Fate's Pawn: First Bite

Chapter Two: Monster!

I exited the carriage and pulled my skirts up so they wouldn’t get muddy. It was a habit of mine, I wasn’t really prepared for a situation without mud but I didn’t have time to marvel at this wonder. The horses were rearing and biting at their reigns. I slipped up beside one of the great beasts and put a hand on its withers, letting it know I was there. “There there, girl. It’s okay. Calm down now, no one is going to hurt you.”

The snap of a twig out in the woods sounded like a gunshot to the equines. They reared up again and I barely darted out of the way of their heavy hooves. Okay, maybe insisting I came out alone without a weapon was a bad idea. The driver would be useless to me if a monster attacked. I took a step backward my eyes locked on the dark woods nearby. Maybe it was just a wild animal?

A snarl vibrated the air around me and I froze. I stayed completely still as a giant black wolf padded out towards me. Its fur was dense but looked incredibly soft as the light glinted on it. I had an urge to run my hands over it then berated my ignorant mind for being so utterly useless. The others in the carriage hadn’t noticed it yet. It’s deep brown eyes were locked on me as it took another step forward, dipping its head to sniff at the ground and pick up the scent of our terrified animals. I probably should be a lot more terrified considering this thing was the size of the horses.

“What’s taking you so long, Willow?” Orion poked his head out his eyes narrowed on me. The intense desire to punish me faded from his face as he realized just why I was so quiet. The wolf bounded over me and the horses and right at the carriage door. The selfish side of me didn’t speak, I wanted Orion to be wolf chow.

“Back!” Ash had shoved Orion out of the way and back into the carriage. His eyes met mine over the head of the growling monster. Despite my situation, I got all giddy at the worry in his eyes. “Step away, beast. I have no quarrels with you right now, but if you hurt my people or my animals I will have to make you pay.”

“Sire, do you really think that creature can understand you?” I rolled my eyes at Orion’s complaints. It made me happy that Ash tried to solve things without violence all the time. It was a good trait, not a bad one.

For answer, the wolf turned and came straight at me. I shrieked and fell to the ground with my hands protecting my head. It’s hot breath drifted over me, but it wasn’t me it was focused on. With one snap it destroyed the leads on the horses and their reins. Realizing they were free the animals thundered off and away from danger. I had to give them credit, I had never seen them move so fast before.

“I’m sorry for this, you leave me no choice.” I glanced back over at Ash as a giant whip of fire soared through the air and towards the wolf. The animal dodged but its hair still caught on fire and its growl turned into one of rage. I had to wonder if Ash had really thought that attacking it while it was beside me was such a great idea.

The sword that escaped its sheath scared me more than the wolf did. I glanced back to the dangerous beast and tried to make a shooing motion with my hands. It’s brown eyes that had been filled with rage registered confusion and maybe even amusement now? The growl had lowered in volume anyway to more like a purr. “Get out of here, he’ll hurt you,” I whispered as I tried to shoo it away.

Orion had reached us and with one hand grabbed my upper arm and flung me to the side. The wolf didn’t look confused anymore. It looked furious again. Orion was, unfortunately, quite a good swordsman. As I saw him lunge at the creature I bit back a sob of worry. Ash was at my side in an instant and I couldn’t break out of my fear to appreciate the moment.

“Willow, get back inside. Orion and I will take care of this animal. You’ll be safe in there.”

The yelp split my ears as Orion’s sword found its target and red blood sprayed from the giant wolf’s shoulder. It didn’t stay to let Orion get another hit in. Its eyes had been locked on Ash and the fire that had been developing in his hands and it had run back into the safety of the woods. A long howl echoed through the area and I shivered in response. I hoped it was okay, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if Orion had killed it.

“See, Sire?” Orion demanded as he cleaned his blade on the grass. “It was not a monster at all, just overgrown forest animals. How could they not be able to handle such a trivial manner?”

“Forest animals?” I spat as I got to my feet. My arm ached from where his hand had dug in when he threw me. “That was a really huge wolf! I think that counts as a monster, not as anything else.”

“A wolf is still a forest animal, Willow.” He rolled his eyes at me and I ground my teeth in frustration. “We are perhaps fortunate this happened while we can actually see the castle. We should start walking now if we want to make it before nightfall. They are not monsters, but I’d rather not have to fend off ferocious beasts all night.”

Ash nodded and after a moment smiled. “Let me try something. This won’t really help us right now, but this little beacon can help them find this carriage and all our stuff when we get to the castle.” He tossed a small fireball up in the air and I watched as it ascended high in the sky.

“How long will that stay on?” I wondered out loud.

“Long as it takes.” Ash shrugged. “Let’s get going, we don’t want to stay out here too long. I’ll take point, Orion you cover the back. Willow, you stay with him since he’s got a sword and can protect you close range. Edward, you as well,” he nodded to the driver and we started down the pathway with him leading the way. Edward was in front of us, I knew he’d be of no help to me, he never was.

“That mouth of yours really got you in trouble this time, Willow. I trust you remember the punishment for runaway mouths?”

The words were soft and for my ears alone. I shuddered because I knew exactly what he was talking about. I just hoped that this time he didn’t choke me to the point of spitting up. I nodded and kept my eyes on the ground as we walked. It was at that moment I really wouldn’t have minded if another wolf would come out and devour me and save me.