A/N: I just wanted to assure everyone that despite my time gaps between chapters I do intend to finish this story, I promise not to leave you hanging. I will try my best to submit chapters as quickly as possible, but life tends to get in the way of these things:)
I hope you enjoy this chapter!
I DO NOT OWN FROZEN
Anna could feel the warmth of the sun, as a soft breeze gently caressed her fur. Blinking in confusion, she stood to find herself surrounded by a luscious green forest unlike any she had ever seen before. Seeing no one in sight, Anna made her way through the trees searching for any signs of life. Her ears perked to a noise in the distance, and she trotted eagerly towards it. As she approached, she realized that the sound she heard was laughter…children's laughter.
Peeking cautiously from behind a tree, Anna was surprised to see four wolf pups playing in some fallen leaves. One of the pups was a bit smaller in size, not nearly as strong as the others, but was still trying to keep pace with them. Moving slowly closer, Anna could now see that the smaller pup was in fact female, and her playmates were all males. Chasing one another, the pups tussled and play-bit, attempting to pin one another on the ground. Laughing with glee the males leapt easily over a fallen log, running deeper into the forest. Anna was about to follow them when she realized the female pup was still there, trying desperately to jump over the log. Unlike the other pups, her small build prevented her from gaining enough height to make it over, and only managed to scratch uselessly at the surface. To her credit the small pup didn't despair, instead trying again and again to make it over, with a determined expression on her face.
Anna giggled, for the pup reminded her much of herself: stubborn to a fault. Her ears twitched as she heard twigs snapping, crouching she watched as one of the male pups returned. Smiling, the male shook his head at the sight of the female.
"You know you can just go around, right?" he called, trotting over to her.
The female pup frowned stubbornly, "No!" she cried, her voice high pitched, "I can do this too!" Turning back to face the log, the female jumped again, her back legs scrambling desperately against the log.
Chuckling, the male walked up behind her, giving the struggling pup a boost with his muzzle. Landing awkwardly on the other side, the female stood up and glared angrily at the male.
"I could have done that!"
The male smiled warmly, despite the female's cold gaze. "You know there is no shame in asking for help."
"I don't need any help," she muttered.
The male laughed, "Everyone needs help! It's the asking that's hard."
The female opened her mouth to argue, when suddenly the other two males burst through the trees.
"Come on Kyle!" Cried the first one, impatiently, "What's keeping you?"
The pup next to the female, Kyle, turned to face them, "Calm down. I was only helping her out that's all."
The second pup looked at the female with disdain, "why did you bring her along anyway?"
"Yeah!" The first pup joined in, "the runt's just slowing us down!"
"I am not!" the small female argued.
The first pup sneered, "You can't even jump over a log! Only babies can't make a jump that small!"
Hurt, the female's ears drooped as she took a few steps back, her eyes beginning to water.
The second wolf laughed, "Look! She's going to cry like a baby too!"
Anna thought the female was about to flee, when the third wolf, Kyle, suddenly stood protectively in front of her.
"Enough!" he growled, "If you have a problem with her, then you have a problem with me!" From behind him, the little female smiled with relief.
Their smiles faltered, but they stood their ground. "If she wasn't your sister you wouldn't be defending her," said the first wolf, his voice defiant.
Kyle lifted his head, his expression calm, "I don't feel like playing with you guys anymore."
The second wolf rolled his eyes, "Come on! Just because we teased your baby sister a bit, you're just gonna drop us faster than a rotten carcass?"
"Yes," Kyle replied simply.
"Let's go," the first wolf said, turning away, "we don't need him anyway." Without a second glance the pair disappeared into the forest, their bodies melting into the shadows. Relaxing, Kyle turned to face his sister, who was still hiding meekly behind him.
"Are you okay?" He asked softly.
Sniffling, the pup nodded, "yes…thank you."
"What's this?" He cried, acting shocked, "Did my sister just thank me for helping her?"
