Spirits of the Earth

Cold wind snapped the rope of a caravaner's tent blowing up the canvas, leaving the man to flail for the flying cloth before the gust blew anything else away.  He watched as men, bundled from the snow, rushed to help pin the canvas down.  It was quite a struggle to witness, and just as amusing.  In the same turn, however, a snapped rope could possibly mean the difference between life and death in this land of bitter cold.  They were far from Hyoite, as he'd come to learn the village to be called, and on their way to another settlement deep in the frozen landscape, buried possibly under wind and snow he'd imagined.  He'd never seen so much white in all his life, it was almost as if this was the edge of the earth surely.  He turned his eyes back as the caravaners successfully drove the stake into the ground that held the loosened rope.  Another family would survive the brutal wind tonight.

Theon vaguely recalled how he'd come to venture this far, or why he had.  It rarely mattered anymore, the direction his dreams had taken him, since after all this time of searching he'd come across nothing that would give him some kind of sign, some kind of direction as to why he came here, the key to his memories.  But there was nothing, he was left with nothing.  Just a sword the glimmered like soft moonlight in the darkening sky and a crow that had burrowed himself in the warmth of his borrowed tent, to help him on a futile search for something that seemed as intangible as the wind.

Strange was this land, open and broad, but he was oddly eager to venture into this unknown landscape, no longer caring as much to find what the future held for him, for it was a terrifying thing that he wanted nothing to do with. And yet...he did not have a choice anyway.  For before his mind flashed the shifting visions of unshakeable omens, or petulant hopes, broken dreams, of things he didn't understand and people he'd never met...perhaps only to meet them at their moment of doom. 

But he'd been lucky.  It had been many months since his last vision and he'd finally come to learn what it was to sleep, truly and deeply.  He'd met these caravaners passing through the valley and he'd paid his fare to travel with them, more for the company than because he was headed in their direction.  He didn't know this land as well as they did.  He spoke sparingly and only when necessary for they asked the expected pressing questions that he could only answer with nods and vague explanations that explained nothing at all.

Theon crawled in the small canvas provided to him.  His managed to evade the wind much better than the others since it was lower to the ground.  He heard it rustle lightly against the material as he knotted the entrance shut and laid across on a mat, closing his eyes.  It did not take him long to drift away into the bliss of nothingness that his sleep had become.

Nothingness.  Then white.  White snow.  The valley.  An open, broad, expanse of near emptiness.  No sign of life in sight, not a creature, not a cry nor a howl.  The air was light, blowing soft gusts of snow, swirling in small tornadoes.  But something was wrong...there was suddenly red on white and screams in the air; the sounds of wholesale massacre.  The sounds got louder, the cries of men as they tried to run for safey, for their lives, and it sent chills down his spine as Theon tossed in his sleep, unable to wake.  Men ran, only to be cut down by something unseen, large gashes splayed across backs and faces and chests, painting the snow with their life's blood.

His stomach turned with what came before his eyes.  Theon waited, holding his breath when the air abruptly became silent.  He listened, waiting to hear something, a moan of pain, someone calling for aid.  Just nothing.  Not even the crunch of snow signaling departure.  Even the air became still.

Theon awoke from the dream, his skin suddenly warm despite the cold.  The crow jumped and ruffled his feathers at the sudden start and looked at him with alarmed glossy eyes.  Theon leaned up on his elbows, and wrapped the cloak he'd been using for a blanket around his shoulders.  His heart was pounding hard in his chest as he prayed hope against hope for it to be a dream.  Nothing more than a dream.  But the cold stone in his stomach told him he knew otherwise.  He never dreamed.  Theon twisted around in that tight space, clutching the hilt of Lohengrin at his side, shaking hand reaching to part the opening of the tent.  He held his breath for a moment too long before rushing out into the snow.  An arm reached out to shield his eyes from the blasting snow around him, blowing hard to blind his sight, cloak ripping high against the wind.  Though it was difficult to see, he could see the dream was not a dream.  The vision was real.

The caravaners were dead.  All of them.  Their bodies lain in the snow.  He rushed into the blazing white, peering all around him.  His body was numb to the cold as his heart beat faster in his horror.  What had done this?  Who!?  He found no tracks in the snow, neither that of an animal nor a man.  But suddenly as he turned, he saw the shape of something in the distance, drifting away, leaving no trace of passage but the slaughter in its wake.  He pursued it, screaming, "Stop!" at the top of his lungs, but it vanished into the darkness.

Theon turned back to the circle of broken tents, of the hideous display before him, stepping back toward the scene.  He knelt down beside one of the victims, carefully rolling the middle-aged man over.  The claw marks on his body were large and wide spread, and uneven in many places.  He didn't suffer for long.  Theon searched the nearby area for animal tracks, but found nothing of the sort.  The only disturbed snow was where they came in to make camp and where he ran in pursuit.

It was obvious that whatever had done this was clearly neither man nor an animal.  Theon fell to his knees amidst the snow, trying to control his turning stomach, trying understand what just happened...and why he'd been spared.

Hyoite was miles away, in another land those miles would be insignificant and easily travelled but not here.  One mile here was perilous. She was alone, blissfully alone.  Elapheesa valued this isolation, just the snow beneath her feet, the icy wind in her hair and her few belongings bundled tightly together pulled on the sledge behind her. 

She was deep in snow and at the mercy of the freezing winds, for now at least her life was preserved, her heart beating strongly, her veins still flowing with warm blood but she could not take for granted that she would feel this strong tomorrow.  Now was the time to push herself on, to achieve as much as she could before the cold gripped her muscles tightly and prevented her journeying any further.  Taking long strides she walked head on into the wind,her footprints covered in fresh fallen snow seconds after she left them.  She left no tracks to follow, no scent would linger long in this freezing air.  She looked towards the horizon, visablity was poor but there was nothing in sight, she could detect no movement ahead of her, nor behind.  This was good.  She had no cause to hunt, she was carrying preserved fish and all she needed to make camp.  No, this was good for in these conditions she was more likely to be the hunted that the huntress.

She was a good judge of her strength, she pushed herself hard but she was sensible.  The winds were getting stronger, the visability diminishing to a few feet ahead and the cold penetrating her heavy fur clothing would soon cause her muscles to seize and make her weak and vulnerable.  It was time to look for a safe encampment.  She was judging the thickness of the snow ahead of her, looking for a ridge that would provide shelter from the wind and help to conceal her tent when she saw something low on the snow.  Whatever it was it was barely moving and had not detected her, or at least it did not seem to move as she approached.

A few more steps and the outline became clearer.  It was a man, she could make out a head and bent limbs.  Surely not another hunter? To find another here, it such a remote place, where foodstuffs would be limited and where there was little emerging from the snow at all would be rare.  Her kind were brave but not stupid.  But could this be a visitor? Could a novice survive in the snow alone?  She wondered how a visitor to this land coped with the cold, coped with the endless snowy expanse in front and behind them and how they weren't blinded by the infinite white surrounding them.  It was so easy to lose your bearings.  So easy to become lost.  So easy for this snow blindness to twist a fragile mind into madness. 

Everything terrifying about this way of life filled her with excitement.  She could not give up her cold surroundings or this life of survival and adventure... but who was this seemingly willing to risk everything just as she?  What were they doing here?

She stood, legs shoulder distance apart looking at the male kneeling in the snow.  Taking one more step her heal crunched on something below the snow, a bone perhaps, the sound would surely draw his attention.  She was just about to say something when she the wind blowing up the surface powder revealed flapping skins and bone tent structures behind him, this had been a camp but no more.  She looked at him for some sort of explanation.  Had he done this?  Was he alone after all?  She dropped the reins of her sledge and ran at him now, her knife drawn though pointed away from him as she approached.  Her fingers squeezing the knife's handle tightly pulsing around it as her boots sunk into the surface snow and her muscles coiled and sprung allowing her to leap forth.  Stopping inches from his face she paused, her breath warm on his exposed facial skin.  Her eyes held their stare on his lips, on his lowered lids.  "Who are you?  What the hell happened here?" 

Confusion took him then and it was a wonder how he didn't go mad with frustration, at the impotence his visions presented before him.  What could he have done to have made a difference?  What kind of monster would commit such slaughter about him, the bodies ripe for the harvest.  His heart, beating as fast as it was, threatened to sap him of all his energy and he'd be no better off than the lifeless bodies that littered the snow.  But nothing helped his comprehension.  How could this be?  He'd been here, and yet, he was helpless to stop it.  How could these people be so innocently slaughtered?

Tears threatened to flow from his eyes, but he pushed them from his eyes, knowing they'd only crystalize in the brash cold that whipped at his face and hair.  But something in him steeled itself, and despite the disgust rolling in his gut, Theon felt a renewal of energy, to find this thing, to hunt it, and to kill it with no mercy, as it had done to the caravaners.

Snow crunched and immediately his heart leapt into his throat and moving as swiftly as the wind a shape had come closer to the scene.  The snow was thick, his vision not quite as skilled at piercing through it as he wished, and soon the shape came into perilous view and there was a dagger suddenly present before him.  Theon's instinct immediately swept to his blade, his hand curling around Lohengrin's hilt.  But suddenly the woman was upon him, her face far too close to his than he would have liked.

He knew better than to trust these strangers in this expanse of emptiness.  The wilds of Serendipity and traveling north taught him that.  Not even when strangers happening upon each other in a place as empty as this could there be trust.  The world was kill or be killed and though he did not know if she meant to help or harm, Theon wasn't sure he wanted to take that chance.

He looked at her with wild eyes, the whites completely encircling over the red-violet of his pupils.  And immediately, he struck out at her, flashing Lohengrin until steel sparked against steel of her dagger and rolled backwards over his shoulders until he put distance between them.  Snow billowed up as he was suddenly on his feet and he held the sword out defensively.

"How should I know?" he said, breath ragged, coming in desperate puffs as the snow came down fiercely around them.  "How can I know who or what you are!?  How can I know you didn't do this!?  I...I woke up and...I-I found them like this!"

Elpaheesa's hair blew behind her and the loose tendrils not secured in her pony tail flared out framing her face with a dark, snow showered mane.  Her eyes still fixed on him were questioning but her maintained stance, unmoved feet  and knife in hand though not aimed at him indicated though perplexed she was not afraid.  "It wasn't you, I can tell that" she said nodding in agreement to his assessment of the situation.  She moved now slowly being carefully to place her feet on snow rather than on the semi-burried tents and the scattered equipment of the perished. "Nor was it I" she said continuing to move.

Bones emerged from what was fast becoming a 6ft drift, "tent props" she said gesturing towards the upward pointing bones.  "We ought to make camp ourselves, whatever did this is dangerous but the blizzard threatens our lives more urgently that the culprit of this devastation."
She moved around from one ravaged tent to another gathering anything useful.  Bones as long as her legs held in her arms, "quicker to use these than to unpack what is secured in my sledge" she said to him without waiting for reply.  She was performing a task she had performed so many times before that her movements were seamless, automatic, swift, precise and judging at the speed at which she began constructing a tent sheltered by the drift she was highly efficient. 
She had retrieved her sledge and completed the tent structure fastening skins tight to wrap the contents from the savage winds and still heavy snow.  She rarely looked at him during her work, occasionally her eyes moved over his unsheathed sword but she still maintained her work, her task urgent.

