Chapter 17:

The Wolf, The Boy, and the Plan

Zan was now deep into the woods, so she stopped running. She figured it was safe now, and she needed to catch her breath. It had started to snow lightly. Zan shivered. Great, she didn't have warmth. She sighed, and sat down on a nearby stump. Now she needed to figure out how to get the others back, and keep warm.

Suddenly, she heard a distant cry of a wolf. She jumped. That's another thing she forgot. Now, to add to her list was to hide from the wolves. The snow started falling heavier, and heavier which made Zan shiver more, and more.

She stood back up again, and looked at her surroundings, "Maybe I can find some wood to start a fire? No, I can't, it would attract something unfriendly, and it was too dark to really see much anyway..." she said to herself.

That's when she heard something ruffle in a bush close by. She slowly walked away from it, as something emerged from it, "Wh--who's there?" she asked, in a shaky tone.

There was a growl. Once Zan had heard that, she swiftly took off running. Whatever was in the bushes was right behind too.

She didn't get very far, she had tripped, and screamed, as she heard vicious growling, and barking, it was a wolf, and she was its prey. Zan shook in fear, she kept telling herself not to be afraid, but it was no use. She heard more howling, and barking. Now there were a whole pack of wolves. Tears fell down her fear struck face, she knew this was her end.

As the wolves closed in on her Zan suddenly remembered the sword at her side. Even though she was scared, she wasn't going to go down without a fight, so she drew the blade. A wolf that was a little bit braver then the rest stepped a little bit ahead of the pack, and Zan sent it back wimpering with a bleeding paw. The rest seemed to take this as a sign to begin the attack and lunged upon her. Just as the first set of jaws had merely begun to sink into her flesh, she quickly felt them release.

The wolves stepped back from her and turned their attention to a lone wolf, who was standing on top of a boulder. It growled, and showed its teeth menacingly. The leader of the pack pounce at this lone wolf, but was tackled down, and bitten numerous times, and was left to die. The other wolves fled, knowing if their leader could not defeat this new wolf, then they couldn't.

Zan stared at the wolf wide-eyed as she raised her sword, "Stay back!"

The wolf seemed to ignored her, and advanced closer to her. She walked backwards, and tripped on something, causing her to fall over and drop her sword. The wolf was just inches away from her now, "Don't hurt me..." she whispered.

As the wolf came closer and closer Zan backed farther and farther away until finally her back met a tree. There was nothing she could do... The wolf finally was right next to her, and Zan closed her eyes waiting for it to tear into her tender flesh... But the pain never came. She opened her eyes and found herself staring into the aqua eyes of the wolf. Zan suddenly realized something... Those eyes, they looked a lot like Riku's. "Riku? Is that you?"

The wolf seemed to nod, "No way...she turned you into a wolf?" Zan asked.

The wolf growled in annoyment. Zan laughed, "Sorry, stupid question...thanks for saving me by the way...what do we do now?"

Riku whimpered slightly as a reply.

Zan sighed, "Well, we need to get out of here before we run into something worse than a wolf pack, and I need to find somewhere warm...I'm freezing..."

Riku looked around for a moment, and then spotted something. He started to bark.

"What's with the barking dog boy?" Zan asked.

Riku then took off running.

"Hey, wait I didn't mean that Riku don't leave me here!" Zan shouted, as she picked up her sword, and followed him.

Once she caught up to him, she noticed he was standing right in front of a cave, "Riku, how do you know that something isn't in there? Something unfriendly?" Zan asked.

Riku growled again, and walked into the cave, "Ok, go get yourself killed stupid idiot, I'll just stay out here and freeze to death." Zan said, but then she heard howling, "Yipes heh heh..." she ran quickly into the cave.

When she got in there,she noticed the place was all ready lit up, "Riku? Are you ok?"

"Oh is this the guys name?" came a voice.

Zan turned her head to see a young man with dirty blonde hair and chocolate brown eyes. He seemed to be wearing two coat, and was sitting in front a a warm, welcoming fire, petting Riku.

"Wh-who are y-you?" Zan stammered, a shocked expression across her face.

The man laughed, "Don't worry, I'm won't hurt you...If I had any intentions on doing so, your wolf friend here would have probably sensed it. By the way, the name's Kio, may I ask what your name is?"

"Zan," she replied.

