Their eyes shone like hot coals, making a mockery of the bitter cold all
around them. Pure fire pumped through their bodies and the age-old hunting
instinct had been transformed into desire. Tamm and Luna lay side by side,
lost in each others eyes. The male reached out and touched the face that
had brought him so much pleasure and peace. Her skin was as soft as the
petal of a rose and their love blossomed anew every day like the same
flower.
The stars seemed to glow brighter than they ever had before in the infinite blackness of the night. The constellations after which her siblings were named stood out starkly, but not nearly as much as the moon, the great star, which was full, round and white as pure driven snow. The full moon and the winter solstice had converged making even the man with the slightest amount of wolf blood fly into a frenzy of hunger, hunting and happiness.
Tamm bit Luna's ear gently before whispering softly into it, 'I love you, my Lady of the Moon.'
Luna shoved her mate away playfully while laughing with him, 'Lady of the Moon? Get out of it, wolf!'
The joyful wolf grabbed Luna's fluffed-out tail, making his sweetheart cry out and he pulled her back into his grasp, holding her fast, 'Come on, say it, you know you want to.'
Luna wriggled free and stood facing him, her entire posture flirtatious and absolutely irresistible, 'You'll have to make me!'
'Is that a challenge?'
A flicker of devilishness flashed across the young wolfs' features, 'Think you can take me?'
Never one to back down from a dare, Tamm pounced upon Luna, knocking her flat upon her back. Roaring with laughter the couple tumbled and rolled across the stone flags making a horrendous uproar which drew the attention of most of the court of Snow White. All of their hunting energy was put into the violent game, wrestling as they bit and snapped at each other.
Panting with effort they grinned at their one true love for a few minutes until, their energy restored, they threw themselves back into the fray.
By now the Queen, Beck, Jasmine, her husband and most of the castle staff and guards had gathered around the site of an apparently fierce and bloody battle being waged between the two wolves. Completely oblivious to the crowd, Luna and Tamm carried on.
Panicked by the sights and sounds of the mortal combat, Snow White grabbed Beck by the sleeve, 'How do we stop them?'
'There is only one way.' The Head Keeper snatched a crossbow from a sentry and aimed it at the duelling animals. Taking quick aim, Beck let the bolt fly with brutal force.
His aim was true. The barbed shaft buried itself deep in Tamm's back. A look of faint surprise crossed his features as he looked down to see the metal head of the arrow emerging from a sanguinary gash in his chest: It had pierced him through. Tamm gave a small whimper of pain as he slumped to the floor. With a shriek of dismay, as the first trickle of her mate's blood stained her tunic, Luna screamed at the onlookers, 'What have you done to him?'
She didn't need an answer. Tamm was reaching up to touch the face he had likened to a rose one last time before his life ebbed away. 'My Luna. Oh, my Luna...'
Tears poured in a hot river down her grief-whitened cheeks. She caught hold of her dying lovers paw and kissed it as he stroked her dark hair, 'Don't leave me, my love. Please don't go.' But his breathing was already shallow and his once-beautiful amber eyes were misted and dull.
The passion of love flowed away with her tears and ice crept through her veins, plunging her into a pit far deeper and darker than ever before. Rage replaced sorrow and a set of shining ivory teeth came fully into sight as two of the junior keepers tried to enter her cell to remove the body of Tamarisk. The expression of pure madness on her face made them recoil in terror.
No one noticed the white wraith who had observed the scene with growing despondency and now realised it was time to take matters into his own claws. Gliding off the castle roof he landed as lightly as a ghost at the back of the congregation and barged his way forward to Luna's cage.
'Let me in.'
'It's gone mad, it's far too dangerous.'
'Do it.'
The furious expulsion of air from his nostrils made the keeper's hand turn blue with cold. He cried out in pain, dropping the keys. Arc snatched them and unlocked the door himself. 'Luna, it's me, Arc. You're safe with me, Luna, I won't hurt you any more.'
Her look was one of blank lunacy. Every human aspect had perished, leaving only an animal in the corner, fighting for self-preservation.
'Luna, will you let me take Tamm away? I'll do everything he needs to pass to the skies.' Reaching down to lift the limp body, an outraged cross between a snarl and a screech escaped the manic wolfs' lips and she launched herself at the dragon, her teeth crunching down on Arc's arm with brutal force. The bystanders gasped in surprise.
Arc grimaced in pain and let it out in a short grunt. For a moment neither moved. Luna's fangs had bitten deep and blood was seeping from the wound and creating its own shining, frozen pool on the stony ground. With his free arm Arc gently took hold of Luna's shoulders and gathered her to him in a comforting embrace. Racked with sobs, Luna released her grip and buried her head against the dragon's belly scales.
'Luna, you must listen to me now. There is nothing more you can do for Tamm. Will you let me take over now and do what's left to be done? As a friend, as a brother, will you let me do this?'
'But...' Luna's bloodshot, tearstained eyes turned to the gawkers, amongst them was a strange, black-hooded figure, His tail and phosphorescent eyes were all too obvious. She had seen Him before when she was only a young cub, but only now did she realise who He was. He who had told her that her Grandfather had died. She started shivering and her eyes grew wide with fear.
'What is it, Luna?'
The terror-stricken face of the wolf told Arc all he needed to know, he shook her to bring her back to her senses, 'Where is He?'
She pointed to an empty space in the gathering with a quivering hand. Many looked in the same direction, but, like the dragon, they saw nothing.
'What is it, what can she see?' the Queen was as intrigued as the rest.
'She is one of the few who can see Death,' he said simply. The giant reptile's attention reverted back to the petrified creature who was still staring frozen at the dark figure who no one else could see. Grabbing her, he forcefully wrenched her gaze from Him. 'He's not come for you, do you understand me? Listen, Luna! He's not come for you!'
'He's gone,' she sighed with relief.
Arc fought to bring her attention back to the matter in hand, 'They won't have anything to do with Tamm. Only I will touch him, I promise.'
