The Witch On The Mountain

Chapter 4

Typically when I slept it was one of two experiences. An agonizing torment filled with flashes of things I couldn't understand, with dreams stretching on seemingly forever. They always left me exhausted in their brutal aftermath.

Then there were the nights I would get peacefully blank rejuvenating sleep not tormented by voices or visions. Last night was the former, for that I was grateful.

But the bliss ended as I was awoken with heat, the feeling of being enveloped in a furnace forcing me awake. I opened my eyes and found myself looking up at my bed, arms caging me in. Soft breaths hitting the shell of my ear as the person plastered against my back slept. He had one hand holding the swell of my chest the other on my lower stomach.

How had I gotten into this situation? Hadn't I went to sleep in bed, had I fallen out while slumbering? I squirmed trying to escape his scalding heat. His grip tightened becoming borderline painful. I let out a whimper relaxing against him.

I could feel every point where his skin touched mine, he had abandoned the muddy cloth in his sleep. He must have made the decision that I would be better press up against his skin than the dirty fabric. He burrowed further into my neck taking deep breaths.

I allowed him to hold me, the feeling of his embrace was nice so I decided to savour the sensation.

Natural light flooded the room signalling the start of a new day. Nathneils's  grip hadn't loosened but my hunger was making it's self evident.

"Nathaniel."

He mumbled something incoherent pulling me impossibly closer. I repeated my call griping the hand resting on my stomach.

"Nathaniel." I called again trying to get his arms off me but my attempt was unsuccessful. I tried turning to face him but was barely able to lay on my back.

His face was relaxed while he slept, his mouth slightly open as he let out puffs of air. He had really delicate eyelashes that contrasted his otherwise sharp features. I reached up to touch his face, why? I wasnt sure. It just felt right.

His eyes slowly opened before his features contorted into happiness. "Hey."  His voice was already unnaturally deep to my ears but somehow it sounded even deeper. "Good morning."

Was the morning good? No I had somehow fallen out of bed and was being held hostage away from breakfast by a wolf. "Let me go ."

Silence fell between us for a moment then the wolf sighed not giving me any room. He burried his face in my hair caressing me as he spoke. " I don't think I want to. " I looked at him in disbelief, he didn't take me seriously at all.

"I'm hungry. I need to eat something." I tried the civil approach.

He sighed and rolled over finally setting me free. I scrambled to get away from him in case he decided to retake my freedom. He got up from the huddle of blankets extending his arm to help me up, I stared at it for a moment.

I ignored his arm and used my bed for support. He already viewed me as weak no need to prove him right. I left him looking slightly offended as I reached for a new dress, throwing the first one I could reach over my body I went to the kitchen.

As expected he quickly followed bringing one of the blankets with him. He decided to wear the blanket Tarzan style, his chest on full display.

I would make stew to start the day, gathering the ingredients I took water form the wooden barrel in the corner. Nathaniel scrunched up his nose inspecting the various vegetables.

"Where's the meat?" He pushed a potato away from him with his finger, leaning across the small counter as he spoke.

" I don't eat meat. " I said washing the vegetables.

"What! How can you survive on this! Its rabbit food?!" he said it outraged.

I suppose to a ferocious wolf the idea was unrealistic, but Covent leader had said I could get all I needed from the land by growing or gathering without harming the wildlife of the mountain side. Stating it would help advance my skills as a reaper. 

" You've never had meat? " he asked in a newly calmed tone.

" No, not anytime I can recall " I replied reaching for the knife to begin cutting.

He looked down at the pile of freshly washed vegetables before reaching around to take my hand.  "I'll catch you something real to eat." I was ready to object but he pulled me taking me with him as he exited the cabin. I reached out pulling an apple with me.

He threw the blanket to the side as he came to the entrance of my garden." Grass for a meal " he scoffed in disgust. He turned and looked at me his expression suddenly becoming serious.

"Don't be alarmed."

I scrunched up my face in confusion. Why would I be alarmed?

He took a step back his shoulders hunched forward. Cracking sounds came from his direction as his body began to morph taking the shape of something non human. Before my eyes he became the wolf I had seen across the river the day before.

The distance between us yesterday had greatly distorted his size, he was a lot bigger up close.

He took a step in my direction, I didn't waiver. He was the same person with the same memories he was just in his wild state. He paused, his eyes taking me in.

I reached out a hand in his direction showing him he could come closer. 'Touch him' He looked at me with what I could only assume was mild surprise, for a second anyway. Then he sprang at me causing me to tumble to the floor with a winded oof.

He began licking my face his tail wagging, I attempted to shield myself with little success. He stopped after awhile, resting his head on my shoulder.

He was still a big puppy.

I reached out to scratch his head.

"You're fur is really soft." It was shiny too. The texture of his maine was genuinely surprising. He licked my face again. It tickled and I found myself making an unflattering sound. He paused and I just knew in his head he was laughing at me. I hid my face in his fur trying to shield my embarrassment.

He nuzzled my neck giving me one final lick before stepping away. He tilted his head towards the sky, his nose in the air. He took breaths for a moment then his head snapped towards the group of trees on the side of my home. He brushed up against my legs his tail rubbing exposed skin before taking off into the trees.

I watched as his large black frame disappeared in the blink of an eye.

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