Author's Notes: Whew, long time no see! This is a lil' story that I had planned on making a several paged one-shot to a 20+ page beast. I've decided to break it up into a handful of chapters and will (hopefully) have it finished by the time the last chapter is due up, about two weeks from now.

Warnings: Magic, snobs being snobby, character death and eventual Yaoi lemon.

Other: Chapters, in theory, should be updated once a week 8D

Once, long ago in a far away land, there lived a prosperous kingdom. The weather was fair in the summer and when it grew too cold for crops to grow the people would remain inside, telling stories around the fireplace and whittling crafts. On the coldest day of the year all of the town's people were invited into the castle for a wondrous feast. Its people were happy and animals well-kept, as they were ruled by a fair and just king.

The king, having lost his wife during the birthing of his son, lavished all his love and devotion to the young prince. The boy in turn was horribly spoilt, for he knew that he would be given whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted because of who he was and his stature. The servants of the palace held their tongues during the day but at night, when the town grew silent with sleep, a particularly bitter group complained and developed a plot against the young prince in secrecy.

It was a little known fact that many a league past the outskirts of the kingdom, lived a witch. Three of the group traveled out to meet with the woman, bringing with them dried meats and seeds in offering. She was beautiful; far more so than any other woman they had ever seen and for some time the men stood in awe before her, mission nearly forgotten. It was the leader of the group who spoke first, holding up their offerings.

'Oh wise Witch of the North Forest,' he proclaimed, head bowed in respect as the other two followed suit. 'We come with meager offerings and a request. Please, teach the crown Prince of Destiny humility and respect.'

After several moments of silence the witch, looking at each of the faces in the small group in turn, agreed, gathering their gifts in a woven basket. 'You have traveled quite some distance,' she stated, voice quiet with dream-like serenity. 'I will grant your request, and a place for which to rest your heads for the night. We shall set out at sunrise.'

It was weeks later, when crown Prince Riku was out hunting with a group of the kingdom's best armed guards that he claimed for a break, demanding that they leave him in peace. Dismounting his horse the young male strode to a nearby stream, squatting to splash some water over his face. Really, he thought bitterly. The old fool would leave me locked up on the castle if he knew I wouldn't't sneak away. I never get a moment's peace!

'Beautiful stranger.'

Starting at the sound of the cracked voice Prince Riku jumped, spinning around to face its owner. The boy's features twisted into those of disgust, however, as sea-green eyes set themselves on the wrinkled and wart-covered face of a hunched-over old woman. She was stroking the flank of his white horse, the creature seeming to revel in the attention. 'Forests!'

The woman, pulling her hand away from the beast, started to shuffle her way over to the stream where the prince stood, disgust still apparent on his features. 'Kind sir - your beauty is one to make the heavens weep and earth crumble. Would you be so kind as to spare a slice of bread for an eternity of gratitude?'

The prince, getting his bearings once again stumbled back, thrusting a hand out before himself. 'Stay back, foul being!' he declared, turning up his nose. 'Hideous wench! How dare you bring yourself in my presence! Be gone with you, or I shall have your head set in the fields to scare the crows away!'

The woman's features shifted into a frown, the motion making the lines around her mouth appear even deeper. "Lovely sir, I only wish for a bit of kindness. Surely you've a scrap of cured meat or stale bread to spare to a tired, hungry old woman?"

The crowned prince Riku did, indeed, have some sweet bread packed away in the satchel bound to his horse. He did not wish to share his favorite snack with such an ugly being, however, and turned up his nose. "Surely you have misheard me. I said be gone with you, or I shall have my men drag out before my father from the back of a horse!"

As the words left his mouth there was a blinding flash of light - so bright that the prince cried out and looked away, an arm coming up to protect his face. When he was able to see again in place of the old woman was a beautiful young witch, pale blonde hair straight and falling past her shoulder and earthy dress seeming to glow with the light of its own sun. 'My word,' he gasped, realizing his mistake too late. 'Dear witch, please forgive my rude-'

'Enough!' The slightly dreamy tone held a lit of anger, a hard edge to her voice. 'I wished to see with my own eyes and now I am convinced. You, my prince, are nothing more than a brat with little appreciation to anyone but himself.'

Prince Riku, who had never been spoken to in such a way, balked. 'Now see here! You may have your magic but you have no say over me or what I do! My life is my own and I do not need - nor want - to hear such disrespect directed towards me!'

