Skald was tearing through the forest glen in no time, leaves and twigs a plenty would be tossed in the air by his hulking steam train whilst the poor undergrowth was mercilessly crushed by each tremendous step of his iron boot from the giant. The rampage carried on for some moments longer before he let out a pained howl and dropped suddenly to his knees, his head sinking into his chest as his golden locks of hair swayed silently by his groaning skull, hands clawing at his chest in agony.

Nayla had sat for some time on the porch watching the storm brewing. And now her hand was on the door to the Inn when she heard the howl. Human or animal she wasn't sure. "Skald," she whispers.

At the edge of the glen thudder booms, close. And a strong breeze blows, almost pushes her forward. After a deep breath she starts for the woods. Entering cautiously at first, her pace soon quickens as the strange sense of something wild fills her.

The armor was left in his usual spot, thankfully having reached his desired destination. The heart of the Glen...or where he thought the center was. As far as he wished to be from civilization, away from the desire to hurt people and only hunt the wildlife for the blood-lust. His vision and mind barely even recognized that he was now undressed, kneeled down, bare to the world.

The woods knew she was there, and felt her anxious urgency. The trees sway as the breeze grows stronger. Brush and vines make almost a slithering sound. Something was here. It was harder to read than anything she'd come across. It was mixed, rage...hot and blind with relief.

"Skald," her voice just above a whisper. She worried about the image they'd seen. Why had they both seen it' Whatever this thing was it was connected to both of them. Thunder booms and lightening lights up the glen.

Something runs in the distance.

Nayla stops, startled. The vines on the ground snake toward her, following her every movement deeper into the woods.

Skald's face cracked into a small grimace as he felt the energy surge through his body, the hairs standing on his pink flesh as his muscles slowly began to grow larger in size whilst fur sprouted out from the microscopic holes in his skin.

Now to embrace it. He rocked his head back as a deafening roar was issued out from his throat, the birds and wildlife for a good kilometer dashing for their adorable lives.

A dark chill shuttered through Nayla as the roar boomed in her ears. The thing runs across her path again, closer this time. The sky darkens to a steely blue and the breeze turns cold filled with the scent of wildness. The vines stay close, bending to her will, like they were controlled by a remote attached to her fingers. The dark thing moves directly in her path, on all fours, a few feet away. Seething snarls fill the air with every exhale of the panting creature. It leans back on it's haunches and then stands upright like a man. It's eyes glow a bright emerald in the darkness.

It takes a step toward Nayla, and vines begin wrapping around it's ankles. The creature, strong obviously, snaps the ties with a swift tug of its leg. More vines, thicker, heavier, wrap around it's ankles and wrists. Each step the creature takes is slowed by the bonds, but it's just as determined and still breaking free.

Skald's eyes were shut tight, thoughts bubbling, mind changing. Body changing. Once dark, dull mud pools for eyes, they flash into a spectacular, crisp clear blue gaze, the void that was his pupil snapping around wildly as it took in the surroundings.

Flesh torn. Fur grown. Bones snapped and rebuilt.

Blue eyes.

Snarl.

Predator.

Competition.

And with a snap of the fingers, the hulking behemoth of fur and claws was tearing through the brushes of the Glen, panting heavily. The scent of the other werewolf getting stronger.

Lightening, almost blinding flashes through the glen, revealing the animal. Nayla's mouth gaps a bit. It was the thing she saw when Skald had touched her.

Then it hit her. The darkened sense she'd been nagged by for years. Strong enough to knock her a step back, it slammed into her. Air is sucked from her lungs. Fighting the urge to turn and run, knowing the creature would give chase, Nayla takes measured steps back. The smell of black cherry and vanilla were almost nauseating. Thorned vines, thick with beautiful purple flowers stretch from their homes and tie up the creature.

Nayla raises her hands. "I don't know what you are. Or what you want."

It understood her because the corner of it's mouth pulled up a bit. With one powerful stretch all of the restraints she put in place were broken and the beast jumped straight up into the air, landing nearly on top of her.

Then the howl. So close and frightening, it would send frightful chills through the bones of those for miles around, the shout of dominance spread across the land by the will of the free air. This was his grounds. Blue eyes territory. And now the hunter would become the hunted. Legs thrust from the perch on the tree, bark shredded by claws before Skald began his dive for the competitor on his hunting grounds. A sudden flash of bone-white on the intruder's muzzle. Teeth. Lots of them.

