Thea sat in the chill of one of the castle rooms, her brown gaze staring impatiently out a clear portion of a narrow, stained glass window. A wolf with a short pelt of black-marked gray laid curled near her feet, his head resting on his paws and eyes half closed. Master Graden—a man Thea enjoyed comparing to a mouse who sniffled every couple sentences, and cleared his throat in the ones between—stood at the front of the small room, droning on about the history of Scientists and Mages. With the rumors of recent sightings of Scientists going around, her mother had thought it wise she be further educated on the matter. Much to Thea’s displeasure.
Outside, beyond the castle’s north wall, a series of trees struggled to compete with the wall's height. Their leaves were a mix of summer’s last green and the fiery colors of fall. A gentle breeze kissed the tops of the trees, making them sway just enough for Thea to notice over the distance.
Her impatience turned to longing as she glanced to the sky to judge the time. It had been months since she had seen her best friend, Byrce, and now, at long last, they were to meet in the castle garden, in their usual spot. But Master Graden had gone off on yet another off-topic rant, further extending his lesson.
“Forgive me, Master Graden,” she began as he sniffled for the umpteenth time. The wolf raised his head at the sound of her voice, his ears twitching as he looked up to her.
Confusion crossed Master Graden’s face at his interrupted thought as he looked to her, his graying hair glistening slightly in the light from the window from the amount of grease he used to keep it in place.
Thea stood casually, her palms on the carved table in front of her and the sleeves of her emerald, floor-length dress draping downward.
The wolf, Zane, got to his feet with a yawn.
“I appreciate the time you’ve set apart for this,” she lied, “but it really was scheduled for a poor day. I have a previous engagement I must attend to.” She stepped toward the door, her eyes and fake smile still on Graden. “Tomorrow would be a more suitable day.” But never would be ideal, she added to herself.
“But your mother—”
“Will understand, I’m sure.”
Father, on the other hand… She hurried to the heavy door and pulled it open enough for her and Zane to walk through side-by-side. Her father’s inevitable lecture for cutting the mousy man off early would be worth it.
“Until the morrow, Master Graden!” she called as the man sniffled and opened his mouth, his eyes wrinkled in irritation.
Before he could protest, Thea shut the door behind her and the wolf, and hurried down the hall, gripping her skirts to keep from tripping on it. Once she thought she was a safe distance away to avoid him seeing her when he left, she stopped and looked to the wolf.
Zane looked up to her questioningly, a long-healed scar marring his snout, and she grinned.
“Let’s see if Byrce is here yet, shall we?” She reached down and rubbed his head, before hurrying down the halls, her speed this time fueled by hopeful excitement.
Zane easily kept up, running beside her on quiet feet. As they neared a bend in the hall, his ears flattened against his head, and he growled softly as he took a slight lead.
“Zane!” She drew out his name with a roll of her eyes, trying to regain a position at the front. “It’s probably just one of the—”
Before she could finish, she turned the corner at the same time as her eldest brother, Cedric, nearly running into him. Thankfully, with a surprised shout, she managed to nimbly avoid him, her body twisting just enough to prevent a collision as he skidded to a halt.
Unlike Thea with her mother’s heart-shaped face and fiery-red hair, the front tied up in an elegant braid wrapped around her head, Cedric was the spitting image of their father. He kept his wavy brown hair short. He had a strong, oval face that was, at least according to him, handsome, sporting a bit of stubble. The only feature that may make onlookers guess the two were related were their dark eyes.
“Cedric!” Thea placed a hand theatrically over her heart, and gave an exaggerated sigh as Zane hunched down slightly beside her, growling. “You really should watch where you’re going,” she teased with a smile.
Cedric glared down at her, his tallness only making her look that much shorter. “Aren’t you supposed to be getting a lesson this afternoon?” he snapped, his bushy eyebrows raising. Dressed in armor no doubt for a sparring session with the knights, he rested a hand leisurely on the hilt of the sword hanging around his waist. He turned his glare toward the wolf as it moved protectively closer to Thea.
“Aren’t you late for sparring practice?” she taunted, raising one eyebrow and reaching down to stroke Zane’s neck to try calming him.
Cedric snorted. “Off to see your little dog friend, I take it? I heard he was here.” He jerked his head toward the hall behind him. “Heading to the garden, I believe.”
Thea’s face lit up. Byrce had made it.
“You’re more dog than he is, Cedric!” Thea responded lightly.
He crossed his arms as Thea gathered part of her skirt once more, and hurried around him. “Why don’t you two just marry and be done with it?”
She laughed and turned, grinning and walking backwards a few prancing steps as she called back to him. “You’re just jealous I actually have a real friend!”
With that, she and Zane raced down the corridor toward the outer castle gardens, leaving Cedric standing alone with a dark scowl on his face.

“You're at the age where mating is a possibility. In time you'll have to take over and having a mate-” Byrce cut his father off mid-sentence with a snarl, the library they were in echoed the sound around them. He had been awake since dawn dealing with whatever his father asked, he had no desire to hear the lecture once more. Fingers flexing at his sides in an attempt to regain his anger, Byrce exhaled and spun on his heel to face the row of large glass windows. Other members of his Pack move around the grounds with either family or friends, the young prince taking a moment to simply listen to what was happening around him.

His father didn't give him more than two minutes to just breath.

Even before words filled the air, Byrce was turning to exit the room. His grey cape billowing out behind him as his strides quickly led him to the large oak doors, he stilled with a large hand landed on his shoulder and squeezed. “I need a break Father. I've been up since dawn and haven't been able to even think clearly with all that you've had me doing. Meet this Beta here, have this meeting here- I need peace.” He said through gritted teeth, his body tensing as his father's fingers squeezed against his shoulder in a silent warning.

“You have a responsibility to your Pack-” Byrce yanked away from the grasp that held him, his hand shoving the doors open with enough strength that they collided with the stone walls. His shift came easily enough as he ran down the hall, his father's enraged voice filling the halls behind him. Reaching the staircase that led to the first floor, Byrce allowed himself to shift just as he catapulted over the wooden banister. He landed gracefully on his paws a moment later, the maids that had been passing through the foyer stilling at his appearance. “Byrce! You will listen to me!-” His father's voice was the trigger that sent him running once more, his maw parting to allow a wolfish grin to overtake his features as he exited the main doors and took a right. It was easy to find the secret pathway that allowed both he and Thea to enter or escape as they wanted, after lowering himself on his belly and moving through the passage he rose and shook himself.

The fresh air was like a balm to his anger and exhaustion. Inhaling through his snout, Byrce flicked his ears as the sounds of the forest filled the air. He took off a moment later and found his body relaxing the further away from his kingdom, he adores his family but he's at his limits with how much he can take. He reaches Thea’s kingdom a half-hour later, his tongue lolling out of his maw as he pants for breath. His tail and ears flick as he nears the wall where a similar passage has been since years ago, he lowers himself and easily enters the grounds. His feet carry him forward in a slow trot, his sense of smell guiding him towards his favourite place within his friends home. The garden is in full blown even with the slight change in temperature, nearing a dark oak tree that still needed to grow Byrce settled himself with a huff. Nosing at the fallen leaves while he waited for his breath to return, the young prince settled more comfortably on his belly. He wasn't sure what Thea was doing but he didn't mind waiting, the smell of roses and the faint smell of food lulling him into a daze. His body curled into a ball as his tail came up to cover his snout and eyes, a yawn large enough to snap his jaw overtaking him for a moment. He settled his head atop the pile of leaves, Byrce allowed his eyes to close and felt sleep tug at his mind.

