Stolen Fates - Anna

Snow Covered Dreams

The wind stings my cheeks and the snow blurs my vision as I wander aimlessly in the forest. It feels like I've been wandering for hours and I still don't know where I am. Nothing looks familiar. I'm lost.

I can hear the sound of snow crunching behind me and turn around slowly. Standing there before me is a wolf, so white it almost blends in with the snowfall. I hear myself gasp and take a step back but the wolf seems just as afraid as I am. She cowers down to the ground and crawls closer to me. My fear fades as I look into her pale blue eyes and I reach my hand down to run my fingers through the fur between her ears.

Another sound permeates the air and shakes the ground beneath my feet. The roar is so loud that it frightens the wolf and she runs away into the thickness of the trees. My eyes scan around me quickly, looking for the source of the sound but all I see is the snow swirling around me.

A sudden gust of wind lifts me from my feet and I, thankfully, land in a nearby snowdrift. I push myself up from the snow and hear the heavy beating of wings above me. I look up and scream as sharp, golden talons come into my view. I run in the opposite direction but feel myself being gently lifted from the ground. I look to my waist and see the same golden talons wrapped lightly around me, carrying me through the air.

Just as suddenly, the talons release and I'm falling to the snow below. Just before I make contact with the ground, the talons catch me and set me down gently. Regardless, I still fall on my ass and scream at the sight before me.

"Fear not, little one. I will not harm you," a soft voice whispers to me and immediately calms my fear. Her tone is like the gentle sounds of rippling water and soothes me. The white scales that cover her large body glimmer like the snow and the golden horns atop her head sparkle in the sun.

"Who are you," I ask the dragon and hear her soft chuckle, easing my nerves further. "Where are we? I've never seen this place before," I explain and watch as her regal head lowers down to my level. Her eyes are white, the irises rimmed by a sapphire blue and the color reminds me of my own.

"My name is Nivara and this, little one, is your dreamworld. I don't have enough strength yet to speak to you while you're awake. That man was blocking me and I'm slowly getting stronger without him near," I listen to her explain and nod my head mutely along with her words.

"Wait...what man," I ask and shift my legs to sit more comfortably in the snow. The dragon must sense my ease and lowers her body to lay in the snow in front of me.

"The man from before, Chase. The wolf is getting stronger as well but she's still frightened of me," I hear a low chuckle from the dragon and tilt my head slightly.

"The white wolf I saw," I question and see Nivara nod.

"We are both a part of you, little one. I would never harm her because that would harm you and neither of us can survive without you," Nivara says and I can hear the honesty in her words.

I nod my head and hear the gentle crunching of the snow again. I turn my head and see the white wolf crouching low and growling softly at the dragon before me.

"Dragons and wolves are not meant to coexist. You are the exception, little one. Because of your heritage, she and I can both protect you," Nivara says and stretches her wings out fully, yawning loudly.

"I must rest now, little one. Soon enough, I will be able to reach you without needing such dreamworlds. In the meantime, get to know the wolf. She will guide you and protect you fiercely until I am able to join her," I hear Nivara say, her body fading with each word she speaks until she is completely gone from my eyes.

The wolf stands from her crouch now that the dragon is gone and moves slowly to sit beside me in the snowbank. Her pale blue eyes dart rapidly around the area and her white ears twist and turn as they try to pick up any sound.

I reach a hand between her ears and ruffle her soft fur, watching her eyes turn to me before going back to searching.

"It's alright. She won't hurt us," I say to the wolf and gently stroke her fur as she shuffles her body to lay down with her front paws on my lap. Another moment later, she lowers her head and I can feel her muscles relax.

The world around me begins to fade, darkness creeping in around me and I hear the wolf whimper beside me. Just as I'm about to lose all feeling of being here, I see the wolf's tail thump the snow repeatedly and I hear her excited whine.

Then I hear Charlie's voice, calling me out of my dream in a panicked voice. He's calling my name over and over again, his voice sounding more and more anxious. I run my hand down the length of the wolf's back one final time before letting go of the dream and floating back to reality.