It was the first day that she had dared to escape the protective boundaries of Cold Summers since she had returned there. The most difficult part had been escaping from Zorion’s ever watchful eye, but she had managed to do it just this one. If she was lucky, she would be able to escape in the same manner a few times before he discovered her secret. She had entered her solitary den, knowing that he would sit outside of it, hidden in the bushes. But she had slowly been digging an escape route out the back half, and finally it had been large enough for her to fit through. He no doubt was still watching the entrance… but she had wriggled her way out the back. It had been difficult in light of her… situation. Her swollen abdomen had rubbed painfully against the earth… she was getting close to her due date. No doubt once her pups were grown up she would see Harries once more when he tried to take them from her. But he would fail. Apollonia would not let another be corrupted by his evil or by his charm.

As she ran awkwardly through the terra, she flitted away from any sound that she heard, be it a broken twig or a falling leaf. Behind any tree, any branch, and rock there might be a man hiding. A maned wolf looking to find her and rob her of the lives that were inside of her womb. Her limbs began to tremble and she knew, she KNEW she had to find a place where she would be able to escape from the fear that always gripped her good and tight. The fear that ruled her waking day and stole any hope of peace form her dreams, leaving only nightmares left. Her running limbs threatened to gave way but she struggled against the pressure, ran faster, as fast as she could, panting and crying and pushing forward until the camoflauge disappeared and before her lay a meadow that was half in full bloom and half dead. The sight was shocking – and yet so fitting. The blooming part was her past and the dead half was her future. Bleak. Broken. And laying in the middle was a wolf.

He was clearly no maned wolf, but still she found herself shaking – he was a brute and that alone terrified her. Still, looking around there was nowhere for anyone to hide. There was nowhere to hide.