Story One

''I am sahrry, missy'', the driver wheezed, wiping his oily hand across his forhead, ''T'ain't notn I can do nah. She's buggad.''

''Is there anywhere nearby we could stay until the train is fixed?'' Agueda asked.

The man glanced around doubtfully at the vast nothingness that surrounded them and shook his head at Agueda.

''Nowhere? Nothing at all? Are you sure?'' Agueda couldn't remember ever feeling so small. Scanning the horizon, the only things visible were mile upon mile of sand and, in the very far distance, something large and white glinted strangely in the bright sunlight.

''Well, what do you suggest?''

The old man stroked his chin and there was a long pause while he thought. He seemed oblivious to the oil that covered him, smudging it everywhere he touched, which annoyed Agueda, and she sighed in frustration.

Suddenly the driver's eyes lit up and in a moment of what Agueda would later describe as 'a moment of divine clarity', with more than a hint of sarcasm in her voice, he exclaimed ''We're ahna train line!''

''What?''

''Well, thar'll be more trains!''

''When?''

He shrugged. ''But thar'll be one! Fahr sure!''

''So that's the plan, is it?'', Agueda suddenly exploded, ''We'll sit here and wait for another train to come along or we'll die of starvation first? There's nothing in those carriages to keep us alive here. We've no food, no water and no protection from the elements.''

The man was taken aback. His mouth dropped began to shut and close as if he were a goldfish, his eyes wide with fear for in this moment, Agueda presented a truly terrifying sight. She stood tall and straight, towering over the old man by two feet or so, and her grey-green eyes flashed with frustration.

She didn't mean to scare the man, of course, but she hated feeling helpless and out of control and, having been used to bustling and busy cities, where she could mostly past unnnoticed, the vast, silent wastes of the desert had frightened her. To be stuck here had terrified her.

With that, she grabbed the small canvas bag she carried with her and headed off towards the large white distance.

The driver considered just letting her go, but he recovered from his fear and shouting after her, ''Missy, I reahlly wouln't...''

''I refuse to sit her passively'', she interuppted. ''You stay here in the train. Keep safe. Make sure you have something to keep you warm during the night. I'll come back with help when I can.''

----------

She didn't know how long she'd been walking for. She guessed it must have been five or six hours, for the sky had darkened and stars were twinkling up above, but it had felt like days.

She had trudged on through the heat, thinking only of finding help. Her mind had been so focussed on this objective, she had not noticed the sand turning cold beneath her feet as she came closer to the eerie white glow.

The whiteness looked very different now she was closer. From the train, it had looked like a halo on the horizon, as if it had been suspended a few feet above the ground. Now she saw that it lay flat on the ground, like a great white blanket, and that large black lines stood out against it, their frames gnarled and contorted, silhouetted against the reflected moonlight from the snow. Now she was closer, she could see that it was indeed snow, quite incredibly. She paused briefly to pull on some hefty boots and began her trudging once again.

She was more terrified than is possible to imagine. She thought the sky so beautiful she could cry and she was grateful that it had turned cooler now, but those great twisted forests in the distance frightened her. They seemed dead, yet clinging on to life, and all the while, she felt she was being watched.

As Agueda trudged futher and futher into the icey desert, the feeling of being watched intensified. The forests grew more numerous, thick with trees that were dead and bare yet showed no signs of rotting away. One or two huge stone fortresses, grand and imposing, could be scene like great scars on the landscape. There were probably more out of sight.

As the moon got higher in the sky the bleak, inhospital landscape echoed with terrifying dischordant howls. Whatever was making them sounded mad, insane with sickening desires. And yet there was a strange unity to their madness, as though the creatures were somehow joined in their insanity.

Suddenly the howls sounded frightningly close, and even as they died two huge slavering black wolves appeared to block her path. They looked like they might spring at any moment.

There was a full moon and the light from it shone on their black coats and reflected off their long, sharp teeth. Muscles like continents heaved beneath their chests and shoulders and they snarled at her menacingly.

In total fear and panic, Agueda fled for her life. Her heart raced, her mouth was dry and the cold wind stung her face and whipped tears from her eyes.

The wolves followed, casually padding after her at great speed. They could have caught up with her and torn her limb from limb easily, but for some reason they kept their distance, so she kept running.

Her mind was chattering madly. She didn't know where she was running to, or even what she was running from. They seemed like wolves, yet twice the size and half possessed. She knew that sooner or later she they would catch her up. Already her legs were weakening and her eyes stung so badly she could hardly see.

