The Royal Flame

Walls lowered

“WHY” Frost looks with fury in his eyes at me as we start to pace around each other, recovering from me throwing him aside he stretches his limbs with every step he takes.

“Are you planning to bring her in by yourself and take all the glory? Baltazar will not promote you to Hillstone for this.” Frost sounds partially in disbelieve. Never did we not include the other with any undertaken actions yet I hid Ari from him.

“That was never my intention brother.” I feel apologetic towards him but my posture relaxes. From all those who could have found her first, I was blessed with it being Frost.

“Then what? Let me take her. He will promote me. I promise in return I will give you the good stuff from Hillstone.” Pleadingly he lowers himself. We can hear Ari shuffling up the wall as from time to time small pieces of rock make their way down, Frost’s impatience to attempt another jump makes his body wiggle from side to side.

“She is just a woman. What can one human woman do? It does not feel right to sacrifice a human woman just because he orders us to.” Relief washes over me as I see her roll over the ridge out of our view.

“Klyn, it is not up to us to decide that. Did you forget our dark history? We were banished here because of them.”

“Not necessarily because of this particular woman. She knows nothing.”

“She has bewitched you already.” He raises back up as he realizes for this very first time, we stand on opposite sides.

“NO.” My words are released with a deep growl.

Frost takes a step backwards from the power of my released voice.

“She is different. She makes me feel something, she might be the chosen one for me. I do not know why the moon lords gave me a human as my side partner. But there is a reason for all their decisions. Baltazar is just threatened by everything I do for some unknown reason. Brother…. Dear Brother, don’t make me do anything I would want to regret.” Frost twist his head.

“Are you sure she is not just getting in your head? I have heard stories of their powers. They bewitch you. Obviously, they send a fragile looking human, testing if we would be weak hearted.” Proud of his own conclusions Frost finds power in himself and his thoughts which changes his stance.

“At least shouldn’t we hear what she has to say? Somehow, maybe, she doesn’t have to die.” I do not know her, but something inside of me tells me she is important to me. If the pack would harm her in anyway, that event would haunt me forever.

“You know very well that no word will change Baltazar’s mind. Brother, I will always have your back and support you. Maybe the moon gods will grant grace upon you and bestow you with another female in your life.

However, while you might have the ability to deflect orders, I cannot and do not have the will nor strength to do so. His words are my command.” Like that Frost turns around, pushing himself off the ground with his back paws. Finding grip somehow, he does not immediately fall off, muscles clench while he shuffles up the wall. Leaving me alone below.

Frost is right that in no way I can be sure that she is not a spy. But my gut tells me she deserves to live. If not for her, then for my own sake I have to stop Frost or at least hold him back until she crosses the mountains.

I turn around to build up speed, I will run from afar. With enough speed, I can jump on top of him and take us both down. Turning around I push my hips in the air, preparing myself for a big push off. Lowering myself to the snowy ground.

A bouldering sound, lifts me back up. As I look down small snowflakes around my paws starts to bounce around. The ground shakes as well as the air. Lifting my chin, Frost is still stuck on the wall, paused in his attempts to climb. A white cloud appears above the ridge, quickly followed by a flow of snow and loose rocks. Knocking first Frost of the wall before rapidly moving towards me. Before I get the chance to run out of its way I am swallowed by the immense flow of snow.

It is too dark before my eyes but I can feel the movement of the snow taking me away. The pressure of the snow makes it impossible to move. Once the flow settles down, movement stops and the ear deafening sound stops. Unable to move in my current form, I relax my body to shift back.

*I will take over now*

The volume of my wolf’s form has created a cave within the snow, giving me the freedom to move. As my body sinks to one side, I start to dig above myself. Stepping on the new fresh snow like a stepping stone I am able to dig myself out of the snow to the surface. Pulling myself out of the layers of snow into the darkness of the night, the evening wind brushes against my sore skin, making me shiver in my spot. Turning immediately back into my wolf form I gallop over to the foot of the wall. The heap of snow has lowered the height of the wall, making is easy for anyone to jump over but there is no sign of Frost. With no paw prints to be found, Frost must be still covered by the enormous amount of snow.

“Frost?” I call out to him, but no sign.

My front paws keep digging deeper and deeper, but as the amount of snow is too great, the surrounding snow collapses into the hole I try to create with my paws. Digging to no avail, I come to a halt. Pacing around the snow. Before I can hear the howling in the distance of others.

The tremendous sound of the falling snow must have alarmed our pack, who are now on their way. *If we all dig, we might be able to find Frost. But I will be a traitor.* This thought stops me. *I am a traitor. * Baltazar already wants my head on a spike. Now he will easily convince anyone of it as I killed my fellow brother. And if Frost survives he will have no other option under Baltazar’s stern commands to speak the truth like Noelani did. No matter what, I do I will be branded as a traitor who let the woman escape.

My head moves back up to look at the now closer ridge.

Unless I bring her in. She did this, she caused this snow slide. She killed my brother. It will be clear I am loyal to our pack. With a big leap, I jump against the wall. Without grip my paws slide down. With my nails pressed into the stone wall, my back paws find support from time to time. Allowing me to further leap up.

“For you my brother.”

With the last push, I jump over the ridge.