He wondered what they would do today, his mind going blank as the breeze around him carried scents groom the kingdom in lazy circles. @Siaya Dragalorn

Thea and Zane stepped through the heavy, wooden doors leading from the castle into the outer garden. She paused just outside, a gentle breeze managing to make its way to her despite the walls and few trees dotting the garden. The breeze brought with it a welcomed chill, warning of the weather to come despite the mild warmth the sun still provided. She inhaled through her nose, relishing the fresh, flowery scents of the dying summer mixed with the crispness of new fall.
Not wanting to waste any more time, she hurried along the cobblestone path weaving its way through flowerbeds growing tall and small groves of trees with magically-thickened leaves. Flowers and bushes added a rainbow of color to the vibrantly green lawn of the garden, the fall’s decay kept at bay within the castle walls by the king’s Mage. The morning sunlight shone down on plants and people alike, making Thea's hair look aflame when it hit her just right. Trotting beside her, Zane’s nose sniffed at the air, and his ears twitched at smells and sounds Thea could only guess at.
The companions hurried to their and Byrce’s usual meeting spot within her home, diverting from the path. As soon as the young oak tree came into view, its form dwarfed by others spaced around it, Thea smiled; Byrce laid, curled into a ball, at the tree’s base in his familiar, large wolf form.
She released her skirts, letting their hems brush lightly against the grass as she stepped toward him. She leaned against the tree beside him and slid down the rough bark, waiting for him show notice of her.
Zane did a quick perimeter check around the tree, sniffing at it and the air before, apparently satisfied, sitting near her feet. His eyes, as dark as Thea's, fell to Byrce, watching him with a mix of caution and excitement.

Two familiar heartbeats were what awoke Byrce from his sleep. His ears flick as another gust of air passed around them, his nose testing the scents in the air. Thea’s heart was slow and yet oddly fast for a human, Zane’s heartbeat matched his own. Tail flicking as it slowly uncovers his face, Byrce uncurls from his position with a yawn. A paw lifts to rub at his eyes, his muscles stretching as he allows himself to fully wake up. Rising to his paws with another yawn, Byrce glanced at his friend and her companion before offering a soft bark in greeting.

Moving forward to rub his nose against Thea’s cheek -a greeting as much as a way to see her squeak- Bryce stilled just inches from her when he caught a faint smell of rain. It had no particular smell despite being something of nature, snorting softly he gave his silent greeting to his friend. His greeting to Zane was to rub his cheek against the wolf's head, an instinct that his wolf seemed happy to give. Sitting on his haunches and debating for a moment, he tilted his head and taped his tail twice against the grass below him. What will we do? Was meant by the gesture, even though he couldn't speak they had a way of communicating that left others confused.

He didn't care what they did, so long as he didn't have to return home until later. A lecture would be in store and he'd rather not fade his father until his own temper had calmed, nothing ever came from two angry Alpha’s quietly arguing with one another. Head tilted up to the sky Byrce took another sniff of the air, only to sneeze when the floral scents or the garden invaded his scenes. Shaking his form until he felt the last reminisce of sleep fade, Byrce turned and chuffed softly as he decided on where to go. Heading to the town would be fun in terms of seeing the items that were being sold, it also seemed boring in terms of he was always on edge around others. Funny considering how big his Pack was, maybe Thea would be up for exploring the forest in the east?

Thea watched Byrce stir, waiting patiently. She drew her legs toward her chest and rested her chin on her knees, smiling as the werewolf yawned. She had always found his race fascinating, being part animal and part human, a mix neither magic nor science--before the latter became banned--had found a reason for. To have the ability to shift between wolf and man was one desire she could not deny having from time to time, to be capable of running through the forests among animals as one of them, instead of the intruders humankind had become.
Zane returned Byrce’s greeting first with his own bark, his front half crouched and his rump in the air, bushy tail wagging slightly.
“Hello to you, too.” She grinned and let out a little squeak when Byrce’s wet, chilly nose tapped her cheek. Her face wrinkled in amusement, she straightened her legs and returned the gesture, rubbing the tip of her nose against his fur before he repeated the greeting with Zane.
Despite the drastic size difference between the two, Zane bravely nipped at at the larger wolf playfully, Thea just thankful Zane had warmed up enough to Byrce to apparently enjoy his company. That was a day she had feared would never happen.
Thea leaned back on her hands as Byrce sat, taking in his body language and understanding his silent question in a way only a true friend could.
“Hmm.” She leaned her head back slightly as Byrce sneezed and shook himself. Her tongue played with her inner cheek in thought for a short moment. “Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of being cooped up.” She glanced toward the direction of the front gates of the castle, contemplating walking the market. But she was easily recognized in the undoubtedly crowded area, and she had no desire to go through the trouble of concealing her identity so the king would not discover her disobedience. That was one reprimand she would rather avoid. “I’d say going into the city’s out. It’s market day. And Father doesn’t want me leaving the castle right now.” She rolled her eyes. “Thinks those Scientists from the rumors might still be lurking about.”
She paused, and glanced toward their secret escape, well-hidden near the castle walls. There was a river not far from the castle. It flowed about a mile away from the city, and connected Altreiah to the neighboring kingdoms to both the east and the west.
“We haven’t followed the river very far east into the forest yet,” she suggested, her expression perking up at the idea. “Lots to explore, places to get wet before the water freezes for the winter…”
She stood, and took a couple steps toward their exit route, Zane ever by her side. “How’s that sound to you?” She twirled back around to look to Byrce, waiting for his answer.

Anything involving a forest was a splendid idea.

Voicing his agreement with a soft yip, Byrce raced forward and nudged Zane’s side playfully he did so. Their secret escape route would lead them close to the path that would take them towards the direction Thea had suggested, his own Kingdom was further east which he was thankful for. As he reached the tunnel-like path he heard a far-off howl, his ears twitching as he recognized the tone. His siblings shared his ability to shift though they couldn't control it as easily as he yet, Andrea it seemed wanted to know where he was.

Crawling onto his belly he easily wiggled through the opening, immediately shaking himself when he came free on the other side. Sitting on his haunches while he waited, Byrce focused on his surroundings with alertness. He was in charge of both Thea and Zane once leaving the kingdom, he was always on guard for threats. Ears and nose twitching as sounds and scents drew his attention towards the canopy of trees he can see, Byrce rose to his paws and yipped softly as he waited to begin their adventure. He fell silent when his stomach gave a loud tumble, a snort escaping him as he remembered he'd been denied food due to being late for his meetings that morning. Golden eyes focused on the trees, his tail twitching as he felt a familiar breeze of frigid air gently billowing against his fur. He hadn't shown or told Thea yet about his new ability yet, a wolfish-grin spread across his features as he envisioned how it would go.

