She must have blacked out for a moment, because the next thing Rosemary knew, her master was lifting her and asking if she was okay. Her whole body hurt, and she could barely move. One rib was definitely cracked, and she was pretty sure her arm was broken. "M-ma..s..ter... I'm sor....ry..." She managed to whimper, though her voice was barely audible. How could she have failed so completely? Even the wolf in her was shamed, cowering in a corner of her mind.

Mace held her close to him in a protective manner as he softly stroked her cheek. "Shh as long as you are ok. I have to get you to water..." He looked into her eyes as he hung his head closing his eyes. He open his eyes as he held her with one arm against him as his other just above her body. A white aura came from his hand as it engulfed Rosemary healing her causing a brief sensation of intense pain as it healed her. Once he was done he fell forward still holding her using his energy healing her wounds. He looked to her and smiled softly. "You should be fine now. I however need to rest. We have meat and are safe for now. I am sorry for failing you Rose..." He said as he closed his eyes trying to stay awake very tired. "I...just thought your wolf would have took over fully and you would have changed or it would have guided you. I thought you would have known better. I am sorry."

Rosemary opened her mouth in a silent scream as her master's healing powers went to work. It hurt, more than she could describe, but when it was finally over she was relieved. She could hear her master's voice, and she struggled to focus on his words. He was apologizing. She shook her head, weakly. "No, master. Please don't apologize to me. I'm the one who failed. I really thought I was ready. The wolf told me I was ready. I should have known my own limits." She said, guilt washing over her. She didn't want her master to feel responsible for her failure! "Please rest now, master. Don't worry over me, I'm only a slave. It is more important that you are well. And do not be sorry, you did nothing wrong. This failure was my own."

Mace shifted his eyes to her as he felt hurt hearing those words from her. "Rosemary.." He said in a weak voice. "It is my job to protect you. I..am..sorry no one has ever did so before....So I am at fault because...I feared you would not know to stop...and I am sorry because I am to weak now to protect you. " He said as he tried to keep his eyes open. He gently reached out to her softly stroking her lovingly as he smiled seeing her alright. His eyes closed as he fell into a deep slumber. It would take three days of sleep to replace the energy he had lost healing her with out the help of the water and the water spirits.

Rosemary opened her mouth to protest, then closed it again. She was at a loss for words, and tears filled her vision as she tried to understand. He was supposed to protect her? But that's not how it worked. Masters didn't protect their slaves. Why was he sorry that no one had ever protected her? Why did he care? But something deep inside of her, some natural human instinct left over from infancy perhaps, told her that he was right. Somewhere along the line, someone was supposed to have taken care of her. That person, whomever it was, failed in their duty, and that was why she was a slave. Seeing that her master had fallen into a deep sleep, Rosemary began to worry. This sleep looked a lot like death. Casting around for an idea, she remembered the tiny water spirits. She was still wary of them, but perhaps they could help. "I'll be back, master. I promise I'll come back soon." She said, and ran towards the scent of water. She soon reached the river where her master had healed her, and she looked around. "Hello? Water spirits? Please I need your help! Master is hurt!" She called, hoping for the little creatures to respond. Biting her lip, she decided to bring water back to him. It couldn't hurt. So she found some thick moss and dipped it in the river, letting it soak up the water before carrying it quickly back to her master. Kneeling beside him, she took a strip of dripping moss and laid it over his forehead. She took another strip and used it to trickle some water into his mouth. The rest she saved just in case.

The water spirit appeared out of the moss as it looked up at Rosemary. It smiled at her as it looked down at Mace. It gently glowed as the glow vanished the spirit bowed to Rosemary. A crystal necklace appeared in Rosemary's hand in the shape of a rain drop. The water spirit bowed and vanished.

Mace slowly open his eyes. He smiled seeing her happy she was ok. "The water spirit liked you. He gave you his blessing. The water spirits will be forced to protect you now." He said as he gently sat up and caressed her face softly. "Please forgive me mace. I hope that you can. Have you ate?" He said hoping she was ok. He gently nuzzled his nose with hers. Talking with her wolf as he let out a low growl in a puppy tone asking for forgiveness.