When finally she finished she pealed back layers of skin at the entrance and beckoned him to enter.  "It was neither you, nor I" she said reassuringly, "in any case we can no longer delay, we must shelter."

Theon was surprised, unsure of what to make of the strange woman.  She was armed, yes, but did not attack him, not even when his steel struck her small knife.  But it had been a warning shot at best and he only slightly relaxed when she began to occupy herself with the task of building a tent, with the bones of the recently slaughtered no less.  Theon was shocked, frankly and it showed in his vexed expression.  How could she show such blatant disrespect to the dead?  It made him angry and blood seeped into his face as he was near ready to strike her for such an action.

These people, dead no longer than perhaps an hour at best and were already used in construction.  And in the same place of their slaughter.  But many things passed through Theon's mind and how the strange woman could so easily just provide shelter for he, a complete stranger boggled him beyond belief.  He had no intention to stay in this place, even with the snow drift, his instinct told him to pursue the beast that did this.  The longer they waited the farther away it got.

He stood there, dumbfounded at her words, like a child that did not comprehend the meaning of its punishment.  But it did not take long for him to understand.  "Wait," was all he said, and quickly disappeared into the snow.  Theon sheathed his sword and bundled himself in the thicknes of his cloak as he made his way back to his tent, now half-covered in the blizzard.

Wading through the drift, he knelt down, pulling at the ruptured canvas, until he found what he was looking for.  There was a small, light caw drifting on the air.  He took the bundle and stuffed it against him, wandering back toward the woman.  The winds picked up considerably and swept his hair this way and that, locks frozen with ice growing on some ends.  He approached and looked at her only for a moment before ducking insie the offered shelter, newly built and shielding from the cold.  He ducked low and sat in a corner, that bundle moving slightly against his chest.

When he saw the woman again, Theon looked up at her, shaking considerably.  "Why...why would you stay here?  In the middle of all these dead bodies?  Is that something you come across often in this wasteland?" he asked, huddling in all his limbs together in an effort to keep warm.

"I do not relish remaining amongst the dead but better to make camp here now then move on and join the dead as the unforgiving snow claims our lives.  You're sentimental" she said not making judgment but merely vocalising her observation of him.  "You think me callous" she continued smiling at the man now curled into a corner of the small tent.  "Its survival, no more.  My decisions are governed by how best I can preserve my own life.  Your life... well you're lucky I stumbled upon you.  For now your company is not distasteful to me as long as you are not a burden you are a welcome companion."  She was wrapping more furs around her now, dry furs disguarding the outer layers she had been wearing, which were now wet.  "You'd be best to do the same" she said looking at him strangely as the fabrics covering him moved.  She did not ask what he was concealing though it was most certainly alive. 

"Cold has no mercy.  Are you limbs aching? Do not allow the cold to penetrate your bones.  Keep dry layers wrapped around you.  Conserve your own natural heat." She looked at him for signs of frost bite or worst.  "What on earth are you doing traveling these parts anyway?" she asked, though only half expected an answer, in her experience often those she met did not care to share their business with strangers.

She laid down on her stomach opening a small flask and taking liquid with relish. "In the morning we will assess the snowfall.  I must warn you, if the blizzard is stilled I will make haste".  She rolled over obviously satisfied by whatever had passed her lips, liquid which she did not offer her companion.  She looked up at the criss cross pattern of bones above wrapped in cord and covered by stretched skins.  "The bones, do they bother you?" she asked looking at him.  "There is no wood here, we use what we can." She said coldly.  They obviously didn't bother her at all, she spoke of using them so matter-of-factly that it was almost inconsequential to her.  "I look for practical use in all I find.  If there is use, there is value.  If there is no use, then whatever it is... whomever it is, is best left!" She said smiling amused at a rememberence of several persons to which she had found no continuing value and had rejected. 

"Burden?" Theon mimicked, but said no more on the subject for he knew what she meant.   It was easy to see she knew this land and knew it well.  She was a native and acted in such a way that extended her calm into Theon.  Though long had he been plagued by his visions, he grew quick to learn that there was no use in crying and becoming frustrated in distress.  She was right.  If he was going to hunt this creature he would need to remain calm and most importantly, warm.

Theon said nothing as she spoke, waiting for her to finish.  He wasn't sure he was quite ready to make such quick conversation, so instead he slowed his breath and stilled his shivering.  His limbs did not ache, for mere contact with Lohengrin stilled him and warmed him, gave him strength when he felt he was faltering.  Theon drew off the cloak and out came the crow he'd huddled to his chest, cawing and fluttering as he stumbled to the ground.

The hooded crow cawed and stared at the stranger with a beady eye, then did the same to Theon, surprisingly silent as it stood beside him.  "Do not eat him," Theon warned.  "I've already tried.  He's not worth the effort it would take to cook him."  He smiled a little at the stranger, but it quickly dissipated.  As he drew off the rest of his cloak, revealing the cuirass underneath, he carefully unbuckled the straps the side and just below his shoulders before slipping it off his head, revealing the tunic underneath.

Though his clothing was thinned, Theon controlled his shivering.  "I don't have any other dry clothes.  These are all that remain.  But don't fret over me.  I thank you for your kindness, it is not unappreciated, but you will not have to worry about me for long.  I've survived in the wild before, alone and destitute.  This is no different though it is emptier, colder.   Once the night is over and the winds have calmed, I will pursue the creature that did this.  I don't know what it was.  I don't know why it killed them.  But I plan to find out."

Theon was silent and watched Jouzan for a time, the bird still silent.  "I didn't come here looking for trouble if that's what you think.  I thought the emptiness would make me forget.  To get away from people, civilization for a time.  I-I found these travelers.  Took passage with them.  I fell asleep....and awoke to the scene that resides outside of this shelter.  I am at as much a loss as you.  But again, I thank you.  I'm sure you'd agree with me when I suggest you move along after this.  There's no need for more blood on the ice."

She was well aware that her tone with him was harsh, but it was futile to attempt to sugar coat the truth of their situation.  She had to speak seriously as the situation was bleak, the climate harsh and the cost of error was death!

It interested her that both of them had chosen to be here and perhaps with similar aims for he claimed to be here as a way to help him forget and she came out into the dark, cold away from others so that she would have no need to remember.  No need to remember that even in the centre of ? she was essentially a loner.  She had no living family, as far as she was aware and she found it hard to maintain friendships, risking forming attachments was too difficult to care was to accept the chance that she could be left devastated by loss.

She watched him cast off his wet clothing and was glad he took her advice easily, she knew that if the situation was reversed she would not have heeded his words.  She had often witnessed this to be a universal truth: those who like to give advice rarely take any.  For Elapheesa it was her stubborness that prevented her taking any advice from others.  She couldn't help but do the reverse of anything she was told to do, she was innately rebellious and determined to prove she needed noone.

His bird was a curiosity to her.  She could understand the comfort his feather companion provided but she could not help see the bird as a commodity, no she didn't want to eat it but nor would she blink at sacrificing it in order to save herself... and perhaps even him.  His life at that moment had some value to her.  Conversation and observation of him would make the long night pass more swiftly.  Hours of darkness alone were difficult to bear with nothing to distract from the painful cold but he was a distraction and that was useful.

As the crow stared at her she looked at his shivering body once more, his tunic hardly sufficient to maintain his body heat.  She said nothing as she cut open the ropes that fastened one of the bundles still attached to her sledge.  More furs unfurled some stitched into wraps, primative but effective clothing.  She threw two towards him and they landed at his feet.  "You do not ask for it but you would be foolish to refuse it" she said gesturing to the donated clothing.  "I carry only what I need to more, you are lucky that I have skinned a few kills of late and harvested the fur.  I value warmth so I carry extra furs.  The extra weight on my sledge slows my journey a little but I have been grateful to have dry, warm layers to exchange for wet ones many times."
"I wont fret over you" she added watching and waiting to see what he would do.  She couldn't help herself, always counteracting kindness with dismissive words.  She was kind and could be very generous but she knew that this though not a weakness could weaken her.  Her head told her to behave in a purely selfish way and her heart... her heart was not allowed to influence her behaviour  beyond her strict self governing.  She could not allow herself to fret over him, or form any attachment to him.

She looked away from him now.  Fastening the tight bundles on her sledge once more.  She was always prepared to leave immediately.  "I will hunt whatever did this in the morning " she said, though she didn't say with him.

As she drew back the sledge, revealing the furs, Theon actually smiled at her, thankful for the gesture, knowing it would indeed be far too foolish to refuse.  He knew then he'd underestimated this stranger, it seems she was accustomed to finding wanderers in the snow and quite generous enough to share what meage stores they had.  Theon's grin only grew and he nodded to her in thankful silence before reaching forth for a particularly thick pelt of bear skin.

Theon knew the tunic fared little better than the cuirass that had been soaked through with the slowly melting frost.  He set the skin aside as he pulled his tunic over his head and padding himself with the skin before throwing it over his shoulders, huddling in it, setting it over his broadened shoulders.  "Thank you," he said, again, just to be sure.  In moments like this beggars couldn't exactly be choosers.

"You are resourceful and waste nothing, that is easy to see.  I respect that," Theon said, looking her over with apparent appreciation, but his eyelids fluttered closed, relishing the warmth of the bear skin.  "I'm sorry if there is little in the way of words to express my gratitude.  I was not expecting the arrival of a stranger at such a time.  You must find people this way often, and they most likely foolish enough to refuse your help."  Theon looked at her specutively.

But that moment, the crow cawed and fluffed his feathers, bouncing over to Theon's shoulders, pecking at his ear.  And at the moment his expression soured at the thought of her going after the monster.  "No.  You are not.  I thank you for your appearance at this moment of chance, but you are a fool to put yourself at risk.  You see those bodies out there.  You'll no better than dead.  I'm afraid I cannot allow that."

He was well aware she did not need his permission to such a thing, but if he might stop her here and now, if he could save one more life, perhaps that might make a small difference. 

"She's not going to listen to you, Theon," the crow murmured in his raspy, high-ptched voice.

[For the record, yes, Jouzan can talk and his voice can be heard by all.]

His "thank you" seemed to linger in the air, a sweet reward for her kindness that caused her to smile warmly, though he could not see as she was still leaning over her sledge.  She had finished now, it was tightly bound and secure once more.  It was when the bird spoke that she turned around and she couldn't help let out a short laugh at hearing his words even though she was reluctant to allow her growing pleasure at their company to be obvious.

