Heart of Stone

1. The Beast with a Heart of Stone

Once upon a time...

"I'm going."

Thistle stuffed a lump of bread into her backpack, on top of a flagon of ale, and closed the flap. She hitched the pack on her shoulders and turned back to the table.

The small shack was lit by the fire crackling in the hearth. The wind howled through the cracks in the wood, making the flames flicker. A wooden bowl of milk stood in front of the only occupied chair.

Cat leaned back, paws folded over his fluffy chest. "You have got to be kidding me."

She put a hand on her hip, frowning. "That beast killed my brothers."

Cat threw his paws up. "Exactly! Your brothers were big, strong men. What makes you think you will stand a chance where all seven of them failed?"

Thistle shrugged and reached for her sword, strapping it to her belt. "I don't care. They're all I had."

He sighed and leapt on top of the table, walking towards her with a cat's easy grace. He was larger than any cat she had seen before, almost as large as an average dog. He sat down and dusted off his open jacket, eyeing her sadly as she slid a dagger in its sheath. "I cannot protect you there, girl. I cannot come with you. The beast's power is too dark for me to come near that palace."

"I know, Cat." She smiled as she scratched the cat behind his ears. "I'll miss you."

He snorted and glanced at the door, scrunching up his snout. "I do not like this plan."

Thistle rolled her eyes. "There is no plan. Slay the beast."

"You are throwing your life away."

"It's my life, Cat." She grabbed her patched cloak from the nearest chair and pinned it around her shoulders. "My parents are dead. I can't keep the farm or plough the land on my own. The beast took my brothers. What is there left for me to live for?"

Cat tilted his head. "Marry. Find a husband. Keep the farm. Start over."

Thistle paused and looked down. She sighed and shook her head. "I can't. That might be a good life, but it's not mine." She met Cat's amber eyes. "I want more, Cat. More or nothing."

He held her gaze and then shook his head. "I should have known you would not settle for less. Thistles always mean trouble."

She smiled and walked to the door.

Cat leapt down from the table and followed her, his long tail brushing the floor. He rubbed his head against her knee, purring softly.

She bent down and scratched his neck. "I guess this is goodbye."

"It is." He sat down and sighed, taking something from his pocket. He held a thin golden ring in his paw. "Take this with you. Wear it and never take it off. It is the only protection I can give you."

Thistle took the ring and slipped it on her finger. "Thank you."

"I warn you, though. It will not last forever. You have seven days, no more, no less. Do not waste them."

"I won't." She wrapped her arms around the large cat, her best friend, burying her face into his fur. She filled her nose with his comforting smell. "I'll miss you."

He patted her back, his whiskers tickling her neck. "Goodbye, girl. Be safe."

Thistle smiled and straightened. She opened the door, a cold wind entering the small house, and she pulled up the hood of her cloak. "Bye, Cat."

She walked down the path that lead towards the nearest town and looked back over her shoulder, waving at the large red cat sitting outside her farmhouse. The cat raised a paw. She hitched her pack higher on her shoulders and set out to slay the beast.