A Wolf Among Thorns

The Journey Begins

Ava ran through the forest, long years of training standing her in good stead as she ducked and dodged branches on autopilot. Pixel clung to her neck, but she didn't mind the scoring of the tiny claws down her skin as she made the by now familiar trek to Astralune's glade. “Astralune!” Ava sobbed as she ran into the clearing and threw her arms around the waiting unicorn's neck, twisting her fingers into his growing mane. “Oh, Astralune! You won't believe what's happened,” she sniffed, face buried in his warm neck as she inhaled his comforting, horsey smell. “I'm... not human, Astralune. My family aren't actually my family. I have to go, before they find us, before they find me...”

Astralune whickered softly, nibbling at Ava's ear. She pulled back to stare into his warm, honey-golden eyes, which regarded her softly with an uncharacteristically serious expression. “I... I know I have no right to ask this of you,” Ava whispered. “But you're one of my only friends, and... you won't be safe here, once I've gone. They'd kill you just as soon as use you for a lab rat.” She choked back a sob. “I would like to ask you to come with me and Pixel, Astralune. We're going to head into the Yvean Mountains, we'll try to find the portal into the fae realm… If werewolves are real, then Anros has got to be real, too. I came from somewhere… Gotta find my real family, find out where I truly belong. I can't force you to come with me,... but I'd like you to.” She took a step back, waiting for his response.

Her eyes wandered slowly down his graceful, yet muscular form, committing every hair, every twitch, to memory. He had filled out considerably from the gangly, leggy colt she'd first seen standing shaking beside his mother's body. He couldn't speak, but his gaze was as intelligent as any human's. His hooves were a burnished gold color, gleaming in the faint moonlight and in the glow from his smooth silvery coat, and his mane was long enough to begin falling to one side. He carried himself with elegant poise, his delicate neck curved proudly, holding high his finely molded head. He regarded her thoughtfully for a long minute, then blew out a snort and turned away.

Ava stood for a moment, thunderstruck. She could feel what was left of her heart crumbling to dust within her chest as hot tears burned fiery tracks down her pale face. She had truly thought that her bond with Astralune was unbreakable, that he would not hesitate to go with her. She fell to her knees, gasping in pain and clutching at her chest as though that would keep it from cracking open like a rotten egg. But she would not call after him. It's his choice, she thought through the agony. I won't be angry. It's his choice. I had no right to ask him to leave his home, not after I killed his mother. Pixel licked gently at her face, whimpering quietly, but Ava couldn't feel it.

Ava welcomed the shift she could feel coming on. Quickly she ripped off her clothes, shoving them into her pack along with her shoes, set Pixel down and gripped her leash between her teeth, letting the physical pain from her bones and muscles breaking and rearranging themselves wash over her and dull the hurt of Astralune's choice. Gunmetal gray fur rippled over her shoulders and she could no longer feel the cold as she turned with a howl and trotted away, Pixel following on her stumpy legs.

The cold night wind ruffled her fur with every bound, her huge paws hitting the forest floor silently and tension bleeding slowly out of her as she ran in no particular direction, running just to get away, refusing to dwell on painful memories. Pixel gave a sharp little yelp, jolting the leash, and Ava skidded to a halt instantly, realizing she had fallen over and lay panting heavily in some moss. With a remorseful whine, she nosed at Pixel's side, licking apologetically at her muzzle, then gently lifted her in her jaws as any mother dog would its puppy. Turning again, she extended herself to her full length, her paws eating up the distance as she wove agilely between the gnarled trunks.