Shaking her head to regain her poise she looked at the stranger and then at the bird.  "I have seen many things" she said settling back down on her sleeping roll and wrapping her furs around her thighs.  "I have seen men bonded with beasts.  Warriors with wolf companions, travellers with birds of prey but I have not, until this day heard a bird speak.  At least, I have not understood the words of a bird before" she added. 

"He is right of course" she said winking at the bird.  "I will do as I please, you can make suggestions and I dare say you will continue to do so but I fear I don't do well with advice.  Telling me I cannot or should not do something will certainly only reinforce my determination that I can and I will" she said unafraid to show her amusement now and smiling freely.  "I am a hopeless case I am afraid.  In any case my life is not your concern."

She was comfortable sitting facing him, her body language alluding to that.  She sat cross legged now, the furs covering her legs and draped over her shoulders.  The tent was getting warmer, their heat raising the temperature of the trapped air around them.  There was a slight whistling noise above their heads as the high winds moved over the top of the tent but the remainder of the tent was safely sheltered by the snow drift. Even the entrance to the tent which was cleverly enveloped kept the warm air inside and the bitter winds out.  Elapheesa was accustomed to the whistling of the bizzard but she looked over at the bird wandering if he was effected by the weather at all.

As she looked back at her companion she realised she knew very little of him at all... and although she was not inclined to know too much, in case she felt any responsibility towards him from knowing him better, knowing his name was preferable.  "You are right, I have met many other strangers in the snow." She began using her words to build a bridge between them that might allow her the opportunity to ask some questions of him.  "Though you are only semi correct about the situation I find them in.  It is not that they are too foolish to accept my help, it is normally that they are beyond help.  It is usually those already perished that I come across.  Bodies in the snow are not unusual, which is why I am able to step over those outside this tent with such ease.  When I am travelling this far from the city I cannot expect to meet suitable companions like you.  I am more likely to find either the dead or those I cannot risk approaching.  You were alone, I could see that.  I saw your outline as you crouched in the snow.  I could see you were not dressed in heavy furs like our warriors which indicated you were not from this land.  You did not appear to have any weapons of consequence, I admit I did not see your sword but I could see no axe, no hunting spear.  You were surrounded by bodies but I found it doubtful it was your doing.  So I assessed you as safe to approach and therefore, suitable." She watched his face for any indication of his judgment of this.

"If you had not been alone I might not have approached at all and instead headed to the east to navigate around you and avoid any potential danger.  It is more common to meet with hunting teams, usually male and not usually respectful of my hunting abilities.  There are other females, like myself who can hunt but the men do not praise our efforts or our skills.  We are pretty decorations for their homesteads, prizes to enjoy and breed with at the end of the hunting season.  If I see hunters ahead and I know them not then I do not approach.  They would more likely seek to disarm me and take pleasure from me than sit with me as you do, respectfully and as an equal." She spoke factually and without any emotional pain. 

"Our meeting was by chance as you say but fated to be profitable to us both.  Had I been later, an hour or two, you would probably have been lifeless.  My kindness whilst genuine is not altruistic, you have a warm camp and will be safe tonight, I have company to pass a few cold hours and having met your bird I am pleasantly surprised by how interesting you both are."  She wanted to include the bird in this as it quite clearly had a personality.

"I know nothing of you. You are learning more about me" she said opening her palms in front of her as if bearing her soul.  "I would like to know you better.  There are many hours to pass.  I believe we can spend a couple in conversation before we take our rest.  Your words need not be many but they are of interest to me.  Please fill the tent with your conversation. She smirked a little and then unfastening her hair, tilting her head back and letting out a soft moan as she enjoyed the pleasure of relaxation she spoke once more looking him straight in the eyes and feigning a serious expression: "You know, strong men have gone mad alone here in the snow.  Isolation is often a catalyst for insanity.  So you see, retrieving you from an icy death may yet keep me sane" still looking intently at him she could keep her serious expression no more and laughed. "Talk, talk" she said still laughing, "or else who knows what I might say next".  Humour in the snow was definitely a requirement, otherwise the eternally frozen earth would be cruelly depressing

Theon looked at her blankly, eyes wide at her sudden laughter.  No one took to Jouzan so quickly.  The hooded crow was a useful nuisance at best, a useful navigator for scouting ahead, and hunting small game to feed them both - a thought of which reminded Theon his last meal was a day ago and his stomach growled fiercely then as a show of it.  It was a shame this place was so empty, then he might have sent the crow off to find proper food.  Being a stranger in a strangeland left him at a loss when it came to food.  That or he might be tempted to eat what remained of the caravan rations and possibly even part of the bodies in the snow.

The crow laughed in their company, both with and at her, and hopped off of Theon's shoulder to poke at the sledge which she had finished tying down.  "Kah,kah, kah!  And most likely to face certain death in spite of good sense.  Oh, stay with this one.  I like her!  She's brave.  Foolish but brave," Jouzan squawked, still chuckling aftward as he bounded away, off to see what he could snoop at find a small crevice in the sledge and pushing himself underneath the tight covering.

Theon shot daggers at the bird, fully prepared to strangle its scrawny avian neck but sighed and turned back to the strange woman.  "You would put yourself at such risk for what?  To prove something!?  What would there be to prove in certain death?  But it's plain to see that I can't stop you.  Though I would try; and the reasons of which stem from something more than you could know."  He stopped there lest he tell too much.

"I am called Theon, as Jouzan has said.  The crow, that is his name.  There is much to tell to pass those waning hours of this night.  And not much to tell.  What would you have me say?  Is it not better to see that I'm trustworthy yet than to beg me for conversation?  Are you that desperate for companionship?  I have more questions of my own, you see.  I'm not of this land and perhaps it was a mistake to come up here at all.  But I cannot undo what has been done and I try - often in vain - to prevent what I can.  You ought to prefer insanity over the destruction that would be set upon you.  You might be a hunter of these lands but I doubt you'd ever hunted a creature like this."

Theon scoffed at her calculation of men, but these were the men she knew of her native home.  By that time the crow had finished its excursion of the sledge and pulled out a piece of dried meat from inside, holding it fiercely in his beak, until it pulled it out.  Theon reached forth and took a piece from the bird before Jouzan could snap at him and picked at it thoughtfully, eating small bites.  "There were strong men in this caravan.  I've seen strong men broken and bent and torn apart by things unseen.  Isolation was the least of my worries.  Freezing to death along with it.  I'm determnied not to die, even in the futility of mortal actions.  Am I a strong man?  I'm not a hunter, I'm not a warrior, a knight, or a squire, or a thief.  I don't know what I am honestly, it is all very hard to say.  Fine, if conversation is all you want then I can be inclned to give it.  What would you ask of me?  Don't be shy, ask all you can.  And in the meantime you can reflect on your own life, in these short waning hours before you are torn to shreds."

Theon cursed in his head, but his disdain for her stubborness was readily apparent.  He ate with some frustration, tearing the meat roughly and ripping it with his teeth.  Why would she not see reason?  Was it because he was a man that she wouldn't dare listen?  She'd come out of her way to see save his life to see what use he had, he could only implore her to consider the same for herself.  He had to think, if it came down to it, what he might do to keep her from going after the creature.  He'd have to stop her, he'd have to try.

"Theon and Jouzan" she said trying not to smirk, "You are both welcome."  She had listened to them both and could not help enjoying the bird's quick wit.  The fact the bird had made his way into her sledge and taken meat for Theon, who then consumed it without any apology and without checking he was permitted to do so further entertained her.  They were such an unusual pair to encounter and their strangeness made them all the more refreshing and desirable company for they were not like any she had met before.

"Food is hard to come by" she said watching him eat with relish.  Looking at him she felt he could do with more than had been stolen by the bird.  "I have dried meats and fish of course" she said watching him tear at the meat with his teeth.  "Preserved with salt" she added.  "You are welcome" she said smiling again unable to stop smiling now as it truly was the oddest situation she had been in for some time.

"Jouzan enjoys my company" she said remarking on the birds comments.  "Though I don't think chasing after this beast means I definitely face death, unless you know a great deal more than I do.  Beasts roam the snow all over this area.  Wolves attack in packs and could easily rip a group of men apart in minutes.  Are you sure it was one beast? " She asked probing him for more information.  He definitely knew more than he had shared, or at least he thought he knew, he couldn't be sure could he?  He had been so distressed by the deaths of his previous companions and he had not witnessed the attack.

The bird was perhaps more likable than Theon himself, at first meeting anyway.  Jouzan said things exactly as he found them.  No deceit or attempt to conceal what he thought, whereas Theon seemed to say little and conceal a great deal.  Perhaps she was just being paranoid.  Perhaps she was making all sorts of wild assumptions because it seemed too good to be true to have encountered them both and  to have found entertainment for the night ahead. 
"Tomorrow the winds may continue to blow strongly, or we may have luck on our side and find that they have changed direction.  A journey is pleasant with a high wind behind you guiding your progress through the snow.  You know the blizzard is unlikely to continue.  The ground beneath our feet is permanently frozen but snow does not continue to fall here without ceasing.  Actually there is little snow fall.  Usually the lightest of flurries drifts down.  It is the cold and winds that pose more of a threat to our progress.   I'm not so foolish bird" she said towards Jouzan.  "I would not use the word foolish to describe my behaviour.  Reckless certainly but not foolish.  I live everyday in this dangerous land.  You become accepting of death as a reality each day when you watch so many die and face peril so often.  You asked why I would put myself at risk" she continued looking back at Theon who was doing a good job of devouring the meat with such haste as to give himself indigestion.  "I don't do it to prove anything.  What have I to prove to you?  I don't care what you think of me, I may never see you again" she said pulling out the flask that had delighted her so greatly before.  "I would offer you some but you are happy to consume what is mine without asking so I will just leave it here and you can choose to help yourself if you wish" she said pushing the flask towards him, "I dare say some liquid refreshment will be welcomed by your tongue after cramming your mouth full of that dried meat you have consumed.  Don't be offended, I'm not.  You take what you need and I have not allowed you take anything I was not willing to give.  You will know if you over step the mark, I will make sure you do!" she said making her point clearly though the threat was soothed by the smile that looked so beautiful on her soft, pink lips. "The weather tomorrow should allow us to continue without too much difficulty.  I will seek out what destroyed this camp whether you permit me to do that with you or not.  Though I would consider you the foolish one to try to do so without me, you are a stranger in an unfamiliar land and tracking a beast in fallen snow wont be easy."

"Now in return for the food I would ask that you share a little more with me than you have thus far.  What did you mean when you said the reasons you would try so hard to stop me from this CERTAIN DEATH" she said that part in a mocking way, "Stem from something more than I could know, you think me incapable of knowing about this beast?  You dismiss me so quickly and my abilities to understand what you do? " She shrugged, "no matter you could at least try me though.  What harm can sharing a few words of wisdom do if it's doubtful I would understand them anyway?  Besides, if I'm facing CERTAIN DEATH in pursuing this beast I will take whatever you tell me to the grave with me" she added.  She made a good argument, whether or not he would see it that way was yet to be shown.

