My name is Viniria

"You rode on a unicorn! That is incredible!" Zora exclaimed from excitement, her hands covering her wide open mouth.

"We had to," the creatures shrugged. "The Crow Tribe was attacking. Vicious little things. People who think wild beasts are cunning, never met a crow," she stated.

"Oh no. Did you all escape?" Zora asked, invested.

"Of course we did. We were never easy pickings you know. After that surprise attack, we thought of a plan and sent back those feathery demons back to their master," the forest creature stated proud.

The princess' eyes stayed wide open as she swayed her head in amazement. "Unicorns, sentient trees, elves, gnomes and talking animals."

"Don't forget the dragons. And the chimeras. And mermaids. Surprisingly, they are both bold and hearty, but fight like cats and dogs."

"That all sounds incredibly fun."

"Yes, it was." The guardian smiled. "My sisters and I really knew how to have fun back in the old days. Ah, I remember it well. It was on my 1800th birthday. I was so young back then. The Big Bug Music Gang played like they never played before. And the elves of the Highlands brought over their finest wine," the creature sighed, filled with nostalgia. "A good thing too because otherwise I wouldn't have let them in. Such vein creatures. Only caring about their own reflections. And all that yapping about themselves. Not very fun at social gatherings. In fact, they were so boring I think that was what did them in the end," she added with a mischievous smirk.

"That's not very nice," Zora gasped. "You don't really mean that, do you?"

The creature pouted, hiding a chuckle. "Of you sweet thing. Of course, I didn't," she lied.

"And what about your sisters? Where are they now, if I may ask?"

The magical creature turned her head in all directions. "Do you see those four stones covered in moss?" she said pointing.

Zora looked around her. They really were visible on the edge of the garden, proportionally distanced from each other.

"That's them. Bloomeria, Staria, Riveria, Beastia and me – Viniria," she said. Her voice had a hint of melancholy as she explained, "A few centuries ago, we decided to fall into a deep sleep."

"Why?"

"There was nothing else to do."

"Oh...alright," said the princess slowly. She tilted her head confused.

Viniria chuckled at her reaction. "You think the old days were fun? Granted, they were, but mostly for us. With all the magic and earth-shattering events, regular humans never stood a chance. Trust me, my dear. You are incredibly lucky I have a soft spot for defenseless and timid creatures like yourself."

Zora blushed. "I can be brave too. I came to see you, didn't I?"

"Yes," Viniria smiled. "And it is a good thing you did. If I haven't met you I would certainly not hesitate to turn you into a roach and watch you squirm away from my feet for the rest of eternity."

Zora gulped, with an involuntary squeak following.

Viniria sighed. Remembering her situation, her expression turned gray. "Magical creatures like me do not belong here," she whispered patting her fuzz-covered stone.

Zora bowed her head remorseful. "I am so sorry I did this to you," she whispered.

The magical creature scoffed. "There is nothing that can be done about it now. What is done, is done," She turned to her new friend and softly said, "Tell me, my dear. What is your favorite animal?"

Zora shrugged. Pondering, she replied, "I cannot choose only one."

"Let me make it easier for you," Viniria said and gracefully stood up. She walked towards one of her sister's stones. The princess observed as she returned holding her hand tight. "A gift from Beastia," she smiled and covered her mouth with her hand.

Astounded, Zora gasped as a fawn started prancing next to her. Her thin hooves hit the ground as she held her head proudly upward. "I love deer. They are such elegant creatures," the female deer sounded a lot like Viniria. The magical fawn took a few steps forward and turned towards the confused human. Not the reaction she was expecting.

"Perhaps, something else. Like, like a fox!" she exclaimed changing her brown fur into a luxurious red coat. "Foxes are so soft," the creature said rubbing her cheeks against her own bushy tail. Zora remained glued to her spot.

The creature observed her silent. Sitting down she added, "Alright... Maybe you prefer seeing things from a bird's perspective." The guardian swirled shedding the fur. Shiny white feathers adorned a white dove which quickly flew to the nearest branch.

The princess could not utter a word. She was in complete awe with what she has seen. And complete fear as well.

"Alright then," the creature added annoyed. "Oh, I know," she said and jumped off the branch. Giant bear paws smashed into the ground making it shake.

"Everyone is terrified of a female bear. But that comes with some advantages. You would practically have all of the smaller animals tremble under your paws."

The girl made herself smaller, covering her eyes. Her transformations seemingly having the opposite effect.

The creature turned back into her original form and sat next to the scared princess. "What's wrong?" she asked concerned.

Zora's voice quivered. "May I ask, why do you want to turn me into an animal?"

Viniria let out a tisk, "For your own good, of course. How do you think you will be able to survive a day in the forest in that weak little body. There is no bed or fire here. You will freeze or get annihilated by all the blood-sucking insects."

