Chapter 1: Only Fools Rush In

It was a cooler day in March and the wind only slightly rustled through the trees.  The white she-wolf’s snowy white fur moved as the breeze teased it while she sat on the rock.  Her eyes closed as she sniffed the air for hints of anything exciting.  It was a perfect day for hunting and she’d hoped to find a rabbit or two that should be out grazing on a beautiful morning like this.  Instead, she caught the scent of something that didn’t frequent the forest, but wasn’t totally foreign, either.  It was the scent of a man.  The she-wolf’s ears perked at the recognition of the scent and her icy blue eyes shot open. 

Down below the rock on which she sat came the hoofbeats of a large charger on which sat a very handsome man with dark hair and a clean-shaven face.  He was dressed in brown trousers with knee-high black boots and a white tunic with a tan vest buttoned down to a glistening belt.  But it wasn’t the attire that gave him away, rather it was the crest on the button at his collar she so keenly saw that bore the lion wrapped in the dragon.  The symbol of the royal family ruling over the lands she freely roamed.  As he and his horse passed upwind of her, she watched completely still wondering where the rest of his group was.  He was man, not wolf, but she was accustomed to seeing them hunt together, not alone like this.  Especially not a prince- she eyed the golden ring on the young man’s finger pondering as it reflected the occasional ray of light breaking through the canopy of trees.

Curious, she decided to follow.  Sticking to the high ground, she followed on the ledge, careful to stay downwind and not spook his horse.  She did her best to also stay behind the bushes and boulders, being at a disadvantage in the dark forest with her white fur glowing in the sun.  Had she been hunting in a pack, this horse would have been killed already as it was completely oblivious to her presence.  It was good for him that she didn’t fancy eating horses… or men.  Suddenly the horse stilled.  She heard the prince question what was wrong with the horse when the horse began backing down the path they had just come.  The she-wolf lifted her black nose into the air and sniffed.  A pungent aroma combined with earthy tones and fish met her nostrils sending an alarming rush of adrenaline coursing through her, dilating her pupils and turning her icy blue eyes a shade of green.  Through the trees that the prince was about to ride appeared a very large and angry brown bear.

Thoughts quickly raced through her mind.  The wolf in her mind was telling her run away and do it fast, but the human inside her fought to reason with the self-preserving wolf.  If this bear killed the prince, the entire royal army would be storming the forest on a hunt for the animal who killed a son of the king – and they’d slaughter any being that got in their way.  She had to save him if her forest would remain at peace. 

Against her lupine instincts, she dove off the ledge she had been stalking on straight at the bear’s throat as the large beast lunged toward the horse and rider.  With strong jaws, she latched onto fur and flesh and hung on as the bear thrashed around and swung her 80-pound body like it was a dishrag.  The bear stumbled backward, and she was able to contact the bear’s body with her back paws and set to ripping and kicking with her claws.  The damage she could do was very minimal, but she’d hoped it was enough to give the human a chance to retreat.  Behind her and the thrashing bear, she heard a thwarp, thwarp and a series of arrows zipped past her head and into the bear’s shoulders, arm, and torso.  Oh, stupid human!  Anger and frustration built in her chest replacing the fear she felt earlier.  If he wouldn’t leave, the bear would have to die or be chased off… if that was even possible.  Her jaw began to ache, and her teeth began to slip.  Soon she was being flung to the forest floor.  Her body landed hard, and she bounced and rolled.  Once the bouncing ceased, she pushed herself out of the dirt and took a quick survey to find the prince and the bear.  It wasn’t long before she saw the bear on all fours, lunging and swiping at the horse and rider, who continued to shoot countless arrows at his attacker.  She knew soon, though, his quiver would be empty and if he was as stubborn and prideful as she’d imagined, he’d revert to using his sword and he would die.

With a deep inhale, she lurched into a run and bounded off the forest floor and onto the back of the angry bear who still smelled strongly of fish.  The poor animal must have been eating when this clueless man road up on it.  She landed between the bear’s shoulder blades and grabbed hard with her teeth again, clawing and kicking with all four paws.  The bear reared up on its hind legs giving the hunter a clear shot at it’s heart.  She wanted to cry for the poor animal, but wolves don’t shed tears.  Thwarp, thwarp, the bow shot the arrows clean and the bear let out a loud growl, falling back to all fours.  The she-wolf thrashed her neck and tore at the bears flesh, trying to speed up the inevitable death, but the bear was relentless and began to roll.  She had no choice but to abandon her perch on the animal.  Once up again, the bear turned and retreated into the trees from whence it came.

Breathing heavily, she turned to look at the prince who was dismounting his horse and keeping his eyes fixed on her.  Suddenly he became very blurry in her vision.  She turned to walk away, taking one single, slow step at a time.  The trees in front of her seemed to dance and sway as she walked.  She stopped walking, not wanting to collapse in front of this man and become his next court jacket.  She looked down at the ground hoping to find her sense of balance, but instead noticed that one of her white paws had become completely red.  At some point in the battle, she must have been cut by the bear… or hit with an arrow.  What a fool she’d been.  She should have just run when she’d had the chance.  The trees continued to blur and she knew that she needed to move quickly if she was going to get away.  Quick and wobbly steps took her a few feet further when her body began to turn cold.  Soon, she was crossing her legs one over the other.  A few feet more.  There was a bush just ahead, at least it looked like a bush.  She couldn’t tell anymore.  Was that footsteps behind her?  She hoped not.  One more step and her body collapsed.  Her vision could now only make vague shapes.  It was over.  He would take her and skin her.  If he only knew the truth.  Would he leave her there?  Would he save her?  Or would he mount her head on a pike?  She knew she would never find out now.  The darkness was closing in.  Only pins of light left, and then darkness.  She thought she felt hands under her and a soft voice mumbling in her ear.  Then all was gone.