Luna finally nodded her consent. Wrapping his ice-blue wings around her, he whispered secret healing words which were for her ears only. When they folded back the wolf seemed stronger, but more bitter.
'You will... won't you?'
'I'll take care of everything, I give you my word.'
Arc took the spent body of Tamarisk in his arms. Luna touched her only loves' forehead with her nose before he was borne away. The door was slammed in her face by the keepers for fear that she would escape - they had not forgotten their fright earlier.
The dragon walked at a funereal pace whilst hissing at the spectators, 'Don't touch him.' He flicked Beck sharply on the leg with his muscular tail, making the trigger-happy warden hop about in agony.
The last sight Luna had of her life-partner was his slack black-tipped tail and his blood that still dripped crimson from the white-feathered shaft and she howled. Where once two voices had sang in harmony now only one howled out a single lament.
No one saw the black figure follow the white dragon with his sorry burden.
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The Stepmother laughed aloud in joy when she watched Luna's heart being ripped to shreds with the murder of her mate through the mirror. She had been betrayed by Snow White, just as the faithful mirror had predicted. Now it was only a case of offering the wolf everything she desired to turn her heart completely, but first it was best to let despair wither her spirit.
It felt good to be back on familiar ground. The fact that it had once all been hers before being snatched away by that bothersome brat made her blood boil. Walking across the frosted grass she gritted her teeth and thought again of the revenge and rise to power that would soon all be hers. The black woollen cloak was drawn closer around her emaciated body, for the chill wind bit right to the bone.
Reaching the inner gardens, she caressed the ice-glazed thorns of the rose that she had planted on the day when she had become Queen of the Fourth Kingdom. It had grown strong and resilient over the years, but now, even in deep winter, its branches showed signs of budding, a sure sign of her impending success. Come summer it would bloom with blood-red flowers. Very few in the world understood the power of the rose. Without it she would have died long ago. As long as it survived so would she.
The menagerie was in sight now, and so were a pair of hostile, reflective emerald eyes roving up and down the enforced boundary. The Stepmother knew wolfs' eyes glowed green at night.
'Luna, Luna!'
The voice that answered her was harsh, devoid of any sentiment or cheer, perfect, ' Who is it? What do you want?'
'Luna!'
'Mother? Mira, is that you?'
'Listen to me, Luna.'
'Who are you?' Luna was now severely irritated by this person who apparently knew her but would not show herself.
This sharp edge on the wolfs' voice convinced the Stepmother to come out of the shadows, 'You are angry, Luna. Surely you are mot bored here in this fine palace?'
'What would you know?'
'I know much, Shadow of the Moon. I know what it is to be you, to be hated and feared, reviled wherever you go.'
'How can you know how I feel? You are not a wolf. Who are you?'
'A long time ago I was Queen.'
The realisation dawned on Luna, 'You are Snow White's stepmother.'
'I am she.'
'You earned your revulsion. I did nothing.'
'You can help me, Luna. I need you.'
'What do you need me for?'
'You are an intelligent wolf and I have a job to finish.'
She was not wrong in saying that Luna was clever, the plan had already revealed itself in the wolfs' sharp brain and she was disgusted by it, 'I would rather die innocent of any crime but injustice than give all wolves a bad name in murder and regicide.' Luna turned her black back to the antediluvian, embittered woman, her tail held high in defiance.
'But I can help you and your family. I can set you free.'
Luna stopped short. This offer had just become more interesting, 'How?'
The Stepmother smiled, she had found the weakness in Luna's solid façade and now all she had to do was gouge the wound open and she would have the wolf at her mercy, 'If you help me I can protect them all. They will always be safe. All you have to do to keep them from the village pyres and hunter's bows is to say that you will help me. You will have the freedom to join them. That's all. Believe me, they will thank you.'
Luna chewed on her lip until it bled. If she joined the Stepmother her and her family would be free, safe, no longer having to skulk in forests always living in fear. But. An image haunted her, blocking out all elements of guilt. Her last memory of her mate for life, dead, limp, blood dripping from the arrow which had snuffed out his life and the Queen who had stood by and watched it happen. Now she could take her retribution for Tamm. Her eyes were as hard as flint when she answered, 'What do you want me to do?'
'Swear you allegiance to me.'
The howl that erupted from Luna's throat was long, loud and brutal. The Stepmother beamed with joy, it had all been so easy, 'Good wolf, I will speak to you again another night.'
The Stepmother melted back into the darkness from whence she had come, leaving Luna to think over what she had just gotten herself into.
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Early next morning, as dawns pale fingers crept stealthily over the horizon, Snow White was already awake and prepared for her journey. The new light coloured her chambers in pale pink, so beautiful and peaceful as the Queen mused on a decision she hoped she wouldn't regret. Her planned tour of the Fourth Kingdom was about to begin as scheduled, but for one minor change; she was taking Luna with her. She ran the thick suede collar through her fingers and wondered once more if she was doing the right thing and, more importantly, how Luna would react. Summoning the courage to face those cold, golden eyes, Snow White descended the marble staircase into the shimmering rose-tinted world of daybreak.
Luna had not slept at all well. Her dreams had been troubled by thoughts of murder, blood and treachery. More than once in the few short hours she had tried to rest, she had woken with her heart racing and her skin pouring cold sweat. She had since given up and settled down to watch the dawn pale the stars from the sky.
The stench of new leather assailed her nostrils, along with the more subtle but still distinct scent of the Queen's expensive perfumes. Why did the full-bloods have to make everything so odorous and block out all of natures' more delicate and infinitely more beautiful fragrances? She waited calmly for Snow White to come to her, she could hardly do anything else.
'What do you want?' Her tone was curt and icy.
Snow White came into view behind Luch and Orageuse, the lynxes', cage. There was something definitely shifty about her attitude that made Luna narrow her eyes with suspicion.
'How did you know I was here?'
'Even if you weren't wearing such odoriferous perfume, you still wouldn't be able to hide from my nose.'
