SPRING COURT FOREST; PRESENT DAY.

I let the shock sink in. I could see the effect my power had on Tamlin. Maybe he wasn't completely taken over by the Beast after all.

A snarl so ferocious ripped from his chest, the forest itself shuddered in its wake; leaves swirled around us as they fell from swaying branches. His temper tantrum did nothing to dispel me, however. On the contrary, I grew angry at the terror he tried to induce into me. He had used his magic to bind me from running and now this? He was malicious and a bully. With everything I had known about Tamlin and his abusive behavior, I felt my stomach coil unconsciously, my power stirring venomously in my veins.

"Get OUT of my lands female! You possess no rights to be here. I do not know who you are, nor do I care. There is no business you can have with me. Seeing as you have the capabilities to enter my land unscathed and alone, you can also leave it. Now. Consider it a mercy to you." The harsh guttural words he spat towards me were laced with venom but still I stood my ground, glaring up into his iridescent shining eyes.

Frustration bubbled in my chest, causing me to clench my fists tightly. "Tamlin, you need to stop this foolish behavior now! I come here bearing news of war and suffering which you have never seen. You think you are tormented now, but this would be a welcome retreat as to what we will all face if you do not…- "The words died in my throat as I was forced to whip back quickly to avoid the deathly paw that swiped sharply at me, searing the air, and missing me by inches.

"YOU DARE TO TALK TO ME ABOUT TORMENT AND SUFFERING, I WARNED YOU TO LEAVE MY LANDS, A MERCY MANY BEFORE YOU HAVE NOT GOTTEN!"

He was feral, spittle dripped from his fangs and his eyes bulged grotesquely as his body arched towards me once more. I stumbled back awkwardly in the roots and brambles around my feet and grabbed for the hilt of the sword that hung in a sheath across my back. It had been many moons that I have had been forced to draw a sword, but instantaneously I felt a tremor roil through my body, tingling from my scalp and causing my toes to curl excitedly. It was as though the days of old had never passed, and I was a warrior again. Years peeled back as I got into the defensive stance I knew only too well, my body continuing to tingle with the unique pleasure only the dance of battle could induce in me. A delighted peal of laughter bubbled unexpectedly from my mouth which only caused Tamlin to grow even more incensed. With another mighty roar, he lunged towards me again. The speed and agility he possessed even as a creature that big shocked me.

Any time I traveled by foot, I traded my preferred gowns and finery for thick protective leathers and soled boots; I always coiled and pinned my hair tightly around the nape of my neck and donned a hooded robe over my head to keep it all contained and my face out of sight. My sword was hung in a sheath that was slung around me and hooked to my back. I was thankful in this moment for the minor protection my attire gave me.

Claws extracted and teeth flashing, Tamlin was upon me in seconds. In his blind fury, it was surprisingly easy for me to dodge his blows and bites. Summoning all of my will power, and with a glint of shining steel I struck back precisely, causing him to yelp in pain as the sword gashed into his snout. A surge of blood splattered across the forest floor as I twirled back. With only a few moments before the sun was to be completely obliterated from the dense forest floor we were on, I pushed back at the panic that began to swell inside me. I had to take him down before that happened. I had no doubt in his beast form could adjust his eyes to the dark, giving him a clear advantage in the battle we fought.

As if thinking the same thing, he drew back and began prowling defensively instead. "I have grown impatient with tearing my kills apart now, but I have to admit my haste cost me. You got me bitch." A mirthless bark of a laugh ripped from his rumbling chest. He was panting, and blood continued pooling from the wound, smearing into his already dirty coat, and dripping to the floor.

"Tamlin, please I do not wish to harm you, and I know deep down you do not wish to harm me either. You do not know me, but I know you. I have seen the pain you are in, and I am here to offer you a way out of it." He ignored me completely as we continued circling each other, I did not dare to take my eyes off of him or break my stride for a moment.

