Days after we met up with Gavner we still were nowhere near Vampire Mountain. The winds picked up and we trekked through a blizzard. Larten's arm was around me, ever since the fall he's been keeping me close. My lips were blue, teeth were chattering, eyes watering, and I couldn't feel my ears.

"Waystation! Straight ahead!" Gavner shouted to us over the howling winds. Waystations were places to stop and rest with coffins and bottles of blood. We used a few on our travels already. However, this time was different. The cave wasn't any warmer as the outside, but my eyes stopped stinging from the wind. Larten and Gavner exchanged glances. I didn't know why, though; I didn't sense anything out of the ordinary. Then again, my senses weren't as honde as the two elder vampires I was with. Larten grabbed the front of the poncho I was wearing and pulled me behind him and warned me to stay close even though he didn't let go. A few steps further and we stopped, I looked over my mate's shoulder to see the gruesome sight before them. Splintered wood and supplies scattered about the cave and the walls and floor covered in dark, thick blood.

"Whose is it?" I asked. Larten let go of me and walked toward the mess.

"It's a few days old," he observed, he stuck his thumb into the liquid and brought it to his lips. If he had a habit of putting strange blood in his mouth, then remind me not to kiss him ever again. "It is vampire blood!"

"What do you think happened?" I asked the men. They both looked unsure, but Gavner came up with a theory.

"Could've been a wild beast," he shrugged, "or it might've been a vampire hunter."

"No way!" I laughed. I knew this wasn't the type of situation to laugh about, but I found it too funny, "they have those!" Neither laughed with me, but neither scolded me either.

"Though it is unlikely," Larten nodded, "it is possible. However, that makes it unwise to remain here." We left the blood covered cave and kept walking. A few miles ahead we came to a gapped ridge that would suffice covering us from the rising sun.

"I'll circle back to the stream and fill the skins," I offered. We brought waterskins with us to keep hydrated, but they empty way too quickly.

"By yourself?" Gavner asked, worried, "Maybe I should-"

"Layla is not a child," Larten interrupted, "she will be fine." My heart swelled at the and compliment as I ran toward the stream. Once I reached it, I dunked the waterskin collected the freezing water, but was interrupted by movement in the corner of my eye. I looked up to meet the gaze of a large, angry wolf! Before I could react, the animal leaped across the running stream and landed on me, snarling and snapping it's jaws. I used my forearm to push up on it's throat so it couldn't reach me, but it was too strong. I closed my eyes as it pushed forward and I could feel it's warm, slimy tongue on my cheek. Wait...tongue? I opened my eyes and, sure enough, there was the wolf, licking my face like a giant dog. Well, I guess, in some aspects, it was. He hopped off of me and howled to the sky. Suddenly two more wolves and a little pup came out of the trees. I returned to camp with my newfound and Larten's eyes instantly lit up at the sight.

"I fine specimen!" he cried, petting the wolf who I initially met, "A born leader!" He was so cute, like a kid and a new puppy.

"I see you've met some of our cousins, Layla," Gavner laughed at his friend being licked by the massive hound.

"Cousins?" I wondered. I found it a little ironic that vampires and wolves were related since the whole thing about "vampires vs. werewolves".

"Wolves and vampires are kindred spirits," the younger vampire explained.

"Well guess what!" I said, excited to tell them the names I've given the animals, "This one is Balto." I pet the larger wolf who pounced on me, "And this one is Pluto! Like Mickey Mouse's dog!" I picked up the little pup and let him lick my face. Gavner laughed at my outburst, but Larten looked as confused as ever.

"You gave them names?" he crinkled his nose, "they are wolves, not dogs."

"Oh, don't be a spoil-sport!" the other vampire scolded, "she can give them names if she wants to. I won't do any harm." Larten simply shrugged as I spoke to Pluto as if he was a baby.

The following nights, Larten and I slept surrounded by the furry creatures and it was the warmest I've ever been! During the day the wolves would follow us on our journey and they were welcome company. Apparently, wolves come toward Vampire Mountain during times of council because of the plentiful scraps that are thrown from the mountain. We came to a sudden stop, but I wasn't paying attention and I walked straight into Larten's back.

"Sorry, what's up?" I wondered. I looked ahead and saw twisted, barbed roots as if out of Sleeping Beauty. Larten and Gavner were muttering to each other, but I didn't hear what they were saying. All I knew was suddenly the two vampires ripped off their ponchos with a groan. There were muscles everywhere! I didn't know where to look so I awkwardly looked up to the cloudless sky, "Wait wait wait...why are we stripping?"

"Our clothes wouldn't protect us," Gavner explained, untying the drawstring of his pants, "but they would be tattered. It's better that they stay intact." I looked between the two vampires and groaned.

"Okay…" I whined. I lifted the sweater and the poncho all in one. Looking down at my flat chest and ribs poking out beneath my skin. Next went my pants showing off my pale, spindly legs and knobby knees.

"Look how skinny she is!" Gavner joked, "Larten, don't you feed her!" I crossed my arms over myself in a failed attempt to hide and looked down, ashamed.

"Gavner!" Larten scolded him. The younger vampire must've saw the look on my face because he immediately started apologizing. My mate walked over to console me, but I saw something that I wasn't prepared for.

"Why are you naked?" I squeaked, turning bright red and shielding my eyes. Gavner held his sides as he laughed.

"You are the last one who should be laughing, Gavner," Larten snapped, clearly embarrassed. I didn't mean to embarrass him it was just...surprising, to say in the least. "What, on earth, are those!" I looked at what the elder was referring to and, sure enough, Gavner's boxers were yellow with little, pink elephants on them. Now it was Gavner's time to turn red.

"They were a present," he explained, "She was a beautiful woman, but had horrible taste in underwear."

"And boyfriends!" I joked. Suddenly, there was an unfamiliar, almost scary, sound: Larten laughing. And it wasn't the usual light-hearted chuckle he gave me when I did something cute or funny. No, this man was holding his sides and howling with laughter. Gavner and I exchanged wide-eyed glances at the scene. Once he composed himself and muttered an apology, which wasn't even needed, we were on our way. My back was scratched up the most, but what really hurt was the thorn that caught and tore down my skin parallel to my spine; that would definitely leave a scar. Other than that, my only real problem was my hair getting snagged and pulling, I fell behind because that slowed me down. The boys ahead came to a sudden stop. I thought they were waiting up for me, but that wasn't the case. "What's wrong?"

"Can you smell it? Up ahead?" Larten asked, "think clearly." I took a deep breath in through my nose and I smelled it immediately. It was a sour, pungent smell that I've only smelled once before and the scent never left my mind. Vampaneze blood!