Werewolf’s Heartsong by Dizzy izzy

…greeted with something unexpected.”

W

The scent of flowers and the gentle breeze rustling leaves, accompanied by the sound of water lapping at a shore, had Alora opening her eyes. When she opened them, she was looking up at the long drooping viny branches of an enormous willow tree blooming with bright blue flowers. The sky above the tree was a light blue, with fluffy light gray clouds floating across it.

Sitting up, Alora looked around her and saw that the tree seemed to be on a slight hill. Surrounding the tree, protected under its draping vines, were twenty rows of waist high bookshelves. The shelves were ten deep, with wide aisles carpeted in vibrantly colored creeping thyme in between. The colors of the blooms on the thyme came in varied shades blues, pinks, purples, and reds.

Ten rows of the bookshelves were made of black marble with veins of white crystal. While the other ten rows of bookshelves were made of white marble with veins of black crystal. Covering all the bookshelves, were dark green leafy vines blooming with different colored flowers.

Looking further out, Alora could see an oval–shaped pond. Lining the pond’s shore was different shades of gray river rock and stone. Stretching directly over the center of the pond, was a covered Japanese style walking bridge made of red wood. Circling the rock lined shore of the pond was a wide even path of black sand.

All of this seemed to be in a clearing surrounded by a dark forest made up of all kinds of trees. The grass in the clearing was dark green carpeted with patches of colorful wildflowers. Alora was just taking all this in and wondering how she got here when she heard the rattle of chains. Looking in the direction of the sound, Alora let out a shocked gasp when she saw Xena.

Around Xena’s neck was a thick black metal collar that had dark gray vapors rising out of it. Attached to the collar were several thick black chains of the same material. Following the chains, she found that they led back to the giant willow tree, attached to a wide thick band of black metal that circled the trunk of the tree.

The metal band looked as if it was strangling the tree. Above and below the band on the tree were marks that made it look like it had been charred. Alora put one hand over her chest, she felt like something was tightening around her heart looking at the band on the tree. Turning back to look at Xena, Alora found that not all the chains attached to Xena’s collar led to the band on the tree.

Three broken chains hung from one side of the collar on Xena. It only took her another second to spot a large black metal loop coming from the ground near Xena. Hanging off the loop were three short chains with broken ends. Alora assumed this was where the three chains hanging off Xena’s collar had originally been attached.

got up off the ground and walked over to Xena. Even sitting, Xena had to tilt her muzzle down just a little to look Alora in her eyes. Werewolves were exceptionally large beasts, coming from a time

Alora asked Xena, gesturing to the

her, “The broken chains are the part of the spell that

touched the collar and noticed there were cracks on it. Alora hated the sight of the thing on her wolf and just wanted to rip it off. Reaching up with her other hand

her internal power to grab it and turn it around, forcing it back into the collar. The collar snapped under the returned attack and Alora pulled it off Xena. There was an indent left on Xena’s fur from where the collar had been

ground, Alora looked up at the band on the tree. A

around her, Alora wondered absentmindedly when her hair had become unbound from

band around the tree. Lifting her hands up, Alora gathered the power that was in the air. After gathering a large amount of power, Alora then forced that power into the deepest

Power rushed out of the tree at her with enough force to knock Alora to the ground. As the power forced her to the ground, much of it filled Alora. When the wind calmed down

at her and felt like she was looking into

black as Alora’s was, it looked intangible.

with silver specks, the material shaped around her breasts like a strapless bralette. The ankle length skirt she wore, made of the same black gauzy material with twinkling silver specks, was like two upside down triangles tied together at her

left flank looked like it was painted thickly in silver, with wide and harsh strokes. Over that silver paint, was a white crescent moon and star mark that seemed to glow with an internal

startle the female, Alora reached out with both hands, and grabbed the collar. Xena clawed at the chains where they were attached to the ground as Alora forced a small bit of power into the deepest crack in the

broke through the chains at the same time the collar broke, freeing the female. Then a burst of power slammed into all three of them, forcing them to the ground. The sound of a gong rang loudly, the vibration of it so powerful Alora felt the sound resonate throughout her body. Then Alora felt it as her bonds to her wolf Xena and this

body. Alora cried out as she felt like her very blood had