CHAPTER 2

Location: Yoitsu's North Eastern Borders aka The Great Wasteland

The giant black-maned Wolf King Nathaniel Lawrence of Yoitsu let out a howl and leaped forward, a pack of 20 similarly sized wolves of various patterns of gray, white and black following their pack leader in a series of snarls and barks. Before them, a massive bear, heavily scarred and prickled with broken arrow shafts and weapon hafts, raised on it's hind legs and bellowed in angry reply.

The wolf pack encircled the giant bear, snapping at the four limbs with their jaws, and leaping onto the great beast's back slashing with their claws. However, like some human wrestler toying with children, the beast flung off it's attackers, smashing aside dozens with each swipe of it's massive paws.

As the bear shifted it moved ever closer to a snowy cliff, and out of the blizzard, a line of human archers rose up, led by woman dressed in black and teal, her red hair neatly tied up into two "ears" so that she gave a silohette similar to her Wolf Kind subjects, her eyes red and slitted like a feline. As they aimed at the massive bear beneath them, her voice, although spoken softly, echoed as if shouted by a giant. "Loose!"

The arrows flew, impacting against the giant form. In response the bear let loose a roar that broke loose the snow and triggered an avalanche. While many of the human archers screamed in terror as the snow began to move, the red haired woman calmly fired another arrow into the beast's open mouth, even as she shifted and began to surf the avalanche.

The bear actually snorted in surprise at the arrow's impact, and swiped at the woman. With a single fluid motion, she launched herself as if the flowing snow was as solid as bedrock, sailing upward, and letting go of yet 2 more arrows as she climbed. Reaching the parabola of her climb, she allowed gravity to bring her back down directly towards the bear's massive head, gaining speed, as she cocked her right leg in preparation. As she drew closer, she let out a low cry of anger and delivered a stamp kick to the bear's skull that sent a visible shock-wave out through the blowing snow. The bear staggered and swiped at the source of the impact, which had already lept clear and was performing another graceful parabolic arc, all the while calmly adding more arrows to the creature's back. When she landed in a crouch, she stood and called to the pack of wolves around the bear, "READY!"

Immediately the blackmaned wolf bolted from the pack towards her, and as it passed, the Night Queen Magdalena Lawrence of Yoitsu deftly swung herself onto her husband's back and and drew aim on the bear once more.

The giant bear roared in agony, and began to move towards the forest marking the border of the Wasteland. This shouldn't be happening, these wolves should be fleeing in terror, as they had done centuries before. And why were the man creatures helping them? They should also be fleeing in terror.

The woods, he needed to get to the woods, they couldn't track him in the woods.

The growl that erupted from the woods was clear enough to even be understood by a human being. "NOW!"

From the woods, another giant wolf pack of twenty erupted, this one led by a snowy white arctic wolf. The bear raised up once more, and the arctic wolf didn't hesitate, but launched itself directly at the beast's throat. The bear roared and grabbed for the smaller creature, tearing great bloody slashes through the white fur, but the Wolf Prince refused to let go, shaking his head in tearing motions and raking his own claws. The mass of the two packs collided on the bear, and the beast finally managed to pull the white wolf away, and in doing so, ripped out it's own throat. The Wolf Prince landed roughly, bouncing a few times before standing and shaking his head, and racing back towards the battle, his normally blue eyes having transformed to match those of his mother.

"Out of my way!" he growled, his speed increasing even faster than his kind could normally run. Clearing a corridor for their Prince, the bloody wolf launched himself once more at the bear.

The shock-wave from the impact was massive, knocking the Wolf Kind back and even causing Queen Magdalena to shift her balance, as she looked on in surprise. As the wolves returned to their feet they all looked on in stunned silence. The massive bear, the legendary Moon Hunting Bear who had destroyed Old Yoitsu centuries before, causing the Wolf Kind to scatter for decades before being reunited under the human merchant Kraft Lawrence and Holo the Wise, still stood upright, but now with a massive gaping hole clean through it's chest and out it's back. Slowly, as gravity reasserted it's dominance, the Moon Hunting Bear fell forward, crashing to the ground as wolves darted to the side. The wolves looked over to where a gore soaked wolf stood alone. Turning to face them, Prince Naeil Lawrence, the Wolf Prince of Yoistu, bonded to the Snow Queen Elsa of Arendelle, had the Moon Hunting Bear's still beating heart in his jaws.

Nathaniel stepped forward, nodding his massive head in appreciation, "Your plan worked, my son. Congratulations. Are you badly injured?"

Naeil's reply was to spit the heart out to the ground, and start running away from the gathered wolves.

"Wait, Naeil! Where are you going?"

A gray and white wolf, a fresh wound over his eyes, snorted, "Where do you think he's going?"

Queen Magdalena stepped forward, placing a carefully manicured hand on the Wolf King's massive leg. "Go with him, Ragnar. Make sure that he doesn't kill himself trying to get back to her."

Ragnar inclined his head and bolted after the Wolf Prince, as the rest looked on.

Location: Arendelle-Royal Palace

Elsa sat with her Sister, who was looking at a book of names. "What do you think, Elsa, Charles if it's a boy and Rebecca if it's a girl?"

She laughed, "Why bother to answer? You change your mind every few days."

Anna smiled and chuckled in acknowledgment, "Well, I just want to make sure I pick out the perfect name."

Elsa put her hand on her sister's, "You will, you are going to be a great mother."

Anna looked at her sister for a moment, and then towards the knocking at the door, which cracked open.

"Is it alright if I come in?"

Anna looked at her husband's smiling face, "Of course, silly."

Kristoff entered and nodded, "Your Majesty."

Elsa screwed her face in annoyance, "Kristoff, if you keep greeting me formally in private company, I'm going to hit you. You're my brother-in-law, now, lighten up."

Kristoff chuckled, "Of course, Elsa, just trying to develop good habits."

Anna and Elsa looked at each other and Anna sighed, "Oh Kristoff, this isn't another Wulfen Guard thing is it?"

Kristoff's face dropped, "Anna, Prince Naeil granted me a great honor. No human has ever been inducted into the Wulfen Guard before. I want to do right by his choice."

At the mention of the Wolf Prince's name, Elsa's face became a stony mask, and Anna glared a look at her husband that stated "Idiot, we're trying to not mention him at the moment."

Kristoff realized his misstep and tried to change subject, "So, uh, how was the morning sickness?"

Anna's shoulders and her face dropped in disappointment and resignation, "Really? That's what you're asking me?"

Elsa stood up, her expression apologetic, "I'm sorry. I know you've all been trying to avoid talking about him because I get so moody. It's just that, I see your family starting and, I want the same, and now I don't know when that's going to be...or even if it's ever going to be. I guess, in a way, I'm jealous, Anna."

Anna grabbed her sister's hand and smiled at her, "He's coming back, Elsa. And you have every right to be furious at him, and if you want, we'll all give him the cold shoulder for as long as you need us to, but you need to have faith in him as well. He does love you."

Elsa smiled, and caressed the crystal vial again, "I know...it's just..."

Anna nodded, "We all miss him, and Ragnar too, let's not forget the Sergeant."

They all laughed for a few moments, each taking a turn at some impression of the Sergeant's grizzled wisdom, when frantic knocking occurred.

"Enter," said Anna.

Alexis opened the door, a smile wide on her face, "Your Majesty, we finally have news..."