'That's quite impressive.'
'That being so, you can't keep secret whatever leather thing it is you're concealing. Just come out with it. I'm in no mood for games.'
The production of the tawny leather and brass collar twisted Luna's vaguely annoyed expression into a disgusted sneer. Her lip curled as her gaze passed from the collar to Snow White. 'What're you gonna do with that?'
'I'm going on a tour of my Kingdom. I'd like you to come with me.'
'Is that a request or an order?'
'A request, naturally.'
Luna doubted this, yet her opportunistic nature came to the fore, along with one strong reservation; 'If I come with you do I have to wear that?'
'Can't have you disappearing without a trace and getting lost in strange country, can we?'
'No, no, of course not.'
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It was dusk before the carriage came to a halt outside an inn. It was a passion of the Queen to mingle with the Kingdomfolk on these excursions.
The moustached innkeeper stared through the diamond-paned window in amazement, 'Bette, come over here, quickly!'
The plump woman waddled over, wringing a towel in her hands, 'What is it, Owen?'
'It's Snow White, I'd stake my life on it!'
'Don't be silly. What would she be doing here?'
'Look, Bette!'
With a disbelieveing grunt, the innkeeper's wife glanced through the window. Her eyes grew wide with shock and her hands flew up to her face involuntarily, 'Oh my. What will we do? Will she stay? Do we have anything good enough for her?'
'Calm down, love. If things aren't to her liking there's nothing we can do about it now. Still, let's be polite and meet her.'
From the first sight Snow White liked the look of the Red Bear Inn. It was small and homely looking, far removed form the grandeur of the castle that she had left only two days previously. The innkeeper and his wife were just as she had imagined them to look like - the man was fairly tall was fairly tall with short dark hair spattered with grey and a silver handlebar moustache. His wife was short and comely, fiery red hair dragged back into a bun.
'Welcome to the Red Bear, Your Majesty. I'm Owen Goodlea and this is my wife, Bette. What can we do to serve you?
'I am looking for rooms for the night for both myself and my staff.'
'Of course. We have many suites to choose from. Will you be dining this evening?'
'I wouldn't say no.'
'We have stabling for your horses over...' Bette stopped in mid-sentence. It was not only horses they needed to shelter. She had just caught sight of Luna and her rosy cheeks drained of their colour.
'Is there a problem?' The change had not gone unnoticed by Snow White. Bette pointed a shaking finger at the wolf who was standing calmly behind the carriage taking stock of the air and all the new scents it carried. Her pent-up energy and frustration had been run off by journeying, which came as naturally to her as howling. 'You needn't worry about Luna. If you have a free stable she will be perfectly comfortable in there. There is no need for her to enter your beautiful inn.'
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The stable was dry and warm. A thick bed of straw had been laid and thoroughly explored with every sense, along with every possible avenue of escape. It would have been easy but for the heavy chain which led from Luna's collar to the ring halfway up the stable wall.
Luna huffed, not only was the collar uncomfortably new and the chain clanked every time she moved, but she couldn't even see the stars. The bowl of meat scraps remained untouched as Luna's appetite was diminished by the thought that there was nothing else to do besides eat. Tonight anyway.
The first clue of a visitor was a strong, acrid odour. This was closely followed by a small, dark nose poking under the door, complete with twitching whiskers and the tips of large fangs peeking out from under the newcomer's lips. This quickly withdrew and a thickly accented voice came in its stead; 'Heya, wolfsie. Ya got food in der?'
She could hardly contain her excitement at the presence of the visitor, whoever he was, 'Yes, and you're welcome to share it.'
'Ya won't 'urt us, wills ya, wolfise?'
'Of course not, ferret. Come in.'
A chocolate masked head with two jet-black, intelligent eyes entered through the small gap before it was followed by the sinuous mahogany body. It was a large hob polecat. He made straight for the meat before turning back to Luna, 'Ya don't mind, does ya, wolsfie?'
'No, no, go ahead. I have no appetite for it.'
The ferret needed no second bidding and went at it with a will. Gulping down great chunks of meat, he continued until his hunger was satisfied. A quick pink tongue delicately licked the remains of the meal from his creamy face and long, wicked eyeteeth. 'T'anks, wolfise. Wassa name, huh?'
It took Luna a few moments to decipher the skinny creature's rich accent before she replied, 'I'm Luna. You're quite welcome to stay if you want to. I'd appreciate the company.'
'I's Furo. Lotsa wolveses Luna, lotsa firrits Furo,' he shrugged his bony shoulders and grinned widely, 'I'll stay awhile. Have a chat. Wolveses okay, no harm to firrits. Whya here, Luna? You's a pris'ner or is a.' The polecat trailed off in mid-sentence, but Luna knew what he wanted to say.
'A pet? Yes, I suppose I am, Furo.'
'Furo know. Once Furo slave too. Man catch him when a kit, a babby, put down hole, scare out bonnies fer man, yeh? Furo kept in liddle box, fed scraps, bad job. Men put collar on me like dat, yeh?' Furo pointed a sharp little claw at Luna's neck, and the leather band that encircled it. 'Liddle bell, go ding-ding-ding when I move so dey hear him hunt unnerground.
'Furo bad firrit, he bite and scratch alla men alla time. One day bite man real deep, straight to bone. Hurt me teeth, I tell ya dat, wolfsie! Bleeded loads, all over place. Drop Furo, bang, like dat.' The ferret thumped a clawed paw on the solid stone floor, 'I make getaway quick, straight downa hole. Collar stick on root, pull hard, came over ears. Furo free firrit! Travel far, good life, yeh?'
