Emalynn POV

“Who are you calling a mutt, fancy toes?” I jumped onto the branch where Silas stood. This guy looked like he had been hit by a gust of wind that carried some of those sharp ice shards. He was injured from being battered by the ice.

Ooowww!

Another howl! Rory is finally free. The ice has shattered thanks to these arrogant wizards, but I have no idea where the other wizards are. Well, my first goal has been achieved.

“Monkey girl, your arrival is fortuitous,” Silas said, sarcastically.

“Oh, shut your mouth, fancy pants,” I muttered as Braxton leaped down onto the branch we stood on. Eriz followed him. The branch shook from the weight of these heavy males around me. I could hear the wood beginning to fracture underneath us. “Forget this.” I jumped to the branch above us, and I wrapped my legs around the branch allowing me to hang upside down. The branch below bowed under the males’ weight, but the branch finally steadied under their feet.

The men looked unphased by the branch beneath them. Silas simply shook it off and eyed the new face that stood with Braxton. “Who is this?” Silas asked.

“Well-”

“My name is Eriz, sir,” Eriz answered.

“Ok. Why are you here?” Silas didn’t waste a minute with his questions.

Rrroooaaarrr!

Eriz smiled at the sound of the dragon’s roar. “I am here for her,” Eriz pointed at the sky where the snow-white dragon took flight.

Rory POV

Cccrrraaaccckkkk!

The ice around me began to fracture into pieces, allowing me to feel the tinges of heat that broke the thick block of ice. Magic began circulating through my body rapidly, trying to awaken my nearly frozen body. I could feel my muscles begin to loosen, so I forced my body to begin shaking to help it wake up. If I am beginning to break free then Athyra, the ice dragon, must be escaping the ice as well. She wants to kill Ema… I have to hurry. Heat began building up inside me. Athyra isn’t going to get the chance to find Ema if I have anything to say about it. The chill in my bones from the ice began to feel like sharp needles piercing my insides as I tried to focus on the heat in my belly. Power, this heat was the magic lightning that I had used before. This magic seems instinctual like my terrain magic. No words are required. The ring on my finger began to burn hotter than power building up in my belly. I didn’t understand this magic well, but I knew it would be released from my body any minute.

I could hear more ice splitting. Undoubtedly, it had to be Athyra. She was truly angry. The wizards had granted her wish to escape. This magic in me connected her to me. I could feel her anger. Shit, I have to save Ema. Come on, magic. Work!

Rrrroooaaarrr!

Damn it. She’s free. I will not be undone.

Oooooowwwwww!

CCCRRAAASSHH!

The ice fell around, and I could feel the sun touch my fur. Warmth, true sunlight was warming my fur. My eyes thawed enough that I could finally open them. As I looked up, I saw Athyra taking flight. She wastes no time. I am still trying to shake off her ice magic. Most of my strength was gone from trying not to freeze to death. Mom’s ring protected me in the ice, and I hope it has enough power to help me protect Emalynn.

Shaking off the rest of the ice, I began scenting the air for Emalynn. Surely, she was nearby, but part of me hoped that she was long gone. All I could smell was ice and the burnt ends of my fur. I needed to head for the trees to have any hope of tracking her in all this ice and snow.

My body was stiff and still chilled from being a wolf popsicle, but I didn't have time to go slow. I could see the tree line a hundred or so paces away from me. It was different from the dense forest that I attempted to lose the dragon in last night. Without much thought, I raced toward the treeline. Jagged shards of ice are sticking out of the white landscape. It was an unbelievable sight.

Athyra flew overhead. She was shadowing me. I am pretty sure she thinks I will lead her to Ema. Rushing off into the forest may not be the best choice right now. I slowed my pace walking around the wide opening. Think Rory. I can't just attack Athyra. She's too far up in the air for me to just land an attack. Yet, I feel…and smell another-

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"You are quite a sight, red wolf. I see why the simian girl is so protective of you," An older voice said.

My jaw clenched into place as I growled at the man approaching me from behind. Did he think I couldn’t see him? He must be one of the wizards who freed me from the ice since he knows about Ema. Yet, I sense he intends to catch me or possibly kill me. He’s way too happy to catch me alone than someone with good intentions would be. I turned to face this older man. He had some magic in him, but it was less than the dark elf that I faced a few months ago.

“My goodness, you are a cranky one, aren’t you? Growling at the man who freed you from your ice prison isn’t a smart thing to do, Red.” The man said as he slowly got closer.

My growling wasn’t enough to keep back, so I snapped at his condescending ass. He stopped dead in his tracks. The jerk smiled as if he was happy with this result. “There is no fear in your eyes, just contempt, which is a shame for such deep blue eyes. What secrets do you hold, Red? I have heard of a wolf that could use lightning magic like you. Come to think of it, you remind me of the beast woman who used lightning magic the other day to steal a book. I wonder if you and that beast are related."

His wicked smile made my skin crawl. He reminded me of that dark elf that I faced a few months ago. This man just made me angry. I had enough to deal with already, and now, this man walks in piecing shit together. He's a threat to Ema and me. Should I just kill him?

"Wicked wolf, I can see you perceive me as a threat, and you're not wrong. Still, I can't decide if you are worth more alive or dead." The arrogant man said. "Dead or alive…Dead or alive…I simply can't decide."

