They heard the screaming before they'd even gotten to the village. It was just screaming in pain though, it was something else that Valerie couldn't detect but there was something else that seemed to unease Valerie as they ran to their friend's home.

"Rose," Prudence called, running past Valerie and throwing the front door open while Valerie walked more slowly towards the front door. Snow swirled around her, and everything was dead silent except for the cries of her friend, and then she heard a loud snap.

Instantly she froze, unable to turn around as another snap sounded behind her, and then the rustle of leaves.

Please, Valerie thought, clenching her eyes shut. Please, please be Peter. Please be Peter.

The snaps grew louder, and then she heard a low growl sound, only a few feet away and finally she turned.

Of all the times she had to be wrong, this was probably the worst.

. . .

The wolf was gray, not black like she'd thought. It was about the size her father had been, with a massive head bigger then most of the barrels at the tavern filled with ale and paws that with one swipe could take off Valerie's entire head. Its luminescent gold eyes glimmered at her as it stopped a few feet away from Valerie. Human eyes, she thought.

The wolf's ears flattened and its growl grew louder. It crept toward her, teeth bearded and body tensed to spring, and she kept staring at its eyes. Then, she let her gaze travel lower and she saw something dark under the wolf's fur.

A piece of bark? She wondered, but then the wolf pounced.

Quicker then a human should, thank god she was part wolf, she ducked, landing on her hands and knees as the wolf soared over her. She looked up and saw that it wasn't a piece of bark in the wolf's fur but a small dark talisman, in the shape of a wolf.

"Carmen," She whispered and rolled away as they wolf turned back for another attempt to snap at her. Valerie stopped at the edge of another house and raised her head. The wolf was still watching her, but now it was closer to rose's house. As if on cue another shriek erupted from inside and the wolf raised its head to hear.

Seeking possibly the only chance she had, Valerie stood, and arms braised, walking back, until the wolf turned its attention back to her.

"Carmen," She said softly, and the wolf's ears flattened against its skull once more. "Carmen please, don't do this."

The wolf sprang again, and this time Valerie wasn't as lucky, she dove away, but it managed to rip apart a large piece of her cloak. The loud ripping sound cut through the night, and Valerie flinched.

"Please, Carmen!" Valerie called, louder this time. "Stop this, you know me!"

The wolf shook its massive head and dove for Valerie once more, and this time he grabbed her by the hood of her cloak, and threw her. For a few moments she flew through the air but finally landed on the hard cobble stone street, hearing something crack.

"Carmen," She whispered, as the wolf stalked towards her and then another scream erupted from Rose's home. Again the wolf turned its head and Valerie tried to pull herself up. Surprisingly, her back wasn't broken, although very sore and she could stand, but her left leg was aching.

She stood unsteadily, and looked around. There was no where she could go where Carmen couldn't reach her…except the church!

Instantly Valerie turned, hobbling as fast as she could towards the sanctuary of the church building. Half way there she heard the wolf's footsteps coming closer and she ran as fast as she [possibly good. The moment she felt her foot hit holy ground the wolf was almost upon her and she tumbled the rest of the way, falling down on the other side and barley being able to lift her head to see the wolf snap and try to cross the barrier.

"Stop it, Carmen!" Valerie exclaimed. "Stop doing this! Please, you know me; would you hurt me if you were human right now?"

The wolf growled again and tried to snap at her once more, but this ended up burning its muzzle which needed to make it grow even angrier.

"Carmen…." Valerie whispered, sitting onto her knees and staring up at the wolf's golden eyes. "Please, Carmen. Please remember me."

Something flickered in the wolf's golden eyes then, and suddenly it stepped back, cocking its head at Valerie and finally, bowing its head towards her.

"Carmen?" Valerie asked, more socked then suspicious and the wolf looked up at her and gave a small nod.

My father couldn't nod. Valerie thought, but instead she stood up, quite unsteadily and held up her hand to the wolf. "Can you…..understand me?"

The wolf nodded again, and gave Valerie a wolfish grin, rolling its tongue out and making it look, quite playful.

Valerie took a deep breath, and took a step, a small one out of the church grounded. The wolf seemed to see this and took a step towards her, leaning its massive head low so that her hand almost touched it's snout. It snorted a warm breath on her hand and Valerie smelled the earth scent of soil and musk.

This is Carmen, she thought suddenly. This is the girl who I saved this morning. The gypsy girl with bright yellow eyes who knew Peter and long dark hair. Though, her since father's hair was black, with a bit of gray tinted in his coat matched. But this wolf's coat was gray. Curious, maybe-

Valerie's thought were interrupted as something rustled in the bushes and then a large wolf appeared. This one was dark brown, with matching colored eyes and Valerie knew, as she knew if she saw this wolf any where else, it was Peter.

And then the wolves eyes met.

Something sizzled between them, and instantly, Carmen abandoned her post near Valerie and walked over to where Peter was. The two wolves faced each other for a few moments and then, Carmen struck.

In a flurry of motion the two wolves were at each other's throats. Carmen bit Peter's flank and he returned the action with ma bit to her neck. It was gruesome to watch, But Valerie find herself unable to look away. And then something tackled her to the ground.

"Are you crazy?" A familiar accented voice asked, and Valerie was surprised to see that she was facing another pair of golden eyes.

"Carmen?"