Furo cocked his masked head to one side and looked at the wolf with his bright raven eyes. A lump caught in Luna's throat as she fought back the tears. She had known that life well - it was good - only now did she appreciate how good it had been, living free with her family, hunting freely in the forests. The memory of her final night of freedom, running with her family at her side, chasing the deer. The fiery passion of the hunt was full upon her as they ran the hind down. She had dodged and jumped to avoid them, turning this way and that seeking an escape from the questing, deadly fangs. Separated from her herd she panicked and span on the spot to elude Sirius' snapping jaws. That was when she struck. Leaping high, her teeth closed tight on the doe's throat. The vital artery punctured, she gave a final kick and lay still. Luna's bloody maw raised to the moon and howled out the fierce song of triumph to the Goddess of the Hunter. It was the proudest moment of her life: Her first kill.
It was a life she would never experience again, or if she did it would come at a heavy price. Her heart sank deep into her breast. The ferret patted her hand with his chocolate brown paw. 'Doncha worry, Luna. You help Furo, he help you now. Getcha collar off no problem. No chain gonna hold my friend when Furo here. 'Old still now, let me get on.'
The amicable polecat climbed up onto the wolfs' back and set his sharp little teeth to the suede collar. In-between sessions he kept up a steady stream of conversation. 'You ever hunt chicken, Luna?'
'No. What's it like?'
'Is good sport. Lotsa feathers, lotsa birds, lotsa skill, lotsa fun. Bird here, bird there, birds everywhere - flap flap flap, bite bite. Good meat, but big danger wi' men 'round, mi friend.'
'It sounds great.'
'Oh yeah. We hunt together sometime mebbe?'
'I'd like that. Have you ever tasted lamb?'
'Nah. Firrit small, unlike wolfsies. Not as warlike as mink. Too big fer firrit to kill.'
'Ah, you're missing out, friend. It's so sweet and tender. Ah, me!'
'Ya caught fer that?'
'It's what I was accused of, but that time I was innocent.' A small grin broke through the veil of self-pity.
'Not fair, at least catcha when ya guilty!'
'Same with you, Furo. Still, you got out.'
'You too, was easy.'
The collar fell from Luna's neck, completely frayed and torn by the ferret's needle-like teeth. She bounded up in delight, Furo clawing wildly at her back, trying to maintain a grip. He fell backwards into the thick pile of straw with a giggle.
'Thank you, thank you, Furo. If there is anything, anything at all, that I can do for you, just name it - it's done!'
The ferret emerged blinking and beaming widely from ear to ear from the dusty mound. His tail fluffed out like a sprig of rosemary and his back arched as he pranced and capered with the jubilant wolf. 'Not out of the woods, mate. Let's get outta here.'
Furo slipped through his entrance hole while Luna fiddled with a piece of thick straw, trying to release the latch which held the stable door shut. Her efforts become more frenzied when the outraged squeals of her musteline friend reached her pricked ears.
Bursting open the door, the sight that met her eyes made them flash dangerously yellow. Her diminutive saviour was suspended from his shoulders by a young human boy with lank, greasy auburn hair and crooked teeth. Furo screamed and paddled at the air in fury. Her blood burned hot as she lost control of her temper and pounced on the ferret's captor.
The stable-lad never knew what hit him. One moment he was praising his lucky stars at catching a fine poaching ferret with plenty of spirit, the next he was laying on his back on the hard cobbles with a mad, fierce animal standing over him, breathing heavily and looking ready for the kill.
'Run, now, before I kill you,' it rasped between its razor-sharp teeth. The boy ran as fast as his panic-spurred legs would carry him. 'Come now, friend, before it's too late,' Luna gathered her lithe partner into her arms.
The ferret felt tenderly at his broken fang and numerous cuts and bruises on the left side of his face where he had been dropped on the stones, 'Ya scary beast, Luna. Glad I's yer friend, not yer enimy. Knows why they keeps ya locked up now. Cha, they don't stand a chance when we's partners.' His conspiratorial wink turned into a wince of pain, just moving hurt his torn and bloody face.
'Don't worry, mate, they won't get you while I'm around.'
The stable bell rang out loud and continuously, sounding the alarm. Along with it came a cry of dismay. The stable yard gate was locked tight! Luna had hoped only a simple wooden bar would hold it shut, but a heavy lock held it fast. 'No! No, I have not come this far to be beaten by a stupid wooden door!' The wolf punctuated each word with a blow to the solid gates, her madness and anger growing with each impact.
'Luna!' Furo squeaked, cutting through his friend's concentration. She whirled round to face the intrepid five coming towards her, intent on her capture. She pushed the polecat into a drainage channel.
'Go, Furo. If they get me they won't get you too. I'll see you again.'
The expression on Luna's face dissolved any thought of argument, 'Right. You int seen the last of dis firrit. Bye fer now.'
His brush tail was Luna's last sight of her musteline companion. Her would-be captors had surrounded the wolf. Luna's eyes glowed warlike fervid orange and a wild snarl rumbled through her bared teeth making the men take a step backwards. 'Cowards are you? Five of you can't take one wolf? Come on, little boys, or are you afraid of getting hurt?' The men were stung by the insults but wary of the expression of pure untamed insanity in the wolfs' expression. 'Hah, your blood's not even worth spilling, you craven scum.'
Such abuse coming from the one animal most despised by human kind was what provoked the desired response. They charged together wielding their makeshift weapons - only boards of wood and old coach reins. Luna laughed maniacally as the warrior wolf blood rushed to her brain and clouded her senses, blotting out everything but the sights, sounds and smells of battle.
The men weren't fools. They kept a fair distance from the ripping fangs that sought their very life blood, flicking out with the reins and striking with the improvised clubs, however this just served to make the wolf crazier with the pain, her eyes deepening to crimson. Even though heavily outnumbered Luna still put up a tidy fight rending many with her tiny ivory battle-blades and tasting the vital, forbidden fluid that spilled and mixed with the dust. It was a conflict that she couldn't win no matter how hard she fought. One sharp-witted individual threw a handful of dust into her maddened eyes. While she pawed desperately to clear the stinging grit from her vision, one man crept up behind her and struck the back of her head savagely with a wooden spar.
