AN: I don't even know what happened here. I was watching Tarzan, the cartoon of course, and then I was watching Once, and then... I don't even know. If I continue this it will probably get boosted up to M though. This is the first thing I've written. I have no idea what came over me but it demanded to be created. So... here it is.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of this stuff that is already owned and claimed by other people. Don't sue me.

Belle shoved her way through another tangle of leaves hanging low in the trail. Well, if it could be called a trail. Really it was just a dirt path carved through the forest by animals on their way to a popular stream. Or so their guide had informed them earlier that morning when they started off. Their guide was a kind man, though not much of a talker. "Graham? How much farther to the site you spoke of?"

Graham glanced over his shoulder at her. "Not much."

Helpful, she thought to herself. Her other companion strode confidently behind her and squeezed her shoulder in what was probably meant to be comforting but actually kind of hurt. "Don't worry, Belle. Soon we will be able to rest and you can put up your pretty little feet while us men get some fresh meat!" Gaston chuckled loudly at his own voice and Belle once more wished she had stayed home with her books and her quiet solitude. To be fair, she had asked to come. It was just unfortunate that Gaston was the person with whom she had to go with.

Her desire for adventure allowed her to overcome her good sense and she had agreed to be Gaston's "lady company", as he had put it, in return for getting to leave her small town and explore a deep forest halfway around the world. His constant and suffocating attentions were becoming tiresome however. She was still trapped in this mindset when they reached a small rise and everything in her head suddenly went silent.

The clearing just below them was one of the most gorgeous sights Belle had ever seen. The grass was a bright green and amazingly colored flowers took up residence here and there throughout the meadow and spread a sweet perfume through the air. There were butterflies flitting across the open space and trees of a gigantic stature rose up on all sides creating a living wall of plant and animal life. Various bird calls rang out and completed the sensory overload. This is definitely worth Gaston's chauvinistic company, she smiled.

A lithe figure swung down to a low branch and watched curiously as these new creatures entered her forest. Two leggeds had passed through from time to time in her years as pack leader, but these seemed different. They were not moving quickly and frightened, they were stopping, and seemed to be setting up some sort of shelter. Ruby quirked an eyebrow at this as she contemplated how best to approach the situation.

She recognized one of the males, a skilled huntsman who often came into her territory. She allowed the man because he was respectful of her pack and her ways. He stayed away from them and in turn they allowed him to take food from their forest. It never seemed to occur to her that since she was also a two legged, she could potentially communicated with him. She never had the desire to seek out her own kind; the wolves were the only family she knew and trusted.

The two with him were new. The other male, a large bulky creature, annoyed her. He stomped through the meadow as if he owned the place. Shouting and creating such a ruckus she was amazed he had survived into adulthood. She felt her upper lip form a silent snarl as the wolf in her raised its hackles at his arrogance. She would need to deal with him.

The smallest of the trio, a female, was the most curious of all. Ruby watched her intently as she walked through the flowers, smelling them and stroking the soft petals. She was quiet and observant, admirable qualities in any creature. Ruby had never seen a human quite like her. There had been other women in the forest, following their men as they traveled to farther villages, but they were always timid and weak. This female was strong, curious, and showed little fear. Ruby mused that of course it was she herself that caused so much terror of this forest. She was proud of that reputation, and encouraged it. Yet, this woman did not quake like others before her. Ruby was intrigued, but also irritated.

The huntsman had allowed these strangers to enter the forest without her consent, and was apparently helping them set up a temporary residence. This would not do.

Belle attempted to tune out Gaston's constant chatter and instead take in the beautiful sounds of the forest. The sun was beginning to set and the birds were announcing the coming of night. There was a brief shiver of fear as the thought of night entered her head, but it was quickly overshadowed by awe and excitement. She had researched the claims of a "she-devil" living in this forest. Apparently a woman had been abandoned here as a child and was raised by a vicious pack of giant wolves. The woman was said to be more ruthless than any beats, and there were numerous accounts of men having their throats ripped out by her teeth. She found such stories to be exaggerated and feared them less than the real threats of a forest at night. There were clearly wolves here, she had heard them howling the night before from the safety of the village. But, the "she-devil" seemed no more than a fairytale created to keep children in their beds at night.

