The wind wafted over her white fur. Her tail swayed against the solid rock underneath her but that was the most movement she had done since climbing up here. If she looked behind her, she could see Luthagen. But instead, she was looking ahead at the shifting dunes and hot sun.
This should have been a good relaxing day.
But the throbbing ache in her chest hadn’t gone away. The hurt hadn’t lessened. The absence hadn’t become more bearable. It hurt to wake up every day to the den being one person short. To go to bed knowing that she had failed. Failed to protect and save her. She couldn’t stand reality.
She let out a soft mournful whimper and shut her eyes. But an answering croon came back to her. She looked at her side and saw the grey wolf laying down at her side. Ever since Ryza vanished he hadn’t left her side. The pain she was feeling he felt too. Like tomorrow could never come no matter how many times the sun rose.
She turned and licked him lightly resting her head near his. He returned the favor and well his tail rose then fell pitifully. But his and Snow’s ears both perked up as they heard a howl on the wind that carried to them.
Several of them in fact. Her eyes opened a crack and she lifted her head slightly. Turning she looked over the edge of the boulder and saw the shapes coming forward. The large brown wulf and the pair of wolves behind her. They both felt the soft surge of magic as Stephanie changed back looking up at them. Snow flicked her ears in acknowledgment before going back to resting her head on her paws.
“I thought I’d find you here,” Stephanie said looking at her.
When Snow didn’t respond she frowned. Crouching she jumped high and landed on the boulder taking up the last bit of space up there with them. She went down on her knee and Grey turned to face her, his tail wagging slightly. She brushed her hands over his face pressing her head against his. Rustle and Ginger found their way up there as well making space for themselves with Grey.
But then she moved over to Snow’s side brushing her hands across her fur. She wrapped her arms around her and pulled her close feeling the warmth of the wulf. Snow didn’t respond much but she leaned against her, her ears lowering again.
“How long have you been up here?” Stephanie asked against her fur. “All day?”
Snow chuffed shaking her head.
“Just this afternoon?”
Snow’s tail swished against her side and she vibrated slightly.
“Have you eaten?”
She threw her head back barking.
“You have to eat Snow. You and Grey both do. It’s been over a month. It hurts for me too. But.” She couldn’t keep talking at the moment. She let out a whimper and leaned forward. She pressed her face against Snow’s side taking a deep breath. Felt her scent, familiar to her in every way possible and she got some strength from it.
Digging her fingers into her fur she moved forward and sat down closer to her head but was able to reach out to her. She took her head and lifted it, so that she could meet her eyes. The soft blue orbs saw her but they weren’t looking at her. Not really. Stephanie put her head against her forehead and heard her whimper again.
“I know Snow. I know. I miss her too. So much,” she mumbled. “The First asked me today. Earlier. If we wanted to add something of Ryza’s to the hall. And I couldn’t give him an answer.”
She lowered her head feeling tears in her eyes again. She sniffled shutting her eyes tightly taking another deep breath and focusing on her. Snow shifted slightly and licked her face slowly brushing her face against her cheek gently.
Rubbing her face, she smiled gently, “Thanks.”
Turning around slowly she moved so that she was sitting on the edge of the boulder but she kept one of her arms around Snow’s body. She felt her tail brush against her own and they sat together. Soaking in the air, the sun, and being miserable and in pain together.
They were together for almost an hour, sitting and laying together. But something interrupted their quiet moment. Stephanie sat up taller and narrowed her eyes. A cloud of sand had kicked up. She wondered if it was a storm coming their way but the sand wasn’t going that high up.
And then the wind brought the scent. Her ears went up, the wolves all sat up and even Snow tipped her head upward.
Stephanie sniffed again, focusing on the scent and her eyes widened. “A wulf. One of us. Someone’s in trouble.”
She started to stand up and then looked down at Snow who hadn’t moved yet, letting her head rest down on her paws again. Frowning hard she reached down and pushed her fingers through her fur. “Come on Snow. Doing something will be better than doing nothing. We can do this. Together.”
Snow looked up at her and blinked slowly before shaking herself. Her heart may have been broken and she may have been tired but she was still loyal to the pack. A wulf in trouble was her family. And she’d be damned if she let another piece of her family be killed in front of her.
Snow growled and leaped forward landing shakily but she felt the wolves and Stephanie come down behind her. They tore across the ground together Snow and Stephanie in the lead with the wolves chasing behind them. As they got closer, they could see what was kicking up all the commotion.
