Chương 42: Chapter 41: Soap and Subtlety

The next door came at the end of a long and winding path through the delve room - that is, the central courtyard we kept returning to. It was well into evening, and the place wasn't silent anymore - we could hear...

"Music?" Roxala sounded incredulous. Fel frowned over this change - none of us had expected it. It sounded like there was a party going on - there was orchestral music, muffled by layers of walls, and people chatting with each other, or at least the sounds of this. There was a hubbub of voices of people working at cross purposes and distant, lively laughter. The place was empty as the grave, as it ever had been, save for the statues on the doorstep of what we were sure was the final door.

"It sounds like there's a social occasion." Gelidia observed. I sniffed the air, and perceived... nothing new, or out of the ordinary, but my Wolf-Ren told me that the noise... was definitely coming from both behind the final door... and from behind the door of the third floor. Made sense - they were the same building, I figured, and I said so.

"A warning of things to come?" Fel said, but it sounded more like a question than a statement.

"Beware... of undead socialites?" Torch asked incredulously, and shook his head. He knew his trade, like his lover did, and added "We shouldn't assume that the spaces connect, but looking at it from an outside perspective, if there's something going on inside we'd definitely hear it like this" in support.

"On your guard. We could be walking into anything." Roxala said, turning the key in the lock and pushing the door open. Noise flooded out over us as indeed, there seemed to be a bustle going on in what turned out to be the back end of the keep in the section of it devoted to serving staff and their activities. Shades bustled past us, and skeletal figures clutching baskets and plates and buckets hurried on myriad tasks hither and yon. As we stepped in, a notification filled the air in front of me.

THIRD FLOOR"MY LADY!" A voice called out to us, making my ears twitch up as a shade floated rapidly towards us, and Gelidia lifted her head to look around at the source of the voice! She was almost immediately pulled into the embrace of the shade of a matronly woman in her late middle age when she'd passed, and she looked intensely pleased to see my ghostly lover, pulling her against her bosom and peppering her with kisses on the cheek and forehead like a long lost daughter.

Gelidia returned the affection with equal measure, clutching her tight and squeezing the matronly maid with all her strength, then laughing as she was scooped up and twirled around in a circle! Abigail Birchwood, Handmaiden level 10, relieved, excited, healthy, associates with unknown (4), and Gelidia Windbinder"I thought you were lost to us forever!" the woman said, wiping tears from her eyes"You look ragged, my little dove! The decades have not been kind to you, but here you are now!"

she said, and despite how rude that sounded, she said it in tones that bubbled with affection and concern for Gelidia. I couldn't help but waggle my tail a bit, the motion drawing her eye - and her immediate pause as she moved her bulk between Gelidia and me. Gelidia wasn't having it, and squirmed out of the woman's grip to move over towards me and take my paw, even as Ms. Birchwood reached out a hand to try and stop her. When I didn't tear her ward to shreds, the woman hesitated and just stared at me!

I let Gelidia lead me forward, and we became the center of a little tableau as other servants stopped to gawk at my bulky golden-furred form.

"Abbey, this is my friend and consort Goldtail Twice-Cursed, the Hound of Lambstock." Gelidia said, and I gave a deep bow as my tail continued to wag. Consort? I felt... weirdly delighted as Gelidia claimed me so openly! Mid-bow, Gelidia pet over my ears making me, and my wolf, quite happy at her contact.

"She is courageous, remarkably well-mannered, and a surprisingly good cook!" she said.

"H-Hound of Lambstock?" and she looked distant a moment as she seemed to consult her own menus before nodding and curtsying to me. She was clearly nervous as she said"I... see!" and she had misgivings, I could see them on her even if I couldn't smell her fear of me. She was shaking.

"Pleased I am to meet you, miss Goldtail, I-" and she did a doubletake as she looked at the handholding and shot Gelidia a wide-eyed stare!

"CONSORT?!" she said in a squeek"My Lady!" She protested, scandalized and Gelidia grinned as Roxala snorted with a dark chuckle and the others grinned.

"She isn't always a beast, Abbey. Let me introduce you to my other friends." Gelidia said, and let go of my paw to lead the woman towards our friends.

"This is the wizard Felorikaan, expert of Dungeons and the monsters therein." Gelidia said, and Fel gave a well-accustomed shallow bow to the handmaiden.

