For a long time, both Brigid and Ryder remained silent as the horse, Violet, galloped across the snowpath toward the city of Pinecrest. Brigid took the silence as a time to let her thoughts wander off. Most of her thoughts wandered back to just a few hours ago when he found her. After all, it was somewhat odd to her that the male could find her so quickly. She knew the most notable possibility was that those eagle-eyed healers may have told him when they met. The other healers had always paid far too much attention to her. Yet, somehow she doubted that was the reason. Mainly for the fact that even since his boyhood, he couldn't accurately undertake other people's directions. So,  how had he found her there?

The redhead was brought out of her thoughts by the rumbling earth which roiled underfoot. Violet instantly skidded to a stop as she turned her head from one side to another. Waiting for something to come forward and attack her. But,  nothing did. “What do you think that was?” Brigid questioned after a few seconds, after the ground seeming to settle for the time being.

Ryder slid off of Violet’s back and held his hand out to Brigid. A small reassuring smile came to his features as he helped the woman down. The two of them led the mare over to one of the trees before tying the reins around the trunk. The horse gave a worried look to her master, which was only brushed off with a few reassuring words to the horse. All of which were met with a glare at the back of the male’s head as he turned to walk across the snowpath and farther into the deep forest.

“Why don't we take a look around… that wasn't typical of a Colossi so we should be alright,” the male spoke. Both he and Brigid descended through the forest of fir trees. A low grumble resonated through the area as they walked closer. However, it was pretty clear that whatever was causing the noise wasn't the one that caused the quake moments ago.

Passing through a cluster of snow-rose bushes, Brigid stopped abruptly causing Ryder to accidentally walk into the girl. The male let out a grunt of annoyance as he opened his mouth before noticing the girl's strange stare. His hazel eyes moved to see what had caught her interest. “By the gods!” he whispered.

In the center of the clearing, rested a large white wolf made of what almost looked to be marble. Its body slightly bulkier than that of a natural wolf. Its head, which was a bit too big for the animal’s body, laid upon its large paws as it slept peacefully. “I thought they would be bigger. It has the characteristics of the animal Colossi… apart from its size that is.” The male mused.

Brigid looked to her friend for a moment before grabbing the male's wrist. The pair slowly shambled away from the bushes. Ryder swallowed a lump which had formed in his throat the moment he had realized that they were so close to something that had wiped out nearly a whole group of people. Yet, all the same, Brigid seemed uncaring of such a fact.

“Brigid,” Ryder whispered, attempting to plant his feet into the snow in hopes that it would hinder the healer’s movement. And yet, all it succeeded in doing was causing the girl to tug harder at his wrist and pulled him along easily. “Come now, Brigid. This thing will rip us to shreds.” Still his words had no impact on the woman.

“It’s wounded… look at the blood.” Brigid pointed out, her free hand moving to point towards the beast’s side where something almost unexpected was smeared across its stone body… blood. The bright red substance looking just as if it came from a natural animal. A thin layer of stone which looked more similar to skin covered the small spot. A sign that the animal had been harmed in some way and healed its injuries. “Amazing.” The woman breathed as she wandered even closer.

The beast slowly cracked open its bright blue eyes which were dull and lifeless… “It’s blind…” Ryder mused, a curious glint blazed in his eyes as he walked on his own. Brigid released his hand as she crouched down before the wolf-like being. A whimper was released from the creature’s throat, one which was just as distorted as any other Colossi in existence. “Do you think it's one of their youngsters… he doesn't particularly look like an adult… not fully at least.”

Brigid stuck her hand out to the stone creature. A smile on her face as the creature brought its large head up from its paws.  Sniffing at the appendage before it gave a small tip. The man moved to crouch beside the female, his own hand outreached to the creature. Only it didn't sniff at his hand, but instead it crawled forward just the slightest, nuzzling its nose against his palm. The creature felt as he thought, rough and coarse, as if it was only a piece of carved stone. However, what surprised him was its extraordinarily warm body. Its breath came out in white puffs of air. It was alive, almost more so than the true Colossi which had become the bane to mankind.

The male was shaken from his thoughts as both he and Brigid were sent onto their backsides. Both of them gave a small groan at the sudden impact with the snow which provided little support between them and the ice underneath. The pair staggered to their feet to find the beast now standing, its ears now alert, a growl left its lips as it looked to the east. “Brigid,”  The wolf snapped its attention back to the two. It's features softened as it felt the girl's gaze on its back and the overwhelming worry and slight fear which seemed to emulate from her being.

“We need to go. Now!” This time Ryder grabbed hold of Brigid's arm, dragging the girl with him. The wolf's light footsteps followed after them as they raced back to Violet. They had to get out of the Colossi's sightline. Or simply as far from it as possible. Either option would not be an easy feat to say the least.

