A Wolven Winter.

“Nara, My lady… this Cermony is utterly barbaric.”

Not responding immediately, she took off her outer coat, and handed it to her lady in waiting. Standing there in just a full body white dress, that ran from her shoulders to her ankles. Brown hair flowed down her back just below her shoulders.

“Selene, I have been chosen to take part “

“Certainly, some exceptions could be made? You are after all the Princess?”

“Am I? My Father only recently became King because his brother died and my Father knows I am chosen, and has not forbidden it.”

“But to force you to travel across this valley, alone, as Winter is settling in, in no more than that dress… Certainly some exceptions could be made?”

Taking a deep breath, she gazed back with a smile at her lady in waiting. “Selene… My Father knows the importance of this Cermony… and with the plague that took my uncle there’s alot of fear for the upcoming year.” Gazing around as there were only a couple men nearby, the rest of the people were women.

She shivered as a cold breeze swept through, her thin dress was hardly sufficient for cover, yet even a simple dress still gave her dress, was thicker, and better covering than the plain simple dress most of the peasant folk wore.”I have the best education, I have been given some of the best text for reading. My Father knows many who have lost their lives at this Cermony many years ago, and he has insisted that I was trained on how to survive. I want to have a chance to put this knowledge into actual practice, and to be able to help others while doing so… I want to see everyone back here at this Cermony and perhaps I can make that happen.”

“My Lady…” Selene started with another complaint before she was silenced by a finger to Nara lips and then a hug.

“You will see me again Selene, have faith in that and if I am successful then I can put to rest this talk of my Family being cursed.”

Indeed, there was alot of talk of her family being cursed, the plague from the previous year, taking King, the Queen, and his two sons…. While alot of lives were lost, not a single family was wiped out by it like that one. They were not in the Kingdom at the time, seeing as they had no expectation of succession. Only later were they invited to return, only then to have her name drawn during the harvest celebrations. Her family knew the history of this Ceremony, it was a mark of coming of age every year. To go down into the Valley, pass through a forest and the village would be waiting on the other side to welcome them back. The Valley was considered cursed, though she had no idea why, and other than this ceremony no one ever ventured down into it. It was quicker, to take the long way around given its treacherous banks.

Finally an elder would be announced, as he stood on a podium to make his announcement. “Be brave my daughters.” he stood up and announced. “Even as we celebrate the harvest, we know that the Spirits of Ice and Cold are always at our doorstep. They always threaten to destroy our lives, and drain our lands of its vitality. You all have been marked by these feral spirits, and you will descend down into their lands. If you return, you will prove to them that they have no power over you.” Bowing his head, “And if you fail to return, know that your sacrifice will help sate them and ensure our prosperity for a number of years to come.”

Everyone was silent, yet one angry voice spoke up… “Why was she chosen? Her family’s curse will be the end of us all.” Her fingers pointing straight at the Princess.”

“Bethany…. The Princess is still a member of us. She will become an adult like you will be as well at the end of this.”

“None of us will survive…. The Princesses curse will see to that.”

“Many lives were lost to the plague and we mourn them all. That is why you all must suceed. Let them be off.”

And with that the crowds around them opened up as the group of them slowly made their way toward the edge of the valley. Nara gulped as she looked at the Valley; it could barely be called a Valley, perhaps more a canyon, as the walls of it were quite steep. Nara took the first step down into it, slowly working her way down the narrow trail that would lead to the bottom. Yet in time, she would work to help others down the trail. Little heed would be to the wolf’s cry that would echo through the valley around them, there was too much to keep their attention. The wind was bitterly cold the lower they got into the valley. The trail down got more treacherous, yet Nara did prove quite adept, not only navigating the terrain well, but aiding the others, all but Bethany, who stubbornly refused her help. It was not until she lost her footing and nearly fell, caught by Nara as her ankle rolled on the trail down. That she was forced to accept her aid, as the failed bit of the descent was the two of them on three legs. Yet a cry of fear and panic echoed from those at the bottom.

