The Princess of Ice

Chapter 4

Cass crouched silently in a bush, watching a doe walk through the forest. Bersi was next to her, as silent as the princess. Bersi looked at her and noticed a glow in her blood eyes. He quickly looked away when he saw her glance at him. The doe had started grazing and cass quietly took out her bow and loaded it with an arrow. She aimed it at the deer's stomach and stood completely still. She watched as the creature raised its head and looked around. Bersi whispered to her to take the shot but cass lowered her bow. She grabbed a rock and threw it so it landed next to the deer and it ran off. Bersi looked at cass. "What was that for?" he asked and looked at where the deer once stood. Cass just shook her head. "Wasn't her time." she stated and bersi sighed then stood up. "We've been hunting for hours and only caught what? A rabbit?" he said and looked at the silent princess. "I'm going home your majesty." he stated before turning and going back to their horses then mounted his and rode off.

    Cass stood in that spot for a few moments before she turned and went back to her own horse and mounted it. She didn't go home though. Instead she rode further into the forest. She followed the trail the deer had took. It was rough terrain and her steed refused to go down some paths so she had to find an easier way. Cass soon enough reached a meadow where a herd of deer were grazing. Cass watched the herd before she realized what they were. Ice deer. One of jotunheim most beautiful creatures. Cass dismounted her horse and watched the herd with a small smile on her face. One doe raised her head and looked around before running off, fawns and other does following. But what stayed behind was a l stag. His fur was shining and had a blu glowing hue. It raised its head and saw cass but it did not run.

    Cass stood cautious and slowly put her bow on back. She knelt down showing the deer she was no threat. The stag slowly walked towards cass and stood five feet in front of her. Cass slowly reached her hand out and the stag lowered it's head to put it's muzzle to her palm. Cass smiled and started to lightly stroke it's nose. The stag let out a puff of air from it's nostrils and cass watched the frost float into the sky. She smiled then stood up and pet the stag's neck. She whispered to it in old norse. The stag raised its head and then reared back on it's hind legs and stomped it's hooves down. Cass fell back in surprise and the stag snorted out. Cass just chuckled to herself as the stag nudged her. Suddenly there was a crack and the stag raised its head and looked around.

    Cass looked to the bushed across the meadow and saw two glowing yellow eyes. She immediately stood up and took out her bow and loaded it with an arrow. The stag moved in front of cass and got ready for the creature. A wolf with midnight blue fur stepped out of the bushes and growled. The stag called out to the wolf and stomped it's hoof as a threat to stay back. The wolf barked then ran at the deer and leapt at it. The stag quickly threw the wolf to the side using it's small but powerful antlers. The hart rose up on it's hindquarters once again and stomped down next to the wolf. The wolf quickly bit the stag's leg and the stag cried out. Cass quickly straightened up and aimed an arrow at the wolf. "Hey beastie!" she called out. The wolf looked at her and growled and she shot it. The wolf howled out and ran at cass. She dropped her bow then took out her sword. The wolf leapt up at cass and as it came down on her, she sent the sword through it. The wolf yelped and cass dropped it to the side, panting and the adrenaline running through her.

    The stag walked over to cass and nudged her gently. Cass looked up at it and patted it's head then laid her own back. She waited till her nerves were relaxed before she stood up and grabbed her bow and sword. She stared at the body of the wolf before glaring. "He got what was coming." she growled then looked at her new friend. The stag was sniffing it's wound and then licking it. Cass walked over to it and examined it. "It will take a while to heal. Here." she reached to her belt and took off her healing bag and opened it to the bandages and medicine. She stood up and found the healing alcohol she used. Cass cleaned out the wound with water from a pond then cleansed it with the alcohol. She then wrapped it up and patted the deer on the head. The deer nudged her hand and cass stood up. "I have to go friend. I will visit you soon." she said then walked to the wolf and dragged it to her horse and put it on it's back and rode off with the dead creature.