She rested her chin in her hands laying on her stomach looking up at him with a sweet smile once more waiting for his words to flow again and some interesting truths to be revealed.  She waited as though she were a small child waiting to hear a story read it would be cruel for him to crush her hopes but in one last attempt to prize more from his lips she said, "My name is Elapheesa and tomorrow I intend to seek out that which destroyed this camp, because I'm alive and I can.  How about you tell me more about this creature of the like I have never before encountered. You are unsure of what you are, not knight, not squire, not thief nor warrior... I find myself in pursuing new adventures.  We may both find ourselves in this quest."

He knew she made a good point and Theon found his argument faltering against her.  She was determined to go about her way, after this creature no matter what was said between them, no matter how much opposition he might prove against her.  He didn't understand how she could be so blatantly -'reckless' as she called it.  But she had a point, a great point in fact, that she lived everyday in this land, risked her life solely by walking into the blizzard alone, with nothing more than her sledge.

He looked at her, then to the flask.  He actually blushed at the comment of taking that which was not his and shook his head.  "I'm sorry," he muttered.  "I would have asked, but Jouzan knows no bounds.  What's yours is his without consequence."  He sighed again resigning, but his distressed expression changed little.  "What you intend to do, I can only assume is certain death, when the creature I saw was nothing like I've ever seen before.  You're right, this is a dangerous land, men die all the time, and the lucky few happen upon the generosity of travelers such as you.  How could this creature be any different right?"

He took the flask then, smelling its contents were strong.  He forced himself to take a sip however, feeling the liquid burn down his throat and instantly warm him, his cheeks turning red despite the cold that lingered inside the well-secured tent.  And handed it back with a small word of thanks.  He was finding his limbs were becoming restless and Theon found no use for sleep lest his visions return with a vengeance.

"If you fully intend to pursue it, then I will tell you what I do know.  Which isn't much at all.  I do not intend to give you any reason to distrust me, I don't want to hurt you or take anything from you without permission.  Like I said before, I was asleep when this happened.  But that doesn't mean that I didn't see it.  I...have visions in my sleep.  I saw the caravaners being slaughtered.  I thought it was just a dream, hoped it was, hoped it was another group of caravaners rather than the one I traveled with.  I heard their screams, in the mix as it happened outside of my tent and in my dream.  Men had their chests pulled apart, their hearts excavated, their entrails dragged out along the snow.  Much of that evidence is now frozen and buried underneath the drift.

"It was then that I awoke when the silence pierced my sleep.  It was far too quiet for the camp that was just settling in for the night.  Sensing something was wrong I burst from my tent, horrified that my dream had come true, that I'd been there the entire time and could do nothing to stop it.  Nothing to help my companions.  I saw something in the snow.  It was moving away from me and I gave chase, yelling for it to stop!  But it just vanished in the distance.  It's shape seemed like that of a man, long arms, powerful shoulders, but it's head was slumped, I think.  It was difficult to see in the snow.  But you see, it left no trace of is passage, almost spectral, not a track in the snow that wasn't there before.  I inspected the bodies, their corpses riddled with claw marks that seemed almost animal like, but they were much larger than any animal I would know.  Larger than a bears, larger than a wolf's teeth.  If you're a hunter, what kind of creature could do this?  Of all people, you would know."

Theon shook his head and finished the small ration he had in his hand, Jouzan too.  The bird cawed and gave Elepheesa a beady-eyed look of judgement.  "She will do, Theon.  If you are so intent to prevent her death, then you will help her.  What better than one versed in the lay of this land?" Jouzan said.

He hated that damn crow when he was right.  But he was and he looked back at Elepheesa with an amused grin.  "The bird has spoken," he laughed.  "I only ask why you would risk yourself because, well, I wonder, don't you have a family back home?  Don't you have anyone to return to?"

The pinkish tint to his cheeks as he apologized for taking the meat without comment was endearing and the way in which he blamed his bird for his ill manners unaware of how poor an excuse it was, was somehow charming.  "What's mine is Jouzan's without consequence" she repeated smiling still and listening intently to him, "then I excuse Jouzan" she said winking at the bird again enjoying its' naughty nature, "but you ought to know better Theon.  It's no matter really, this time anyway" she said reassuringly but hoped he would not push her to protect her property from him again. 

As he spoke of the creature she steadied her head in her hands and listened intently.  He paused to drink from her flask and she almost felt guilt when she saw him wince as he tasted the spirit, though seeing his cheeks flush with color she was pleased that it had performed its job despite his distaste for it.  "You get used to that" she said taking the bottle back and accepting his thanks.  She noticed him shuffle and hoped he would soon settle comfortably and rest but not yet... he was beginning to open up and she hoped he would soon talk of this beast they were to pursue.

As he spoke of sleeping yet seeing it still she knew his words were the truth, visions in his sleep seemed to make perfect sense and although she could not be totally sure, she had felt that she too may have seen things while she slept, things that were as real as those things she saw when awake.  She shook these ideas from her mind and refocused on his words.  No wonder he had been so upset when she had found him, he had seen the caravaners die.  He had watched their chests ripped open spraying the ground with fresh blood and their hearts and entrails unfurling from within their broken chest cavities to be dragged across the freshly fallen snow.  Such a sight was always hard to bear and all too easy to play back and recall.  She had seen a man devoured by a pack of wolves before, his screams seemed to call out even after he had been ripped open and his organs tossed from his body.  She knew what it was like to witness a violent death but she had become almost emotionless about these things.  She had managed to distance herself from the reality of death out here.  It was amazing what could be suppressed, how memories and fears could be locked away.

His description of the deadly beast made her skin shiver and the fine hairs on her arms stand on end.  "With the heavy snowfall a lack of tracks is unsurprising" she said not wishing to get carried away with the idea of the beast being spectral.  She did not indulge her fears.  The large claw marks though were physical evidence and could not be ignored, larger than a bears, teeth marks greater in size than a wolf's these facts warranted a degree of concern. 

As she looked to her for confirmation that a beast of his describing was unlike any known to exist in this land she was flattered he asked for her opinion as a huntress, males of her kind would not do so, considering her a female inferior.  "A bear's claws are large but not retractable.  A large cat though has retractable claws that when extended can spread giving them a span perhaps greater.  But I have not encountered any cats with claw sets larger than a bear.  Teeth marks indicating a bite radius larger than that of a wolf are puzzling, though there are beasts out in the snow that I have not witnessed first hand.  I would not pretend to have seen all there is to see" she said knowing that she had no facts to calm his fears. She was disappointed that she could not provide Theon an answer.

Jouzan approved of her even if Theon still had doubts and as the bird advised him to help her she found herself marvelling that in such a short time she had become so involved with them both and with the hunt for this dreamed of beast.  Her contemplation was short though for Theon had struck upon a line of questioning that cut to Elapheesa's core... he had asked about her family.

"There is none to speak of, no one remaining, no permanent homestead, no one to return to and no one to be responsible for" she said covering all further questioning with a quick dismissive summary of her lonely situation.  "I do not want your sympathy or concern.  It is my situation and I am grateful not to have worry of any others" she added then quickly changed the subject.  The light in the tent had been sufficient until now.  Outside the light was bright even with the heavy snow fall.  A white landscape reflecting light at every angle was another torment to those travelling these lands.  Even through the stretched skins of the tent the bright light outside had been sufficient for them to see each other well enough but now the light was slipping away and so to the heat.  Even their trapped body heat would not be sufficient much longer to keep them warm enough for the fast approaching night hours.

Again she was swift.  Shaping a funnel of soaked skins that would not easily burn she split the roof of the tent and pushed through the funnel creating a chimney to allow smoke to escape their confines.  Then pulling a large vessel from the end of her sledge she made a hollow in the center of the tent floor and poured a thick substance from the vessel into that hollow.  The smell was pungent but its purpose soon clear.  The dried animal dung burned with ease and the fire's heat returned the tent to a comfortable temperature once more as the dancing flames lit the space between them.
"With your vivid dreams do you fear sleep or can you close your eyes and allow your body to rest?" she asked happy that making the fire had allowed her to escape further interrogation of her lack of family.  "We ought to sleep to allow our bodies to rest before we venture out tomorrow.  Even if the weather changes to our favor walking in deep snow is tiring."

Theon was taken aback, quickly dismissed by her claims of a lack of a family.  Though she tried to brush over it, by her words and actions, it was easy to tell that the question had struck a chord with her and she was in no mood to make further discussion of it.  No matter, he would not press the issue for now, and there were more paramount matters at hand with the thought of such a strange creature that they would set out to hunt the following day.

Theon threw the fur from his shoulders as she set to burning the fuel, spreading it across the floor of the tent before laying back, relaxing at last and trying to wash the stress from his mind.  "I don't know if I can sleep with the thought of such on my mind," he murmured, looking up at the tent's ceiling.  "I feel like I've slept enough already.  And if I close my eyes again, I fear you may no longer be here when I wake."

He laughed, trying not to be sentimental for it was more in jest than because he was suddenly growing attached to her.  They'd only just met after all.  "But I wouldn't mind another sip of that flask if only to still my racing mind," he smiled at her again.  When at last he had another sip, taking one longer than the first one, he coughed considerably the stuff burning down his throat too quickly.  He sat up has he did so, nearly retching all over the place.

"Gods, I'm sorry.  I don't drink much if you can tell?  I imagine most of the men you encounter out here probably drink their brains out.  And try to take more than dried meat from you," Theon murmured, laying back down and closing his eyes.  "You are right," his voice turned to a whisper, feeling sleep slowly come to him.  "We'll find it come dawn...  Just...don't die on me..."

She waited until he had drifted off to sleep before she added more fuel to the fire and laid down her own head falling into a comfortable sleep feeling safe and reasurred that her companion was no threat to her. Her sleep was not dreamless but the images that occupied her as she slept were pleasant and warm, those that once she'd woken she would wish she could return to.

The fire's last embers flickered out close to dawn and the falling temperature awoke her.  It was still much warmer inside the tent that out but her breath was still visable in the cold air.  She looked over at him.  She was unsure if he was truly asleep as he was facing away from her, but he did not stir allowing her to wash and readorn her now dry clothing and furs ready to begin the day's trek in privacy.

His sleep whether now genuine or not was a blessing.  She liked to feel prepared and once he awoke conversation between them would be distracting.  It was far easier to ready herself alone.  She was fully dressed and the sledge made ready before he awoke.  Once he stood and dressed she would strip the remaining skins from the tent roof structure, take a few of the longer bones for future tent constructions and would be ready to set off.

