The Royal Wolves

Werebear Camp

* * * Florence’s POV * * *

My heart breaks for Darran as I pray that he recovers, even while living under Black’s rule, I never witness beatings as severe as that. I follow the direction the werebears take, without thinking of anything other than the injured friend I have left behind. No matter how I play the scenario out, Darran never stood a chance.

I finally look to the sky, illuminated by the moon and it’s only now that I realise how much time has passed since I left with the werebears.

The forest lays before me, dark and foreboding. The trees tower above, their branches twisting and gnarled like grasping fingers. A thick carpet of leaves muffle my footsteps as I make my way deeper into the dense forest.

The air is thick with the scent of decaying leaves and damp earth, and I can’t shake the feeling that we are being watched. Every rustle of leaves, every creaking branch makes my heart race with fear.

‘Relax, nothing out here is stupid enough to attack the werebears, we’re safe,’ Kate reassures me.

‘I know. I’m just nervous,’ I admit to her.

I can hear the faint sound of something moving in the distance, and my imagination runs wild with visions of beasts and monsters lurking in the shadows, beasts and monsters that prey on the werebears and whom I would be of little significance to. I quicken my pace, desperate to close the gap to the main group of werebears and escape the eerie silence of the forest.

But the deeper we go, the more the forest seems to close in around me. The trees grow thicker, the underbrush more tangled. The sounds of the outside world fade away, leaving me alone in a world of shadow and mystery, surrounded by enemies.

As we push deeper into the heart of the forest, I accept that I have taken a risk in doing this. Should they decide to kill me, I have absolutely no chance of survival, no chance to save my baby. But the allure of the vision from the moon goddess is too strong to resist. I can’t shake the feeling that something incredible, something amazing, lay hidden just beyond the warring worlds reach.

And so, I press on, my heart beating faster with each step. I have no idea what lay ahead, but I know that I have to find out. For the possibility of a peaceful future in which our children are safe, is something worth taking the risk for.

Shadows begin to emerge from the trees ahead and I hold my breath, wondering if we are about to be attacked.

“King Edward?” A voice calls.

“Relax. We are late, but we are here,” the werebear King calls out to the shadowy figures. “Is the new camp ready?” He asks.

“It is, my King. The soldiers have set up and they await your return.”

“Very good. Just a moment and then you can lead the way Marcel,” Kind Edward commands.

My heart pauses when the King turns to look at me. “We’ve a way to go little wolf, but I’d rather you not remember the way. You will be blindfolded and we will muffle your sound. You have my word you shall not be harmed, so make sure you walk with your allocated guide,” his gruff voice commands me. I want to argue but I know that would be idiotic of me. So I just nod my head and allow them to blindfold me.

Minutes seem to turn into hours. I have no sight and limited sound to guide me, so I opt to count my steps and try to memorise scents. Kate promises to catalogue the scents so that if we do escape, we have some chance of finding our way back.

‘Odd that they’d leave you with a wolf’s most powerful sense,’ she remarks.

‘Let’s not say a thing. We could need it later on,’ I tell her.

‘Keep counting. You focus on the distances, I’ll focus on the scents. Too many cooks spoil the broth,’ she advises me. We’re in this together and that’s all that matters. There’s nobody else I’d want to go through this with.

By the time my count reaches 20,000 steps, a hand grips my shoulder and urges me to stop. I feel the blindfold undo and then I hear his voice. “We are here little wolf, no point you being blindfolded now. Follow me to your holding cell,” King Edward commands me.

We are walking through an umber-brown, ancient forest. It reeks of age. Its woody incense is from centuries of snapping branches crashing to the forest’s floor and rotting silently. The composting, organic smell rises up in waves like a miasma. Every sprawling tree we pass under reminds me of a watchful guardian, a silent sentinel of the groves. I follow Edward to venture deeper into the tangled heart of this primeval forest. I hope that it would reveal its dark secrets to me.

The further I go, the more mystical and spellbinding it becomes. Huge roots spread-eagle the ground, twisting like the great backs of sea dinosaurs. The foliage becomes thick and lush, forming an arch of fairytale-green above our heads. Arthritic boughs, gnarled with age, drip their bounty of nuts onto the path. Briars, brambles and berry trees flank the trail, making it impenetrable on either side. Shuffling noises come from deep in the interior, deadened by the cunningly woven web of leaves. A troupe of shambling badgers cross the winding trail in front of us, unperturbed that they are prey to these bears. They are finishing up their early morning foraging. We have been walking through the night.

We arrive at a wide glade, where the trees fall away, revealing the bespeckled sky. The last of the morning’s stars were glinting like silver pin pricks, luminous and bright. An ore gold sun hangs quietly in the distance, casting a honeyed sheen over the trees and casts a glow to ancient ruins. This land is ancient and sacred, and unfamiliar.

All around are tents and structures being erected, this is a new home for the wearbears. ‘We’re somewhere south west,’ Kate tells me.

“My King, we’re just finishing up the holding cell.” A voice sounds to my right.

“You knew we would likely have captives. It should have been your first building. You can babysit, I am famished,” Edward tells the man.

“You!” He addresses me. “Behave until your quarters are ready,” he orders and walks away.

The new guy and I, sit down with our backs against a lightning blasted tree trunk and watch as the final rémanents of the night sky fade away. As if on cue, an avian aria erupts from the knot of trees. The solitary songbird is soon joined by his beaked companions, creating a symphony of song. The heart haunting melody is an elixir for the soul.

The sap sweet fragrance of the forest washes over us and I am seduced by its comforting goodness. I watch the vast number of werebears going around their business in the camp. A group of women place some stinging nettle leaves into the broth they are brewing and it adds a tingling, chlorophyll flavour.

Another group are washing clothes and hanging them on a line. One group are unloaded weapons into a large brown tent. Every man, woman and child has a job, and they carry it out without complaint.

“It looks like they are finished with the holding cell. Follow me, once you’re inside we will sort out any allocated refreshments for you,” my guard says.

As we were leaving our spot, I risk a glance over my shoulder. The forest glade looks to be freeze frame perfect in the enhanced light of the full sun. With a shuddering breath, I turn away from freedom and follow the guard to my cell, wondering how long it will be until I see Jo again. ‘I do hope he won’t be mad at me for too long,’ I sigh to Kate.

‘He will eventually forgive us, once we remind him enough times that nothing bad happened,’ she says and her barking laughter makes me smile as I follow my guard to my holding cell.

I take a look around the holding cell and go to run my hand over the wooden bars, smirking that they think these will contain me and Kate. I hiss in pain as a searing pain shoots across my skin.

‘Wolfsbane, the fuckers,’ Kate snarls.

‘I don’t think we’re breaking out, even if we wanted to or needed to,’ I sigh.

‘Lay on the cot and rest. We need a clear mind.’