Nayla fell back as the other creature flew in front of her face. The snarling and growling, flashing of teeth, sent her scrambling back. Two of them. How could she fight two of them' The breeze urged her to flee. So without question she turns to run. Branches, briar, they all clear the path for her, and pile back over her tracks. The growls still so loud.

Glancing back she watches as the one creature mauls Skald's chest. Chewing at his shoulder. Freeing himself to chase after again. The vines still grab at him.

Grunting at the displeasure of being bitten and scratched at, the hunter allowed his prey to escape his clutches and once released, instantly shot to his feet. The coppery taste in his maw indicated the taste of blood, the sweet, tantalizing odor dancing about his nostrils as he chased harder and faster. Barreling into the exposed spine of the vined wolf, claws and teeth tore into the back, mainly attempting to crack the spine.

An agonizing but rage filled howl fills the silence. The monster arches his back and flings himself around. Loosing Skald. He snarls and circles Skald. With a leap he shoots up into a tree, springing off of a branch toward the woman's path. He drops down straight in front of the Nayla, reveling in her scream.

Nayla runs into the muscled creature, falling back. She scrambles back and throws an arm up, but the creature knows what to expect and flings the vines to the side. Nayla panics. Rain starts pouring in buckets down over them. The monster grabs her by the throat and lifts her off the ground, putting her back against a tree. Lightening flashes, busting the tree next to them into splinters.

Not so fast now! Skald charges down the path, not caring for the damage dealt to the poor, defenseless forest or the cumbersome torrent of rain smashing against him. He dashed through the bushes, tearing a new path for himself as shimmering blue eyes watching his prey hurt the female, a ferocious, furious growl at the werewolf before he shot from his hind legs and went for a sudden tackle to the rib cage, hoping to pin the brethren down.

Nayla is flung to the ground. She gasps for breath, soaked completely now, blinking through the rain she watches the two. Barely able to stand, no way she's running. Her body tenses again, charging. And another lightening bolt busts another tree, and she flinches. "I can't stop it," she barely gets out.

The rain is like it's own entity. Beating down, demanding it's bearers to kneel.

The two beasts fight it out, clawing and biting. But the darker one grows weary. With a few claw swings he gets his chance to run, and he does. But leaves an echoing howl behind.

Nayla watches the creature left. Red water drips from parts of him. Vines curl under her hands and knees, preparing for another fight. Lightening hits the ground behind her, dirt and debris are thrown everywhere.

The creature watches her too. The dirt and debris hardly distracting the wolf's train of thought. They hold each others eyes for a long moment before the werewolf lets out a roar of pain, paws holding the wounded chest, however not deep enough to be fatal it still hurt like hell.

Crack.

The sound of bone snapping in two, then followed by more cracks and snaps like some popping candy, the poor werewolf rolled onto his back as he squirmed pathetically in agony.

Nayla's defensiveness settles a bit. She makes it slowly to her feet to peer over the brush, getting a better look at what was going on. The pops make her cringe, but she eases closer still, vines following her. The rain easing to a pitter patter against the leaves and now muddy ground. She stands next to a tree, keeping half of her body shielded with it.

Skald had changed. The bones cracking was the simple sound of them reforming into the smaller, less powerful ones of a tall human, his fur now sinking into his flesh, leaving a starkly naked male curled up on the ground. The sickening odor of blood was washed away by the drenching of the rain and the swallowing of the forest life as it soaked up the water. He was Skald once more.

Nayla didn't belief her eyes, skin" She made her way to the curled up body. This man had been that...thing" Kneeling beside him she touched his arm. Soft. Wet, but but still somewhat warm skin sent her senses reeling, it was familiar, yearning. With a gentle tug the rolled the man onto his back. Her eyes swept over his chest, open wounds, not pouring blood, but still horrible looking injuries. She slowly brushes the damp, now darker blond, hair from his face. Her greener hazels locked onto his face, and she couldn't move.

Murmuring in his dazed state, his eyelids shut tight like a vice before he felt the cold, tingling sensation of her fingers on his body, a brief twitch as he remembered what her tough had done to him at the Inn, and a hand darted out to grip the wrist in a gentle hold. The entirety of his torso jerked forward as eyes snapped open and he let out a few pants before he muttered, "Urrr...Ah...Hi."