"Zan eh? That's a nice name...Where are you from?"

"Is this twenty-one questions or something?" Zan asked, suspicious.

"No, I'm just wondering, because your apparently from another world, because only I, and Alcina are here..."

"You're working for her aren't you?"

Kio smirked, "So, you have met the witch? I hate to break it to ya, but no, I am not working for her. I ran from her. So, I'm guessing this wolf is actually a human right?"

"Yeah, he's my idiot brother who said he'd keep his guard up, but he didn't."

Riku looked at her and growled.

She looked at her brother smugly, "Like you would hurt me."

But hurt and scare are two different things entirely...

Riku braced himself on his hind legs and went at her, teeth snapping. She screamed and fell back into the cave wall. Riku backed off and Zan knew if he was human he'd be laughin his head off at her.

Even he wasn't laughing, Kio was, "You get scared easily don't you?"

Zan huffed, "Not normally, until he came along..."

Kio looked at her confused, "Until he came along...what?"

Zan sighed, "Long story, but to make it short...I was kidnapped when I was little, and then just recently me and him were reunited."

"Oh, I see..." Kio murmured.

"Yeah, well, anyway, do you live here?" she asked.

Kio nodded, "Yeah, ever since that witch came along and turned everyone into trees, and completely destroyed the town..."

"She what? Oh my gosh, so you were the only one who got away?"

"That's correct..."

"Well, is there any way we could stop her?"

Kio sighed, "Zan, there's some things that can be stopped, and some things that can't..."

"Well, we could try..I want revenge on her anyway, I want my friends back and I don't want my brother to be a wolf..."

"Well, there's one thing that could stop her..." Kio said.

"What, tell me!"

"She can die, if a sword known as Eternal Heart plunges through her heart, but there isn't such thing, it's just a myth. I've waited for five years for that person to come along still, no one...so, I gave up..." Kio said sadly.

"Well, I'm here know," Zan whispered.

Kio looked up at her, "You're kidding me right?"

Zan smiled, and drew out her sword. Kio looked at her in awe, "So, there is hope after all..."

Zan nodded, "We can stop her now, let's go." she headed towards the exit, but Riku blocked it.

Kio shook his head, "Zan, we need to plan first before we act, because that's what she wants us to do..."

Zan turned around and looked at him, "Got any ideas then?"

"I have...a few."

"Well, go on."

"First, we need to make her think you're dead...that's where Riku comes in, because I think there was a big reason why she turned him into a wolf..."

"Ok, then what..."

"I'll create a distraction, so she'll alert her intentions to me, and you get up, and wham! Give her a taste of her own medicine."

"Ok then, but how do we get everyone back?"

"Once she's dead, her spells are broken, they'll turn back," Kio grinned.

"Well, let's go then!" Zan turned back around, but Riku was still blocking the exit.

"No, we need to rest, it's late, and it's snowing right now," Kio said.

Zan sighed, and sat back down by the fire, "Fine then..."

Riku walked over to her, and sat down close to her, keeping her warm.

Kio's gaze followed her as she lay down to sleep. He couldn't believe it...this girl weilded the blade that would kill the evil witch...He lay down to rest as well, putting his thoughts away so he could sleep.

xxx

Zan felt something wet on her cheek, and opened her eyes. Riku was licking her, "Hey! Stop!" she said, shoving him away.

"Good, you're up. We're getting ready to leave," Kio said, as he took out his own weapon, which was a dagger. Zan stared at him, "You're going to fight with a dagger?"

"No, who said I was gonna fight? It's for emergiencies only," Kio said.

"Ok then, so, how am I'm gonna fake my death? It has to be bloody for her to believe it you know."

Kio smiled, he was looking straight at Riku, who know had something in his mouth, it was a dead rat, "EWWWWWW! No way, I'm not gonna cover myself with rats blood! Did you have that in your mouth before you licked me?"

Kio laughed, "No, and we're not using that. Riku showed me the dead wolf earlier, and that's not as bad, because my village believes that you are holy if you are covered in wolfs' blood."

"Cool..." Zan said.

"Hey Zan, catch," Kio suddenly said.

"Wha---" Riku tossed the dead rat at Zan, who then screamed, and jumped out of the way before it touched her.

"You stupid mut!" she snapped.

Riku slightly whimpered, Zan figured he was saying 'I feel so hurt', "Shut up, we need to go," she said.