A cold shiver ran down my spine as I slowly lost sight of where his large frame stopped, and the dark foliage around him began. My eyes began to play odd tricks on me, and I forced my legs to remain straight, ignoring the slight tremors that threatened to knock my knees together. Drawing from my power tired me quickly, but I had no choice as I pulled a little more from deep inside me. I willed my body to be strong, and suddenly soft golden light flickered into the atmosphere, illuminating the dark underbrush and revealing Tamlin as he paused to observe me.

The deathly calm that emanated from him unsettled me more than the raging and roaring, but I knew it as a similar tactic I had once used on my enemies. A face of death did not reveal even the slightest thought or twitch of a limb as to what your next move might be, wearing out your opponent until someone cracked. I held my ground as well, feeling comforted that I could at least see again. I did not speak, but instead waited on him to reveal what his next course of action would be. The only sound was our panting breaths, pregnant with the expectancy of the other's next move.

I was tired, and my arms began to grow heavy with holding the sword upright, but I held my position, keeping my eyes locked to his own. I could not believe how weak and undisciplined I had become, but this was no time to ponder my faults. A slight tremor went down my arm and before I could stop it, his eyes narrowed in, not missing a beat. With his shocking speed and trajectory, Tamlin pounced. This time he did not give my body time to move before tearing through my leathers and sinking his claws into the flesh of my right thigh. My ankle gave out from the blow and I went down with a roar of agony, landing hard and painfully hitting my head on the ground. My sword clashed out of my hand and the sheath which still hung on my back, cracked along my spine. I arched up painfully, forcing myself to remain conscious as pain swept over me from multiple places. Blood, hot and sticky covered my leg in a matter of seconds, and my illuminations were swept out as I writhed on the floor. It had been a long time that I had gotten hurt in battle, and the raw pain was all consuming.

The ground shuddered as Tamlin stepped forward, he no longer had to keep his footsteps light and agile. Towering over me, I felt my anger rise up hot and flaring. All I could make out were his glowing eyes, and the whites of his bared fangs. He continued to look down at me for a moment, as though waiting for me to say something. A rush of anger and adrenaline shot through me and I screamed through gritted teeth at the thought of how much he had become consumed with hatred and malice.

"If you are expecting me to grovel, rip into my throat now. I will NEVER beg a male!" I pounded my fist into the dirt in frustration.

He leaned down towards me as though that was exactly what he wanted to do and summoning my last bit of my power and strength inside of me I reached up to meet him, gripping my fingers into his bloody snout.

I was trapped.

I was screaming as I was being shredded into, naked and trembling in a coffin riddled with spikes. I was being stabbed, over and over again.

Every inch of me hurt, I was on fire.

I was ripping my own skin off.

I was nothing. I was everything.

The male with the sparkling stardust eyes smirked at me knowingly. The huntress with the auburn hair laid broken out of shape. Lifeless and pale. Here because of ME. I blinked and she was warped, screaming in pain and fear. But I couldn't get to her, because I was in HERE! Didn't she see that? See me trapped and skinless?

I had claws and rage and snarling fangs.

I blinked and I was looking down at myself, through Tamlin's eyes. Shocked as I took in my mangled thigh, blood already pooling around the nasty looking purple welts and exposed flesh and sinew. My body lay between two mammoth paws, my robe had fallen back revealing my horrified golden eyes, and mouth twisted in pain. Dirt and Tamlin's dripping blood covered my peaked face. My hair had opened slightly, the pins I had careful rolled it in long scattered around the forest floor. I closed my eyes, or rather the Beast's eyes and with the last of my strength willed the claws to retract, willed some desperate thread of peace to overcome my limbs. I could not penetrate that screaming prison, but as I looked into it again, Tamlin was the one who lay curled in there. Horrified and wide eyed, he stared helplessly as tears fell into his gaping open mouth. As he howled silently.