"A pleasure!" he said, and his voice was warm. Abbey clearly approved, returning his bow with a soft ' a pleasure, wise one'.

"This is the courageous Roxala Burnbright, a lady knight and Armiger of the Wayfinder's guild." Gelidia said, and with Fel's instruction behind Abbey's back to bow, she did so, clearly unsure of herself.

"My goodness you are a mighty one, are you not? Well met!" Abbey said, bowing to her as well.

"Uh... yeah." Roxala said awkwardly.

"And this is the intrepid scout of the threesome gang of Wayfinders, Torch Axebright." Gelidia said at last, and Torch sketched a bow that seemed as natural as Fel's own, with a little charming flourish as he bowed over Abbey's hand in a gentlemanly kiss, making the woman titter and blush adorably on her plump-ish cheeks.

"Oh, what a charmer! Well met!" the Handmaiden said, and chuckled.

"You as well, Miss Birchwood." Then, Miss Birchwood, Gelidia's Handmaiden and Nurse, looked to me as if her chin was on rails.

"Now hold on a moment. Did you say... that she was a good cook? Miss Emily... is a cook?"

"Yes?" Gelidia said, blinking"She is a very good cook, actually, she made venison fried rice for us earlier with wild carrots and potatoes, with black tea - it gave us a minor health and stamina boost." she said, and it made me kind of happy to hear her speak up for me. My tail was wagging behind me still as Abbey processed this information and stared at me. Then, she looked to my tail and... seemingly on instinct, held out her hand to me. I didn't fight it - I was...

well, not a dog exactly, but dog-like, and friend-shaped. I nuzzled her hand gently and made a soft grunty noise. The woman, clearly at home with dogs, seemed pleased and cupped my cheeks in her hands and gave me the best scritches I'd ever had before. She dug her fingers into all the right spots and I actually shut down for a few seconds as she did so. Unable to help myself, my left leg lifted and wiggled a bit which made the woman laugh merrily and embrace me too.

"Ohhhh my, that's lovely!" and then she recoiled a bit.

"Oh! Oh dear. You smell like wet dog, miss." she said, and chuckled at my slightly offended look as she planted a kiss on the side of my snout.

"That simply will not do!" she went on"All of you look weary. Let's get you cleaned up for the Ball, and then miss Goldtail? I'm sure our cook would love your help in the kitchen - I'm afraid half the staff being undead is doing nothing at all good for proper preparations." she said, and to show willing my ears perked up high on my head and fwuppa-fwuppa-fwuppa my tail thumped the floor and Roxala's legs as it waggled. CLEANED UP?

A bath - Hot, sweet smelling water, soaking into our muscles and helping us relax, somebody brushing our fur out, and then we'll get all kinds of scritches and attention! THAT SOUNDS ALRIGHT. IT WON'T HURT? and she felt... nervous. In my mind's eye, her tail was tucked between her legs as she trembled a bit, staring nervously at me. I marveled at my wolf's reluctance and hugged her in the mindscape! Of course not! It'll feel amazing and it will definitely make Gelidia happy.

Wolf weighed that and nuzzled my mental self as she said TRUST. Then, Abigail looked to the assembled adventurers, who were quietly conferring together in confused tones. They looked to the Handmaiden as she gave them her attention.

"As for you, dears, any friend of Gelidia's is welcome in this House. Would you like hot baths and a chance to clean up? I'm certain that can be arranged. And of course, you simply must attend the Ball tonight." she said, and I marveled at how quickly we'd gone from a dungeon delve to a ball. What the heck was going on anymore?

"Excuse me, miss... but I do have a question." Fel said, voicing my concern.

"This is... a dungeon, yes?" he said, and Abbey nodded.

"Oh, yes dear, I suppose it is, as strange as that sounds." she said. This didn't lessen his confusion! She seemed to think about it, dipping her chin as she paused for thought before nodding.

"Mmmm, yes! I don't actually know what's going on with this... but I get the feeling the Ball itself is the challenge." she replied. Fel nodded then, shrugging.

"Very well... I suppose it can't hurt to put our best foot forward." he said, and looked to Roxala, who frowned.

"Fine. But I'm not leaving these two by themselves at any point." she said, clapping Fel and Torch on the shoulders.

