A Winters Memory

Chapter One

The scent of moist earth waft through the forest as the clouds above began to darken. The soft rumbling of thunder echoed, signaling for all to seek shelter before the downpour.

At the edge of a cave sat a dark-haired maiden, whose eyes were just as striking as her beauty. The mysterious maiden wore a white dress that looked more like rags than suitable clothing.

Her long dark locks fell in waves around her shoulders and down her back; her feet were bare and covered in dirt. She looked no older than eighteen, her porcelain skin and delicate features gave her a look of such innocence, but her eyes told a different story. A story of pain and longing.

She watched as the rain fell, washing away all in its path; she let out a soft sigh as she wrapped her arms around her knees and hugged them to her chest while she rested her chin on them.

A sudden nudge at her side caught her attention, she turned to see a pair of brown eyes looking up at her; with a small smile, she slowly ran her hand along the soft mix colored fur of the small wolf standing beside her. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, the smell of rain filling her senses.

She opened her eyes and swooped the small wolf into her arms and nuzzled him against her chest. She laughed softly as he licked her cheek and buried himself against her comfortably.

She closed her eyes again as she went back to that day, the day her life began to fall apart. She remembered the look on everyone's face, she remembered how they all looked at her after finding out she was different. She remembered how they all shunned her, she remembered it all.

She was happy that she found a new family, but it wasn't the same as having a family that shared your blood.

She was glad for the family she had now and glad that they took her in and raised her as their own even if she was different from them.

The wolves didn't seem to care that she was more human than wolf, all they saw in her was a lost pup who needed a family, a pack and thus; they gave her exactly that.

Although she did miss her old family from time to time, she was far more grateful for the wolves.

By morning's light, the sun was shining high and bright as if the storm from yesterday had never happened. Ara left the cave and headed into the forest, her destination, the small lake surrounded by large trees and moss-covered boulders.

She removed her clothing and slowly stepped into the water, a smile forming on her lips as the cool water caressed every inch of her skin. She closed her eyes and floated on her back, enjoying the silence and the sound of lapping water as she moved her hands in the water every now and again.

Suddenly, the sound of a large beast roaring in the distance broke the silence catching her attention. She quickly stood up and stepped out of the water and looked around trying to find which direction the sound was coming from.

Hearing the sound again, her head snapped to the right; and just as the beast roared again, silence quickly followed but it wasn't the silence that kept her attention, it was the scent that followed the silence.

"Bear..."

She whispered softly as she began to follow the fresh scent of blood.

As she drew closer the scent of the fresh kill grew stronger and stronger until she finally reached the source, only she wasn't alone.

She caught the scent of another animal there although masked by the scent coming from the bear she knew it was there.

Suddenly, her eyes locked on a large black wolf, his muzzle held a crimson gloss as it dripped with the blood of his kill.

Ara slowly and as quietly as she could, took a step back not wanting to alert the wolf of her presence. She took another step and then another until she managed to reach a small bush, but just as she had been about to crouch behind it, a twig snapped alerting the wolf that he too was not alone.

Ara's eyes widened and shot up towards the wolf who was already staring straight at her, his large head tilted slightly. She gasped; turned around and began to run; looking back she saw the wolf running right after her.

Panic began to set in; she could hear her heart slamming against her chest as she ran.

She looked behind her, the black wolf now hot on her heels. She picked up her speed as best as she could knowing it would do her no good. She could see a fallen tree up ahead and readied herself as she prepared to hurdle herself over it.

As it came into view, she threw her body forward and jumped into the air; as she did her body began to shift. Once, she landed on the ground, she shook her body ruffling out her fur, though her moment was cut short as the black wolf jumped over the fallen tree, landing not two feet from her.

Not allowing the wolf any time to attack, she raced off; the wolf let out a snort as he took off behind her. Looking back once more, she could see him catching up to her.

"Boy he's fast..."

She thought to herself as she picked up her speed once more and began zigzagging through the trees to try and throw him off, but nothing seemed to deter him away from her. If anything, the black wolf looked as if he was having fun.

She made a quick left turn causing her to skid across the ground, catching herself in time as she headed towards the lake. She closed her eyes as the wind blew through her fur as she leaped through the air, her paws digging into the earth as she landed with such grace.

She could see the clearing leading up to the lake coming close and so, she ran as fast as her four legs would allow her and dove straight into the water with a splash. The wolf skidded to a stop at the edge of the lake, his golden eyes searching the water for any sign of the white beauty he had been chasing.

A few moments later, Ara rose up from under the water, her sapphire eyes locking with the wolf's golden hues. She kept her distance from him, staying in the water always. She watched as he planted his bottom down on the ground and tilted his head as he stared at her. Their eyes locked once more before the wolf began to change from wolf to man. She blinked, staring at him cautiously not sure what to think.

He looked at her for a moment before speaking out. "Why were you spying on me?"

Ara stared at him silently, refusing to speak. He sighed running a hand through his light brown hair.

"Okay. Why did you run away then?"

She continued to stare at him in silence; the only indication that she understood him was the furrowing of her brows.

Sighing again, he shook his head.

"I'll take your silence as to say that you're probably mute. Anyway, thanks for the run. I had fun; it's been a while since I've had that kind of fun..."

He plucked out a couple blades of grass and tossed them aside before standing up and smirking. His body now fully exposed to the girl before him.

"See anything you like?"

Ara arched a brow at his question earning her a look of disappointment. She hadn't reacted in a way that he was expecting, running his hand through his hair again he shrugged his shoulders.

"Right... well, I'll just leave you to your silence."

As he walked away he began to shift back into a wolf once more, just before disappearing into the clearing of trees he took one last glance back at the mysterious beauty in the water.