"We should make a fire," Graham said in his quiet way. Gaston immediately began talking about the huge bonfire he had made with his brothers back home and set about creating one now. Belle hid her amusement at Graham's subtle irritation and busied herself with collecting firewood. She jumped at a soft touch to her elbow. "Don't go too close to the edge of the woods." Graham's voice was soft, but urgent. She nodded and continued on.

It was easy to get lost in her thoughts as she picked up small branches off the ground. The air was warm and slightly humid and it created a gentle lull in her mind. She tripped over a root and glanced up quickly to realize she was just at the tree line to the west of the meadow. Gaston was busy setting things on fire and laughing as he pretended to swallow coals, and Graham seemed immersed in a map on his knees. Belle licked her lips nervously and set the pile of wood by her feet. Surely she could just glance into the forest to see what was around. she would stay at the edge.

She walked forward about twelve paces until she was just inside the line of trees and let her eyes adjust to the slight darkness. It was breathtaking, though she understood why Graham was hesitant to take them through it. The forest was immense, the trees unbelievably tall. There were no paths to speak of and it was impossible to see through the canopy. Losing your way would not be difficult here.

She wasn't sure what caused her to look to the left, a slight noise or movement, but as she flicked her eyes towards the source it no longer mattered much. Blue eyes met green and Belle instinctively took a step back. In front of her stood a woman, but unlike any woman Belle had ever met. She was tall and thin, but toned muscle covered every inch showing the power beneath her skin. Her hair was a dark red tangle that cascaded down her back like a mane. She was clad in a simple garment of animal furs that covered her torso, but left her arms free for movement. She wore some mock-up of shorts that protected her vulnerable parts but left little to hide long legs that were currently wrapped around a tree branch as she crouched in the shadows watching Belle.

Belle could feel herself trembling and tried not to show it. "Um... Hello." She mumbled and attempted a smile. The woman narrowed her eyes and swung down to the forest floor with not a sound. She walked towards Belle as if stalking prey. "I..." Belle wasn't sure what she was going to say. Please don't eat me? I don't want to hurt you? I like your shirt? Whatever inane thing she would have uttered died on her lips when the woman invaded her personal space.

Belle swallowed audibly as the slightly taller figure came so close they were practically breathing the same air. She closed her eyes and braced herself for the feeling of teeth ripping into her flesh, for surely this was the "she-devil" she had read about. It seemed an eternity but still nothing happened. She could feel the woman's soft breath puffing out against her cheek. Then it was gone, and she felt the same hot breath on her neck. Oh God. Here it comes. Belle was entirely shocked when a low sniffing sound reached her ears instead of the growl she was imagining. She was sniffing her. But not just sniffing, she was inhaling her. Belle could just feel the tip of her nose as it traveled over the skin of her neck and up to right under her earlobe. The gentle touch sent shivers down Belle's spine, but not shivers of fear. She didn't really know how to process what she was feeling. She just knew that she was standing in the middle of a dark forest, the sun almost completely hidden, with a wild woman taking in her scent like she was trying to taste her, and that for some reason she wasn't screaming or crying but was instead standing here, letting it happen, and actually kind of enjoying the way this woman's soft breath slid over her skin like silk. What on Earth was wrong with her? Before Belle could try to actually do something, the woman pulled back and Belle opened her eyes, immediately becoming lost in the depths of the green ones staring back at her.

Belle's heart felt as if it were getting ready to leap right out of her chest. The woman gave her one more penetrating look, and then vanished into the trees as silently as she had appeared. Belle put her hand over her heart and quickly raced to the circle of fire she could see by their permanent shelters, the firewood she had collected completely forgotten. Gaston was tearing his teeth into a leg of some sort of roasted meat, and Graham gave her an inquisitive glance but didn't ask any questions. Belle picked at a bit of food placed in front of her, but her mind was completely on the woods and on the woman and on the way her skin still tingled where warm breath had brushed it moments before.

As she lay trying to fall asleep that night, she blocked out Gaston's snores with the sound of howls from the forest. She wondered if the woman was one of those howls. She wondered if she would see her again. She wondered why she cared. She wondered if she should ask Graham about her. She wondered so many things. She fell asleep wondering if the feel of her breath on her neck would ever go away, and if she even wanted it to. She tried desperately not to wonder about what that meant.