"45,46,47" I heard them playing in the garden again, it was Mathias his friends playing a game, they do not often visit and when they do they often stay away from me just like the others.

"57,58,59,60 ok I am going to find you guys!" he look happy as he tried looking for his friends and the others even laugh when he found them.

Soon he was able to fine everyone, and they were ready to play their game again, I just wanted to play the game with them and have fun just like them.

Maybe this time, I can play with them too.

They all looked scared when I asked them if I could play too, he said that they had to go back inside and maybe we can play another day. I was sad as they all walked away, why won't they let me play with them?

I walk back and bump into a little boy, he looks like one of Mathias friends that were playing. He tried running away when he saw me but trip on a sharp rock.

He cried, and I tried to help him.

But someone pushed me before I could help and I fell and hit the rock, it was painful and I look up to see who it was.

It was Mathias, He looked angry at me and was about to yell until he saw the guards approach us, and they saw my blood.

The doctors were able to badge up my wound but told me that it would leave a scar. My Mother and Father were furies and many of the adults were scared, many things were said and my sisters had to keep me away.

I tried to look for Mathias but after that day none of the other children went near me and I never seen those boys again.

/ *~ *~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* \

"Ivan~! Are you awake? I found some food!" Amelia shouted cheerfully while trying to wake Ivan.

"Huh!?" For a moment Ivan was confused and search around to find the sound until he felt something round with a leaf sticking out and remember where he was.

"A-Amelia?" he asks a bit unsure.

"Morning Iv, hurry up and eat we gotta to make it to the mounted today" Amelia said while pick up some fruit that roll off of Ivan.

Still drowsy, but aware of his surrounding Ivan asked. " Why the mountain?" as he then relics a yawn.

"It has a shortcut if we go through the cave over there, we might be able to see the sorceress by tomorrow."

"Tomorrow!" Ivan now fully awaken by the news.

"Yeah! so eat up so we can go." Amelia handed a few fruits to him while also trying to eat one as well. She was unaware the odd expression that Ivan gave as he bit into one of the fruits. It took them a wile to eat there meal since some of the fruit Amelia found were very sour and almost inedible, Ivan still ate his meal happily while also separating he ones he couldn't eat.

Once they were done he and Amelia were ready to leave the left the cart until Ivan stopped them "Amelia wait! We need the lamp." He walked back into the cart to search around for the lamp until Amelia found it before him. "Why would we need the lamp its sunny outside?" Amelia asks unsure why they would need it.

"It is for the cave, so you can see inside."

"But I don-" she stops herself realizing that she is supposed to be a human, "O-oh I do need the lamp, heheh good thinking or else we would have gotten lost." Thinking that she was just being forgetful, Ivan gave a small smile as Amelia handed him the lamp and guided him out of the cart.

'Keep it together Amelia, your supposed to be a human' she thought to herself while hold on to Ivan's hand.

/ *~ *~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* \

The weather was getting colder as the two got closer to the cave, Ivan brought his scarf closer to his face as the wind began to be chilly. Amelia was shivering from the cold wind and started to run as they got closer to the cave.

'How do human stay warm without any fur?' she thought to herself as they finally got inside, and she was still shaking.

"Amelia are you okay?" Ivan notice her hand shaking and her hand feeling a bit cold.

"I-I'm f-fine, we made it to the cave. N-Now turn on the l-lamp, so we can get some light" Amelia hope that the small lamp could give them some warmth, so she would not be shivering anymore.

Ivan was doubtful about her response but turned on the lamp, the small lamp provided very little warmth but Amelia huddled close to it. 'It's not much but it is better than nothing.' she thought to herself wile rubbing her hand together by the small lamp.

"Amelia, can I ask you to do something for me?" Ivan was sitting next to her as she continues to huddle over the lamp.

"Sure, are you hungry again?" she asks slightly hopping that was the case since she was getting a little hungry too.

"N-No, not that. I was…" Amelia was too focused on the lamp to notice the blushing on Ivan's face. "I wanted to as i-if I can… feel your face."

"Huh!?" Amelia was baffled by Ivan's request that she even ignored the lamp and the cold winds.

Ivan was blushing even more now but knew that Amelia was staring back at him and just continued, "W-well I just want to know what you look like, since we are traveling together and I can't see you right now. I would still like to have an idea on what you look like." Ivan knew at this point that his face was beet red, but he wanted to stick to his plan, even if it was embarrassing.

