The wolf locked eyes with Seth. It looked to be half his height. I need to get to Elias! He thought. Seth slowly took a step back, but before he could break into a sprint, Gloria grabbed his arm.

“Don’t run!” she warned, “he’ll chase you if you do.”

There was a scream behind them. Seth couldn’t help but risk a glance back. He saw Elias racing towards them with two wolves racing after him. “Master Seth!” he cried. “Gloria! Help!”

“Elias! Stop running!” Seth cried. He started to move towards Elias when he heard a snarl behind him.

“Seth! Look out!” Gloria cried.

Before Seth could react, he was shoved down into the snow, with Gloria landing on top of him, her breath knocked out as she did. Seth looked up, his eyes widening as he watched the powerful beast sail over them, its jaws snapping where he would have been. Crim save us…he thought in awe.

The wolf landed in the snow and whipped around for its prey. Its eyes narrowed hungrily as it saw its prey now in a vulnerable position. Seth saw the wolf’s muscles tense as it turned and prepared to lunge again.

Seth gripped Gloria close and rolled over until she was under him. Then he raised his hand and traced a sigil in the air. “Clypeus fidei!” He cried.

The shield enclosed Seth and Gloria just as the wolf smashed into the shimmering walls. It yelped in surprise and fell back. The wolf scrambled up and snarled. It glared at Seth and started to prowl around them, trying to understand its inability to reach its meal.

Elias! Seth managed to think. Where is he? Seth scanned the scene and spied a second shield spell not too far away and Elias struggled to keep his shield together. His face was pale from the strain. Seth’s eyes widened as he saw two wolves circling him, waiting for a moment to strike. It wouldn’t take much to destroy Elias’s shield.

I have to do something! Seth’s mind raced with ideas, but they were all interrupted by another lunge from the huge wolf. Seth grunted and poured more energy into the shield.

“Seth!” Gloria wriggled out from under him. “I have an idea!”

“What is it?” he asked, keeping his focus on his shield.

“I need your bag!” she answered.

“Take it!” Seth answered, bracing the shield from another lunge. The wolf barked and snarled in frustration.

Seth felt a slight tremor. He looked up towards Elias. From here he could sense the boy’s strength fading and his shield weakening. They needed to hurry!

Gloria pulled his bag off his shoulders and whipped it open. “Do you have any spell that can make a loud noise? I’m going to make a torch; the fire and noise should scare them off!” Gloria dug through the bag and pulled out flint and steel and a small log, then she ripped a strip of cloth off her brown dress and wrapped it around the wood.

Seth’s mind raced through his spells. “Yes!” he cried. “I do! But I’ll have to drop the shield in order to cast it.”

“That’s fine!” Gloria answered, pulling out flint and steel from his bag and striking them together – nothing happened.

Seth looked towards Elias again. A deep crack was forming in his shield and the two prowling wolves sensed that their patience would soon be rewarded.

“Gloria?” Seth called, growing anxious. “Is that torch ready?”

“Almost there!” she answered and struck the flint and steel together again – this time there were a few sparks. “Come on!” she growled.

The huge wolf looked from Seth to Elias. It sensed the boy’s fear and considered waiting with the other wolves instead.

“Gloria!” Seth cried. “Hurry!”

Gloria struck the flint and steel a third time. A bright flash of sparks erupted and ignited the makeshift torch. Gloria rose, her green eyes glimmered with victory. Their fierceness took Seth aback for a moment.

“I’m ready!” she cried.

“Master Seth!” Seth heard Elias cry. Seth’s eyes snapped back to the boy. The shield flickered and began to fail.

“Gloria, cover your ears!” Seth cried and released the shield. The huge wolf, sensing something was different, turned back towards them. Seth quickly drew a different sigil in the air. “Parva cautela!” he said.

The huge wolf began to lope towards them, its eyes gleaming. “No!” Seth shouted. His voice boomed and echoed across the plains. The wolf scampered back in surprise. The other two wolves glanced back at him, unsure of this new threat.

Seth heard the sound of shattering glass. He looked up and saw Elias’s shield shatter and the boy drop to the ground. The two wolves turned back, howled, and dove for Elias. The boy curled up and tried to fight the wolves off. His screams pierced the air.

