The beast grew calmer, quietly observing her. I think it understands me! If the beast meant to ravish her, it would have done so by now.
Huge, vivid green eyes met hers. Curiosity overcame her. “What…who are you? What have you done with Stellan?” Angry desperation infused her voice. “If you harmed him, so help me I will kill you.”
It pulled her close again, tucking her tightly beneath a solid, muscular arm. Bending down, with her body squashed against his side, it reached out a claw and began to form something in the snow.
And after it finished, Clarysa gasped. For there, nestled among the crisp and crunchy flakes, it had etched a name, and the name was Stellan, with a crooked arrow pointed toward the beast.
He slowly released her. This time, she did not run. Instead, she slumped to the ground, clasping her hands to her mouth to stifle a scream. She stared at him. I can hardly believe it, but it must be! The eyes. This beast has Stellan’s eyes.
He crouched low to the ground and avoided her gaze. A hush fell over everything. All about them, the falling snow intensified its rate. A lone bird in the distance broke the silence, calling out to its own kind.
Gingerly, Clarysa reached out and fingered a tuft of fur on the beast’s–on Stellan’s arm. It gleamed a dark metallic blue. “Who was the woman I saw at the castle?”
A guttural bark met her ears.
Oh, no, he can’t even speak! Clarysa crawled forward and motioned for him to look at her. She rubbed a day-old laceration on her right forearm. “Stellan, she did something to me. I thought it was a dream, but then I woke up, and…and I was on the cart.” Her eyes burned. “And she did something to you, didn’t she? Was she…someone you loved?” She held her breath, awaiting the answer.
Stellan shook his head violently and scratched out another word in the snow. He pointed for emphasis.
Clarysa stared. The word, rudimentarily drawn out, read Sister.
Her jaw dropped open. “I didn’t know you had a…but that’s right, you never told me much about your family.” Clarysa wiped away a fresh set of tears. “They obviously don’t want us to be married. Oh, my love, how awful that she did this to you…to us!”
She reached out her hands. At first, he turned away. But she persisted, gently stroking his face and snout. He felt strange beneath her touch, but only his shape had changed, not his personality.
Leaning forward, she pressed her cheek to his and slipped her arms around his neck. “At least we’re together now.”
Something warm and wet touched her cheek. It seemed he was trying to kiss her, but his form made the effort clumsy and awkward and he ended up just licking her face. With the tip of his tongue, he brushed away each of her tears as they fell.
Something cold and wet coated her hands as she held him. Clarysa drew up her outstretched arms before her–blood. She turned to him in alarm. “Darling, we have to get these arrows out.”
Stellan growled his assent. Clarysa took a deep breath and steeled herself as she studied the deep wounds before her. “Brace yourself!” She plucked out the first one, yielding an intense wail of pain from both nurse and patient. He had gripped one of her thighs in the process, and as she yanked the arrow out, he had squeezed her hard. Clarysa collapsed on her side, nursing a rapidly bruising leg. When the pain reached a tolerable level, she searched around for a thick tree branch for him to bite. “Here,” she said, “I think both of us are going to need it if we’re to get through this.”
The other arrows were buried more deeply and took more time to free. After she finished the gruesome task, she ripped off a piece of her gown and created a makeshift bandage. Unfortunately, the blood quickly soaked through the flimsy material. Both woman and beast fell back in exhaustion against the snowy ground.
All around them, the snow continued to silently fall.
They rested for a while, Clarysa pressed against him for warmth. Then Stellan rose on his hind legs, signaling that they needed to keep moving. Extending a massive paw riled with sharp claws, he helped her stand.
“I hope it’s not far, wherever we’re going.” Clarysa stumbled forth. Her feet kept slipping out of the ill-fitting shoes someone had put on her. She hugged her body tightly in a feeble attempt to retain warmth. Her body temperature seemed to be lowering with each step she took.
Flashes of light-headedness threatened to strike her down. But she persevered. Love alone drove her on, and she trudged behind her prince. I can hardly complain. At least I’m not injured. Or a beast. She looked at Stellan’s bloody back. Her heart ached for him.
They trudged on.
After another hour of walking, Clarysa stopped and hunched near the base of a tree. “I…I’m sorry. I need to rest,” she said weakly. She stuffed some snow into her parched mouth.
Stellan swiveled his head around, sniffing the air. Apparently not satisfied, he bent down and scooped Clarysa into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist and slipped her arms around his shoulders. She tucked her face into the warm crook of his thick neck. They continued onward for many more miles.
As night drained the last remaining vestiges of light from the surrounding countryside, they reached the entrance to a cave. Panting, Stellan carefully lowered her to the packed-dirt floor.
In the darkness, Clarysa lost all sense of direction. She stumbled about until Stellan took her hand into his, leading the way. She heard the clink of a metal latch and felt an out rush of stale air. Stellan led her through