The princess shrugged her head deeper into her shoulders, clutching her feet with her hands.

"My dear, your mind and personality will remain the same. You will even be able to speak. Not just to all animals but humans too... Hear me, I love the forest, but I do not want to be here awake and alone. You were the one who woke me up. You owe me this!"

"Yes, of course," Zora said gently placing her hand over her green arm. "I realize that! However, I cannot imagine my life without my prince... Please, my dear Viniria. Please think. Is there any other way I can make it up to you? All you really want to do is go back to sleep again, right?"

The forest guardian pouted. She sized up the young princess and finally said, "There is one way, but it is nearly impossible."

"Please do tell," the princess begged holding her arm tighter.

"If you insist," the forest protector grunted. "A long, long time ago, there was a harp. Its strings were made from Sleeping Beauty's hair. Whenever someone would play it, everyone near enough would immediately fall asleep."

The eyes of the princess widened as if she remembered something. The magical creature continued with her story. "Her last owner, a cursed musician I believe, buried it and no one heard of it again. It was made of gold with-"

"-eight pearls on its handle?" Zora exclaimed.

The creature blinked astounded. "How do you know?" she added confused.

"I saw it. It is not lost! I know exactly where it is," she blurted out quickly.

"That can't be! You're lying!" Viniria shouted and moved away from her.

"On my honor, I am not lying!" the princess put her hand on her chest. "My dear forest guardian, would you be so kind to allow me to get it for you?"

"Excuse me?"

"If that harp can make you fall asleep, I will attain it for you. If you had it, you will not have to turn me into an animal, isn't that correct?" With every word Zora's face lighted up with hope.

"Well, yes," the fairy creature replied slowly. "Still, how do I know you will not run away?"

"I will not. I promise," she stated. "My dear Viniria, please at least let me try. If I fail, I will return to this spot and let you do whatever it is you want with me."

"If you fail, I promise you, I will turn you to stone! Try to run and hide, and I will turn every rock in the world to find you."

"Fair enough," the princess retorted. "Now, can I please go?"

Shocked by her words, the forest creature observed her carefully. The princess looked so adorable begging for her life. Still, a worm of suspicion formed in her head.

Pondering, Viniria quickly reached a decision. "Alright, I will. Under one condition," she said and opened her palm. There were a few hairs inside. The forest creature pulled out each one and inspected it in the sunlight. Holding one white sharp hair, she turned towards the baffled young woman. "Put this on the inside of your cheek," the creature said serious.

Zora nearly gagged.

"Do not worry. It will not harm you. I promise."

The young woman slowly took the hair. With a shaking hand, she placed it once near her lips but chickened out.

"No pain. No glory," Viniria stated.

She tried the second time and, finally, with some effort, she was able to do it.

The girl then fell on all fours. Her fingers became smaller and hairier. Her nails turned to claws. The princess' beautiful face elongated as every inch of her was covered in hair, and her body grew three times its size. In mere moments, the girl turned into a huge white wolf. Viniria smiled. The beast was almost the same height as her sitting down.

"I'm a...I'm a..." the wolf yelped terrified.

"You're a wolf," Viniria declared. "Well, a werewolf if you want to be precise."

"But why?" the poor creature stuttered.

"Because you can talk!"

"No, why did you change me into this?" the princess cried.

"You want to go on a quest, don't you? This way you will be able to run fast and protect yourself."

"But...my friend will not listen to me looking like this! I might get shot by her guards on the steps of her castle! Get mounted on her wall like a trophy!" the creature wailed.

Viniria laughed.

"That is not funny!" the wolf barked.

"It is a little funny," her friend said still chuckling. "Do not worry. Just think of yourself as a human and you will return to your normal form. And think about becoming a wolf when you need it again."

The she-wolf rubbed her snout and returned to her normal self. "Thank goodness," she uttered with a sigh of relief.

"Now...how far away is this kingdom? Think you will be able to go there and back before the next full moon?" the forest guardian said.

"That's about 10 days, isn't it?" the princess thought hard. I believe so."

"Good. Because that's the amount of time before the transformation becomes permanent."

"Permanent?" Zora stuttered.

"Yes. That way you have to come back here. No one else knows how to break the spell but me," Viniria said, coldly raising her nose and crossing her arms.

"Oh alright. But, maybe this is not-"

"Oh stop it with your buts! Always with the buts! I think I liked you better while you were shaking in my presence," she declared. "Now, go! The guards are looking for you," the creature pointed in the direction of the rustling leaves.

The girl turned alerted. She put her hand over her open mouth.

A little further away, the two guards were whispering, "Be careful. That fairy-thing might hear us."

The sound of giant paws made their ears perk. Something huge was running towards them. They squatted readying their weapons.

The bush moved with a huge furry body jumping out. Seeing the size of the creature, the two men froze from fear. The wolf ran away not even glancing back.