Breath froze in her chest, brown eyes growing wide in panic. Meeki studied the long smooth fingers wiggling under her command.
“Derth, what did you do?” Tears welled up in her eyes as her voice strangely croaked.
Derth’s earthy brown eyes mirrored hers, his velvety muzzle slacked open. Ears pressed flat against his skull, his brow peaked in concern.
“Meeki, I . . . She said it would save you.” Derth stretched out his paw, careful to keep his claws from grazing Meeki’s now fragile human hands.
Heavy tears rolled over her rosy cheeks, dripping off her narrow chin.
“I didn’t ask you to save me.” Her voice took on an edge as a bitter taste filled her mouth.
Derth’s fur bristled, he dropped to his haunches. “I’m your life mate! We are the forest guardians! It’s my job to protect you.”
“But like this?” Meeki threw out her arms, “At least as a bear I could defend myself!”
Derth sighed, drooping his head “They search for the bear or one of her creatures. A woman will escape, a woman they will defend.”
“But I know nothing of their world! And what of you Derth? I won’t abandon you.” Meeki’s eyes glistened as her jaw clenched tight.
“I stay to protect our now, you must leave to save our future. Now go, we mustn’t be spotted together.”
Meeki gently cupped the underside of his snout, fixing Derth’s eyes upon her. “Mark my words forest keeper, I will set things right, I will save this kingdom, I will undo this curse, and I will return to you. You had better be here when I do.”
“So it will be done.” Derth leaned in and nuzzled her cheek.
As Derth pulled away Meeki swore she felt her heart push against her chest, fighting to follow after him. She stayed rooted in place as he slowly moved back. The padding on the underside of his large brown paws deadened his steps. More tears rolled down Meeki’s cheeks as her mate faded from sight.
Her shoulders trembled as her flat teeth chattered slightly in her mouth. She had seen enough of the human kind to know the power of her jaws had too been lost. She grasped at the long golden brown mane that spilled in waves from the top of her head down to her knees. She tried wrapping it around herself but the strange fur did little to keep the heat in her body. She curled and released her toes in the dirt stirring the fragrance of damp earth into the air.
She told Derth she’d come back to him, but would she actually see this place again? With a shuddering breath in, Meeki lifted a foot and stepped forward. How strange. Human for only a matter of moments, but this form felt as natural as a newly grown summer coat. Pushing herself onward, Meeki listened for the whispering winds. They would guide her path to exactly the right people. Humans who would receive her, humans with open hearts. Beings who would save her world. Leaves rustled overhead, the sound pricking her ears. Meeki frowned, these lobes anchored to the sides of her head were vastly inferior to her old ears. They could not catch the whisperers as readily.
Meeki picked up her pace, chasing after the few tendrils of the breeze. Whispering winds could only be discovered in motion, if she stayed in one place too long she might miss them altogether. Twisting along each waft of air Meeki strained for that telltale note. The soft Jingle of small silver bells bounced gently on the tail end of a breeze to her left. Meeki spun on her heel, a smile grew on her lips. A few delicate leaps and finally she was within the stream. Her steps were more light and flowing as she swept in rhythm of the winds.
“A land of sand, a hand of ice period to the field, save their life.”
Meeki stilled, allowing the whispers to pass on by. She had her heading.
Small cloud of red and brown swirled around Meeki’s ankles with each step. A frowned etched lines across her brow as she made her way along the dry path. The earth smelled different here. It was harsh and closed off, exhausted from use.
Dust grasped between her toes and ground against her heels. Meeki turned her eyes to the side, surveying the wilting crops that lined the way. Not yet barren enough to be the place. She was close though. The wind stirred once more, gripping gently the edges of her hair, sweeping them faintly side to side. Vibrations rippled down the road, a precursor warning.
Mickey paused, pressing past the restraints of the human ears as best she could. She was far too limited in this form. Spying a small opening, Meeki ducked in between the overgrowth that had begun to reconquer this edge of the farmer’s field. She lay flat among the weeds, the thorns being courteous enough to avoid pricking her fragile skin. A few breaths passed until at last sounds of men on horseback soaked the air.
Anger twisted Meeki’s heart as she watched each set of hooves trot by. Yet another illegal hunting party sent off from the palace. Did their treaty mean nothing to them? Waiting till they were a good distance down, Meeki sat up on her knees and watched as they faded away. A weight tugged at her heart and turned her skin cold.
“You better be there when I return dear mate.” she whispered aloud
Pushing against her knees she stood. Giving a thankful nod to the vines that covered her, Meeki continued her journey back down the road.