Okay, I've got Beastly Reflections and I Will Be With You For Evermore active. So why, you ask, am I starting another? Simple: the plot bunnies won't cooperate with the plan of holding off on further breeding and I have a bunch of alternative ending scenarios bouncing around my brain. Plus, I have a bit of writer's block, or more accurately have hit a stumbling block, with IWBWYFE. I have myself in a spot where Belle must either recover from her trauma unrealistically fast to avoid it going flat, or keep with a more realistic timeline but risk it going flat. I may figure out how to salvage it or I may find a good wrap-up point and start a sequel that's a while in the future when she's more recovered emotionally.

But for now while I'm figuring that out, I'll start yet another alternate ending where instead of trauma that is mostly emotional (well physical but it's the emotional that has her in the state she's in), it's physical. I don't know how this will go. When I first got the idea I almost poo-pooed it but decided to try it. I have to warn folks, especially those who wished the curse could be lifted in IWBWYFE, I'm not sure exactly what will happen with the curse here. Because Beast finds Belle attacked and left for dead by wolves, after Philippe returns riderless to the castle after Beast lets her go, I'm not sure if she'll be in a condition to even realize she loves him in time. So we'll see how it unfolds.

I must thank GodlyJewel for the inspiration, since it was a PM conversation with her that caused the idea to pop into my brain.

Oh, and just in case anyone wonders why Beast isn't using the portal book to reach Belle in seconds, this would of course be the logical thing to do (and would get her help faster, maybe even before she was hurt so badly), and that was my first thought. But I then realized that having Philippe show up without a rider would probably put Beast more in a fight or flight mode causing him to act on instinct and not necessarily think of the most logical approach.

"Master!" it was the voice of Cogsworth, the mantel clock, as he made his way onto the turret where the Beast had been perched for the last half hour. "Pardon me Master, but-"

"She's not coming back," the Beast said sadly.

"No," Cogsworth said. "But her horse has."

"What?" the Beast asked, looking at his butler and head of household. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, sir," Cogsworth said, voice laced with distressed excitement, "that Philippe has just stormed through the gates in quite a panic, and is now pawing with his hooves at the front door. It's like he's seeking help. Riderless."

The Beast could not descend the turret fast enough. Once back to the west wing he made his way on all fours down to the castle's main foyer. Sure enough, he heard frantic pawing and whinnying at the front door. Standing on his rear legs once more, he opened the door and received a nose jammed into his chest as the horse burst forward. Sure enough his saddle was empty.

"Philippe!" he said, taking the horse's reins. "What's going on? Where is Belle?"

The Beast turned Philippe back outside and then mounted him, hoping he wasn't too heavy for the horse. Philippe had carried him before, after he was wounded by wolves. Thankfully the steed trusted him now, since Belle was not around to reassure Philippe.

"Let's go boy," the Beast said. "Take me to Belle!"

Though Philippe galloped at top speed, it seemed so slow. Belle had left to help her father who was up against an angry mob. No way had she time to reach the village, and no way would she willingly separate from her mount until her destination had been reached. Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong.

Thankfully Philippe seemed to know where he was going. Soon, the scent of blood filled the Beast's nostrils. When you have the olfactory system of a predator, you can smell things like blood. A taste also hit his tongue. It was the taste of the bile that suddenly rose up from his stomach. He had a sinking feeling it was Belle's blood.

And he was right. He brought Philippe to a halt as the grisly scene was before him. There Belle lay in the snow. Her yellow ballgown was torn to near shreds. Near shreds seemed also to be a very accurate description of much of her flesh. And she looked dead. The Beast dismounted and rushed to Belle's side, dropping to his knees.

"Belle!" he cried, touching a paw to the top of her head.

No response.

"Belle..." he croaked out as he placed an ear on her chest, all thoughts of propriety of him doing so to a female ignored.

Her heart beat. She breathed. It was shallow, but she did draw breath. He carefully gathered her limp form into his arms and somehow managed to mount Philippe while holding her. He made sure he had a good hold on her before telling Philippe to get back to the castle. If the ride to Belle seemed slow, the ride back, still as fast as Philippe could go, seemed like an eternity.

Finally they were through the castle gates. Before dismounting, the Beast again checked for vital signs. Her condition had not changed since he found her.

"Good boy Philippe," the Beast said as he dismounted. "Smart boy! You knew to come for help. We'll get her better I promise."

At least he hoped so. As he carried the limp Belle toward the castle doors he feared he'd made that promise too soon. The doors opened, courtesy of Chapeau. It seemed many of the servants had been watching out the window for Beast's return.

"What happened Master?" Lumiere asked.

"Wolves I'm sure," the Beast responded.

"Oh please tell us she's alive," Mrs. Potts said.

"She is for now," the Beast said, beginning to ascend the main staircase. "But barely. I need supplies to tend to her brought to her room immediately if not sooner. And at some point I need someone to get Philippe to the stable."

Without another word, the Beast continued on, turning at the landing to ascend the east wing stairs and get Belle to her room.