Luna slumped like a forsaken rag-doll on the cobbles, her last picture being the silhouette of the Queen watching the entire spectacle without a word, before the merciful darkness of unconsciousness covered her completely like the protective wing of a mother dragon.
.
The stars seemed to glow brighter than they ever had before in the infinite blackness of the night. The constellations after which her siblings were named stood out starkly, but not nearly as much as the moon, the great star, which was full, round and white as pure driven snow. The full moon and the winter solstice had converged making even the man with the slightest amount of wolf blood fly into a frenzy of hunger, hunting and happiness.
Tamm bit Luna's ear gently before whispering softly into it, 'I love you, my Lady of the Moon.'
Luna shoved her mate away playfully while laughing with him, 'Lady of the Moon? Get out of it, wolf!'
The joyful wolf grabbed Luna's fluffed-out tail, making his sweetheart cry out and he pulled her back into his grasp, holding her fast, 'Come on, say it, you know you want to.'
Luna wriggled free and stood facing him, her entire posture flirtatious and absolutely irresistible, 'You'll have to make me!'
'Is that a challenge?'
A flicker of devilishness flashed across the young wolfs' features, 'Think you can take me?'
Never one to back down from a dare, Tamm pounced upon Luna, knocking her flat upon her back. Roaring with laughter the couple tumbled and rolled across the stone flags making a horrendous uproar which drew the attention of most of the court of Snow White. All of their hunting energy was put into the violent game, wrestling as they bit and snapped at each other.
Panting with effort they grinned at their one true love for a few minutes until, their energy restored, they threw themselves back into the fray.
By now the Queen, Beck, Jasmine, her husband and most of the castle staff and guards had gathered around the site of an apparently fierce and bloody battle being waged between the two wolves. Completely oblivious to the crowd, Luna and Tamm carried on.
Panicked by the sights and sounds of the mortal combat, Snow White grabbed Beck by the sleeve, 'How do we stop them?'
'There is only one way.' The Head Keeper snatched a crossbow from a sentry and aimed it at the duelling animals. Taking quick aim, Beck let the bolt fly with brutal force.
His aim was true. The barbed shaft buried itself deep in Tamm's back. A look of faint surprise crossed his features as he looked down to see the metal head of the arrow emerging from a sanguinary gash in his chest: It had pierced him through. Tamm gave a small whimper of pain as he slumped to the floor. With a shriek of dismay, as the first trickle of her mate's blood stained her tunic, Luna screamed at the onlookers, 'What have you done to him?'
She didn't need an answer. Tamm was reaching up to touch the face he had likened to a rose one last time before his life ebbed away. 'My Luna. Oh, my Luna...'
Tears poured in a hot river down her grief-whitened cheeks. She caught hold of her dying lovers paw and kissed it as he stroked her dark hair, 'Don't leave me, my love. Please don't go.' But his breathing was already shallow and his once-beautiful amber eyes were misted and dull.
The passion of love flowed away with her tears and ice crept through her veins, plunging her into a pit far deeper and darker than ever before. Rage replaced sorrow and a set of shining ivory teeth came fully into sight as two of the junior keepers tried to enter her cell to remove the body of Tamarisk. The expression of pure madness on her face made them recoil in terror.
No one noticed the white wraith who had observed the scene with growing despondency and now realised it was time to take matters into his own claws. Gliding off the castle roof he landed as lightly as a ghost at the back of the congregation and barged his way forward to Luna's cage.
'Let me in.'
'It's gone mad, it's far too dangerous.'
'Do it.'
The furious expulsion of air from his nostrils made the keeper's hand turn blue with cold. He cried out in pain, dropping the keys. Arc snatched them and unlocked the door himself. 'Luna, it's me, Arc. You're safe with me, Luna, I won't hurt you any more.'
Her look was one of blank lunacy. Every human aspect had perished, leaving only an animal in the corner, fighting for self-preservation.
'Luna, will you let me take Tamm away? I'll do everything he needs to pass to the skies.' Reaching down to lift the limp body, an outraged cross between a snarl and a screech escaped the manic wolfs' lips and she launched herself at the dragon, her teeth crunching down on Arc's arm with brutal force. The bystanders gasped in surprise.
Arc grimaced in pain and let it out in a short grunt. For a moment neither moved. Luna's fangs had bitten deep and blood was seeping from the wound and creating its own shining, frozen pool on the stony ground. With his free arm Arc gently took hold of Luna's shoulders and gathered her to him in a comforting embrace. Racked with sobs, Luna released her grip and buried her head against the dragon's belly scales.
'Luna, you must listen to me now. There is nothing more you can do for Tamm. Will you let me take over now and do what's left to be done? As a friend, as a brother, will you let me do this?'
'But...' Luna's bloodshot, tearstained eyes turned to the gawkers, amongst them was a strange, black-hooded figure, His tail and phosphorescent eyes were all too obvious. She had seen Him before when she was only a young cub, but only now did she realise who He was. He who had told her that her Grandfather had died. She started shivering and her eyes grew wide with fear.
'What is it, Luna?'
The terror-stricken face of the wolf told Arc all he needed to know, he shook her to bring her back to her senses, 'Where is He?'
She pointed to an empty space in the gathering with a quivering hand. Many looked in the same direction, but, like the dragon, they saw nothing.
'What is it, what can she see?' the Queen was as intrigued as the rest.
'She is one of the few who can see Death,' he said simply. The giant reptile's attention reverted back to the petrified creature who was still staring frozen at the dark figure who no one else could see. Grabbing her, he forcefully wrenched her gaze from Him. 'He's not come for you, do you understand me? Listen, Luna! He's not come for you!'
'He's gone,' she sighed with relief.
Arc fought to bring her attention back to the matter in hand, 'They won't have anything to do with Tamm. Only I will touch him, I promise.'
Luna finally nodded her consent. Wrapping his ice-blue wings around her, he whispered secret healing words which were for her ears only. When they folded back the wolf seemed stronger, but more bitter.
