[Hyenadog]

Tobias paused when he heard Rigel respond, looking back to the bedroom, then down the stairs. "Alright, thanks." He called back, going to quietly dress himself. The clothing was a bit big for his slender frame, but he didn't mind. he just found a belt to secure the pants and tucked the shirt in. He felt much better, cleaned and dressed. And surprisingly free of any real pain from his encounter during the night...he thought it was odd, but didn't dwell on it.

He headed down the stairs, His footsteps very quiet without shoes on. He simply followed the wonderful smell of food cooking to find Rigel in the kitchen. "Everything fits well enough." He said, showing the legs of the pants were about an inch or two short, but otherwise fine. "Thank you again for helping me out." He sighed, going to sit down. His black hair hung about his shoulders, covering his injured eye somewhat and hiding his scars. It shined in the light, like raven's feathers.

"Umm, stop me if this is too personal...but, you are very obviously pregnant...yet you live alone." He said, tilting his head. "Is there a reason?" He asked, looking curious.

[$urr0g@t3 D@d]

Rigel giggled a little at how his own clothes fit his guest. "Well I'm more than happy to lend you some of my clothes. Especially ones that don't fit me right now", Rigel finished with a soft pat to his belly. He brought the food to the table as Tobias sat down, eager to see how his cooking is received. Looking at Tobias's shining black hair, he couldn't help but compare his own to the likes of it. He brushed some of his flat, mousy-brown hair out of his face, his bangs framing his pleasantly plump features. At least he was proud of his neat braid going down his back.

Rigel blushed a little at Tobias's thank you. "Awww, don't mention it. You were in pretty dire need, and it was my pleasure. It's been a while since I've had any company, so your presence is very welcome. I just wish it could've been under better circumstances" he said as he looked down towards the floor.

Rigel craned his head back up when he was addressed the personal question. "I uhhh...well, I guess it's only fair that you ask me an awkward question." Rigel let out a half-hearted laugh. He came up to the side of the table and gingerly sat down, one hand under his belly. He brought both hands to the sides of his belly and let out a sigh. "You are correct, I am very pregnant. I'm just like you...a hermaphrodite. I...I don't want you to be alarmed by what I'm about to tell you. I want you to listen to the whole story first." Rigel appeared to stare off into space for a minute as he collected his thoughts.

"The events surrounding my pregnancy are very similar to what happened to you last night. The night I was attacked, I had heard some disturbing, animalistic noises coming from the barn. I went to investigate, and to my horror one of my horses had been gutted, literally. I feared whatever had done that was still around, so I turned tale back to the house. I didn't make it. The creature attacked me, dragged me into the forest, and...and", he choked up a little at the memory. "It had it's way with me. Just like what the creature did to you last night. Everything you experienced, the wounds, the accelerated healing, the fever, and the stomach cramp you had earlier...all that happened to me." A couple of tears rolled down his cheeks as he relived the tale. "I remember seeing the creature in the light of the full moon. It...it had a wolf-like head, but it stood up on two feet. I wasn't until a couple of months later that I realized that the werewolf had left me something other than the infection." Rigel unbuttoned his overalls, letting the front flop down, and he pulled up his night shirt over his impressive middle, revealing it in all it's glory. It impregnated me. I carry the progeny...of a werewolf, and I fear you may as well."   (Sorry if this is too long)

[Hyenadog]

Tobias gave the other a smile when he said he was more than happy to lend him clothing. Though, he still felt a little bad imposing on the man. He was sure as soon as he could, he would find his way back home, but not before repaying Rigel for his kindness.

"I know how you feel, I don't get visitors very often at my own home." He sighed. He was a bit of a recluse, a 'starving artist'...if one could call his creations art. But it was his passion, and that's what mattered to him.

He was about to dig into his meal when Rigel began to speak about what lead to his pregnancy, pausing and slowly setting his utencils down to listen. A look of shocked disbelief crossed his face as the man told his story, eyes shifting to the exposed dome of his pregnant belly. His face went pale, mouth opening and closing a few times as he tried to find words for his thoughts. "I....I was attacked....and raped....by a werewolf?" He said, having to say it out loud to make sure he was really hearing what he thought he was. "That...that's impossible." He said, shaking his head. But the proof was there, the healing, the similar symptoms...It had to really sink in for a moment.

"Oh god..." He muttered, appetite lost. "I'm going to turn into one.....and give birth to one?" He said, looking repulsed. Thankfully, he had a month to come to terms with his new life...

[$urr0g@t3 D@d]

Rigel stared at Tobias as the news sank into him. Well, at least he's not throwing things around in a blind panic, he thought to himself.

