A Heart for the Wolf: Part One

A young woman gave a confident yet sweet smile. She was a lovely sight; shoulder length raven hair, striking aquamarine eyes, and soft fair skin. She was dressed in slender almond colored pants that were tucked into her steel gray, white fur lined boots that came up to the middle of her calves. Her tunic was ash gray with fine lines of white swirls etched along the cuffs of the sleeves and along the V-shaped neckline. Over it she had buttoned up a black fleece lined vest that fit snugly around her torso.

“I’ll be fine, honestly. You worry too much, Mama.”

“Carmine, you know how I am. I’ll always worry,” Mama spoke sincerely as she gently smoothed down her daughter's hair. “You're my only child. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you.”

Carmine sighed, “I’m nineteen years old. I can handle myself in the woods. It’s only a two day walk to Grandmother’s and I’ll stay at the inn overnight on the way there and back. I have enough money. I’ll be back home by the end of next month. I’ve made the trip to her house many times over the summers; a little snow shouldn’t be a problem for me. You know that Grandmother needs some help.”

Carmine’s mother nodded. “Well, the sun has risen finally so you better get going then, Sweetheart.”

Carmine went to grab a navy blue cloak that was hanging on a coat hook near the front door.

“Wait, you should wear this one,” Carmine’s mother suggested as she brought out a bright red hooded cloak that was folded up near the fireplace.

“Mama, don't you think it's a little… bright? I'll stand out from miles away.”

“If you're going to see your Grandmother, then you really should wear the cloak she made for you,” she insisted.

“I suppose. I'm just not a fan of red, but for Grandmother, I'll make an exception.” Carmine shrugged.

“Good call. You know she’d ask why you weren’t wearing it if you showed up wearing your old blue one.”

She grabbed her slightly bulky knapsack off the floor. The dark tan bag was made of a thick canvas and contained a canteen, a coin pouch, a pack of matches, two changes of clothes, a few honey muffins, and a handful of strips of rabbit jerky.

“I love you, Mama. I’ll be home sooner than you know,” Carmine said as she slipped a pair of mittens into the pack as well.

“Not soon enough,” she spoke softly as she hugged her daughter. Carmine hugged back.

Carmine headed out of the door and towards the vast forest, a single wide trail parting the trees.

“Be safe, Carmine! I love you! And remember, don’t talk to anyone you don’t know! Stay on the trail and keep to yourself! There are dangerous people and creatures out there!” Mama called from the front door.

Carmine turned to smile and wave as she continued into the wooded terrain. “It’s only a day’s walk to the inn, Mama. I’ll be fine! I probably won’t even see a single person until I get there.”

× × × × × × × × × ×

The sun was directly above her, letting her know it was about midday and she had been walking for a few hours now. She stopped to rest and found a dry spot to sit underneath a large evergreen tree. She pulled out a muffin and a canteen from her bag to have a quick snack. The sun was out and it felt wonderful against her soft skin, but she noticed smoke colored clouds were moving in from the West. It was starting to look like it might snow tonight. A gust of wind howled and Carmine pulled her hood over her head. The chill of winter was not something she was fond of, although she enjoyed the beauty of a fresh snowfall and the way the sunlight glimmered across the white blanket of the frozen water crystals.

Warmer weather usually started appearing by now, but Old Man Winter still lingered, as if he wasn't ready to let Spring arrive.

“Hopefully the snow holds off until I reach the inn,” Carmine spoke to herself.

The young woman packed the canteen back into her bag and started off again towards the inn where she would spend the night before finishing the trek to her grandmother’s house. Carmine enjoyed the accompanying sounds of dead leaves and snow crunching under her boots and the wisps of wind through the vast woods.

Occasionally she would hear wings flapping or songs whistled by birds up in the treetops or a soft rustling in the slowly awakening woodland of a rabbit leisurely hopping around, likely looking for something fresh to nibble on. Lifting her hand up to partially shield her eyes, she glanced up at the sky ahead. The sun was a deep, yet vibrant tangerine glow and the surrounding skies were feuding against each other; one side a breathtaking pastel blue, the other a dense gray signaling the oncoming storm. The trees were still barren from the fiercely cold winter, but it was beautiful and serene nonetheless. She felt at peace.

Suddenly she heard the noise of a voice deep in the forest. The sound echoed through the trees and Carmine tried to pinpoint where it came from. For a second she thought maybe she was just hearing things and it was just the wind, but then she heard it again.

“Anyone!”

Carmine located the direction it was coming from. Off to her right, deep into a dark part of the leafless forest. What would someone be doing so far off the path? She stopped in her tracks and pondered what to do. The black haired girl felt a strong desire to help him. So she headed out towards the sound of the scared voice. While her mother had warned her to stay on the path, she couldn’t help but want to offer the person aid.

“Hel-!” shouted the voice again, Carmine unable to hear part of the words as a large gust of wind whistled around her. "-one there?!"

Carmine walked through the trees in search of the person crying for help. She kept journeying farther into the trees and when she looked back, she was unable to see the trail anymore. Not seeing the path made her slightly worried, but she felt assured that she would have no issue finding it again, so she pressed on. Not much later she found a man staggering through a crowded thicket. He was tall and wrapped in a tattered cloak, one of its sleeves completely missing. His pants were torn on the bottom and were wet from the snow. His shoes were dingy and didn't seem proper footwear for the winter.