Maybe the rumors of werewolves being part mages were true, Byrce hadn't heard of anyone else in his Pack being able to control an element. Shaking his form to dispel the small ice-crystals that were coating his grey-black fur, Byrce focused instead on quelling the sudden urge to release a burst of ice. It hadn't even been a week yet since he found out, his control was weak unless he was completely focused. He hoped his friends would join him soon, his stomach seemed intent on consuming his spine from how suddenly starving he was.

Zane gave a yelp when Bryce nudged into him on his way forward. He snapped slightly at him, then turned to make chase, but stopped to look to Thea with a whine and pawing at the ground.
Thea, with a smile that echoed in her eyes, swirled back around with a twirl of her skirts, and hurried after Byrce. Though she knew she could not keep up with the speed of a wolf, she ran, just as eager to leave the castle behind her as her friend seemed to be. Zane kept a steady pace between them, trying to split his focus between the wolf ahead of him and the girl behind.
Hidden among a rather dense gathering of shrubs, face shrouded in shadow by the hood of a cloak, a pair of eyes watched the trio race toward their “secret” passage. With everything from the figure’s form to the neigh imperceptible beat of its heart masked by a small device in the figure’s gloved hand, the gentle whoosh of a contented sigh went unnoticed. With a smug air, the figure stood from its crouch once the three were out of sight, and turned back toward the castle.
Thea reached the passage last.
Ivy clung to the castle’s outer wall stretching to either side of her. The vines hung in a sheet from about half-way up the massive structure, where the stones took on a smooth texture preventing the plant--and any invading forces--from finding any footing. Near where one side of the wall met the other, Zane waited impatiently for her.
She gave him a quick rub between his ears, got on her knees, and pushed part of the ivy aside. A tunnel not much larger than she was on hands-and-knees waited beyond, the vines untouched for years. She crawled through it as quickly as she could, Zane at her heels. The vines fell back into place behind them, casting the already dim tunnel into near complete darkness.
It did not take long to reach the other side, which was guarded by an illusion to make the entrance look as solid as the rest of the wall.
Thea emerged on the other side where her friend waited. Now covered in dirt and a couple spider webs Byrce’s fur had not cleared away, she stood. Wasting no time in attempting to brush herself off, she looked to where her friend waited as Zane exited the tunnel. She smiled lightly at his posture, a posture he always took when they were out together. A posture of high-alert she had seen Zane take on many occasions. Except, of course, for the grin Byrce wore that only a werewolf could give.
She eyed him suspiciously for a short moment, wondering what laid behind the lupine grin, then glanced toward the east where the river waited.
“Last one to the river’s a skinned lizard!” she shouted over her shoulder as she raced off toward the water.
Zane gave a bark in surprise when she suddenly took off through the dense trees surrounding this part of the castle, and hurried after her.

A challenge was a challenge.

Bryce gave both Thea and Zane a few seconds head-start, his golden eyes watching them even as his muscles shifted under his fur in preparation. Reaching five in his mental countdown the young prince sprung forward with a soft yip and easily caught up with both his friends. The smell of pine and different animal scents filled his nose the moment he breached the treeline. He allowed his senses to talk over, instinct guiding him west at a fallen tree stump that seemed to act as a split between the normally even route. They didn't get to explore much anymore, what with his father insisting on finding him a mate and all.

He couldn't help the howl that clawed it's way up from his chest, it left a tingling feeling in his stomach as it filled the forest air. The river wasn't too inside the forest, which he was thankful for as he neared it with his ears perked and nose sniffing the air. Reaching the edge Byrce tapped a forepaw against the edge before sitting down on his haunches, his head lowering to lap at the cool water. He could hear faint heartbeats to the east that told him prey was hidden amongst the thicker foliage, a soft snort escaping as he rose and settled down beside a rock where Thea could sit if she'd like. His head lowered to rest on his paws, his body relaxed though his senses not. He wondered again if he should show Thea his new ability, she had after all been the first witness to his shift so many years ago. Aside from Zane -who he thought of as an adoptive brother- it was like repeating the past, except for the fact that back then they had been in the castle compared to in a forest.

Huffing softly and rising once more, Byrce shook himself once more. He could feel the strange coolness that hovered just above his fur, glancing down he found where his paws touched the ground a faint imprint of ice was left. He couldn't much control it and with the excitement of possibly telling his friend he couldn't really focus. Moving towards the river Byrce placed a paw to the surface and watched as it immediately froze, though it only lasted a few seconds. The flow of the water dispersed the ice-imprint he'd made, the young prince watching with avid interest as the near invisible ice pieces mixed with the water around them. Happy with his ‘test’ he turned to face where he could hear Thea and Zane approaching, sitting down with his tail slowly beginning to wag.

When after a few seconds Byrce was not so much as running beside her, Thea turned her head to look over her shoulder with a taunting expression. She opened her mouth to call to him, but the large wolf sped past her, easily leaving her in the dust.
“Little sneak!” Thea laughed, the jovial sound echoing between the trees. Bending her head in determination and a grin ever plastered on her red-stained lips, she ran as fast as her feet would carry her, sticks cracking beneath her shoes in her playful haste.
She had missed this, running freely through nature with the wolf-prince: the wind of her speed—as pathetic as it may be in comparison to a wolf’s—making her fiery hair glide behind her. The earthy smell of dirt and trees, free of the smoky incense scent that seemed to linger in most parts of the castle these days. The joyful songs of the birds filling the air in place of the lonely silence of the stone halls or dull conversations of her family and her father’s council and mages.
Thea hurried around the fallen tree in the same direction as her friend, then laughed again when Byrce howled. Before the sound could finish leaving his throat, she cupped her hands to her mouth and gave her best mimicry of the sound.
A couple paces behind her, Zane gave a short yip, then his own howl joined in with the others.
When she at last arrived at the water’s edge, Byrce was already waiting, staring in their direction as if he had been waiting for a while.
“Rub it in, why don’t you?” She chuckled, and stepped to the large, flat boulder Byrce laid beside. Though only slightly out of breath, she hopped onto the stone and leaned her arms back. She rolled over onto her stomach and placed her chin in her hands, looking to Zane, who had technically arrived last. “But at least I’m not the skinned lizard!”
Zane gave a confused whine, his ears pulling back slightly as he cocked his head. His apparent show of semi-understanding only made Thea laugh again as he padded to her side. She reached down and ruffled the top of his head.
“It’s okay. I still love you, even if you are a skinned lizard.”
Zane licked her hand, then turned to Byrce and pounced, his fluffy tail wagging behind him.
Thea straightened and looked out at the river. Somewhere around thirty-five feet wide by her calculations, the water at this part of the river flowed gently, undulating without a care in the world. A slight sense of extra freshness rose from it, bringing with it the slight, yet not altogether unpleasant, scent of fish and wet earth.
“Alright, slowpokes.” She stood, trying to redirect the wolves’ attention should they be in the middle of a sparring match. “Ready to follow the river downstream, or are you still catching your breath?”