Wait! A large stone fortress was visible only a few hundred yards away. Perhaps if she got inside and locked the door behind her she'd be safe! She changed course and headed straight for it, but only a few steps later she tripped and plunged head-first into the snow.

The wolves behind her picked up their pace, ready finally for the kill. Agueda screamed and covered her face with her hands. But just as the first wolf lunged, she caught, out of the corner of her eye, a metallic glint close by her shoulder.

There was a mighty swoosh. Agueda passed out.

The swoosh was that of a sword, swung in a circle that caused the pursuing, lunging, creatures to suddenly stop short and even draw back slightly. There was something odd about it, the way it gleamed in the full moon. Kerak smiled.

“You know what this is. And you know what it will do to you.” The subdued snarling that answered his words proved the truth of them, the wolves drawing back futher. The man stepped forward, swinging the sword in a semi-circle before him as he did so. It was as though he was tracing an invisible shield in the moonlight. Suddenly he lunged and the wolves broke, fleeing the hated silver that, even maddened as they were by the moon, they knew would burn and torture them with the slightest touch.

Kerak waited a moment, until he felt it was safe, before sheathing his sword and turning to regard the girl who had literally fallen at his feet. Time passed before he was shaken out of his thoughts by a nearby howl and, picking the girl up into his arms, headed into the safety of the great stone stronghold.

While on the outside it was grim and imposing, a dark and ugly wound among the gleaming snow and the dark sky, inside it was a place of opulent luxury. Candles gave the place a well-lit and cosy ambiance. Stone walls were covered in hangings of reds, golds, greens and other rich colours. Rugs lined the floors, matching the walls in their splendour. Portraits and other artwork abounded. On the surface, it was as though the world inside had no relation to that outside. For those who looked closer, the horrors outside ran through the world inside in a disturbing undercurrent. Wolves seemed to feature in most of the artwork and decorative hangings, sometimes hidden or added as little embellishments, sometimes blatant. And in some were huge beasts that looked like a terrifying, primal, mixture of wolf and man. They seemed to have a sense of civilisation about them, wearing armour, sitting in thrones, carrying huge ceremonial weapons. Surely they must be fantasy. And yet there was something frighteningly….alive about them.

Agueda slept restlessly, plagued by dreams of great wolf-like beasts.

------------------

The pattering of bare feet echoed down the long corridoors. Light was streaming in through the tall windows that lined one wall, it being around noon, judging by the position of the sun, but the snow that surrounded the great stone fortress had not melted. The other side was interspersed with large wooden doors, with metal embellishments and ornate locking mechanisms. Many of them, however, were not locked. It was almost as though they'd been designed to keep in some great secret which was now common knowledge... or soon would be.

Agueda tip-toed along, allowing as little of her foot to touch the cold floor in each step. It had been only moments since she had awoken to find herself in a strange bed in an unfamiliar room and found, to her annoyance, that her soaked-through boots had been removed.

Despite the fact that her surroundings were imposing and grand and despite the fact that part of her knew she should be scared, Agueda felt a glimmer of excitement. Yes, she was on unfamiliar territory with no clue as to the nature of the people here and no means of protecting herself, should she need to, and yet there was something very romantic about the whole thing. She had been rescued from horrendous beasts by, what, a knight in shining armour, perhaps. Who knows?

She gave herself a sharp mental kick for thinking so foolishly, but couldn't resist having a look around. It might come in useful if I have to escape, she reasoned, although she had spent much more time staring at beautiful tapestries and great stained-glass windows and sinking her toes into thick fur rugs than searching for emergency exits.

She paused for a moment outside on of the heavy doors, beside which was a small table. A large glass vase held five beautiful purple flowers. Agueda thought they looked a little like lillies, with long elegant stamen and large dark petals, but only three. The foliage was grey-green and very dense, framing the flowers in a dark haze. She went over to inspect them. Agueda had a weakeness for lillies. She ran a finger along the edge of one soft petal.

Behind the flowers was a large portrait; a handsome man with dark hairand a noble face started down at her. There was an inscription behind the flowers in some language she couldn't read, but she moved the flowers aside to get a closer look all the same. At that moment, a door behind her swung open with a loud clunk and, in spinning round, Agueda sent the vase tinkling across the floor. And, of course, the most handsom man in the world stepped out from behind the door.

