Frostbitten

by Heather Beck

  Love always,

  Anastasia

  Anastasia didn’t hesitate as she positioned the handwritten note on the kitchen table – a location where her grandparents would surely find it when they woke up. She’d truly meant those words, especially for her grandmother; adding her grandfather’s name was a mere nicety since they hadn’t been on good terms for some time now. Nevertheless, she hoped that they wouldn’t be too hurt by her quick departure. She knew that it was very rude, but it was just something that she had to do for her and Frost.

  Her cell phone vibrated, alerting her of an incoming text message. It was from Frost, stating that he was waiting for her at the bottom of the driveway. Anastasia took a deep breath, readjusted her overstuffed backpack and then hurried out of the house, making sure to close the door gently behind her. The feeling was bittersweet.

  Outside the temperature was chilly, but unlike the past few days, it wasn’t unbearable. Anastasia was more than a little grateful for the slightly milder weather because she knew that she’d be facing the elements for the next two days. The thought alone made her shiver, or maybe it was her worsening cold.

  In the early morning darkness, Anastasia made her way toward Frost’s SUV, where she saw his tall, muscular silhouette standing near the passenger side. A mixture of nervousness and excitement instantly rose within her as he greeted her with a quick kiss and then opened the door. When they were both inside, an awkward silence filled the SUV. They were entering a new stage in their relationship, and they knew that everything was about to change.

  “Are you sure this is what you want?” Frost finally broke the silence. “There’s still time to back out.”

  “Just drive, Frost,” Anastasia replied, her mind firmly made up.

  Looking at Anastasia, Frost smiled, revealing teeth so white that it seemed to light up his face. How the hell hadn’t she noticed that before? What she did immediately observe, however, was the change in Frost’s expression as he continued to stare at her – he now appeared very concerned.

  “What?” she asked self-consciously.

  “Do you feel alright?” Frost asked. “You don’t look good and...”

  “I didn’t have time to apply make-up, and I was going to wear my stilettos but I was concerned about practicality.”

  “Anastasia, I’m not going to joke about this. I’m worried about you. Has your cold gotten worse?”

  “No,” Anastasia lied, unwilling to tell Frost about the multiple symptoms which had left her feeling uncomfortable and even a little weak. He’d just insist that she stay home, and that’s not what she wanted. Instead, she quickly changed the topic. “So, what did you tell your parents?”

  “There was a last minute school trip,” Frost answered with a sigh, while starting to drive away. “I’ll have to tell them the truth eventually – well, as much of it as I can.”

  Sensing Frost’s sadness, Anastasia spoke in a reassuring tone. “You know, we will return to Cedar Falls. This werewolf craze will pass, and you’ll find a way to control your transformations.”

  Frost was quiet for a moment, as if thinking about Anastasia’s words. “You’re always optimistic,” he finally commented with admiration. “That’s one of the many reasons why I love you so much.”

  Anastasia couldn’t help but snort. “Me, optimistic? You must be thinking about someone else.”

  “Maybe I see you better than you see yourself.”

  “Or maybe you just make me feel like everything will be okay,” Anastasia answered quickly.

  Frost smirked before muttering, “Maybe.”

  Making a sharp left turn, Frost drove onto a narrow, unmaintained road. Even though he proceeded slowly, the SUV bumped roughly over drifted snow that was now frozen. Minutes later, they reached a dead end. Frost parked there, his SUV partially concealed by branches which hung low due to the amount of snow upon them.

  “It’s now or never,” Frost told Anastasia, his eyes revealing a hint of concern, despite him appearing firm and determined otherwise.

  Anastasia nodded before grabbing her backpack and exiting the SUV. Frost copied her actions, stopping only to retrieve a small sign and place it behind the windshield. After reading the sign, which bore the words, Gone Hunting, Anastasia cast Frost a skeptical look.

  “It’s unlikely that anyone will find our SUV,” Frost explained, “but if they do, consider the sign as insurance. No one will ask questions if they think we’re after the werewolf.”