"No telling what's going on around here, no offense. Miss Birchwood, I don't know you, I don't trust you. This is a dungeon and the safety of this party is my chief concern - not playing nice with strangers." she growled, as direct as ever. Abigail took it in stride, nodding firmly." As you wish, miss. Cherise, dear? You and Gon go prepare the guest suite." she said, and two shades bowed to her, one a man in a suit, one a maid wearing, I kid you not, the black and white frilly dress of a french maid.

They both ' yes marm'ed' and scuttled off at speed. Abigail turned to two others, saying"And Lionel?

Come with me - I will need your help with miss Goldtail" she said, and a nervous looking shade looked at me with abject terror as he clutched a brush like a ward against evil, emitting a soft'y-yes marm'. With that we were led down a few corridors, taking our time for Fel to jot down a map of our environs. The Handmaiden eventually stopped at a doorway near the end of one hallway, and opened it. A guest room was being dusted, and the smell of hot water and mustiness filled my nose.

The man in the suit, Gon I thought, looked harried.

"Miss Birchwood, we are out of soap!" he said, clearly distressed, and Abigail blinked.

"What?! That is no good! Send to the town's soapmaker and- Oh." her face fell a little. That is, until I pressed a couple bars of soap that I'd brought with me into her hands. She blinked at them, then at me, then laughed merrily! With a sniff at the green bars I'd made with my own two hands, she shivered with delight and nodded.

"Ohhhh... that will do. Here." She said, and pressed them into the equally surprised hands of the man Gon before looking to me again.

"These will do. Have you any m-" and I gave her two more bars of the stuff! I still had two left after that, and she smiled.

"My my... you ARE full of surprises, miss Goldtail." Abbey said, and turned to Roxala.

"Dame Burnbright, these quarters are for your use and that of your companions. Please be at ease - Gon and Cherise will be on hand for anything you require." She said, and Roxala gave one of her world-class grunts in vague acknowledgement of her words. Fel was much more articulate.

"Thank you, Miss Birchwood." he said.

"I take it... miss Gelidia and miss Goldtail have their own quarters?" he asked.

"Yes, the Lady's suite. They are quite safe in my care, I assure you." Abbey said, and Roxala snorted. She got elbowed by Torch viciously, and it only made the orcmaiden smile. Despite her bad manners, Roxala was given a warm smile and a bow, Abbey's eyes twinkling with amusement.

"This takes me back - the young Duke would often bring friends home after his adventures. You are welcome here, miss Burnbright, master Axebright, and honored Wizard." she said, and turned to lead Gelidia and I further down the hall as the door shut behind us.

"When you... gosh, it seems so strange now I come to tell someone... but when you entered the dungeon, I cleaned up your room already, my Lady. It is just how you left it." She said, throwing open the doors. It was like... time hadn't touched the place. There was no mustiness here, no decrepitude, just...

a big four poster bed, a screen to wall off a lavish changing area, a number of dresses and things on stands and racks, an elegantly carved armoire, and what had to be Gelidia's personal study - a library that would have been impressive in any house! It was lined with hundreds of books, and occupied one whole corner and wall of the large bedchamber.

As Gelidia entered the room, she lit up a little, staring around at the place, the greenish firelight reflecting around the room showing her delight in her blank eyes as she threw her arms around Abbey and hugged her tight with a squeek! The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. THIS IS OUR MATE'S PLACE. Her home, yes! This is where she grew up. SHE IS HAPPY. THIS PLEASES ME. Me too! This is nice, so far. Abbey spun Gelidia again before letting her down again.

"Now then. I will leave you two alone a moment while I make preparations for the bath. Lionel - come with me, I will require your assistance." the Handmaiden said, and took the nervous looking shade by the hand to lead him into the bathroom. The door shut behind them with a soft click. Then, Gelidia was dragging my snout towards her to look me in the eyes, her face close to mine. I blinked at her, but felt my tail wagging a little as the Lady pressed her lips to mine.

Kissing her like this was strange - my mouth wasn't shaped right, but... she didn't seem to care, or mind how I tasted. She pet my ears just how I liked, and dug her fingers into my ruff as she tasted me and tenderly gave me scritches. All my tension melted away, and I pulled her quite gently into my embrace as I knelt. My jaws parted, and I took her throat into my mouth gently, feeling no pulse under her silken flesh as she let out a husky little noise and trembled. I wanted her - I wanted to have her now, to...

