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.

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 when the things that walked the

Xena, gesturing to the chains

told her, “The broken chains are the part of

up and 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 she

it off Xena. There was an indent left on Xena’s fur from where the collar had been for so long. Xena stood up and did a whole body shake that fluffed out her fur and the indent from the

Alora looked up at the band on the tree. A wind that felt rife with

around her, Alora wondered absentmindedly when her hair had

up to the trunk of the tree. There were deep cracks in the band around the tree. Lifting her hands up, Alora gathered the power that was in the air. After gathering a large

to knock Alora to the ground. As the power forced her to the ground, much of it filled Alora.

the ground in front of the tree was another being. Alora looked at her and felt like she was looking into a mirror. Well….almost, there were several things different. The female’s upper fangs were longer than hers, and her

floor length hair was midnight black as Alora’s was, it looked intangible. It was like the female’s hair was

the imagination either. Covering her breasts was a black gauzy material that twinkled with silver specks, the material shaped around her breasts like a strapless bralette. The ankle length skirt she wore, made of

Over that silver paint, was a white crescent moon and star mark that seemed to glow with an internal light. It was this mark that made Alora realize this female was very

The chains and collar had deep cracks in them. Cautiously, so she did not 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

a gong rang loudly, the vibration of it so powerful

nerve in her body. Alora cried out as she felt like her very blood had been set ablaze. The other female screamed her pain as it felt like the power