Nayla startles a bit at the swift movements, but doesn't pull away. It takes her a moment of watching him to come back to reality. She takes his shoulders. "You shouldn't move." She eases him back. He can tell she is somewhat out of sorts. Hardly meeting his eyes.

"And ya shouldn't hav' followed me lassie, ya could of been hurt badly and all, been ma' fault," he grumbled, letting the hands force him back, eyes constantly searching for hers, "Why'd ya come?"

Her hands quiver a bit as she touches around the sides of the wound. She doesn't answer for some time. And he notices a soft glow, almost like the moon shining on her back, surrounding her. She runs her fingers down the sides of the wounds, wincing as if she can feel his pain. "It called me. I had to..." She meets his eyes, and he can see there IS pain in them. "Protect you," she whispers.

Skald held her wrist tighter, wincing as she poked around his wounds, his eyes fixated on those glistening orbs she possessed. He turned his head sharply at the final comment, smirking, "I don' need no help little lady, I saved ya remeber?" One of his hands trickled down her back, working from the top of her neck to the ball of her spine, just at the waist.

When his wounds were closed for the most part, she took his chin in her fingers and turned his face to hers, shaking her head once. "Not from that." She lays a hand on his chest and he feels a weird heat pulling at something inside him.

Suddenly he feels the urge to change pushing toward the surface. She holds his eyes with hers, and he watches them flash blue for a moment. Grimacing as he feels the tugging in his heart, and the same, agonizing feeling of the change began to ooze into his body once more, filling his veins with the foul power of the wolf. He had to stop. He had to. Quickly snatching her hand away, she would likely fall onto him with little support, where he would then meet her lips. Distraction!

A hand stroked her cheek ever softly, brushing back some of her graceful strands of hair whilst the other slipped onto her back, caressing her spine ever so gently despite his thick frame. Eyes would shut, the lips just softly meeting.

His warm lips against hers cause her to lose all focus. The heat of beast now filling her else where. She pulls back just enough to break the kiss and looks down into his eyes. Softly she lays a hand on his cheek, she swallows hard. The breeze flows over them, filled with her scent. "I don't know what this will do." She looks at the busted tree then back to him. "I've never..."

The strong scent of black cherry and vanilla teases his nostrils, and it just drives him further on, "It is ok little lady, I will guide you," he leans his head down on her neck, his lips gently pressing against her neck as hands raised up to hold her shoulders. She would get a pillow of blonde hair to muffle her voice in.

Nayla's breath catches in her throat at his kisses against her neck. Tingles flutter through her arms and down her back. She sighs heavily. Now weak, she lays her head on his shoulder, her mouth against his collar bone. Her breathes sharp and quick. "If I let go..." she whispers. What would happen if she lost control? If she lost focus or got lost in him it could kill them both. She had stayed away form situations like this for a reason. She didn't trust herself.

Skald continues the kisses, lips pressed against her chest as hands slowly began to bring down the straps of her dress, caressing every detail and flesh she bared to him. "Just hold on to me."

He feels her fingertips press tighter into his skin. She was nervous and her stomach in knots. She kept peering around them, watching to make sure she was still in control of herself. The floor of the glen, leaves and moss like blankets wrap up around them, forming a large cocoon.

A woman with unmatchable, natural beauty hovers over the two naked lovers twined together. Her sly smile filled with approval and warmth. Maria sighs at the memories of her being able to lay with her husband in that way. But his happiness meant more to her than anything, and she could somewhat still feel him through Nayla.

She deserved a pat on the back for picking her out for him, she had done good. Besides that fact, Nayla was the only one strong enough to save him.

Maria's body began to glow, with the same glow that some had caught a glimpse of coming from Nayla. Except this was brighter, much stronger. Nayla still had much to learn, but Maria worried because time was running out. For the both of them.

"Wake, my love." She did not speak the words, they came from the light. "Wake."

Skald opened his eyes a little at first. A grin broadened over his face feeling Nayla still in his arms. He wrapped them tighter around her. Sleep draining, he noticed the light surrounding them. Raising his head, he froze starring up at the image of Maria. He swallowed hard. He was naked! With another woman! No...this wasn't real. He was dreaming.

