BEAR

I walked slowly through the clearing, an open field between two tree lines. The stars focused on us as we passed through. We moved slowly as Violet was not able to completely walk on her own yet. I felt vulnerable like we were being watched. I worried about what we were walking into. Could this be a trap? Iris flew ahead and waited in the cover of a clearing of trees. “I hope she knows where she's going,” I spoke in Violet’s direction. She groaned back in immense pain. The thought dawned on me that she was probably going through a lifetime of growing pains all in these short moments. 

“As do I,” she managed a pained reply. 

We made our way to a small shelter that Iris had spotted when she was flying overhead. “We will spend the night there,” she announced as we followed her shadow closely. It would be as good as any to spend the night. I hoped we would reach it before the darkness grew colder. I felt the air escaping my lips, taking the form of mist. My fingers were beginning to sting and as I spoke, I could feel the chill forcing my moving lips to still. 

As we neared the tree line, I recalled the spell that had been performed on Violet. It was something I wished to never remember again--her screams of agony as she flailed about on the ground were more terrifying than any murder I had seen in battle. Her writhing feet dug up the lush grass into an area of dirt as they struggled to form, her tears drenching the earth. Though we were all warned of the trials if we were to go ahead, I don’t think any of us--Iris included--were prepared for the severity of the event that took place. 

The protector inside of me wanted to behead Iris to stop the pain, yet Violet would never have gotten her desired legs and I never would have the chance I needed to be healed. My pain increased each day, Violet only being able to take it away momentarily each time she tried.

I felt incredibly guilty for the pain I had caused her; after all, she was doing all of this for me. I did have a sneaking suspicion, however, that there was a double motive--that she was curious to have legs and explore, driving her to help me more than for common kindness.

“Pick up the pace,” Iris hissed at us as we tried to catch up to her. She seemed strangely eager to reach the spot like she was harbouring a secret and was not just physically drained from casting the spell and flying us around. There was something else going on with her; I could feel it. A look of worry, panic even. 

Could she be afraid of the dark? I speculated the options, and she turned to glare at me. “No,” she said sharply. 

Well, that confirmed it. She could hear my thoughts. 

We approached a boulder. Finally, we were here. I let out a sigh of relief as she landed to roost for the night, only slightly above us on the journey. Our place of residence was a raised small hill with smaller stones all around it. The trees grew smaller the closer they came to the stone. “Down there,” she said and pointed. I squinted to see that between the base of the large boulder and another stone was pitch-black. It looked like an entrance… 

We followed her toward it as she walked purposefully. I entered first. If it were a trap, I'd be the only one strong enough to fend it off, even with my aching bones; I was a Viking, after all. My job was to protect the two women beside me on this journey. As I entered, I bumped my head and fell forward, sliding into the darkness, likely only for a few seconds, until I came to a halt. Iris followed, dragging Violet behind her. 

Iris clicked her fingers and murmured something, and a pile of rubble caught spark. The light flickered as fuel was added to the flame. We sat by the fire in silence as one by one, we began to drop off to sleep.

Before I was aware, my eyes were blinking open, as if no time had passed. My throat was dry from thirst, feeling as though it was cracking like dry land. I peered around me, wiping the tiredness from my eyes. Both Violet and Iris, in their shared beauty, were in a deep slumber. I noticed that Violet was shivering. Moving toward her, I placed my cloak over her damaged body. I noticed scars, bruises, and blood splayed sporadically over her legs, which looked less misplaced at this point. I looked over at Iris, who didn't make as much of a silent snore as her wings lightly twitched. I made my way over to the dying fire and tried my best to rekindle its flame.

I was lost in my thoughts as I tried to warm my body and my heart, sorrowful at the loss I felt for my family, even though they didn’t know I was gone, thanks to Violet’s spell. Nonetheless, I still missed them and wished I was home. My heart ached for Sage in particular. What would she think of my disappearance if the spell wore off? Especially in my condition… At least I would have an epic story to tell her when I returned. 

I let the flicker of the flame caress my hand, which defrosted under the lick of its heat. I thought myself a gentleman at the moment, allowing my body to freeze while I protected the ladies at my behest. 

“Do you have a death wish?” A sweet but irritated voice came from the darkness. I turned to see Iris looking at me with sarcasm spread across her beautiful face. Her eyebrows knitted together and her lips formed a straight line.

“Whatever do you mean?” I asked mockingly, knowing full well that she was referring to my lack of clothing, though I played into the fool that she believed I was. I could use this to my advantage at some point. 

“Are you trying to get frostbite? It’s at least as cold as a snowstorm.” 

“If you haven't noticed, I was giving my warm coverings to you two, so that you would not freeze.” She acknowledged the cloak on her shoulders and shrugged it off as if it were the most putrid thing ever to have touched her. “Faeries have more regulated body heat, unlike humans. I don’t need your garment.” 

“A simple thank you would suffice...” I started, but her sharp words interrupted me. 

A murmur came from Violet’s direction, and we both turned to look at her. A whimper came next, “No, please, it hurts... I will do anything.” She cried, small sobs coming from her mouth and falling to her body. My face fell. I felt such sorrow for her. My own pain began to brush down my arms, pain in my aching bones growing in intensity. I moaned, clutching at them in hopes of relieving some of the pain.

“She wanted legs,” Iris added sympathetically, turning back to the fire. “We need to get going, we are short on time.” She made sure to elevate her voice to wake up Violet, stomping out the fire with her taloned foot. I gasped in anticipation of the burns that would surely result, though she placed her foot back on the ground, unharmed. 

She took in my reaction, rolling her eyes. “It goes without saying, but faeries are not subject to injuries... not like humans,” she said matter-of-factly. “We can’t be harmed by earthly substances.”

I stood from my position on the cold stone floor and looked to Violet, who was stirring at this point, though still groaning in pain. “It’s time to leave,” I said gently in her direction. She sat up cautiously, holding her new legs between her arms. “Here.” I held out a hand to her, and she graciously took it, giving me a weak smile.