Nara never believed in the talk of her family being cursed. She nevered even needed the resentful words from the very girl she helped. Yet she saw them, and she knew what they were immediately. Wolves, an entire pack… but not wolves, they were shaped wrong. Their front paws were more like arms, the back legs, longer than they should be. This was a pack of Lycan’s people cursed to follow the Cycle of the moon. They lived as humans for one cycle, and they lived as wolves for a second. Then two more cycles were shifting from one to the other. What she did not know is where these were in the cycle and both thoughts scared her.

“See, I told you we were dead…” came a mocking voice from the girl she still helped support.

“No…” Nara replied, something was wrong, something did not make sense and some things made way too much sense. If this pack was hunting them for food, they would not be out in the open like this. They would have been harassed every moment they were down here. Every night, a couple of them at the edges would be dragged into the night. Time seemed to move a bit slower, as her eyes scanned them, there also were no bitches around them. A pack of lycans in the valley… a pack of male lycans perhaps trapped in this valley. A ceremony that sent girls down into the valley. The connections almost made her stomach curl.. Yet she did not know bothered her more…. If they were becoming wolves… then there would be perhaps some hope. Once they sated themselves, once they completed their transformation they would be entirely wolves, lost their rational mind only to be driven by instinct. They would have less interest in a human female. Perhaps they would then become food if they were hungry. Yet some of them would survive to get up and continue…. Yet if they became Men. Men that were shunned by the world, a prisoner down in this valley. Without women… “They are not here to eat us…”

Nara had not been strictly kept from men. Most of her life she had been that of a Noble. She had not been a Princess. Had all the women of past ceremonies gone through this….Yet her train of thoughts were disturbed… the pack had started to move. Several had many to scale up the side of the cliffs to the trail behind her. Then the first broke ranks as it lept at one of the women… A couple of them panicked and moved away from their group and the lycans were on them in seconds. Pinned to the ground as teeth and claws tore away her dress. The first one howled as he was between her legs, his shaft now embedded between the girls legs. More panic, some tried to turn around and head back up the path, almost forcing Nara off the trail, only to then find that the Lycan were already there. Then suddenly there was a tug, as she heard a final cry from Bethany this time … “Nara… help me”… yet she had to focus on herself, she had one infront of her and one behind her. Even as she could register that fact the one lycan bowled into her, knocking her off the trail, tumbling with the lycan down the last few couple of feet. Now she is right among them. She could see others around her getting assault and raped. Her thicker and warmer dress took a moment longer to shred, as claws would scrap across her flesh. Fangs around her arms and legs as she was dragged away from her torn clothes. Some of them used their clawed hands to grab her, others used their fangs and jaws. Almost as she was being torn between a couple of them fighting over who got to use her first. Until a large one pounced down her, seeing briefly a mottled mix of animal and human shaft before the beast’s frame blocked it from view, yet she could feel frantic thrust, aimless ramming its shaft against her, until it found its goal. That shaft against her and then tearing into her. As she let out a cry of pain, as her body stretched around that invading shaft. The beast was frantic, each thrust came down into her hard, driven by hunger and instinct alone. No mercy, no reprieve, feeling the beasts, claws and fur as he pounded his thick shaft into her. Even if each moment felt like forever, the beast would finish quickly, howling as it hammer into her, his seed shooting into her. Collapsing onto the ground as the beast left, her body on fire, feeling his seed leak out, mixed with blood from her torn sex. Yet she was not left alone for long as a second Lycan would pounce down onto her, unable to get its shaft into her.