Standing outside the tent her belongings all secure she smiled pleased that she had interpreted the change in weather correctly.  The winds had subsided and were not so strong today.  There was no blizzard.  The snow flakes floating in the air were large with a few feet in between each allowing her to see them in all of their beauty as they fell softly on to her hair and the fur cape about her shoulders.  Theon would be pleased when he joined her to see that their trek would not be hampered by adverse conditions.  The snow was thick though underfoot so it would tire their muscles as each foot step would sink deep below the freshly fallen, uncompressed layers.  No matter, she was glad of the quest that he had brought to her.  A beast to hunt was an adventure she would enjoy!

If he had thought that would be his only vision, he'd been wrong and as usual Theon's sleep was fitful and not at all as refreshing as he'd hoped to be.  But the alcohol he'd drank from the flask helped to still his mind and warm his body and the visions that passed before his sight were languid and slow, with little detail to show for it. 

He was trapped in endless white, trekking relentlessly through the snow as the air pressed against him, blazing snow across his face.  The hood of his cloak was pulled over his head, a cloth covering his mouth and nose as he kept moving onward.  Jouzan had flown somewhere ahead, vanishing in the distance, riding on the wind.  Theon saw that familiar shape in the distance, the shape of a monstrous man, lurking farther ahead.  He called out, though no sound came from his mouth.  He ran faster in the snow, legs long enough to lift him through the drift.  The shape paused turned to face him for a moment and he saw the bluish glow of ghastly eyes before it turned casually and continued to move farther away from him.

It vanished yet again, Theon desperate in his pursuit, using what energy he had to make chase.  His heady felt heavy, his ears deaf even to the shriek of wind.  But suddenly an intense howling pierced the air, almost like that of a man in intense pain, or in immense sorrow.  But somehow it seemed to be a combination of both.  A howl that sent chills to his very bones.

His eyes burst open then, finding Elapheesa already awake and dressed.  He was sweating despite the cold and immediately  wiped himself off, and redressed in his tunic and armor, even strapping his cloak back over his shoulders and throwing the hood over his head.  "Might I hold on to this?" he asked, gesturing to the bear skin fur he'd borrowed from her during the night.  He slipped it over his shoulders, knotting it around his neck as he rechecked his blade and the rest of his gear.  He looked around them at the remains of a few tents that poked up from the drift.  Though the winds were much tamer now, most of the caravaners were buried underneath the snow.  He walked on ahead, Jouzan perched on his shoulder, unfazed by the cold.  He pointed ahead of him, remember where his tent had been and nodded his head.  "I saw it head that way.  That'd be the best direction to start."  But he looked at her, concern in his eyes.  "Are you sure you don't want to change your mind?"  But he knew what the answer would be already and just smiled at her.  "C'mon then.  Ladies first."

Theon was at least better dressed today.  She was glad he had retained the fur she had loaned him the night before, at least she had no cause to worry about him failing early due to becoming overcome by the cold.  She collected the skins that had formed their overnight tent roof and retained the longest, densest bones for future construction.  With all secured she was ready to depart and just as Theon suggested she moved ahead to lead their way.

Progress was slow, the deep snow made walking difficult as it was freshly fallen, loose and uncompressed.  Each footstep sinking deep into the snow which necessitated them wasting  energy as they then loosened their feet, pulled them out and thrust forwards once more.  Their legs would suffer later, no doubt she would feel it in her muscles for a few days.

This beast was a mystery and she enjoyed that.  Life's little puzzles added spice to what would otherwise be very similar days following one after another.  She believed that what Theon had seen was something very different from a bear or wolf but she was not scared just sensibly cautious, as she always was whenever traveling so far from any permanent settlement.
To pass the time more pleasantly and to delay Theon, if only for a while, from talking about her impending doom Elapheesa made conversation.  Her words strung together in a poetic manner seemed tuneful as they walked.  Though she spoke the tone of her voice and way in which her pitch varied gave her tale a delightful song-like quality.  Almost bewitching it was designed to be calming to anyone who'd listen.

"The snowflakes" she began walking almost side by side him, leading him carefully over the safest path ahead but not striding out in front as if to appear superior to him.  "The snowflakes today are large, have you noticed?  They are floating down to us like beautiful jewels from the heavens.  Each one quite beautiful.  I like it best when they fall this way.  Like solitary souls showering down on us with plenty of space around them to allow us to see each one in detail. Theon can you see how awe inspiring they are?  Do you see it or are they insignificant specks to you and almost invisible as you concentrate only on the path ahead and this beast you seek.  I hope you can see them.  I always think that it is the awesome that we so easily ignore and the mundane which we seem to give too much attention to.  You see the fact we are in pursuit of a beast is not that unusual as beasts roam these lands.  Nor is the fact that whatever it is murdered your companions last night for food here is scarce.  You said that yourself.  Beasts have need to eat as we do and yet because they do not have care for each other or us they can consume fresh meat without pause for thought  and are able to kill any other living thing they encounter in order to eat and to live.  But now I return your attention to these magnificent snowflakes.  Each one that falls upon us today will be different.  No two the same, isn't that incredible?  Not just that, look at one" she said opening her palm and allowing one to settle neatly within it  "Look at it Theon, really look at it.  Look at the lines of symmetry, so many identical angles.  It is truly unique, none other like it and yet all it is... is water.  It is an amazing thought that so many different snowflakes could be formed in exactly the same way isn't it.  Yet we are walking through this lightest of snow flurries as though there is nothing incredible about it at all.  We are ignoring the marvelous and only mindful of the mundane" she said smiling sweetly at him as the snowflake melted in her hand. 

She continued to speak to him as they walked on through the snow.  "See how it has melted, returned to water and run across my palm.  It is gone and forgotten, what was so perfect and beautiful remains no more.  It makes me wonder what is the point?  So much design put into a snowflake, so much thought in making something that is deemed so insignificant and that is so fragile.  They melt or merge into the vastness of already fallen snow so quickly.  Their uniqueness lost as they become one with the infinite." She paused looking at him, you probably think I have far too much time out here alone to ponder these matters" she said smiling once more.  "I just have time to consider my surroundings and even though I am here always, treading snow, under the canopy of white sky I still see how wondrous it all is.  Cruel, life taking and painful.... but wondrous too."

Listening to her speaking came almost as a hum to Theon, and he was content solely to listen to it.  He was growing to like her speaking, as it kept him from having to say anything, kept him from having to think of the dread that lingered in his stomach.  He kept one hand on Lohengrin, the blade at his side, and the other on his hip as they walked through the tiring snow.  His legs were considerably longer than hers so his steps were larger and he swung them with greater ease, but he kept his pace steady as to not walk behind her.

He could feel the warmth of his blade stem through his hand, like a warm, steaming bath compared to the icy drift that fluttered down around them.  It kept his mind steady, kept him calm, and from running through the snow in hysterics.  It was difficult for him to hide his emotions, unlike his companion who spoke steadily as if she went after such strange beasts on a daily basis.  But he was glad for the distraction and he only realized then that he'd been smiling when he turned his face to look at her by his side.

At the inspection of the snowflakes, he too watched them, his the red in his violet eyes glistening in the morning wonder of the frosted drift.  He was breathless and smiling like a small child having seen snow for the first time in his life.  Of course he'd seen snow before, had to have seen snow as he passed through the treacherous mountains of northern Serendipity and trekking through to the tundra.  But he stopped for a moment, taking the hand from his side and holding it out along with hers, watching the snowflake flutter down to the center of his palm, exist for but a brief moment before fading with the warmth of his hand.

He smiled with a small gasp and looked at her with wonder apparent in his eyes.  "I suppose the same could be said of all things," he said, continuing beside her.  "When we are made are all unique, only when we fall, flutter to the ground, do we conform like all the rest.  We are all born to rest in the ground at long last.  Each unique in its making, water forming its shape until the temperature freeze it into its final form.  Flutters to the ground, like a feather, only to become nothing more than a whisper.  Vanishing like tears in rain."

He wiped off his hands and kept pace with her, silent for a short time.  "You are right.  We most often spend so much attention on the mundane we find it easy to overlook that which we deem ordinary in insignificant.  And perhaps it is comparable to our own existences, we are beautiful, yet we are ordinary and more insignificant than we can fathom.  But this world is all we know, all we have.  What more could we ask for but to live, love, and be happy?  To live as we deem fit before we flutter to the ground like the rest of them.  There are many beautiful things in this world, with such a short time to enjoy them.  Why squander that time?

"Between beasts and men...perhaps we are not so different.  Beasts are more inclined to use what available to them at their immediate disposal.  Men do the same, though he always desires more, offtimes it his downfall."  Theon grew somber from discussion of snowflakes, remember the ambition of his caravan companions.  They'd been eager to make it Hyoite, they'd been eager to beat the night.  And now they were dead in the snow.

"But I'm not like most other men," Theon muttered, watching where he was walking.  "I notice all I can, I watch all things, I don't let the wonder be wasted.  Time is short and life is precious.  Life is beautiful, if only you know what to look for.  And even if you don't, leave your mind open and you'll never know just what you might find."  He smiled at her as they walked.

She didn't have need to make him smile but she was pleased none the less when she caught a glimpse of a soft, genuine smile on his face.  It suited him.  He was always so serious beneath the surface, so concerned about some inner turmoil perhaps? Perhaps the visions in his dreams disturbed him or maybe it was just fear of whatever it was they hunted.  Whatever it was that plagued him she was pleased she had distracted him and allowed him to relax enough to find himself feeling the warmth of happiness better to be happy briefly than not at all.

"You understand it" she said listening to him talk about the life of men and how they too return to form part of the infinite.  She was more struck though with what she saw in his eyes, he too saw the snowflakes, really saw them.  "You know they aren't perfect.  Few are perfectly symmetrical.  If you had an hour to spare, which I know you do not, but if you did.  If we weren't committed to our search for this beast you could catch them, examine each one and find few are without flaw.  Most snowflakes are flawed in some way but things do not have to be perfect to be beautiful do they?" she asked though she didn't really seem to be asking him about snowflakes at all.

They were making steady progress; there was no point in rushing even if he wanted to find the beast sooner, rather than later.  Rushing would cause them greater fatigue and she didn't want to find the beast only to discover she had no energy left to face it.  Facing the beast, it was on her mind now.  She could see Theon kept his sword at his side, he was ready to face whatever it was they pursued.  She on the other hand was a huntress not a warrior.  She had two blades strapped to her boots.  They were kept sharp and she had used them before in defence but their main purpose was to gut her kills.  She had no sword, though perhaps she ought to invest in one.  Her spear was strapped to the sledge, she could locate it with ease and it would be foolish to carry it in hand as it would slow her down and unbalance her.  She pondered these things and considered voicing them to Theon but she would not, not now at least.  She did not want him to worry for her.  It was her choice to be there, it felt right to be there.  She would take care of herself, she always did. 

[Sorry!  Short post is short!]

"You only slightly misunderstand me," Theon said, grinning at her.  "It is perfect in it's own creation, because it was made to be that way.  Not because it is symmetrical.  Take our existence for example.  Nobody is perfect because we do things flawlessly.  We are perfect in our imperfection.  That we only improve with life, perhaps we falter from time to time, but if we press on, find our nich in life, at last we might achieve our own perfection.  For it is truly in the eye of its beholder."

