Charlotte tried to keep herself buried in sleep, but the pain was persistent, breaking through and urging her to consciousness.
Every inch of her body ached and hurt.
Her head was on fire and her arm was so inflamed that merely moving it a few inches would send bolts of pain through her. It felt as if she had fought a moving train and lost.
Charlotte scrunched her brow as memories peppered her brain. She remembered falling into the river and nearly drowning, but then the wolf had come to her rescue. He had carried her somewhere, she recalled being draped over his back and struggling to hold onto his fur as he ran.
But where was she now? And why did she feel exposed?
Charlotte's eyes shot open, and using her good arm, she threw the blanket off herself, looking down to confirm that she was indeed dressed only in her undergarments.
Her dress was gone. However, she did not feel violated, and from that she took solace.
