Water Under a Burned Bridge

05. Direwolf

Despite himself, Aquarius soon submitted to his weakness. Returning to the beach where he'd left the prince. He'd of course since left, but that didn't stop the foolish merman from searching the place over.

As far as he could anyway. His tail restricted him from treading the land. No amount of wishing or praying would do him any good. For better, for worse, Aquarius was stuck with his tail. He spat at the shimmering scales that reflected back at him.

"You!" Came a voice, knocking Aquarius from his perched position upon the rock.

Water splashed and hit him hard, until he could reach the rock.

"Excuse you!" He shot back, clinging to the rock to steady himself. "I'm sulking here"

"Yes, and now you've gone and soaked yourself" the woman standing in the sand, said back.

She wore a long, black, thick robe. Her hair, a deep red, parted neatly down the center of her head, it fell to her middle somewhat covering the cloak. Almost as a second cloak.

"Have you not noticed?" Aquarius shot back, splashing the water with his fins.

"Yes of course" she said, swatting at the water. "I am not blindsided"

"Good then" Aquarius shot back. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've a prince to find"

"Oh yes" she said clapping her hands. "You are definitely going to be royally screwed. Probably not in the way you'd like"

She stuck her lower lip out, sarcastically. Then the largest grin came over her face, she really did find herself amusing.

"I'm sorry" Aquarius said, also sarcastically. "Who in the name of Poseidon do you think you are?"

"Poseidon!" She exclaimed, clapping her hands again. "He sure enjoyed himself some royal screwing"

Aquarius exhaled hard, and put his hands in the air as if to say 'I'm done'

"Goodbye" he said quickly. "Who ever you are"

"You're not going anywhere" she said proudly.

"And who's gonna stop me?" He asked, laughing. "You?"

Without another word, she removed the cloak revealing herself. She tossed her hair behind her shoulders, baring herself for anyone who happened to walk by to see. Her pale body shivered in the cold night air.

She stood with her arms out, almost to embrace the moonlight. Perhaps she wasn't fully aware of herself.

Because of the dark night, her eyes weren't visible. At least they weren't. Now they glowed a deep red, and as if on cue she lowered her self down to the sand. Her body began to twitch, and the sound of cracking bones came from it. Where there was skin, was replaced with fur. Mostly black, with red traces through out. Her fingers shrunk up into her hands, and formed paws. The same for her feet.

Before Aquarius could blink, the woman that once stood a mere ten feet from him, now was replaced by a wolf. She growled and blinked her now deep red eyes at him.

She was right, he didn't go anywhere. How could he? Aquarius now seemed to be paralyzed in his fear. Though the goosebumps that ran up his back seemed to dissipate, with the welcome relief of warm air. No, not warm. Warm wasn't the right word. Hot. Fiery hot air beat down his neck.

Aquarius knew what lurked behind him, but he dared not to look. The growling answered his question.

"Friend of yours?" Aquarius asked, though again he probably should've kept quiet.

Without answering, the dragon pulled Aquarius backward and held his head to his chest. Forcing a liquid past his lips, that burnt going down.

"What is that?" Aquarius exclaimed. "Acid?"

"Hush now" the dragon spoke into his ear.

Not that he had to, the burning sensation running down Aquarius' body was enough to knock him out-cold.