Rosemary let out a little "eep!" as the water spirit appeared from the moss. When it smiled, though, she smiled back. It gave her a necklace, and then her master woke up. "Master, you're okay! I...I don't want to force the spirits. That's not right." She said hesitantly. She looked up. "Oh, please don't apologize. Master did nothing wrong. No, I haven't eaten yet. I had to make sure Master was okay first." She told him. She blushed as his face came close to hers, and when he growled her wolf whimpered. She could picture a shadowy figure kneeling, rolling over on it's back. A gesture of submission. Her wolf was begging forgiveness right back.

He smiled as his nose gently nuzzled her letting the wolf inside of her know he accepted her apology. He gently wrapped his arms around her and just held her for a moment. He then let her go as he looked at the dead bear. "We should eat." He said as he got up and found it weird to be in his human form. This was not his favorite form.

Rosemary nodded. "Okay. What does bear taste like, master?" She asked, following him.

((ARGH SHORT POST!!!!!!! Wolfie is so sorry!!))

He said nothing as he gathered the shreds of bear that was left. He sat down after dividing them into two piles and began to eat. He didn't wait to cook it with fire or to even season it. He started with one piece and just ripped into it. He closed his eyes as he returned to his wolf form enjoying the meat. He finally stopped eating once he was done and looked to see where Rosemary was and if she was eating.

Taking her cue from her master, Rosemary went to sit down and started eating. Though some small part of her thought raw meat was disgusting, she soon got over it as she tore into her pile. By the time she finished, she looked up to see her master watching her, and she blushed. "I apologize for my horrible manners, master." She said.

Mace tried not to laugh as he feel over laughing. "Your manners are fine. But we have a long journey ahead. We have to get to my home and you need to learn to control. " He said as he slowly stood up on all fours as he looked at her . "We should find somewhere to sleep unless you are ready to change tonight." He said as he looked at her.

Rosemary blushed brightly as her master laughed, but said nothing until he mentioned resting. That was right, that night was the full moon. Her first transformation would take place within a few hours. "I don't know...I think I'm ready, but I'm a little scared...m-my last master was always in pain when he changed, so I know it will hurt..." She said meekly. "B-but, if master stays with me, I'm sure I can handle it."

((Hi it's me Wolfie! I'm just using my main until the event is over ^-^))

Mace gave a nod of his head as he stared at her. "I will always be here for you." He said meaning it as he could see the worry in her face. "Just try to find the balance between you and the wolf." He said giving her a softly warning. He gently kissed her forehead and nuzzled her softly trying to comfort her. He wasn't sure how to help her right now. "I promise to stay beside you. But if I have to hurt you to stop you from hurting someone I will know that." He said as he nuzzled her softly.

Rosemary nodded, taking comfort from her master's words. "Thank you, master. Please do not let me hurt anyone. I don't want to." She said, trusting that he would keep his word on that. She yawned, and closed her eyes. "May I sleep for now, master? Will you wake me before the moon rises?"

((Phoneix: Lady Chello: If you're up for it, shall we continue?))

Mace just smiled at her. "Of course you can. Sleep my sweet Rosemary." He said as he watched her. He pulled her to him as he wrapped his tale alone her body trying to from his body around her. He hopped that his fur would be enough to keep her warm as she slept. He knew she was about to go threw something horrible. There was nothing he could do even with his power. There where things that made even guardians feel powerless. He felt the pain again of losing Snow and the others. He was powerless then. But his beautiful snow had gave her life to protect the others from a enraged immortal. He wasn't sure if he could handle losing another. Rosemary made him forget about his pain. She gave him a purpose again. He prayed that she would be safe and make it through. He couldn't lose her.

Yawning, Rosemary snuggled close to her master, enjoying the warmth of his fur. She was slowly becoming accustomed to the feeling that enveloped her when he was near. It took her some time to place the feeling, but just as she drifted off into a comfortable sleep, she finally recognized it. The feeling was safety. Being close to her new master made her feel safe, for the first time since she had become a slave.

