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Wednesday stepped into the clearing, peering into the eyes of the beast thrashing in front of her, trying to catch a glimpse of the girl trapped within. The beast did nothing but thrash in the silver chains laced throughout its matted fur, a deep guttural growl echoing into the air as Wednesday took yet another step closer. The beast's crimson eyes reflected the pale moonlight shining into the dank cleaning, trained on her every move. Spittle flew through the air as it let loose another guttural growl. How breathtaking her beast was.
It had taken weeks of relentless tracking and sleepless nights setting traps to catch her. Wednesday quickly learned that although the wolf was feral, it was not mindless. It covered its tracks by choosing paths with running water and thick foliage. It buried any prey caught and stamped down the dirt to hide any trace. Any trail cameras placed by Fester or herself were quickly disposed of and mauled beyond repair.
This capture had been nothing but foolish luck, a careless misstep by the beast as it was distracted by prey. One wrong step onto the pressure plate of the trap and it was ensnared. The enraged howl had echoed through the dead of night. Before Wednesday could even think her feet carried out of her tent and away from her makeshift campground in a desperate sprint towards the sound.
Now, the object of her obsession lay in front of her, writhing with rage. Wednesday held nothing but a makeshift handfasting rope and a faded photograph. A photograph of her wolf, with her blinding smile with fangs peeking out, with her oversaturation of color, eyes bright and full of humor as she pulled the other girl in the picture close in a rare moment of unbridled physical affection. Wednesday herself, pressed into the wolf's side with the corners of her mouth upturned the slightest of bits. HER wolf's side. Wednesday pressed the photograph to her lips and like a desperate prayer to the moon whispered “please hear my words and come back, mi vida.”
The colorful beast marred with dirt and dried blood eyed Wednesday warily, continuing to trash in an attempt at freedom. With a sigh, Wednesday placed the photograph back in her pocket and braced herself to face her greatest fear. That her love wouldn't be enough, and that this handfasting ceremony would be the final nail in the coffin for the girl she let slip away.
The girl who has bared her soul to Wednesday, whose greatest fear was forever being alone. Who was so unloved by her pack but had so much love to give. For the girl who took on the burden of eternal solitude to save Wednesday. This could not fail.
Wednesday looked up at the beast one last time, and began to whistle a tune engraved into her heart at this point. She took slow tentative steps towards the creature, who had gone still as the whistling began.
“I'll swim and sail on savage seas” Wednesday cleared her throat, choking back a sob “ With ne'er a fear of drowning. And gladly ride the waves of life” She stepped closer and closer, and once she was close enough to see the detail on the beast's face it raised its snout and sniffed the air with rapt attention. For just a second, crimson eyes flickered blue.
Hope soared in Wednesday's chest. Holding the handfasting rope up in front of the beast's massive muzzle, she willed it to understand “ If you will marry me”.
Blue and red warred in the werewolves eyes, snout sniffing with desperation to understand. Wednesday took a final few steps and placed her forehead forward, offering the beast a chance to end her, or for her wolf to come back to her and place her foreheads on hers.
She finished her part with a shaky breath “No scorching sun nor freezing cold, Will stop me on my journey, If you will promise me your heart”.
Her part was over, this moment defined the future for Enid. She didn't dare look up. Head still bowed, she listened for any signs of what was happening. The forest held its breath, not daring to disturb what was happening in its walls.
Sickening cracks like a symphony of pain rung out into the night. The hot breath Wednesday had not realized was rolling down her neck ceased, and chains rattled and fell to the ground.
Oh, and at least. Her Enid placed her forehead, her human forehead, against Wednesdays. Wednesday let out a breath she did not know she had been holding and glanced up into the eyes of the girl she had been hunting ever since the night of her sacrifice. Wednesday held out her left hand for the girl to take, and with the other held up the rope. Understanding lit up the wolfs eyes, and with a voice broken from disuse looked into Wednesday's eyes without a trace of doubt and responded
“And love me for eternity” a cough, a clearing of a throat, and then she started once more, placing her hand in Wednesdays “My dearest one, my darling dear, Your mighty words astound me, But I've no need for mighty deeds, When I feel your arms around me”
Her voice, even broken and harsh from her months trapped in another form, was the sweetest sound to ever grace this earth. Wednesday knew at this moment she would die for her. She should KILL for her wolf. She would never want for another thing.
She began to tie their hands together with the rope, starting her part again “But I would bring you rings of gold, I'd even sing you poetry”
“oh, would you”A laugh, oh that sweet laugh as her wolf interrupted her, forehead resting once more against forehead. All Wednesday could do was nod and continue
“And I would keep you from all harm, If you would stay beside me”
Stronger, more sure, more clearly Enid responded, “I have no use for rings of gold, I care not for your poetry, I only want your hand to hold”
Wednesday finished tying their hands together, planting a kiss on the knot binding them. Enid pulled Wednesday closer to her, whispering into her ear “I only want you near me”
With that Enid stepped back, taking in every single atom that made up the face of her raven, of the only person to keep her sane while trapped, of the one she was doomed to fall for from the second she set eyes on her.
They began to dance around the clearing, unable to look away from each other, unwilling to ever look away ever again. This time they took up the melody together.
“To love and kiss to sweetly hold, For the dancing and the dreaming” Enid spun them, laughing as the Raven shot her a halfhearted glare for the action “Through all life's sorrows and delights, I'll keep your laugh inside me” In return the Raven dipped the wolf, causing the taller girl to almost hit her head on the forest floor. She would deny it, but the tiniest laugh escaped her at the wolf's frazzled face. To Enid, it was the most precious sound in the world.
As they spun and swayed through the night, they finished the song “I'll swim and sail a savage seas, With ne'er a fear of drowning, And gladly ride the waves so life, And you will marry me”
As soon as the last words were uttered, they sprang forward, locking in a kiss that was neither gentle or patient. It was passionate, full of longstanding need to claim to be one.
Later that night, as they laid under the stars around the fire Wednesday had built, hands still tied, Enid turned to look at Wednesday, who was staring off into the night.
“You found me.”
“I told you, I have no problem hunting you down”
“Just because you would not have a problem doing it, does not mean you would”
Wednesday did nothing but stare upwards at the sky, and for a moment Enid feared that was all she would get.
But then dark eyes locked onto her own, filled with tears. The sight looked so wrong on Wednesday, Enid instinctively took her free hand and cupped her cheek.
Softly, Wednesday began to speak “As I told you before, the mark you have left is indelible. But it is.. More than that” she gulped “you said I am your pack. I trust no one, I trust nothing that is said or done without irrefutable proof. And yet…”
Wednesday inched closer, placing a light kiss onto Enid's temple “from the moment you told me that I am your pack, I had no doubt in my mind it was true. I knew I was your pack, and that you were mine.”
She glanced up into the cosmos once more, continuing to speak “so yes, I have no problem hunting you down. But even if I did, I would stop at nothing to bring you home to me.”
Enid shuffled closer, laying her head on Wednesday's shoulder, letting out a big yawn. “I love you too Wends”
Wednesday stiffened imperfectly for only a moment before relaxing into the touch. Enid felt the faintest trace of Wednesday's chin nuzzling the top of her head. “Sweet dreams, Enid”
“Horrid nightmares, Wends”