The pup struggled not to giggle, trying to act natural, "yeah well, don't get used to it 'cause I can still do things on my own."
"There she is!" Kyle exclaimed, his smile widening, "there's the strong, independent wolf I know!"
Chuckling, Kyle moved forward and extended his head to push her gently, "Don't listen to those idiots; they don't know what they're talking about."
The pup nodded, rubbing against her brother's chest lovingly.
"We better head back home," Kyle said as he gazed at the sky, "mother will be waiting."
The pup groaned, "Do we have to? I still want to jump over that log!" Without waiting for a response, the pup ran back to the log and tried jumping over it again, only to fall back down on her rump.
"We really have to go," Kyle called as his sister jumped again, "the log will still be there tomorrow."
The pup pouted as she slowly walked back. Swishing his tail playfully, Kyle broke into a run calling back to his sister from across his shoulder.
"Come on Kira! We're going to miss dinner!"
Surprised, the pup rushed to follow him, "Kyle! Kyle, wait up!"
Anna stood shocked as they disappeared into the distance, all thoughts of pursuit forgotten. Did he say Kira? She thought, could it have been the same Kira she knew? And if so how? Where was she?" Anna shook her head, regretting not having paid better attention to the female pup's scent. Before she could move forward to try to catch their scents, the forest suddenly disappeared; one moment she was standing in a bright forest, and the next moment she was somewhere else entirely. The calm, peaceful forest was nowhere to be found; now Anna was standing precariously close to a cliff side. Peeking over the edge, she was dismayed to find that she couldn't see the bottom. Unlike jumping off the cliff with Kristoff, there was no snow at the bottom to cushion the fall; anyone who fell would surely die.
Hearing tortured cries, Anna spun around, her eyes widening with shock. Before her, lay a barren clearing devoid of any form of life, except for the wolves.
Two packs were pitted against one another in a furious battle, blood soaking the ground as they collided against one another, teeth gleaming in the moonlight. The sound of ripping flesh and breaking bones echoed, as the wolves continued to fight without a sliver of mercy. Panicking, Anna tried desperately to run only to find that she couldn't.
Her legs wouldn't move.
Stuck, Anna could only watch as the wolves violently tore one another apart. Looking closer, she noticed that one pack was only grey, while the other pack was a mix of colors.
It's the Fáolan, she realized, and the Shadow's wolves! But how did they get here? How did I get here!?
Anna's frantic thoughts suddenly stopped, as she felt a strong urge to look to her right. The sounds of the ensuing battle seemed to dim, as Anna focused on the scene occurring a mere few yards from where she stood. Three grey wolves had broken away from the pack and were steadily approaching a line of bushes, where three teenage pups lay cowering in fear.
Paralyzed, Anna could do nothing as the wolves closed in, their eyes gleaming as they smiled wickedly. Suddenly, two wolves collided into the Shadow's minions, placing themselves defensively in front of the pups.
"Don't you touch them!" The first one snarled, her russet fur bristling with anger. The second wolf stayed further back, but bared her teeth in warning.
"Mama!" One of the pups whimpered, her voice oddly familiar.
"Everything will be alright, Kira." The second wolf said softly, not taking her eyes off the grey wolves.
Kira! Anna thought, shocked. It was the same wolf pup she had seen in the forest! Only now she seemed older…
"Leave!" The first wolf ordered, fur still bristling.
The grey wolves only laughed, "Oh, we can't do that," One of them said, stepping forward, "we have our orders." With a gasp Anna realized that the wolf speaking was Malik! He was younger and had less scars, but it was definitely him; she would never forget that voice.
"Have it your way," the russet wolf spat before lunging at them, Kira's mother close behind her. Everything happened so fast that the fight seemed to blur before Anna's eyes: the russet wolf attacking Malik…Kira's mother holding her own against the other two wolves…rolling…snarling…the tearing of flesh…howls of pain…
In what seemed like mere seconds the russet wolf had Malik pinned to the ground, his side bleeding with what Anna knew would become his signature scars.