The witch sighed, shaking her head as she raised her hand. 'It is you, dear prince, who is disrespectful.' Her fingers begun to glow and for once in his life Riku was frightened, knees quivering as he cowered before her. 'I shall curse you. You will become a beautiful yet deadly creature, to be admired and feared as you are now. If you're able to find someone to care whole-heartedly for you, as well as sacrifice something of your own willingly for this being, my curse shall be lifted. Then, and only then, will you be able to return to the life you have now.'

The prince felt a tingling go through him as she finished, starting off as goosebumps before shaking his very core. There was a blinding light, a high-pitched whine and a horrid, all-encompassing pain - more than he'd ever imagined one could feel in his short life. Slowly the pain ebbed away, light fading into something more tolerable. By the time his consciousness returned enough for him to realize this the witch was gone, his horse as well. The forest was eerily quiet, just the low rustle of leaves being blown by the wind.

It was then that the prince realized that he was on the ground, bracing his paws against the soft earth.

…Paws?

Yelping in surprise the former prince hopped up, looking down at himself. His arms - legs? - were coating in thick silvery fur, ending in wide paws which sunk in slightly in the moist soil. With a sharp turn Riku looked down into the stream to find a rather furry face with a long snout and sharp green eyes glaring back at him. /She was - I'm a wolf!/

It was then he heard the sound of the guard's horses drawing closer. /I must tell them what has happened,/ he thought franticly, turning to face the direction of the sound. When the armed men made it through to the small clearing, though, all they saw was a wolf with the prince's clothing scattered around it. There was a collective gasp as the wolf started to trot towards them and the head guard drew his sword, horse rearing. 'The creature has slain the crowned prince! Kill the beast!'

The prince-turned-wolf froze in his tracks, turning tail and running deeper into the woods with the sound of the guards horses and shouts behind him.

Days went by and Riku found himself in a set of woods he didn't recognize, dazed, hungry and hopelessly lost. He hadn't eaten since breakfast several days ago at the palace and his first attempts at hunting turned out to take more effort than what it was worth. Upon trying some berries at a bush he'd come upon Riku found himself ill for most of the day, laying and whimpering helplessly in the shade of its leaves.

Tired. Though drained Riku knew that if he stopped walking he wouldn't find the strength to get up again, instead pushing himself forward. /There - there must be a town somewhere./ Coming upon a thick patch of grass he continued through it, swaying with each step. /I can sneak into one of the houses an-/

His thoughts were cut off when razor-sharp pain shot through him, pulling a loud cry from the wolf. Falling over he whipped his head around to find that he had walked right into a bear trap, the metal teeth of it cutting straight to the bone. Whimpering pathetically at his injured leg the former prince's pain and hunger grew, pulling his spinning mind into unconsciousness.

Sora sighed as he disarmed another trap, turning the thick walking-stick to pry it off. "I swear, you'd think there was a hoard of bears out here the way those hunters go at it," he grumbled to himself, tossing the closed trap aside. It was something that kept not only his feet happy but other earth-dwelling creatures as well - there were deer, foxes, wolves and other animals who could stumble into one of them and the results weren't pretty.

Pack filled with herbs and an abandoned hive he'd come across in the start of his walk the brunet male made his ways through the woods surrounding his cottage, taking care to watch where he stepped and searching for the gleam of metal through any clumps of leaves. He lived alone, father having died after joining a war long-past and mother taken by an illness a few years after him. Though lonely he had learned how to take care of himself and his mother at quite a young age, tending to the garden and catching game easily from years of practice.

After carefully poking the shrubs before him with his stick and deeming it safe Sora pushed his way through, blue eyes going wide and a low 'Oh!' of surprise leaving his lips. A few meters from where he'd come lay the massive form of a wolf, its large back facing him. Hand moving quickly to his dagger Sora hesitated, waiting to be detected.

/Huh?/ Even if the beast were resting the wind was at Sora's back, so surely…

Considering for a moment Sora kept the dagger out, taking a careful step forward. "Hey," he called out, waiting for a reaction. There was none. /Could it be sleeping? But wolves don't just pass out right in the open, not alone./

Feeling far more curious than he probably should have Sora made his way around the large creature, moving to circle its feet to see before with still some distance between them. As soon as he caught sight of the blood-soaked leaves and coat the teen gasped, quickly sheathing his weapon and darting forward. The creature was clearly unconscious, if not dead, its leg caught in one of the traps that the brunet had yet to set off.

"Damn those hunters," Sora spat, eyes worriedly going over the death grip the metal teeth of the trap held. Being as close as he was found the creature to be longer than him stretched out and a part of him whispered that it would sooner have him as a snack before leaving him be.

