Bones trotted back out, his nose to the ground. When he made it to her, he huffed and pawed at her foot.
Adalia squatted down beside him. “What is it, boy?”
The wolf whimpered and sniffed the air. In that moment, it was like a light come on in her head and Adalia kicked herself for not using all the resources she had available.
Wolves were known for their keen sense of smell, and often hunted down prey from miles away.
She held Bones’s face in her hands and looked into his kind brown eyes. “I need you to find Matthias, Bones. Use that incredible sense of smell of yours and show me where he is.”
The wolf licked her face and dropped his nose to the ground, heading northwest. He zig-zagged back and forth for a few minutes before catching onto a scent and breaking out into a run. Adalia was quick on her feet and followed closely behind.
They ran through rows of moonshadow oaks, ancient oak trees with leaves that reflected the phases of the moon. Mixed amongst the oaks were glimmering willows, with long, silvery leaves that shimmer and emit a soft, enchanting glow at night. Their branches seemed to dance with ethereal light, illuminating the entire forest. Adalia was keenly aware not to let the shadows trick her, though, as she ran along the forest floor.
The sun had dipped below the horizon an hour ago, the moon and glimmering willows her only source of light as she and Bones searched for the prince. They were heading deeper into the woods.
As Bones darted between the trees, his paws barely made a sound on the mossy ground. His keen eyes scanned every shadow and hidden crevice. Determined and swift, Bones followed the scent through the dense forestry, driven by the unyielding bond with his trusted companion. The wolf’s white fur seemed to blend with the silvery night, and he glided through the forest like a ghostly spirit.
Adalia marvelled at the wolf’s discipline as he moved through the darkness. Not even the hoot of a screeching owl could deter his concentration.
Finally, the trail led Adalia to a hidden cavern nestled amidst the ancient trees. The mouth of the cave yawned like an unfriendly maw, its darkness a stark contrast to the moonlit beauty of the forest. She slid to a halt outside.
“Are you sure, boy? He’s in there?” she whispered to the white wolf.
Bones whimpered in response.
“Ok, I trust you. Let’s go find him,” she said as they entered the cave together.
Inside, the air was heavy and suffocating. Echoes of dripping water and the smell of damp earth met her as she moved along the thin path, cautiously aware of the possibility of something jumping out at them.
As they ventured deeper into the darkness, the shadows seemed to thicken. But Adalia pressed on, her heart pounding with determination and concern for the prince. Soon, they reached a narrow passage where the ceiling seemed to close in, and Adalia had to squeeze through with care, the opening only large enough to fit one body through at a time.
Finally, there before her, she found Matthias, his figure dimly illuminated by the faintest glimmer of moonlight that seeped through a small crevice in the cave roof. He sat slumped on a wooden chair, his legs and wings bound.
Adalia stifled a cry and ran to his side, afraid that his seemingly lifeless form meant that she was too late.
“Matthias,” she whispered as she cupped his face in her hands.
The prince’s eyes remained closed and his breathing shallow.
There was a clear tube feeding a brackish-green liquid into his arm. Fury rose to the surface. Caution warred with the desire to simply rip it away, and her fingers trembled as they pulled at the tie. Once it was free, she put pressure over the site to stop the slow trail of blood. Someone had been filling his body with poison. No wonder he wasn’t responding well.
Adalia held back the tears and shook Matthias gently. “Matthias, please . . . come back to me.”
He didn’t stir. Adalia dropped to the ground in front of the prince and lay her forehead on his knees. “Please . . . don’t let this be the end.” She spoke to the light inside of her.
Seconds ticked by, but to Adalia, they felt like an eternity.
Bones whimpered and came to sit by her side. He nuzzled Matthias’s leg and Adalia could tell he knew something was wrong.
A small groan sounded through the dark space, and Adalia lifted her head with a gasp. Matthias moved his head slowly and cracked one eye open. Adalia scurried to her feet and cupped his face once again. “Matthias . . . it’s me. Adalia.” She braced his face as he faded in and out of consciousness.
“I’m going to untie you, but you have to help me. I can’t lift you all by myself,” she said as she fought back the emotion growing inside her chest.
Matthias simply groaned in response.
Adalia held back the sobs as she freed the rope from his feet, arms, and wings, and caught his body just before he slipped off the chair. She steadied him and brushed the hair from his face, his skin clammy and warm.
“Who did this to you?” she whispered.
