Everleigh wasn’t sure what to expect as she followed after Zael, going through all the possibilities yet the one she was met with was hardly something she had come close to conjuring up. Before her was a
monster of a man with a paw of monster paws. Everleigh was hardly as tall as the majority of the girls at the academy, even if she was at a proud five-six, the average height of the female population ranged from five-seven to five-eight, with plenty standing out of that range like
Ralene or
Delaney.
Heck, even waife-like Chasmine was taller than her!
She felt her core tighten, already preparing herself for Zael’s words. Survive was most definitely a apt word in this case because it was definitely a possibility for her to get crushed. But. As the initiate watched the seemingly regular civilian walk away unscathed— or at least without a broken bone— she was already telling herself that she could do it and be fine. Heck she had plans to graduate as a second level dreadlord, one little massage wasn’t going to kill her, right?
Right?
“
You got it.” She told Zael, feeling a slight spike of adrenaline go through as she mentally prepared as if she were going into battle. No one had volunteered to go next and with her head held high, Everleigh raised up her hand as high as she could as she walked forward. “
Can I be next?” She asked, not wanting to cut in line— despite there not really being one. Kodiak’s massive head swiveled over to only look down at the poison eater.
“Of course!” He bellowed before laughing as if Everleigh had said the best joke he had ever heard. He then patted the wooden table with a few firm pillows on it. “Lay down face first! Head right here.” He instructed as Everleigh easily hoisted herself up on the table, easily fitting her face into the hole and laying flat on her stomach. “One paw with a wee bit of claw special coming right up!” He hollared to no one in particular with a over-eager grin as his large hands morphed into even large bear paws. Kodiak slid her hair over to the side.
He then leaned over, rather gently placing his paws directly over her shoulder blades.
“Lemme know if it hurts too much.” He said, not even giving Everleigh time to murmur out a response before he pressed down, sliding his paws in a down and outward motion.
Everything from Everleigh’s time at the academy told her to run or to fight. There was that initial pain, the pressure too intense for a split second that triggered her fear response. However, just as quickly there was a sense of relief as a series of hard to reach “pops” could be heard coming from the center of her spine. She melted then tensed up immediately once again as Kodiak repeated the same action.
“You gotta loosen up or it’ll just hurt! Relax!” He said and pressed down with more pressure than before. “Relax!” He said again, once more adding more pressure. Everleigh let out a muffled moan of agreement, doing her best to relax. Strangely enough, she brought forth the image of counting cards, her favorite thing to do when she was being punished and wanted to go elsewhere.
“See, ladies like you, they’re always full of knots right here! All that weight you’re carrying on your chest and you got little shoulders, girlie.” Kodiak explained, rubbing out a series of knots between the curve of her shoulder and where her neck connected to her back. “Guess having a big bosom isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, haha! But I’ll have you feeling limber again in no time once I obliterate every last tensed tendon! Oh
YEAH!” He said and then he
really got to work.
Everleigh sat up, her face for once incredibly easy to read. No mask to put on as she felt as light as a feather. Truth be told, Kodiak did exactly what he had promised. While parts of her muscle definitely felt a dull soreness and her skin felt very raw and sensitive from his large paws, there was no denying that Everleigh hadn’t felt this good in a long time. She languidly slid off the table, dreamily looking over at Kodiak.
“
Thanks.” She said, handing him the coins and a hearty tip. She was out of money now, only having brought a little bit of her stash to enjoy the festival. Then like a baby deer that had just been born, she stumbled yet glided over to Zael, a half-lidded look in her eyes, a genuine yet small smile. As long as no one patted her back or shoulders she should be fine.
“
Easy peasy,” she said, overconfident as usual.
Perhaps that rough massage had only made her numb to pain?
Zael Castomir