I didn't know what, but I had never felt attraction so strong for another woman in my life, let alone ever, ever thought I'd be kissing a ghost, for heaven's-.... the World's sake. But here I was, a beast.. doing just that. I licked her throat and made a grunty noise at her taste, letting the pleasure of it wash over my palate as my paws gripped her tight and I licked lower... into her neckline.

The Shade, my lover, made a soft noise of protest but didn't push me away - she wanted this as much as I did, and as her hands rewarded me with scritches and exploring touches to my neck and shoulders, getting to know this form of mine better. I licked lower, and my long, doglike tongue slid across one nipple beneath fabric, making the girl GASP And stand up on tip-toes as if to press into my tasting mouth.

If cool wind and a burbling brook could taste like a girl, that's what my Gelidia tasted like as I sampled her breast in her embrace, feeling it squish and slip around under my broad tongue deliciously. She shuddered and pushed my snout away a bit, and I let her without protest, licking my chops and then her cheek once. She tasted good... and I had no idea how. I just knew I wanted more.

"Mmmmm... later, my love - they won't be long." She said softly, and my heart fluttered with excitement. She giggled at my expression, and peppered my snout with kisses.

"My Goldtail... did you like when I claimed you as my Consort?" she asked, voice soft, and I nodded to her, pressing my great head into her arms as I embraced her in my hands lovingly. I let out a soft little whine, and she d'awwwwwwed as she pet me and held me tight against her.

"My sweet Hound, how I adore you." She said softly"Later... when you become human-shaped again, I'm going to do many things... and one of the first will be get you a nice dress, one with pockets and an apron, all done up in house green. You'll be absoluely lovely!" She said, and I could hardly wait! A dress! Not just a dress, but a practical one! I found myself delighted and eager for such a thing! Did that mean I was getting old? My friend group from an ill-spent youth would have suggested as much.

I kissed her again, for what felt like just for a moment, cupping her cheek to in my paws. I must have lost track of time and my grip on my senses because we were both startled when Gelidia's handmaiden cleared her throat! We parted, and I realized also... that we were by her bed, with Gelidia sitting on the edge as I loomed over her. My lupine lips burned a little from the prolonged contact, and hers were slightly pink as well.

"S-sorry, Abbey, we got a little carried away" Gelidia said awkwardly, and I contrived to look sheepish, dipping my head in embarrassment at being caught like necking teenagers with the Lady of the House.

"... your Lord Father is Nnnnnnot going to be pleased with this pairing, my Lady, it is not my place to say, to tell you what to do as if you'd listen, but... you should know." she said with a clearly frustrated sigh that revealed her anger.

"A werewolf... and a woman, besides - even if it were possible for you to still bear a child to term, she would not be able to sire a successor!" she said as she sat beside Gelidia on the bed, and took the girl's hand. Then, she turned her gaze fully onto me, and she could not have had a more threatening presence if she'd been actually armed. This woman was tough, and did not entirely approve of me.

Worse, she'd helped raise Gelidia as far as I figured, given several context clues, and I'd just been necking with the girl! Worse still, not only did she clearly have a way with dogs, but she also had a way with people and her tone, when it came next, chilled my bones.

"Miss Goldtail, please join Lionel in the bathroom, if you please. Even if he will be displeased, I would not shame my Lady by having you appear in front of My Lord like a ravening beast covered in blood and filth and smelling like a butcher's dog." she said, and I found myself obediently scuttling back towards the bathroom with a nod. Then, with Wolf-Ren, I saw her turn her gaze upon Gelidia, and the girl recoiled as if struck. I tried not to listen as Abbey said"Now then, young Lady."

she said, and the door clicked shut behind me as I let out a sigh, glad to be away from what was essentially that most terrifying monster of all: an angry mother.

"... She can be rather... acerbic, madame." the man who had to be Lionel said, sitting on a stool beside the drawn bath tub. I turned my golden gaze upon him and I saw his jaw muscles jump a bit as he tensed while I examined the room. It was... well, huge. The bath was more like a hot tub, and sage-scented bubbles frothed generously with sweet scented oils in the steaming water that roiled and bubbled delightfully!