"No creature deserves to left bleeding in the forest to starve," he told himself firmly, setting to work jamming his walking stick in the trap to pry open enough to ease the injured leg out. /The thing looks like its been having a hard time out here, anyway,/ he thought to himself, tossing the bloodied trap aside and setting about cleaning and wrapping up the injury. /Besides, maybe once its on its feet again it- he,/ Sora noted with a quick glance. /Will decide to stick around without chewing off my face first./

Mind made up the lonely boy made use of the broad leaves and long, solid branches and curling vines in the area, fashioning a cot for which to roll the still unconscious creature onto and grabbing the ends to drag back to his home.

It was the feel of delicious warmth that reached Riku first, darkness pressing against all sides. /I must have died,/ he thought somberly, waiting for the angels (or demons, if what the witch indicated were true) to greet him. What did greet him was the crackle, pop! of burning wood and a half-dozen smells assaulting his nose all at once. Realizing that the darkness was due to his closed eyes Riku forced them open, blinking several times to clear what he could of the grogginess.

He was on the ground on someone's hand-woven carpet, the cloth doing a bit at keeping him comfortable. There was a fire burning merrily in a fireplace a little ways away, a cauldron set over it and steam rising from it steadily. Lifting his head Riku saw that a blanket also covered his body, injured leg peeking out with some kind of dark cloth tied around it.

Looking about the rest of the room proved it to be simple home, at best. A bed was just a little ways off to the side of the fireplace, dresser and stand on the other side of that. There was a table with a mostly used candle set upon it as well as a quill, ink and worn-looking book all set up opposite of the bed, chair pushed into it. The bit of light he could see from underneath the closed door, along with the distant quieting of birds told him that it was nearing dusk, creatures of all kinds settling in for the night.

The door was pushed open then and Riku was greeted with the sight of a pair of cloth-covered feet, the body of a boar blocking the rest of the figure. /So this is the one who saved me, hm?/ Watching warily as a leg rose to kick the door closed Riku laid quietly as the figure walked towards the fireplace, dropping the boar before it before turning to the wolf. Bright blue eyes and a messy mop of brown hair met his inquisitive gaze, other male nearly jumping in shock.

"Gah! Y-you're awake!" Had the former prince the ability to he would have rolled his eyes. Instead he stared at the male, studying who appeared to be a child with sharp green orbs as he shifted and knelt slowly, carefully. "Sorry boy, I should have been paying attention," the other said in a quieter tone, smiling hesitantly. "I'm not going to hurt you so - please don't eat me?"

The wolf seemed to snort at his words and Sora was eased somewhat by the lack of growling, snapping or lunging. "I'm Sora, by the way," he offered with an easier smile. "And you're probably hungry! I'm not sure if sick wolves like cooked food or not so if you give me a minute I'll have something whipped up for you."

With that Sora rose to his feet, moving to the area behind where Riku lay. Upon turning his head the former prince watched as the other set to work, going through cupboard that Riku hadn't noticed in his first look around and getting bowls and a large wooden soup spoon. Dipping the spoon into a bucket set on the counter the boy poured clear liquid into one of the bowls before moving towards the wolf, hesitating just a moment before kneeling a few feet away and pushing the bowl close enough for Riku to reach. Water. Were he not half-staved and woozy with illness the silver coated creature might have had reservations about going face-first into a bowl. He wasn't, though, and ignored the light chuckle from his brunet savior as well as the footsteps heading towards the fire as he drank deeply.

Sora moved to stand before the cauldron, scooping up a large spoonful of the soup in the larger of the two bowls he had left, not hesitating this time at moving towards the large wolf and set the bowl before him. "It should be good to eat right now," he encouraged as the wolf picked his head up, sniffing at the bowl. "A bit warm but not too hot."

That was all the encouragement that was apparently needed as, after a delicate lap with a wide tongue, the wolf set to devouring the dish, bits of liquid splashing around the bowl as strong jaws found a chunk of pheasant to chomp down on. Watching in quiet amusement Sora waited until the bowl was empty (mere moments, really) and green orbs looked up in what seemed to be a demand for more before taking the bowl back with a chuckle. "Alright, alright - guess I'll be cooking for two from now on."

It took three more bowls of the soup and another half bowl of water before Sora was able to eat for himself, sitting down at the wolf's feet as he had his supper at a more dignified pace. Finishing his own food and drink Sora brought clean cloths, fresh water and herbs to check on the injured wolf's leg, wary once again. "I have to tend to your injury," he told the wolf as he drew the blanket back, upsetting the creature from its post-dinner dozing to glare at him. "If it gets infected I have no way of helping you." He knew that none of the town healers would go out of their way to help such a creature, even as beautiful as this one.