Wincing with pain, with every failed attempt. “Brainless creature.” she muttered out, yet as the creature got more frustrated, its claws dug into her shoulders. She could feel them and the pain as trickles of blood as they dug into her. Knowing what she needed to do to survive… despite the pain and hurt, struggled to get herself up on her knees to give this creature its expected target. Eventually it found it, as his shaft pushed into her… almost breathing a sigh of relief as this one was nowhere nearly as large as the first. As it clumsily hammer into her, her cunt slick from her own blood and the seet of the first, the pain was less, and to her horror she let out a gasp, her body reacting to it despite the pain she still felt from the first lycan. Yet before she could feel much more, that beast had already finished, letting out a pathetic cry, as it left and wandered off…. Now she was in a painful state, her body sore, trickles of blood from her shoulder. She gazed around, it was still happening… the other girls around here were still getting raped… The Lycans all displayed a verying amont of intelligence, as some girls were perhaps unconscious, as some of them still tried to rape them, some were intellgent enough to use their claws as hands, to hold them. Was this all her fault… was this her family’s curse… could she hide? Yet how many others would suffer, how much longer would this go on. Before she could act, another Lycan would find her. First she realized she was being sniffed, did it sense her frustration, with her hips still in the air, she was mounted, this time her body welcomed it. As the beast drove into her, it was still not as big as the first, still wincing in pain, yet as that shaft pumped into her. As she started to moans, gasping hard to try and stop it. She knew what was happening… or more specifically she knew about what was happening, having read about it. Yet she didn’t want this…. Or did she? This was far less painful than the first time and if they were using her… they were not using another girl.She felt herself getting warm inside as the creature continued to drive itself into her. By the time that third one finished, she was eagerly expepcting it, near her limit, only to come crashing down as it finished and pulled out. Yet as it pulled out left… others were alerted? One left the barely conscious body of the giril near her, as she was mounted again, eagerly driving into her, as now she was driving her hips back against it. She would cry out in pleasure this time, finally being brought over that edge before its seed shot into her and it left… panting, catching her breath as another arrived, and another was nearby sniffing… by now there were only a couple girls like her still conscious, a few others that had managed to “enjoy it” Yet her stomach turned at the thought, even as she was welcoming another. Perhaps they could smell it and were aroused by it. Yet she lost track of what happened. Some were rough, some were way too brief. Exhaustion would eventually overtake her as she was greeted by only darkness.

Uncomfortable pain in her wrist and ankles. She could barely move her arms and her legs as the darkness faded. Her arms and legs were bound. A long pole was between the two bindings, and she was being carried. Her body still ached, and she was cold, as her senses overcame the ache from her body, and her uncomfortable position. She was completely naked. Her body shifted, as she realized her body was dripping dry, and her hair was wet. If after she was bound and carried she was dipped in water, to wash away the traces of what happened earlier. Gazing around, other girls were being carried like she was, perhaps or hopefully all of them. Yet her captors looked different. Most of them stood upright, their bodies were still covered in the white wolf fur.

“This year is quite the haul.” one of them said in a loud gruff, almost animal-like voice. “We have the cold one to thank for this gift.”

“Remember, we release the ones that show known signs of our virus.” another replied, calmly, his voice sounding far more human.

“Yes Shaman” one said curtly, a hint of annoyance in his voice.

“Why do we release any of them, what do we care about those outside the valley?” another barked out angrily, still growling.

“The cold one’s rules… having them down here now… interacting with the uncurse, speeds up our restoration. Those that return, return with his blessing. Do you think they will keep sending their daughters down here if none of them return?” That voice, the fully human sounding voice was one of them carrying her. “The villages keep what actually happens down here secret, and the cold one blesses the land, by keeping the cold at bay…”

“While we freeze down here and they get warm weather up there..”

“Would you rather get hunted because of our curse? If they knew what was actually down in this valley they would march down here and wipe us out… They would also relentlessly hunt the cold one. Despite his power, we know ourselves that many smart hunters can bring down the greatest of prey. Yet the cold one can hunt outside this valley, and he has shared his hunts with us. We can survive his cold, for what we can from his presence.”