"I'm sorry to have to break the bad news to you, but I think you'd rather hear it now, than find out later on your own...like me. That was not a pleasant time", he trailed off. "Now, I have to stress this part, I'm no expert when it comes to werewolves. For all I know, I may be wrong. Maybe you're not pregnant. I can only go by what happened to me."

"For your sake, I hope I am wrong", he said as he pulled down his shirt and buttoned up his overalls. Rigel didn't know how to comfort Tobias, after all, this is probably the most distressing news anyone could ever hear. He took Tobias's hand in his and looked him right in the eyes.

"Look, Tobias, I know this all very overwhelming for you, but you need to remember...you're not alone. I'm here for you. If you are pregnant, I can help you through it, if you want me to." Rigel squeezed his hand, trying emphasize the point, and give the other man some reassurance.

[Hyenadog]

Tobias had his hands up in his hair, tugging at it as he processed everything. His eyes wide and his expression distressed. But he was never one to lash out, always internalizing his fears and emotions, which was good and bad sometimes. Right now it spared Rigel an explosion of emotions and left him with an overwhelmed looking young man.

He looked up at Rigel again, trying to gather himself and calm down. He let the man take his hands, looking down at them as he took slow calming breaths. "God I hope you aren't right about that part." He muttered, closing his eyes tight.

"Thank you....but, if we're both....werewolves...then that means we'll both turn into them." He said, brows raised. He certainly hoped Rigel had devised some form of containment...to at least spare other people from their beasts.

[$urr0g@t3 D@d]

Rigel nodded his head in agreement with Tobias's observation. "Yes, we will turn into werewolves. In fact that's what happened to me last night. And before you get any funny ideas, I was not the one who attacked you. I was inside the barn the whole night...as far as I know", Rigel shrugged his shoulders as he said this last part.

"My beastly side can be very crafty it seems. I've found myself just outside of my barn a couple of times, so my containment method isn't full proof, but it works for the most part. I've got some very heavy-duty chains out in the barn, and that's how I've contained myself on the full moon. If we can get another set of those chains, it might work to keep you contained too." He had his fingers on his chin in thought.

"There's a hardware store in the closest town from here. That's where I got mine after I changed for the first time. If you want some, you'll have to go get them on your own. I don't dare go into town looking like...this", he rubbed his belly for emphasis.

"Unfortunately, that's the best I've got in terms of containment, unless you've got a better idea." Rigel began looking at the untouched food on Tobias's plate. "You better eat that while it's still a little warm. You need to get your strength back."

[Hyenadog]

Tobias frowned when Rigel wasn't 100% sure he had been in the barn all night, but he didn't want to start pointing fingers. He just sighed and rubbed at his face, upset and frustrated with how things were going.

"So that's it? We just chain ourselves up?" He asked, frowning deeply. "Why not build a cage?" He asked, looking up at him. "Something more secure than just chaining yourself up. I mean, I have some experience with welding..." He shrugged. He knew how to build a solid cage, he just didn't know where they'd find the tools or supplies for such a thing. "Basically....reinforce a stall in the barn with bars...or a section...Either way, something tough enough to hold a bear." He nodded.

He looked down at his food and sighed, managing to eat some of it before it got too cold. He paused mid bite, remembering something from school. "Wait, the moon is full for three days...technically. The true full moon, the day before, and the day after." He said, looking up at the man. "Will you change again tonight?" He asked, looking worried.

[$urr0g@t3 D@d]

Rigel shook his head and waved his hand, "Nah, the changes only occur on the true full moon. However, me and little ones tend to get pretty restless on the other two nights. So if you hear me up and about tonight while you're trying to sleep, you'll know why."

He furrowed his brows in thought, and brought his hands to the sides of his belly and started rubbing circles. It was a habit he had developed over the last couple of months as the babies became more active. It also helped him concentrate. Many times he didn't even realize he was doing it.

"I've thought about the cage idea, but I don't have the necessary funds to get the supplies, nor the skill to build one. I suppose with you here, the skill part is taken care of, but I don't know...". He trailed off as an idea revealed itself. "Hang on...Oh my God, duuuhhh!", he said as he slapped his forehead. "There's a scrap yard a couple of miles north of here. I don't know if they'll have the heavy duty metal we'll need, but it's a damn good place to start looking I think. And I'm pretty sure the hardware store in town has arc welders for rent." Rigel's smile got bigger and bigger and brightened up his whole face.

[Hyenadog]

Tobias scratched his head a bit, looking thoughtful. He was a bit of a horror and paranormal fan, but he never expected to be the victim of a horror movie favorite. "Well, I'm sure movies aren't the best places to get facts, but I wonder if the shift could still happen on those other nights...like from stress, or willing it to happen." He shrugged. Then he paused and blinked. "Little ones...as in multiple?" He squeaked, looking to his belly. He hoped he wasn't pregnant even more now.