After a long bout of staring the wolf turned his head away, laying the large muzzle back down between his paws as he had been doing before Sora disturbed him. Taking his being ignored as a good sign Sora slowly set about unwrapping and re-dressing the wounds, head snapping up at every flinch and relaxing each time he wasn't met with gleaming teeth.

There wasn't much to do afterwards; Sora made his way out to the downhill stream to replenish the water he'd used as well as wash his dishes, needing to take two trips for the cauldron. He had brought some firewood in but didn't add any to the fireplace, the flames quietly licking at the last bits of wood left as he set himself before the wolf. "We'll have the boar for a roast tomorrow for lunch and the last of tonight's dinner for breakfast," he said, meaning the pail of soup leftover from the pot he'd made. "We had some potatoes from the garden in tonight's dinner but I think the cabbage will do better for tomorrow - oh! And carrots! With some herbs from the forest."

Though he doubted that the wolf understood (or cared in the slightest) his ramblings Sora felt the urge to talk to someone - anyone. Apparently the urge wasn't against creatures of the earth. Those intelligent green eyes were fixed on him, though, and that was enough to give Sora at least the illusion of companionship.

"Well, you've had quite the day and it's getting late - I should probably let you get some rest."

Rising from his position Sora made sure not to kick over the refilled bowl of water, checking to make sure that his charge was covered before making his way over to his small mattress. Stripping out of his day ware and into a pair of plain cotton nightclothes Sora crawled under the covers, turning towards the cabin to watch the play of dying embers on the silver-crowned head.

"Goodnight boy," the brunet called out softly, cheek pressed against his pheasant-feather stuffed pillow. It was some time before the soft sound of snoring reached the wolf's ears, boy's features relaxed in slumber.

Watching the brunet sleep for some time Riku slowly laid his head down, leg mostly numb due to the medical herbs. /It seems there are those willing to help a creature in need,/ he mused, closing his eyes. /I suppose staying until I am well enough to travel will do./

After their first night together, the pair fell into a sort of pattern. Sora would rise with the sun, yawning and stretching before looking more awake than Riku had ever been when he'd lived in the palace (and there he had been able to sleep in until way after sunrise).

"Good morning!" The greeting would be met with a huff, Sora laughing at that as he moved to wash up. "Yeah, yeah, I know. I didn't think wolves slept in."

Setting the bucket of whatever leftovers they had on a hook so that it was held upright in the heated water of the cauldron Sora would get changed, do some stretches and putter about, chatting all the while. In turn Riku's gaze would follow the young male (he learnt that Sora was only just younger than he, a few years past adulthood) as he went on with his day, listening quietly to the cheery brunet.

After breakfast Sora would unwrap, clean, medicate, then re-wrap the injured leg. "You're making great progress!" The brunet would say, looking pleased with the way it was healing. "Which is good! We get along well enough now but I don't think you'd like me very much if I had to cut off your gangrene leg."

The day would usually be spent out in the garden or woods, depending on what was needed. When Sora was keeping close to the single-room home he would leave the door open and Riku would make his way out, both to relieve himself and find a comfortable patch of grass to lay on and watch the brunet curiously. Sora was more than happy for the company; chattering away while the wolf went between watching him and dozing.

"You know, food would come a lot quicker if you would eat it raw," Sora commented nearly a week later as he dished out some lunch. He had tried offering a piece of uncooked boar to the wolf when he had first stumbled upon the silvery beast and quickly found that the wolf had no interest in it. Riku snorted in return, gaze fixed on the large bowl. "Yeah, yeah. Here's your food, Your Highness."

Sharp green eyes snapped over to the brunet at the words, long body going still in shock. Even the absently-flicking tail went ridged. Sora didn't notice.

"Really, you're worse than a house pet," the brunet continued, moving to dish a smaller bowl for himself. "You won't lay on the wood floor. You won't eat raw meat. I bet if your leg was not paining you so, you would kick me out of my bed to claim it for yourself."

Bowl in tow Sora moved to sit across from the wolf, sitting cross-legged on the ground. The intelligent eyes of the large creature seemed to study him for a moment before the wolf blew out a huff of air, turning to his own meal.

"You know," the blue-eyed male said after a few moments. "I should give you a name. Something aside from 'hey, you' or 'boy' or 'leech.' Though Leech might be a good one for now." When a green eye set in a glare at him Sora laughed, holding up his spoon-holding hand in defense. "Alright, alright! Real names. Let's see - Gray?"

The large wolf ignored the brunet, continuing to eat his dish. Taking that as a 'no' Sora ate as he thought, eyes on the other thoughtfully.

"Lightening? Thunderbolt? Streak? Spike?" A pause. "Mr. Fluffy?"