  Taking her hand, Frost led Anastasia into the woods. Even though she’d been surrounded by trees for the last several weeks, it somehow felt like she’d discovered a new world. The light was dim, and any which way she turned, there were shadows of tall, leaning trees that appeared to guide them deeper into the woods. Even the air was fresher, causing Anastasia to inhale at a slower pace. She was beginning to feel like she was in a fairy tale, and she wanted nothing more than to fall into all its romance and adventure.

  “I feel more at home out here than anywhere else,” Frost said whimsically. “It’s where I belong.”

  “Is that a werewolf thing?” Anastasia asked hesitantly, not wanting to offend Frost despite her desire to know everything about his supernatural secret.

  “Could be,” Frost replied with a nonchalant shrug, “but it’s probably more of a Frost thing. I’m a man first and a werewolf second. It’s always been that way and nothing’s going to change.” He was silent for a moment before adding, “Tell me the truth. Does all of this freak you out? Do I freak you out?”

  “Actually, no,” Anastasia confessed. “Call it shock or denial, if you want, but either way, I’m oddly comforted by the fact that there’s more to life than meets the eye.”

  “You may say that now, but once you see the real me...”

  “I already have,” Anastasia interrupted, stepping in front of Frost so she could look him in the eyes, “and I like everything that I see.”

  Frost gave Anastasia a smile and then quickly kissed her. “You’re one of a kind, Anastasia, and you can trust me on that because I know a thing or two about rarities.”

  To conceal her blushing cheeks, Anastasia looked away and resumed walking. “So, how exactly will this work?” she began to ask. “I assume we’re not just calling out their names – not that we know them in the first place.”

  “Even as a human, I can hear, smell and see things that others can’t. I’ve learned to control the intensity of these senses while in my current state, but when I turn into a werewolf, they take over. It’s like the ultimate rush, as if the world and every little thing around you is suddenly coming to life. These are the senses that will help me find my parents.”

  “It sounds kind of magical,” Anastasia noted aloud.

  “Sometimes it is,” Frost admitted. “Other times it feels like a curse.”

  “There’s still one thing I don’t understand,” Anastasia said. “On the night Chloe was attacked, there was a full moon, but you weren’t a werewolf.”

  “Over the years, I’ve discovered that many of the werewolf myths we know from books and movies are actually true, but unlike popular belief, we’re not slaves to the full moon. It only has power during that first transformation, as if it triggers something inside of you and unleashes the wolf.” Frost sighed before adding, “I wish my transformations really were controlled by the moon. It would make my life a lot easier.”

  Now silent, Anastasia and Frost trekked onwards. As the sun rose higher in the sky, an orange-like glow was cast upon the woods. Unfortunately, this comforting light was soon left behind. Their surroundings had once again darkened due to the trees which had grown taller, fuller and denser. This caused Anastasia to shiver and realize that even fairy tales had sinister moments.

  Abruptly, Frost stopped walking to examine the area. “This is the perfect place,” he concluded, while beginning to undress and place the clothing into his backpack. “The snow is compact and icy because of the lack of sunlight – it’ll be harder for anyone
to track us from here.”

  “Um, Frost, what are you doing?” Anastasia asked, even though she suspected that she already knew the answer.

  “How else did you expect to cover so much ground in so little time?” he asked with a devilish smile, right before wrapping Anastasia in his arms and kissing her with a deep, almost hunger-like desire.

  It didn’t take long for the transformation to commence, followed by a howl that indicated Frost had become a full-fledged werewolf. This process now filled Anastasia with fascination and even excitement. She could only imagine what it was like to shape-shift into a whole other identity – it must feel surreal and very empowering.

  Frost proceeded to lower himself to the ground and then look at Anastasia, as if waiting for her to do something. She stared back at him for several moments, wondering what he expected from her. When Frost let out a small yelp, in a supposed attempt to communicate with her, and tossed his head sideways to glance at his back, Anastasia finally realized what he wanted.