Theon looked at her and noticed then how beautiful she was, and he was smiling for a time, ony to blush at his own inspection, turning his eyes to the path ahead.  Her eyes in particular were remarkable.  "I see you are looking at my blade," he continued.  "If you are a hunter and intend to help me find this beast, how are you prepared for such combat when the moment arises?  How quickly could you dispatch an opponent in the heat of battle?"

She was lost in his conversation for a moment, his own manner could be as poetic and hypnotic as her own.  He too seemed to be a thinker and this likeness with her own tendency to speak of things that others would consider isignificant was intoxicating.  It was only when he returned conversation to how she would cope when faced with the beast that his charming smile disappeared and the spell like quality of his counternance was broken.

"I suppose" she said returning to more practical considerations than snowflakes and human flaws "I will do whatever I need to do.  In these situations you can be prepared, have weapons at the ready but much of it becomes instint.  I often replay a hunt back in my mind and consider my actions and the way in which a beast more than twice my weight was brought to its death so swiftly.  Sometimes it takes a few minutes for my heart to slow and mind to stop racing after a more difficult kill and I wonder how I achieved it." Her words rang true as she spoke of experience not imaginings.  "A warrior is trained to weild a weapon or several of choice.  Knows how to swing a sword and the art of sword play perhaps, or has trained to use knives in combat, anticipating an oponents moves and how to defend against those and use other well practiced moves to attack.  I am not a warrior.  In combat with another human I would only be able to draw on my hunting skills." She paused and looked at his sword again and then pulled from her left boot one of her knives.  She played with it in her hands transfering it from one hand to the other in movements so well rehearsed that they were fluid and seemed as natural as her taking one step in front of the other to walk.  "We all have weaknesses, but I do not think being a huntress not a warrior will be my downfall in pursuing this or any beast, it is an animal after all." She said hoping there might be a little more information for him to share.  "An animal not a man with weapons to aim at my throat.  It is animals I pursue and kill.  Yes you hunt it with intent to retaliate  after it killed those caravaners but it should die the same way as the other beasts I hunt for food, skin, fur and fuel." She was practical, yes she could speak of things as though she were a philospoher but those thoughts did not prevent her survival instinct and understanding that basic needs had to be met. Surviving here was about doing just that: meeting needs.  Life was precious still to her but animal life was a commodity, a source for things she needed. 

She didn't want to seem over confident, nor flippant about what they would face. She was trying to be optomistic, there was no point entering into battle with a beast or man if doing so with the outlook that certain death laid ahead.  "When I hunt caribou, musk oxen, fox, hare even bear I never know how easy the beast will be to bring down.  They are after all, like us... they don't want to die.  No animal, unless injured or ill gives up it's life with ease. " She added the knife in her hand swiveling about in the centre of her palm without wobbling before her fingers grasped its hilt once more.  "This knife is bone, sharp like a claw, it enters the thicest of hides swiftly if you get the angle right.  I am not without hope am I Theon?" she asked smiling at him.  "Do not worry for me.  You will do what you do and I will do what I can" she added though in truth and not by intention she could not help fear for him already.  Though she was trying to push such thoughts to the back of her mind she wanted no harm to come to him.  Perhaps she had been foolish to enter into this hunt after all.

Theon listened to her with a hardened but thoughtful expression, understanding all her points.  He'd met hunters in the forest before and when the tension of friend or foe was gone between them, they were much like her, willing to share their camps and their food with weary travelers.  But the difference between then and here was that the distance between this Wild and civilization was vastly significant.  A single step could mean the matter of life and death and the ability to hunt and hunt well was important.  And whether she knew it or not, his eyes showed that he valued everything she had to say when it came to her skill and ability to find and kill this creature.

"I respect your experience," he said, nodding to her as he watched her bone blade pass between hands.  "Because I have nothing much to offer in that regard.  These lands are more than foreign to me and among the most treacherous I've walked across.  But I wish I could tell you without the shadow of a doubt that the creature we hunt really is an animal.  Then I would have little to worry about.  Not quite because of you but because of the uncertainty which lies before us.  But battling an animal versus battling a man is little different; perhaps the only way you might defend yourself against him would be to become an animal yourself.  At the very heart it is survival.  Not of the fittest, nor even of the most skilled, but of the smartest.  You have a weapon in your mind, don't be afraid to use it.  And I can see already that you do. "  He grinned at her warmly as they kept on.  He then turned his eyes to the distance, trying to scan the horizon line amidst the soft flurry that fluttered down around him.  He turned his head to the black and gray form of the hooded crow on his shoulder and nodded to him.

The bird gave a soft caw before flying off ahead in the distance, taking to the sky and eventually disappearing into the snow.  "Jouzan and I," he explained.  "Have a particular connection.  I will see what he sees as he scouts ahead.  If there is danger, he will warn us.  We –"  Theon paused suddenly the as his eyes spotted something on the ground and he immediately shot out an arm across Elepheesa's chest to stop her as well.  "Wait," he said, retracting his hand as he knelt in the snow.

Before him were small prints, light and not quite recent, but appeared quite human.  Instinctively, Theon drew the fur from his shoulders and held it out over the few prints present before him to keep the snow from filling it.  "Feet!" he exclaimed.  "They go that way!  East I believe, but perhaps it is northeast.  Should we follow them?  Perhaps they might lead to another camp.  Asking questions would be better than wandering in this expanse quite aimlessly."

His bird flew on ahead, she watched it soar off until his outline in the white sky above them became faint and silently disappeared.  As Theon spoke of how he saw what the bird saw she felt a tinge of jealousy at their bond and the incredible feeling having a kindred spirit like that must bring.

She had expected Theon to confess his uncertainty as to whether or not the beast who had killed the caravaners was human or not, she had sensed that possibility from the beginning but had not wanted to voice it.  She would not allow herself to think on this yet.  An animal killing those people was not a pleasant thought but was not out of the ordinary either, they need to eat, people are food.  Or perhaps it had been fearful for its life, or they had hunted it and their deaths had been the beast defending itself, fighting for its survival. An animal she could understand, it would still be a terrible thing and a dangerous beast to allow to continue roaming the ice.  A human though, even a semi-human was a far more sinister possibility for a human, even a part human would have killed following some thought process... they would have chosen to kill.  Even if threatened a human or part human would have known such vicious killing was unnecessary.  For a moment she flashed back to the scene she had discovered with Theon kneeling down in the snow and bodies ripped apart, insides on the outside, empty cavities in their chests, total devastation.  "Let us hope the beast is not human" she said before joining Theon as he crouched on the snow sheltering his discovery so that she might see it too.

"You're right" she said looking at the foot print Theon protected.  It was obviously human, as he had concluded.  Two feet, larger than her own, most likely a male's.  The footprints at least two inches embedded into the snow, which had allowed them to remain visible even though their owner was no where in sight.  Such a depth of imprint suggested the man who made these footprints was heavier rather than slight in build.  Theon wanted to follow the prints and she could not deny that made sense since they were currently pursuing the beast without any clue to its definite path.  "We shall" she said looking for the next set of prints and then taking fast strides, "we should hurry they will soon be covered".

Walking much faster now, aware she could tire but filled with adrenaline which allowed her to ignore her aching muscles she followed the trail ahead, sometimes barely visible in the snow staring at the white causing her eyes to flash and requiring her to shut them momentarily so that she might overcome the bright light.  "We don't know whose footprints we follow" she said looking over her shoulder to her companion who was following her closely.  "It may be a hunter, but even then that might pose a threat". 

She said no more but she would prepare herself should they encounter a hunter she did not know.  She had been hesitant for many years about getting too close to other hunters.  The males away from their wives and families for months on end out here had needs that they did not like to ignore.  The isolation made them mad and if not crazy it made them less human.  She had seen men look at her as though assessing her usefulness and it was not a feeling she enjoyed.  She was worth no more to them than an animal.  From animals they took meat, from her they would take pleasure.  A sole hunter would not be too much of a danger, she was quick on her feet and able to defend herself against one man, particularly if he had made camp and was drinking but males seldom hunted alone and more than one, the idea of a group made her shudder. 

Theon seemed so energised at seeing the footprints and finally having a trail to follow she would allow him to relish this and not bring doubts or fears to his mind.

He didn't need to be told twice.  At her insistence to follow the prince before the snow flutter covered them, immediately he stood and shook off the fur, threw it over his shoulders and secured it.  Within seconds he was on the trail as well.  She'd gone off a little ahead of him and Theon stayed behind, his hand on his blade just in case the matter rose that it needed to be drawn.  But he swallowed a growing knot in his throat and hoped to whatever gods there may be that he didn't have to.

As they pressed onward, they came toward a small thicket of trees, and the tracks seemed scattered and went all over the place until eventually disappearing in the softness of rumpled snow nearby.  The air was quiet, too quiet sans for the soft billows of their breath that came on white clouds.  Theon stood beside Elepheesa, waiting.  It wasn't until he heard a suddenly whistling in the air, the sound of steel singing on wind did he turn around, unsheathing Lohengrin as he went and there was a small spark of metal to metal as he struck the blade that was aimed at Elepheesa's face with expert precision, knocking the blade to the ground.

"Get out of here!" A voice wailed.  It was that of a man's and he seemed well hidden in the snow.  "Get away from here!  I'm warning you."  In the distance, Theon could see a man sitting by a tree, half-buried in snow and he stood up, or tried to anyway, leaning against that tree, holding a hunting knife in his hand, while his other hung uselessly to the side.  "I-I mean it!" he cried hoarsely.  "I'll gut you like a fish."

Theon stepped forth, holding Lohengrin before him,  then saw around the man were the dead bodies of his two companions, slumped in the snow, torn and slashed as if attacked by an animal.  And around them the remains of a makeshift camp.  There was another man, moving in his bloodied furs, clutching his stomach but otherwise alive. He looked at the two approaching and paled in response, unable to mutter words, only groans of pains.

"DON'T COME ANY CLOSER!" the wounded hunter cried out.  "My brothers know I'm gone.  They'll be coming any moment!"  He moved closer to his last living companion, his useless arm dangling to the side and knelt down in front of him between Theon  and Elepheesa.   "You'll be okay, Madack.  You'll be all right!  Stay with me!"

Theon stood warily, but kept his blade point pointed toward the snow.  "What happened here?"

Elapheesa had heard it said that silence could be deafening and in the situation she found herself in she could see why.  The air was quiet, the snow was falling softly without sound, and there was a lack of any noise as they stood side by side waiting. Then that silence changed to the clinking of metal against metal so swiftly that it didn't seem possible it had ever been silent at all.  The blade momentarily in her face was struck away; Theon had acted without pause and defended her.  The attacking blade landed in the snow a few feet from her and she instinctively dropped low and rolled over retrieving it and taking it in her own hand turning the attacking blade into that with which she could and would  defend herself.