Byrce snorted softly when his friends finally arrived, the sounds of their combined racing hearts distracting him from the sounds of the forest. He'd half-listened to the words Thea spoke to Zane, his gaze beginning to search the high trees once more. The young prince knew for a fact that only hours before a group of Scouts had been within these same trees, it eased him as well as put him more on edge. Anything could happen in the span of a few hours -though he knew that rarely happened nowadays with the truce- but he couldn't relax much.

The hard force of another body slamming into his own, jerked Byrce to attention. Zane was pushing in an attempt to roll him offer, the prince gave the wolf credit for his attempt. The wolf was still a pup in terms of age and strength, Byrce huffed softly and nudged the other gently away from his side. He pounced on the other and gently nipped at the others ears, a soft rumbling growl vibrating up his throat. It wasn't a warning or threatening sound, far from it if he was being honest. Pausing when he hears Thea land on the ground once more, Byrce stills and flicks his ears in thought. Rubbing his left cheek against Zane’s right -a habit he really couldn't help- to scent the other wolf, he straightened and shook his body. The lake was several feet deep once you passed the line of rocks that acted almost like a barrier, the water before them would reach passed Thea’s ankles. He moves forward and stills at the edge, his head turning back to watch both his friends. He gives a soft yip and flick of his ears, a silent request for them to focus on him.

A long breath escapes his nose as a wave of what feels like icy-water flows under his skin. He focuses on the feeling until it settles in the center of his belly, his tail flicking from side to side twice before his left front paw lifts from the leaf-covered ground. The moment his paw touches the surface a burst of mist sweeps across the water, crystal-blue ice covering the portion of lake before them. His mouth opens in a wolfish-grin, head turning back to watch Thea and Zane. Byrce moves forward and feels his muscles relaxing when the surface doesn't immediately cave. Practice wasn't an easy thing to have when one lived with beings who could tell the difference in air-pressure in mere seconds. Byrce had made time when he could and this was the first time he had actually used his ability, he couldn't help the happy half-jump he did on the lake surface. His paws leaving an imprint as he moved forward, when he reached the center he turned back and ran towards his companions. He felt like he had just after his first transformation, an energy and happiness he hadn't felt since their last outing about two months ago. He gives another soft yip and stops before Thea, his nose reaching out to hesitantly touch her hand.

Zane gave a yelp when Byrce easily turned the tables, instead pouncing on him. He turned his head and body at the werewolf’s nip to return it with trying to bite at the thick fur near the large wolf’s neck, but his attention, too, turned to Thea when she moved. Taking advantage of Byrce’s pause in action, Zane wriggled away from the other wolf. When Byrce nudged his cheek against his, he tried to lick the other wolf’s snout, then pranced back to Thea as their mutual friend went to the river’s edge.
“I did say walk, not swim, downriver, right?” Thea asked lightly before her friend looked back at them, Thea cocking her head curiously in response. When he gave his non-verbal request, she smiled at him, her attention already on him.
Thea stepped closer and around the boulder she had sat on, bending her body to get a better look as he lifted a paw and placed it on the water. When a cloud of mist burst into existence and rolled over the water, she stepped back, surprised, and hit the boulder, making her fall to a sitting position on it. When the mist dissipated, leaving a thick layer of ice over the river rushing below it, Thea gawked and Zane gave a yelp and backed away, his ears pulling flat against his head.
I thick layer of ice now glittered in the sunlight a good distance over the flowing river, reflecting the fiery leaves of the shedding trees nearest it.
Zane glanced to Thea, caution in his dark, questioning gaze as he moved to stand more in front of her protectively.
She paid Zane little attention, besides giving him an absent reassuring pat. When Byrce looked to them again, she could not help but mimic his grin as she returned to her feet.
“You… have magic!” she exclaimed excitedly, her expression widening and twinkling in her eyes as Byrce walked across the ice.
She stepped to the ice’s edge as Byrce ran back to them, then stopped in front of her. She gladly let him tap her hand with his nose.
“That’s… absolutely amazing, Byrce!” She moved to quickly pet the fur on the side of his neck, then giddily stepped out onto the ice at the shallower part of the river.
Zane whimpered in a warning against it, pawing indecisively at the edge of the ice as Thea lifted her skirts just enough to see her boots on the frozen water as she stepped out further onto the icy river. She turned back to Byrce, slipping slightly.
“Byrce Vukasin,” she began in a grand voice, thrusting one hand out to the side, “prince of the wolves, and master of ice!” She draped her arm over her midsection, and gave Byrce a mix between a deep bow and a curtsy.

Her touch felt warm against the side of his neck.

He watched her as she moved across the ice, his paws easily allowing him to reach her side. At Zane’s soft whimper of warning the young prince gave his own soft chuff. He'd tested the sturdiness of his ice several times, though even now he couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. His tail easily wrapped around Thea’s middle, grey ears flicking to listen for other sounds. Reaching the middle of where his sheet of ice ended he paused, a soft huff escaping his lips as the sight of the expanse of water. This lake flowed into a rather large river, the size of which made the young prince hesitant to use his ability.

Freezing water was simple enough, the hard part was keeping it frozen when a continuous flow kept coming. His sharp gaze watched the current as it flowed forward, his maw parting in a silent snarl. Allowing Thea to enter the water now would be the worst thing he could do, Zane and he had fur and could stand the frigidness. Their human companion couldn't, Byrce began to absently scratch his front paw against the edge of his ice. His head tilted downward slightly until his nose was mere inches from the water, the sound of water filling his ears for a moment as he focused. He didn't have full control yet and using too much at once left him exhausted, though for this he'd gladly feel the drain if it meant keeping Zane and Thea dry and warm. Yipping twice to draw Zane forward -he ignored the smell of anxiety from the other wolf- before he moved forward.

The moment he entered the water he concentrated on his ability, his legs moving against the strong current. Ears pinned to the back of his skull, Byrce turned to face his friends. His nose touched the edge of the sheet and immediately another burst of mist filled the air, the young prince swimming backwards slowly as it slowly solidified. The further they went the more ice he had to use and the harder he had to swim, his concentration only breaking once when a sharp pain raced along his spine. Reaching the other side was both a blessing and a curse, Byrce couldn't find the energy to actually climb up to the rocky edge. Small puffs of mist were escaping his nose as he made it up, his legs immediately giving under his weight. He rose once more to shake of the water and ice-droplets that clung to his fur, golden eyes focusing on Zane and Thea. His ‘path’ held steady even if he'd been hesitant to continue downriver like they had. The sound of far-off heartbeats drew his wavering attention, a quiet reassuring rumble filling the air. He'd allow Thea to lead them to their secret spot after this, he could feel sleep at the edges of his vision.