Amelia blinked for a few times before pushing her worries away. 'Oh, he still thinks I am a human, and he just wants to be sure. Matte, Yao and Olivia patted my head a bunch of times before so this isn't different.'

"Sure Ivan." Amelia gently took Ivan's hand and put it on her head and he soon stated petting her head, he then brought his other hand and petted her short blond hair. 'Heh, it feeling like Mattie's petting my head but with smaller hands.'

Ivan was amazed that she agreed but also glad to finally have idea of his friend, her short curly hair, her soft round face and her smile that he could have sworn that she is having right now. He brought his hand to the top of her head and felt a small mental crown on her. 'she really is a princess!' he thought to himself as Amelia spook up

"Hay Ivan, are you done? Cause we got-" Amelia felt Ivan take his hand away as she felt something wrapped around her face.

"Murf-?"Amelia try moving the thing off of her face until she relies that it was Ivan's scarf and saw Ivan wrapping his scarf on her.

"Ivan?" Amelia ask now confuse as to what Ivan was doing.

Ivan now done rapping his scarf onto Amelia, spook back to her. "You were shaking and you were cold, I wanted to give you my scarf for a little wile to keep you warm."

Now Amelia was embarrassed but she was not sure of what. "Thanks Ivan, but I-" as she try removing the scarf Ivan place his hand on her head knowing the she would tries to take it off. "No, Amelia you are helping me heal my eyes and I want to help you on this trip too. So keep my scarf for a little bit." Amelia looked back at him and saw the smile he was giving her.

'He really wants me to wear his scarf, it is warmer then the lamp, and he doesn't want me to give it back to him yet….'

Amelia smiled back and removed her hand from the scarf and stood back up, "Okay but only for a bit, the cave will get warmer once we get to the other side." She then extended her hand to Ivan and helped him up as he held onto the lamp.

Amelia looked around the cave and saw the path they needed to go."Okay, we just need to go this way." She held on to Ivan and his scarf tightly as the traverse the caves.

/ *~ *~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* \

The light from the lamp was now dim but it was enough for Amelia and Ivan to travel with ease, that is until the light finally gave out. It was completely dark and the many crystals that decorated the cave began to illuminate into small lights around crystals show a large open room with a single exit and a large lake in the center of it.

Unable to contain her excitement, Amelia jumped up and shouted. "We made it Ivan! We made it to the halfway point!" Ivan felt his armed puled up as Amelia celebrated there efforts, "huh, we did?" Ivan held tightly to the lamp as he still believes that it was providing them some light.

"Yeah over here is a huge lake that can only be found in the center of the cave." She pulls Ivan torts the lake and helps herself to some water.

"Really? Are there lakes inside of this cave?" Ivan sat next to Amelia as she continues to drink the water, he let go of the lamp as he tries to find the water. He felt the cool water in his hand and helped himself to it as well.

'This water is cool like it is from melted snow.' as he was drinking water he heard a loud splash right next to him. " Amelia?…" it was quiet, and he could hear something in the room. Ivan felt that there was something else in this room besides him and moved his hand next to him as he tried to fine Amelia.

"…."

He could not fine her, and he heard a noise again, he tried to call her," Am- "

He heard a loud splash again as Amelia jumped out of the water and splashed some water onto Ivan

"Surprise! Ha ha ha"

"Ahhh!" That water landed on Ivan, and he felt damp as Amelia continues to laugh,

"Ahaha, got you Ivan"

Wanting to get back at her he dunks his hands back into the water and splash her back. "Hey!" Amelia kept on get splash by Ivan that she was getting completely covered by it, the two keep splash at each other until they eventually tiered themselves out.

/ *~ *~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* \

Unknown to Ivan the room that they were in was not empty the room was home to many, many crows. They looked small and harmless but once they opened their beaks they could quickly rip Ivan apart. Amelia noticed them gathering and one was flying right at her.

The crow flew at her, and she immediately transformed and tried to swat it away, only for her to miss and fall into the pond. The other crows saw her change and most of them backed away for them, except for the few that were getting close to Ivan. Amelia picked up her claw and was about to swat at it until she realized how close her claws were to Ivan.

The memory of that night kept flashing before her, and she stopped herself before her claws could go near him, water landed on both of them and the crows now soaked stated pacing away from them.

"Ahhh!"

She had just splashed water on Ivan and knew that she had to say something to him, so without thinking she said the first thing that came to mind and went along with it.

"Ahaha, got you Ivan"

She was lucky that Ivan though of it as a trick and started to splash water back at her they had fun even if Ivan was unaware that he was play with a wolf.

