Birdie and the Beast

Chapter 6: Something There

By the time, Matthew and Kumajiro rode past the castle gates a blizzard was beginning to form. Matthew's eyes and lips stung from the icy wind and snow blowing toward them. He urged Kumajiro on, hoping that they could at least get out of the forest before finding shelter.

Even if the servants had been nice, there was nothing that would make Matthew go back. It didn't matter, Matthew told himself. No one had bothered to try and remember his existence before, why should the people he left behind be any different? The Beast had probably already forgotten they had ever met.

Kumajiro's frantic pulling on the reigns tore Matthew out his thoughts. The two of them were surrounded by a pack of wolves that were slowly closing in on them.

Matthew leapt off of Kumajiro's back and spotted a dead tree nearby. He wrapped his arms around it and pulled it out the ground, hoping to threaten the wolves enough to make them go away. He hated to have to kill any of them, especially since he knew that wolves rarely attacked humans unless they were desperate for food.

The wolves backed away, but started to move toward Kumajiro. Matthew ran in front of him and swung the tree toward the wolves, hitting some of them. But instead of going away, the wolves kept coming. Matthew was forced to keep fending them off.

One of the wolves sprang toward Matthew and his quick move to defend himself made his glasses fly off. Matthew was nearly blind without his glasses, which left him vulnerable to attack. He could only make out grayish blobs advancing from a background of white.

Matthew began feeling around desperately for his glasses, and his fingers finally grasped them just as a loud roar pierced the air. He hurriedly put his glasses on and a fuzzy white figure detached itself from its surrounds and was revealed to be the Beast.

Gilbert had been relieved to find Matthew but was surprised to see that he had been holding up well on his own before he lost his glasses. Damn, that kid was strong!

Seeing a wolf sneaking up on Matthew from behind, Gilbert roared again before charging at the wolves, pushing his way through them and throwing the wolf away form Matthew. He then crouched next to Matthew, who was stunned but both turned their attention back to the problem at hand.

This was no time for talking. They exchanged a brief look before Matthew grabbed the tree and swung it toward the wolves again as the Beast began fighting the wolves head on, dealing them harsh blows and deep scratches. At this, the wolves focused their attention on Gilbert and began ganging up on him. One wolf scratched his arm deeply, staining the white fur red with blood, before Gilbert threw the wolf into a tree, finally scaring the wolves away as they realized this was not easy prey.

Gilbert was exhausted and light headed from blood loss. He swayed at little as he looked at Matthew and tried to speak, to say anything to earn forgiveness.

"Mat-thew..." was all he could say before he collapsed and white faded to black.

Matthew had been taken aback by the regret in the Beast's eyes and when he collapsed, Matthew immediately ran over to him, all his anger at him a thing of the past.

He picked up the Beast and placed him on Kumajiro's back, making sure the horse could handle it before they began walking back to the castle.

***
When Gilbert woke up, he found himself in his favorite armchair next to the fireplace. Next to him, Matthew was soaking a rag in hot water and wringing it out. Looking at his arm, Gilbert remembered the fight with the wolves and being scratched.

"I see you're awake," was all Matthew said, not meeting Gilbert's eyes. He moved the rag and pressed it gently again the wound.

"ARGHHH! Zhat vas unawesome!" Gilbert yelled. His wound stung. The servants, who had been watching from nearby, cowered a little.