Seth’s heart dropped. Oh Crim! No! he started forward. “No!” He shouted again. The huge wolf took a step back.

“Elias!” Gloria screamed and she took off through the snow after him, carrying her torch with her.

The huge wolf’s gaze snapped to Gloria. Seth saw its eyes dilate. Why run when its meal would come to it?

You’re not having her for breakfast! Seth thought, darting forward. The wolf’s ears lay back and the beast pounced.

“Oh no you don’t!” Seth cried, leaping forward. He grabbed the wolf’s hide and tackled it to the ground. The wolf was startled. It snarled and spun around trying to reach for Seth.

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Seth saw Gloria look back; she paused in conflicted hesitation. “Go!” he cried, his voice booming over to her. “I’ll be fine! Get Elias!” Gloria gritted her teeth, then turned and raced toward Elias.

While Seth was distracted, the wolf twisted sharply and flipped Seth onto his back, then the wolf pounced on him, pinning him to the ground. The wolf’s jaws opened and dove for his neck. Seth gripped the wolf’s maw and held it back with all his strength.

Within him, Seth could feel The Lady fearfully pacing back and forth. She cursed to herself. No! No, no, no! I did not get this far just to have the fool die in the wilderness! She screamed and pulled at her hair. Why did I have to waste myself on those assassins?

So you do have limits. The taunting thought was only in his mind for a second.

The wolf bared down on him, drawing closer and closer until Seth could feel the wolf’s hot breath on his face. My dagger! he thought. I need to get my dagger! Seth grunted and kneed the wolf in the gut. It whined and pulled back, breaking Seth’s grip.

Seth tried to take the chance to grab his dagger, but the beast growled and renewed its attack. It dove for Seth’s throat. He threw a punch and hit its muzzle. The wolf’s jaws were shoved away from his throat, but the wolf saw an opportunity and latched onto Seth’s shoulder.

Seth cried out as teeth pierced his skin. He looked up and saw the wolf’s eyes glint. It knew it had trapped its prey. The wolf yanked and wrenched Seth’s shoulder from its socket. A sharp pain shot up through his arm and blinded his thinking.

This is it. He thought. I’m going to die…again. As far as deaths went, he hoped this one wouldn’t be as bad as the first. I just hope that at least Gloria and Elias are safe. He thought as the wolf loomed over him. Salvia dripped from its teeth and dropped onto Seth’s face – this time it wouldn’t be denied its meal. Seth squeezed his eyes shut and waited for the pain.

“Get away from him!” Seth heard Gloria scream. He opened his eyes in time to see a flaming torch smash into the wolf’s side. The wolf yiped and whipped around to face Gloria.

Seth turned his head and there she was – Gloria standing boldly, radiating strength and beauty. In one hand she wielded her makeshift torch and in the other, she held a bloodied Elias who clung to her. Her bright red curls flared about her like wings, her dazzling green eyes glowed with anger, and the speckles of blood on her face looked like rubies. Seth was awe-struck. She looks like an angel, he thought.

The wolf stood over Seth but turned to assess its new challenger and growled. Gloria narrowed her eyes and lowered Elias to the ground. Then she swung her torch again. “Off!” She cried. “Get off him!”

The wolf growled and took a step forward only to be hit on the muzzle with the burning torch. It whined and staggered back. Gloria stomped forward and waved her torch. “You want me to do that again?” she roared at the wolf. “Go on then! Git!” She swung her torch once more and bashed the wolf on the side of its head. The wolf yipped, then scampered off, its tail between its legs.

Wow… was all Seth could think.

“Seth!” Seth looked back to Gloria who raced to his side. He tried to sit up, but fiery pulses of pain shot up his arm. “No,” Gloria laid him back, “don’t sit up!”

Gloria held out the torch behind her. “Elias, take the torch!” Seth looked over at Elias. Even though he was sitting, Elias wobbled severely.

“Gloria, take care of Elias first,” Seth said.

“I took care of it; he can wait!” Gloria shook her head. “I need to take care-”

There was a thud and Seth’s head whipped over to see Elias collapsed into the snow. Seth tried to move towards him, but the pain in his arm forbade him to move. He gritted his teeth and tried not to cry out.

