A/N: This started as a simple fairytale-esque premise and then turned into something bigger, haha.

Chapter 1

Nikolai sat on the ground, sketch book propped up in his lap, shading the features of his subject by the light of a setting full moon. He blended the charcoal with his thumb, staining his fingers black. It wouldn't matter in too much longer. He studied the rendering. He was pretty good as an artist, but portraits were no replacement for the real thing.

Beside him, a sleeping white tiger shifted awake. It let out a massive yawn and lifted its head toward Nikolai.

He held up the sketch of Zoya. "What do you think?"

The tiger chuffed in what he interpreted as fond exasperation; his sketch book was full of drawings of Zoya.

Nikolai smiled sadly and ran his hand down the tiger's back, leaving behind smears of charcoal.

On the other side of the dying campfire, Tolya sat up blearily and rubbed at his eyes. He took one look at Nikolai with his sketch pad and shook his head.

"You should be getting some rest."

"How can I spend my limited hours as human sleeping?" Nikolai replied.

Tolya's expression turned sympathetic, and he picked up a branch to stoke the smoldering embers. Dawn would be breaking soon.

Nikolai finished the final touches of his sketch and then tucked the book and charcoal safely in the small knapsack that contained what few possessions he retained of his human life.

The tiger got up and stretched, then lumbered off into the bushes. Twilight bled across the sky, and Nikolai began to undress and fold his clothes neatly on the ground next to him. Tolya unpacked a shirt, trousers, and blue coat from another bag and went to set them behind the bushes the tiger had disappeared around.

Nikolai stood in his braies, shivering as the chill morning air prickled goosebumps over exposed flesh. The cold would only last for a minute. He wished the tradeoff from night to day gave him just a minute to speak with Zoya, but such was the cruelty of the curse. The moment the tiger changed back into the woman he loved, Nikolai was banished to his own animal prison.

The first golden hue of the sun seeped into the sky, and Nikolai felt the shift begin. It was magic and instantaneous. One moment he was looking out through human eyes, the next he was several feet shorter near the ground, with four legs, paws, and a thick warm coat of red fur.

The fox hopped out of the crumpled underpants, which Tolya picked up and packed away for him. A few moments later, Zoya emerged from the bushes, fully dressed. She gave Nikolai a wistful look.

"Morning," she said to him and Tolya as she came to take a seat by the fire.

Nikolai curled up at her feet. She reached down to pet him, scratching behind his ear in a way that made his whole body ripple. He then laid his head down to perhaps snatch some sleep before it was time to move on, though it was always difficult to drift off after the transformation, when his blood and bones were thrumming with magic.

It had been a month to the day since Nikolai's older brother had the Darkling curse them. It was petty and cruel, but Vasily had always been a spoiled, jealous ass. Never mind that Nikolai would always be the second son of the king, the spare prince. But Vasily just couldn't stand to see his illegitimate half-brother beloved by anyone. Vasily didn't even love Zoya, a commoner daughter of a general; he simply lusted after her because she loved Nikolai.

Vasily had given Zoya the ultimatum of choosing to be with him, and the curse would be removed. She refused, of course. She had a fire inside her that Vasily could never hope to subjugate. Which, of course, only made things worse for them. Nikolai didn't know what they would have done without Tolya and Tamar, his friends from his brief stint at sea. He had been able to write them and they had come to his aid, helping him and Zoya flee the city and looking after them when they were indisposed in their animal forms.

Tolya fixed some breakfast for him and Zoya, and they ate in silence. Nikolai had almost dozed off when a bird call had his ears pricking forward. Tolya straightened and whistled a similar call in return, and a moment later Tamar appeared.

"Is everything all right?" Tolya asked. "You're late."

She nodded and snagged his bag of tree nuts from his hand as she walked past and took a seat next to Zoya. "It took me a while to find someone willing to talk, but I finally got a solid lead on the Black Witch."

Nikolai lifted his head to listen intently at that. In the hopes of finding a way to break the curse, they'd been searching for the only other known magic user in the kingdom. Unfortunately, it was only rumor that she dwelt in the Shadow Forest, and no one had supposedly seen her in decades.

Tamar popped a nut in her mouth, then went on, "I spoke with a trapper who risks the dark forest. He tried to dissuade me from wanting to venture into it, saying it's full of 'evil things,' but I wheedled the information out of him."

"Has he seen the witch?" Zoya asked.

"Well, no," Tamar hedged. "But he's seen signs that suggest she's in the area—talismans hanging on branches to frighten people away. He also said one time he got too close and shadows seemed to spill out of nowhere. He ran and never went back, but he told me how to find the spot again."

Nikolai wished he could participate in the conversation. It was frustrating on so many levels being stuck as a fox.