  Slowly, Anastasia approached Frost. He let out another yelp, while twitching his back paw. Hoping that she was reading his body language correctly, Anastasia gently stepped onto Frost’s massive paw. With one swift movement, he lifted her onto his back. The next thing Anastasia knew, he had risen, picked up his backpack in those powerful jaws and was going forward at an incredibly fast pace.

  Anastasia gasped as she watched the woods become nothing more than a dark blur. Her heart thudded within her chest, and she clung onto Frost’s fur until her hands felt numb. Nonetheless, she’d never felt so alive. It was like he wanted to share with her the greatest aspect of being a werewolf, and she couldn’t help but experience a sense of power from being situated so high upon him. Together, Anastasia felt like she and Frost could accomplish anything. They truly were the rulers of the woods.

  After six long hours of running through the woods, with only a few minor breaks in between, Frost came to a stop beside a pile of snow-covered boulders. He then bent down, clearly indicating that Anastasia should get off. She was grateful for the chance to stretch her very stiff legs, and as she did so, she realized that it now felt odd not to be charging through the woods with the cool wind whipping at her partially exposed face. It was like Anastasia had also been a werewolf for the past few hours and was now slowly returning to the human race. She couldn’t fathom how Frost ever adjusted to such a jarring change, especially since it was more than just a feeling for him.

  Expecting Frost to shape-shift back into his human self, Anastasia waited patiently for several moments. However, as he continued to lie on the ground, his heavy panting finally lessening and his stomach growling with hunger, she came to the conclusion that she’d be having lunch with a werewolf today.

  After retrieving their lunches from her backpack, Anastasia sat upon the large but low-lying boulder where Frost was resting. As she leaned against him, appreciating the way his heat penetrated her many layers of clothing, she unwrapped the sandwich and energy bar which she’d brought for him. Hand-feeding Frost, she watched in amazement as he ate both items with only one bite. Anastasia then handed him an apple, before forcing herself to eat even though her cold had left her with little appetite.

  “Are werewolves even supposed to eat this stuff?” Anastasia asked as she reluctantly nibbled at her energy bar. “Shouldn’t you be hunting deer or something?”

  Looking at Frost, Anastasia believed that he understood every word she said. Although she hadn’t spoken to him while they searched for his parents, she’d only done so because she thought that she’d be a distraction. If they were going to find his parents, Anastasia knew that Frost’s complete concentration had to be on his scent and hearing senses.

  Suddenly and almost symbolically, a raven flew overhead, making his way skillfully and speedily around the tree branches which seemed to be sticking out everywhere. The raven let out a single but loud, Caw before disappearing from their sight. As Anastasia watched Frost begin to salivate, she confirmed that a lunch made for a human would definitely not be enough for a werewolf.

  “Go hunt,” Anastasia encouraged him, noting the way his stomach continued to growl. “Please, you need to keep strong.”

  Defiantly, Frost shook his massive head and then stared at Anastasia’s half-finished lunch. For a second, she thought that he was going to eat it, but instead, he used his snout to push it toward her. From the look in his eyes, Anastasia knew that he was strictly telling her to eat.

  While she finished her lunch, Anastasia wondered if his refusal to hunt was because of her. He probably thought it would gross her out and make her see the beast instead of the man. Of course, Anastasia would never actually think that way, but it made her nervous that Frost wasn’t being his true werewolf self.

  Deciding to deal with this issue at a later date, Anastasia focused on a more dire concern and the very reason why they were out here in the first place – had Frost come any closer to finding his parents? Although it was difficult for Anastasia to pinpoint anything while traveling at such a fast pace, it had appeared that the woods were empty. For the most part, Anastasia was happy about that since running into werewolf hunters was a fear she wasn’t even able to express aloud. However, it also made her ponder just how isolated and deep in the woods they really were.

  “What’s the verdict so far?” Anastasia finally asked, nervous to hear the answer. “Did you find any evidence of your parents’ whereabouts?”

