Innocence of a Child Chapter 13
If riding Philippe before had been difficult it was near impossible now for Cosette to handle alone. The little one can barely control him in their flight. One thing that worked for both of them is that they wanted to get out of there as quick and far as possible.
Unfortunately such a fast pace drew the attention of unwelcome eyes.
The same pack of wolves that lived in the woods surrounding the castle grounds took notice and saw an easy meal.
Philippe and Cosette are quickly surrounded by the entire pack. Philippe tried desperately to out maneuver them. No matter where they went a wolf was there waiting. Eventually the two broke cover from the trees running onto the surface of a frozen over pond. Cracks appeared underneath Philippe's hooves, but they did not break. The downside is that the slippery surface caused Philippe to slow down allowing the wolves to catch up. Now Philippe and Cosette have nowhere else to go.
From behind a wolf jumped up to grab the edge of Cosette's cloak in its teeth dragging her off of Philippe's back as he reared in defense.
Cosette yelped falling onto her butt. To Cosette's misfortune the section of ice she'd fallen into was weaker than the rest. This resulted in it breaking underneath her sudden fall. Cosette then fell into the cold and icy water. Cosette screamed thrashing in the water, struggling to climb back out on her own with both her clothes and sisters clothes coming close to dragging her down with the combined weight.
Philippe wasn't fairing any better. He is under siege by the relentless wolves attacking him from almost every angle. The gelding is fighting for his life, frantically kicking and stomping at any within reach. Every second that passed meant Cosette is being tugged closer and closer to a death that leads to an icy grave.
One of the ravenous wolves saw Cosette as an easy target in her condition. With no way to defend herself Cosette is basically a sitting duck to be plucked at any given moment.
Right as the wolf lunged at her the Beast appeared out of nowhere body slamming the wolf straight off course. The Beast leapt directly into the pack. The pack sensed a brand new more serious threat so now they turned their focus onto him. One after another the wolves attacked him.
The wolves are distracted which granted Philippe the opportunity to assist his rider or did in Cosette's minds eye. Philippe got close enough to where he's within reach of her. Cosette snatched the end of the dangling reins. Philippe walked backwards pulling her out at the same time she tries to climb. Finally after what seemed like forever she was back on solid ice to the point where she wouldn't fall through again. A bad side of this is that the water plastered over her clothes felt even heavier out instead of in.
Lying on her stomach, exhausted, with Philippe standing protectively over her, Cosette watched the Beast as he battled against the wolves head on. Each time one launched an assault the Beast simply hurled them away. Many were lying a pretty good distance away in submissive postures and licking their wounds. Soon only the alpha remained, but even he didn't last long one on one with the Beast.
Thumping the ice in aggression, crouching into a dominant stance, the Beast roared mightily at the wolves.
Sufficiently cowed, knowing they're beat, the alpha ordered the pack to retreat.
After the departure of the wolves an eerie silence fell over the entire area. Not even a gust of wind through the trees could any of them detect nearby.
Cosette relaxed the second the wolves vanished into the woods very happy that she's not going to be eaten tonight. But where one threat disappeared another one arose.
Completely drenched down to the bone and exposed to freezing temperatures Cosette's core body temperature is decreasing rapidly with her body shivering violently from it. She's in great danger.
Cosette shuddered, curling in on herself for warmth that's not there releasing pain filled whimpers.
Philippe nickered softly at her, gently lipping her shoulder. Cosette did not respond to his attempts at comfort. Not even him nudging her as encouragement to get up.
Out of her line of sight Cosette forgot the Beasts presence there with her. Cosette could hear loud thumping footsteps coming her way since her ear is pressed to the ice. They got louder and louder until they ceased right beside her.
Next thing Cosette knew is big, thick, and furry arms lifted her up from the surface of the ice. Cosette is then pressed against a warm chest as she began to drift in and out of consciousness feeling so weary and fatigued in multiple ways.
Vision becoming blurry Cosette saw enough where she figured out the Beast had swung up onto the horses back with her in front.
"Hold on, Little One. You are safe now," murmured the Beast, voice rumbling deep in his chest.
After how terrible he acted towards she and Belle at the castle Cosette should be terrified of the Beast. Funny part about that is she's not.
Why is that?
Authors Note:
Hope you guys all like this one. Well is it how any of you expected it to be? ;D
Also, I need your shared opinions over a new story idea that I came up with recently while watching two of my favorite franchises. Literally it hit me only a couple of weeks ago.
I'm considering doing a Venom story for the 2001-2003 Justice League Series. Do you guys think I should make it a crossover or just put it in the Justice League Universe? Another thing is about an idea of the symbiote completely taking over the host or if the relationship is a lot like Eddie and Venom's in the movie?
I really want to get this idea up and running soon, but I'm kind of all over the place.