"Open your eyes..."

Gretchen's eyelids fluttered open, when she stared up and found the Witcher sitting beside her inside what appeared to be a cave. A small fire was lit nearby where a beautiful brown horse stood. Faintly Gretchen could hear the howling wind outside and dripping water from inside the eaves of the cave. Laying there, it suddenly hit her that she was no longer wearing Cahir's shirt. It laid right beside her. Instead she had been sleeping on her stomach, her tender back exposed. Realizing her nakedness, panic filled her eyes before she sat up before completely forgetting to cover her breasts. The Witcher didn't look the slightest bit phased as he continued sitting there. Seeing she was exposed,she snatched Cahir's shirt and covered her breasts with it. Strands of her hair hanging in her face, she stared at him feeling furious, as well as confused, and more than a little frightened.

"Who are you?! Where am I?"

"Geralt of Rivia."

Gretchen stared at him for a second before she remembered who he was.

"You're...a..."

"Witcher. Yes. I believe our paths have crossed before. You are?"

"Gretchen...of Nilfgaardian."

Geralt raised an eyebrow closely staring at her.

"You're from Nilfgaardian now?"

"Yes...I was just married to one of the kingdom's highest ranking soldiers."

"Does...he have any idea what you are?"

"What?!"

Geralt shook his head annoyed before turning and reaching into his pack. A few moments later he turned back holding a broken piece of dirty mirror and handed it over. Gretchen stared at him, hesitant before using her arm to properly hold the shirt against her breasts and take it. Turning the mirror, she stared down and for a just a second it took her a second to see in the dim light what Geralt meant. Staring back were two dark red eyes, bright like rubies.

Staring, she saw these very eyes widen before she dropped the glass down. Unbreaking, it laid there, still showing the truth. Staring down, suddenly Gretchen felt her heart begin to hammer faster in her chest. Staring down, she used her free hand to touch around the skin of her eye.

They weren't just bloodshot...they were completely red.

Suddenly she cried out, and dropped the shirt, no longer caring as she covered her face with her hands and cried out. Moments later she felt two strong muscular arms wrap around her. At first Gretchen wanted to flinch, struggle and fight him, but instead she saw there was no threat. He held her tightly across her chest for a moment, her bare breasts against his chest. Fighting to struggle from breaking down she was here in Geralt's strong arms for a while, before finally she pulled back her head and stared up.

"What's happening to me?"

Geralt sighed, before slowly letting her go and handing her Cahir's shirt. Grabbing it, feeling color rise in her cheeks, she quickly pulled it over her head before she sat back. Sighing, Geralt stared at her and shook his head.

"You're a skin-walker."

Gretchen stared confused.

"A what?"

"A half human...half creature that can transform into an animal. There aren't many left, and those that there are...mostly wolves, cats...sometimes beasts. It appears you are turning into something quite rare."

Gretchen felt as if everything was spinning. Shaking her head she stared at him.

"No, that can't be possible..."

"Most don't start officially changing roughly around their seventeenth birthdays. Is that roughly now?"

Gretchen felt tears well up in her eyes. Sighing, she shook her head.

"I...don't know. I was an orphan. Abandoned at a whore house in a village sixty or so miles outside of the kingdom. The madam who took me in used to tell me stories that when she found me I was completely covered in black feathers and blood. She said the women that worked there cleaned me up and beneath I was just a perfectly fine healthy baby. That my parents must have been insane trying to cast some black magic and left me for dead. I always figured my birthday was somewhere in the late winter early spring. I lived there until...my husband Cahir of Nifgaardian bought me and brought me to the kingdom to marry."

She showed her wedding ring. Geralt stared at it and sighed before nodding.

"Humm."

Gretchen shook her head.

"This can't be possible..."

Geralt sighed before reaching behind him and holding her several bloody long black feathers he held in his hands. Ones that looked exactly like the ones she had been vomiting up and hiding for years.

"Three of these I dug out of your back...the wounds are bad, as if your very flesh is splitting down in even lines. I was able to close them for the time being, but you'll need a healer, a few of these you also vomited up."

Sighing, feeling so overwhelmed and frightened, Gretchen slowly took the feathers from Geralt and stared at them. Some feathers much larger than the others. Staring up at him, she continued to control her tears.

"I've been vomiting up feathers for years...I was too scared to ever let anyone know. Maybe it's a curse?"

Geralt sighed and shook his head.

"I don't think so."

"I've heard stories of skin-walkers...they...never live long. Am I supposed to believe this death sentence? I'm a married woman now...from a respected powerful kingdom...I..."

"Do you believe the people of Nilfgaardian will accept you, as will your husband if you return? You'll be slaughtered."

Gretchen felt her lip quiver for a second before she shook her head.

"No, but...Cahir...he loves me, he's different. When he returns..."

"They will kill you! Especially your husband!"

Gretchen slowly rose, the slits in her back throbbing. Swaying for a second she shook her head.

"You're wrong Witcher! He loves me. He would never...I'll find someone to fix this and..."

"Don't be a fool!"