“Sir! Sir, over here!” Carmine called out. She waved her arms.

The man took notice of Carmine and as he tried to make his way over to her, he tripped on a fallen branch and fell. Carmine rushed over to help him up and as she did, their eyes locked. His piercing eyes were a rich caramel brown, almost golden. His hair was a little shaggy, falling just past the nape of his neck, and stone gray in color like that of an elderly man despite his quite young appearance. Despite the hair color, he looked to be in his late twenties at the oldest and Carmine couldn't help but notice the lean muscles of his chest and arms that were outlined beneath the damp clothing that clung to his body. Carmine was curious at how someone like him would end up in such a situation. He was quite handsome to say the least even though his current attire made him look homeless.

“Oh goodness! Sir, what happened to you?”

“Thank the heavens you are here! I was attacked and I’ve been out here wandering around for two days! I have no idea where I am.”

“Oh my! How awful! Thank goodness you’re alive! Here, let me help you.”

“I’m so hungry. Say, Miss, I don’t suppose you have any food to spare?”

“My name is Carmine and yes, I have plenty to share.” She smiled as she slipped her bag off her shoulder and reached inside to pluck out a couple strips of rabbit jerky.

The man kindly accepted the dried meat from the red cloaked girl and began eating it swiftly.

“Mmm, rabbit. Delicious! Thank you kindly for that Miss Carmine. That was quite generous of you. I am trying to find my way back North. I don’t suppose you know the direction I need to go?”

The bright eyed young woman nodded and tucked part of her hair behind her right ear. “I’m actually traveling North and there’s an inn in that direction as well. You’re welcome to travel with me until we reach the inn and I'm sure someone there can help with getting you to your destination if you need. I have enough coin to pay for an extra meal or two for you if you'd like. By the way, what is your name?”

“My name is Mannaro. Your offer is quite gracious and I gladly accept. It seems you are more than just beautiful on the outside.”

Carmine lowered her face a little as she felt a slight warmth roll across her cheeks. This Mannaro fellow was quite well mannered and almost seemed like he was flirting with her. She felt a light flutter of butterflies in her stomach. His voice was deep, but smooth like silk. He could just ramble random words and she would just enjoy listening to his voice. Everything about him was captivating to her.

“Mannaro? That’s a strange name,” she said quickly. Carmine put her hands up in front of her, waving them back and forth. “Wait! I’m sorry! What I mean is that it's quite a unique name! It seems to fit you well though.”

Mannaro gave a small grin as he pulled the ragged cloak tighter around him. “It’s alright, but we should find the trail and start off towards that inn you mentioned. I crave a filling meal. And a place to sleep that isn't the frozen ground.”

She let out a small chuckle and nodded in agreement as she recalled her steps back towards the path, Mannaro following close behind. Carmine kept her eyes on the ground so as not to lose where her steps were in the snow, Mannaro had his gaze fixated on the young woman.

The pair walked alongside each other and conversed about many topics from her family to the stray dog she had once fixed up that had a broken leg; it still stops by every so often, but never sticks around for more than a couple days. Carmine was enjoying the company. It was nice having someone to talk with, although she did take notice that he didn't actually appear to be injured, at least not from what she could see. He was walking just fine, seemingly in no pain at all, and there were no blood stains on his clothing. She had assumed he was attacked, but she didn’t want to bring it up in case it would be traumatic for him to recall.

They had been walking quite a while and it was getting darker with each mile. The clouds thickened and the wind picked up. A few snowflakes landed on her face just as she took notice of lights from the inn, an amber beacon a short distance away.

“Up ahead, look! We are almost there!” Carmine pointed towards a large building, flickering lanterns illuminating the windows.

They entered the large cabin-like building and Carmine was exhilarated by the warmth inside. All she could think about was a hot bath and a bed. Unfortunately there was only one room left available. Thankfully though, the innkeeper said they would be able to provide an extra cot with the room at no extra expense. Carmine was tired and just wanted to wash up, eat, and go to sleep.

The black haired woman was using a towel to wring water from her hair as she entered the room after her bath, clothed in a new outfit. Mannaro had a fire going in the fireplace. His damp shirt was draped over a chair, revealing a muscular torso with a thin tangle of chest hair that matched the hair on his head.

“I’ll be back shortly. I need to scrub off this filth,” informed Mannaro motioning towards his own body before exiting the room, leaving Carmine alone.

She grabbed a blanket from the end of the bed and sat down on the floor, leaning against it, soaking up the warmth from the fire, listening to the faint pops and crackles of the burning logs. It was a calming sound. She would spend many nights wrapped up in a blanket near the fireplace back home, her nose typically tucked deep into a book or hands wrapped up in yarn.

A knock on the door of the room briefly startled Carmine. The voice on the other side disclosed they were the innkeeper and they had brought the extra cot. She got up off the floor and retrieved the makeshift bed from the innkeeper, thanking them. After setting it up for Mannaro on the opposite side of the room, Carmine sat back down on the floor in front of the crackling fire. Before she knew it, her eyelids were too heavy to keep open. The last thing she heard was Mannaro announcing he had returned to the room as sleep consumed her.