Kerak smiled, a hint of suprise on his face. "You're up." He closed the door behind him, stepping futher out into the corridor. "I trust you sustained no lasting damage in your little...misadventure?" He made it sound like the world out there was totally divorced from the world inside.

"I see you've found my grandfather's portrait." There was a pause as he noticed the wreckage "And the flowers." He added, with a soft laugh. "I'll have somebody see to the mess." He seemed about to say more, before looking vaguely troubled.

"Oh dear, what am I thinking? I've been prattling on, and I havn't even introduced myself or asked if there's anything I can get you? Is there, by the way? We've got most things here, and I'm sure if we don't have what you like there's a suitable substitute around." Another smile. "My name is Kerak. You must forgive my manners, it's rare to see a new face around here."

''Oh, I... uh, no... I...''

Say something witty

''Ummmm...''

Say something!

''I'm Agueda. I'm sorry about the flowers, Mr Kerak.''

Well, it was a start.

She gathered herself together and made a conscious effort to stop nervously fiddling with her skirt. She even managed a smile.

''I don't seem to be injured, thankyou for asking, although I can't remember very much of last night.''

The cold floor was making her feet sting, but she forced herself not to shift her weight. They'd held eye contact throughout and she felt his hazel gaze pulsing through every nerve. She wasn't going to risk the movement distracting him and causing her to lose this unexpected aphrodisiac.

"Please, just call me Kerak."

The man smiled, seemingly less nervous than her. Appearances arn't everything, however.

"Last night.." He frowned slightly, trailing off. What could he tell her? That she'd stumbled, from who knows where, into the remains of what had once been hell on earth? That she should run away and never come back?

Perhaps it was selfish, but he didn't want her to leave so soon. As Kerak looked into the newcomer's eyes, the moment seemed to stretch out forever. He was just about to say something when the silence was suddenly shattered by a voice from behind him, the speaker addressing him from slightly futher down the corridor.

"Lord Quickfang?"

Lord? Lord Something?

The part of Agueda that had day-dreamed of a handsome Prince charming practically exploded with joy.

Lord Quickfang.

She reluctantly broke eye contact with her noble knight to look over his shoulder at the intruder, so unwelcome in this moment.

Luckily, Kerak also had to look around to see who had interrupted them, and so she had a moment to check her reflection in the glass that covered the portrait.

Lord Kerak Quickfang. Lady Agueda Quickf... Oh, stop it!

"A message from Lord Brangwallt, your Lordship."

Kerak sighed, taking the message and examining it. Although he was turned away from Agueda, his displeasure showed through a tightning of his shoulders and the way he crumpled the paper up. And there was a hint of something else...revulsion, perhaps.

The servant went about cleaning up the mess from earlier, occasionally glancing at Agueda with a mixture of fear and suspicion.

When Kerak, after a moment, turned back to face her there was a smile on his face. A little less of one than earlier, but a smile nonetheless. "How do you feel about something to eat?"

It was only then that Agueda realised she was very hungry.

Dinner with a Lord, eh? Agueda mentally pulled a face at the nosy servant.

''Thankyou,'' she replied to Kerak, with her sweetest smile, ''I haven't eaten since...''

The glow disappeared from her soft green eyes and her face fell as she realised.

''Oh no! The train driver! I'm sorry Sir... Lord Kerak. I left to find help and I... After last night it just went right out of my head. We've got to go back! I mean, I'm sorry Lord Quickfang, but may I go back for him? He's all alone and...''

As she spoke, her hair flicked about her ears in aggitation and she began to hop from one foot to the other to avoid them freezing up completely. The overall effect might have been quite comical, had it not been for the anxiety and guilt slashed across her beautiful face.

"Please, call me Kerak."

Probably unaware he was repeating himself, the man smiled reassuringly. "Of course we'll go back for him. You can't possibly go on your own, though."

He murmured some instructions to the servant, who hurried off. "We can take the horses, it'll be faster that way. Can you ride?"

Privately Kerak was sure the man was already dead, but he didn't say anything. He didn't want to see Agueda anymore upset than she already was.

''Yes, of course'', she said instinctively, not wanting to lose face.

She had been on horse-back before, although she wasn't sure that the mighty yet gentle steed presented to her on their departure was in the same league as the mindless gypsy-pony with three left hooves she'd trekked over Dalevidro Peaks on. Luckily, it seemed to know where it was going and was nice enough to let Agueda know in advance. She seemed to do a pretty good impression of competent riding, and hoped that Kerak wouldn't notice.