'You will... won't you?'
'I'll take care of everything, I give you my word.'
Arc took the spent body of Tamarisk in his arms. Luna touched her only loves' forehead with her nose before he was borne away. The door was slammed in her face by the keepers for fear that she would escape - they had not forgotten their fright earlier.
The dragon walked at a funereal pace whilst hissing at the spectators, 'Don't touch him.' He flicked Beck sharply on the leg with his muscular tail, making the trigger-happy warden hop about in agony.
The last sight Luna had of her life-partner was his slack black-tipped tail and his blood that still dripped crimson from the white-feathered shaft and she howled. Where once two voices had sang in harmony now only one howled out a single lament.
No one saw the black figure follow the white dragon with his sorry burden.
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The Stepmother laughed aloud in joy when she watched Luna's heart being ripped to shreds with the murder of her mate through the mirror. She had been betrayed by Snow White, just as the faithful mirror had predicted. Now it was only a case of offering the wolf everything she desired to turn her heart completely, but first it was best to let despair wither her spirit.
It felt good to be back on familiar ground. The fact that it had once all been hers before being snatched away by that bothersome brat made her blood boil. Walking across the frosted grass she gritted her teeth and thought again of the revenge and rise to power that would soon all be hers. The black woollen cloak was drawn closer around her emaciated body, for the chill wind bit right to the bone.
Reaching the inner gardens, she caressed the ice-glazed thorns of the rose that she had planted on the day when she had become Queen of the Fourth Kingdom. It had grown strong and resilient over the years, but now, even in deep winter, its branches showed signs of budding, a sure sign of her impending success. Come summer it would bloom with blood-red flowers. Very few in the world understood the power of the rose. Without it she would have died long ago. As long as it survived so would she.
The menagerie was in sight now, and so were a pair of hostile, reflective emerald eyes roving up and down the enforced boundary. The Stepmother knew wolfs' eyes glowed green at night.
'Luna, Luna!'
The voice that answered her was harsh, devoid of any sentiment or cheer, perfect, ' Who is it? What do you want?'
'Luna!'
'Mother? Mira, is that you?'
'Listen to me, Luna.'
'Who are you?' Luna was now severely irritated by this person who apparently knew her but would not show herself.
This sharp edge on the wolfs' voice convinced the Stepmother to come out of the shadows, 'You are angry, Luna. Surely you are mot bored here in this fine palace?'
'What would you know?'
'I know much, Shadow of the Moon. I know what it is to be you, to be hated and feared, reviled wherever you go.'
'How can you know how I feel? You are not a wolf. Who are you?'
'A long time ago I was Queen.'
The realisation dawned on Luna, 'You are Snow White's stepmother.'
'I am she.'
'You earned your revulsion. I did nothing.'
'You can help me, Luna. I need you.'
'What do you need me for?'
'You are an intelligent wolf and I have a job to finish.'
She was not wrong in saying that Luna was clever, the plan had already revealed itself in the wolfs' sharp brain and she was disgusted by it, 'I would rather die innocent of any crime but injustice than give all wolves a bad name in murder and regicide.' Luna turned her black back to the antediluvian, embittered woman, her tail held high in defiance.
'But I can help you and your family. I can set you free.'
Luna stopped short. This offer had just become more interesting, 'How?'
The Stepmother smiled, she had found the weakness in Luna's solid façade and now all she had to do was gouge the wound open and she would have the wolf at her mercy, 'If you help me I can protect them all. They will always be safe. All you have to do to keep them from the village pyres and hunter's bows is to say that you will help me. You will have the freedom to join them. That's all. Believe me, they will thank you.'
Luna chewed on her lip until it bled. If she joined the Stepmother her and her family would be free, safe, no longer having to skulk in forests always living in fear. But. An image haunted her, blocking out all elements of guilt. Her last memory of her mate for life, dead, limp, blood dripping from the arrow which had snuffed out his life and the Queen who had stood by and watched it happen. Now she could take her retribution for Tamm. Her eyes were as hard as flint when she answered, 'What do you want me to do?'
'Swear you allegiance to me.'
The howl that erupted from Luna's throat was long, loud and brutal. The Stepmother beamed with joy, it had all been so easy, 'Good wolf, I will speak to you again another night.'
The Stepmother melted back into the darkness from whence she had come, leaving Luna to think over what she had just gotten herself into.
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Early next morning, as dawns pale fingers crept stealthily over the horizon, Snow White was already awake and prepared for her journey. The new light coloured her chambers in pale pink, so beautiful and peaceful as the Queen mused on a decision she hoped she wouldn't regret. Her planned tour of the Fourth Kingdom was about to begin as scheduled, but for one minor change; she was taking Luna with her. She ran the thick suede collar through her fingers and wondered once more if she was doing the right thing and, more importantly, how Luna would react. Summoning the courage to face those cold, golden eyes, Snow White descended the marble staircase into the shimmering rose-tinted world of daybreak.
Luna had not slept at all well. Her dreams had been troubled by thoughts of murder, blood and treachery. More than once in the few short hours she had tried to rest, she had woken with her heart racing and her skin pouring cold sweat. She had since given up and settled down to watch the dawn pale the stars from the sky.
The stench of new leather assailed her nostrils, along with the more subtle but still distinct scent of the Queen's expensive perfumes. Why did the full-bloods have to make everything so odorous and block out all of natures' more delicate and infinitely more beautiful fragrances? She waited calmly for Snow White to come to her, she could hardly do anything else.
'What do you want?' Her tone was curt and icy.
Snow White came into view behind Luch and Orageuse, the lynxes', cage. There was something definitely shifty about her attitude that made Luna narrow her eyes with suspicion.
'How did you know I was here?'
'Even if you weren't wearing such odoriferous perfume, you still wouldn't be able to hide from my nose.'
'That's quite impressive.'
'That being so, you can't keep secret whatever leather thing it is you're concealing. Just come out with it. I'm in no mood for games.'
