Hearts in High Places

It's a Trap

Piper

Vines of thorns bound my wrists, my knees ravaged by the rough gravel, my hair hung in limp ropes blocking my view as pain shredded my world, one lash at a time. The searing lines drew screams from my throat as the tattered whip raked my skin. A new lash was added for every fresh sin, every mistake was etched permanently in my flesh as a reminder of my faults. The screams were a mistake, the willfulness was a mistake, the smile was a mistake, the mercy was a mistake. Each burned a line down my back as the whip cracked over and over again.

The pines rattled as the vines broke free from their posts. My wrists bloodied and torn fell to my lap, my body convulsing in pain in the mud and the dirt. I waited. Waited for the words I knew were coming. The promise of change if I proved my worth. I scraped for what lay dormant and came up empty. Silence greeted me as the world fell far below.

I opened my eyes, my hair now braided behind my head, my wrists healed, my back unblemished as I stared into those lakes of crystal blue. His scars stark against his face as he held me in concern. The stars twinkled above as he spoke, his words lost in the wailing wind. The sun set behind him, the pines swallowed in inky blackness.

My breath was hot and fast as my mind came back to me. Tears drenched my cheeks, my throat sore from screams I had swallowed in my sleep. Warm fur held my head above the rough dirt, the consistent heartbeat thumping against my cheek. I opened my eyes and found two silver medallions dipping into my soul with their brilliance. A wet nose nuzzled my cheek, two sets of ears came forward to listen to my breathing as it hitched in my chest.

My limbs were weak from exhaustion but I pulled myself up and grabbed for my knife, the leather bound handle giving me comfort. A scaled wolf, larger than any I had ever seen, sat before me, its head lowered to the ground between its paws. I angled my dagger at its skull but felt hesitation halt my hand before the beast for the first time in years. It did not attack, it sat in a submissive pose and watched me. It seemed well fed and strong, but it wasn't attacking me as every other had in the past. It occurred to me then that Tiberius would not let such a creature into the camp. Tiberius?! If this creature was here, was he alright? An unfamiliar tightness constricted my chest as I hobbled out of the shelter and found a wall of sleeping giant before me.

He lay on his side, his body curled around the clearing blocking most entry points...and exits. He was using his arm as a pillow, his other arm keeping himself propped up as he slept. He looked so peaceful, all the emotions that flickered across his face absent. He breathed softly, his chest rising and falling told me he was still alive and healthy. With his restful breath ruffling my tousled hair, the tightness in my chest released, my blade falling to my side. Walking forward, I stood between his splayed fingers. Laid flat they came up to mid thigh like toppled tree trunks. I fought off the urge to sit on one as such, knowing the danger, when I heard scraping behind me.

The scaled wolf crawled out of the shelter and stretched, the early morning sun glistening in his silver fur like dew drop laden spider silk. His ebony scales shimmering with deep purples and greens. His massive scaled hind legs and tail rippled with muscles and thick plate scales along his spine. As much as I hated to admit it, he was gorgeous. A zing of pride ricocheted in my mind. It was not my emotion. The wolf stood and puffed out its chest.

"Was that you?" I asked before chastising myself for talking to an animal. He began to approach slowly, my hand instinctively raised my knife to meet the threat. It stopped a safe distance away and bowed its head, its eyes closed. Its weak spot was inches from the tip of my blade but it held its ground. I don't know what possessed me to move closer, my blade again by my side, my other hand outstretched towards the beast. My sling slid free from my elbow as my hand sunk into fluffy silver fur. His tail began to beat the air as I scratched his head. He was twice my height but at this moment he felt small and sweet like the dogs I saw people feeding in Cithril.