Zane hesitated at the edge of the ice for a moment more, despite Byrce’s encouragement. The younger wolf tentatively placed one paw on the ice, then another, before following after the two as Byrce draped his tail around Thea.
The youthful princess smiled down at Byrce, noticing a slight chill seeping through her dress where his tail touched it. She looked at him curiously when they reached the end of the ice-walk.
“Going all the way,” she nodded toward the opposite side of the river as Byrce scratched at the edge of the ice, “or should we go back and cross at the bridge?” She nodded upstream, beyond the gentler flowing waters of the lake-like area they now crossed where the river flowed into it before carrying onward to the east. About a quarter mile upriver, a bridge in need of repair crossed over the flowing waters at a narrow path weaving its way through the forest.
She laughed lightly when her friend answered her by jumping into the water just as Zane arrived at her side. “Crossing here, it is, then!” She watched, awe glittering in her dark eyes, as he tapped his nose to the edge of the elemental walkway, and another layer of mist formed, poling around the edge and leaving yet more ice in its wake as Byrce swam backward.
She followed the path slowly, admiring the ability her friend had developed, as well as watching to be sure the ice did not begin to give way beneath her. Though she trusted Byrce with her life, she had seen how easy it was to overestimate a budding ability, courtesy of more than one Mage’s apprentice residing in the castle.
“And now, I can honestly say that I’ve walked an ice bridge at the end of summer!” she said, glancing to Zane. The wolf’s ears were pulled back against his head, his attention shifting uncertainty between Thea and the ice.
When Byrce reached the other side well ahead of Thea and Zane, three distinctly human heartbeats reached his ears. Should he bother to pay them much attention, two grew slowly fainter downriver until the splashes of the water drowned them out, while the third remained fairly nearby. The third beat slightly slower than the other two, its pulse changing ever so slightly with the sound of the water as if matching the rhythm of nature itself.
Noticing her friend struggle to the other side, Thea’s eyes widened. “Byrce?” She called, fear for his well-being saturating her voice. Thankfully, he managed to get on shore, but only to collapse. “Byrce!”
Zane gave a yip as the other wolf managed to get back to his feet and shake himself off. He whined and glanced between Thea and Byrce, as if torn between the two as Thea quickened her pace.
With a flash of white easily missed in the span of a blink, thick cracks marred the ice directly beneath her next hasty footstep. The moment her full weight bore down on it, the cracks webbed through the ice around her with unnatural swiftness and a series of unnerving crackles.
In the split second it took to take action, the world seemed to move in slow motion; Thea’s eyes widened, and Zane tried to skid to a sitting halt with a fearful cry, but slid forward a few feet before his claws stopped him at the cost of yet more of the ice bridge’s wavering stability. Without a second thought, she bent down, dug her heels into the ice, and shoved Zane forward toward the unaffected ice.
The wolf slid forward as Thea took a step to hurry after him, but, with a shattering crack, the ice gave way beneath her. She shouted as she fell into the frigid water below. Though only about four feet deep, she fell back, managing just in time to take a breath before she was momentarily submerged beneath the murky darkness of the water.
Though the top layer held the wintry temperature of the ice and cooling seasons, the water had not yet fully relinquished the warmth of summer further down. The two warring temperatures in the water was a disorientating feeling.
The moment she found her footing on the soft lakebed, she quickly pushed herself upright. She inhaled and flipped back her hair as she broke the surface about two yards from the remaining ice bridge, carried slightly away by the current. The water rose to her mid-chest, giving her a reminder of her shortness.
“I’m alright!” she called to her friends, Zane barking madly for her from a sturdy spot on a firm patch of ice. Realizing he was fine, she chuckled as the wolf gave a final, relieved bark, then dove into the water and started paddling toward her. “Nothing like a last swim before fall fully—!”
Thea’s words cut off when an intense undercurrent rushed by her, snatching her legs in its shockingly strong grasp and pulling her under once more before she could be reached. She gasped as she went below the waves, a bit of water filling and burning in her lungs as the undercurrent dragged her swiftly downstream.
Her heart beating wildly and lungs begging to expel the liquid they had taken in, Thea reached out in a panic for anything she could pull herself to a stop with. The world had turned into a murky brown her vision could not penetrate through. What air remained in her chest burst out in shocked bubbles when her stomach slammed into a large rock hidden underwater. She tried to grasp onto it, to use it as leverage to get her closer to where she thought land was, but another rush of water easily pried her from the algae-covered stone.
As she closed her eyes, terror making the pain in her chest that much worse, something snagged her wrist, jerking her to a halt. With her free hand, she reached over and grasped what felt like a long, thick rope as it pulled her toward what she hoped was the bank.
She paid the rocks at the shoreline little mind as they scraped at her arms in the shallows before she managed to drag herself the rest of the way. She coughed up liquid and gasped for breath the moment her head met the air. She knelt on hands and knees in the shallow water, a small noose pulled tight around her wrist. She draped a hand over her stomach where she had collided with the stone, and followed the rope with her gaze to her rescuer.
A man dressed for the woods in a pair of heavy-looking pants and a long-sleeved shirt made of animal hide, complete with a hooded cowl, stared down at her. Though she could only fully make out the bottom half of his face, she thought he looked fairly young, maybe a couple years older than her, a triumphant grin spreading on his full lips.
“Thank—” she rasped, but ended in a coughing fit aimed at the pool of water beneath her.
The man let out a cruel chuckle that sent a chill down Thea’s spine. “Don’t thank me yet, Your Highness,” he finished with scornful mockery.
Trying to keep her breaths even and constant, Thea’s attention snapped back to him, her jaw setting.
“Oy! ’Urry up!” a deeper voice called gruffly as a second, taller man dressed similarly to the first pushed through the forest to join them. A bushy black beard stuck out from beneath his hood. “That blasted werewolf and ’er little pet’ll be close behind!”
Thea blinked at them in surprise. They knew about Byrce? And Zane?
She glanced to the rope, held loosely in the younger man’s hand. As fast as she could, she gripped the rope further up, jumped to her feet, and ran, trying to pull the rope from him.
“Byr—!” she tried, but the young man tightened his grip in time, and yanked on the rope, jerking her back. “Byrce!” she tried again, her scratchy voice echoing through the trees as she tried to squeeze her hand from the loop around her wrist. “Zane!”

