Mr. and Mrs. Beaver gasped. They began to run in the direction of the frozen river.

"Come on! It's a little bit further!" Mr. Beaver said.

I ran ahead of everyone. I quickly came to the edge of a cliff and just below was the river . . . and it was beginning to thaw out quickly. We didn't have much time before the water fall itself was unfrozen. Everyone surrounded me.

"We need to cross, now!" Peter said.

"Don't beavers make dams?" Lucy asked.

"I'm not that fast, dear." Mr. Beaver replied.

"Come on!" Peter said grabbing my hand and Lucy's.

"Wait! Will you just think about this for a minute!" Susan said bewildered.

"We don't have a minute!" I replied.

"I'm just trying to be realistic." She said.

"No . . you're just trying to be smart . . . as usual." Peter said

"Peter! My sword!" I said as I noticed it burning.

In the distance, Maugrim howled.

"Come on!" I yelled.

Peter helped Lucy and me down the side of the cliff. We finally got to the bank. We could hear the ice cracking as the warm water ran underneath it. Peter kept a hold of my hand. He took one step on the ice and it cracked under his weight. He gripped my hand hard, as he stepped back onto the bank.

"Wait. Maybe I should go first." Mr. Beaver said.

"Maybe you should." Peter said in a shaky voice.

Mr. Beaver carefully stepped out onto the ice. He took a few wobbly steps on it, and then began to check the ice with his tail. He finally took another step and the ice cracked under him.

"You've been sneaking second helpings haven't you?" Mrs. Beaver called out.

"Well, you never know which meals' gonna be your last. Especially with your cooking." He said.

Peter gripped my hand again as he took a deep breath. He took another try at the ice, this time it didn't move. I carefully stepped onto the ice, following Peter's steps. Susan helped Lucy, they were following my steps. I slipped and accidentally stepped out of line and the ice I was on cracked. I gasped. Peter quickly turned around and helped me back up. Lucy shrieked, thinking I was falling.

"If Mum knew what we were doing . . ." Susan began to say.

"Mum's not here!" Peter said agitatedly.

Snow and icicles began to fall down from the waterfall.
"Oh No!" Lucy cried.

I followed her gaze and saw Maugrim and another wolf running across the waterfall. Peter saw them too.

"Run!" Peter cried.

We all began to run to try and get to the other side before Maugrim got there, but it was too late. Maugrim and the other wolf cut our path off. We were standing on the ice. I turned around and saw the rest of the pack at the back behind us. We were surrounded. Mr. Beaver hissed at Maugrim, and then got attacked by the other wolf. The wolf, the same one that had a hold of Fox, pinned Mr. Beaver to the ground by his neck.

"No!" Cried Mrs. Beaver.

Peter stood in front of me and pulled out his sword as my sword's flame grew. Peter pointed the sword at Maugrim.

"Put that down boy. Someone could get hurt." Maugrim said stepping towards us.

"Like you . . ?" I asked.

"Don't worry about me! Run him through!" Cried Mr. Beaver.

I turned into a solid black wolf and jumped in front of Peter. I bared my teeth and growled ferociously.

"Oooh . . . You don't look half bad as a wolf. Maybe you should stay in that body." He said beginning to circle me.

I kept my eyes fixed upon him. I just growled.

"You know . . . all my Queen wants is for you and your friends to go home . . . but I'm sure she'll make an exception if you join her police . . . "

I only growled in response. He took a few steps toward me, I backed away towards Peter.

"Rachel! What are you doing!" He asked me.

I don't know. . . I'm making this up as I go.

Maugrim began to try and circle me to get to Peter, then in order to get my attention, even thought he already had it, he began talking to Peter.

"Leave now and your brother will go with you." He said.

"Don't listen to him! Kill him! Kill him now!" Mr. Beaver cried.

Maugrim began to walk straight towards Peter. I jumped in Maugrim's path with a shrill bark. The fur on my neck was standing on end.

"Come on, New Witch. You don't have a reason for protecting him. You don't love him. You can't love him because of what to the other one you loved . . ."

How do you know about that! I barked.

"My queen has many ways of going through people's minds . . . just as you can . . ."

Well . . . tell your "Queen" that I'm not like her . . . I may have some similar powers . . . but our hearts and personalities are completely different.

"Oh Come on! There's nothing for you on this side! You don't love Peter because . . . you would be protecting him better."

I didn't realize it but Maugrim was only two feet away from Peter. I felt my eyes change to black, every strand of fur was now on end, like a scared cat's tail.I mad deep, blood-thirsty growl.

"If you loved him . . . you would've already attacked me . . . . oops . . looks like you made the mistake of me getting the chance to kill him. . . . . Ah well, I'm sure you'll get over it quickly . ."

I lunged at Maugrim. We rolled over each other. He held me down fast, But I used my back legs and pushed him off me. I growled as I got in my place between him and Peter. He took a step closer so I attacked again. I jumped on top of him and tore at the back of his neck. Blood began to pour into my mouth. He yelped and backed away in shock, as I growled menacingly. Blood dripped from my mouth.

"You don't love him . . . so why are you protecting him?" Maugrim asked.

You and your "Queen" may be able to see my past, or what I am thinking. . or perhaps even feeling. But you will never be able to tell what my heart has been through, or what it is saying or even what it is feeling! I snapped.

"You have such a sharp tongue for a Witch. I guess the only way tell what you are feeling is if I kill him!" Maugrim growled as jumped at Peter.

I quickly lunged myself at Maugrim. I caught a hold of the scruff of his neck and chomped down. He howled in pain. More blood poured out.

"Why you little Witch!" Maugrim said. He growled at me as I backed up to defend Peter.

"Peter!" I heard Lucy scream.

The waterfall began to crack and then water began o spray out. I looked at Maugrim and he looked at me. He lunged at and bit my front leg. I heard a crunch and suddenly felt sick to my stomach. Maugrim turned around and bit my throat. I poured blood worse than he did. Suddenly the ice we were on got slippery, then it cracked.

"Rachel! No!" I heard Peter yell.