Carefully, I made my way through the woods, alert to all that was around me.
My ears pricked slightly as I heard the distant sounds of horses carrying their masters.
I breathed out, ready to meet my destiny - the destiny that Kilgharrah, The Great Dragon had told me about.
I loved him dearly and trusted him - he was my father...but enough of that...
I was to serve alongside Emrys, The Greatest Sorcerer of all time, in the protection of King Arthur.
My heart beat faster as I heard hunting dogs run towards me.
I spotted a deer, and knowing that the hunting party would be after him, ran to him.
"Quickly, noble buck, run for your life." I ordered him.
He bowed in appreciation and then ran at great speed.
Suddenly the dogs came through the canopy and I growled to warn them to stop.
They froze and cocked their heads, confused.
The human masters had ordered them to hunt, but I had ordered them to stop, and they should never disobey me - Ferina, The Protecter.
Deciding my law would be more wise to obey, they submitted, bowing their heads.
I nodded with approval and sat waiting for the ones I knew would come.
As I thought, the horses came through the trees in just a minute, carrying their humans.
The very humans I wished to encounter.
They stopped, startled my the behaviour of the dogs and startled by me.
After a moment of silence, they slowly dismounted, never failing to stop looking at me.
When they drew their swords, I stood up and stared at one in particular - the one who was leading the hunt - the one who wore the royal seal - the once and future King - Arthur Pendragon.
His eyes widened, wondering if I truly had the intelligence I showed.
"What is it?" a knight asked.
"I - I think she is the protector." a young man replied.
His dark hair contrasted his deep blue eyes perfectly.
How no-one could see him as the great sorcerer was beyond me.
"What are you muttering about now Merlin?" Arthur asked cockily.
I cocked my head to the side, deciding.
His voice, though filled with mockery was also filled with something else...true love and loyalty.
I nodded deliberatly to Merlin, startling the young king.
"Can...can you understand English?" he ventured, not quite believing such a notion.
Again, I nodded deliberatly, this time at him.
"This is magic!" a knight suddenly cried out, earning a soft growl from me as he pointed his sword in my direction.
"No!" Merlin cried, jumping infront of me.
"Merlin, what are you doing?" the knight demanded.
"She's not magic! Well...not in a way of witches or sorcerers!"
"Then what is this?" Arthur asked, his tone now filled with the trust of Merlin's knowledge.
"Sire, she has long been fabled - for she has lived as long as men. The great powers of the Godess of the old religion created her for the very first of all kings, from the flesh of his stillborn daughter, the breath of the first dragon, Kilgharrah and the spirit from the Godess herself. She is the protecter of all good kings - including you."
Everyone looked at each other, unsure whether or not to believe this servant.
"Well - how would you know of such a creature?" Arthur asked, stealing at looks at me every few moments.
"Stories from Gaius, Sire...I thought them to be tall tales, but look - have you ever seen a wolf as large or as pure white? See how deeply orange her eyes are...they are the colour of dragon fire."
Arthur dared to look in my eyes and could see the goodness, and strength, inside my very soul.
I stepped forward carefully, eyes focused on the king.
"Young Merlin is quite right, great king, I am Ferina, the protecter."
Everyone but Merlin gasped, shocked that I could speak.
"Be calm, Sir Knights. I am no threat to any who are good, and you all have good blood flowing through your veins. I can smell it. And you, Mighty King Arthur - I offer you my protection. I shall serve you until your last breath."
Then, I sank into a deep bow, my nose millimeters from his feet.
"You offer me protection?" Arthur asked me.
"Yes, your highness. It is my duty to protect all great and good kings, and you are the greatest of all kings that have been or are to come."
"What do you require in return?" he asked me.
"I only ask to be treated well." I replied.
"Will you obey the laws of Camelot?"
"I will obey your every command, your highness, and that includes the laws of your land."
"Then I accept - please, rise good wolf, and come with us to Camelot. You will be treated with all the respect you deserve."
I stood up and nodded, my eyes shining with happiness.
The dogs then approached me cautiously, so I wagged my tail to show peace.
"Do you mean harm to our humans?" the lead asked, still respectful.
"Of course not, noble one. My duty is to protect them from any harm."
He wagged his tail then, and welcomed me to the family.
I smiled, happy at their friendliness.
"Dear Wolf, I regret to say that I have forgotten your name." Arthur admitted.
"I am Ferina, Sire." I replied proudly.
"Is it true that you have lived as long as men?" he asked curiously.
"True it is. Everything Merlin said is accurate."
"That would make you..."
"Older than I care to say." I finshed with amusment, earning a smile from him.
"Who have you served in that time?" he continued.
"Well, I serve the great Godess, as it is her who gave me my life and my destiny. It is she who commands my purpose. In my lifetime, I have protected and served all good kings in history, and I have fought in countless wars and have killed countless evil doers. I have even killed hell-hounds on occasion."
"What are hell-hounds?"Arthur asked in awe.
"Vicious demons. They seek only good blood of good men, women and children. Believe me, they are better dead." I growled, though of course not at Arthur himself.
"I have never encountered such a creature." he shuddered.
"And I pray you never do, great king." I answered.
He nodded appreciativly and we continued to bond as we made our way back to his noble home.
"Your highness, I might suggest that we keep the fact I can speak, or even undertand English, to ourselves - it may be beneficial - if there are traiters, they would never suspect that I could be listening or that I could tell you."
"Hmm, a very good suggestion indeed. Ok, Ferina. You will eat in my room...I feel it would be degrading to you if you were to eat out of a bowl on the floor infront of the court." He replied.
I nodded in appreciation.
"I would prefer that very much, good king. I am a very personal creature, and would indeed prefer to eat alone."
"Then it is done." he nodded simply.
I nodded back, smiling slightly.
"Where would you be staying through the day?" Arthur asked me.
"Unless you say otherwise, I would like to stay close to you at all times. Not overcrowding you, just enough to keep you safe. Of course you are within your rights to fight for yourself, I only mean to protect you if you are unarmed or I can see that you are losing, your majesty."
"Arthur never loses." a knight interjected kindly.
"Oh, I mean not to insult his most high majesty...I am certain I will never actually be needed." I giggled, earning a laugh from everyone else.
I breathed out.
I knew I was going to be happy serving King Arthur.