His friends finished eating and packed up, and then they set off. Nikolai trotted alongside them for some of the way; other times he darted off into the foliage. He retained his mind while in animal form, but that didn't mean there weren't instincts that drove him on occasion. Like the myriad scents and the urge to hunt prey. Nikolai really didn't like catching and eating rodents, but it was easier on their supplies if he could help feed himself. Sometimes he was even able to catch a whole rabbit that his friends could cook, and then he'd at least also benefit from not having to eat his supper raw.

They stayed off the main roads—Vasily had sent spies after them before, men who'd take Zoya back to the Grand Palace so Vasily could give her his ultimatum again and again. His jealousy and rage were only fueled further when she repeatedly spurned him.

It was almost mid-day when they reached the edge of the Shadow Forest. Nikolai pulled up short, his fur standing on end. He could immediately sense there was something dark and evil within these woods. His friends also hesitated before entering, but they shared looks of resolve and pushed onward. Nikolai hung back, tail flicking unhappily as his animal side warred with his human one.

Zoya paused and looked back. "Nikolai?"

He tucked his tail between his legs and slunk forward.

The trees here were thick, so much so that they blocked out most direct sunlight. It was like going from day to dusk in an instant. And the deeper they went, the more cloying the air became, like it was heavy with…magic.

Tamar found the trapper's snares and adjusted course based on the information he'd given her. Nikolai couldn't imagine how any animals could stand to live in this place. But perhaps they didn't know any better and it was just that he did.

The forest grew closer, darker…eerily silent. Nikolai tried to sniff out anything that could help them, like a trace of another human being living out here. But he didn't find one. He heard something shift and stopped in his tracks, ears flicking back and forth. Something was moving through the grass, too quiet for his human friends to hear. He thought it might be a snake and wanted to shout a warning, but he had no voice to speak words, only a distracting yip. So he pounced on the creature that was slinking toward Tolya's foot.

It whipped back and lashed out like a whip, striking Nikolai across the face. He yelped and leaped backward, startled to find it wasn't a snake but a vine. His friends whirled at the noise, but before they could react, Tamar cried out as her foot was yanked out from under her. She hit the ground and was immediately swarmed by vines slithering over her like serpents.

Tolya drew his sword and arced his blade down to cut through them, but another vine from above lashed out and around his arm, yanking it backward. He lost his balance and also fell, and then was beset by a horde of vines that coiled about him in a restraining fashion.

Zoya had pulled a knife to fend the plants off, but she was quickly grabbed as well and bound securely. Nikolai darted in with his teeth to try to chomp at the vines, but they were thick and fleshy and there were too many. They struck back at him, and he skittered out of the way before they could snag him as well. If only he had hands to wield a sword! Not that a blade was doing the others any good.

The vines suddenly started pulling back and dragging their three captives away with them. Nikolai bolted after them, trying to keep up. His friends were roughly hauled through snapping foliage for several yards before they were brought into a clearing that was lined with several giant plants that the vines seemed to be attached to. The larger growths opened their thick petals wide, revealing rows of razor, needle-like teeth.

Nikolai's heart jolted in terror and he charged in toward the base of one of the carnivorous plants. They must not have noticed him, because he was able to rip a large chunk out of one of the fleshy shoots. The plant let out a strange shriek and shuddered violently. But its vines loosened enough from around Tamar that she was able to get ahold of her axes strapped to her back. Now armed, she began hacking at the rest of the vines still clinging to her.

Nikolai attacked another plant's base, enabling Zoya to start wriggling free. But the plants sent their vines after the troublesome fox, and another hard whack sent him rolling through the leaves with a yelp.

"Nikolai!" Zoya yelled.

He scrambled to his feet and limped back into the fray. Tolya cried out as he was hauled into the air to dangle over one of the plant's gaping maws. Tamar got Zoya free just in time for the two to rush the plant and stab it with their weapons. It dropped Tolya, who fortunately did not land on his head when he hit the ground.

Nikolai darted in and out, snapping his teeth where he could but also focusing more on dodging the vines now that his friends had a fighting chance. The twins and Zoya soon made diced vegetables of the monstrous plants. A few amputated vines writhed weakly on the ground, and Nikolai bared his teeth at them.

They all turned and hurried away from the clearing, making a mad dash until they felt they'd put enough distance between them and any more of those sentient plants. Only then did they stop to catch their breaths and check each other for injuries. The humans were mildly scratched up from being dragged through the woods, but otherwise there was nothing serious. Nikolai's face stung, and he flicked his tongue out trying to lick at it. It came back with a coppery taste.

Zoya knelt down in front of him and brushed a thumb over his cheek. He spotted a trace of blood when she pulled back.

"You okay?" she asked.

He gave her an awkward bob of his head, the closest he could get to a nod.

They continued on their way, their progress slow and hampered by the thick vegetation. Which none of them could look at mildly again.