"I won't tell you again!" the russet wolf growled, "leave! And tell your master that the Fáolan will never be defeated!"
Glancing behind her Malik said, "Are you sure about that?"
Keeping him pinned to the ground, the russet wolf looked behind her. Sometime during the chaos Kira's mother had been pinned down, her eyes filled with pain and anger. Beside them lay the second grey wolf, limp and blood soaked; a feat which Anna assumed was accomplished by Kira's mother.
The russet wolf snarled again, "Release her!"
Malik smiled, "Now why would I do that?"
"Because if you don't," she started, pressing her paw onto his throat, "I won't be so merciful."
"Go ahead!" Malik choked, "kill me! Then watch as your friend joins me in the afterlife!"
The russet wolf paused, clearly conflicted.
"Forget about me!" Kira's mother cried, struggling under the grey wolf's grip, "You know what must be done!"
"Be silent!" The grey wolf spat, before biting fiercely into her flank. Kira's mother screamed in agony, her body trembling violently.
"Mama!" Kira cried, jumping out from the bushes.
"Kira!" Her mother called, spitting blood, "Run! Get away from here!"
"Get off of her!" Kira screamed, lunging at the grey wolf.
The grey wolf howled as Kira bit firmly on his leg, setting him off balance. Stepping off of his prey, he spun rapidly, clamping his jaws across Kira's small throat. She whimpered as he lifted his head, displaying his prize.
"No!" The russet wolf cried, loosening her grip.
Seeing his chance, Malik shot up, shoving the russet wolf roughly to the side. Taken by surprise, the russet wolf rolled uncontrollably and landed precariously close to the cliff's edge.
Chuckling, Malik moved in closer, "You see? You Fáolan may act all high and mighty, but in the end you all have one fatal flaw: your love for one another."
"Love is not a flaw." The russet wolf said, struggling to stand.
Stopping a mere three feet away, Malik stopped, "Really? Because I would say it proved to be a weakness today."
Finally standing the russet wolf answered softly, "You will never understand love; you haven't the capacity for it."
Malik smiled, his teeth gleaming, "Let's see how strong your love is when my companion strangles that foolish pup."
"No!" the russet wolf growled, lunging forward. Still smiling, Malik quickly lowered himself, head-butting the russet wolf in the gut. Thrown back and off balance, the wolf could do nothing as she toppled over the edge. Malik perked his ears, snickering as he heard the resounding thud.
"So much for your love," He stated, turning back to his companion who was still holding a horrified Kira. "Drop her." He ordered, to which the grey wolf opened his mouth, allowing Kira to land painfully on the ground. Looking up, Kira gasped as Malik approached, his muzzle a few inches from hers.
"Don't cry little one, we are doing you a favor. It's better that you learn early on the pain and suffering that exists in this world." He chuckled, "You should be thanking me! I just saved you from years of lies and false hope!" Eyes narrowing, he added, "Now you know there is no defeating our master."
"Should I kill her and the rest?" The grey wolf asked, eyes hopeful.
"No…" Malik answered thoughtfully as he gazed at the scared, huddled trio of pups, his eyes lingering longest on Kira. "They aren't worth killing, besides I want them to remember this day." Smiling, Malik and his companion left, trotting back into the fray of the ensuing battle.
Trembling, Kira dragged herself to her mother's side. "Mama…" she whimpered, "Mama, please wake up…you have to wake up now!" Whimpering, Kira pushed against her mother's side, as if hoping she'd stand, but her mother remained limp.
Anna, still held in place by an unseen force, could do nothing to comfort her friend. Suddenly the scene began to dim, disappearing from sight, but Anna could still hear Kira's mournful howls.
Anna blinked away her tears, wishing that this nightmare would end. Ears twitching, she wondered where she was now. She was standing in darkness, surrounded only by a low gray fog. Moving through the emptiness, she felt the familiar tug again, pulling her onwards. Used to it now, Anna ran towards the feeling stopping abruptly as the tug suddenly ceased. Ahead of her lay a curled wolf form, shoulders rising rapidly up and down.
