My mind didn't seem to be working correctly, somehow. I heard a soft murmuring around. I also sensed a red glow flickering through my eyelids. My body felt heavy, weak and sore...so very sore. I wanted to slip back into unconsciousness so that I wouldn't have to hurt anything anymore.

"I think he's waking up." I heard Brimley's voice say. No, I didn't want to wake up. I closed my eyes tighter, hoping that I would be left alone in darkness.

"Werewolf?" That was Sapphire's voice! "Werewolf, can you hear me?" There was a sudden touch on my shoulder. My eyes flashed open; my paw shot out with a startling speed that seemed to send a knife through my ribs, closing around whatever it was that had touched me. I believe we cried out at the same time, she in fear and I in pain. I released her hidden wrist and fell back, panting; she backed away quickly. I winced as I strained to look around, trying to figure out what was going on. I was lying on the floor, in a room that was very dark. I could feel a blanket above me and below me. I was next to the hearth, where a small fire was burning.

Nothing could express the pain I was feeling. My side and forearm were throbbing with a pain far worse than anything I had ever felt before. The rest of me didn't feel fantastic, either. Invisible hands gently straightened my blanket; I strained my neck to look for Sapphire. She was hovering hesitantly by an armchair; still wearing her black and white hooded cloak. Her face was still hidden; she was looking straight at my eyes apprehensively. I wanted to apologize for scaring her, but my tongue wouldn't move for me.

"I didn't mean to startle you." Sapphire said as she slowly neared me.

"It's fine." I managed to moan. I took a better look at Sapphire. I noticed that her cloak had splotches of bright red. I could smell it from here...it's blood. I was starting to think she had injured herself. "It...probably isn't my place to ask...but...why did you run away?"

"I was trying to get away from you!" She answered, "You can be awful; I didn't want to stay here to be insulted constantly!" I flinched inwardly at her words...because they were partly true. The Werewolf was the one who was insulting her...but his words came out of my mouth. She had proven the point...but I just didn't want to see it. I wasn't sure how Sapphire must've interpreted my silence, but what she said next was somewhat surprising.

"You did come after me though."

"Yeah," I moaned, "I couldn't let you...and that horse die because of a hungry bear." That probably wasn't the best thing to have told her, but...my brain was too deflated to think.

"How kind of you." She sighed, I was...actually surprised, but...happy that she accepted that. "I'll be back. I want to wash my cloak." I watched Sapphire walk out of the room. I thought I was completely alone...but I knew that I wasn't.

"I...know you're there, Brimley." I moaned, my forearm felt like it was on fire. I really didn't want to move; not just my arm. I didn't want to move period.

"Don't worry, Sagittarius," I heard Brimley say, "we'll get that fixed."

"Brimley?"

"Yes, sir?" He asked.

"How...how did I get back here?" I asked, "Did you send out the servants?"

"Not quite," Brimley answered, "it was all Sapphire." What? Sapphire? That skinny girl managed to get me back here?

"How?"

"She pulled you onto Snowflake's back and he carried you back here." Brimley answered, I really couldn't believe it. Considering what Sapphire just told me, she should've left me out in the snow to die. "When she got here with you, I helped her take you off Snowflake and bring you in here."

"So...the blood on her cloak? It's not hers?" I asked.

"As far as I know, nope." He answered, "It's probably yours."

"I so desperately want to see her face." I said, "Saying 'thank you' to her eyes isn't enough."

"I think she's hiding something besides her face." Brimley added, "I've never seen any part of her body, not even her hands or feet, but...enough about Sapphire's face. Right now, you need to be in a better spot than the floor." I felt Brimley grab one end of the blanket; another servant grabbed the other end. They didn't want to pick me up by my arms or shoulders because of the great pain I was in. I sensed someone else at the bottom end of the blanket. I can tell by the scent...that it was Lilla.

"Lilla?"

"Yes, sire?" Lilla asked.

"Hmm, I had a feeling it was you at the bottom of the blanket." I said, "I thought you would be with Sapphire, helping her clean her cloak.

"I offered my help," she said, "but Sapphire didn't want any help and she wanted to be alone."

"Knowing her," Brimley added, "she doesn't want anyone to see her face." I remained silent, I didn't want to get involved anymore. As we were entering another room, I was staring at the distantly familiar room. I hadn't ventured here in years; as a result, it was the one place in the castle that was still intact.

The large four-poster bed sat almost serenely on the gleaming granite. As I stared, I suddenly felt an overpowering urge to sink into the covers that had nothing to do with the exhaustion pressing on my body. The room was bright, even though the only light came from the torches on the walls and the moonlight reflecting on the snow outside. Everything was clean and fresh; inviting in a way that I hadn't allowed myself to enjoy in years. It was strange...to be feeling this again. I had avoided this room all this time; I had avoided it for a reason. This was...the core of my existence as a human. It contained the prince...or what was left of him. I had been too afraid...because it no longer was a room for me; too afraid to face it and see what I might find.

Suddenly, I examined myself and found that I had the strength to be here. I could be in this room and not feel ashamed, either by the monster that I was not...or the monster living inside me. Though, I realized, it was the sort of strength a drowning man finds himself in possession of when he is thrown a lifeline. I had been so close to drowning again, when it had been pulled away from me only hours ago; I knew I couldn't have done this before she came. She, who was the only real human interaction I'd had in years; who had certainly had an impact on me, though for good or for ill remained to be seen. I didn't know when this feeling had changed. All I knew was that Sapphire had suddenly, somehow, tethered me back my control over myself. I had found the strength not only to enter the room without any anger or fear, but also to allow my servants to help me slowly lie down on the bed. The shock I felt at my internal revelation trumped the pain, but I was very certain I had a rib broken. I felt Brimley and Lilla bring up another blanket to keep me warm and comfortable.

"Get yourself some rest, Sagittarius." Brimley said.

"It will help you with your healing." Lilla added.

"We'll make you something to eat when you wake up." Brimley included, "You need to rest now."

"Who knows, sire?" Lilla also included, "Sapphire might come in here and be here when you wake up." I heard their footsteps depart and the door close. They were right, I needed to rest. I went to sleep, hoping that I wouldn't feel the pain. I really hoped, with all my heart, that Sapphire will be here...when I wake up.