I screamed, and with a falling feeling, I was plunged back into my own body. I was the writhing creature gripped with the pain of a mangled leg and contorted spine and I almost wept in relief. In leaving that prison. In leaving what he was enduring within his own mind and spirit.

I looked up at the glowing eyes, reading the confusion and panic in them as his body betrayed him. Steeling myself, I arched my aching back again and tried to shimmy and kick with my left foot as I placed two hands under my mangled right thigh. Tamlin continued blinking rapidly, trying to fight the magic which came over his limbs. I could see it was a futile effort and I knew I needed to move within the next few seconds before he was fully sedated and came crashing down onto me.

Panting, I pushed myself harder, kicking with my left foot and shimming with my back and arms. Tamlin was making a pathetic whimpering sound that plunged at my heart even as I raged at him for what he had done to my body. I had heard that sound only from the most vulnerable creatures, mothers trembling in front of their children as entire civilizations were slaughtered. Never from a bestial creature such as himself. Thankfully, he finally drew quiet and within a few seconds, fell to the ground, shaking the Earth around him.

I lay in silent trembling pain for another minute. The complete darkness of the forest threatened to swallow me whole, but I practiced my breathing, forcing myself to think of my own training all of those years ago. Warriors were not allowed to have weaknesses, even in the moment of Death. But I was no longer that person. I was weak, undeserving of being called a warrior at all. What would my Father say if he saw me now? Fear and bile rose in my throat and twisting my head, I threw up right next to me. Hot stifling tears burned my eyes and throat, but I willed myself to hold it back, gritting my teeth from the pain and hopelessness I felt. I had run before and was not sure what I was even doing in trying to come out of "hiding" now. I was weak, useless…and should never have interfered in the affairs of the Fae and humans despite what troubles they may unknowingly cause. This was where I had ended up due to my own arrogance. My body was not healing as fast as I needed it to either. I could barely sit up still, and my powers felt drained to the precipice from overcoming Tamlin.

Then I heard it. Far, far off but approaching rapidly. The harried crunching of running across leaves and brambles. The first sounds I had even heard since entering the forest. As if the terrible creatures had felt the worst amongst them had finally subsided. Another cold chill overcame me. I was in no position to fight whatever was coming.

A soft warm wind suddenly whispered across my clammy brow. As though a comforting hand swept across me, wiping away my fears. My mother's face flashed before me then, radiant and beautiful beyond comprehension. I sucked in a trembling breath. It had been so long since I had seen her in such clarity.

"Mother, please. Help me!" I pleaded to her silently, drinking in her luminous profile as she continued to smile down at me.

"Lovely girl, remember who YOU are. You cannot die here. Your purpose is much greater than this all." The words drifted in the warm wind as though someone had indeed spoken next to me.

Blinking, the apparition of my mother vanished as quickly as it had appeared, and I was left once more alone in the dark. Swiping away the remaining tears that lingered in my eyes, I drew in a deep breath. Remember who you are…the words replayed across my mind as I forced myself into a sitting position.

Closer, the footsteps sounded closer. Gaining speed with every second.

Shoving with my left foot and digging with my fingernails, I pushed myself until I hit a nearby tree. I sucked in another deep breath and dug my nails into the bark this time. Heaving with all my force I scaled the tree until my fingernails were broken and bloodied. Ignoring this new addition to my pain, I got to a standing position and stopped, leaning against the tree as I desperately tried to sense what direction my sword lay. A soft thrumming sensation filled my bloodied fingertips and gingerly I stepped with my left foot in the direction the pull was coming from.

After a few trembling steps, my leg gave out again and I fell forward, biting down my scream as I immediately began crawling and clawing my way to my sword. I had to get to it before whatever creature appeared to make me its next meal. I was a warrior. I had suffered through worse than this and came out the other end triumphant. I had to REMEMBER who I was.