A few of them grumble, but they continue to move along, carrying their captives. Finally they would reach what would look like a village, except the village looked empty, and abandoned. Yet at the front of the village There was a wooden structure, as they approached their was a wooden rack, allowing for each of the wooden poles carrying to be placed in them. A small amount of time would be taken to untie the legs of each girl from the pole, and to pull each leg over the structure, and tie them up again, so that each girl hung down from this structure. Its purpose was obvious, and a couple of them wasted little time before grabbing a girl’s hips as she was stuck on his shaft. “Have that one brought to my cabin in a little bit.” the one that was carrying her spoke to another “I got a feeling she might be able to state the cold one alone.” She would simply be left there, to watch as these villagers simply walk by and grab a girl they want to use, and use them. Most of them are too weak and hurt to fight back or resist. Occasionally she would hear a cry, or a scream as a girl got used to it. No one touched her, yet having to watch it happen was perhaps worse. Yet two of them would eventually come to her, expecting them to take her, he was surprised at them uniting her ropes before tossing her over a shoulder. Before then being uncermously tossed onto what she assumed would be a bed, though it was hardly comfortable. The two left and before she could even sit up.

The one who would enter next, was the one that had carried her. He was different from the rest. He still stood fully upright, yet his features were still fully like the wolf. “Greetings Princess..” he stood over her, looking down at her. “Your sacrifice was indeed Noble, but somewhat foolish. “ She stared at him, he knew she was Princess… This was odd. “Our disease is spread through contact, through a bite, or through other methods… Yet perhaps your actions spared others of this fate… You have been infected, that is almost certain.”

“How do you know?” starting back at him, trying to look at his face and not look at the creatures already erect shafts.

“Your hair is already turning white.” he simply replied, approaching her.

Hearing those words, she grabbed hair and pulled it over her shoulder, staring at it. Stunned as he spoke to truth, normally brown hair, from the tips, already looked white. Before she could look away, she was already on her back, as the creature had approached swiftly and had her legs in his clawed hands. “As you have already seen, there is not a woman among us, because women rarely survive with this virus. As you have seen, and perhaps already experienced, the nature of this curse increases our appetites, whether in human forms or the time we spend as wolves, it’s almost guaranteed you’re going to get pregnant. Unfortunately humans are not made to birth wolves, nor are wolves meant to birth humans and don’t remain long enough in one form or the other for the natural process to occur. As we shift with the cycles of the moon. The child will most likely be a lycan as well, but without direct access to the moon, they will not cycle along with their parents.

She was not sure which was worse as she struggled in his strong grip, feeling his unnatural shaft rub against her sex as she was pulled closer or his words, knowing the fate of other women who die during childbirth.

“Yet, the virus rarley takes hold of anyone as quickly as it has you.” he grins as he sniffed a couple times which does mark you as different.” he grins as he continues to grin shaft against her. “Don’t believe me…. Take a deep breath in.”

Unable to do anything in his grip, listening to his words, she could not fight him, so she did… the first breath was brief, yet she felt something, the second breath was far deeper, and then the senses hit her. The sense of smell was so much richer, she could smell the small wood hut they were in, and knew it had not been occupied for many weeks, the bed they were on now, had not been used recently either. She smelt his fur, and the plethora of smells it contained, each scent almost as clear in her mind as she knew red was red, or blue was blue. Then she smelt him, smelt his arousal, his growing and tingle excitement even as he still rubbed her shaft against her. Then her own smell, she wanted it, she craved it, and the longer she took her own scent in, the more intoxicating the desire became.

With a grin across his muzzle, he finally gave her what she wanted. Driving into, letting out a grun. A hint and reminder of pain shot through her body each thrust into her, woken the dulled ache yet she gasped as he filled her, her mind barely able to separate her smell, from the general ache and soreness of her body. Pain and pleasure in equal mix, flooded her senses, as he did not hold back, driving into her hard and fast. She wanted to take more of it, but her position prevented her from having any control. Yet he could sense it and drove in harder, his grip on her hips, his claws on her backside, managing to wrap her legs around him, pulling him back into her as he tried to pull out. Her body still hurt, but she couldn’t help but crave more. Each thrust into her was a sharp jab of pain that told her place, her position, that she deserved this treatment. She hid her face from, trying to muffle her reaction. Just a whimper, she felt small as this powerful male took her, used her, and left her on the bed, trying to hide, even as she wanted, wanting more but knowing she didn’t deserve it.

