Her sigh escaped her as more of a snort. If he was searching for her at this hour, he’d probably been at it for some time. Keira followed his voice and, when that was quiet, the ample sound of his heavy footsteps through the underbrush and snow.
At last his torchlight came into view, and soon enough himself. He carried on as if there wasn’t a bear within charging distance. Keira rolled her eyes, thinking she might give him a scare when she caught sight of movement in the distant trees. She scanned the forest, spotting the movement again in another direction, circling him.
Keira pushed her massive form into motion as three wolves emerged from the underbrush behind him. Caspian turned, dropping his torch and drawing his sword with a quick, practiced motion. Another leapt from the shadows, encircling him. The leader lunged, snapping its jaws, but Caspian knocked it to the ground with a hefty swing. It whimpered as it fell heavily on its side.
She was nearly upon them when she saw another waiting in the trees. It had seen her as well, fur raised as it snarled in warning. As it charged, Keira batted it away with a massive paw. It was almost effortless pinning it down. Instinct washed over her as she finished the animal with a bite to the neck.
Its hot blood coated her palate as she heard Caspian cry out in pain. One of the wolves was latched onto his shoulder. As Keira watched, another took the opening to sink its teeth into his thigh. She charged as Caspian knocked the first to the ground. He slashed the other with his sword, and it released him.
Keira crashed through the trees, lips drawn back in a snarl as she planted herself between Caspian and the wolves. They were swayed by her greater size for only a moment before they struck. The first broke the thick hide of her shoulder. Keira roared as she knocked it aside. The other clamped down on her arm, using its weight to shake her balance. She sunk her teeth into its neck until it went limp in her jaws.
Behind her, Keira heard Caspian shout and then the sound of his steel finding its mark. Her panting breaths steamed the night air as Keira raised her eyes to the haggard remains of the pack.The leader bared its teeth in a parting snarl before retreating into the brush.
Sides heaving, Keira turned to where Caspian was standing before the body of a wolf. His blade was still wet with its blood. His brow was gleaming with sweat as he turned to her. She tallied his injuries, his shoulder, his leg, his arm.
They stood, taking one another in as they caught their breath. Keira hardly noticed as she returned to her true form. Not until his eyes moved over her, noting blood from the bite on her arm now running down to her fingers. The wound on her side stung with each breath.
Keira walked, more accurately limped, over to him and reached for him.
“No, Keira,” Caspian protested. “You’re bleeding.”
She shot him an inarguable glance and placed her hand on his shoulder. It was a familiar spell, to speed the healing. It would stop the bleeding at least, dull the pain. The wound closed, and Keira rounded to his arm.
“You should save your strength, heal yourself,” Caspian said, backing away slightly.
“You should have stayed in the cave,” Keira snapped back.
She winced as she reached for his arm, pain igniting up her side, and he gave it to her.
“I was worried about you.”
“Ican handle myself in the woods.” She eyed him scathingly as she bent down to see the wound on his thigh. She could see the clear ring of teeth marked deeply into the skin, worse than the others.
Caspian hissed as she placed her hand on it, soothing it with her magic.
“I was going to come back,” Keira said quietly as the last of his wounds began to close.
“I-” Caspian stopped as she stood. “I couldn’t lose you again.”
Keira was speechless for a moment. “You’re not going to lose me, Caspian.”
He nodded, looking at the ground.
Keira laid her hand on the deep bite on her arm. She sighed as the skin began to stitch itself back together.
“Priscilla, she’s really- I don’t love her, Keira.”
“I know-,” Keira growled as a shot of pain ran through her back. “Fate’s mercy, there’s a cursed tooth stuck back there!”
“Hold still.” Caspian came around her as she tried to twist to remove it herself.
She felt his fingers graze her skin for a few moments before brushing against the offending tooth.
“Just do it,” Keira said, clenching her eyes.
He pulled it out, sharp and quick, as Keira gritted her teeth. “I believe you-” Keira panted. “-that you don’t love her. It’s not about that.”
“What is it about, Keira?” he asked, coming to face her once more as she channeled her magic to work over the final bite.