The wailing voice giving them warning to move on and leave this place was male.  Elapheesa looked around to find the origin of the voice and saw a man well hidden in the snow, not entirely visible and therefore still mysterious.  There was briefly time to decide whether he was the perpetrator  or one of the victims of this attack. The warnings to leave continued along with threats to attack them, even gut them like fish but strangely Elapheesa felt nothing, numbed to what she was hearing, numbed to any fear it was just confusion that filled her mind and made her thoughts rapid though fruitless was this man innocent?  Was he at fault?  The man yelling threats had stood, more visible now but shielded by the tree so not entirely clear.  His voice was hoarse, rough, and husky and becoming more and more frantic.
 
She watched Theon step forward holding his sword out in front of him bravely and it was not that she didn't share the same bravery but she was still undecided at what situation they had discovered.  Around this man shouting threats at them were bodies, two other men laying dead in the snow and as brutally killed as Theon's companions from a day earlier.  Slashed, torn, ravished before death, it was another macabre scene.  Their camp was now mere remnants of skins and furs, broken tent supports and belongings cast all about.  Then from the mess and destruction came yet another man, his clothing blood covered; his hands pressing onto his stomach covering a large wound which ran with blood despite his hands clinging to it.  He did not speak but groaned out and looked at Elapheesa with sorrowful eyes, disbelief at what had befallen him. 

The wounded hunter was crying out again and Theon's eyes were focussed on him, Elapheesa did not take her eyes from the other injured man.  "You'll be okay, Madack.  You'll be all right!  Stay with me!" the hunter said speaking to his injured friend now before moving over to him and dropping to his knees.

Theon stood warily, but kept his blade point pointed toward the snow.  "What happened here?" He said questioning the survivors.

The men were clearly in shock, whatever had attacked them had done so swiftly.  Elapheesa had not moved, she remained focussed on the injured man aware her gaze was having a calming effect on him and now she softly, slowly moved towards him.  Her breathing consistently slow she inhaled, held the cold air in her lungs and then exhaled looking at him, saying nothing but showing compassion in her facial expression.  Her soft mouth gently smiling and to still his frantic, erratic friend she dropped the weapon she had picked up in a gesture to persuade their trust.  Reaching the injured man she held out her hands and then slowly she tore her own tunic to press into his wound in attempt to stop the bleeding.  Her other palm against his cheek as she looked into his eyes and gave a hopeful smile.  The injured man became calm in spite of his pain and Elapheesa's deliberate and controlled serenity brought peace to him in his final moments.  She watched his grimace and fear disappear as his face relaxed and  his clenched fists released allowing his fingers to uncurl as the rest of his body became floppy and sank into the snow.  He stared at her as she heard the death rattle from his chest,  "Find bliss and dwell forever there" she said as he exhaled for the last time. 

She closed his eye lids and turned to look at Theon.  Her look was brief for she felt a hand grab her wrist roughly and heard  screaming close to her ears.  The man's desperate, fingers squeezing her wrist, twisting around and causing the blood in her veins to thump close to the surface it's flow prevented.  "He has passed" she said to reassure the crazed survivor.  His passing was done at ease, he had found peace" she continued reassuringly  remaining slow and steady, quietly spoken. 

"What happened?" she asked again lifting her arm slowly to remind the man that he grasped her wrist so tightly.  "It has happened before and it will happen again unless you help us".  The man let go of her wrist throwing his hands to the ground letting out a shrill cry of sorrow, before clasping both his hands to his face and sobbing loudly into his hands.  "A beast, a thing of darkness" he said and shuddering and crying loudly he collapsed into her body causing her to wrap her arms around him and to cover him in her fur.

"He is in shock" she said beckoning Theon closer.  We must get him warm, move him away from... " she didn't say bodies but her eyes indicated her meaning.  "He wont talk unless he can regain his composure." 

Theon stood back and watched the display unable to do much but offer witness to the pain of the severely wounded hunter as he clutched his wounds.  He sheathed his sword as a show of peace and the hunter calmed considerably as his eyes bore into Theon's, wild, frantic, almost as if he would die of madness before anyone would come and end his miserable life.  Theon couldn't help but feel sorry for the man, but it was quite clear what happened here, and what had passed through.  It only saddened him to find more victims of the beast they hunted.

He looked over at the bodies of his companions, torn apart much like the caravaners, except these seemed to be more or less killed with a hunger for blood and suffering than because they were used as substance for survival.  He could see teeth had sunk in here and there, claws cut away at some meat, but the bodies were more or less in tact in terms of what was most suitable to eat.  If anything he considered if they hadn't found this hunter sooner, he might have been forced to eat his brethren in the midst of his madness and suffering.

Theon cast his eyes back to Elepheesa as she tried to help the one most severely injured and he would have shed a tear of sorrow had not the icy wind tore at his eyes and made him blink them away and dried them out.  He squinted and watched with solemnity as the man at last succumbed to his wounds and fell limp in the snow.  Perhaps he ought to have used Lohengrin then, ought to have made him hold the blade that he might ease his suffering.  But it was eased enough when at last death came to take the man home to whatever beyond existed from this place of mortal suffering.

The other hunter it seemed couldn't take it and when he howled in the snow, trying to move even his obviously broken arm, he soon slumped himself against Theon's companion, beside himself with grief and trauma.  Even his answer couldn't quite clarify what Theon already knew.  "Wait a moment," Theon said, remaining calm, despite the man's state, which only reminded him of how he felt when he saw the slaughtered remains of the people he traveled with.  "It is not an easy thing to take in," Theon said softly, not speaking specifically to the man.  "To watch the people you knew alive and well only moments ago.  Particularly those who were your friends and then suddenly have them stripped of their lives so brutally.  So callously.  But understand, there is always help.  We will take this man to the nearest settlement and get him to proper health and care.  There is only so much we can do out here."  That last part referred to Elepheesa.  There was a tranquility in watching her cradle the man, trying to keep him calm even as his tears threatened to remain frozen against his face.

"Here," Theon said, pulling his sword from his belt and slipping the hilt into the man's hands.  "Don't fight it.  Just breath."  Suddenly the wounded hunter felt his frantic state begin to momentarily subside.  Elepheesa would be able to feel it reverberate through her, the hunter's decreasing heartbeat and his physical trembles begin to subside as he felt calming waters wash over him and when he felt he could sustain his own weight he pulled back from her for a moment, just holding on to her shoulder, letting go of Lohengrin.  Theon grinned and resheathed the sword.  He moved closer to the hunter and put his good arm over his shoulders and coaxed him to stand, helping him move, his other arm just dangling, no more than dead weight.

"Elepheesa, perhaps it might do to cover these bodies.  We won't go far, just through the trees a little ways before I prepare a fire.  The winds are not strong.  Come along then, easy there.  Jouzan..." he called out to the sky.  "Now would be a good time to come back."

As they moved through the trees and settled away from the bodies, the hunter sat down against a tree and within a few minutes Jouzan's dark and gray form fluttered to the ground with a dead hare in his claws.  At least then they would have something fresh to eat.

Theon's sword, that's all she could think about as she went about covering the bodies.  What she did was of respect for their lives though as much as she knew feeling sadness would be natural she still felt barely anything, she was so numbed to death.  She didn't know these men, their bodies looked no different to her than that of perished, nearly frozen boar.  When a life is gone what remains is just a carcass, the vessel that once contained life once empty cast away. Their bodies covered she returned to the trees no more than a hundred yards from the scene of devastation.

Theon's arm was held aloft as his bird flew down through the trees above, a canopy of branches that would give them good cover tonight as they rested.  The birds beak gripped tight around a hare, they would eat fresh meat. 

She said very little. Theon was now host, he had taken the role of leader naturally and without discussion.  She did not fight that.  They were two individuals linked only through her choice to accompany him on this rather unusual hunt, but a hunt never-the-less.  No doubt once found the beasts end would ultimately be their parting.  She thought it best to distance herself from Theon to prevent that parting having any lingering affect on her.  She was stronger as a solitary woman she reminded herself of that. 

At least she was useful in this situation.  She could make camp for them all with no more difficulty than making camp for herself alone.  Tent posts (bone of course, though those she had carried for several months not fresh from the dead) dug into the snow and skins tightly stretched over them and bound their sanctum was once again prepared.  While she did this she allowed herself occasional glances at Theon and their new companion, his arm damaged but after touching the sword he was otherwise in remarkably good health.  No sooner had she looked though then Theon's sword returned to her thoughts again and remained there whilst she collected the hare from beside the proud bird and prepared food for them all.

Whale fat burned well when in oil form and poured over some of the dryer thin branches she had pulled down from the thin but tall trees above them a fire was made that would at least be sufficient to cook the hare. 

The task of cooking out here was simple but required care as to not allow waste or flames to scorch meat and ruin the mediocre food available.  As her work was not taxing she had opportunity to let her thoughts return to his sword again.  She looked at her hands, her arms and closed her eyes for a moment remembering how they had felt when the stranger had grasped Theon's blade.  The vibrations that had moved through the stranger and then through her bones. The way her blood had felt hot in her veins.  The way her heart had almost leapt out of her chest and then the feeling afterwards.  As though her whole body had lurched forward with such force that it felt she could explode with renewed energy.  What magic was this?  She knew little of Theon in that moment he became all mysterious to her again.  She could predict the way he would walk around a portion of ice, anticipate the way he would sit in the tent that evening but knowing anything of him, she could profess to knowing no more than the stranger now sitting with him. 

Not only that... this beast they sought was nothing like she had known before.  The bodies this time revealed much more about the beast.  There were more of them that would have been difficult to attack in this number and  could not have been attacked as part of normal feeding, not so soon after the last camp was ripped apart.  Arms were thrown about like twigs.  Bodies split open and organs disguarded as though drained of the blood that had powered them but not eaten.  There was plenty of meat on these men, big, strong hunters.  The beast that had killed them was not after meat that was certain.  What would kill this way and not consume the flesh?  What was Theon chasing?  What did he know?  She wanted to feel she knew all he did but there was still doubt in her mind.  More and more the feeling that whatever did this thought about it, planned it ... as though part human became more likely to her.

She had to trust Theon, he seemed so good, so caring, more so than she.  He had promised this man help and she knew he would fulfill his promise.  She could not say she behaved in such an unselfish way as he did.  "There is always help" that is what Theon had said to the stranger.  Always?  There is always help.  How different Theon's experience was to her own.  How wonderful to have that hope.  Elapheesa helped herself, that was her only surety. 

"We will take this man to the nearest settlement and get him to proper health and care.  There is only so much we can do out here."  That's what Theon had said and she had nodded to him. She didn't speak there was so much on her mind, so much yet within her body that felt strange... his sword had left a mark, invisible and no doubt temporary but still she felt strange.