/ *~ *~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* \

While the two sat down to rest for a bit Ivan heard a sound again.

"Amelia what was that?" Ivan tried to find the source of that noise but Amelia would hold on to his hand to keep him away, Amelia was able to dry off after shaking off all the water and look around to see the crows flying over them.

She had changed back into a human once she knew the crows would not attack them, "Oh those, there just crows. Don't worry, they bother us."

"Crows live here?" Ivan have never heard of crows living nearby his kingdom. "Tolys had always told me that only bats and bears live inside the caves?"

'Maybe there are other creatures in this forest then just the one's Tolys tells me'

"Bears living out here? Thats doubtful, the goats would be furious if those guys even try to even sleep over here and the crows would spend everyday picking at there fur for there nest." Amelia remembered Lars and the other bears having a hard time in the cave once they realized all the crows and goats were living in it.

Fortunately for Lars and the other bears Olive was able to fined them a new home that was better but Lars would still return to the mouton with Mattie at times to retrieve some rare berries of fish to sell back to the others.

"You sound like you know them personally" Amelia began to sweet as she realize she said too much again.

"Y-yeah, well I do live out here, so I heard a few stores about the creatures here."

"I guess you would."

Ivan got up and pick up the empty lamp, " Then we should go now if we don't want to run in to those goats." as he was looking for Amelia's hand he felt his scarf being wrapped around him. "Here, I said that when we get to the half point that I will give you your scarf back."

'Plus I don't want to rip it if I have to change back again' Amelia though when she remembers she was still wearing his scarf in here wolf form.

"Amelia are you sure your not going to need it?" Ivan was happy to have his scarf back, but he wasn't sure if Amelia would still need it.

"Don't work Ive, from here on out it's going to be warm and sunny." She said while finishing wrapping Ivan's scarf, " we just need to head this way and well be out by sunset." She held Ivan's hand as they walk out of the room and the crows flew back by the lake.

As the two traverse the cave Amelia saw a bit of light shining at a distant, 'That odd the exit should still be a bit further away, I guess we were closer than I thought.' while she leads Ivan to the new path he squeezes her hand a bit and spook up "Amelia, do you really think the sorceress can heal my eyes? It not that I don't trust you its just that not even the best for my kingdom could have helped me."

Wanting to reassure Ivan she squeezed her hand back " Of coruse she will, she is one of the most powerful beginnings in the forest healing your eyes would be no problem for her."

Ivan wanted to believe Amelia but was skeptical of the sorceress "How can you trust her? In every kingdom we were told that magic users are dangers beings that would take the lives of people just for their own creation. As well as creating wars and suffering for the people."

Ivan was told throughout his life of the horrid actions that those magic users would do to people, from famine, fluids to even death of the most innocent of people. His father would tell him story's about the suffering many had to go through because of them and how they would even send out wiled beast to masquerade as people into there kingdoms, just so they can harem them.

"You don't have to worry about Olivia, she is not like that…"

"Olivia?"

Amelia senses Ivan's discomfort about Olivia. "Yeah, she is a bit odd but me and Mattie trust her. She was the one who raised us when we were still pu- small."

To Amelie and her brother Olivia was more than just the sorceress, she took them in after they were abandoned by their pack and raised them on her own. She did trust her but there were times that Amelia and Matthew would be spectacle of her, until one day the learned of her true reason and rejected it. Olivia would still watch over them and guide them if they ever needed it but if they ask her for her magic she would asked for payment like as any of the other beasts in the forest.

Despite her reasoning the siblings still trusted her and would help her with her task when she would ask of them but they would never ask for her magic, because for them, their payment would always be the same. Until Amelia needed her help.

"She raised you?" Ivan was surprise he never her of a magic use having a family or eve raising children he wanted to ask more, but he didn't want to pry too much about it feeling it might not be right time for it.

"She did, she gave me and Mattie a home and food and would often asks us to do odd jobs for her. She never ask us to do something that would get us kill or somebody else" ( most of the time she would ask us to get her supplies from all over the forest before realizing she already had it at her home or deliver supplies to other creatures that would live in the far parts of the forest.)

Ivan was perplexed but felt a bit more relaxed knowing why Amelia trusted the sorceress so much and wanted to know more about her. ' Every time I learn something new about her there are more things I want to know about her.'

They were arrived to the light source only for it to be a stone wall with a few small cracks of light braking through," A dead end, maybe we weren't that close" ready to turned back Amelia herd a familiar sound.

