Author's Note: For the past few posts, I've been responding to people's reviews who had suggestions/opinions/comments because I want to learn as much as I can from this experience about how to become a better writer. This post goes out to Camomilla, esm3blossom and Vasilisa Dragomir, who have been such enthusiastic reviewers with practically every post. I didn't forget about you! :) Thanks to everyone who has taken time to leave reviews! :D

I've had writer's block for the past couple posts, but I think I'm approaching the peak of the uphill battle. The gears are starting to turn again, so I think the storyline will start picking up momentum. (The last few chapters felt to me like the storyline was slowing down. I was struggling to get out of that funk.)

Clarion paced in her room that night, not sure what to do or whom to believe. At this point, she probably wouldn't be surprised if Mary came flitting in announcing she was the mastermind behind the entire thing.

It was well past midnight before she finally went to sleep. Although she had never seen a mountain lion, she dreamed of a beast with huge fangs, razor-sharp claws and prodigious wings attacking all of Pixie Hollow and screams ringing out through the night.

All the next day, her mind was distracted by what Milori had told her. She kept watching the clock, knowing Bernard was on duty in winter that night.

She waited until midnight to be certain most of Pixie Hollow was asleep. Then she pulled on her winter cape to hide the glow of her wings and escaped out the window.

Clarion slipped quietly into the night and past the border. Then she peeked around a tree once she drew near Sled's cell. He was curled up in the snow sleeping. Bernard and the other guard were nowhere in sight, so she moved through the woods silently to where Milori was.

Milori was sleeping sitting up slightly against the corner of the cell. She looked around for Bernard. Not seeing any guards, she approached Milori. "Milori?" she whispered. "Milori?" She softly touched his arm through the bars.

He startled violently and grabbed her arm. Hard. "Clarion?" he blinked and released her instantly.

She frowned and rubbed her arm. "I'm looking for Bernard."

Rubbing his eyes, he yawned, "He leaves shortly after nightfall."

"No. He's not allowed to leave."

He just looked at her dryly.

"...Well, when does he return?"

"Shortly before sunrise when the next guards come. You have to go-it's not safe at night."

Just as he said that, they heard a branch snap in the woods from the direction of Pixie Hollow.

"Clarion, get in a tree," he whispered quickly.

She opened her cloak and flew up into an evergreen before putting it back on quickly. Milori didn't move a muscle as a large brown animal emerged from the trees, smelling the air and prowling toward the cell. Her heart stopped. Then the beast came into full view-it was a thousand times larger than a fairy and covered in thick, dark brown hair. It stood up on it's hind legs, clearly following her scent up to the tree. Monstrous claws touched the tree and it opened it's mouth and roared, revealing sharp fangs. It was a terrifying sound, worse than any nightmares she had ever dreamed. She glanced down at Milori from the corner of her eye. He barely even breathed. And so she did the same. It took several minutes for the beast to give up and wander away.

"It's gone," Milori called softly.

She flew down, her eyes wide. "Was that a mountain lion?"

He shook his head. "A bear. Mountain lions are much more stubborn and fierce."

"You have no protection, even with guards, do you?" she asked nervously, her hands still shaking as she touched the bars made of ice.

Looking away, he didn't say anything.

"I'll get one of the guards to move you and Sled-"

"Clarion," he said gently. "You must go. Bernard can't know that you realize he's not here. Not yet. If you want us moved, we can do it in the morning."

There was a weird howl from the mountains.

"Go!" he begged. "The wolves are coming out. Please."

Several howls joined in chorus, a bit closer.

"I will not leave anyone for slaughter, no matter who."

"It's too dangerous to come back. Gliss made the cells strong-they will protect us. Go!"

She reluctantly stood.

"Please, Clarion," he said in a panic, his eyes searching the forest. "Go. We are fine. Go!"

She ran.

Clarion had found Bernard at home asleep. She went home and waited anxiously all night for the sun to rise.

She arrived back in winter with her own two guards just as the cell guards were changing shifts. She marched over and all eyes turned to her, even Milori's.

"Where were you both last night?" she demanded of Bernard and his partner.

The two guards coming on duty slowly backed up to stay out of it.

Bernard's partner looked baffled. "We were following your orders, Queen Clarion."

"And what orders were those?" she asked, her voice as hard as steel.

"...To not be here during the dark hours when it's dangerous." He looked to Bernard in confusion.

"I gave no such order." Her eyes pierced Bernard. "What authority do you have to deliver falsified orders on my behalf, Captain?"

He was silent, his eyes wide.

"Answer me!" she demanded, so angry she was glowing a faint red.

Bernard gave a bow. "Forgive me, Queen Clarion. I misunderstood. I thought that because it is so dangerous over here, even for winter fairies who have use of their wings, we were to not be present after dark."

Milori's eyebrows rose. Bernard had just set Clarion up to look either incompetent or careless either way.

She stood tall and folded her hands before her calmly. "So you are taking matters into your own hands, Bernard?" she countered in a calm tone-dangerously calm.

A smile cracked Milori's lips, and he sat back in his cell with his hands folded behind his head to enjoy what would surely be an entertaining show.

"No, my queen. I-"

"Good. Then you will be most enthusiastic about taking border patrol nightshifts with the recruits the next three nights since this seems to be too taxing for you. And I will check in at random hours to make sure you are not confused again about orders. Are we clear?" she asked calmly.

Bernard looked angry-the Queen's guards did not do such menial tasks.

Milori had to bow his head to keep from laughing.

"You may go."

He started to march away.

"Oh," she turned and held up a finger. "And send along your first officer. He will take your place doing night duty," she added one final barb to make her point clear.

His eyes narrowed. "Yes, my queen," he ground out.

Then she waved her guards away a bit for some privacy.

"You should not anger him," Milori said quietly. He looked ill again, but there was a twinkle in his eye.

"I want him out of here and at the border, where Gliss is also patroling."

A laugh burst out of him.

She knelt and saw deep grooves in the iced cell bars. "What are these?" she inquired and was able to put her entire hand in one groove.

The silence was deafening.

Getting up and walking around the entire cell, she saw these grooves from different angles on every side. There were some gold specs in the snow near the bars. "Milori?" she asked with urgency.

"The wolves came last night," he said softly.

Her eyes flew to him. "Did you get hurt?"

Shaking his head, he tucked a leg under him.

"Guard!" she called immediately.

He came trotting over. "Yes, my queen?"

"Open the door."

He unlocked it without question, and she hurried inside and knelt down beside Milori. Gently tugging his leg straight, she saw a gash on the side of his thigh. The veins were severed and he was still dripping gold sugar. She pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it down on the wound.

"Clarion," Milori protested.

"Guard, send for Gliss at the border," she ordered. He hurried away and she turned her attention back to Milori's leg."Why are you so damn stubborn?" she ground out and pressed firmly to prevent more sugar loss.

"It is not life-threatening," he said calmly.

"For a healthy fairy, no; for you, yes." She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

He started to breathe in softly, ready for Pixie dust.

But she kissed him.