A black wulf streaked with white darting across the sands. But behind them was a dozen people on horseback. They had weapons drawn and loosely they could hear them shouting and jeering at the wulf. The small pack closed the distance between the attackers and the wulf and barked at one another going into action.
Stephanie and Snow split up the wolves going with them, Grey with Snow and Ginger and Rustle with Stephanie. Snow dove forward and then jumped forward digging her claws into the flank of a horse. Her claws were like razors ripping apart the skin and tearing it down. The rider shouted when Grey followed up biting and tearing into their throat silencing those screams.
Mid jump, Stephanie changed forms into her huge half wulf form. She caught the head of a horse and her muscles bulged as she turned and threw the horse into the sand. She loosely heard the cracking of bones. A pair of horses came her way and she caught sight of their weapons in the light of the sun.
She swung snatching one of the riders off their horse but let out a snarl as an axe dug into her shoulder. Stumbling forward she whirled back ready to attack when Ginger darted past. Her fangs dug into the flank of the horse sending it panicking forward. The horse kicked and spasmed with the pain and tried to shake off the wolf.
The rider shouted turning back and trying to swing at her. Before the blade could hit her the sand exploded. Ginger stumbled backward, shaking her head back and forth, very confused but Snow stood over her and she shook looking at her for direction.
Growling Stephanie turned and looked back at the riders who had backed off and started regrouping trying to decide on their method of counterattack. Snow stalked forward and spread her paws, her tail trashing and fur bristled as she barked at them.
One of the riders shouted pointing a sword at her but one of the others came over to him, putting a hand on his shoulder. They spoke back and forth quickly and angrily. Slowly the horseman surrounded them weapons raised. Another of them raised their arms and produced a crossbow. Pulling back on the weapon they aimed at them.
But before they could pull the string they jerked back and let out a strangled cry. Their body contorted and they dropped their weapon. The others watched him writhe in pain unnerved and turned back toward the wolves but they were just as confused by this as they were.
“It’s her!”
The pack turned and watched a woman with a black cardigan, long skirt, and thick bushy silver hair came forward. Her ears perked up underneath them and she bared her fangs as her eyes glowed bright silver. Her tail thrashed back and forth as she glared at her former attackers.
“You. You don’t touch my girls. Not while I’m still alive,” she growled.
She yanked her arm back and the man’s eyes rolled into the back of his head. But something more than that happened. A glow of light appeared along his body. And then it left him, pulled out like water being drawn from a jug. It appeared over him like a translucent copy.
She made a savage face and then closed her hand into a fist. The image collapsed in on itself and then disappeared entirely. The man let out a strangled noise and finally fell off the horse with a thud. The woman walked forward slowly to stand with the wulves. Stephanie and Snow looked at her warily and even Ginger and Rustle gave her a wide berth. But Grey just stared.
The horses of the others stamped nervously and even the riders were nervous as hell. What they thought they were hunting was something else entirely. And now they were on the wrong side of a battle.
“You chased me out here and that was your mistake,” she said forcing her voice down away from the snarl. “But if you want to keep not just your lives but your souls, you’ll turn tail now.”
As she spoke, she raised her hand and moved her fingers slowly, the black and silver rings on her fingers clinking together lightly. As she did it a familiar feeling washed over them. The cool touch of the grave that Stephanie and Snow both knew well. The horses and pursuers that had been cut down started to rise from the ground. The zombies shifted and turned to face the direction the woman was in.
They backed up and started turning to run as fast as they could. They kicked up clouds of sand. They watched them go and the woman waited for a long time before lowering her hand and the zombies collapsed with it. She let out a breath and her eyes dimmed to silver pools.
Stephanie let out a breath and changed back to her human form. Her hair settled and she winced touching her shoulder. Snow padded over to her and licked her wound. “It’s okay Snow. It’ll heal.”
Snow nodded slowly and turned to face the woman. Ginger and Rustle did the same, going on the other side surrounding her. “We meant to come to your rescue but I guess you came to ours instead. Did you need help to begin with?”
“No but it was appreciated,” the woman chuckled and glanced at each of the wolves but her eyes lingered on Grey.
“I’m Stephanie. This is Snow and that’s Grey, Rustle, and Ginger.”
“My names Shina. You have a healthy pack.”