The sudden sound of heartbeats had the young prince's attention,  his ears swirling from side to side. He knew for a fact that no other human had been within the forest, the Scouts did routine checks for a reason. His head whipping forward when the sound of shattering glass filled the air, Byrce's muscles tensing at the uptick in Thea's heart just as the ice broke beneath her. He leapt forward without hesitation, a sharp bark filling the air shee swam against the current. The prince wanted Zane to move and head downriver, his gaze never leaving his friend.
      Reaching her and securing his jaws around the fabric of her dress, Byrce began go haul her towards shore. A pained yelp escaped him when a sudden shift of the current had him slamming into a rock, his grip releasing as pain raced along his side. Jaws snapping at the water the werewolf tried to swim forward, the current fighting him as if it were a living force. Shaking his head as anger and worry coiled with his belly, Byrce released a burst of magic and held his breath. The swirling mass that seemed to hold him fought against the steady stream of ice he was summoning, every pulse of mist pushed away again and again.
     At the shout of his name, Bryce raised his head and howled into the air. His aching muscles stilling as the water tugged him downwards, golden eyes flashed crystal-blue as a large burst of magic lashed outward. Leaping upwards and taking off at a dead run, Bryce easily caught up to where Thea's rapid heart led him. A snarl escaping his throat as the smell of rotted meat and sweat filled his senses, he wanted them away from his friend and he'd do anything to see it happen. Leaping forward the young werewolf slammed both men with a burst of icy-wind, landing in between them and Thea. He could feel the water that clung to his fur freezing and turning into spikes, a small continuous icy-mist hovering all around him. Ears flat against his skull Bryce slammed a paw against the moist earth, his snarl lowering in pitch in an unconscious attempt to reassure his friend. Now that he was close enough he could tell a difference between the heartbeats, one sound slower then the other. Taking a sniff of the air Bryce snapped his jaws, one smelled of the forest but muted almost as if the scent couldn't decide on just want it wanted to be. Magic had different scents to it and this was one he couldn't understand, he backed up until his tail could wrap around Thea's wrist. Acting without thinking could lead them into trouble, eyes swirling betwen the two. Using a burst of magic the werewolf easily froze the rope, his body lowering until he was flat on his belly. His tail tugged gently twice, a silent plead for her to get on his back. Even if one was a Mage he could still out run them, rising to his paws the young prince moved to the right.

When the unnatural current tore Byrce from Thea, sending him into a rock, her further downstream, and making his teeth tear a rip in her outer dress, Zane let out a bark of his own. His ears drawn back against his head, he dove into the water without hesitation as Thea went under the second time. The wolf followed after the werewolf, rushes of water pushing upstream against them instead of down with Thea’s path, the river itself working against them despite its natural course.
On shore, Thea’s attention snapped hopefully toward the river at the familiar howls.
“Shut it!” the bearded man hissed as he gripped Thea’s free wrist in his rough hands, and wrenched her arm behind her back. He scowled at the river as the wolves swam into sight, and muttered foully beneath his breath. “Where’s that blasted Mage?” He looked to his companion, who had drawn a cylinder from his thick belt. “Ready for a fight!”
The younger man smirked. Without dropping the rope, he flicked his wrist, and the cylinder expanded out into a conical rod about three feet long.
“It’s got magic?” Bearded-man hissed as the werewolf managed to create a sheet of ice.
Zane followed at Byrce's flanks as he scrambled up after the larger dog.
Before either Bearded-man or Young-guy could do much else, a burst of frigid wind slammed into them as Byrce jumped, pushing the two men away from each other. Bearded-man pulled Thea with him, but she took advantage of his loss of balance; she yanked free of him, and shoved him back as hard as she could, making him stumble to the ground. Across from them, Young-guy had tripped on a fallen log, making the rope tighten and pull Thea awkwardly to the side, but he still managed to keep a hold on both rope and weapon.
Thea gasped when she felt something else wrap her wrist, panicked as she turned her head, before she realized it was Byrce. She inhaled when a sharp cold encompassed her wrist, forming ice around the rope. She twisted and pulled at it to try to break it as Young-guy quickly got to his feet with well-trained movements. Zane jumped from the ice to the shore, boring his fangs as he went after Young-guy, as Byrce tugged on Thea’s wrist for her to get on him.
Young-guy’s hood had slipped back, revealing hazel eyes, well-groomed sandy-blond hair, and a gnarly set of burn scars running over the left side of his face that made the edge of his eye twist upward. With the push of a button as the wolf lunged at him, bluish-white strands of electricity arched to life on his weapon from the thicker hilt to its thinner tip in all its sizzling glory.
Thea paused in her struggle against the rope, her heart skipping a couple beats. A Scientist. If they were waiting for a Mage, then the young one, at the least, had to be a Scientist.
“Zane! No!” she called in warning, trying to draw the wolf’s attention away, but it came too late, the wolf already leaping through the air.
In a swift, practiced movement, Young-guy gripped the hilt in both hands, and swung it like a club at Zane.
With a sickening crack, electrified sizzle, and a pained, shocked yelp from Zane, the rod hit its mark as Young-guy put his weight into the attack. Zane was knocked to the side, his pelt smoldering in a line down his face as he fell hard to the ground, his muscles twitching from the electric shock.
“I hate wolves,” Young-guy scoffed, twirling the rod in one hand.
Thea glanced between Byrce and Zane, with no intention of leaving Zane behind, wounded. With an enraged cry, she ran at Young-guy, scooping up a fairly thick branch that may have once belonged to the log as she went.
Meanwhile, Bearded-man got to his feet during Zane’s attempted attack. From a sheath hanging from his belt, he drew a single-edged short sword with a barrel down its center, allowing him to rest the non-sharpened side in his left hand. A metal box with a couple sizes of holes cut in its top replaced the sword's hilt, a couple hand-holds indenting the metal to allow it to be wielded as a sword. He braced the back of the box against the cook of his shoulder, his other hand waiting impatiently on a brass-colored lever as he eyed the unfolding fight.
Startled at Thea's show of violence, Young-guy blocked the blow she aimed at his head as Zane tried to struggle to his feet, with little success.
At last, the few sparring lessons she had talked her brothers into giving her would pay off. Though his strange weapon left a blackened gouge in the wood of her impromptu club, it remained intact.
“Take care of the other guy!” she shouted to Byrce, not daring to take her eyes from her opponent as he went on the offensive. She dodged his swings, trying to preserve her weapon as long as possible, and giving the quivering strands of electricity their space.
Bearded-man, who remained a fair distance back, eagerly pulled the lever on the box of his barreled sword, making a gentle swish and clank rise from it. With an evil gleam in his eyes, he aimed the strange weapon at Byrce.