"This is very much real," Maria's grin beamed at his discomfort. "You were never bashful around me before."

With a hand Skald searches for his clothes. "This...this isn't."

Maria laughs. She snaps her fingers, Nayla and Skald fully dressed now. Nayla raises up out of his arms and hovers, still asleep between Maria and Skald. Skald stands.

"This is love. Wonderful, un-tameable, passionate love. It is wonderful."

Skald swallows hard. His heart at the beginning stages of breaking. "I'm sorry I couldn't-"

"My love, my precious man. You weren't suppose to save us. The light in her," she nods to Nayla, "is the only light strong enough to do what needs to be done."

"I...I don't understand."

"Don't you remember?" She smiles and the breeze carries a painfully familiar scent. Roses and lavender.

Skald closes his eyes inhaling deeply and falls to his knees. Memories washing over him like a torrent. He catches glimpses of them in the rain, or thunder so loud you felt it in your chest when Maria got angry. Or the brightest days he'd ever seen when she was happy. His eyes fly open.

"That's right. She is one of my people, sent away by the elders into protection when was still an infant, until the time came she was needed. But the elder sent to train her was killed before Nayla was properly trained."

"Needed" Trained for what?"

"For you." Horrible images of sharp bloody teeth, snarling beasts, and large hairy monsters filled his head.

"Stop!" He grabs his head. "I can't help what I've become."

"But she can. Her light, when it is at its strongest can..." She lays a soft hand on his cheek and raises face, their eyes meeting. "It will release us both. You are not the only one the curse affects." She smiles softly. "If she doesn't do this, neither of us will survive."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm trapped...with them, the others like you that attacked us. And with every passing second my light fades."

Skald looks over to Nayla. "She's...not ready. Her light isn't like yours."

Maria moves back. "Not yet. But part of me is with her. She can hear me." Maria's image starts to fade.

"Don't...don't leave. Not yet."

"I will never leave you. That's why I sent her. It's time to let me go. Love her flawlessly. Because that's how she loves. You must save each other. Wickedness is after you both."

"What does that mean?"

"If the others who cursed you find her...she will suffer greatly. As will you." The light fades slowly. "Can't you feel it. Inside of you, it grows stronger, angrier. It is after her. It is what drew you to her."

Skald realizes the heat, the foul rage to change is stronger than usual, but not uncontrollable. He was fine though.

"Her death is looming. Help her learn to focus, practice. There are some of our people left. Seek them out. I will help her all I can. Even though she seems...fragile, she is stronger than she realizes. Dangerous even."

Maria's light engulfs Nayla. It is slowly absorbed and the sleeping Nayla is lowered into Skald's arms.

Nayla and Skald lay in each other's arms in his room at the Inn. Nayla sit straight up in the bed. It took her a moment to realize where she was. She smiled down at Skald beside her, the covers hazardly covering his nakedness. She slides a blond braid from his face.

Skald drapes an arm aimless around Nayla. "Love ya," he mumbles in his sleep. But Nayla's attention is glued to the window. She slides easily from the bed and stares out through the dusk. It was stronger, closer. She left the room in a trance, down through the Inn of people and out onto the front porch.

Skald opens his eyes and reaches across the bed. Finding it empty, he sits up. Had she left him' He sniffed the air; no, the scent of black cherry and vanilla were close. "Nayla?" She throws back the covers and pulls on his pants hopping on one leg at a time, out the door. He weaves his way through the people in the Inn. A silhouette can be seen through the window outside. He sighs, relieved.

Stepping off the porch he moves to stand next to Nayla. "Nayla." She doesn't answer, doesn't even flinch like she heard him. He follows her gaze out to the horizon. "Nayla," he says again and takes her hand. Nayla flinches and looks up to Skald. "They're coming."

Skald takes Nayla's shoulders. "Go to the Glen. I'll be right behind you."

***

Nayla stands at the edge of the Glen, her hands clenched into fists, remembering the lightening that she couldn't control, and the strength of the werewolf snapping her vines. The hard rain. The fighting. The blood.

Snarl.

"Nayla." A whispers calls through the Glen. It was surprising she could hear it over her pounding heart. She didn't know what to expect, but did know she wasn't ready for this.

