Diamonds and Ice

The mountain men catch up to us and their cheerful yells celebrate Mika’s downfall. Choosing to stay is choosing the same fate. Knowing that I’m next isn’t enough to make me want to outrun them again.

Stay down! A faint voice sneaks past my sorrow.

I look up. Strings of my tears and snot trails away from Mika’s body.

What?

Stay to the ground!!

This time, it comes through stronger.

The heavy cloud unveils the moon’s face and her glow exposes the speaker.

In the snowy sparkle, I make out the physique running towards me. Wearing only a crisp button up, pressed paints and leather boots, he’s very much underdressed for February. This is no mountain man.

The leaping shape starts to change. No. Evolve, but there’s no logic in this transformation. Only a paralyzing wonder. A terrifying miracle.

A gentleman’s casual attire threads apart like a web until it can’t give anymore and the stressed fabric dissolves into the wind. The man underneath is gone too. A new identify redresses him in thick fur. The simultaneous echoes of bones breaking and fuzing rearrange him in a perfectly smooth order. This strange rebirth delivers a four-legged beast.

Fully armed in this secret gift, the predator jumps over me. In mid leap, his drawn-out claws catch the moon’s light.

“Get him! Shoot!” pleading screams bounce against the trees’ black bark.

A flock of bullets fly past him in the opposite direction. A whimper lets out when some of them hit their target. But before the hunting party can reload their fire arms, the wolf’s heavy landing pierces through one of hunter's chest.

Get out of here! The voice links with me again.

Liam! It’s you! I keep this name to myself.

Get on the horse, now! With his jaws deep at another man’s throat, his florescent eyes glare in my direction.

Blood gurgles between the holes of his bite.

“Use the silver!” someone shouts.

Either from fear or the cold, the man’s hands shake as he loads his riffle with the precious metal. Liam’s ears pick up on it and the golden glow in his eyes take aim. Snarling in his colossus form, Liam makes the shot before the hunter can.

A panic sets in.

The spilled blood in the snow sets in faster.

Those who still have their vocal cords attached scream from pain and at the sight of what isn’t. Shocked at the pieces around me, I can’t bare to watch any longer.

“Mika!” my shaky hands disturb his stillness.

He lets out a groan.

Oh, thank the Lord! He’s alive!

“Come on, Mika. Let’s get out of here, but I need you to get up. I need your help to carry you to the horse.” begging, I pull at him.

It takes all of his remaining consciousness and mobility to comply. I struggle to keep calm and it takes an eternity to get him on the horse. The quickness in my feet make up for the time lost and my body envelopes his weakened posture from behind.

“Ya! Ya! Ya!” I take charge and kick the horse into full gallop.