“You are indeed gifted, yet your gift is also a curse. Such a raw primal gift of magic has accelerated the Lycan curse. Yet, I need to bring you to the Cold One. Follow, you are completely lost to your instincts… “

He called her, instructed her to follow, she could not get up to her feet quick enough. He simply wordlessly shook his head as she stumbled into him, given what she had just been through; her legs were weak. Yet taking her hand he helped her forward. Yet as they stepped outside the hut, she was struck again by the scents. The scent of the trees, flowers, the stones they walked on, yet she also could smell every single male they passed. Her own lingering scent drew their attention, she knew she drew their attention. She could smell their desire, their excitement at her smell. And she was getting excited and the thought of all their attention, yet the grip on her arm tightened, she could feel his claws on her arm pulling her forcefully onward… then she smelled him, she knew she smelt like him, that he had claimed her and that she belonged to him. So she followed….

Finally they would approach a cave. At first stepping into the cave there was excitement, a new and different smell, different scent, different smells. Then it hit her like a wall of bricks. The smell of an ancient creature, a powerful creature, a terrible creature. She suddenly wanted to run, wanted to hide in a corner, not wanting to be approached, yet she was held suddenly by the one she was following, locking a collar on her neck, and leaving… she went to follow, yet she was restrained, she whimpered as he left, wanting him, yet being left alone, with these scents. Terrified, she curled down on the ground huddled down, trying to hide, trying to be invisible, testing her bindings and not being able to find anywhere to hide… It was approaching, she could look, couldn’t watch..

“Princess.” a voice his out of the darkness…. She just huddled closer, trying to hide, trying to be invisible, trying not to be seen..

“PRINCESSS!!!!!” the voice tore into her… almost hurting as it roared out loudly…

Suddenly she was awake, still trembling as she realized she was naked, in a cave and collar like some animal, yet those instincts were still there, confused and still mildly dazed she knew that she was now part animal.

“Princess…” the voice called out even closer, yet gentle again.

“Yes?” she looked out at the source of the voice.. As it continued to approach, she gasped, all the training, all hearing reading… She knew what this was. Subconsciously backing up at it approached until the chain prevented her from backing up any further. A Dragon…, as it approached its crystal white scales, the ice cold air that surrounded it. She trembled both out of fear, and as that ice cold dug into her naked body.

“I’ve wamted you down here for some time. You have a powerful gift of magic… that you have little control over.”

“Magic? No one has been born with magic for dozens of years now..”

“That all changed when you were born… even as a child you awoke when you saw your Father argue with his brother. The spirit you summon, killed your uncle,and his entire family, before it took many other lives before it vanished. The number of Lycan has exploded since you were born. More of them are killed that make it down here.”

Trembling at his words, never having believed about the curse, yet those words coming from this creature. “How do I control it?”

“We are going to bond, you are going to become mine, and I will be able to aid you as you will in turn aid me.”

“How… how does this happen?”