"Nayla." Again the whisper.

Frustration answered. "What?" Thunder boomed in the distance. A howl replies the thunder.

"I'm not strong enough for this...for him." She knew it was Maria, she could feel her and the werewolves.

"You have to be." Maria sounded like she was right beside her. "He is the only thing that can save you. You must fight for each other."

Tears well in Nayla's eyes. "I feel sick," Nayla muttered.

"I am with you. I have always been with you." And Maria was silent. With a deep breath Nayla enters the glen. Life in the forest waiting for her command, vines easing from their hiding places.

"Nayla," Skald was near her, his hand curling round hers to hold it tightly and glanced down at her, barely a flinch at the sudden bursts of thunder in the distance, "Who are you talking to?"

Nayla startled when Skald took her hand. She hadn't asked Maria what she meant by Skald was the only one that could save her. And looking up into his earnest eyes now, the answer was probably better left unsaid. Skald's eyes tore off hers and faced the forest, "They're coming."

The sense that pulled Nayla out of the Inn was here. Strong. Wild. She could feel their racing paws beating against the ground beneath her feet. "Nayla, get behind me."

Skald took one step in front of her, the left foot stomped hard into the ground, and the leather coat was tossed off his torso, his thick, iron armor now visible. Dulled and dented with use, there was a certain shine of glory on his chest piece, claw marks and teeth scars visible all across his arms and chest-piece. The leather handle of the blade was gripped tight as his arm stretched over his shoulder. A fearsome growl of challenge was sent down the path. They were coming.

Sadness was a brief emotion that swept through at the sight of his scars. They each one probably had a story, she refused to let herself think about his son because that's where he most likely had gotten them. The sense filling her now as the werewolves got closer. It didn't pull at her though, it pressed, like a hot heavy weight. And Skald's hand on hers felt like a hot coal. Blue Eyes was coming too. She tried her hardest to hold back the charge of energy she felt coming. And it echoed in the thunder, booms pounded down at the forest.

There was no order! No link between her emotions and which element came with it. It differed every time. "How many?" She whispers. "Six, maybe seven," he grumbled, eyes squinting at the forest, across the brushes of the Glen, then"

Silence.

The animal life ceased; the chirp of birds silenced and only the gentle breeze of wind swayed through the trees. The hand still held the handle, his arm still over his shoulder, his body frozen in the defensive stature. A leaf danced in the air and...

SNAP.

A crack of the twig and the blade was suddenly brought down with furious strength and unreal speed, a flash of dark brown flew from a tree only to plummet to the ground with a loud thud. Once it grinded to a halt, once the blade finished its motion and a head rolled to his feet, eyes never taken off the forest. The lifeless, headless corpse of the werewolf lay on the ground, twtiching before it ceased all movements. A long howl of anger mixed with mourning ran out all around them.

When the howl of anger sounded, Nayla squeezed his hand tighter. Thunder raged! And the charge was all she could focus on holding down. She could feel the werewolves all around now. Pushing at her from all sides, but Blues Eyes tugged. "You have to let me go," she whispered.

Skald glanced back to her and just when his hand released hers reluctantly from his grip a roar of rage billowed from the trees and a blur of fur barreled into Skald, sending him spiralling into the ground whilst the sword flew from his hand and spun away from him, "Nay-" and silenced by a slash of claws to his cheek, blood sprayed out onto the ground before a boot kicked the furry fiend from him, sending it back some feet, giving time enough for, "Get me the sword Nayla!" The others were coming!

Nayla cried out when Skald was taken down, startled by the quickness. Her eyes frantically darting around, thankfully finding the sword she tossed the heavy thing toward him, just as one of the beasts ran past her, spinning her around. "I have no idea what I'm doing. I'm not a fighter!" She shouts mainly toward Skald, but keeps her eyes on the werewolf.

Skald quickly grasped hold of his blade and when the beast pounced for the final kill, he heaved his sword up so that the unstoppable motion of the werewolf and the aim of his blade meant that the unlucky bastard yelped in horror at the blade plunging through his chest and bursting out of his back. A jet of hot, crimson blood sprays onto Skald's face, staining his blonde hair.

The charge jolts her body, so hard it almost bends her in half backwards before dropping her to her knees. As the wolf snarls and advances on her vines spring up out of the ground wrapping him up like a net. Nayla's hands start to glow a bright white, her fingers digging into the ground.