The production of the tawny leather and brass collar twisted Luna's vaguely annoyed expression into a disgusted sneer. Her lip curled as her gaze passed from the collar to Snow White. 'What're you gonna do with that?'
'I'm going on a tour of my Kingdom. I'd like you to come with me.'
'Is that a request or an order?'
'A request, naturally.'
Luna doubted this, yet her opportunistic nature came to the fore, along with one strong reservation; 'If I come with you do I have to wear that?'
'Can't have you disappearing without a trace and getting lost in strange country, can we?'
'No, no, of course not.'
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It was dusk before the carriage came to a halt outside an inn. It was a passion of the Queen to mingle with the Kingdomfolk on these excursions.
The moustached innkeeper stared through the diamond-paned window in amazement, 'Bette, come over here, quickly!'
The plump woman waddled over, wringing a towel in her hands, 'What is it, Owen?'
'It's Snow White, I'd stake my life on it!'
'Don't be silly. What would she be doing here?'
'Look, Bette!'
With a disbelieveing grunt, the innkeeper's wife glanced through the window. Her eyes grew wide with shock and her hands flew up to her face involuntarily, 'Oh my. What will we do? Will she stay? Do we have anything good enough for her?'
'Calm down, love. If things aren't to her liking there's nothing we can do about it now. Still, let's be polite and meet her.'
From the first sight Snow White liked the look of the Red Bear Inn. It was small and homely looking, far removed form the grandeur of the castle that she had left only two days previously. The innkeeper and his wife were just as she had imagined them to look like - the man was fairly tall was fairly tall with short dark hair spattered with grey and a silver handlebar moustache. His wife was short and comely, fiery red hair dragged back into a bun.
'Welcome to the Red Bear, Your Majesty. I'm Owen Goodlea and this is my wife, Bette. What can we do to serve you?
'I am looking for rooms for the night for both myself and my staff.'
'Of course. We have many suites to choose from. Will you be dining this evening?'
'I wouldn't say no.'
'We have stabling for your horses over...' Bette stopped in mid-sentence. It was not only horses they needed to shelter. She had just caught sight of Luna and her rosy cheeks drained of their colour.
'Is there a problem?' The change had not gone unnoticed by Snow White. Bette pointed a shaking finger at the wolf who was standing calmly behind the carriage taking stock of the air and all the new scents it carried. Her pent-up energy and frustration had been run off by journeying, which came as naturally to her as howling. 'You needn't worry about Luna. If you have a free stable she will be perfectly comfortable in there. There is no need for her to enter your beautiful inn.'
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The stable was dry and warm. A thick bed of straw had been laid and thoroughly explored with every sense, along with every possible avenue of escape. It would have been easy but for the heavy chain which led from Luna's collar to the ring halfway up the stable wall.
Luna huffed, not only was the collar uncomfortably new and the chain clanked every time she moved, but she couldn't even see the stars. The bowl of meat scraps remained untouched as Luna's appetite was diminished by the thought that there was nothing else to do besides eat. Tonight anyway.
The first clue of a visitor was a strong, acrid odour. This was closely followed by a small, dark nose poking under the door, complete with twitching whiskers and the tips of large fangs peeking out from under the newcomer's lips. This quickly withdrew and a thickly accented voice came in its stead; 'Heya, wolfsie. Ya got food in der?'
She could hardly contain her excitement at the presence of the visitor, whoever he was, 'Yes, and you're welcome to share it.'
'Ya won't 'urt us, wills ya, wolfise?'
'Of course not, ferret. Come in.'
A chocolate masked head with two jet-black, intelligent eyes entered through the small gap before it was followed by the sinuous mahogany body. It was a large hob polecat. He made straight for the meat before turning back to Luna, 'Ya don't mind, does ya, wolsfie?'
'No, no, go ahead. I have no appetite for it.'
The ferret needed no second bidding and went at it with a will. Gulping down great chunks of meat, he continued until his hunger was satisfied. A quick pink tongue delicately licked the remains of the meal from his creamy face and long, wicked eyeteeth. 'T'anks, wolfise. Wassa name, huh?'
It took Luna a few moments to decipher the skinny creature's rich accent before she replied, 'I'm Luna. You're quite welcome to stay if you want to. I'd appreciate the company.'
'I's Furo. Lotsa wolveses Luna, lotsa firrits Furo,' he shrugged his bony shoulders and grinned widely, 'I'll stay awhile. Have a chat. Wolveses okay, no harm to firrits. Whya here, Luna? You's a pris'ner or is a.' The polecat trailed off in mid-sentence, but Luna knew what he wanted to say.
'A pet? Yes, I suppose I am, Furo.'
'Furo know. Once Furo slave too. Man catch him when a kit, a babby, put down hole, scare out bonnies fer man, yeh? Furo kept in liddle box, fed scraps, bad job. Men put collar on me like dat, yeh?' Furo pointed a sharp little claw at Luna's neck, and the leather band that encircled it. 'Liddle bell, go ding-ding-ding when I move so dey hear him hunt unnerground.
'Furo bad firrit, he bite and scratch alla men alla time. One day bite man real deep, straight to bone. Hurt me teeth, I tell ya dat, wolfsie! Bleeded loads, all over place. Drop Furo, bang, like dat.' The ferret thumped a clawed paw on the solid stone floor, 'I make getaway quick, straight downa hole. Collar stick on root, pull hard, came over ears. Furo free firrit! Travel far, good life, yeh?'
Furo cocked his masked head to one side and looked at the wolf with his bright raven eyes. A lump caught in Luna's throat as she fought back the tears. She had known that life well - it was good - only now did she appreciate how good it had been, living free with her family, hunting freely in the forests. The memory of her final night of freedom, running with her family at her side, chasing the deer. The fiery passion of the hunt was full upon her as they ran the hind down. She had dodged and jumped to avoid them, turning this way and that seeking an escape from the questing, deadly fangs. Separated from her herd she panicked and span on the spot to elude Sirius' snapping jaws. That was when she struck. Leaping high, her teeth closed tight on the doe's throat. The vital artery punctured, she gave a final kick and lay still. Luna's bloody maw raised to the moon and howled out the fierce song of triumph to the Goddess of the Hunter. It was the proudest moment of her life: Her first kill.
