Three towels later, the she-wolf was finally dry. He had even had the opportunity to brush her teeth. A big achievement, he believed, that had the effect of minty wolf breath.

Ida's tongue hung out of her panting lips. Her crystalline eyes were glazed with glee and happiness. Her body was perched facing the couch, tail lazily sweeping the floor.

Ant watched her in amazement while he plucked the hairs out of the old hairbrush. The small bucket was nearly full of her fluff and he hadn't even made it past her belly.

But if one thing could be said for certain about his Ida, it was that she absolutely loved the attention. His big roughened hands seemed to mold with her body perfectly. As he ran the bristles through her knots and dread locks, chunks of old twigs and clumps came loose.

Anton's sense of accomplishment and pride grew the softer her fur got. After each brush it seemed, a new gleam attached itself onto the strands.

Her white coat wasn't white anymore as he finished the last stroke along her back. No. Ida's fur was pure. As pure as a fresh layer of snow.

She was radiant.

As if reading his mind, the wolf stretched up and licked his cheek. Warm saliva left a trail on his stubbled flesh.

Smiling he reached out to scratch behind her left ear. Her eyes instantly closed and the moment felt so intimate when she leaned into his touch. It was private and he didn't want to stop, ever.

After a while he continued brushing. The old hairbrush had very much been put through it's paces already. The thickest patch of fur over her rump was the hardest to get through. It seemed that she had purposefully rolled around in a thicket of thorns just for this moment.

To allow him better access, Ida had turned around. Running the brush from her lower back to the top of her tail, at least a dozen thorns popped out. Small whines spilled from her throat every time a thorn pulled on a hair.

To her credit though, she didn't wince once. She endured the pain and relished in the soothing hand of Anton as it rubbed away the soreness.

At last it was time to tackle her belly. "Lay down, beautiful. Let's get all your fluff untangled."

Her tail thumped the ground when his fingers stroked her cheek. He climbed off the couch and sat cross legged before her belly.

The long fur under her body took more care than the rest. Knots littered the expanse of her stomach.

With patience her belly was as clean and untangled as the day she was born.

"All done my beautiful Ida." The brush lay off to the side, no longer needed while his fingers weaved through the thick fur.

All over her skin were longish raised bumps. His eyes grew wide when, on closer inspection, he found scar tissue.

Ida had frozen on the ground. Her eyes were watching his fill up with tears of anger. Anton could feel her gaze on him, yet the anger didn't leave. But after some time, pride overtook him.

His Ida, had survived. His Ida was strong enough to overcome any obstacles.

He looked to her eyes, hoping to see the glaciers watching him. To his utter disappointment they were turned away. Her stare was blankly directed at the opposite wall.

"Love, they don't disgust me." At his soft voice her eyes flitted over to his. Uncertainty was clear to be seen in her gorgeous orbs. "If anything they make you all the more beautiful to me. What are scars for but to tell a story of bravery and survival? They tell me that on this day you are here because you were strong. They tell me that without them..." He paused to make sure her full attention was on him. "...I'd never have had the opportunity to have you in my arms today."

Never in a million years could he have imagined her to be so self-conscious about what he thought of her. Her doubts were in vain. He wouldn't ever let her go. Her scars proved her strength, spirit and wit. She survived out there just as he himself had. And if anything, the scars made him love her even more.

"Your scars just make you all the more beautiful." And he leaned down to kiss her on her brow. Her love shone bright in her eyes at the gesture and his words.

Exhausted they both stared at each other.

With the last shred of his strength Anton got up and carried Ida into his bedroom.

He placed her under the thick blanket and felt her tired eyes on him while he removed his clothes.

When he crawled under the covers, he had to chuckle at the glint in her eyes. "I think it's time to do some sleeping now. We've got all the time in the world, love. Come here."

On his last demand she shuffled over and pressed her warm body against him. His arms wrapped around her and as soon as the light was out they were both peacefully asleep.

A silent 'Good night' escaped his lips before he transferred into the land of dreams where a white wolf was playing in the snow.