Blue Eyes' sense whispers to her, and for a second she is distracted. The werewolf fights the vines and some of them snap. Nayla pushes against Blue Eyes and the vines grow tighter. With a clench of her fists the vines close in completely and shred the wolf. Pieces fly through the air.

Booting the dead werewolf off his blade and panted and heaved, spitting out the blood from his mouth, he grimaced until he gazed at the bloody, gruesome carnage of the wolf attacking Nayla.

Blue Eyes' sense whispers sweeter, beckoning her.

"You have to go." She looks up and meets Skald's eyes. "Get him away from me!"

Snap.

His hand clutches his chest, the bones cracking sharply as they tried to form into his new body. Blue Eyes' body. He let out a long howl of agony and a pathetic whimper as strands of dark, midnight-black fur oozed out of his flesh, "N-Nayla...RU-ARRRRGH!" Curling into a tight ball of pain, his body changing, his armor popping off suddenly when muscles grew exceptionally large and fearsome-looking.

"No," she exhales. Gritting her teeth Nayla pushes to her feet and takes off through the forest. Two of the wolves that had their attention on Skald, now turn toward Nayla and her light. With all of her might she races through the woods. She can feel them closing in behind her, Blue Eyes at full force now. One of the wolves trips her. Her hands scrap through the forest floor, as she slides to a halt.

Spinning to face it, her body charges and jerks. Lightening claps a few feet away, but the wolf keeps coming, Nayla scooting back from it. Glaring, rain pours, freezing rain, almost sleet like. Their pants now visible in the air. It snaps at her, snarling, drooling. "Any time now," she whispers. Her body charges again. The wolf leaps at her and...

JOLT

The werewolf is struck by lightning in mid air. Nayla flinches and raises a hand to shield her face from the flying flesh. She's on her feet again, tiring with every attack. Blue Eyes could feel her weakening, and she knew it.

Something came from the trees, something fierce and terrifying bellowing out from the tree line, the growing booms of footsteps and the spine-chilling howl that rolled over the forest like a verbal bulldozer.

Bark was torn off the trees as claws sprung from his fingers, a defiant figure of a dark void that lusted for violence and constant blood. The remaining wolves backed off from Nayla, grunting and barking at one another as the towering canine foe broke free of the brushes and glared down with bright blue eyes.

Nayla ran as fast as she could in the freezing sleet. Blue Eyes was fast, and stronger than the other wolves. Nayla's tears came from frustration, she couldn't control when, where or what she fought with. And she was feeling very beaten. Her legs growing numb, her body shivering, her hands clenched tightly. Her skin red with sleet welts, and bursting with the sensation of Blue Eyes. She couldn't hear the other wolves anymore, which causes her pace to slow...and then stop. She swallowed and panted, trying to catch her breath quickly. Vines moved slower, the rain eased up. Maybe it was over she thought for a split second.

She thought wrong.

Rain splashed across his fur, his pace slow and thoughtful, his animal outside bursting for the taste of warm flesh, the thrill and rush of the hunt whilst the more...Humane version slowed his speed, planning the next move and how to approach the prey and sniff.

Slowing.

Easy.

Venerable.

Now.

Thick, muscular, legs squatted and thrust forward, sending him hurtling through the tree like the ravenous beast he is. Darker than night itself, ready to engulf its prey like darkness does to the night as the sun falls. Reigning like a king. Blue Eyes is the ruler. He is all.

Nayla, somewhat steady, raises her head. Through the thick trees, light rain, and the distance between, her eyes go straight to the bright blue ones hunting. The instant their eyes meet both are locked in. Nayla's eyes have no expression. Blue Eyes' hunger and beaming glee glows in his.

This was what she was meant to do. But she couldn't kill him, she couldn't kill Skald. What could she do' She stands, straight in his path and waits for him. She was exhausted, and just wanted this to be over.

In that moment, Maria's voice whispers. "Show him. Show him what you see." Nayla looks around. She didn't see anything. Forest and blood, and oh did she hurt. She looked at her hands, all scuffed and scrapped. Dirt and blood. "Show him what you see." Looking up she saw Blue Eyes, all 7 ft of him. Fur bristling, growls vibrating from his chest.

