The sun had just been rising, casting a calming pink glow across the fresh snowfall.
He had been out hunting, a brace of pheasant tossed casually over his shoulder. Lori's heart had been in her mouth as she'd passed him, keeping her head down and her hood up. So as not to betray her nerves, she had forced herself to keep her walk slow and relaxed.
Though he'd regarded her curiously, the demon boy hadn't said a word. He had just walked into the depths of the woods and disappeared from view.
She was sure some nearby village hovel was burning her effigy and calling her a witch by now. Her attire was hardly a disguise but she doubted the young lad had ever seen a faerie in the flesh. If his simple, tatty leathers had been anything to go by, the stories of demon poverty were true.
Little had he known, he wasn't alone in his curiosity. He was the first demon Lori had ever seen, outside of pictures in her father's books. He had looked different than she had expected... She supposed demons got more hideous with age.
The snow began to fall harder still, obstructing what little view she had from underneath her heavy hood. Her fur-lined boots' buttery soft leather was not designed for hiking. Her feet slipped against hidden rocks and roots beneath the snow.
She hadn't been travelling at any great pace before but now every step had become arduous.
Lori hissed curses as she struggled on, panting heavily into the frozen air. She had to keep moving; her father's men mustn't find her.
She stumbled, losing her footing and crashing down into the snow. Her possessions spilled from her over-stuffed satchel around her.
Lori growled under her breath and gritted her teeth with frustration. Despite wearing her thickest pair of winter gloves, her fingers were numb from the cold. She fumbled clumsily and gathered her things together.
Her teeth chattering was all she could hear above the howling winds. She had been a fool, a complete buffoon, to believe she could do this.
What did she know about outdoor pursuits? She had lived her entire life inside a stone box, never wanting for anything.
Maybe marrying some short, fat, rich man wouldn't have been so bad after all.
A deep growl rumbled and Lori froze. She had been so concerned about her father's men catching up with her that she hadn't spared much thought for who – or what – else may be looking for her.
She slowly brought her eyes up.
Just a few feet in front of her was the biggest animal she had ever seen. A huge silver wolf stood before her, with its head low and fangs bared. Lori swore she could feel it’s growl vibrating through the snow.
If she hadn't been in mortal danger, she may have spared a moment to appraise the beautiful creature, but fear blinded her.
Lori sat completely still in the snow, unsure of what to do. She had to get out of there but she knew the second she moved that wolf would pounce – its muscles were tight and bunched. Prepared.
She racked her brain; she had to do something and quick. The princess may not have been any expert at traversing the countryside, but even she knew wolves didn't travel alone. Wherever this one had come from, others were surely on their way.
Her lower lip trembled. Was this really how her short, pathetic life was going to end? Ripped to shreds by wolves, alone in the woods? All because her father had deigned to ask her to marry someone.
This whole endeavour had been colossally stupid, even by Lori's standards, but she shrugged helplessly. She was dead meat either way; she might as well go out fighting.
As quickly as the deep snow would allow, Lori sprang to her feet and shot a blast of bright majick at the wolf.
The princess had never been trained in offensive majicks, but she had attended defensive majick training classes for a short time. The blast would not do any damage, but should stun the creature for a moment.
Lori doubted it would do her any good, but she had to hope. She refused to die, sad and alone in the snow, like a coward.
The wolf yelped with surprise, leaping back from the blast, and Lori set off at a sprint. She ran as fast as she could, giving no thought to the satchel she had left discarded in the snow.
The faerie pumped her arms by her sides, fighting the pain in her frozen muscles. She needed to hide.
The thought was stopped abruptly as the large wolf circled around to stand before her yet again. She screamed as she skidded to a halt and her feet slid out from underneath her. Lori landed on her back with a heavy thump.
Well, this is it...
She gasped and floundered for breath like a fish out of water. Lori screwed her eyes shut, waiting for the teeth and claws...
Which never came.