"Amelia if you and your brother wer-" at an instant a crow flew right at them and hit Ivan with is wings, " ahhh" stated Ivan drops the lamp as Amelia let go of his hand to push him back and deal with the crow. " Ivan don't worry is just a crow!"

Surprise by the sudden attack Ivan back away only to hit the wall and fall back as it brakes, Amelia noticing Ivan falling change back and grabbed Ivan's hand with both of her own. " Ivan! Hang on I got you!"

With the bright sunlight Amelia hand to close her eyes shut as she held on to Ivan with all her strength, " Amelia! My hand is slipping!"

Amelia felt terrified as she tried to pull Ivan up, but being a human she did have enough straight as she would have as a wolf. She felt her heart beat rise as she desperately tries to pull Ivan back, but his hands were slipping and at that moment she almost turned herself into the wolf.

But she hesitated, ' but if I change back he will kno-'

" Amelia! Im-"

It was too late and Ivan slip out of her hands, her heart sank as she felt her empty hands. She opened her eyes not caring if they will burn and look down " Ivan! " Being blinded by the light Amelia couldn't see Ivan but heard a muffled thump.

" Amelia? " Ivan fell and landed on something soft, he didn't know where he was but looked up when he heard Amelia cry.

" Amelia!? Where are you?"

After her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw Ivan in a large field of flowers and looked confused. Amelia was glad that Ivan was safe but look at her hands, and she noticed them shaking. The fear of almost losing Ivan shook her to her core and her hesitation made her upset.' I almost let him d…"

" Amelia?" snap out of her thoughts and notice Ivan looking for her, 'I cant let that happen again.' Amelia jumps out of the cave to the small fall onto the flowers, picking herself up she headed tours Ivan "Ivan, I'm over here"

Surrounded by the golden flower Amelia was easily able to find him, but once she was near him Ivan immediately took her hand. Felt his hand was shaking too.

"Amelia! What happened? Where are we?"

Feeling Ivan's hand again Amelia had her fear wash away and a warm comfort came back to her, " Ivan we're- "

Not wanting to tell Ivan the truth of what had almost happened, Amelia picked up one of the flowers from the ground and handed it to Ivan.

"We're in a flower field"

"A-A flower field? At this time?" Ivan couldn't believe it, until Amelia handed him the flower. He felt its pedals and bright the flower closer to him and smell a nice sent he then notices the surrounding others around him. He was bewildered to be surrounded by all these flowers, even in his kingdom the flowers were never able to grow this time of year or be this plentiful.

He wished that he could see the flowers for himself but was happy to have the one that Amelia gave him. " What are they called?" wanting to know of the flower, so he can comeback again one day.

Amelia was glad to see Ivan's reaction and could tell that he was happy with the flower, she remember Olivia telling her of the flower name but cant quiet remember it right now.

'Umm, these flowers are called….." looking at the flowers and seeing how bright and sunny they are Amelia decided on their name. " Sunflowers?"

Holding the flower close to him, " Sunflower?"

"Yeah, because there big and bright like the sun."

' At least I think that's why there name like that'

With a big smile Ivan brought the flower close to him as he held it to himself. " Sunflower, I like them. "

Amelia's smile grew as she saw how happy the flower made him, holding on to his hand she guided Ivan through the field. " There are plenty more flowers like this all around us." And brought him to the centered of the field.

She let go of his hand and grabbed a few more flowers to make a bouquet for him," Here" she handed Ivan the bouquet, and he haled it in an embrace as he continues to smile.

"Thank you, Amelia. When my eyes are healed we should come back to this field, so I can see them for myself."

"su-sure Ivan" Amelia was fully aware that his wish would never happen for them as she saw some dark clouds gathering nearby.

/ *~ *~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* \

The two continue to travel as it soon became dark, ' huh, I guess there were rain clouds' the wind began to blow as it began to rain. The two had to find shelter and found a small cave for them to stay in.

They both stay put as the rain began to pore." We should probably stay here for tonight." The two sat as the rain continued. Amelia began to become nerves and the storm grow, Ivan notice something odd happening to Amelia and tried to hold her hand.

But before he could lightning struck and Amelia snatch her hand away, a booming thunder happen and Amelia was terrified. She wasn't aware that she change back to a wolf and back herself into the cave, Ivan notice her distress and try to find her.

"Amelia? Amelia are you okay?"

Amelia saw Ivan was getting close to her and extended her hand out to him only to see her own claws, before he grabbed her hand she changes back to a human and held on.