The landscape seemed softer than when she had last seen it, as if it had passed through a maddening fever last night. The forests were still there; lifeless yet alive, but they didn't frighten her half as much now that Kerak was riding alongside her.

Kerak's horse snorted softly and shortened its stride as he slowed it to a gentle trot. They seemed to read each other instinctively, Agueda noticed, as if they had been riding together for years. She could almost see him now, a young boy with his new foal. Growing up together. Kerak's first ride. Older now, but his face fresh and youthful. He's excited and keen to learn. The enthusiasm suits his noble face...

Would you just listen to yourself! Here we are on the way to rescue a man who you abandoned in the middle of the desert, filled with terrifying creatures - she shuddered now even at the thought of them - without food or water and all you can think about is this incredibly attractive, charming, noble and altogether unbelievable Lord Quickfang riding beside you.

She studied his face closely and watched his eyes screw up slightly as he scanned the horizon. That same hazel gaze that had captivated her back in the fort. She almost sighed out loud, but stopped herself just in time to disguise it as a cough, and followed his line of sight out into the desert.

''I think I can make out the train in the distance'', she said, ''just there.''

She pointed out to a small box visible in the sand.

Agueda was almost exactly right in her imaginings of the young Kerak and his horse. His father had encouraged the adoption of horses and riding to show that the age of the Werewolves was over. A Werewolf, after all, could never ride a normal horse. His father being the sort of leader he was, he was one of the first to take the saddle and made a point of having his son instructed in the art from an early age.

As he found his mind wandering back to that time, Kerak frowned slightly. The previous night was just the latest in a string of signs that worried him. Signs that maybe the Werewolves weren't ready to fade into the realms of myth and legend quite yet. Signs that they might even be on the increase.

Such thoughts faded from his mind as Agueda's cough caused him to glance over at her. Where had she come from? Who was she, and what was she doing travelling through such a remote, inhospitable place? So captivated was he by the mysterious girl he almost missed her words.

"I see it." He glanced between the distant object and Agueda. He knew what they were likely to find there. "Perhaps I should go and take a look first, make sure it's safe."

''If you think that would be better.'' Agueda shrugged, although she didn't see what the danger could be. Whatever those creatures had been last night, they seemed alien to the landscape that surrounded her now.

The train carriage was much closer now, so she slowed her horse to a walk and let Kerak ride ahead.

''Hurry back'' she whispered, accompanied by a faintly playful smile.

"It would be better." Kerak replied with a troubled tone, spurring his horse on and riding ahead.

Dismounting the horse, he stepped inside the carriage. As expected, it was a scene of bloody devastation. Sighing, the young man shook his head and turned to leave. As he did so, some strange symbols torn into the metal caught his eye, and his fists balled up for a moment.

Returning to Agueda's side, Kerak was lit up by a fire burning behind him where the carriage had been. "I'm afraid there was nobody alive there." He murmured, sparing her the details.

Watching the girl carefully for her reaction, he smiled comfortingly. "Come, let's go home."

Agueda laughed out loud. If the seriousness of the situation had struck her straight away she, of course, would have been horrified. But it was all so strange. They had riden out here to bring the old man back. He wouldn't have eaten in a while but he surely wasn't dead. It was so absurd.

Seeing the look in his eyes made her tremble though. It was so tender, like he was protecting her from something truly horrific.

Her face showed only puzzlement, but her wavering voice betrayed her hidden fears as she said, "I'm sorry... I... I don't understand."

Kerak turned away for a moment, staring into the flames for a moment. "Those things you saw last night." He replied after a long silence, choosing his words csarefully.

"They must have sensed him, known he was here." For a moment his mind went back to the devesation and gore in the carriage. "It would have been very quick." Kerak lied. "He probably never even knew."

Agueda didn't say anything, and the journey back to the fort was a silent one. She knew Kerak was lying when he said it had been painless. She'd seen how those creatures had toyed with her; had hung back and hunted her, rather than going in for a swift kill. She hadn't just been pray to them, she'd been a game. She could only imagine how they must have toyed with the old man, since Kerak had thought it awful enough to torch the carriage. She had left the driver there alone and what had those things done to him?

Her head was still spinning when they sat down to dinner. The hall was grand and impressive, with intricate tapestries and soft throws. The table in the centre was of a dark wood, the legs skillfully carved into figures of dogs and wolves, but Agueda noticed none of these things. She stared at her plate and pushed the food around it with the solid silver fork she held.

She remained silent, her eyes downcast and misty. Neither of them spoke for a long while.