The Dragon chuckled, “Take another deep breath and you will understand.” Frozen from both the temperature, and the knowledge of what happened last time this happened, how confused she had become.. Yet there was an excitement there, an unknown, as she inhaled and took a large breath in through the nose, trembling with the same terror she had before, yet then she smelt his desire, she smelt his growing excitement. That a creature this ancient, this powerful, wants to mate with her, wants to claim her. The only proper response to this desire was to submit. No other Alpha compared to him, to be claimed by him was an honour. Even as she got down onto all fours, her human thoughts woke up, screaming no, trembling with fear, even as she raised her backside up in the air like she had done earlier to attract the attention of all the Lycans. It got colder as he approached, and moved over top of her, yet as the scales of his belly stroked across her back, the cold vanished as she felt the deep warmth of the fire that still burnt inside him. She trembled with fear and excitement as that large thick shaft. Yet even that excitement as she felt that shaft against her as he started to push it into her. Even the largest shaft of the lycan felt small compared to this as it stretched, and hurt, driving into her, the shaft itself was slightly smaller than the hard tip, some of that pain subsudied till he started to move again, starting to drive deeper, starting the pump. Yet the Dragon grinned as he groaned with pleasure. Even with him inside her, the wolf inside her grew, as her arms changed and shifted, a fluffy tail, as white fur sprouted over the back. She moaned as she drove into her, and her moans came out as gutteral growls now, driving and pumping, growling and groaning, as more animal sounds than human until finally his shaft emptied its load into her. Even as he withdrew from her, she would squirm out from underneath him, now on all fours, leaving the cave as she was entirely fixed on just running out, now entirely covered in fur and claws and paws where hands and feet were. Her tail in the air, letting all who could tell her scent, who now owned her, eager to flaunt her new mate and master. As her eyes fixed on the full moon, slowly the wolf faded, as her body returned to her human form as rapidly as it took the wolf form. Realize, she was naked on all fours, outside in the forest, she collapsed. Her body still hurts, it now hurts more. And then the realization that she was now a monster, she would never be able to go home, trapped down here, and if that shaman was right, she probably would not live long. The fact she enjoys being used by an entire pack of lycans, and that she eagerly welcomed the Dragon’s shaft.

“Princess….” she heard the Dragon’s voice… looking up, gazing around she did not see him, yet she heard his voice again. “Princess.”

“Where are you?” she said looking around her, she spoke allowed.

She felt a chuckle, “As I said, we bonded. We can always communicate now as we are now connected. True you can reject this bond, as I have forced it on you but for now listen to me.”

She just nodded, her eyes still wet from tears.

“Did you not projmise your servant that she would see you again… “ …. “But I am a monster now… I can go back.”

“Good. Stand up and look at the moon again.” the voice spoke

As she did, getting back up on two feet. She looked up at the Moon, “You might be a Lycan now, yet you are not bound by the moon. Focus on my voice, as you take a breath, and smell the world around you. My voice will keep you sane, and stop your instincts from taking over again.” Closing her eyes, doing as she was told, yet partly trembling knowing each time before she had lost control. Smelling the scents around her, the ground, the dirt, the grass, the forests, the trees, it all was entirely overwhelming.”

“Relax” the voice spoke, and as she repeated his words… opening her eyes staring at the moon, the smells were all new, and exciting, but she was able to smile. It was new, but as she repeated his words in her head, her mind was not racing, not going out of control. The moon above her just seemed brighter and almost filled her.

“Go back to the town.” nodding as she gazed around she knew the way back, not sure why perhaps by scent as she walked into the center of the town. As she step through the town, she could feel movement, sense movement, as the men all almost dazed, stepped out of their homes, before her eyes, as they stared at her completely enraptured. She watched them as they all shifted.. Everyone that looked upon her was then suddenly they were all wolves infront of her… all but one. The shaman in his half wolf from,. Starting her in the eyes, as he did she start to shrink… feel small again..

“Stare back!! You are a Princess… you are the Alpha.”

Meeting his eyes again, standing up straight as she started back, it would now be him that would back down and shrink away, bending down to his knees. “Alpha” he said with a bow.

With one hand she struck him across his snout, as he now cowered, yet later she placed her hand on his shoulder. “Thankyou.”

He simply nodded. As that voice in her head, “Now look at them all again. Stare at them all.” As all the wolves still locked on her, all looked into her eyes. As they all shifted again, from Wolf to Lycan back to human. “Your magic gift is a connection to the Primal Spirit that is the source of the curse. You share that curse, but with your gift, you are the Moon now to all who bear the curse. At your whim they become wolves, and at your whim they return.”