Upon reaching the tree where the mare was standing, Brigid untied the horse’s reigns as Ryder got on the horses back. “Alright, let's go.” His hand extended toward the girl for her to grab hold of as he helped her on. With a low whistle he drew the wolf Colossi's attention to himself. “Right, follow us,” He called out to the stone creature as he steered the horse northward. The mare quickly beginning to gallop as she resumed her trip across the snow path. Not waiting for her master to instruct her to do so.

The wolf ran at Violet’s side. A fact which would have amazed Brigid if she wasn't so focused on holding tight to Ryder. The wind stung her eyes as she blearily watched the trees pass them by so quickly that their environment became a haze of white and black. A sickening feeling settled in the girl’s stomach as her heart pounded in her ears. She couldn't even think of a point which made her more scared… She may have been in Oakridge when the Colossi came to attack the settlement. And yet, there were still places that she knew might be safe.  Yet, somehow the thought of being killed in the wilds made her more fearful. If she and Ryder died here, would anyone even look for them or would the people be too fearful? Would they be forgotten?

For a few moments, not a sound was traded between any one of them. The only sounds one could hear being the sound of the horse and wolf running down the snowpath, while the other was the call of the birds as they ascended to the sky in a desperate bid to escape the humanoid Colossi. “What are we going to do? We aren't going to reach Bluebridge before the Colossi finds us.” Ryder grumbled under his breath. The words came out loud enough for Brigid to hear. The female tightened her hold on the male.

As if in response to the male’s remark, the wolf sped up to run in front of Violet. Ryder gave the animal a questioning look before he noticed the animal veered off the path. The man quickly readjusting the reins to have the horse do the same. A happy smile reached his lips as he saw the one thing which many of the elders had once spoke of as a wonderful place to hide from any beast which might try to do you harm. The giant Pine Shelter.

The strange tree’s branches parted to allow them all to hide among the magically protective field generated from the humongous tree. The wolf and horse instinctively slowed just the slightest as they got closer to the tree. The wolf slid to a stop within the confines of the great tree. Ryder and Brigid hopped off of Violet before entering after the statuesque wolf. All of them sat near the center of the tree.  The marbel wolf seeming somewhat calm in comparison to the two humans who looked like a pair of mice hiding from a cat.

Violet laid down at her master’s side. Ryder took in a few deep breaths as he rubbed the animal’s soft pelt. The horse seeming just the slightest bit afraid. And yet, at the same time the valiant steed seemed to hide her true fear behind her calm facade. It almost made Brigid wonder what was wrong with her. She still had fear coursing through her veins, screaming at her to run. That the tree wouldn't protect them and yet, here were two animals who were so unbelievably calm.

Though, the young woman supposed that she was lucky to have the two animals at her side - even Ryder. All three had that rare quality to push their fear away and hide it from all. Most people didn't know how to do such things and so they became beckons to the monstrosities that caused more damage than Mother Nature herself. “Just breath, don't think about this. You aren't here.”

Ryder's words bounced off her skull, a sigh left her lips as she closed her eyes. She could see her mother smiling at her as she patted her shoulder. A thing her mother often did when Brigid was fearful of something. Opening her eyes she noticed that her heart had calmed greatly. Ryder smiled as he saw the fear melt away. The pounding of the earth increased until the white snow outside was replaced with a dark slate. The colossi let out a deep roar as it bent down. It’s face covered by a warrior's helmet, which shrouded most of the upper portion of it's face aside from it's eyes that bore into the tree, attempting to see through any cracks between the branches. Its deep purple eyes glared at them, and yet they held confusion rather than malice. It couldn't see them.

Eventually, the human Colossi left.  Its footsteps ringing through their ears until finally they disappeared with a whoosh.  The marble wolf peeked out from underneath the tree before pulling itself back into the confines of the tree. The animal wagged its stone tail happily. They were clear to leave.

…

The group of people had arrived within the city soon after their little encounter. Both of them breathed a sigh of relief as they found themselves among civilization once more. Though, Brigid quickly noticed the weary looks which were casted their way… mostly to the stone wolf which trotted at their side. Its head hung low as it made sure to stay as close to the pair and their horse.

Their weary gazes made Brigid worried for the creature’s safety as she had a feeling that the still-healing wound on its side was still vulnerable to any of their attacks. The fact made her desperately hope that they would be on their way sooner rather than later.

Violet stopped as a tall woman in a pale green coat and brown trousers stalked over to them. Her leather boots that rose up to her knees tapped against the cold snowy ground as she stopped so close to the animal that she was nearly staring into its eyes. “Do know that you have a lot to explain, brother.”