Her father called his men to order. Now they had to right their wrong and put out the flames. Each man was so focused that Julian getting care was not likely. His cut on his left temple poured blood. All too soon his eyes were drooping. Clara was working so hard, covering his burns with soothing leaves, and she hastily tried to find some sort of patch for the cut on his head.

"I should get a jacket from one of the men. That should stop the bleeding. Oh I better hurry." She got up to leave, but Julians soft voice stopped her instantly.

" It doesn't matter anymore, you're safe Clara. I could die right now" He smiled a little, then cringed and closed his eyes. His perfect honey brown eyes. Clara's lips turned down to scowl.

"Don't you dare! Please Julian, open your eyes. You can't leave me, not now!" Her incessant pleas kept Julian awake. Ugg, pain coursed through his body. His head felt like it had been hit by a hammer, which wasn't that for from the truth. His entire existence was agony. With much effort, he turned to her and pled.

"But it hurts." His breathing became more Harish and scattered. Clara reached down and ripped the hem of her skirt hastily. The garment had come out of the flames without a single char. Now the fabric soaked with crimson as she pressed it against the side of Julians head to staunch the bleeding.

Julian choked through his ever shortening breath, "It's no use."

"NO!" Her scream pierced the morning air causing the tired beasts eyes to open warily. "You can't die! Not while I can stop it!"

"Why? I'm not worth anything. This curse…" He paused and lifted up his wolf like hand for emphasis. "was cast on me for a reason. I always knew I'd die a beast. The witch, she knew I deserved it. Clara I'm a horrible person. This was my fate, I accepted that long ago. Right now I'm just happy I was able to have met you Clara."

Julians breathing stopped, and his hand fell. Those half open eyes drifted away from her face and their luster was gone. For a moment she starred in astonishment. No he couldn't die, not now, not when she needed him so much! Tears began to overflow and she reached out for his hand and held it gently against her cheek.

"You idiot. Not worth saving? Nothing could be further from the truth. Julian you protected me when no one else would. You were my friend and ally in a world of confusion and pain. Because of you I dared to dream…why did you have to go? Even while my stupid father burned down your precious home you thought only of me. When the men beat you all you asked was if I was alright. None of these men would have had as much courage and self sacrifice as you. Julian if anyone was worth saving it was you."

She leaned forward still holding his now lifeless paw to her chest. Her face was mere inches away from his. No he was not hideous. Just different. He was cursed with a beasts face, but inside he had beauty. No amount of fur or sharp teeth could hide that. As a man Julian was the greatest that had ever lived. The witch did cast a spell, and he disserved it, but he learned and repented. He never longed for a life outside of helping others. Because of him that fateful night years ago she remained safe, and untouched. He never went out saving her for the glory. He was but a shadow, a shadow that followed and protected it's most precious person.

"That day, when it was so dark and scary, you were there. Those men what would they have done if you had not saved me. Instead of leaving me on the ground you picked me up and carried me home. I ran away and again you saved me. You made your house my home. I will never forget that. You were so scared that I would hate you, but what you didn't realize was that I already knew you. That man who stood for a brief moment every day under the lamplight across the way was my guardian. I knew nothing bad would happen as long as you were there.

"Not worth saving? That is false. From your curse you learned. No longer did you criticize and scar, you protected and healed. The only thing at fault is that you never forgave yourself." His face became blurry. So she closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against his snout.

"Julian I love you. Why did you have to leave?"