Chapter 15 Silver teeth

Small cloud wisps trailed across the moon casting light flickering shadows across the land. Tonight its bright fury nearly rivaled the sun. Casting uneven rays down through the trees that Ivan was careful to avoid. He heard a noise not far ahead of him which quickly turned to a small rustle behind. This creature would not avoid the rays for they were what gave him strength. This night was always the time when he misbehaved the most.

When the path became straight the stalker charged forward. It came with the speed of a horse without the hindrance of hooves over uneven ground it meant to collide with Ivan and take off his head. Ivan slid with grace and precision the axe out of its leather casing upon his back. The silver glinted in the moonlight and its reflection caused the beast to divert at the last moment. Repelled by the mystical metal he thought it would do no more. Ivan was mistaken. This one was clever, a Kostchey.

It slid around him in a half circle, the sharp razor claws of one arm extended trembling from the pain of still being so near the axe yet they cut the mark they reached for. The straps around Ivan’s shoulders slid away, not allowed a full fall. With an agility fuelled by the fire of intent the Wolf’s long fingers utilized its new prize and caught the handle of the axe within the turn of Ivan’s swing with the loop of the leather that became a lash. He yanked the weapon from the defenders grasp, flinging it away with a malicious grin. They began to wrestle but Ivan was no match for this hell born strength. He was being played with.

Ivan was pinned to the ground a great hairy forearm pressed to his throat. His shirt being inadvertently ripped as the creature used his other claw to search through his vest pockets. He pulled out his find. It was the smashed; yet still steaming pirog. Until this the Wolves eyes had been cool and unfeeling like his opponent. For despite the sporting, this was only a means to an end. The tainted scent hit him. He knew what the meat was. This was his fellow white wolf felled by betrayal. He howled a lament that shook both him and his captive. His great jaw opened saliva bubbling and thick coating each tooth as it dripped down. His eyes glowed taunt and truly feral.

Out of the brush cackled laughter and the red fringed fern in front of them lost a great deal of fringe. Eyes of vengeance turned to angst as the wolves head snapped reflexively surveying this fleeting new motion through the woods. Upon this distraction a rope attacked with the deftness of a snake from the very spot that seemed to have just been vacated. Ivan quickly slid out from underneath the unbalanced monster whose head was tied and being yanked as thoroughly as the axe earlier had been.

“Give us a kiss, love.” The taunt moonlit rope led to dark edges where the whisper had come from. Here was no struggle as the creature gripped his heart and became limp he could no longer fight the pull. New jaws emerged glinting, they clamped down upon his muzzle and he squealed as a pig would squeal if it could also roar. The wolf convulsed until it lay still and she released it. There was a creak and sickening pop as her mouth readjusted. These were the very same silver teeth that had ambushed Hansel in the clearing inside the mouth of their rightful owner. Without them she could not devour the potent powers of a Kerwolf, nor even savor their poisonous meat. They had been made for her by Ivan who had already retrieved his axe and tossed her the pirog which entered her mouth almost instantly.

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As her false teeth grinded the savory cub meat the Wolf demon whimpered clasping its ears. Even noise coming from silver was not pleasant to his kind, even a reflection off of it could burn them. Not until she was finished did she have Ivan remove the strange weapons from her mouth. There were screws and straps involved yet when all was done, she did not wipe the blood that dripped from her gums onto her lips. She licked them with a most satisfied grin.

“Must you always try to keep me from the best meals? I have been tightening my belt a long while waiting for something decent.” She slid the rope off of the Wolf’s neck with ease tying it around her waist. She rubbed her jaw turning upon her servant.

“Ivan this contraption shifts on me. The fit is not true. Make an excuse to stay in the forge tomorrow. I shall need you later in the village anyway.” Aware she still had a captive audience she turned back to the writhing animal that was nursing its muzzle.

“I suppose you were looking for this?” She pulled from her red tasseled shall a little doll wrapped in cloth. A silver pin pushed through the doll’s heart. She twisted it and again the creature cried out. “Truly do you think I would trust this to just anyone? Ivan has his uses but he is over all a mindless lump.”

The Wolf finally mustered up a glare of reproach. He spoke with a deep guttural voice. This was a very difficult thing for his kind to master; usually only those who had transformed into the third state could do it.

“If he were mindless Baba Yaga I would have slaughtered him years ago. The man has no soul, something you intend for me someday I think.”

“Never, your will is much too fun to play with. It excites me in ways you cannot imagine to twist you as I do. Remember I have saved you above all others I have aged and eaten. And when you break my pet it will be my greatest pleasure.”

The wolf snarled in a fashion that said this would not be happening any time soon. She ignored his dramatics and turned back to Ivan.

“So what have you determined? Are they still in the wood?” Her eyes narrowed. Ivan nodded. “They must be. None of the border markings have shifted and all the traps are secure.”

“Hmmm, I must fortify things. Rid myself of weak links.” Baba Yaga turned to the Wolf, loosening the pressure of the silver pin a little. Nevertheless the relief he felt was more from the words she had just spoken to the hunter. Some of his family still lived.

“Did you keep Frost retreated?” As she questioned the Wolf it was Ivan she treated like a dog throwing him a small piece of meat that she had saved from the bread. He swallowed it only after chewing carefully with his four silver coated molars.

“Water is his element. I have no chance of capturing him. Every time he uses the river I lose him.” Despite the complaint the Wolf stood defiant.

“Pitiful you used to be so effective.” Baba Yaga waved a hand at his excuses.

“Without the mercury he stole we have no chance of true victory.” The Wolf growled, “Perhaps if you did not curse that befuddled merchant he might have obtained some for you.”

“And let you slip out a message to your brethren on the outside. I think not. I was not so sorry to lose those teeth as you might suppose. They were your craft. Until I am whole from your past mistakes I shall not risk foolish endeavors. The Frost is patient. It is immortal and does not understand time. It will continue on with the same patterns and rules until it gets what it wants. All I need to do is keep its wretched sabotage at bay until my time arises and then I shall bait the Frost using my own works.” She gestured for the Wolf to leave and he did as bid.

“The merchant still causes trouble. His presence encourages Rose to be willful.” Ivan waited until the beast was far enough away before speaking to his mistress.

“You are her Father, put a stop to it. It is Elena who seems to me to be hiding things from us. I suspect her.” When Ivan nodded she cackled. “Well perhaps I was hasty in calling you a mindless lump.”