The Ice-cold wind had pierced her fur. She was a fox trapped in a winter blizzard, curled up in ball trying to brave the pounding currents of snow. Her tail was wrapped around her muzzle, though it was to no avail. There was no hope; she could feel the burning pain of the cold slowly taking her life. The snow had built a wall around the fox and had soaked her fur down to the skin.
Her life was flashing before her eyes with images of her parents and siblings. She had just left her to go out in the wild to live on her own. She tried to cry but her tears were frozen as soon as they hit her furry white cheeks.
She had given up and was ready to die. The wind blew past her snout and with it came a smell, the smell of another. Slowly she tried to open her eyes, but her tears had frozen her eyelids shut. Something inside her had been lit, a new hope, but what could be brave enough to travel in this weather or let alone strong enough? Opening one of her eyes half way only to see a blinding veil of snow.
Slowly something emerged form the snow. The beast was large and seemed to be the snow itself, though it smelled of wolf. In a defensive reaction she started to growl, but with a lack of energy she soon passed out. The last thing she felt was something warm picking her up from her snowy grave.
The artic area had never seen a storm like this before and it would never again see one like it. The storm brought more than snow to the valley this year. With it came a power that which no animal thought existed, only once before had the power been to earth, but fear and knowledge drove it away. It had been thousands of years since then.
Blinding currents of snow swept through the valley as the sky blackened from the sun's short visit. The valley was surrounded by mountains on three sides while the third opened up into the vast Arctic Ocean. The storm had forced all the animals in the valley to retreat to their hiding places. Those that didn't make it to their homes either died from the cold or became prey for the survivors. Those that did make it found refuge from the storm inside caves along the mountainsides.
A few miles away from the where the vixen had fallen was a cave. No animal dared to enter the cave; it was an ice cavern with a small body of water in front. Thin sheets of ice, here and there thicker and more stable pieces floated, covered the body of water. It was a death trap, when it snowed no one could tell where to step. In the summer the ice had melted making the ice blocks smaller and harder to stand on. And to make it more dangerous, wolves often hunted the area.
Night had fallen and the storm's fury had subsided. The clouds had parted and revealed the brilliant lights of an aurora. A wolf could be seen running across the vast snow plains in the valley; his destination was the ice cavern. He slowed down to a walk as he neared the thin ice. Looking from side to side he examined the area, looking for the right places to step. Then lifting his muzzle up moving something further back, he then tightened his grip on it. The wolf bounded from block to block with agility and speed unlike most wolves. He stopped half way to the opening and examined the area again. Then made the jump to the next block, his back paws crashed through the thin ice as he missed his mark. Quickly he pulled himself to the safety of the ice block.
It had taken him about an hour to travel the six-mile distance from the fox to the cave. The wolf made his last jump as he landed with a small yelp; he then looked at the white furred piece of cargo fearing that he may have harmed it. His fur was sliver and was blotched with small white patches. Slowly he made his way into the cave, he walked into a small room and was greeted by two other wolves. They were full grown wolves, but only half the size of the silver wolf.
He pinned back his ears and passed the other two wolves making his way into another room. The large rotunda shaped room was big enough to fit a tree inside; it had a ledge on one side that dropped into an underground river. The water was high and twisting about as it flowed deep into the glaciers that made up part of the valley.
There were three other wolves in the room; one laid down on a stone outcropping in the corner and another was looking down at the river. The silver wolf padded over to the far wall opposite of the river, there he opened his muzzle and laid down the fox that he had been carrying. He nuzzled the fox along the cheek as she slept.
"What is that Lasio, and why do I smell fox?" The third wolf asked as she walked closer to him. Half ignoring her he curled up around the vixen, trying to keep the fox warm.
"It's a fox," He said as he licked at the fox's furry cheek.
"What? Why did you bring a fox here?" The she wolf gave him a shocked look. "I'll never understand you, you're just not like other wolves."
"I'm exactly like you Nysa, we both aren't from this planet and aren't like these wolves" He said as he glanced at the wolf sitting on the stone ledge.
Nysa shook her head then made her way back to where she was lying. Lasio had a smile on his muzzle as he set his bushy tail over the fox and fell asleep with her on the rocky cave floor. He stayed there beside her throughout the night keeping her warm and cleaning her wet fur.
He had once been in a similar situation as the vixen. He had fought in brutal battle that left only him, Nysa, and two other wolves from his clan alive. The other two wolves seemed to have disappeared while he and Nysa struggled to stay alive. With no strength left he was prepared to die, that night a human saved him and his sister. Ever since then he resolved to give the same amount of compassion the human gave him to anyone in need of it.
The sun had risen bringing a new hope to the valley. It had been covered in several feet of snow from the storm. Light from the sun bounced its way into the ice cavern, giving it a brilliant shine. The river was flowing faster and higher from the melting snow on the surface.
Lasio had been awake for some time when he saw the first favorable signs for the vixen. Her breathing had taken a steady rhythm and her eyes opened slowly. She couldn't smell his sent very well since the snow soaked her down to the skin and made her ill with a cold. She did however see Lasio's smiling face as she looked around wondering how she had come to this place. Instinctively the vixen started to growl, but Lasio had other plans for her.
"You don't have to be afraid of me, I saved you," He didn't want her to fear him like the other wolves. The vixen's growl came to slow stop, understanding what he meant but those words.