He watched the man rub his swollen middle, finding it a bit cute...in a weird way. Though he was snapped out of that thought when Rigel remembered something, a smile crossing his own face. "I'm sure a scrap yard keeps things pretty organized. They have to sell it, after all. So if we can get some steel pipe or rod, I can figure out the rest." He nodded, then paused.

"I lost my wallet....I mean, it was in my pants, but you saw what was left...it must be out in the forest still. Along with my phone." He sighed, shaking his head. "I could maybe follow the blood trail I left...." he said, making a face. "And do you have transportation?" He asked. They'd need a truck to get the tools and supplies for the cages...

[$urr0g@t3 D@d]

Rigel was unsure of Tobias's plan to go back into the forest to try to find his wallet and phone. "Those woods are pretty confusing. I've been in them a few times, and I've almost gotten lost every time. Even if you follow your blood trail, there's no guarantee you'll find the exact spot where you dropped your things. If you do go, I'm going with you. It's best to have a buddy system." He had an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach, and it wasn't indigestion.

"As for transportation, I've got an old Ranger in the back of the house", he pointed his thumb in the general direction of the vehicle. "So, hauling stuff isn't going to be an issue." He put his hands behind his head and leaned back in his chair, letting out a deep sigh as he did so.

"So, when do you want to go into the woods and look for your stuff?"

[Hyenadog]

Tobias sighed softly when Rigel explained that the forest could be confusing. "Well, I was pretty good as a boy scout...follow a trail. I think we should probably set a time limit...so we don't get stuck out there when the sun goes down." He said, making a face.

He smiled when Rigel said he had a vehicle, "Great, that's one thing off the list." He nodded. "Now we just need money. I have a pretty good sized savings account...So, I don't think buying some scrap will break the bank." He shrugged. "I just don't want to deal with the hassle of calling my bank to report my cards as lost." He sighed, shaking his head.

He poked at his food a little more before glancing to the time. "Maybe in an hour..." He nodded. "You have any flashlights?" He asked, tilting his head.

[$urr0g@t3 D@d]

Rigel nodded his head at the question. "Yeah, I got some down in the basement. Just need to put some fresh batteries in them. An hour should be just enough time for me to get down there and back up here before we leave", he gave a laugh as he patted his belly. He was exaggerating but not by much. These days it took him a while to get anywhere or do anything.

"Actually, I think I'm going to go get changed first. These overalls are just a little too...tight at the moment. Gonna get into something more comfortable and less restrictive. I was planning to do some gardening today, but that can wait." He started to rock back and forth a little to give himself momentum to get out of the chair. With the last rock, he swung himself forward and up onto his feet. He started to slowly stand upright when he lost his balance and plopped back down into the chair.

Trying to catch his breath, he explained to Tobias, "Some--sometimes, this takes...a few attempts." He looked over at Tobias with a little bit of a guilty look, "I'm sorry to ask, but would you mind helping me?"

[Hyenadog]

Tobias nodded to Rigel, he'd help him find the flashlights. But when he mentioned the fact he moved a bit slower, he paused. "Ah, umm..." He started, but Rigel mentioned getting changed.

He watched the man attempt to stand, nearly jumping up when he plopped back into the chair. "You don't have to feel bad about asking." He muttered, getting up and helping him up. He kept hold of one of his arms, his other hand at the man's back, making sure he'd stay standing this time. "Maybe its not the best idea for you to be wandering around the woods." he sighed, glancing to his swollen belly. "You aren't really in any condition to be wandering the woods." He sighed, shaking his head.

He didn't know how far along Rigel's pregnancy was, or how long a werewolf's pregnancy was...but Rigel looked about ready to pop at any time, and that worried Tobias quite a bit.

[$urr0g@t3 D@d]

Rigel welcomed Tobias's help as he stood. "Whew thank you. May...maybe you're right. I'd only slow you down if I went with you." He tilted his head down, feeling ashamed of his big bloated body. "I just want to help you. Sometimes I feel useless being this freaking huge. It's so frustrating...", he trailed off, sounding disappointed in himself.


Letting out a quiet sigh, Rigel started towards the basement. "Let's just go get the flashlights now. I forgot there are some things down there I need to get. He opened the door, a loud creak emanating from the hinges. Flipping a light switch and descending the stairs, Rigel held onto one of the rails and cradled his belly. "I inherited this place from my grandparents, and they held onto a lot of things during their life, including an old bassinet and crib. I'm hoping they're still good."

[Hyenadog]

Tobias scratched the back of his neck, feeling a bit awkward. "No, you aren't useless." He sighed. "I can understand it being frustrating." He added, frowning. Just more reasons for him to worry and hope he wasn't also pregnant.

