears on her girlfriend’s head. “Wanna go to bed? I need to get the five hours of sleep left in the night before breakfast which is before I work.”
Azula made to get up and stopped when a flash of pain went up her side. Before she opened her eyes she felt an arm snake around her and another one going under her legs.
“I got ya. Don’t squirm, it’s embarrassing only for you. I'm loving this.” Ty Lee cooed. Ty Lee placed Azula down and fluffed up the pillows. “You need to be propped up.” Ty Lee expected a huff or snarky comment but once Azula’s head hit the pillow her face became more calm and seemed she was ready to sleep.
“Get on the other side here.”
“So commanding,” Ty Lee kissed Azula’s forehead as she tucked herself under the covers. She could hear Azula’s heart racing as she held onto the woman’s arm snuggled as close as possible. She smiled to herself that she could still make her girlfriend’s head rush from such a soft gesture.
Both women let out a sigh after a long night. They knew they probably had a few more long nights ahead trying to keep two worlds from colliding and to keep the wild and wonderful beasts and flora from passing into legend. For right now Ty Lee pulled the covers up to her chin and folded into Azula.