Tamar pointed out the talismans the trapper had spoken of, so they knew they were headed the right direction. A little ways further, though, Nikolai's fur stood on end again. Shadows began rising up from the ground like living things. Zoya and the twins raised their blades in response.

The black brume descended on them, and Tolya brandished his sword first, but the blade merely swished through the fog. In an instant, they were swallowed whole by the suffocating miasma. Nikolai lost sight of his friends. His animal instincts took over and he bolted, eventually escaping the malevolent murk. But he skidded to a stop as he found himself face to face with an old woman in black garb and gray hair. She peered down at him, brow arching with mild intrigue.

"Well, aren't you a curious trespasser," she remarked.

Nikolai yipped plaintively and turned back to the shadows behind him, tail twitching in agitation and worry for his friends. He spun back to the old woman, whom he was sure had to be the Black Witch, and barked earnestly. He was hardly threatening, he knew. Were Zoya here in tiger form, she would be much more intimidating.

The witch considered him for what felt like an agonizingly long moment, then waved her arm in an arc. The shadows receded, revealing Zoya, Tamar, and Tolya hunkered down on the ground. They blinked in confusion and slowly stood, postures tensing when they spotted the old woman.

"What do you want?" the hag asked tartly.

Tamar stepped forward. "We seek the Black Witch."

The old woman arched a brow. "Is that so? Do you have a death wish, child?"

"They're only here to help me and Nikolai," Zoya spoke up, gesturing to the twins first and then to the fox. "He and I are under a curse. You're the only other magic user in the kingdom aside from the one who did this. Do you know how to break it?"

"And what makes you think I would help you?"

Zoya lifted her chin. "What would you demand as payment?"

Nikolai's fur bristled with anxiety and he tried not to reveal it with fidgeting.

The old woman roved her gaze over each of them in prolonged consideration, then tutted and started to walk away.

They all shared uncertain looks before following. She hadn't said no…

"Are you the Black Witch?" Tamar asked as they hurried to catch up.

"That title was not of my design," the woman responded. She paused to look back at them. "Though, it is not inaccurate."

She kept going, and so did they. If she thought to deter them, it wasn't working. They were desperate, after all.

"You may call me Baghra," the witch added.

"And what price would you want for helping us?" Zoya asked again.

Baghra didn't answer.

They followed her to a hut set against a massive oak tree. It was barely noticeable, as it was covered in moss and ivy. The roof line was only visible because of the talismans hanging along it. Here, they finally stopped and waited outside when she went in.

"Well, come on," she said snippily a moment later.

So they cautiously filed inside. The place had looked tiny on the outside, but it was apparently carved into part of the giant oak's trunk, giving it more space on the inside.

Baghra took a seat in a rocking chair. "How did you come by such a curse?" she asked.

There was a bench and squat stool, so the three humans sat as well.

"Nikolai's brother," Zoya began. "He's…jealous. But not because he has any real feelings for me. Still, he can't stand to see us together and happy, so he had us cursed and will only remove it if I give myself over to him."

Baghra flicked a look at Nikolai. "The little Sobachka," she mused. "Prince Vasily has a twisted sense of humor. Or was choice of animal the Darkling's doing?"

They all tensed and exchanged alarmed looks.

"I didn't say who Nikolai's brother was…" Zoya said.

Baghra snorted. "Just because I live in exile does not mean I am unaware of the goings on in the rest of the world. And as you said, there is only one other such magic user in Ravka."

Nikolai straightened, latching onto her word choice. Fortunately, his friends were just as perceptive.

"Exile?" Tolya repeated. "Exiled by whom?"

Baghra didn't answer, though. She picked up the iron poker and stoked the fire in the hearth. Then she turned to study Nikolai for a long, uncomfortable moment. She snapped her fingers for him to come closer. He hesitated but forced himself to move forward, staying hunched low to the floor. She dropped a hand down to run bony fingers through his fur, and he tried to suppress a shudder.

"Can you remove the curse or not?" Tamar interrupted sharply.

Baghra leaned back in her chair, and Nikolai skittered back over to Zoya.

"Only the one who cast the enchantment can remove it."

Nikolai's heart fell. He supposed it was a long shot, coming here.

"There is another way," the witch went on. "Though it is not easy. For this type of curse, woven into the changing of night and day, it can only be broken outside of the caster by a night within a day—an eclipse."

Tolya straightened again. "Those happen so rarely; there's no guarantee we'd even see one in our lifetime."

Baghra nodded. "There is a way to summon one. It requires three objects, each of which is currently scattered across the kingdom and not easy to find."

"Where and what are they?" Tamar asked eagerly.

"The Crystal of Zvezdny, the enchanted mirror in Nebesny's Telescope, and the Sun Summoner. The first two I can disclose the locations of, but the Sun Summoner is unknown. However, bringing the crystal and mirror together will reveal where to find the third."