Blue Eyes growled menacingly down at Nayla. The rage of canine dominance towering over her weak frail form, easily capable of snapping her bones to dust, chewing the sweet, tender flesh off them and grind her to paste. He breathed, his eyes glazing over her silky form, his hot breathe billowing from his muzzle then. His body seemed to slide suddenly to her, his paw gripping her by the throat like some helpless rabbit and hoisted her up to the tree.

Nayla's hands pull at the claw around her neck, her feet dangling. Vines do her bidding, wrapping around his arms and legs. Him snapping through them with ease. Show him, repeated in her head. But what? Nayla stared into the creatures eyes. There was no sign of Skald. Tears pooled in Nayla's eyes. "If you're in there," she whispers. "I love you." Then something in him changed.

His nostrils flared and snorted as he picked up the scent of blood, grime and...

And...

No. No. That...

Can't be possible. It's too soon.

His mind began to swirl. His eyes flashing between bright blue and dark brown, a clash of the colors as they warped and twisted elegantly like two dancers battling on the stage.

She can't....He didn't....They...

The grip around her neck loosened and she slipped from his grasp. Backing up only to be against the tree, not putting much space between them.

NO!

He's done it, he is Skald. He will not be pushed around by some flea mongering, filthy canine, he loves her.

Love. It can be truly a terrifying force in the right hands. He will...Nayla. He's sorry.

Nayla's body charges. The charge starts glowing around her, her light pulses out like a shock wave

The shock wave rocked his body back, sending the wolf spiraling onto the floor, whining and screaming like an injured pup, claws digging into his head as he cried out in agony. Bones snapped and cracked, the fur sinking into his battered flesh as the howls of pain quickly turned to cries of sheer, intense pain.

Nayla flinched with every cry and howl. She watched, horrified, as he returned to the man. With a moment of hesitation, she lays a hand on shoulder. "Skald?" She moves to kneel in front of him. Both of them bloody, and close to broken. Helping him to a sitting position, she searches his face. Tears in her eyes, her hands trembling, she's freezing.

He raises his face to hers, she can see his pain. He opens his mouth, but in that moment a single wolf tackles Nayla and two others restrain Skald.

Nayla cries out as she slammed into the ground. Her fight is frantic, but not very strong. The wolf holds her easily. Thunder booms and her body charges. Lightning strikes very close. Her body looking to break, it charges again. Another bright flash, her body pulsing into the ground beneath her, vines pull weakly at the wolf holding her.

The booming thunder isn't so strong anymore. Her strength gone, she maneuvers her body until her eyes meet Skald's.

Skald bellowed angrily as he was pinned down, furiously trying to break free from the tight vice-like claws, his thick hide peeled back by the werewolves, his voice strained and crackled like as if he had cried for many moons, "Let me go ya bastards! Nayla! NAYLA!" Head craning forward as he madly tossed himself around, pinned by the wolves two wide, horrified eyes settled on Nayla, his voice coughing violently until he whispered softly, "I'm so sorry Nayla..." tears streaming down him.

She didn't have the strength to struggle like he did, she was exhausted. Nayla manages to stretch an arm out, reaching for Skald. She opens her mouth but nothing is heard. Now they were both doomed. She was too weak to fight this fight. No training, no control...it would end with their demise.

The wolf takes Nayla's out reached arm and starts dragging her through the forest. She staggers to get to her feet, stumbling a few times before she completely collapses. The wolf throws her over his shoulder.

"NAYLA!" He cried out once more, then quickly swamped over by the howls and snaps of vicious teeth from the two wolves, teeth gnashing right back toward him threateningly who promptly tore through his chest with a nasty swipe of those wicked claws, the strong bone slicing his chest and a pained gasp escaped his throat. Skald swung wildly at the cackling one, his eyes focused on his brethren who sent the claws down without noticing the fist.

A sudden yelp and whimper as aching knuckles smashed into the muzzle, teeth shattered on impact and he broke off however the second wolf instantly snapped onto Skald and sent a flurry of claws and fists down. Skald was battered and torn to shreds, his face a bloodied mess and his nose broken and his eyes swollen and crimson blood oozed out of his cuts. He whispered one final word before his eyes shut tight and he fell into the void, "Nayla..."