A recent rain left the city feeling even more damp and mildewed than usual. Puddles gathered on the decaying sidewalks and in the potholes of the street. The wet ground reflected the light of the overhead electric signs with hazy and dull splotches of color. What few cars were on the street at this hour drove slowly to avoid the dilapidated sections of the road.

Here was a local gym. The shampoo provided at the community center was cheap and did nothing for luster. Hopey was hardly in a position to complain, however. Her safehouse lacked any kind of running water; it was only useful for having a roof over her head at night and a place to store some food and possessions. For everything else, she had to leave.

She stood in the somewhat-private shower for nearly half an hour, reclining against the cool tile wall behind her while the streams of water plastered her hair against her face and ran in rivers over her bulky figure. The warm water did wonders to help relax her tense muscles after wearisome night. Sleeping hunched over for several hours did a number on her back, as well.

Her fur was soaked and pressed flat to her skin, streamlined against the curves and bulges of her blue-coated musculature. The wolfess massaged her biceps and shoulders, kneading out the tension before then spreading out her massage to her waist and legs. She showed extra attention to her right arm and stomach, brushing back the wet fur and checking for any bruising. No harm showed on her skin, though they still felt tender. The wolfess flexed her arm a couple times to be sure the stun baton had not left any lingering effects. Satisfied, she knit her paws together behind her neck and stood directly underneath the shower.

She let her paws hang on her neck for a minute before she finally shut the water off and grabbed a towel from the hanger just beyond the flimsy plastic screen shielding her modesty from anyone happening to walk by. Hopey dried her hair and tail and massaged the towel over her body until she was dry enough to grab her spare clothes and pull them on. She donned the charcoal-gray tank top and tan pants, slinging the towel over her shoulder for the moment. There was no one else sharing the locker room bathroom while the wolfess combed her wet hair with her nails as well as she was going to manage. Throwing her towel on over her shoulders and loosing her hair from underneath it, Hopey picked up her backpack and headed back into the main room of the center.

The smell of communal sweat flowed through her nose. Humans and anthros alike worked the exercise equipment at the gym, though the crowd was still a bit light so early in the day. Hopey came here occasionally to use the weights, even though she preferred her set at home. The humans seemed even more wary of the wolfess than she was of them. Her blue and white coat rest snug on top of a frame of rippling muscle, cutting an intimidating figure that made most abandon any thought of trying to tangle with her. But she was hardly a brute.

Hopey made her way over to the weights section. Although it had been a tiring night, her body still felt full of energy and quite eager to be put to some work; hence her presence here. The wolfess' powerful physique attracted a few appreciative looks from other patrons. Hopey didn't mind the attention, however; in fact, she rather enjoyed it. It made her feel powerful and in control.

Taking a look at the weights, Hopey figured she was going to challenge herself with some deadlifts today.

And that's when she noticed you...