His words cued more growling from me. I was beginning to wish I had my dagger, so I could dice this man into tiny pieces. Blinking only for an instant, the man shot a fireball of magic at me. I jumped out of the way, but I felt the heat of the blast on my skin. The man didn't give me a chance to react as I was cornered by four more fireballs. The ice shards around me began melting from the heat as I attempted to outrun the blasts. Behind me, the man was laughing. All of this was ridiculous. I had just gotten out of the damn ice, and now it's melting into a pond of water.

I opted to turn around and race back toward the spellcaster. Water splashed at my paws as I ducked under the heat blasts, narrowly escaping the fire. My fur was singed again from the heat. The man didn't let up his blasts as I got closer to him. The ice was slick beneath my paws from the water pooling on top of it. It was long before I started sliding through the water toward the man. I felt one of those fireballs about the size of my head hit my back leg. My fur would have been set ablaze had it not been for the water splashing across my fur as I slid toward the man. I dug my claws into the ice under the water, trying to stop before I hit the man. In my wolf form, the top of my head hits somewhere above the four-foot marker. If I hit this man, he will be flattened from my large size.

Looking at the man, his smile had faded. He seemed to realize we were about to collide unless he moved out of the way. He didn't waste a moment as he dodged the collision and continued his fireball assault. More of his fire balls were battering my body while I managed to stop my body from sliding across the ice any further. I hated that my battle with Athyra created this icy meadow in the middle of this once dense forest.

I didn't have a chance to process the pain from the fireballs because this man didn't stop his spell barrage. The chill that had caused my bones to ache was replaced by bruises and burns from the fireballs. Magic began to build in my body again. This magic was instinctual like before, acting of its own accord. The air around me began to sizzle and snap as the red lightning began sparking around my body.

The man looked in awe of my magic before terror suddenly fell across his face. He began running toward the treeline, putting as much distance as he could between us. If I could smile, I would. It had only taken him a minute to figure out my plan. A howl escaped my muzzle as the red lightning escaped from my body. The water carried the current of my lightning directly toward the once arrogant man. This wasn't how I usually fought, but it was effective. However, the discharge of my lightning scattered in all directions through the water. No one could escape this attack except the frost dragon circling the sky above me.

The man fell to his knees, slumping over from the shock to his system. Did I kill him? Maybe, he just passed out. Although… Weary of his possible trickery, I took the opportunity to the area. Some part of me wanted to go back and finish the spellcaster off, but I had to stay focused. I wasn’t alone in this icy meadow. Athyra flew above me, awaiting her revenge. There were more wizards out here that were on the hunt for Athyra and me as well as the threat of Athyra killing Ema. I was alone and surrounded by the unknown. If I stayed out in the icy opening, I would be an easy target, but if I go to the treeline, Athyra might spot Ema. I took a deep breath. The treeline is my best chance at survival and finding Ema. Without a second thought, I ran off toward the trees. I just needed to be ready to fight Athyra again at any time. Wolf versus dragon…round two…what could go wrong? Damn it. Where are Elias, Myrra, and Aunt Leah when you need them? Hell, where is Ema?

Reaching the treeline, I jumped up on what was left of a low branch and climbed my way toward the treetop. My paws were thankful for the tree bark beneath the pads of my feet. It was the first surface I touched that wasn’t wet or cold. Most of the trees near the edge of the icy meadow appeared broken and barely standing due to the impact of the ice rocks. I could smell ice and the soft scent of wet bark from the damaged trees. No sign of Ema. No sign of any wizards either. Just the nosy frost dragon above me. I wondered if my magic was still connected to hers.

Athyra. Can you still hear me?

Dead silence.

Come on, Frosty. Surely, you can still hear me.

Athyra didn’t even look down at me.

Ugh. I guess when the ice broke, our connection broke, too. That sucked. I was enjoying actually talking to someone. It’s been two days in this wolf form, but even if I could shift back to a human, now would be the worst time. Athyra was watching me like a hawk, waiting for a moment to strike. Wizards have seen me in this form, and Ema told them about me. If I were to change now, one of those wizards would notice. I was stuck until the wind suddenly blew by…

Ema. Ema’s scent was on that wind. She was close, but I couldn’t let myself react. My dragon shadow would pick up on any happy reaction. Another breeze blew through the trees, and I scented Ema and a few others. She was with some of the wizards most likely, but the last scent was similar to Athyra’s. Did Aythra have a companion like I thought? I slowly followed the scent. The breeze came from the other side of the icy meadow, so I opted to take the long way around.

I wasn’t even halfway to where I thought Ema was when I ran into another person. Chances are this woman wasn’t a friend of mine. She looked up in the air and saw Athyra’s large form circling above me. A smirk formed on her face.

“What luck! My prey has found me,” she boasted. The woman did a little dance and straightened her plum-colored jacket like she was the coolest person around. “Take that Renaldy!”

My head tilted at her odd behavior. Most people who have hunted me are quiet and strategic with their movements. This woman was the total opposite. She looked no more than seventeen at best. Why was a child out here hunting me alone?

“Hey, mutt! I hope you are ready for a new master! My name is Analee Himera, do your best to remember it.” Analee walked forward. “First, I will make you, my familiar, then we will defeat, snowy, up there.”

Athyra didn’t react, but I was sure she heard this woman’s ridiculous words. This woman seriously thought that she was going to control me. To make it worse, she was annoyingly popping bubblegum in her mouth. I could see her starting a spell as magic welled up in her palms. Here we go again.