"... but she cares a great deal for um... our Lady. I am Lionel - a pleasure to meet you, Hound." he said. If I couldn't scent him, if people hadn't already referred to the man as 'he', I would have mistaken him for a woman. He was lovely, manifesting with long raven black locks bound in a loose ponytail and not a hair on his well-sculpted chin. He was slim, daintily built, with slender, strong looking hands and well-manicured fingernails.

He had draped his doublet behind me - I could scent him on it, even if he was a ghost - and that alone was a wonder. I examined the object, blinking. [SPECTRAL] Doublet, masterwork quality, created by Arnsois of Creed He could... remove clothing? Shades could remove their clothing? I had a happy thought and looked back towards the door again, licking my chops a bit as my gestalt mind went straight into the gutter for a fun little moment! Does that mean we'll get to see Gelidia in a pretty dress?

I WANT TO SEE HER WITHOUT ONE! I rumbled a chuckle, and then, remembering my manners, refocused on Lionel. I bowed to him, and he returned the gesture as a deep nod. I could tell how nervous he was - he was terrified of me! And here I was, between him and the exit, a huge werewolf monster he had to... what? He answered my question, his voice steady despite how I could see him shaking with my Wolf-Ren.

"I am to assist you, O Hound, in becoming presentable and well-groomed for polite company. Can madame..." he cleared his throat awkwardly"... become human again?" he asked, hope naked in his voice! I didn't want to dash that hope on the ground, but... I was an honest kind of girl, generally. I shook my head, and he didn't so much as sigh, though he did look disappointed.

"Ah, a pity. Come, come - your bath is prepared." he said, and I thought about how best to approach him. I glanced up at the ceiling, and saw it was tall enough that if I slouched only a little, I wouldn't bang my head on the chandeliers. Crawling across the floor on all fours would probably frighten him, so I figured... the best thing I could do was appear as under-control as I could and walk on two feet towards him.

I did so, and his shaking increased so even my eyes could tell he was trembling like a leaf on a branch! I pretended not to notice, and lifted a paw, dipping it daintily into the water to test it, as anyone might. Hot, but not too hot, so I stepped in. A textured bottom gave my feet grip, and I slid into the water, making it rise appreciably around me as my bulk settled into the suds!

Something about the water made it become even bubblier, and it tingled quite pleasantly as it did so, making me rumble in pure pleasure. Ohhhh, yes! THIS FEELS VERY GOOD! Wolf and I luxuriated in the hot water, letting the tensions of days seep away along with the dark stains in the water. Whatever enchantment was on the Fountain in the center of town... evidently was in this water as well, because it never actually got cloudy or dark! Lionel relaxed by degrees, and, timid as anything said"Madame... I would...

care for your hair and your fur, if it pleases you... there are many tangles, many things stuck in it and... um...." I lifted my head towards him, and nodded deliberately, shifting in the deliciously hot water to be a little closer to the edge. I hadn't been pampered like this... since I was a little girl, and the idea of it was appealing to me. I felt gentle hands explore tangles, felt gentle tugs and timid explorations that became a bit bolder the more he did it and as professionalism took over.

Lionel seemed to get into his work, and with a brush, he began to pull tangles out of my fur and brush me out with compassionate gentleness as I continued to wash myself, running my hands over hardened muscle and dense fur, occasionally pausing to help him by, a bit more forcefully than he dared, removing obstructions to progress. A whole-ass branch came loose one such time, and then several small daggers I'd not noticed I'd been stabbed with!

I hadn't even felt them penetrate my hide, but glinting were three such, and the wounds... closed almost immediately as Lionel watched with interest... then cleansed the blood-stained fur with some of my soap.

"YOU WHAT?!" thundered Abbey from the other room, and wisely, Lionel and I pretended not to hear the shouting match that followed. After a minute or so of this,"... Did madame make this soap? Did I hear that a'right?" he asked with professional interest. I nodded my head, and he returned the nod.

"It is a serviceable soap - it will last some time. It would benefit from the inclusion of some Parsley or Thyme? Mint or Rosemary, too, would be a lovely pairing with the sage, Madame." he said, like he knew exactly what he was on about! I blinked at him, and my tail waggled a little. He seemed to understand, and smiled too.

We spent some time like that, and though I was not able to actually speak coherently, he chatted to me about different soap making processes and different bases, the merits of different tallow, and another step in my process that I hadn't used or even known about: Solvents, to make glycerine soap - at least, that's what I knew it as. He called it Crystal Soap.