/He can't be serious,/ Riku thought incredulously, refusing to acknowledge any of the pathetic attempts of naming him. By the time he had finished his bowl the brunet had gone through nearly two dozen names, all variations that children would give their dog.

Lowering his head to the side of his dish Riku nudged the empty bowl over to the still pondering boy, giving him a pointed look for more. "Oh, His Royal Highness would like some more?" Though Sora's own bowl was pretty much untouched he set his aside, rising with the larger, empty bowl to refill.

"It seems I've been going about this whole naming thing the wrong way," Sora said as he scooped in meat and vegetables, adding more broth afterwards. The refilled dish was set before the silver wolf again and Sora plopped down, not bothering to take up his own bowl quite yet. "You're far too snobby to carry a name like Fuzzy Lumpkins."

/Amen,/ Riku thought, taking a careful bite. He found turning his head to the side when the food was high enough to do so was the best way of keeping his muzzle clean. Otherwise he would scoop most of the food with his lower jaw, quickly cleaning off any spillage afterwards.

Sora observed his eating for a moment before taking up his own bowl and eating some more of the lukewarm stew. "I should have been thinking bigger. How about King Asolot?"

/Getting warmer./ Though Riku was rather fond of his uncle from Dorian the former prince did not wish to carry his name. Sora continued to pick names, going from kings with alliance with their kingdom to those of the enemy. The brunet even started picking the names of past kings and even dukes and nobles that he could remember, all to no avail.

"Duke Wellington? King Nymor? Er - Queen Anela?" A low growl was Sora's answer at that and the brunet sighed, bowl half eaten and cold. "I know, male names. Prince Riku?"

Head snapping up from where he had been resting Riku fixed his gaze on Sora, wolf features unable to display the shock vibrating in his bones. When the brunet had gone through many of his living relatives and started going through his ancestors Riku hadn't expected his own to be called. Hearing it after so long was like music to his ears.

"Is that a no?" The green eyes always appeared to be glaring and the body language Sora was reading showed as tense. "Alright, not Riku then. Ho- GAH!"

In the half second it took for him to end the first sentence and start a new line of questioning the wolf was up, nearly pressing his nose against Sora's with the sudden jerk forward. The brunet fell back in reflex, blue eyes wide in surprise. "W-what?"

The large silver wolf couldn't respond, intense green eyes fixed on wide blue. Sora swallowed, trying to calm his heart from its frantic beating and willing his body to calm down while the fleeting wish for his dagger drifted through his mind. "Riku? Is that it? You want to be Prince Riku?"

The large creature sat back at that, gaze still fixed on the brunet as his had tilted slightly to the side. Mentally Riku was praying that the boy would -get- it; he could smell the undertone of fear in Sora though it was slowly ebbing away and Riku kept his jaw firmly set together, his tail swishing against the hand-woven carpet.

Sora slowly sat up, scooting back so as not to go nose to nose with the impressive creature. "Prince Riku, huh?" Sora watched as the wolf shifted, nursing the injured leg with his gaze still set firmly on him. "Riku it is, then. Though we couldn't let word of this get to the castle - I'm sure the prince would have my head for such."

Assured that the brunet would be keeping his name Riku carefully shifted back, laying down on the carpet as he had been, eyes shutting. /Behead a boy, for using my name for a pet?/ Brows twitching in a mockery of a frown Riku didn't stir when he felt the other move near him, footsteps padding away shortly after. /That is quite likely, actually./

The thought was… disturbing. That someone would demand the head of another for using their name - heck, that he -knew- he would, had he been his old self - made an indescribable feeling curl up in his gut.

"I'm going to get some wood, Riku," Sora said, the wolf's ears twitching toward the sound of his voice and sharp eyes sliding open. "Back in a bit."

Watching the other leave Riku stared after the closed door for a while before closing his eyes again. /The chill is setting in,/ he thought, unnoticing of the fur-thick tail flicking absently. /Winter is nearly upon us./

/You were a cruel one,/ his subconscious whispered. /Never giving thought to those around you. What would have happened, had you stumbled upon an injured wolf?/

Riku was grimly sure of the fate of the creature; he had no respect for anyone and barely any for his own father so why would he take some mangy beast under his wing?

Left alone with his thoughts Riku reflected on his life and way he treated the people around him, as well as the way he was treated in turn. How many had suffered due to his selfishness?

When Sora returned some time later with arms laden with firewood the great wolf was in much the same position he was in when the brunet left, head resting between his paws with his eyes closed. Taking it as the creature being asleep Sora set the supplies down, locking up behind him and going about his duties as quietly as possible. Little did he know of the turmoil brewing in the injured animal resting on his floor.