Wolf-Shifter

Dancing among the Stars 29

The spring and summer months passed quickly and winter soon came, the snow fell fast and heavy upon the ground and the large pond in the woods turned to ice. For these months, Nyesh remained at Wyvern's Court, quickly becoming friends with Rose.

Rose, for some reason, liked to take long walks with Nyesh in the woods. She looked forward to the mornings when the sun would just begin to rise over the hills of snow, spreading a golden glow over the white.

This particular morning, she was to go skating, a childhood pastime that she loved. She ripped the blankets off herself and grinned as she hurried to get dressed. Picking out a pair of black slacks and a deep blue shirt, she carelessly combed out her hair, stuffed her feet into boots, and quickly grabbed a warm jacket and her skates that had been left by the door.

She snatched two rolls and a tankard of cider and packed them with her mittens and a book in a sack. "I'm going skating, Mother and I won't be back for a while!" she called.

Namid hurried to kiss her daughter on the cheek, "Be safe."

Rose grinned, "I will."

Namid watched her daughter go, chuckling over the fact that there was a bounce in her step and a giddiness in her smile. "It's young love…" The mother smiled slightly as a tear ran down her cheek. "Be careful, Rose."

Rose giggled as she ran down the slopes, and into the wood, watching as the snowflakes fell on her clothing and melted. She laughed as Nyesh crept behind her and tackled her, sending both of them tumbling into the snow. She looked down at Nyesh's face, his cheeks flushed with the cold, "You got me." She replied, grinning.

"That I did." He replied.

Rose stood up and held out a hand.

The man took her hand and Rose felt a strange tingling that she had never felt, settle itself in her chest and she blushed, pulling Nyesh to his feet. "Race you to the pond." He whispered, running off.

Rose laughed, "Wait!"

He stopped at the top of a hill and turned around and Rose was taken aback for a moment, standing there, atop the hill, was not the young man she befriended but the adult Nyesh she envisioned. Shaking her head to clear it, she growled mockingly and ran to catch up.

The pond was shining bright in the sun and both ran to put on their skates. Once they had their skates on, Nyesh held onto her hands as she shakily stood and tried to skate, "I haven't done this in years!" she cried.

"Come on. It's easy."

"That's how you make it!" she laughed.

Nyesh just chuckled in reply.

Once Rose had the hang of it, Nyesh left her to do it on her own. She glided shakily on the ice, "This is easy." She remarked, as she suddenly slipped and fell. "Or not."

Nyesh, seeing her, laughed outright at this. "I bet you can't catch me!" He replied, racing off.

Rose gave him a look, "You're cheating, you know." She called back.

Nyesh turned sharply and smiled. "Come on."

Rose got up and skated after him, intent on beating him at his own game. "You get back here this instant!" she ordered

She stopped and rested, tired of chasing him, and sighed, "Fine. I'll wait here for you, then."

Oblivious to the sounds beneath her, Rose smirked, "Not coming are you?"

"No, Rose—"

"Too afraid are you, Nyesh?" She raised her eyebrows.

"I'd move if I were you, Rose."

"Ha, I knew it. You are afraid, aren't you?"

Nyesh skated over, only a few feet away from the princess. "Rose, get off the ice now."

Rose looked down and her face paled, "Nyesh…"

"Just don't move, Rose. Do not move."

"I'm not moving!" she yelled.

"Don't do that either." He told her, "It hurts the ears."

"Just hurry." She whispered, legs shaking and voice so quiet, "Nyesh?"

He turned to face her.

"Can either cobras or wolves swim?" she asked.

"Wolves can, but cobras can't." He turned away again, "I'm going to ask you to reach out with your hand and grab mine, alright?" "Then I'll pull you to the bank."

But when Nyesh turned back, Rose was gone and in its place was a large hole in the ice.

Nyesh swore violently and ripped off his jacket and skates, "I knew I should have acted quicker." He swore again and dove in after her, the sudden cold biting at his body and burning his lungs. When he opened his stinging eyes, all he could see was blackness and the bright reflection of the sun on the surface.

Swimming deeper, he shifted into his Demi-form and with his eyes in the shape of a wolf's; he saw a silhouette of a woman on the bottom of the pond. "Oh, gods, Rose." He thought as he swam to gather her up in his arms.

Using his legs, he kicked up to the surface and burst through the ice with a gasp of the sweet winter air. Heaving himself onto the ice, he dragged Rose with him, and onto the bank. He wrapped his jacket around her, snug, as he bent down and checked her breathing. Nyesh gulped in embarrassment as he leaned down and gave her the breath of life.

"C'mon, Rose, breathe." Nyesh pushed twice on her chest to restart her heart. "Don't you give up now!"

Suddenly Rose opened her eyes, coughing and gasping, she rolled over and spat out the water from her lungs. Nyesh sighed in relief and placed a hand on her shoulder, "You all right?" he whispered.

Rose nodded, "You saved my life."

"I couldn't let my friend drown, much less an heir to Wyvern's Court." He said putting on his boots.

Rose smiled softly, "I owe you my life, Nyesh."

"And I owe you my heart." He replied, kissing her cheek and walking back to the Court.

Rose grinned and touched her cheek.

"Well are you coming or not?" Nyesh called back.

"Yes." Rose replied, standing and running after him.