Belle and Philippe sauntered back toward the castle, the setting sun at their backs. The horse and rider were tired after such a long ride. The castle grounds seemed enormous, especially after spending the day riding.
Belle fought her exhaustion, trying to keep her eyes open until they got home. She slouched against Philippe's neck, her fingers intertwined in his mane.
A loud noise startled her, and she sat up to look around. A large brown thing hurled itself at her, knocking her from the horse. Phillepe startled, reared, and ran off, leaving his mistress to fend for herself.
Claws dug into her, and the animal snarled, baring its teeth at the girl. Its eyes were all pupil, and shone with an animalistic barbarity. She knew those eyes, even tainted with blood lust.
This was no wild animal-this was the Beast.
Her Beast.
She could smell the forest on his fur, and even as all of this was hitting her, she realized she was screaming in pain.
The Beast's claws tore at her, and his teeth ripped away chunks of flesh. She squirmed, trying to get free, and only caused herself more pain.
Her vision became tinged red, and grey spots began to permeate the edges. The Beast, who had become just a shadow in front of the quickly darkening red sky, bent his head to her neck and tore at that, too. She felt her blood flowing from her neck, and heard her garbled cry, and everything faded away. Everything except the soft whispering of the wind through the grass and flowers.
Footsteps. She could hear footsteps. Loud, heavy footsteps at that.
"Belle? Belle. Oh, no. NOOOOO!" The last word turned to a roar, and she felt the ground shake as the Beast chased something away from her. She felt Beast's hot breath as he gently lifted her from the ground.
She tried to pull out of his arms, and ended up feeling a sharp pain in her side. She whimpered, and continued to resist, all to no avail.
"Dearest, you must relax. You will be okay."
She opened her eyes to find the Beast as she had always known him. It had become dark out, and she had to strain her eyes. She looked at herself in his arms, and cried out, seeing blood and the ripped dress.
She continued to struggle, hating the voice of the Beast as he tried to calm her down.
"You are safe now, Belle. Please, stop fighting me. When we get to the castle, I will make sure you are cared for. The wolf is gone. Please, my love, relax."
She leaned into the Beasts chest, biting her lip when the jostling motion from his hurried step caused her pain. She felt safe again, knowing it had been a dream.
He would never hurt her.
"What happened, Beast?"
"I was going to ask you that same question, my Beauty. Philippe had returned without you, and I became quite startled. I rushed out to find you, and when I did, you were unconscious, and hurt. With a wolf circling you."
She lowered her eyelids as the world tinged red again, and welcomed unconsciousness.