By Beka Gremikova
Splashing and laughter drifted to Veya from the hot springs. She peeked over the clump of sunbaked rocks to where her sister Vasilisa treaded water with her two attendants, chatting about the Fox Clan’s latest marriages and births.
Two of the things denied to Veya because she was Peltless.
Vasilisa glanced up. “How do the pelts look, Veya?” she called.
Veya dragged her gaze to the three copper-orange fox furs laid out on the rocks. Fitting her high status, Vasilisa’s was the largest. “You’ve a few dirty spots,” Veya forced out, brushing the bristly hair. “Your Ladyship,” she added hastily when one of the attendants glowered at her.
Vasilisa sighed. “We did trek through lots of mud, but I’m sure you’ll get it clean. It’s seen worse.”
“Peltless make fantastic groomers.” One of the attendants leaned back against the rock wall behind her and closed her eyes as the hot water bubbled.
“Don’t they? Oh! Hurry, though, Veya—the Wolf Clan ladies kick us out in an hour. You know how they get.” Vasilisa yipped in laughter, and her attendants joined in.
The sound stabbed Veya’s ears as she gathered the pelts and hurried away. Without one of her own, she had no rank and could neither shapeshift nor even laugh like a fox, loud and joyful.
She needed a pelt.
And she held a bundle of them in her hands.
She stopped dead in the middle of the path to the cleaning hut. Surely, being family, Veya could meld with her sister’s pelt magic? She could run away, start fresh in another fox clan…
Sudden scuffing made her look up. A large black wolf, eyes solemn and dark, watched her from a few feet away. She recognized the bright orange sash braided around his neck—rather whimsical decoration for a wolf.
Lord Mishak. One of the Wolf Clan’s prime picks for future Alpha. She shrank back to let him pass. Then, dropping the other skins, she darted into the surrounding forest with Vasilisa’s pelt.
If she got caught… She shivered. But she had to do this. The clan had never lent a paw to her when she needed help. This pelt was her ticket to a new life.
After running for half an hour, Veya stopped in a tiny clearing, gathering her breath. Then, trembling, she pulled the fiery pelt around her shoulders. Maybe, just maybe, she could shift…
The magic gnawed at her, pointed and sharp like fox teeth all along her limbs. Every strand of the fur hummed with her sister’s voice, as if embedded with Vasilisa’s imprint: I belong to no one but Lady Vasilisa herself. You’re nothing but a thief!
Veya writhed, chest constricting. Her vision swam into darkness.
She woke to late afternoon sunshine shifting through the treetops. A shadow stirred amongst the trees, and she scrambled to her feet. The pelt lay sprawled across the ground, streaked with dirt.
The shadow solidified into Lord Mishak’s large wolfen form. “You’re the vixen everyone’s searching for.” His voice wasn’t as deep as she’d expected. It lilted a little, like he spent much of his time laughing at a joke no one else cared to hear.
“I’m no vixen.” She gave the pelt a savage kick. “Can’t you tell I’m Peltless? I couldn’t even…” Shame clogged her throat. “I couldn’t even merge with my own sister’s fur!”
Mishak sniffed the discarded skin. “No wonder. Your sister is nobility. Such positions are highly guarded.” He shook his head, rustling his orange sash. “It’s like that in the Wolf Clan, too.”
“What are you talking about?” Of course, her clan hadn’t taught her that vital information. She gritted her teeth at yet another suggestion of her unworthiness.
“Those with high rank in the Wolf Clan are expected to accept alpha positions… whether they want them or not.” Mishak’s ears flattened against his head.
“At least you’ve got rank!” Veya edged towards the trees, but she tripped on a jutting root and fell. Stretching out a paw, Mishak pinned her. Gently.
“Don’t run—yet. I want to understand. I need to decide what to do.” He released her, shifted, and suddenly he wasn’t an alarming black wolf but a brown-skinned young man with long black hair and kind, somber eyes. His brow furrowed. “Why did you steal your sister’s pelt?”
Run! Her instincts screamed. Before they find you and kill you!
But Mishak’s gaze froze her to the spot, gleaming with… invitation. Like he might actually care. He patted the ground beside him.
She knelt on the pine needles, ready to spring away if needed. “Without a pelt, I can’t marry, have kits, or receive any education. I’m… meant to live and die as quickly as possible.”
Mishak’s fingers clenched. “Why?”
She studied the dirt-streaked fox skin. “I suppose foxes still fear the Wolf Clan and want only the strongest to pass along their genes.” Her lashes lowered. “There’s no place for the Peltless in their future.”
“So you stole the pelt to… to join this society?” His tone wasn’t accusatory; he merely tilted his head like a befuddled fox kit.
“I—I guess so?” Heat crept through her. She’d almost left Vasilisa to the same shame she’d been longing to escape.
Veya wrapped her arms around herself, keeling forward. “I need to get away from here,” she whispered. “I don’t know what to do.”
Mishak picked up the crumpled pelt from amongst the pine needles. “I’ll return this for you. And then…” His gaze met hers, and he smiled softly. “Then I’m going to talk to your elders. It’s past time for wolves and foxes to better understand each other—and embrace the Peltless.” He linked his fingers together and cradled them in his lap, bowing his head. “Not having a choice… it’s hard. I want us both to have one.”
She stared at him. “You’d really help us?”
“If you’d like me to.”
Her heart soared. “Yes. Oh, a thousand times, yes.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Oh, so sweet. I like these characters. I hope to see them again in the future.
Thank you so much, Rae! I have a longer novella-length story for them in mind. It’ll include slightly different iterations of these two, but I think you’d enjoy it nonetheless. :-D
Yay! Can’t wait.
well crafted characters, captivating concept…
Thank you very much! 😄
Ohhh, what an intriguing story and world!
I love the idea of the pelts, and Mishak is awesome, and I sooo hope Veya gets a happy ending somehow.
Well done!
Thank you, Abigail! 🧡 I have more planned for these two for sure! (I have a soft spot for Mishak, hehehe.)
MY SHIPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP! *smooshes Veya and Mishak together* NOW LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER!
xD xD
I love this story, Beka! These oranges and reds are so vivid and spicy!
Agreed about that ship!!
What a fun take on shifters! I very much enjoyed this!
Enjoyable. Someone who can’t shift with a “rebel prince” sounds about right.
This one reminded me of some old Japanese fairytales my sister had in a collection… REALLY NEAT!
Yaaaasss, I love this world and these characters so much!!
Oooh I love this world you crafted and would love to see more!! 🦊 🐺😀
Very sweet story, Beka. Loved it as always!