I couldn't believe a word I was hearing. No... NO... This couldn't be... How was it possible?

"... R... Raion..."

I thought I'd finally found someone who cared about me... Someone I could finally talk to. I was wrong... So terribly wrong... I felt my heart clench as I stared up at the wolf with no feeling in his eyes.

"... Did... Did you ever really even care about me...? Was it all just... A scam?"

He didn't answer.

"... Raion? Why are you doing this?"

He paused, then glowered at me. "Tyra promised me something. Something I want."

I looked at his face, searching for some clue. "... What was it?"

He bared his fangs. "I'm done talking! No more questions. We're here."

I looked out at the waves blurring past as we finally came to a stop. I looked around and saw nothing but sea. No land was in sight. The only thing there was blue. Blue waves that brushed the horizon.

My throat tightened. I was really going to die...

Raion approached me, a heavy weight dangling from his mouth. He dropped it beside my right front paw. "I advise you not to struggle. We can do this the easy way or the hard way." I already knew it would be pointless to struggle. The raft was only strong enough to carry the two of us--- too much thrashing and it would overturn. And I couldn't even swim. Trying to escape would be a waste of time--- time that was quickly running out. My ears were flat against my skull and I nodded once.

Raion returned the nod and began fastening the weight to my leg. I swallowed hard and tried my best not to be so scared; but I think we all knew this was a seriously frightening situation. When he was done I lifted my leg testing how heavy it was. It was 10 pounds at the least. I was truly done for.

Then a thought came to mind. I began forming a small bucket list in my head, with things that I was capable of doing before time ran out.

I staggered to my paws and looked Raion in the eye which brought a dominant growl from his chest. "Raion... Will you grant me one last wish..?"

He stood there for a second then grumbled, "Fine, I don't really care. You're going to die either way."

I nodded, clenching my paws. Without hesitation, I thrusted my head forward and my muzzle met his.

He didn't move. The kiss lasted a long while, with an increasing intensity. Finally, I got a grip and slowly pulled away, as ready as I would ever be to be greeted with death. I had only taken two steps back when I was pinned to the wooden raft in seconds. My breath caught as I gazed upward to meet a softening face. I looked into his eyes and saw the real Raion in them. "... Raion...?" My eyes widened as a broad grin stretched across his face. "Auryn." I found that I couldn't breathe at the sincere relief in his voice. My eyes glazed over and I lost control. "Raion!" I jumped from beneath him and pushed out, forcing him to the ground, with me on top this time. I couldn't stop the happy tears from streaking down my cheeks.

"Raion, it's you, it's really you...!" I couldn't control myself as I left a trail of happy kisses along his cheeks, my tail batting back and forth. He was back!! But how...?

"Auryn, you broke the spell! How did you do that...?"

"I kissed you!"

I wasn't even ashamed to say it out loud. Right now I was so happy I could tell the world the most embarrassing secrets and move foreword unscathed. Absolutely nothing could stop me from feeling this happy. That is until I gave his eyes a second look...