"I'm glad you joined us on this search party, Corista," said Maugrim, drooling even as he ran. "It means a lot to me."
"I'm not doing this for you," I growled.
"Feisty one, aren't you?" chuckled Maugrim.
"Just give me a damn briefing," I snarled.
"The kids are heading towards the Stone Table. We are to intercept them, so to speak." I sniffed the air. The scent of human was not too far ahead. We were coming up to the frozen waterfall that had emptied into the frozen river.
"We have them," snarled Maugrim triumphantly. He dashed down the riverbank followed by a few others. I followed but stopped on the edge of the ice. The river was cracking.
There was Mr. and Mrs. Beaver and three human children. One boy and two girls. Beaver leapt forward to defend the children, but a wolf seized him. The boy had drawn his sword and was pointing it at Maugrim, who was taunting him. While all this was happening, the ice beneath them was cracking. The children were well aware of this, as opposed to Maugrim. Only when the waterfall began to crumble did he try to make a run for it. The boy drove his sword deep into the chunk of ice beneath him as the others held on to him. Icy water crashed down. I found myself also being swept into the water, as close as I had been standing. It felt as if a hundred pointy knives were driving deep into my skin. I resurfaced, gasping, and threw my front paws around an ice fragment floating by. Up ahead, I saw the hilt of a sword rising above the water, followed by the forms of the children. The beavers paddled their chunk of ice to the shore and the children got off. I took a deep breath and pushed away from the ice chunk paddling towards shore. I had barely put my paws on dry land when Beaver spotted me and rushed at me.
"Thought you'd stick around and follow us still, traitor?!" he raged. I had no time to react before he bit me on my tail. I yelped.
"Ow! Get off! OW! Get off!" I cried, trying to push him away with one of my hind legs.
"Beaver!" said Mrs. Beaver indignantly, pulling her husband off of me. Beaver glared at me as I shook the water out of my fur.
"Now that that's settled," I said, swishing my tail and checking for injuries "You might want to hasten on your way to Aslan's camp. The surviving wolves will be relentless in pursuing you."
"What kind of game are you playing at?" spat the beaver.
"I'm finally picking a side." I looked over to where the children stood. The boy stood with his hand gripping the hilt of his sword and his sisters watched me apprehensively. "We have to keep moving. The wolves aren't the only ones looking for you."
"How do we know you're not just setting up a trap?" asked the older girl. I sighed and knelt down in front of her.
"The prophecy is coming true with you and your family here. I intend to help see it through. I will not let harm befall you, and that is a promise." The two older siblings exchanged glances.
"I think that's rubbish!" said Beaver. "Where were you when the ice broke?" I rose and looked at him.
"Floating along like everyone else," I said flatly. I heard a giggle and looked to see the littlest one gasp and clutch at her brother's arm. I put on a wolfy grin and wagged my tail. She slowly smiled.
"I think we should move on," said the boy, as he drew his sword. He then pointed it at me. "But if there's any funny business from you…"
"Understood," I said, going cross-eyed as I stared down the tip of the blade.
We set off at last. The beavers where still mistrusting of me, so they made me walk in front of them.
"The name's Slapdash, by the way," I said. Peter was walking a few feet away, his sword firmly in his grip.
"I'm Peter. These are my sisters Susan and Lucy." The girls were walking on his other side. He had pointed out Lucy to be the little one clinging to his arm and Susan to be the older brunette girl. He paused and then eyed me guardedly. "Would you happen to know where our brother is?"
"The Witch is keeping a close watch on him. She took him with her on her sledge to look for you," I said.
"Did you see Mr. Tumnus?" asked Lucy eagerly, a hopeful smile lighting her features. She had come around Peter to walk beside me. I winced. I wasn't sure of what to tell her.
"I did," I said, trying to sound conversational. I failed.
"Well? How was he?" pressed Mrs. Beaver. I took a deep, shuddering breath.
"She…had him prisoner in the dungeon." I looked around for a distraction. "Oy, what's that pink up there?"
"Looks like you won't be needing those coats anymore!" said Mrs. Beaver. The ice was starting to melt away from the trees and they were blossoming once more. I watched the humans take off their soggy coats and drape them over some low branches. I looked up and saw the sun shining through green leaves.
"So you are to bring hope after all," I murmured. We continued on through the thawing trees, but this time I was allowed to lag behind.
~*~
A significant number of creatures had arrived at Aslan's camp. A centaur sentinel had spotted us and blew a horn to announce our arrival. By the time we had reached the outermost ring of tents, I was walking at least five feet behind the others. Up ahead, a great red and gold tent loomed above all the rest, and I couldn't help but feel an intense amount of shame for every step closer that I took. Narnians on either side of the pathway stared as we went past. I glanced behind and saw that quite a few were following us. I trotted just a little bit faster. I nearly ran into the back of Peter, as he had suddenly stopped.
"We have come to see Aslan." The name brought a shiver to my spine and I bowed my head low. I sensed rather than saw the great Lion step out of the tent.
"Welcome Peter, Son of Adam. Welcome Susan and Lucy, Daughters of Eve. Welcome Beavers, you have my thanks. But where is the fourth?" I was immediately filled with dread. Aslan hadn't even acknowledged me. I chanced a glance up and instead met the hostile stare of Orieus the centaur. I flinched and kept my gaze down as they discussed the situation of Edmund. At any moment I was expecting to be condemned.
"Orieus will show you to your tents. You've had a long journey and need rest." I was suddenly aware of everyone suddenly going their separate ways. I meant to go follow after Mrs. Beaver, the last in the queue, but His voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Slapdash." I hesitated and then turned slowly to face the Lion still sitting in front of the tent. "Why don't you look at me?" I was overwhelmed at the thought. I stepped back.
"I…I shouldn't have come here," I stammered.
"Is that the reason why you cannot look at me?"
"I-I-I-I'm afraid to. I've…I've…I've done horrible things that I shouldn't."
"Look at me, Slapdash." I slowly brought my eyes up to meet his gaze. To my surprise, his expression was kind and not hostile as Orieus has been. "Tell me, child, what has brought you back to me?" At those words, I felt warmth spread through me and I was able to relax.
"I met the Son of Adam…in the Witch's dungeon. And I felt it in my blood to protect him." I sighed and hung my head low. "But I couldn't. And she…she killed Tumnus."
"Tumnus knew what he was getting into when he agreed to work for the Witch. As did you. You doubted the power of the blood bond your ancestor had created so long ago. You aided the Witch in finding allies. You used your ability against Narnia many times. Over time, you began to feel remorse for your actions. You hated the Witch, but could not find a way out. Yet, experiencing the bond firsthand has helped free you from the Witch's grasp." I stared. He practically knew my whole story. Well, at least I didn't have to explain myself.
"I've never really understood the bond, though. How does it work?"
"Come," said Aslan. "Walk with me." He led me into the shade of the trees and stopped at the edge of a creek. He sat down comfortably, stretching his front legs out in front of him. "Change form." I did as he said, and watched my reflection in the creek as I changed from a furry wolf to a girl in a simple dress.
"Is this form not human?" asked Aslan. I paused to think before nodding. "How do you suppose you change to this particular form?"
"I don't know, sir," I said, bowing my head. It startled me a little when my dark hair fell into my face. I pushed it back. "I don't know much about my ancestors' history." Aslan, who had been gazing into the water, fixed his golden lion eyes upon me. He patted the ground with one paw.
"Sit. It is about time you knew."
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