“Thanks,” Stephanie looked away, her hand absently brushing through Snow’s fur. “We had another but she’s gone now.”
Rustle and Ginger both whimpered softly but Grey didn’t stop staring. And neither did Snow. She sniffed the air and looked at the wulf. Grey panted softly tilting his head to the side and barked.
The giant wulf padded forward slowly and then with a rush of energy stood on her legs again. She looked a little thinner, her eyes were ringed with bags, and her hair unkempt but for the first time in a long time her eyes were focused. Her ears were low and her tail swayed slowly. Grey walked beside her.
Shina tensed, her ears perking up but took a forced breath and relaxed. Snow looked at her and coughed before talking. Her voice was rough from disuse, “You. You called us your girls.”
“She did?” Stephanie repeated eyes widening. Her eyes narrowed and her voice lowered into a growl, “I don’t know who you are but we’re not your girls. We don’t even know who you are.”
Shina flinched and looked away lowering her ears.
Gray padded forward quickly. His tail swished and he looked up at her. She looked down at the wolf and he looked back at her with inquisitive brown eyes. He pressed his face against her hand, licking at the rings on her fingers. She giggled and leaned forward stroking her fingers across his face.
“He’s never that friendly with anyone,” Stephanie said softly.
Snow walked toward the woman and raised her head eyeing her carefully. But Snow didn’t stop until she was standing in front of her, looking down at her properly. She reached out and touched her face, her thumb stroking the scar just under her eye. Shina was still the entire time as Snow sniffed again, this time close enough to catch her scent. To look her in the eyes.
Snow stepped back slowly and rubbed her eyes. She whimpered and wiped away the tears in her eyes. Her ears lowered in anger at her as she swung her arm. “How? How?! Tell me how! How is this possible!”
Rustle, Ginger and Stephanie started, shocked by the outburst and the wolves even barked. Grey barked lightly but stayed where he was. “Snow what is it? What are you talking about?” Stephanie shouted stepping forward. She took Snow’s hands with both of hers and she felt her vibrating with emotion.
Shina took a step back shutting her eyes tightly, “It’s a long story.”
“Make it short.”
“Snow I know I’m missing something but what’s going on?”
Snow wiped her eyes again and growled, “This woman. Is Ryza.”
Stephanie stilled her eyes going even wider. She took a step back rubbing her eyes and then looked at this strange woman in a new light. “What?”
“I swear if this is some kind of trick,” Snow said bitterly.
Shina took a slow deep breath and her ears deflated slightly. She nodded at them both looking like she wanted to smile but hadn’t been able to. Holding herself back by the scruff of her neck. She brushed her hands through her hair and finally smiled warmly, enough to disarm even Snow.
“Even after all this time. After my face and body have changed. Some things never change. You’ll always know me my make.”
“Don’t talk like that. Don’t get my hopes up,” Snow said and her voice cracking in its hoarseness. “Just. Explain.”
“A month ago, you saw me vanish. Outside Isaac and Hector’s home,” she lowered her head and nodded. “The demon’s curse had accelerated and finally taken me. But instead of death, I found myself waking up in a grassy field. I wandered around for days, disoriented, tired, and confused. It wasn’t until I stumbled into a small tent city that I realized where I was. The Free City.”
“What?” Snow repeated. “Small? The Free City? Nothing about that is small.”
“It used to be,” Shina looked over her shoulder into the distance. This far away there was no way to actually see the city but in her mind’s eyes she could see it. “Many many years ago. The Free City was only a fraction of what it is now. Just a small gathering of misfit people looking for a place to call home. For a long while it was my home.”
Stephanie held her hands out, “What are you saying? That you went to the past?”
“It’s hard to believe but yes,” she said softly. “My curse sent me back through time and space. To a time when this country was young. Back when people remembered it was called Arkoria.”
“You went back in time,” Stephanie said slowly and rubbed her head. “That’s insane.”
Snow laughed. A harsh dry sound afraid to feel more emotion or warmth yet. “A couple years ago I wouldn’t have thought wulves or Luthagen were real. I’ve seen you do things that are insane. Why not this too?”
“This makes sense to you?” Stephanie asked her visibly confused.
“Not at all,” Snow shook her head, taking a very deep breath, and finally let the tears fall. “But that’s my Ryry.”
Snow stepped forward and picked her up, hugging her as tightly as she could. She whimpered against her hair, her tail wagging like a motor.