I was inches from my sword when I felt something enter into the clearing we were in. I knew even if I looked, I would not be able to make out what manor of creature it was in the darkness we were submerged in. I could barely make out Tamlin's mammoth form that I lay only inches from.

My bloodied fingers frantically gripped the hilt of my sword and with slow, agonizing movements I shifted until I was on my back again. I held the sword in front of me, and despite all of my pain and screaming limbs, my arms did not tremble this time.

"Fresh blood…. ahh it has been some time I have been able to feast like this." The icy words seemed to float from right in front of me in the darkness. I choked back a scream as I squinted, preparing for claws, fangs, anything to try ripping through me at any second. "Finally, with that disgusting Beast down can I enjoy a meal. I've had to eat his scraps for months." The "s" hissed into the air closer to me and my body tensed again, waiting for something I could not see. I knew it was only a matter of seconds now, but I willed my spine to settle with steel as I held up my sword.

Something touched my face, cold and scaly and I slashed blindly. The Earth itself erupted then, a roar so earsplitting I dropped down, gripping my sword as though it was the only thing tethering me here, my own scream drowned by the bellow. I did not know what was happening, but I was suddenly pinned down under a heavy weight. Towering over me, I could make out Tamlin's gigantic form, but his touch was…gentle. I could hear leaves and brambles breaking as though the creature was trying to run out of the clearing. "Stay…down" he groaned, the words slurred and broken.

Shocked, I remained laying there, panting into the dark and waiting for the imminent claw to rip me to ribbons. After a few seconds, confusion overrode my fear. What…what was happening. But I headed his words and remained lying flat on my back.

I closed my eyes and listened.

Heavy bounding leaps sounded away from me. Then the screaming began. Earsplitting, bloodcurdling screams. Screams I had heard long ago on the Great Battlefield. I gritted my teeth but forced myself to continue listening. I could hear the unique grotesque sound of a limb being ripped, actually ripped from its socket. The splattering of guts, blood and other intestines hitting the leave strewn floor. Until eventually everything was quiet again. Until the heavy steps were coming back towards me.

I ground my teeth together and opened my eyes.

A male stood over me, light emanating from his figure. His long golden mane of hair was deeply entangled with leaves and broken bits of sticks and brambles and his along his perfect face was a deep gash. He was absolutely filthy and splattered in gore. I balked as I took in his shredded clothing that hung off of his lean frame. Slowly, my golden eyes met his own green tormented ones.

"I-I did this…" he breathed, staring at me wild eyed. His large hands fluttered around, not knowing where to land. "Mother take me…I-…" His eyes swept over my mangled leg, ripped fingernails and blood-flecked face.

He looked to be 5 seconds from either vomiting, bolting or passing out again. Surprisingly, he dropped to his knees instead, eyes pained as he quietly inquired about healing my leg. Finally, my own healing powers had begun to kick in, but being as drained as I was, I knew I needed the help before I could really move. I couldn't help but recoil as he inched closer, and he immediately stopped, shaking hands dropping to his sides.

"I keep…I keep hurting innocent people. What is wrong with me?!" His voice broke and he began silently shaking. I felt him losing his grip again and I steadied myself. Forcing myself to look at his pathetic form. "Tamlin. You need to get yourself together. We need to get out of this forest before anything else smells blood. Hurry up and…heal me. You can feel pathetic for yourself later." It felt good to spit the words at him. My pity for him only extended so far as I still lay mangled and in pain due to his temper.

He gazed at me, still shaking, but wide eyed as he hurried to obey my commands. I gritted my teeth from his hateful touch as he flowed his magic into me. I actually felt my sinew connect once more, the wound slowly healing until it was just a fresh pink gash under my shredded clothes. My spine finally felt relief and I sighed a breath of thanks as my fingernails regrew.

Standing gingerly, I balanced my weight on my right leg and cracked my aches and pains I knew would only fully heal after bedrest. Glaring down at Tamlin I laced my voice with command.

"Rise, High Lord. Take me to your Court."