  Frost shook his head for the second time that day. From the way his eyes and ears lowered, Anastasia knew that he was very distraught. She wished there was more that she could do to help, but the problem was that she had no idea of how to go about doing such a thing. Although Anastasia hated to admit it, this undertaking was clearly more difficult than she’d originally thought.

  “The day’s not over yet,” Anastasia said, while placing her hand upon Frost’s paw in a comforting manner. It was a sweet and simple gesture, but it was the best that she could do at this moment in time. “There are so many areas where we haven’t looked,” she continued, “and I know we’ll come across them if they’re still in...”

  Anastasia was interrupted as Frost let out a loud sneeze that shook his entire body. Concerned, she studied him, taking particular notice of how he lay limply upon the ground. At first she’d thought he was merely tired due to all that running, but now she worried that it was something more.

  “I hope I haven’t given you my cold,” Anastasia said, right before he sneezed again. “Frost, I think you’ll need to take it easy,” she added quickly, realizing that she would also benefit from more rest.

  In response, Frost got up and encouraged Anastasia to do the same by gently pushing her with his snout. Using their goal as a motivating factor, she stood up, retrieved both their backpacks and then hoisted herself upon Frost. A split second later, they were off once again, speeding through the woods in a desperate search.

  Within only a few minutes, Anastasia could tell that something had changed. It felt like Frost’s balance was slightly off, and even scarier than that, his breathing sounded nasally and somewhat labored. Fearing that she would fall off as his movements became increasingly jerky, Anastasia tightened her grasp on him. She now questioned if they’d actually be able to make it through the remainder of the day.

  CRACK...

  The sound of ice breaking around Anastasia and Frost was so sharp and sudden that it seemed to penetrate into her very soul, ensuring that she wouldn’t soon forget the terrifying noise. Then the next thing Anastasia knew, they were completely submerged in water so cold that it must have been only a degree or two above freezing. As she felt the pressure of the swiftly moving water, a strong panic seized Anastasia, leaving her immobilized. It was this current which dragged them deeper into the dark, unforgiving river.

  Frost fought against the flow of the river, but even with his powerful limbs, he was merely treading water instead of propelling them upwards. Continuously, Anastasia smashed against him
and the relentless current. Her grasp on Frost was quickly weakening, and her lungs ached for air since she’d never had an opportunity to take a deep breath before plunging into the water. With the utmost urgency, Anastasia began kicking her legs and, despite the fact that her attempts were done in vain, she refused to stop trying. However, she knew that the course of the river was too powerful for her, and if Frost couldn’t muster up more strength right now, they would surely be swept under the ice and then drown.

  Please, Frost, Anastasia thought desperately, you have to do this.

  As if somehow gaining strength from Anastasia’s silent plea, Frost kicked harder and faster than he likely thought possible. Slowly, they inched upwards. A few moments later, he broke the surface, allowing them both to take a much needed gasp of air. Not wasting any time, Frost grabbed onto the edge of the broken ice and began ascending from the river. That’s when the familiar sound of cracking ice filled their ears. Forced back into the water, Frost kept reaching for the edge, but every time he tried to pull them out, it would break. Their weight was too much for the ice to withstand, and it looked like there was no way out.

  By now, Anastasia was so cold that her whole body was almost numb. Making the situation worse were her clothing and the backpacks, which had become excessively heavy and were pulling her downwards. The urge to free herself of these items overwhelmed Anastasia, yet she was helpless to do anything about it since she could hardly even move. Her grip on Frost, as well as the fleeting moments when he surfaced in failed attempts to escape, were the only things keeping her alive.

  Although Frost must have also been exhausted, it was apparent that he was far from ready to give up. With a powerful lunge, he surfaced again, but this time he clung onto the ice, continuously moving forward a millisecond before it broke. Frost’s quick movements made it impossible for Anastasia to maintain her grasp on him any longer, and when he finally pulled himself out to relative safety, she wasn’t with him.