The two women stood in silence, eyeing each other as the wind picked up around them. Snow spiraled between their stares like sparks waiting to ignite.
Then came the second howl—closer this time.
The woman's smile faded. "We're being hunted."
Solene's eyes narrowed. "You think I didn't notice?"
The trees ahead groaned as something massive pushed through the brush. Shadows slithered across the snow. Not wolves—dire wolves. Taller than horses. Fur as black as the void between stars. Six of them. Maybe seven.
Their leader stepped forward with red eyes that almost matched the stranger's.
"Stay behind me," Solene said.
"I can fight," the woman replied.
Solene didn't argue. She needed every blade she could get.
The first wolf lunged.
Solene didn't flinch. Ice erupted from her palm in jagged spears, piercing the air like a storm of glass. The wolf howled mid-air, crashing into the frozen ground with a wet thud.
Another came from the left. Solene ducked, spun, and sent a blade of frost clean through its neck.
Behind her, the stranger finally moved.
She raised both hands. Fire—not red, not orange, but black—exploded from her palms. It moved like liquid shadow, wrapping around a charging wolf and incinerating it from the inside out.
The beast collapsed in seconds, steaming.
Solene spared her a glance. "Shadow fire?"
"Is that going to be a problem?" the woman asked, voice calm as ever.
"We'll talk about it later."
Another wolf charged—larger than the others. The alpha.
It didn't go for Solene. It went for the woman.
She hesitated for the first time. Her eyes widened slightly. Too slow.
"Down!" Solene shouted, shoving her aside.
The alpha's claw raked across her shoulder, tearing through cloak and flesh. Blood spilled instantly—bright against the snow.
But Solene didn't scream.
She snarled. Ice exploded from her body in all directions, skewering the beast mid-strike. The alpha dropped, gurgling, pinned to the forest floor by jagged spires.
Solene staggered back, clutching her arm.
The stranger rushed to her side, kneeling. "You're bleeding."
"No shit," Solene hissed. "It'll freeze soon enough."
"You saved me."
Solene winced. "Don't make a thing out of it."
The woman tore a strip of cloth from her cloak and pressed it to the wound. "You're reckless."
"I've been called worse."
The last two wolves circled warily. Solene rose slowly, frost crackling under her boots. Her breath came out in icy puffs.
The stranger raised her hands again. "Let me."
The black fire returned, this time more violent. It twisted into two long whips in her hands, searing through the air.
The wolves charged—and she danced between them, spinning like a storm. Each strike burned through fur and bone. The wolves dropped, smoking.
Silence followed. Blood steamed in the snow.
Solene wiped her blade clean, eyes still on the woman. "You fight well."
"You bleed too much," the woman replied.
They both stood there, catching their breath.
Finally, Solene spoke again. "Name?"
"Seraphyne," she said. "And you?"
"Solene."
Seraphyne's eyes flickered. "Pretty name. Doesn't suit a killer."
Solene gave her a flat look. "Better than being dead."
Seraphyne chuckled, a low, velvety sound. "Fair."
They looked around—dead wolves, burning shadows, frozen gore.
"We should move," Solene said. "More might come."
"Agreed."
They began walking. The silence between them wasn't awkward—it was wary. Measured.
After a while, Seraphyne glanced sideways. "You saved me back there. Why?"
Solene didn't answer right away.
Then: "Because I'm waiting for someone."
Seraphyne raised an eyebrow. "Friend?"
Solene looked away. "Something like that."
Silence again. Just boots in snow.
"You don't trust me," Seraphyne said.
"No."
"Smart."
Solene glanced at her. "You're not exactly hiding what you are."
Seraphyne's smile returned, this time thinner. "Would it help if I did?"
"No. But don't mistake this for friendship."
"I don't," Seraphyne said. "But if we're walking the same direction, might as well not die alone."
Solene stopped. Looked at her fully now.
"Alright," she said. "We travel together. For now."
"And after?"
"I find the one I'm waiting for. If she's alive."
"And if she's not?"
Solene's jaw tightened. "Then the world ends a little faster."
Seraphyne didn't reply. She just nodded once, then turned and led the way into the snow-covered woods.
Behind them, the wind howled again. But softer now.
As if the forest knew not to chase monsters twice.
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