He wasn't sure what to do.
Byrce shifted on his paws, his gaze flickering to Thea then Zane. Shifting back would leave him more vulnerable and that wasn't an option, his lips pulled back into a silent snarl.
  "Never allow your emotions to cloud your judgement." His father's voice echoes within his mind, Bryce stills and releases a long breath through his nose. Anger coiled within his stomach, fear and worry had his heart hammering against his ribcage.
  He needed to be level-headed. Focusing his gaze forward the young prince tilted his head. He could smell a faint floral scent coming from the weapon the man held, his body slowly relaxing as he began to piece together what he had so far. The three heartbeats from earlier, coupled with the two before them didn't make much sense. Raising a paw and slamming it into the moist earth, Bryce willed his magic to spread.
  A sheet of ice formed beneath him and continued forward, pillars forming as the ice drew closer to the male. Shaking his form once, Bryce leapt forward and snapped his jaws with a growl. Pillars continued to form until they surrounded the male, Bryce jumped into the air and locked his jaws around the side of the weapon.
His grip nearly slipped when a blast of the same floral scent filled his nose. A pained whine escaped him before he jumped backwards and tugged the weapon and man with him. A burning sensation filled his mouth the longer he held on, his paws digging into the ice to maintain his posture. It smelled of lavender and yet not, his jaws releasing after another burst of the same pungent floral smell invaded his nose. Blood dripped from his mouth, his head shaking vigorously in an attempt to rid the taste and smell from his senses.
He knew what it was now. The gun had wolfdbane mixed in, Bryce whined high and frantic as he tried to focus. His ears pinned to the back of his head as he felt his vision waver.  It would take more to bring him down, he just didn't want to actually find out how many bullets he could handle. Mind whirling as a prickly sensation filled his mouth, Bryce whined softly in an attempt to rouse Zane.
 He couldn't do this alone.

~~~~~
 The howl that had pierced the air had Keira stilling. The children around her fell silent at the sound, Keira's stomach dropping to her feet as a wave of fear filled her.
Something was wrong. Very very wrong.
  Without a word she moved out of the gardens and turned towards the closest guard, her hands clenching and unclenching at her side's. "Gather the Scouts that checked the forest near the Altreiah Kingdom. Tell them to meet me by the gates, hurry now." She commanded softly, the guard nodded and took off in a sprint. A maid passed by and with a nod to the open garden doors, the female beta rejoined the children to continue their lessons.
Three minutes later found Kiera at the gates with a group of male and female Betas. Some were shifted and other remained human, Keira said nothing for a moment aside from pointing towards the forest. "That howl belonged to Byrce, I want you all to find him." She said through gritted teeth, the group of six werewolves nodded and bolted forward. The sharpness of the howl meant something was happening, Keira whined softly as the gates closed and silence filled the air. Turning on her heel, the queen moved back towards the castle with a scowl on her aristocratic features. If anything happened to her son she would show no mercy.

Bearded-man had just reached to pull the lever on the side of the weapon for the second time, confident in his aim with the wolf holding still enough for a couple precious seconds. But then, the wolf moved the second he shifted the lever, the mechanical sound of gears rising from the narrow, rectangular box at the weapon’s hilt.
His grip on his gun-sword shifted in shock when pillars of ice sprouted from a slick sheet spreading from the wolf. A thin, metal dart with red plumage on one end shot through the air with a whooshing bang a moment before Byrce’s jaws locked on the long portion of the weapon. The weapon shifted in his grip from its new position in Byrce's jaws, making his hold on it that much more awkward.
Thea shouted in surprise when the dart whizzed by her ear, catching in a few strands that yanked with the dart’s momentum. She ducked down and stepped to the side just in time as Young-guy swung his electrified pole through the air at her shoulders. She tried to take advantage of his miss with a swing of her branch at his legs.
Young-guy nimbly hopped over the branch as Bearded-man tried to twist his gun-sword so the sharpened side of the blade could do some damage, but his efforts proved unneeded; the metal of the blade still had a good amount of residue of wolfsbane on it from when he filled the darts loaded inside the box-hilt.
Taking advantage of the wolf’s injured state, Bearded-man swiftly raised the weapon again. Not taking as much care in aiming, he pulled the lever once, then twice, pausing only long enough for the box to make a few more clanking sounds as the weapon loaded itself, then fired another dart toward Byrce. Without hesitation, he pulled the lever a third time, readying another poisoned dart as its predecessor flew through the air.
Zane hardly stirred from where he had fallen limply on the forest floor, unconsciousness from the electricity and blow to the head winning out against his attempts at standing and fighting for the only other two members of his pack.
Young-guy tried to bring his weapon down on Thea, but she backed away. As quickly as they had formed, the electric arcs sunk back into the hilt of the metal segmented rod before vanishing with a final buzzing sizzle. He snarled at his weapon, but his guard did not fall.
With at least the threat of electrocution off the table, Thea dodged, and whacked the weapon off course with her branch. She tried to gain the upper hand in the fight, controlling their footing and where he went, trying to make him back into the log he had tripped on before.

His split second of distraction, cost him dearly. The sharp jabs that met his side had Bryce whipping his head downwards, his jaws quickly tugging the darts out. He tossed his head and allowed his magic to lash out, head dipping to nudge at where the darts had met his fur. Eyes flashing brightly the werewolf prince lunged forward, his jaws parting to wrap around Bearded-man's arm. His magic whirled around them in a thick fog, Byrce's grip tugging against the other man to tug him down. The smell of wolfsbane clung to his clothes, Bryce ignored the scent and jumped back with a rough yank of his head.

Copper filled his scenes as his teeth met skin under the rather thick coat the other wore. Snarling softly Bryce turned his head this way and that, his goal now to get the weapon away from the male. His ears swivel forward and back as the charge of electricity filled the air again and again. Heat began to travel from his side until it coiled in his chest, Byrce's grip loosening for a second as pain rippled across his body. The thundering of his heart seemed to roar in his ears, a faint tremor beginning to form in his legs. Teeth bared in silent threat he released his hold and staggered back, a pained whine escaping him as another ripple of pain and heat traveled along his entire body. His magic faded as his concentration wavered from the now continuous waves of pain, a familiar ache settling in the pit of his stomach as realisation dawned on him.

He couldn't shift back. Not now when he would be vulnerable, not when he was the only person who could keep Zane and Thea safe. A sharp whimper escaped him as his back arched upwards, his legs collapsing under weight they could no longer hold. The fact that he was being forced to shift back already was worrying, wolfabane took moments to take effect. Bryce tried to focus on getting to his feet, his muscles barely twitching at his silent command to move. His vision was blurring at the edges of his sight, another ripple racing along his spine that had his back arching again. Byrce felt bile fill his throat as his body began to convulse, searing pain filling his mind as the wolfdbane forced his form to shift back.  He fought against the blind agony, his head twisting against the ground as he tried to remain conscious. Eyes squeezing shut Bryce opened his jaws and snapped his teeth along his front forepaw. The sharpness of it had him scrambling to his paws, his magic solidifying before him and creating a barrier. It spread until Thea as blocked from her opponent, a faint mist hanging over the expanse of ice-wall. Panic gripped the prince as his legs gave once more, his front leg throbbing in sync with the continuous waves of pain that rolled along his body. Darkness threatened to pull him under, his body convulsing as he fought against shifting back. A soft bark managed to get passed the lump that seemed to be in his throat, they needed to move and quickly.