“Now go to where you entered… find the women you came with.” She cringed as she saw all the women still in the same binding “Free them and bring each of them to me.” One by one each of the women’s bindings were cut. Looking each of them in their eyes, she knew instantly who was infected, and who was not. A wicked smile crossed her face as she came eye to eye with Bethany… she smiled at Bethany form shifted, as she fell down to all fours, as her black hair was replaced with wolf fur, and then she smiled again staring at her again and she turned back to a woman. “Bethany, you were right, I am cursed. Yet that curse is going to let everyone leave this valley. This valley is no longer cursed and we all can return home even if some of you have never known a home in the villages above. Now get these women something to wear, and prepare to leave the valley in the morning.” Smiling as she turned away,as she headed back to the cave. “Welcome back.” he voice spoke and it felt like it echoed, hearing him both by her ears and that voice in his head. “You will adjust to it in time.” As she approached him, she did not feel his cold, only the warmth of his scales. As his wings settled down over her.

“Just remember, they serve you, and you serve me.”

“I am sure my Father might have some concerns.”

“He might but what if I told him all this of my plan, and that since you were willing, he agreed to it.”

“What do you get out of this?” she said even as she pressed down into the scales of his side.

“Oh I get you?” a small chuckle as a wing wrapped around her.

“What is so special about me? That I deserve the attention and desire of a Dragon? You’re perhaps older than my father.”

“Dragons always need magic. We live and thrive off magic. Without Magic we fade away or simply go mad. Your gifting can perhaps be ranked about some of the top. Magic is always flowing into you, even after you are full. The bond simply connects me to the overflow and if you need my reservoir of magic, I can lend it to you if you need. So we both benefit, and I continue to benefit as you will live as long as I do.”

“Does this mean you’re going to take me again?”

The Dragon simply chuckles as he did not answer. Yet as she took a deep breath, she knew the answer to the questions, as the wolf inside her was excited at that answer. The Dragon was still warm to the touch, as she drifted off to sleep.

In the morning, she did spend time with the Dragon, as the village was alive. Both the Lycan and the women worked, as they worked at getting supplies, and clothes for the traveling. And within a couple days, the entire group was ready to leave, to scale up the far side of the valley.

“It is time for us to leave this valley” she returned to the Dragon to let him know.

“I am aware,” the Dragon noded.

“Will I have to return this to the valley, to remain with you.”

“Go with your people, you will know me when you see me.”

And with that, she bowed and left. Slowly they would make their way up the far side of the valley. The people were asotounded, and mildly confused to have every single woman return that had left. Only then to be concerned with all the men that had followed them up.

“The Valley is no longer cursed, The curse has been broken.”

“There is no such cure to the Lycan curse…”

“Then watch these men for the next full cycle and they will not change.”

“That makes sense, if the Princess suggests it, and those of you do not object, you will be watched” another voice spoke up, as a Soldier approached. “I’ve been sent by your Father, to assist with your return. This is all glorious news, at the success of this celebration.” That soldier’s armor was pure white, his armor almost looked like scales. “Greeting my Lady.” She did not recognize the soldier, yet there was something about him, and she knew it. Or more the Wolf inside her knew it. She did not know how, but he was the Dragon. Taking another deep breath in and she could firm that thought. “When you are ready, I will escort you back to your Father.” he nodded before he left, the voice in her head just smiled loudly.

The curse was over, the men did not transform. Even some of the women who were not infected would stay with the men who had come up. And in time, not a few of them might have ended up in a small armed force dedicated to the Princess. It was only when they made her smile that they were known as Nara’s Wolves. A few scandouly rumors would spread, seeing the Princess involved in an orgry with a pack of wolfmen on a full moon, or some drunken pesants saying they saw the Princess naked on the back of a white dragon. Yet most of these myths would be laughed off.