Ryza wrapped her arms around Snow tightly and broke into the highest laughter that she’d ever done through her tears. Her hair’s silver color faded and turned to a lush black sheen along with her tail and ears. Like dropping away a veil Ryza’s scent was suddenly there, the one that Snow knew intimately and her heart had ached for.
“I missed you Ryza.”
“I missed you too Snow.”
She let out a higher pitch shout as Stephanie joined in on the hug holding onto them. The wolves were barking, tails wagging, and jumping up to them. “Ryza! It’s really you! I don’t understand how and I don’t care! It’s you!” She said interspaced between her crying.
“I missed you too Stephanie,” Ryza said smiling brightly she leaned forward and pressed her forehead against hers as best she could in Snow’s grip.
Ryza’s feet didn’t touch the ground for a very long time but when they did, she didn’t take her arms off Snow or Stephanie’s hands. She brought their hands up to her face and took in their scents, letting them waft over her like the blanket she’d lost finally being returned to her. And they did the same, pressing their faces against her neck or into her hair.
The wolves came closer seeking Ryza’s hands, licking at her fingers and pressing against what parts that they could fit, “Grey. Ginger. Rustle. I missed you too.”
“How long?” Snow mumbled into her neck.
“What?” Ryza looked up at her.
“How long were you in the past?”
Ryza shrugged, “I lost track after the second century.”
“Century?” Stephanie repeated and looked at her closely. In some ways her face was different sure, her eyes a little smaller, her nose sharper. But these were things she had to truly look for. Everything about her looked like their Ryza. “You don’t look. Old and decrepit and falling apart.”
That made her smile, “Being immortal helps make the years go by easier.”
Both wulves looked at her stunned, “So you were right?” Stephanie asked. “You did it?”
“I wasn’t right entirely. I was off a bit and you stopping me saved me from making some big mistakes,” She stroked Snow’s face and kissed her lightly then kissed Stephanie.
“A calculated risk?” Snow asked and Ryza chuckled.
“More like a necessary one. If I didn’t survive. I was never going to see you two again. If it failed, I wouldn’t be any worse off. But if I was right. This would happen. I had some help from a friend. I owe Sehren more than a few favors.”
Kissing her again Stephanie asked, “So what does that mean? Will you never die?”
“After everything I’ve seen and done, only Alpha and Omega could kill me now,” she looked wistful thinking of something she’d seen before.
“Alpha and Omega? Who are they?” Stephanie asked.
But Snow was shaking her head, “You mean Nerodala’s god don’t you.”
Ryza nodded, “The progenitors.”
“Even though I won’t understand it I want to hear you tell me how it works later,” Snow said kissing her head and keeping her face against hers.
Ryza giggled, “I’ll enjoy doing that. I need to document it anyway. There’s a lot of journals I planted around Arkoria that I need to find.”
Stephanie took her hand and rubbed her face against it, “You said that before. What’s Arkoria?”
Ryza took her hand back from Snow and swept it outward at the desert but she was meaning beyond. “All of this. Noria, the Sanctum, Luthagen, the Free City, Cerise. All of it. This place used to be known as Arkoria. But it’s been forgotten. Not many people know its name anymore.”
“Arkoria,” Stephanie said sounding it out. “I like it. Sounds right in a way.”
Snow reached out toward Ryza’s hand and lifted it slowly. She followed her gaze but Stephanie was looking at her fingers, the faded white and bronze rings resting there. It was hard to make out entirely but Snow could see the edges of the ears, the snout and the spot where the eyes should have been. She looked at her hand and saw the more pristine version and lined them up together. Ryza raised her hand and showed off the bronze one and Snow did the same thing letting them rest together.
“You kept them.”
“Of course I did. These were all that kept me going a lot of the time,” She laced her fingers together with theirs. “A lot of times I thought I was never going to see you two again. That I would die or that things would have changed and we’d never meet. If this was some strange magical torture. So much happened. Good, bad, and worse.”
She shut her eyes tightly taking a deep breath and looked at the two of them again. Stephanie’s smile was so big it threatened to split her face while Snow’s was so warm it would have melted Ryza on the spot.
“You’re back Ryry,” Stephanie said softly.
“And I’m not going anywhere again,” she told them.
“Promise?” Snow asked.
“Promise?” Stephanie asked too.
Ryza looked at each of them and nodded slowly, “Promise.”
The Harlequin Library 