Bearded-man gave a triumphant, “Aha!” when the first, then second dart hit their mark. He readied a third, wicked determination in his pale blue eyes as Byrce nuzzled the narrow wounds the darts had inflicted. His smug expression twisted into a panicked scowl when fog rose around them, preventing him from getting another decent shot in.
He let out a yowl in a mix of pain and shock when Byrce’s teeth sunk into his arm, the thick leather of his coat the only thing preventing the werewolf’s sharp teeth from penetrating as deep as they could have.
Bearded-man released his hold on the gun-sword with that hand, transferring the weight of it to the opposite one. Gripping the handle incorporated into it, his teeth clenched, he moved to swipe the sharp side of the blade at Byrce, but the wolf thrashed his head, the jerking motion throwing him off balance and making him stumble downward with the beast’s tugging.
With a hiss of anger and pain as Byrce’s teeth tore at his sleeve and arm, he managed to make a swing at the wolf. But the wolf backed off. His weapon sliced through empty air, and he stumbled back at the sudden release of his arm.
“What does it take to drop you?!” Bearded-man growled as Byrce bore his sharp fangs at him. Then, a grin spread over his face as he took in the signs of weakening the wolf displayed before Byrce collapsed, the fog disappearing in a swirling burst. “That, I guess,” he answered his own question, amusement in his voice as he moved the sword-gun to point its barrel at him one last time.
Gritting his teeth as the movement of returning his hand to the weapon irked the bite mark, he pulled the lever quickly once, then twice, but the wolf still had enough strength left in him to call on his unusual power.
Glittering mist rushed in a wave from the wolf and spread upward as another dart shot through the air with a loud whoosh-bang. In the time it took for the dart to travel from man to wolf, the mist solidified into a glistening wall of ice, leaving a haze of fog hovering at its surface. The dart, its feathers caught in the frozen water, hung suspended mid-shot in the ice, its tip staring down at Byrce in perfect aim.
Meanwhile, Thea appeared to have gained the upper hand in the fight against Young-guy, each swing of her burned branch blocked as she directed the steps of her opponent. Trying to not glance at the log for fear of alerting him of its proximity and her plan, she made another swing at him that she hoped would be the last she needed to make him tumble backward.
Instead of blocking and stepping back as she anticipated, Young-guy ducked beneath her swing, moved to her side, and brought his metal rod hard across her back.
Thea shouted at the burst of pain that blossomed in the wake of the weapon, the force of the attack making her stumble forward. She tried to clear the fallen tree trunk, but her foot caught on it and sent her sprawling to the ground, her branch knocking from her hand.
Trying to collect herself as fast as she could, she reached for her branch, then rolled onto her back just as Young-guy leapt at her, bringing his rod down on her.
She raised her branch just in time. The groaning crack she had been afraid of hearing came at last from her branch as the wood gave, splitting nearly in two.
She kicked up at his stomach, making him stumbled back with an airy grunt.
Yes! she thought as, at last, he fell backwards over the fallen tree that had felled her.
She hurried to her feet, but he recovered quicker than she did. Raising his rod once more, he leapt over the log, murder in his eyes as a couple sparks of electricity spat sickly over the metal.
With her wooden weapon useless, Thea gasped, threw her arms up to protect her head, and tried to step out of the way of Young-guy’s raging path, though she knew it would do little good.
But he never collided with her. Instead, a loud thump rattled in front of her, making Thea look up. A thick wall of ice had spread between the two of them just in time, Young-guy’s weapon, then body smacking into it, hard. His form was warped from the other side of the ice, but she could just make him out as he bent over, a hand on his face where his nose had hit the ice.
“Byrce!” she called, looking around frantically for her friend. Instead, Bearded-man’s confused gaze turned to her from further down the winding ice wall, the wolf’s form just discernible on the opposite side of the elemental barrier.
She glanced to Zane, still lying unconscious on the ground not far from her.
“Well, hello, princess!” Bearded-man called, slowly aiming his weapon at her.
She looked once more to the blur that was Byrce, and licked her lips as Bearded-man cocked the weapon. If she could get to safety, she could get help for her friends. But that meant leaving them behind. She swallowed hard as her new opponent readied to fire the weapon, then ran.
A dart flew through where she had stood just a moment before as she wove through the woods as fast as she could. Alas, she did not get far.
“ENOUGH!” The annoyed, feminine voice echoed around the trees a moment before bright energy shot at Thea.
It wrapped over her, binding her legs together and arms at her sides as it formed shimmering ropes. She shouted when it pulled tight, sending her sliding to the ground.
A woman in a simple, hooded dress, its colors blending in with the forest, jumped from one of the trees to the top of Byrce’s ice wall as Young-guy rushed toward the weakened wolf.
The Scientists’ Mage had arrived.
The ice began to melt beneath the woman’s feet with a bubbling hiss, turning into steam that billowed around her.
“Never send a Scientist to do a Mage’s job,” she said through a condescending sigh.
“We’re doing all the work, you little—”
“Silence!” she snapped as she jumped from the break she had created in the ice, water dripping down what remained and pooling on the grass. “Finish off that werewolf.” She jerked her head toward Byrce as she stepped toward Thea, Young-guy keeping a careful eye on the wolf, ready to pounce should he try to attack. “I’ll get the princess back to the Sages.”
Bearded-man strode beside the woman near the gap, his weapon raised threateningly.
“If you don’t give us the credit we deserve—”
“I’ll make sure they know what happened, and all the work you put into her capture,” she reassured him, a smirk in her voice before she hurried to Thea.
Grumbling under his breath, Bearded-man hopped over what remained of the ice in the gap, and he and his partner converged on Byrce, weapons at the ready and gazes cautious.

The moment his legs gave he knew that time was runnning out. Trying to force his body to get up, the young prince stilled when a new heartbeat joined the ones already present. His eyes opened slowly to find a woman standing atop his ice wall, her features hidden under a hood. He watched dazedly as the ice began to melt, his body spasming as a trail of fire coiled in his stomach. The words spoken between all three floated around the air, Byrce's mind clouding with pain from the poison as well as exhaustion from using so much power.

The sound of Bearded-man's weapon being loaded and a buzz of electricity had his body jerking. Eyes snapping open the young prince rose shakily to his feet, ears pinned to hus skull as the world spun dangerously at the movement. His lips parted in a snarl as he watched both approaching, golden eyes flicking to the sides in search of Thea. His heart stopped when he found her bound, anger welling in his chest.

No more.

With a snarl that echoed in the silwnce of the forest, Bryce lunged towards both men. His speed was slower then normal and his mind a jumbled mess of thoughts. An icy-chill seeped from his fur in an expulsion of mist, needle-sharp spikes forming before rushing forward in an attempt to slow them down. Byrce jumped up and dodged the sword-tipped weapon, jaws re-claiming the hold he had before on Bearded-man's arm. Twisting his head he jumped back and called his ability forward, a spike of ice forming mid-air and piercing the fabric that protected the arm he held. Warmth flooded his mouth as the spike met bone and skin, Bryce jerking back and pausing for a second as the spike multiplied and peirced Bearded-man's other arm and legs. Heading for the other male with teeth bared, Byrce ducked and allowed his power to lash out. Hardened ice in the form of whips collided with the younger male's knees, the young prince never stopping as he headed for Thea.

His limbs felt like lead weights.

Every breath seemed to expand his lungs but never enough to lessen his panting.  His vision swimming in and out of focus as he ran forward, the pounding of his heart deafing in his ears. His power lashed forward one more time before his legs buckled, his body rolling until he landed on his side. Lungs trying furiously to fill him with air he couldn't seem to take in, head lolling in an attempt to catch a glimpse of Thea. His dimming vision managed to catch a glimpse of crimson before darkness tugged him under.

His last thought echoing almost mockingly within his mind.

I'm sorry...I failed you...