"They—I can—these will," Keoni stuttered, looking overwhelmed as he took the stockings from Draven, and I placed a hand on his back, rubbing gently. He glanced at me, eyes wide and looking just like he had all those years ago when I'd offered him a safe place, a home.
"Once you put them on, slide the buckle in place, then press both silver buttons at once. Zephyr's magic will allow them to connect with your mind, and you'll be able to use them to make your hind legs move just like you move your front legs. You won't have to consciously think about it. They'll need to be recharged by Zephyr every three days. You can do it more often if you want, but never wait longer than three days, or they'll stop working and you could get hurt."
I wouldn't let that happen, ever. I'd make sure to charge them every day, just to be safe.
"I—thank you, Draven. Thank you so much," Keoni murmured, still looking overwhelmed, and Draven gave him a rare smile.
"The cart was always supposed to be temporary, Keoni. I'm just sorry it took me this long to get it ready."
Keoni shook his head, then handed the stockings to me before awkwardly leaning forward, knees bent. He pulled Draven into a hug, and let go before Draven could smack him for it.
"Thank you!"
Then he backed out of the workshop, pulling me after him. "Come on, Zephyr. I wanna try it on!"
"Thank you," I murmured to Draven, and he waved me away, his eyes soft.
I followed Keoni, and he led me to his cabin. I hadn't been there in a while, and I was surprised to see how bare the place was.
Keoni must've noticed because he smiled sheepishly. "I kept knocking over everything, or running into things."
I nodded in understanding as he stopped in the middle of his living room and gazed at the pile in my hands. He looked excited and nervous, and I stepped closer, cupping his cheek with one hand. "Ready?"
He hesitated, then nodded, and I handed him the stockings before moving toward his cart.
Keoni
My heart raced as I turned my head and watched Zephyr detach the cart from my body.
"I think it will be easier if you lie down on your side," he murmured, and I did as he asked, lying on my side as he worked on untying the strip of cloth that kept my back legs strapped to my belly so they wouldn't get twisted or hurt.
I couldn't feel them, but I imagined that if I could, they'd be sore as fuck from being tied up all the time. As he unwound the strap for the last time, my legs flopped to the ground like dead weight.
He took the first stocking from me, and I held my breath as he slowly slid it over my leg. My hind legs were slimmer than my front legs, and I wondered if that would make me look weird. As long as I could really walk, I didn't care.
Fuck, I was going to be able to walk. On all four legs. Shit.
Once he'd pulled it all the way to the top, he had me flip over so he could do the same with my other leg. Then he slid the buckle in place so the stockings wouldn't slide back down. That done, he met my gaze, full of warmth and assurance. This would work.
Wouldn't it?
I took a deep breath, then nodded, and he pressed his fingers to both the silver buttons, then pressed them simultaneously.
Nothing happened for a long, long moment, and I blinked, confused. Had Draven gotten something wrong?
"Why—why isn't anything happening?" I asked, ignoring the lump that suddenly rose in my throat.
Until yesterday, I hadn't even entertained the idea of being able to walk, but now that Draven had said I could, it would break my heart if this didn't work.
Zephyr stared at me for a moment, a frown on his face. I could see his mind whirring as he thought.
"Maybe we should call Draven," I said, and his gaze fell to my back legs, his brows furrowing.
"No, wait. Try to stand up."
"What? I can't, Zeph. I can't feel anything."
"Just try it," he pressed, and I sighed.
