TAMING THE BEAST WITHIN

probably. My legs and arms are bleeding from the amount of times that I've fell over or scraped against branches.

flinch. "You cannot run from this

on is compromised. I hold my head as I try to stand but my legs will not comply with the order. I spot a safety zone hidden underneath a broken tree stump, it's just deep enough to hide in. I drag myself over to

too far," I hear my f

n," Coan says. "We

the King tha

on is going to punish her for this

he accepted his proposal and then ran into the woods on their we

idn't

ha

no proposal. She is being forced. So you ca

ue, boy. Did you

e not," C

out help," my father says. "If we don't find her then a

y me and at first I think he hasn't noticed but then he turns his head and looks d

says. "I'll lead

you," I

know what yo

s spinning and I cannot stay conscious any longer. The whole world fa

allows some light and I follow it through the trees. Walking in the woods in the middle of the night is p

. I am lost but I do not care that I am lost. I do not wish to find my way out of the woods, I

. I would rather be killed by everything I could be

calm mist, through the noise of hooting

me, if he hasn't already. I embarrassed him in front of the entire kingdom. Everyone will kno

altar, waiting patiently for his bride that never arrived. I hope it hurt. I hop

ure brides of Maron would rather be torn apart by bears and wolves than have to end

I probably won't wake up but I can't walk any further. I hear the wol

get me.

out against the ground, sighing as I pick up some leave

've walked further into the woods or if I've completely circled back. The only positive thing is that

hem. Blood. Dammit. I've probably left spots of blood since the hillside. The cuts are dry now but I should have check

rms and my hands. I go in search of water. Finding water in the woods is impossible without rain.

ight. I arrive at a small field clearing which is more of a meadow. I walk through it, looking for any sign of puddles or streams. I must be on som

head there. The odds of anyone living on it are slim but

is dropping and I can already feel my body changing. I keep my arms close my chest as I start to sh

I cry out as I hold it, arriving on the level ground with tears stinging my eyes. The blood leaks down my wrist and falls to

tree, keeping my eyes on every direction. The dehydration could be making me paranoid or there could actually be someth

s taking me someplace else. I close my eyes as I wrap my arms around my body

s trembling as I look around at the empty woodland. I am suddenly so afraid. I pull

branches snapping as it comes towards me. I am so stunned that I cannot move, blink, breathe or t

ng or not but either way I do not fight. I gi

how big it is but it looks much bigger than any wolf I have ever seen or heard of

ter and more intense. There is a long pause as the wolf halt

s. I don't know what is worse. The dehydration or the cold. I d

g. My grip on reality is slipping. I feel warm, which confuses me. It is suddenly like I am wrapped in a bla

ets g

nto my cheek. The button is strange, it feels wet and air comes out of it. Suddenly,