They all exited the cave, and headed towards the dead wolf. Once they got there, Zan gagged, "This is nasty..."

"Too bad, so sad. If you want your friends and brother back, then you have no choice but to do it!" Kio said.

"Fine," Zan sighed. She approached the wolf in a cautious manner and touched what looked like a newly opened wound. She figured the blood was dry from last night so, Riku did it. Wait a minute...if he did it, then she had dead wolf germs on her face ewww. She turned to look at him and he was showing his teeth, assuming that he was smiling at her, she stuck her tongue out.

"Get on with it already!" Kio snapped.

"I am, I am," Zan protested. She put her hand on the wound, getting blood on her hand, and rubbing it on her arms like lotion.

"Is that all you're gonna put? It has to be more bloody than that!" Kio snapped again.

Zan growled slightly under her breath as she spoke, "I know, shut up and lemme finish!"

She rubbed blood on her face. Now she felt like she was doing some ancient ritual. This was gross, but cool in its own way, "Ok, I'm done. Now, what's the next plan?" Zan asked.

Kio smiled, "Run,"

Zan looked at him funny, "Why?"

Once she asked that, she heard a vicious growl behind her. She spun around, Riku stood behind her and he looked like he was about to rip her to shreads. He jumped at her. Zan yelped and took off running towards the direction of Alcina's cabin. Followed by Riku, and Kio.

xxx

Alcina sat at the window, awaiting Riku's return with the girl.

Suddenly, she saw two figures emering from the thick, leafy foliage. It was indeed, Riku and Zan.

Riku tackled Zan down, who screamed. Alcina smirked, and noticed that the girl was all ready bloodied up. She walked away from the window and went outside. As she did, Kio entered from the back door, and hid.

Riku got off of Zan's body. Alcina slowly walked over to her and examined her. She kicked the 'dead' body in the side, "Ow!" Zan shouted. Alcina's eyes widened, "You're not dead!"

Crap, the planned was ruined. Zan's fists curled in anger as she slowly got up, "I'm alive? I was dead? I'M ALIIIIIIIVE!" she shouted happily. Riku shook his head.

Alcina's eyes lit up angrily, "You'll regret the day you ever double-crossed a witch goddess." Zan was then hit by a blast of fire that made her wither in pain. Alcina laughed and did not stop her assault. Zan, fighting the pain, suddenly dropped to the ground and rolled out of the line of fire...before nimbly hopping up and charging at Alcina with the Eternal Hearts blade drawn and ready to finish this. Alcina knew what she was up to and raised her arms in a magic made defensive shield.

Riku tackled her from behind, causing her to fall to the ground, "You little traitor!" she screamed.

Suddenly, Kio came running outside, "KILL HER NOW WHILE HE HAS HER PINNED DOWN!"

Zan obeyed and raised her sword, stabbing Alcina through the back. She screeched in a great deal of pain, "You'll pay for this you wretched little girl!" she coughed up blood, and then went limp. The witch goddess Alcina had been defeated.

Zan smiled, and pulled the sword out of her back, after she had done this, there was a bright light surrounding the whole entire area. Zan and Kio had to cover their eyes, "What's going on?" Zan asked.

"Her spell has broken, everyone is changing back to normal!" Kio said happily.

The light soon subsided, there were a whole bunch of people standing around them, and Alcina's body had disappeared, "Where's Riku?" Zan said looking around.

"I'm behind you," he said.

Zan spun around and hugged him, "Glad to have you back!" she said.

"Aww how sweet," Akina said, walking out of the house followed by Jiro and Ryo.

Zan smiled.

A man stepped foward in front of Riku, Zan, and Kio, "So it's true, Eternal Heart is not just a myth...I am very grateful chosen one."

"Um thanks?" she said

"Zan, thanks for everything. Now, we can restore the villiage, and everything will be back to normal. We couldn't have done this without you!" Kio said.

"Don't just thank me...if it wasn't for you, I'd probably be dead by now...it was your idea to do this...speaking of idea...I need a bath to get this blood off!"

Riku laughed, "We'll head back to Traverse Town, we need to stock up on some things anyway."

"Ok then, let's go!"

Everyone said their good-byes, and then the five headed back to the Gummi Ship.

She's ready to know a deep, dark secret...