Strong, strong spirits, it turned out, could be used to make clear soaps that were especially hard, and tallow would make an excellent base for such a thing, if I dissolved the soap crystals in the solvent under heat! It was interesting to me, and I listened with rapt attention as he described an occasion where a friend of his nearly burnt his cottage down trying it! Then came the proper brushing and trimming of my coat and my hair.

By now, Lionel had found a friend in me, and sighed as he ran his fingers through my soft fur.

"Madame's fur is lovely - like unto golden silk!" he said, brushing it out. It took him less time than I thought possible for him to give me a trim and dry out my coat, and he informed me that"-You mustn't allow your fur to retain water - that is where the wet dog scent comes from, madame, and your coat is too lovely to smell like that!" with a tittering chuckle that made my tail waggle a little behind me.

With his brushing, the trim he'd given me, and the help of a handy full-length mirror, I got a good look at myself in this shape for the first time. I was tall - very tall, almost twice Lionel's height, and what had to be four times his weight. I could count every muscle on my abdomen, and my breasts, under my fur, fully concealed my nipples. Between my legs, I was similarly protected from plain view by thick, soft fur that grew abundantly in the lower-tummy region. I was... well, very wolf-like.

I touched my snout, and examined my features closely. I wasn't just.. all golden. On my belly, I was lighter - almost white, and on my back, and atop my snout, my fur was a little darker. I had almost tigerlike patterns radiating around my eyes, subtle for the barely visible difference in color, but present.

My hair had been styled, and I could see that even in this shape, my mane of golden locks was still quite-present, cascading over my thick shoulders and re-braided by Lionel in a plat down my back, re-woven with soft green ribbons. My collar was re-fastened, and I admired the effect of the contrast in my golden fur and the House Green. The Wolf-Pendant of course would not come off for love or money, no matter what Lionel had tried, so he'd simply worked around it in the end and given it a polish.

All told, I felt... good. Not just clean, but beautified. Before Lionel could properly react, I hugged him gently against me, and nuzzled the side of his head, gentle as a lamb as my tail, likewise bedecked with girly ribbons and bows, waggled behind me merrily!

"Oh!" he said, shocked, then pat me as he chuckled. After that brief flash of fright from him, he relaxed and pat my shoulder chastely, chuckling.

"You like it, madame? You really do look incredible, o Hound - a beast-maiden in bloom!" he gushed, and I panted stupidly, pink tongue lolling out! This delighted him, and he gave me scritches - again with hands that clearly knew how to treat a canine's ears! Did this house have lots of dogs? I made a pleased grunty noise, and leaned into the touch a little before breaking the embrace and moving towards the door. He knocked upon it, darting ahead of me to do so and holding up a hand to give me pause.

"Come!" Gelidia said, and the door swung open to permit me to duck through it. The sight that met me took my breath away; There was Gelidia, standing in a gown of green and white silks, with the gentle curve of a bustle offering a lovely counterpoint to the curvature of her hips.

Elbow-length gloves of the same lovely green, set with jewels of amethyst and sapphire, I figured, and golden bangles that beautifully supported the look, offering some color balance to the golden torc and pendant on her throat and around her neck. Her hair was well-cared-for and done up in a bun that let just enough strands of her hair spill down her back and over her shoulders, very nearly the same color as the dress itself.

I was transfixed, utterly stunned by her beauty, and judging from the gape of her mouth covered by her glove as she looked me over, she felt the same. Abbey couldn't even disapprove - she stared too, looking me up and down.

"Well I'll go to the foot of the stairs..." the handmaiden breathed, as Gelidia stepped towards me, reaching out to touch my cheek with gentle fingertips, then feel my thick ruff and silken fur with evident pleasure.

"My Hound... you look lovely. And the fur on your body is so thick and lavish... I don't see how anyone could possibly complain." she said, and Abbey snapped out of her stupor at last!

"Oh yes, apart from her being a werewolf, you mean. Why, she might not even eat anyone tonight!" she sniped, crossing her arms. Gelidia chuckled and spun, letting her skirt spin out a little as she stepped backward towards me. On instinct, my hand slid around her, over her shoulder, and she held it to her chest.

"Only if I tell her to, sweet Abbey!" she said, and I found myself giving a wolfy grin as my tail waggled, mildly bludgeoning Lionel ('eemph! Meeeph!')