" Amelia?" feeling his friend hand and notice her shaking, Ivan knew that she was scared.

"Don't worry Ivan I just don't like thunder." She tried to laugh off her fear and to be brave but her instincts were on edge as she saw the lightning strikes again and let go of Ivan hand. The thunder happened again, and she changes back and pushed herself further into the cave until she hit a wall.

Her nerves were uncontrollable as she keeps on shaking she didn't want Ivan to be near her, but he just keeps on trying to find her. Olivia had warned her before she left that if she was in deep distress she would immediately change back into a wolf without her control. She couldn't risk Ivan near her when she is like this, oh he will know the truth.

"Amelia it's okay, I'll help you." He walks deeper in the cave as Amelia change back again, she held onto Ivan's hand again but saw that lighting strike she tried to let go but Ivan held on to her hand tightly. " Amelia, don't be scared I'm here."

Ivan wanted to help Amelia's, he wanted to help her feel safe but as he heard thunder his hand was rip out of Amelia's. " Amelia!?" he went torts her to help.

"No! Ivan wait-" but when he tried to grab her hand again he felt fur intend. This fur he felt was familiar, and he back away form Amelia.

Amelia noticed Ivan back away and changed back to a human again," Ivan, what's wrong?" she tries approaching Ivan, but he continued to back away from her.

"Amelia? Are we the only ones in this cave?" noticing the water landing on him Ivan continues to step away from the cave and Amelia.

"Y-Yeah, Ivan its just me and you there's no one els here." She slowly walks towards him as he steps outside.

"No Amelia, I think there is something els in there and I think it was that monster that tried to kill me." Ivan's back hit a tree as the rain pored on to them.

Amelia began to panic as she heard those words. " Ivan your wrong, it is just us in that cave there's nobody else in there. Trust me I would't put you in danger."

She hatted that she had to lie, but she had to bring Ivan back to the cave before…

She saw the lightning struck and knew that she doesn't have much time left, "Ivan we have to go back to the cave or else-"

" Amelia! I know what I felt in there, there is something else in the cave and we hav-." But before Ivan could finish he heard a loud snap above him and soon heard Amelia shout.

" Ivan! Get out of there!" One of the large branches from the tree was falling and it was going to hit Ivan. Amelia ran torts him as the branch began to fall. She tried to pull him away but the thunder stuck happen and she couldn't control her instinct.

The branch fell on her but it didn't hurt her much because Ivan was safe…. In her claws.

Ivan's blood ran cold as he felt Amelia's claw around him, "These claws and fur, its just like that-" he began to quiver as he back away and felt Amelia's claws on his back, flashes from that night appeared before him.

That beast that had tried to kill him that night has been with him from the very beginning.

"Ivan, I can-"

"….Lair…"

" Ivan?"

"YOU LIE TO ME!"

Amelia was started by Ivan's loud voice. "Ivan I-"

"You did not want to save me, you wanted to sacrifice me to your sorceress!" Ivan tried to fine his way out of Amelia's grabs; only to fined himself trap.

Amelia felt shattered as Ivan said those words, "No! I wanted to save you I didn't mean to-"

"No! You are not my friend you are just a heartless monster that had trying to kill me" Ivan felt his heart brake from Amelia betrayal and as he kicks up some mud he manages to landed some of it on Amelia's face.

" Ahh!" Blinded by the mud Amelia took one of her claws away, while Ivan took this chance to escape from her and ran deeper into the forest.

Amelia saw Ivan run and tried running after him only for the thunder to strike again. She fell as the sound shook her, and she saw Ivan get away. She tried to shot out to him but her voice was muffled by the storm.

Ivan keept on running he ignore the beaches that keep on stating him as well as the twigs that tried to trip him he ran un till he finally trip and began rolling down a hill, he was lucky to had bin stop by a stump that was close by but as he crawled up on of it the pain of Amelia's betrayal suck in and and he felt agony as he's only friend tried to kill him.

-avn!" Tears fell as he heard Amelia call out to him.

Ivan covered his ears and stayed quiet, he would not go back to her, he could not trust her. Even if it's on his own he will get back to his kingdom. He won't ever be tricked by something like her again.

/ *~ *~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* \

Amelia search around for Ivan trying desperately to find him, she knew he would hate her if he knew the truth but despite the painful thing he said to her, she couldn't abandon him.

She searched up the montane, only to see multiple creatures running away from the top, she was unsure why they were running until one of them roared at her.

"Run the other way! It's a mudslide!"