"Even if we don't get out today, I think if I get up early enough tomorrow, I can try looking." He shrugged, following Rigel to the basement door. He stayed close to him as they moved down the stairs, ready to grab the back of his overalls if he took a bad step. He wasn't sure he'd stop him from falling, but hopefully he wouldn't end up tumbling down the entire way.

[$urr0g@t3 D@d]

Rigel slowly put one foot down on each step, not because he was worried about his increased weight, but because his belly blocked his view of the steps. Finally reaching the bottom, Rigel did a little fist pump of victory. "I can still do it, heh heh. At least for now..." he muttered. Bringing his hands to his back, he waddled towards some shelves on the right hand side of the basement, dodging boxes, antiques, and things covered in sheets or plastic.


"Sorry about the mess, I've been meaning to get down here and clean and organize. I need to find that bassinet and crib. I'm thinking there might be more baby stuff that they saved." He reached for an old looking, plastic flashlight first and noticed there was some battery acid leaking out of it.

"Crap, well not that one, or that one...or that one", he mumbled, examining the flashlights on the shelf. He finally came to a heavy duty looking flood light that still looked like it was in decent shape. Snagging some D batteries from a box, he put them into the flashlight and flipped the switch. A brilliant beam shot from the floodlight and he said, "Let there be light!"

[Hyenadog]

Tobias understood why Rigel was walking so gently down the stairs. Even if he hadn't been pregnant, not being able to see your own feet made stairs dangerous. He gave the man a smile when he got to the bottom, glad for his small victory.

He took a glance around as they walked, tilting his head a bit. "Well, its not too different from my own parents' place. A little bit of everything stored in the basement." He nodded, looking back to him when he found a flashlight.

He frowned at the condition they were in, sighing softly. "Gotta always remove the batteries when you store them." He said, shaking his head. Making a bit of a startled noise at the bright light the man found. "Well, that'll make things easier." He laughed. "You think I could borrow a knife of some kind? Something to mark a trail in the trees." he shrugged. Something he did remember from boy scouts, leaving a trail of subtle markings on the sides of trees. At least that way if he ended up out there too long, he could find the marks and find his way.

[$urr0g@t3 D@d]

"A knife?" Rigel asked with a grin on his face. "Oh yeah, I've got a knife you can borrow." He grabbed a nearby box and flipped the flaps open and reached inside like an excited kid. He produced a foot long bowie knife with it's sheath.

"This was my grandfather's. He left this, and the rest of his knife collection to me. This is my favorite one right here...so please be careful with it." Just as Rigel handed over the knife he caught a glimpse of what he thought was the bassinet under some dusty plastic. He brushed past Tobias, eager to see if it was in good working order.
Carefully pulling back the plastic so as not to stir up too much dust, he revealed the bassinet, complete with white and faded blue coloring.

"Besides the old fabric, this looks like it's still good. And look! Here's the crib." He pulled back the plastic even more to reveal a crib with white and violet coloring.

"Holy crap these are better than I expec--HOOOO!" Rigel stopped mid sentence and with one hand gripped the edge of the crib, and his belly with the other hand.

[Hyenadog]

Tobias shifted out of the way as Rigel moved to open a nearby box, looking quite curious. His curious gaze shifted to a wide-eyed look of surprise at the blade Rigel pulled from the box, hesitantly reaching for it. "Oh, of course I'll be careful with it. But this seems like a sturdy knife, it would take a lot to break it." He chuckled.

He watched the man as he went to inspect the item he had been looking for, idly pulling the knife part way from the sheath to check it over. Finding it was clean and sharp, clearly well cared for. He would treat it well and make sure it was returned In the same condition.

His attention was pulled from the knife at Rigel's cry, suddenly setting the blade down and moving to his side. "H-hey, you alright?" He asked, hesitantly resting a hand on his shoulder and looking down at his belly. Clearly nervous about the man's condition, having very little experience with pregnancy and no experience with birth...he didn't really know what to do.

[$urr0g@t3 D@d]

Running his hand along the side of his belly, Rigel started catching his breath. One of the babies had decided to gut-check him, knocking the wind out of him.

"Yeah...yeah I'm fine, Oof! The bab-babies tend to get excited if I get excited. One of them just round-house kicked my organs. I'll be fine though, don't worry, Ohh!"
Rigel scrunched his face in pain as the babies kick-boxed his insides. Releasing his iron grip from the crib, he began rubbing both sides of his middle in an attempt to calm the little ones.

He looked up at Tobias and saw the intense worry in his eyes. Damn, those eyes were...gorgeous. This was probably scaring the crap out of him. "I'm ok, really. This isn't the first time this has happened. I'm not going into labor, so you don't have to rush to get the water and towels." He giggled a little while continuing to catch his breath.