"Why did you save me?" She asked with a quiet, raspy voice.
"Don't talk, you need your energy."
She nodded in answer, and then laid her head back down, tired from the illness. Looking down at her, Lasio smiled and was happy that she understood that he cared for her. The care the human had for him was unlike any he had seen or felt before, but Lasio never dreamt in his wildest dreams what this little care for the vixen would turn into.
Hours passed, the sun was setting in the noontime hours as mid-winter approached. The cave had lost it's brilliant yellow light as the sun hid it's face once again, but the light slowly turned into a crimson red and autumn orange. The pack hunters had just returned from a more than successful killing. They had overpowered a moose bull not far from the cave.
Having had his share, Lasio made his way back to the cave. When he walked into the rotunda he noticed the vixen had moved. Her thirst had overwhelmed her, but on her way to the river she had fallen from pain.
"You should have waited for me before moving. Can you get on my back?" Lasio said as he got down on all fours to let her up. With a smile for a thank you, she crawled onto his back. He walked her to the river for a drink then asked if she was hungry.
"You're not hungry? You haven't had anything for two days and you're ill."
The vixen didn't say anything as she crawled back onto Lasio. Taking that as a no, he laid her down at the same stony spot trying to keep her warm with his fur.
"Felicia," She broke in after a few minutes. "My name is Felicia."
"I like that name, Felicia," Lasio said to himself as he curled up around her.
Every creature slept that night; they slept a silent and soundless sleep. The aurora played in the sky as Luna rose into the sky bouncing her white light around the valley. Though it had been a calm day and the night seemed to be slower, the power had not left the valley. It wasn't satisfied with not having found its prey. On thin wings she flew through the glowing skies of the night. She had nearly found her prey a day ago, but had lost it. Circling the valley with her golden eyes searching around, in, and on top of the snow. The wind blew past her nose letting in the scent of the valley and its inhabitants. The endless night was coming to a closure, thus sending her from the search to the safety of her lair.
The wolves welcomed the short visits by the sun, making it easier and safer to hunt at day. The alpha wolf had decided to wait a few hours after dusk before going on hunts, to let their prey awaken and making quick hunts. Felicia woke up before anyone else and felt as if her illness had been cured. Slowly she walked to the river while looking about the large room. Lapping up some water she noticed the reflection of a wolf in the crystal surface.
"How's the fox doing today?" It asked.
Felicia half jumped at the sound and as the cold water hit her throat. "I'm fine."
"You better enjoy your stay here while it lasts."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The other wolves don't want a fox among them, I myself don't mind, but you should watch your back."
"Thanks," Smiling then remembering something. "How rude of me, my name is Felicia and what might yours be?"
"My name's Nysa, Lasio's sister. Oh, and I'm sure my brother will help you watch your back as well."
"He seems like a caring wolf, can't say I've met many of them." Felicia said as she shied away.
"Yes, he is." Nysa returned with a laugh under her breath.
From outside they heard a loud roar that shook the cave walls and woke everyone. The walls didn't seem to shake, but they trembled in fear. Chunks of rock and ice fell into the river splashing water near Felicia and Nysa.
"She's here!" Barked a wolf that had just ran into the cave.
Lasio sprung to life at the sound of those words. His ears perked up and standing tall on his paws he howled loudly making sure to wake everyone.
"Felicia, you must stay in here and don't get near the river," he barked as both him and his sister ran out.
Felicia had no idea what was going on or what the noise was, but she knew she should take the advice. Lasio's eyes seemed to have changed when he woke. Something seemed different about him, but she couldn't put a paw on it. Wolf after wolf ran through the rotunda and out the cave, she could only imagine what was happening out there.
She had curled up in the middle of the room feeling a rush of fear run over her. Not knowing what made this fear sickened her more. Ears pined back she started growling at it. Slowly her growl was drowned out by her fear. Out of the river two golden horns and a white mane emerged. Beneath the mane were two golden eyes and to either side two huge hands brandished with four golden claws.
"There you are," It said. "You have no idea how long I've been looking for you."
"What are you?" Felicia whimpered as she shuddered at the site of its two huge wings.
"I'm not from around here, but you would call me a dragon. You can call me Lexis. And now if you'll come with me."
"Why should I go with you?"
"For one, I can give you anything you want, and two I need you," Lexis said with evil grin.
"No, I won't go with you!"
"You will come even if you don't want to," Lexis whispered as she scooped up Felicia into her claw.
"No she won't!" Lasio growled as he entered the room. "She will not go with you dragon!"
"And what are you going to do wolf?"
Taking that as an invitation he then looked her in the eyes then made his move. Out of the air in front of him a flash of light appeared with a bolt of lightning. The white dragon roared in pain as the bolt stuck her wing membrane ripping a gapping hole in it.
"You must be one of those darned dire wolves that shouldn't exist! I'll be back for you and the vixen," Lexis roared as she set the fox back on the ground.
"I'll kill you before you take her!"
"If I can't have the fox then no one will have her!"
Just then a deathful howl came out of Felicia. She could feel the coldness of death on her once more, but this was different, the coldness was in her mind. It felt as if it was eating her mind from the inside out. Then all fell silent as the dragon receeded into the river and Felicia's mind went into a void of black ice.
9-24-2002
Draco
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