Through the ice and the universe

Boa

Rika's anguished cry echoed loudly through the forest, capturing Boa's attention. Her heart skipped a beat and she immediately increased her pace through the rain.

Am I too late? Boa worried. She was already in her animal form, running over logs and rocks with a roar boiling up from her throat. She wasn't a werewolf like most of her pack members were, no she was a werecat. A tiger.

She was flexible and strong, with a vision that was exceptionally sharp, allowing her to see in the dark as if it were daytime. So, when she jumped through the next bush and was met by all the monsters in front of her, she could see each one of them very clearly. Her yellow eyes also found Rika...

To her dismay, she witnessed how Rika tried desperately to push one of the monsters away from her arm. Her left arm, which the monster had sunk its teeth into.

Boa was consumed by anger. She lunged forward and clawed and bit the monsters that got in her way. She was quickly at the tree trunk and started to climb up towards Rika.

Boa roared loudly as she finally reached Rika’s side. The two beasts who had surrounded her, immediately backed away and released Rika’s arm. Boa continued to roar until the beasts had climbed down from the tree. Once she was sure that the hungry monsters weren't planning on trying to climb back up again, she turned her attention to Rika.

Rika had pushed herself back against the tree trunk. Looking at Boa with a horrified expression. In Rika's mind she didn't know which was worse, a monster or a tiger? But she didn't know yet that Boa wasn't exactly an ordinary tiger. And Boa hadn't realized either, how confused Rika actually was.

Thinking that Rika only was scared and shocked because of the monsters, Boa sighed out in relief. She decided she needed to quickly shift back into her normal form, in order to speak with Rika. But when she did, she realized that Rika suddenly looked even more terrified.

Is she... afraid of me? Boa wondered. Why? Werecats have maintain peace with humans for ages... so why? But then it hit her. She remembered her conversation with Beck and Prince Zeke, that she had just before she climbed over the wall.

"What do you mean? What happened?! Why is she... climbing over the castle wall and... running into the dark forest in the middle of the night?!" Boa had demanded to know.

"Please, we don't have time to explain everything now. But when you find her..." Zeke sighed dejectedly. "Be prepared... that she might be very confused…"

"Confused?" Boa had snorted.

"Yes, now go!"

So, Boa did not have any further knowledge about how this situation had come to be. She cautiously observed Rika's horrified gaze. She hesitated as to what she should do, but then Boa's eyes landed on Rika's bloody left arm.

"You are injured." Boa said with a warm comforting voice. "Please, let me help you, your royal highness." Rika gasped in surprise, making Boa giggle a little. "Yes, I know who you are... My name is Boa, I am one of your warriors. Uhm.. Prince Zeke asked me to look after you until he arrives... He'll be here soon."

Boa took a few steps closer to Rika and sat down slowly in front of her. Boa's eyes once again fell on Rika's left arm. The thick fur jacket she was wearing made it difficult to see Rika's wound propely.

"Can I take a look? On your arm?" Boa asked, but Rika didn't answer her. She just continued to stare. "I need to stop the bleeding."

But when Boa tried to reach out to Rika, Rika quickly pulled away again from her. Boa sighed dejectedly.

Suddenly a horrible roar was heard. But this time, the sound had not come from the ground, and Boa knew at once that it hadn't come from one of the forest monsters. The monsters on the ground suddenly fled in every direction and was now gone.

Another deafening roar was heard from above them. Both Boa and Rika's eyes shot upward in terror as they saw the black body of a large, winged creature that swiftly flew over them and vanished just as rapidly as it had appeared.

"What... was that?" Rika whispered with a shaking voice. Boa met her eyes.

"A dragon."