Dawn streaked the horizon with the faintest hint of pink as the moon began to descend and birds began to twitter gaily. Ava's muscles were beginning to burn, but she ignored the pain in her body and continued to run. At one point she encountered a stream, and luckily had just enough presence of mind to follow its course until it flowed out onto a grassland she'd never seen before. Ava had never been this far from her old home, at least not that she could remember. But she paused only briefly before charging recklessly out onto the grass, running faster and faster but never fast enough to escape her own spiraling thoughts. Not until the sun was high in the sky did she finally halt by the banks of the stream, stretching out under the shade of a large boulder in the incline of the bank. She let Pixel take a drink from the stream, watching listlessly as the little pink tongue lapped at the cool clear water. Inevitably her mind turned to her old home, and she couldn't help but wonder if they cared at all that she was gone. Would they be relieved, even? Or would they be angry? Would they be searching for her? Anger flashed through her at the thought of how long she had believed them to be her true family. Had they known all along and been lying to her all these years? But she couldn't bring herself to care as much as she might have in other circumstances. Sighing, she placed her head down on her paws and watched the water rush by.

A rhythmic tattoo of vibrations gradually began to tickle her ears, ever so faintly. Ava ignored it at first, but as it resolved itself into hoofbeats, she scrambled to her feet, heart leaping with impossible joy. Could it be...? No, he made his choice, it can't be, she thought, alarm quickly replacing her elation. She sniffed at the wind, but it was blowing from downriver and carried no scent of whoever was making the noise. Ava lunged for Pixel's leash, clamping her jaws on it as she stood over the tiny pup, framing her protectively between her furry legs as they waited for the sound to reach them.

Suddenly, at the top of the bank amid a wash of sunlight, a large shadow appeared. Even Ava's wolf eyes squinted against the light; she nudged Pixel a little further beneath her with her nose, then turned back as the shadow drew closer and the light fell around it, dispelling the darkness and revealing Astralune standing there, blowing air around the large, iridescent bulb he held delicately clamped between his lips.

Ava stood there for a moment, blinking stupidly up at him before dropping Pixel's leash and launching herself at him with a howl. She did not even feel the pain as she shifted mid-air, knocking him backwards a couple of paces as she clasped her arms round his neck, sobbing. “I thought you weren't coming!” she blubbered. “I thought... I thought...” He blew air into her ear, then nuzzled her hair. Pixel yipped excitedly, running circles around both of them while Ava pulled back to look at him, understanding dawning as she caught sight of the bulb he held... a bulb that she'd never before seen, and yet looked oddly familiar.

“You couldn't leave without her,” she realized. “You brought the bulb with you. And I... I left, like a whole ass and a half.” Tears ran down her face. She pulled his head down, pressing her forehead to his. “I'm sorry, Astralune,” she sobbed. “I should never have doubted you. I should've waited for you.” Astralune pinned his ears back playfully and nipped her wrist sharply, making her squeal. “I deserved that,” she acknowledged ruefully, rubbing her reddened wrist. “I've gotta get dressed... I shouldn't really be standing around in my birthday suit in this sunlight and where anyone can see,” she mused, reaching for the pack she'd dropped. She threw on her rumpled clothes, turning sheepishly to Astralune and rubbing at the sweat on his skin with a rag. “This here must be an offshoot of the Nunlin River. If we follow it back upstream, we should be able to follow the river straight to Nunlin, get a map and maybe some supplies for the journey. In and out, quick and easy before anyone notices what we are.” She turned to the unicorn. “Do you need to rest, or do you think you can go on right now?”

He gave her a funny look, then released a sharp whinny, pawing twice at the ground. Ava laughed. “Message received loud and clear,” she said, kissing his velvety nose. “Don't know why I got dressed, then. Hang on a second.” She ducked behind the boulder again, and stepped into the lengthened straps of her pack before calling Pixel over. “Pix!” she cried. “Come here!” The puppy barked and bounced over, dragging the end of her leash, and Ava quickly clipped it to her pack before trotting out again in wolf form, her long pink tongue lolling out and Pixel tethered to her pack. Ava tipped her head back and howled at the sky, choking on her tongue when Pixel squeaked out an attempt at a howl as well. Ava leaned down, planting a lick affectionately on Pixel's muzzle before turning with a yip and trotting forward with her head and tail held high. Astralune snorted and tossed his head but fell into step beside her.