Surprised, Anna realized that the wolf was crying.
Drawing closer she called out softly, "hey…are you okay?"
Startled, the wolf jumped up, her eyes red and tearful.
"Kira?" Anna said, surprised.
"A…Anna?" Kira replied, startled, "How are you here?"
Walking closer Anna shrugged, "I don't know…where is here anyway?"
"I'm glad you're here." Kira replied, ignoring her question. "I'm glad I'll be able to see you again…one last time."
"One last time?" Anna repeated, shocked, "What are you talking about?"
Shaking her head, Kira's eyes grew distant, "It's almost time now…"
"Kira, what is going on? Where are we?"
But it was as if Kira couldn't hear her, and slowly she began to turn away from her, walking off into the distance.
"Kira!" Anna cried, running after her, "Kira stop! Where are you going?"
"I'm leaving." She replied simply, her eyes staring right through her.
"Kira, this is no time to joke around!" Anna said, panicking, "We have to get back to the pack…we…the Shadow's still out there and we have to stop him!"
Kira shook her head, "That's your job now…I'm afraid I can't help you anymore."
"Wait, what?" Anna's eyes widened in fear, "What do you mean? Of course you can help me! You just have to heal that's all!"
Kira's eyes grew suddenly warm, "I thought you understood…Anna, I'm not going to heal."
"No." Anna said sternly, "Don't talk like that! Of course you are, you—"
"I can feel her calling me back." Kira interrupted calmly.
"Who?" Anna cried, a knot forming in the pit of her stomach.
"Soma." Kira answered smiling, "My time has come." Walking closer, Kira rubbed her muzzle lovingly against Anna's flank, "Goodbye Anna." Without another word she turned and began walking away.
"Kira!" Anna screamed, "Kira! Come back!" But Kira didn't stop, and no matter how fast Anna ran after her she couldn't reach her. Eyes widening, Anna realized that she was about to lose Kira forever.
"NO!" she howled.
As she howled in pain, Anna felt a burst of energy erupt within her and suddenly a bright light burst from her chest, filling her surroundings in a blinding light. Frightened, Anna watched as a tendril of light wrapped itself around Kira like a snake.
Then the light exploded and everything disappeared.
Gasping, Anna lurched backwards, her head whipping around wildly. Only when she realized that she was back in Gael's cave did she begin to calm. Panting, she closed her eyes tightly, why was she plagued by these vivid dreams?
"Anna?"
Anna's head jerked up at the sound of a weak voice, her eyes widened as she saw Kira lifting herself gingerly from her bed of leaves.
Bolting forward, Anna supported her as she began to teeter, "You're okay!" She exclaimed, her eye's tearing, "I was so afraid...I mean…Gael said you were going to…I'm…I'm just happy you're awake!"
"What did you do?" Kira rasped.
"I…I didn't do anything."
Exhausted, Kira sat, falling against Anna for support. "Yes, you did." Slowly lifting her head, Kira's gazed at Anna intently, "I was dying…I could feel it…and then you…you…brought me back."
Anna's creased her eyebrows in confusion, "That's not possible. I just had a dream…"
"It was more than a dream Anna. I felt you…I saw you! Somehow you changed the course of fate, and you pulled me back."
"But," Anna stuttered, shaking her head, "How could I have done something like that?! It's…It's…"
"A miracle," Kira finished.
Falling against her, Kira began to sob onto Anna's fur. Wrapping her head around her, Anna nuzzled Kira's soft fur, sighing in relief. She wasn't sure what happened, but the important thing was that Kira was here, and she was alive.
But in the back of her mind Anna could help but feel troubled by what she had done; somehow she had changed the course of fate, somehow she had cheated death. Whatever power she held, whatever purpose it had, it was more powerful than she could have ever imagined.
And she was not in control.
A/N: Hope you guys like where this is going!