"And where are the first two?" Zoya asked.

"The Crystal is in the center of the Shadow Forest, underground in the dead bones of the first trees to sprout from the earth," she replied. "Nebesny's Telescope is in the old Monastery of Sankt Demyan."

Nikolai mentally frowned; that pilgrimage site was historically Ravka's, but due to border wars now lay in Fjerdan territory. The monastery itself had been turned into an observatory long ago but had been abandoned for over a century now. Crossing the border into the neighboring kingdom would be dangerous but not impossible. Certainly not worse than the Shadow Forest.

Tolya and Tamar were sharing a look, and Nikolai could tell they were already silently planning.

"And the Sun Summoner?" Zoya asked. "What is that?"

"The crystal and mirror will reveal that to you when you have them," Baghra answered cryptically. She then added, "If you make it that far."

Tamar got to her feet. "We will."

"Sit down," the witch huffed. "It will be night soon."

"We've been living in the wilderness for weeks," Tamar countered. "We can handle the woods at night, and the sooner we leave, the sooner we can find the crystal."

Baghra just leveled an austere look at her. "There are darker things than me in this forest."

They exchanged uncertain looks at that disturbing pronouncement. Perhaps it would be okay to stay here the night, since she was apparently inviting them to. They'd waited this long; they could wait a little longer.

Baghra got up and began shuffling about the small home, getting out a cooking pot and putting it over the hearth to warm. She then started pulling down roots and vegetables hanging from a rack above the work table and chopping them up.

Tolya stood and cleared his throat. "Can we help with anything?"

"Get some firewood for the night," she instructed. "But don't stray too far."

The twins headed out, leaving Zoya and Nikolai alone with the witch.

"Baghra," Zoya spoke up tentatively. "What do you want in payment for helping us?"

The witch flicked a considering look at the two of them again in a way that made Nikolai uncomfortable.

"The Darkling is the one who exiled me here," she finally said. "So I would not mind causing him some grief in return."

Nikolai didn't know what to make of that, but memory was beginning to niggle at the back of his mind. There was a strange familiarity to the witch he couldn't place.

Tolya and Tamar returned with firewood, and the outside grew darker more quickly with the shadows of the thick trees. Zoya got up and removed her coat, looking awkward as she tried to find a private place to undress.

Baghra cocked her head toward a back alcove used as a storeroom with a partition that blocked view of it. Zoya gave a sheepish nod of gratitude and made her way back there.

Tolya opened the door of the hut and set Nikolai's clothes out on the stoop. The fox slipped out and waited, the chill of the night air and surrounding darkness making him antsy. He hoped none of those darker things came close to the witch's house.

Though the sun couldn't pierce these woods, the curse knew when night had fallen, and fur began to slither back into skin. Nikolai's limbs swelled and bulged, and in but a moment, he was on his hands and knees in the grass. He quickly grabbed his clothes and hastily dressed, then let himself back into the hut.

The tiger was too large and had apparently already knocked over several things as it maneuvered its way back out to the front. Baghra was shooting the animal a glower. Zoya found a spot on the floor wide enough for her to lie down and stay out of the way.

Nikolai stepped over her and nodded to the witch. "We haven't been properly introduced. I'm Nikolai."

She barely acknowledged him except to dish out a bowl of stew and hand it to him. She served Tolya and Tamar as well, so there was at least something to be said for her hospitality.

A strange howl sounded in the night, an eerie, preternatural sound that raised the gooseflesh on Nikolai's arms. Zoya shifted in agitation, and he went to sit next to her and try to soothe her nerves.

Baghra continued watching the two of them almost curiously.

"You used to live at the Little Palace," Nikolai said as memory finally slotted into place.

She let out a snort. "I was wondering whether you would remember me, Sobachka."

No wonder she knew who he and his brother were.

"What?" Tamar asked, straightening on guard.

"I only saw you once," Nikolai said. "When I snuck into the garden behind the Little Palace. You were sitting in a chair by the window." He paused and furrowed his brows at the similar chair she occupied now. "But the Darkling caught me and…" He didn't finish.

"And what?" Tolya pressed.

Again, Baghra was studying him.

Nikolai swallowed hard. "My friend Dominik was my whipping boy. He bore the Darkling's punishment for my trespassing." His frown deepened. "I never realized there was more than one magic user at court."

Baghra huffed. "There has only ever been one magic user in Ravka's service," she said derisively. "I never stooped to such indentureship."

She stood abruptly, ending the conversation.

"Get what rest you can. You'll need it where you're going."

Nikolai normally hated sleeping during his precious few hours as human, but he was tired, and the old witch was right. There would be time to unravel the mystery of her past in relation to court after he and Zoya were free. If it even mattered at that point.

So he lay down next to the tiger, resting his head on her soft, broad shoulder, and slept in relative safety for the first time in a long while.