Mace kept guard as she slept. He was happy to see her sleeping. He looked around as he saw some of the spirits coming out. They kept their distance just more curious than anything. Each one wanted to see who he guarded. After a while the spirits went away seeing that he wasn't going to let them see. He hopped that she would sleep and wouldn't wake from pain. He knew that once she did change, it wouldn't hurt near as bad. The first time was always the worst.

Rosemary's sleep, much like the night before, was disrupted by periods of pain and semi-transformation. The difference was that these spells were much stronger this time around, and lasted longer. She managed to sleep for a couple of hours, until dusk started to fall. As the forest descended into twilight, Rosemary woke with a gasp, sweating and frightened. In her mind, the presence of the wolf loomed greater than before, threatening to overpower her. "M-master?"

Mace kept guard as she slept. He nuzzled her letting her know he was still there. He could tell it was going to be a long night for he. The periods where getting longer and longer, it wouldn't be long before she truly transformed. He had started to relax as the night turned to Dusk. His ears stood on end as he heard her gasp waking frighten. "Yes, I am here." He said gently nuzzling her. He could see from her eyes she was fighting with the wolf now. " Don't be afraid of the wolf. You both have to become one or you will always fight one another. The wolf needs you as much as you need the wolf. If you turn and don't accept the wolf, the wolf will win and take control. I can not promise a happy ending. You are the wolf Rosemary. You must take ownership of your other half and make yourself one. That is something I can't do for you, nor can any other person. All I can do is try to protect you, and guide you. In the end when you transform it is your choice. " He said knowing that wasn't what she would like to hear. However he couldn't spare her a lie she needed to know the truth. If she didn't like the wolf taking over then she needed to tame it. The best way to tame anything was with love that he had learned first hand.

Rosemary stayed silent as she listened to her master speak. His words made sense, and she knew that he was more experienced than she could ever be, so he would know. But it was so difficult to accept, almost impossible to bow to the fact that she had to give control over to a beast inside of her. After several moments of thinking, she nodded. "I understand, master. I think I can do as you say. After all, I am a slave...my very existence is defined by giving control of myself to someone else. At least in this matter, if all goes well, I will have some control." She said, though she was still shaking slightly. "The moon will rise in a moment. When it's light touches me, the wolf will take control...and I will allow it. Will master promise to stay with me?"

Mace gave a nod as he looked to her. " You don't have to lose yourself. Accept it is all you have to do." He said as he hopped she would be ok. "I promise I will stay here." He said meaning it as he gently nuzzled her. She was brave rather she knew it or not. Not many people would be so wiling to give them selves over. "You are brave you know that." He said hoping to give her some comfort. He wasn't sure there was much he could do for her. He just sat there as he stared at her. "You are stronger than you give yourself. " He said as he stared into her enchanting eyes. "I will be here for you always."

Rosemary looked up trustingly into her master's eyes and nodded. "Thank you, master." She said, and she meant it more than anything ever. No one had ever made her feel strong before, or safe the way he had. She felt the moonlight approaching, and closed her eyes, ready for it. The cool silvery light on her skin felt strange, almost like the lightest silk running over her. Slowly, she stood up and stepped back fully into the moonlight, eyes still closed. Suddenly, a feeling like molten lava running through her veins overtook her, causing her to gasp in pain. Waves of goosebumps broke out over her skin, followed by a cold sweat. In her mind, the wolf surged forward, impatient to be set free. With a shudder, Rosemary let go of her body. Her eyes snapped open, glowing bright blood red, and inky black fur erupted from her skin. Her form hunched, arms lengthening and legs shortening, face contorting into a snout as her teeth sharpened into inch-long fangs. Her hands turned to paws, and her nails became long, razor edged claws. A tail grew from the end of her spine, lashing back and forth. The transformation, though clearly painful, mercifully lasted only a few minutes. Finally, a great black wolf the color of the midnight sky stood where Rosemary had been, eyes glowing bright red, bestial but intelligent. The wolf threw it's head back and howled a long, joyous sound.

Mace stood as watched. He was happy to see she changed without much pain. He let out a howl with her. Once he finished he stood there as he wondered if Rosemary was still there. He stood easily over shadowing the new wolf before him. He had nothing to fear. He stood there as he watched wondering if the wolf was Rosemary or a monster.