He snapped up at her, his white hair hang down in his face, his amber eyes glowing. Staring down, Gretchen shook her head.

"Cahir loves me...he'll know this wasn't my fault..."

"If your birthday is in fact approaching how do you think your husband, or even your husband's family will feel as your sprout claws? Feathers? Even wings?!"

Gretchen stared at Geralt, before shaking her head.

"You're wrong!"

Spinning around, Gretchen took off towards the opening of the cave. Geralt got up, and watched as she ran out into the snowy night. Sighing, he knew this was going to be much harder than he thought. Closing his eyes he sighed.

"Fuck..."

He said through gritted teeth. With that, he started towards the opening of the cave.

Elsewhere...

"Sir?"

Cahir stood beneath one of the tents. He was meeting with several other members of the Nilfgaardian army, going over maps. Lanterns were lit as the wind outside howled. Blinking out of his thoughts he looked up. Ever since night fall he had gotten a strange feeling of unease that had settled upon him and wouldn't let go. He desperately missed his wife, and hated just a few days since wedding her, he had been forced away. He had made a mental note as soon as he did return to the kingdom he would take Gretchen away and show her he was different. That he would treat her as an equal. That he would love and protect her at any cost. That yes he longed for an heir, which he had hoped he had planted inside of her during their few nights together all ready. If that wasn't in the cards yet, so be it. He would get his son, and he would make him with great pleasure with his innocent beautiful young wife.

No, he would return to her and teach her how to ride a horse. He knew his family would be outraged, but that no longer mattered. He wanted to start living his life with her by his side. Such adventures were still ahead of them, and he honestly couldn't wait to spend them with her.

Snapping out of his thoughts he blinked and stared at the messenger, having just entered. He had a scroll with him.

"What?"

"An urgent message was sent from your home at the kingdom. I made haste."

He handed it over. Staring with unsure eyes, slowly Cahir took the scroll before unrolling it and scanned the letter. Instantly his face dropped as he continued staring down.

Elsewhere...

Gretchen had reached the kingdom's limits and nearly collapsed. In just Cahir's clothes she was absolutely freezing. It had been snowing harder now, and she could no longer feel her hands. Exhausted, she nearly sprawled out onto the cobble stoned streets. She would return home, lie if she had to. Say a curse had been casted on her and beg for them to fetch Cahir. He would make everything better. This was her family now, they could help. She knew it. She limped, shivering down the streets towards her home when suddenly she saw torches.

Seneschal stood among several men, some on horses, searching.

"She must be hiding somewhere!"

Gretchen froze, hiding behind a wall as she listened. The men circled about. A few said they had started searching the forests and couldn't find her. Cahir's father shook his head in frustration.

"She has to be near the dumb little beast. I'm sure she's still within the kingdom. Once we find and capture her, deliver her to me. I shall destroy her."

One of the men hesitated staring up at him.

"But...she's your son's wife?"

"My son married a monster. That cursed blood shall not stain my family crest! Now keep looking! First man to find her will get two sacs of coin!"

Her now red eyes widening in fear, Gretchen covered her mouth with her red raw freezing hand unable to believe it. These people were supposed to be her new family. Why couldn't she explain herself? At that exact moment two large arms circled around her waist, picking her off the ground. Gretchen went to cry out when a large hand covered her mouth muffling it. That's when she heard Geralt's voice harshly whisper in her ear.

"Don't say a word, there are men searching the streets...come."

At first Gretchen wanted to spin around and fight him. Instead, she knew there wasn't any point. She had heard Cahir's father, and knew if she tried to stay here she would be slaughtered. She desperately wished Cahir was here. He would understand... Allowing Geralt to lead her to his horse, he lifted her up with ease, and both mounted the horse. Gretchen in front and Geralt firmly held onto her, and gently clicked for his horse to start quickly out of the kingdom. Riding, Gretchen lowered her head defeated. This wasn't how her story was supposed to end. She was a married woman from a good kingdom. She had a husband who loved her...

She then faintly remembered how Cahir had promised to teach her how to ride a horse. Instead, here she was with a Witcher, riding out of the kingdom like some cast out creature. Closing her eyes against the wind, she refused to cry.

Later that night...

Gretchen laid back in the cave shivering. She hadn't said much once they arrived. Geralt tried to offer her some bread but she refused it. Instead she laid on her side weeping softly, her back as well as her heart aching. The entire time she twisted her wedding ring, wondering if Cahir knew what had happened? That maybe he would have quickly turn on her as his family did. That's when she felt Geralt lay beside her. Stiffening, she turned her head and stared at him before he shook his head looking more tired than annoyed.

"You're freezing, lay against me for warmth."

"I..."

"You won't be much good to a healer, let alone a sorcerer frozen to death."

Staring at him, Gretchen wanted to argue but knew there wasn't any point. Sighing, she laid back against him, before she felt one of his arm muscular arms drape over her. Instantly she felt his body head radiate from him against her. She laid against him, listening to him breathe as she continued staring at the tiny fire he had started for them, flickering and waving in the darkness of the cave. The white flame...

No, this wasn't how her story was supposed to end. She was sure of it.