CHAPTER 3

Location-Northern Pass-Yoitsu/Arendelle Border

The Arctic Wolf burst over the mountain peak, followed shortly behind by a grey wolf. In the distance, a few faint lights could be seen, marking the location of Arendelle Harbor. Naeil increased his pace, his mind picturing Elsa's smiling face.

Ragnar's mind however, was fixed on the tiny but constant blood trail the Prince was leaving from his wounds. "Damn it, Boy. Stop pushing yourself. You're not going to prove how much you love her by dying in her arms from exhaustion!"

Naeil didn't respond. He was focusing his weakening strength on running and breathing. Ragnar might be right, he might end up dying in Elsa's arms, but they would be her arms, and he really didn't want to be anywhere else. As the two wolves raced down the pass, Ragnar slowed just enough to let out a series of yips the were caught by the local wolf packs. The smaller wolves passed the calls along until they were heard by Reisha, bundled up along the palace walls. Her face dropped in concern as she moved inside quickly.

Elsa was speaking to Kai softly as she approached, "Your Majesty..."

Elsa's happy face suddenly dropped as she saw the Wulfen's expression, "What is it, Reisha? Has the Prince been delayed again?"

She looked at the Snow Queen's, "No, he's going to be here in a few hours, but...he's been injured...badly."

The arctic wolf stumbled in the snow, but lifted itself up and kept running. Ragnar pulled up alongside, "Naeil! Stop and rest, I've sent word ahead...they can meet us out here."

"No," came the growled reply. "I'm not stopping..."

Ragnar's own reserves were wearing thin, but he, at least, did not have the massive rents in his sides that the Wolf Prince bore. "Damn it, Naeil. You're going to kill yourself! At least take a moment to heal your wounds!"

Naeil's eyes flashed red, "NO!"

Ragnar finally slowed, "FINE! I'm not killing myself just because you want to be stupid!"

The arctic wolf raced on as the gray wolf slowed to a walk, shaking his head. "Stubborn boy!"

At the palace, Elsa strode out the gates. Kristoff stood with Sven already hooked up to his sleigh, "Ready to go, Elsa."

The Queen nodded, and walked past him. "We're going to be moving faster than you are, but get there as soon as you can."

Kristoff nodded and jumped aboard the sleigh, throwing a look to Anna, standing in the gateway. "We'll be back soon, love."

The Snow Queen approached the gray wolf before her, "Ready to run, Alexis?"

"Of course, your Majesty," the wolf growled in response.

Climbing onto the wolf's back, Elsa gripped tightly, "Let's go."

Alexis bolted forward, Sven and Kristoff following in pursuit.

Naeil collapsed into the snow, and began to drag himself forward. He barely sensed pattering paws behind him.

"I told you to not push yourself!"

Naeil looked up at the gray wolf beside him, "I'm not stopping..."

Ragnar let loose a howl to the night sky. Within seconds, a faint reply echoed back.

Naeil struggled back to his feet, and looked into the darkness, staggering forward.

Ragnar snorted then moved alongside the white wolf, trying to help support him.

"I swear to the gods, that the only being in this universe more stubborn is your father!"

Naeil grunted in reply and looked up, catching a faint cry on the wind. "Elsa?" he whispered.

As he collapsed to the ground again, he thought he saw the dim outline of another gray wolf approaching in the distance, with a blonde haired woman wearing a blue and white dress on it's back.

Elsa slid off of the Wulfen's back and raced to the massive form of Ragnar lying before her.

"Where is he?!" she called out.

Ragnar stood, revealing the naked humanoid form of Naeil lying in the snow. Elsa gasped to see massive claw marks along his body, which had gone white as the snow around all of them. She pulled a heavy woolen cloak around the unconscious prince. Sitting him up, she held his head to her chest, gently stroking his face with her delicate fingers, worry and fear dancing over her features.

"We have to get him back to the Palace, quickly!"

Alexis nodded, briefly considering whether she could safely carry him in her jaws in this state, but straightened up. "Well I'll be, I think your ride is here."

Elsa looked over into the gloom and smiled thankfully as she caught the sound of bells approaching.

As Naeil opened his eyes, he was greeted by the sight of Elsa, clearly exhausted from a lack of sleep, her blonde hair pulled back, but with loose strands everywhere. Her face was a mixture of worry and determination, shifting to relief and happiness as she saw him starting to awaken. He tried to speak, but all he could manage was a low groan.

"Naeil?" she asked, "How are you feeling?"

The Wolf Prince wanted to leap up and take her into his arms. Instead he tried reaching for her hands, which she moved quickly to his own. "How, how long?" he struggled to say.

Elsa's faced dropped a notch, "Nearly four days. You'd come to just enough to get some water, only to pass out again. This is the first time you've opened your eyes and spoken though."

Naeil nodded in understanding, and she reached over and grabbed the soaked cloth, much as she had the other times. He weakly sucked the moisture from it, and she smiled, straightening a few strands of his always disheveled hair. Her face took on a strange expression, "Can you feed?"

There was something about her voice that made him stop and look up at her, and she gently pulled the cloth away. "Ragnar told me how to do it, how he helped you after I hit you on the archery range, and how he's helped you before." She reached over to the small table and he caught the glint of metal.

"No!" he forced out.

Elsa stopped, confusion in her eyes, "What is it? Do I need to soak a cloth? If you're too weak to bite down, it's not an issue."

The Wolf Prince closed his eyes, and weakly shook his head, "I'm not...drinking...your..."

Elsa's face twisted in dismay but returned to worry as she realized Naeil had gone unconscious once more. She sighed, and sat back on the chair that had been her home for the past four days as once again, tears began to stream down her cheeks.