Floras' Point of view
Flora walked purposefully towards the entrance to what was clearly the pack leaders' den. A pair of strong oak trees rose on either side of the door, which was less of a door and more of a blank of wood. Despite its appearance, it was guarded by four stern-looking wolves, who barely bothered to look at her but only glanced out of the corner of their eyes.
She knocked on the door, her dainty fingers hardly making any sound, but still a response came from inside the house. "Come in," it said, but Flora just stood there. She could not open the door.
"Proud, are we?" one of the guards asked, not realising that the door was too big and heavy even for a tall fairy.
"Allow me," another of the guards said, stepping aside and opening the door for her.
"You shouldn't feed into her delusions," the third of the guards said.
And before the fourth got to take part in the discussion, Flora hurried on inside.
Bubbles's Point of view
Back in the prison cell, Bubbles was dying of angst, wondering what would happen to Flora. One thing was the feelings she had quickly grown to have for Flora, despite their differences in the past. It was strange how quickly she had looked past them, she thought. But another thing entirely was the duty she would most certainly have failed if she did nothing and let the princess die.
Oh no, oh no, oh no, she thought and felt the panic creep in over her. What if they ate her and left her bones here in this horrid place? What if they ate her bones as well? Bubbles could just see the look that pack leaders face as he licked his disgustingly big tongue around his mouth, slurping up every last bit of Floras' blood.
Floras' Point of view
Flora was met by a female wolf who was wearing a thrown-together outfit covering parts of her body, which was somewhat more than the male wolves were wearing. Hers seemed prettier than the clothes of the rest of the clan as well, with golden threads keeping it together. Her ears were pierced as well with pieces of golden jewellery.
"Come on inside, little one," she said with a much kinder smile than Flora had seen since stepping out of the coach. "It is a pleasure to meet you, little princess."
"Word travels fast," Flora responded, "and who are you?"
"The leaders, mate, of course," she said, "but let us not linger. He is waiting for us in the dining room."
Flora kept to herself that she had imagined the wolves would be eating outside.
They walked further into the den, which was made of stone and covered in tree roots and moss. Behind another door lay the dining room, where a round table was placed, hollowed in the middle of the table to allow for a fire pit inside of it. The fire pit was currently in use with flames so high they almost licked the stone ceiling. Flora noticed a hole at the top of the room, which led out the smoke. If it had not been for the fire, she might have been able to fly out that way.
The wolf guided her to take a seat and sat down next to her. "I am so sorry for the way you have been treated thus far," she said, "my packmates do not understand how to treat a princess." She shook her head slightly as she leaned forward towards Flora. The wolf reached out of her hair and stroked it gently. "Pretty."
"Thank you," Flora said and tried to pull away without it being too noticeable. "You too."
The wolf shook her head, "No. Not like a fairy. No one is as pretty as a fairy." She sighed and kept her eyes fixed on Flora. "I think my mate is rather regretting picking me, now that you have arrived. You would be a good addition to our family. But I do not suppose you would be willing to share?"
"Ehm," Flora said, staring at the wolf in shock, caught completely off guard by such a question, "I am not interested in…"
The wolf tilted her head a little, "Well, I thought so, but…"
"No, I just mean. You are far too pretty for anyone to want something else," Flora said, meaning at least some of what she said, for the wolf was pretty, but she had not even considered the possibility of something as bold as being attracted to wolves. For goodness' sake, she had not even considered that wolves might find her attractive.
"You flatter me," the wolf said, "but what about your companion then?"
"She is mine," Flora quickly said, "I mean, we travel together. I need her."
The wolf broke out into a howling laughter, "Oh, I see. Well, of course you do, little one." She smiled, and Flora was about to begin explaining her words away even more when she was saved by the entrance of the wolf leader. Or, maybe saved was not the correct choice of words, considering her situation.
"Princess, dearest," he said, greeting Flora and his mate in the same sentence. "I hope you have not waited long for me?"
"Not at all, my master," his mate answered.
"Then let us eat before the flame dies out."
They started a smaller feast, with the wolves mainly partaking in pieces of meat, which they shared with each other. They did, however, have an array of fruit brought in for Flora, with only about half of them being too old and not a single one had anything suspicious growing on them. The scent of sweet fruits and tough meat was thought a little sickening for Flora, who could barely get a bite down.
"So," the pack leader began as they had been eating for a while, "what argument do you have to prevent us from stripping your wings off you?"
"Argument?"
"You could fly away any moment you wished, could you not?"
Flora shook her head. "Your wolves are too fast for me, even with my flying advantage."
He nodded as he considered her words. "Correctly accessed, though you might just be lucky," the leader pointed out.
"I would prefer not to risk it," Flora said, keeping a cold and firm tone.
"Then let us rest that discussion, as you say, my wolves are too fast for you."
They continued eating without further discussion, Flora increasingly aware that both the leader and his mate were keeping a close eye on her. Assessing her, she thought, as one might assess a cow or a deer for the best piece of meat.
"Would you like tea?" The leader asked as they finished eating.
Flora blinked a couple of times. They had tea?
"You think we are savages, do you?" the leader said with a sigh, "you fairies always do, awfully prideful your people are." He shook his head, "Darling, will you see to it?"
His mate nodded her head and kissed him on the cheek on her way out of the room.
"Let me cut right to the chase," the wolf continued as his mate had left the room. "I have grown slightly obsessed with you over the short time that you have been here, princess," the wolf leader continued. He had lowered his voice, and Flora felt her heart stop.
Her mind had been running wild ever since they had arrived at the wolf camp. She had thought it was because of all the death and the danger around her, but now the words his mate had spoken to her rang in her mind again. It was a thrilling yet uncomfortable situation all at the same time. But it was exciting to be wanted, some basic instinct in her shocked through her, and it seemed stronger than her survival instinct.
"My partner and I are not exclusive, you know," he said and put on his best smile, which was not particularly charming. It sent a shiver down Flora's spine at the look of it. "But that is not why you are here," he said and leaned back in his seat. Flora was happy to have him slightly further away, but also a little disappointed at the same time. It was strange, she thought, since she desired his mate more than him.
"We have already come to an agreement with your patrol," Flora said, deciding to play half of her cards, but still keeping some of the agreement to herself.
The wolf smiled, "Darling, they already told me."
Flora's vague smile disappeared, and her eyes dropped; for a moment, she thought her eyes would betray her.
"Wolves are fiercely loyal, you see, and definitely not to be trusted by strangers."
"But, but," Flora began, "we made a deal."
"They lied, sweetheart," the pack leader of the wolves smirked, "as simple as that. You should have made them swear on it, if you really wanted them to keep their word."
She realised he was right. There was nothing to keep them to their promise except honour – something they did not have. She sank further down into her chair, realising that now all was truly lost. They could be devoured by these beasts, and no consequences would come to them. She would have to defend herself, something she had been trying to avoid thus far.
Bubbles's Point of view
Meanwhile, in the prison cell, Bubbles had started to make her way out of the cage of sticks, one stick at a time.