“I’ve got it!” Gloria said. She stabbed the torch into the ground and pulled Seth’s coat off her. She laid it in the snow, then she grabbed Elias, rolled him into the coat, and dragged him over to Seth.

Seth searched Elias’s face; he was pale and drawn. He looked over the boy’s other wounds, they weren’t healed but stabilized. He looked up at Gloria who was focused on wrapping up Elias. She looked worn. Gloria must’ve done a patch job so she could keep going. Seth thought to himself.

“Looks like he overextended himself with that shield.” Seth finally said.

Gloria nodded, then turned her attention to Seth’s shoulder and began tracing golden sigils in the air. Seth grabbed her hand with his good arm, “Don’t heal me,” he said.

“Are you crazy?” Gloria cried, fighting his grip.

“You’re exhausted!” Seth argued. “If you heal me, you’ll pass out. A blizzard is coming and I can’t carry both you and Elias!”

Gloria stammered out protests, but she looked at the sky. She growled and squeezed her eyes shut in frustration. “Fine!” she conceded. “But you’re not carrying anyone with that shoulder! I will carry Elias.”

Anger flashed in Seth. “Absolutely not!” he cried. “I’m not putting that on you! I did that to you once and I’m not doing it again!”

Gloria growled in frustration. “But this time is different! You can’t carry everything, Seth! Sometimes you need to let the people who lo-!” She stopped abruptly and clapped a hand to her mouth.

Seth stared at her and his chest tightened. What was she going to say? “The people who what…?” he asked, beginning to feel rather warm. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but somewhere deep down, something in him wanted her to say whatever it was.

Gloria’s face turned pink. She stammered and looked at his arm, “Just…just let me help you. You don’t have to do everything by yourself, you know.” Then she started ripping more cloth off her brown dress to fashion bandages and a sling. “Stay still,” she said firmly. “I’m going to wrap up that bite and get the sling on you before you sit up.”

Seth watched her tenderly wrap up his wounds, her eyes narrowed in concentration. The image of Gloria staring down the wolf replayed itself over and over in his mind. He swallowed and those same strange feelings he felt before nestled in his chest. Seth glanced at her fingers, they worked quickly and with minimal pain. He reached out and wondered what it would be like just to touch…

Gloria blinked and looked down at Seth. He froze and his face burned. His fingers had brushed past hers. He felt embarrassed and awkwardly reached out and brushed snow from her sleeve.

“Sorry, just…noticed some snow on you,” he lied, “that’s all.”

Gloria smiled a little and finished tying the sling. Then she sat back and wiped her forehead. “Finished! Want to give it a test?”

Seth nodded. “Sure,” he said feeling rather embarrassed about his lie. Gloria drew close and reached under Seth’s back to help him sit up. He gulped and tried to think of something else. Thankfully, his arm ached and distracted him. The sling, however, held.

“How does it feel?” Gloria asked.

“It feels alright,” Seth answered testing out the sling.

“Perfect,” Gloria answered. “Let’s get going, then. I’ll help you up.” She wrapped Seth’s arm around her neck and helped him up to his feet. He blinked and took in the world around him. His legs still wobbled a little from his close encounter.

“Thank you, Gloria” he said.

Gloria smiled at him. “Of course,” she said. Then she turned back to pick up Elias.

Within him, Seth felt The Lady narrow her eyes in spiteful hate. I can’t believe, I’m indebted to that worthless little… she trailed off and a cruel smile replaced her fury. Yes… she said to herself. Yes, that would do nicely. Ooo, I do like that…

Seth’s heart pounded in fear. What are you planning? he demanded. But The Lady didn’t answer. She simply chuckled and hummed to herself.

A grunt of effort from Gloria brought Seth back to himself. She had gotten Elias on her back. She was heavily bent over but managed to hold Elias.

Seth grimaced; he took a step forward and reached out his good hand “Are you sure you don’t-?”

Gloria glared at him. “Don’t even!” The intensity startled Seth and he took a step back. “I’ve got him. Now come on, let’s go before that blizzard comes.” Then she staggered off through towards the mountains.

Seth stared after her. Before he could catch the thought, it bubbled up to the surface. She’s incredible. The thought terrified him, but at the same time he liked it.

A snowflake caught his eye and landed on his arm. Seth looked up; the dark clouds were nearly upon them.

The storm will be here soon.