It was a life she would never experience again, or if she did it would come at a heavy price. Her heart sank deep into her breast. The ferret patted her hand with his chocolate brown paw. 'Doncha worry, Luna. You help Furo, he help you now. Getcha collar off no problem. No chain gonna hold my friend when Furo here. 'Old still now, let me get on.'
The amicable polecat climbed up onto the wolfs' back and set his sharp little teeth to the suede collar. In-between sessions he kept up a steady stream of conversation. 'You ever hunt chicken, Luna?'
'No. What's it like?'
'Is good sport. Lotsa feathers, lotsa birds, lotsa skill, lotsa fun. Bird here, bird there, birds everywhere - flap flap flap, bite bite. Good meat, but big danger wi' men 'round, mi friend.'
'It sounds great.'
'Oh yeah. We hunt together sometime mebbe?'
'I'd like that. Have you ever tasted lamb?'
'Nah. Firrit small, unlike wolfsies. Not as warlike as mink. Too big fer firrit to kill.'
'Ah, you're missing out, friend. It's so sweet and tender. Ah, me!'
'Ya caught fer that?'
'It's what I was accused of, but that time I was innocent.' A small grin broke through the veil of self-pity.
'Not fair, at least catcha when ya guilty!'
'Same with you, Furo. Still, you got out.'
'You too, was easy.'
The collar fell from Luna's neck, completely frayed and torn by the ferret's needle-like teeth. She bounded up in delight, Furo clawing wildly at her back, trying to maintain a grip. He fell backwards into the thick pile of straw with a giggle.
'Thank you, thank you, Furo. If there is anything, anything at all, that I can do for you, just name it - it's done!'
The ferret emerged blinking and beaming widely from ear to ear from the dusty mound. His tail fluffed out like a sprig of rosemary and his back arched as he pranced and capered with the jubilant wolf. 'Not out of the woods, mate. Let's get outta here.'
Furo slipped through his entrance hole while Luna fiddled with a piece of thick straw, trying to release the latch which held the stable door shut. Her efforts become more frenzied when the outraged squeals of her musteline friend reached her pricked ears.
Bursting open the door, the sight that met her eyes made them flash dangerously yellow. Her diminutive saviour was suspended from his shoulders by a young human boy with lank, greasy auburn hair and crooked teeth. Furo screamed and paddled at the air in fury. Her blood burned hot as she lost control of her temper and pounced on the ferret's captor.
The stable-lad never knew what hit him. One moment he was praising his lucky stars at catching a fine poaching ferret with plenty of spirit, the next he was laying on his back on the hard cobbles with a mad, fierce animal standing over him, breathing heavily and looking ready for the kill.
'Run, now, before I kill you,' it rasped between its razor-sharp teeth. The boy ran as fast as his panic-spurred legs would carry him. 'Come now, friend, before it's too late,' Luna gathered her lithe partner into her arms.
The ferret felt tenderly at his broken fang and numerous cuts and bruises on the left side of his face where he had been dropped on the stones, 'Ya scary beast, Luna. Glad I's yer friend, not yer enimy. Knows why they keeps ya locked up now. Cha, they don't stand a chance when we's partners.' His conspiratorial wink turned into a wince of pain, just moving hurt his torn and bloody face.
'Don't worry, mate, they won't get you while I'm around.'
The stable bell rang out loud and continuously, sounding the alarm. Along with it came a cry of dismay. The stable yard gate was locked tight! Luna had hoped only a simple wooden bar would hold it shut, but a heavy lock held it fast. 'No! No, I have not come this far to be beaten by a stupid wooden door!' The wolf punctuated each word with a blow to the solid gates, her madness and anger growing with each impact.
'Luna!' Furo squeaked, cutting through his friend's concentration. She whirled round to face the intrepid five coming towards her, intent on her capture. She pushed the polecat into a drainage channel.
'Go, Furo. If they get me they won't get you too. I'll see you again.'
The expression on Luna's face dissolved any thought of argument, 'Right. You int seen the last of dis firrit. Bye fer now.'
His brush tail was Luna's last sight of her musteline companion. Her would-be captors had surrounded the wolf. Luna's eyes glowed warlike fervid orange and a wild snarl rumbled through her bared teeth making the men take a step backwards. 'Cowards are you? Five of you can't take one wolf? Come on, little boys, or are you afraid of getting hurt?' The men were stung by the insults but wary of the expression of pure untamed insanity in the wolfs' expression. 'Hah, your blood's not even worth spilling, you craven scum.'
Such abuse coming from the one animal most despised by human kind was what provoked the desired response. They charged together wielding their makeshift weapons - only boards of wood and old coach reins. Luna laughed maniacally as the warrior wolf blood rushed to her brain and clouded her senses, blotting out everything but the sights, sounds and smells of battle.
The men weren't fools. They kept a fair distance from the ripping fangs that sought their very life blood, flicking out with the reins and striking with the improvised clubs, however this just served to make the wolf crazier with the pain, her eyes deepening to crimson. Even though heavily outnumbered Luna still put up a tidy fight rending many with her tiny ivory battle-blades and tasting the vital, forbidden fluid that spilled and mixed with the dust. It was a conflict that she couldn't win no matter how hard she fought. One sharp-witted individual threw a handful of dust into her maddened eyes. While she pawed desperately to clear the stinging grit from her vision, one man crept up behind her and struck the back of her head savagely with a wooden spar.
Luna slumped like a forsaken rag-doll on the cobbles, her last picture being the silhouette of the Queen watching the entire spectacle without a word, before the merciful darkness of unconsciousness covered her completely like the protective wing of a mother dragon.
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