Her

Chapter 7

The next few days flew by quickly. Lux had talked to me less though, she ignored me often and said I was to stay in the cabin. She brought me my meals and would then leave to go eat with the crew. Today though, she took me outside.

I breathed in the bitter cold air. The wind nipped at my bare skin and whipped my hair back into the breeze. I stared ahead, the landscape ahead filled me with dread.

Snow blanketed the thick pine forest. Grey, bleak mountains broke the tree line, rising in the background like sleeping giants. Even their tips were snow capped, the snow seemed to cover everything. The water around us was icy, thick blocks of ice floated around us. I watched as they bumped off the sides of the ship.

"Come back inside, you'll catch your death out here." Lux's voice called from inside the warm room.

I turned and tottered back inside. The wind had chapped my lips and sent a blue tinge to my fingers. I was grateful to be back inside the cabin. The door shut behind me with a slam, the wind blowing steadily on it.

Lux stood with a change of clothes in her hands. "You'll need these for the journey." She sat them down and paced away.

I slipped on the long brown dress first. The sleeves bunched around my wrists, the dress was obviously made for someone taller. I looked down to see the edges where pooling at my feet. I picked up the next article and pulled it on. It like a furred shorter dress, it fits snugly and the sleeves were billowy. I put on the cap next and slipped on the thick boots.

I looked back to see Lux staring. I flushed, my cheeks turning red. How long had she been watching me? Her eyes trailed along my entire body, her face just as flushed.

Finally, she cleared her throat. "Um, you look nice in that style of clothing." She mumbled.

"Thank you," I bowed my head, "It was generous you provided me with it."

"Don't think anything of it."

She opened the door and motioned for me to follow. I tripped after her, the long underneath dress making it slightly difficult. She stood by the rowboats, climbing into one with the grace of a queen.

I had more difficulty. I stumbled and tripped into the boat, landing promptly on her lap. I blushed once more and scrambled off clumsily. I looked to see Ivor in the boat as well. His face broke out into a smile, he tried to hide it though.

The rowboat lowered into the icy water. Miniature icebergs floated past us, bumping into the sides of the small boat occasionally. I gripped the front of my dress tightly as a splash of freezing water landed on me. The sensation was enough to make my teeth chatter instantly.

Lux glanced at me. Her eyes betrayed her concern for me as she undid the clasp to her cloak. Her swift fingers quickly placed the heavy cloak onto me. She re-clipped the clasp and adjusted it like a mother fretting over a pup.

Ivor raised his eyebrows at the action. His eyes flickering from her to me. "Alpha, would you like my cloak?" He said.

"No.I find the brisk air of our homeland, comforting." She said.

"Where are the others?" I asked.

No other rowboats were depleted. In fact, the ship looked deserted as if everyone had disappeared. Not a living thing stirred on the deck.

"They'll be meeting us at the house," She said, "I asked that they leave later."

I nodded. I peered over the edge of the rowboat, curious of the water. It was an inky black color unlike the navy blue of the sea back home. This water looked hungry as if it would happily swallow us into its dark, freezing depths. I shuddered at the idea and pulled away.

"Do you like water?" Ivor's voice cut through the silence.

"The sea has been my friend for as long as I can remember," I said quietly, "Besides my twin, it's the only constant in my whole life."

"You have a twin?" He inquired.

"Yes, he's back at home though." I fidgeted with the ends of the cloak.

The silence cloaked us after that. Lux had a painful look on her face and she would look at me every few minutes. Ivor was quiet as well, he observed us as he rowed the boat. Soon enough though, the boat hit land.

I lurched forward unsteady on my feet. Lux's arms wrapped around me, keeping me on my feet. Her face scrunched in disgust and she released me. She stepped out of the boat hurried.

"Allow me to assist you." Ivor's large hand enclosed my own as he helped me step off the boat.

"Thank you."

I dug my boots into the strange, foreign terrain. Unlike the pebble beaches and hard packed dirt, I had lived my entire life. The earth here was soft and broke apart easily. I took a step forward and I sunk down a little.

When I around I realized Lux and Ivor were far ahead. Their bodies were slowly being swallowed by the thick pines. I hurried after them, the cloak dragging behind me and the ends of my dress tripping me.

Lux stared at me in annoyance. "Oh my moons," She growled,"We'll take forever to get back with you!"

"I'm sorry!" I stammered.

Her arms reached out and hoisted me up. I screeched in surprise, causing her to stiffen and pause for a few seconds. Then she slowly shimmied me onto her back, my legs wrapped around her hips and my arms enveloping her neck.

"Just hold on, okay?" She hoisted me up once more and started to walk.

She was not bothered by the extra weight and managed to even outpace the giant Ivor was. I began to doubt though that I was any extra weight to her. She carried back prey that was larger than me. I could feel the lean muscles under her back working and I guessed she could probably lift at least twice her weight.

"Enjoying yourself?" She asked.

"Thank you for carrying me," I mumbled in her ear.

"Don't think too much about it." She said.