With the hare cooked and ready to eat she took out three basic pots and shread the meat in her fingers ripping every last strand from the bone, wasting nothing.  The best she gave to the stranger putting the bowl in his hands gently holding her fingers on top of his for a moment before moving away and passing Theon's bowl to him barely lifting her eyes to his as she gave him his food.  They ate in relative silence.  The food much needed tasted wonderful and lifting flakes of meat from her bowl she offered them to Theon's loyal bird saying his name softly "Jouzan eat, your hunt, your reward". 

More branches were thrown on to the fire. It seemed reasonably safe to allow it to burn outside, the trees offered some protection from animals seeing the flames from a distance and she did not feel the need to rush inside the tent the evening yet young.  Outside she could afford a little distance between Theon and herself.  Time to contemplate all that had happened.

Theon had set the man to the side and he was quite renewed once again once the fire had started.  He was quite amazed and watched with a fleeting fascination how deftly Elepheesa moved about fashioning the tents with such expert handiwork and that only reminded him of the canvas flap that had taken to the wind only yesterday as his companions had made came for that night.  For a moment he took time to wonder what might have been done differently, perhaps if they'd picked up a different stop to make camp, if only they'd kept walking for a another hour or so, or maybe made camp sooner.  Maybe if Theon hadn't gone to sleep that night.  But the weariness in his bones had been too much for even Lohengrin to soothe away entirely and he had no choice but to slump into his own tent.

If only...

But he couldn't let himself think on it.  He looked over to Elepheesa again as she worked.  She seemed so capable of coping with such trauma, with such devastation, and despite his own words, of course Theon had his doubts.  Things didn't always go the way one planned.  And he knew that if Elepheesa had not shown up when he did, he could have very well have been dead, to shocked in the snow to find the strength to go on.  Yet there was more that seemed to concern him and when he studied her features as she worked, even as he tended to the man, setting his arm, which only seemed sore now as the winced here and there and only screamed once, he could plainly see that she fought to hide her emotion under a veil of seeming apathy.  No human could shield themselves from the force of their emotions forever.  He knew that something lurked underneath, that she would not reveal, something she was hiding, or preferred not to deal with.  Like when he mentioned her lack of family.  Maybe she tried to be so nonchalant about it but it only made it that much more apparent.

As the food was finished being prepared and was at last served to their momentary guest, the hunter's hands wavered as he took the bowl Elepheesa offered him, the meatiest portions of the hare.  The man thanked her and huddled in his old furs as he sat crosslegged before the smoking fire.  He ate with an unsteady hand, and that was when Theon reached out to help him ease the portion into his mouth.  He gave a nod of thanks.  But as Theon reached for his own bowl, he noticed how she gave it to him so impersonably and he just stared at her as she went on to feed scraps to Jouzan.  The bird remained silent, but he could have sworn he saw the hooded crow grin at Theon in a mocking gaze.

He squinted his eyes and at in silence for a moment, the hare, tough but well-cooked and he was happy to see nothing would go to waste.  He set the portion in his lap, looking over at the hunter as he was halfway finished.  "Madack was having a son," he muttered, staring into his food, eating slowly.  "His woman was thick with child, plus the two daughters she bore him.  Now they'll never know how great their father was."

Theon was silent as he listened, glancing over to Elepheesa.  "You were his friend, you would want the best for him," Theon murmured.  "We will help take you back to your village.  Isn't that right Elepheesa?"  He looked over at her, meeting her gaze. 

The hunter kept eating slowly.  "I am Tarn.  Madack was my cousin, bloodkin of the small village of Sa'Dihm, west of Hyoite.  We were to trek there on our hunt, looking for big game to trade in  Hyoite and trek back.  We made it to the village.  The way back was...so much longer colder than we remembered.  On the first night we made camp on the tundra, two of us awake at a time while the others slept, to keep watch of raiding wolves and any other beasts.  Madack remembered hearing something on the wind, strange howling, loud, almost...mournful.  But the night was uneventful.  We packed up traveled east once more to Sa'Dihm.  The second night, it was my turn to keep watch.  It was late into the night when I heard the same howling Madack had claimed to hear, but I thought it only to be wolves.  I saw a few of their eyes in the dark, warded them off with fire.  The night passed, until I saw another pair of eyes that almost seemed like a wolves...but they had a strange hue to them, and they appeared only when the wolves passed.  I heard their scurrying across the snow.  The night had gone then and we traveled to this patch of trees, knowing were about maybe fifty miles due east of our village.  We stopped for the night....  That was when – WHEN!"

Tarn stopped them and doubled over yet again, breathing hard but not crying, trying to recollect himself.  He seemed to lose his appetite then and set the bowl of food to the side.  After a few minutes of not touching it, Jouzan hopped around and stealthily pulled it away with his beak to eat what remained.  But Theon was transfixed on the man and put a hand on his shoulders until he was able to collect himself again. 

"It all happened so fast.  I-I remember I was sleeping.  Samak and Sulla were keeping watch, and it was just me and Madack to rest.  I heard the howling, but I couldn't let it bother me, so I kept asleep, but I could hear Sulla's voice grow vaguely concerned.  He told Samak to check it out.  I...I opened my eyes and saw him standing at the edge of the camp looking out into the dark when I saw the same eyes from the night before flicker open and before I knew it Samak was pulled into the darkness and all we could hear were his screams!  We all jumped up by then, grabbed our spears, our knives, anything we had on hand and pulled kindling from the fire as he rushed out to his aid.  We called for him, but all that remained were his bones and body torn open like something was ripped out of him!

"I only remember vague glimpses.  White fur.  Gods above, it moved so fast.  And came at us around our backs.  Claws tore through Sulla and soon Madach was gutted through with hands that looked like claws.  I saw it then before me as I tried to reach my cousin in time, it's face was...covered in that white fur painted here and there with red specks of blood.  It was twice the size of a man, arms long and powerful.  It had a monstrous face, deep eyes that bored into me, shocked me until he threw out and arm and sent me reeling into a tree, shattering my arm.  I was still in the snow.  Perhaps it thought me dead...I don't know."  Tarn's face was teary-eyed then and he kept his eyes staring into the fire.

Theon didn't know what more to say except that he looked for Elepheesa to say something.  Anything to break the silence after the tale Tarn just told.  And after a while, he kept his eyes to his companion and asked, "Do you know the way to Sa'Dihm?"

Elapheesa enjoyed watching the bird eat, simple pleasure could be taken in his cheeky personality.  His character amused her and she was relieved she could still feel humor and allow herself to smile at his playful nature despite the seriousness of the situation and continuing death that surrounded them.

"We will of course take you to Sa'Dihm" she said looking to Tarn and managing to avoid Theon's gaze still.  Tarn's face was red from the cold but now his cheeks glistened with fresh running tears, it would be best to get him inside the tent and allow him to rest.  The snow was no place for tears.

She took a new flask from her sledge, a drink would ease his journey to sleep and would do no harm to the pain he was in due to his injured arm.  She walked towards him crouching between his legs, her thigh peaking out from under the thick, fur coat that covered her.  "Drink?" she said placing the flask in his hands and again wrapping her own fingers around his as she eased the flask to his lips and he drank.  The flask was full but when he finally pulled it from his lips three quarters of the warming liquid within was gone.  Tarn had obviously decided to drink his way to oblivion hoping for a dreamless sleep, a sleep free from any nightmares of what had happened in his camp that evening.  As his arms fell floppy and his body looked heavy Elapheesa draped his arm over her shoulder and spoke whilst looking at him with her gentle smile, her face close to his face whispered him to stand as she ushered him to his sleeping roll and assisted him in laying down.  He fell into a deep slumber as soon as his head made contact with the piled fur that Elapheesa had fashioned into a pillow for him.  She covered him rubbing his back a few times and whispering words once uttered to her as a child to wish him deep, replenishing sleep.  She lingered in the tent, all to aware of Theon outside and not ready yet to deal with the realities of the person that had become her companion out in the snow and the mysteries that seemed to surround him making him no more familiar to her now then when they had met.  She lit a fire, allowing whale oil to burn in a pit within the tent and ensuring the thin white smoke coming off the flames had a pathway out of the roof of the tent she took another fur to warm herself as she returned outside.

"Are you ready for sleep?" she asked... not aiming her words directly at Theon but masking her question as though she could have been asking an answer of the bird rather than his master.
" We will make for Sa'Dihm in the morning.  It is not far from here.  We will make an exchange of goods there if we can.  I have much preserved fish, salted and ready for trade.  We'd best acquire more liquor, oil for fires, perhaps traps" she suggested though still her eyes did not look towards Theon's instead she gazed into the dying flames of the outdoor camp fire.

"We will leave Tarn to be restored to health, physical if not mental" she said knowing that the poor man in the tent would probably never recover from being the only survivor of the attack, "And then, I take it you will want to return here and continue our search for the beast.  We should be able to walk to Sa'Dihm within 3 or 4 hours if the weather does not change and we meet with no obstacle.  An hour to achieve all that we need and we could be venturing off  once more before noon" she added.  She was resourceful, practical, efficient as always but now the friendliness and personal approach to which she had spoken to him before had gone.  The Elapheesa that shared with him her thoughts on snowflakes and appreciating what others found mundane had closed herself to him as though shutting a door within herself and locking away that which at her heart made her unique, made her Elapheesa and not just any other hunter in the snow.

"What magic do you carry with you?" she said as if breaking the silence between them like shattering glass, the air almost vibrating towards him with her words.  "Your sword?" she said and finally her eyes met his.  "Who are you?  What are you? " she turned before he could answer. 

"I ought not to ask" she said tilting her head to the heavens and realising the canopy of tree branches above their heads almost entirely masked the night sky above which meant there would be no light was the flames died.

The fire outside the tent finally puffed out and they were suddenly in total darkness.  Shaking her head she inhaled slowly and exhaled as though letting go of all her worries.  In the darkness her hand took Theon's.  "We should move inside the tent" she said waiting for him to rise to his feet. She would not leave him alone in the darkness.  Whatever he was, whoever he was, whatever magic throbbed inside his sword she had committed herself to aid him in finding this beast, she would not go back on her word.

Theon could feel the tension building in the air, in the small things she did and the things she deliberately chose not to do.  His sensitivity was piqued as Elepheesa offered her flask to the hunter.  Yes, sleep was a good idea after all he'd been through and it would do him well to return him to his family, though perhaps with less company in tow.  And he noticed her gentle care that had once been offered to him was now given to Tarn as he drank heavily and Theon couldn't help but grin in amusement when he was suddenly overcome with fatigue.  And she somehow managed to drag his limp heavy body from the fireside and to the bedroll inside the warmth of the tent.

Theon kept his eyes to the slowly dying fire, the embers flicking and licking at the what fuel remained, hungry, wanting.  He needed to take his mind from the monster they were hunting, if only to find solace from his restless dreams.  As Jouzan had finished his meal, he hopped over to Theon and gave a soft caw.  Theon brushed his hand to the bird's breast feathers.  "I already know what you're going to ask," Jouzan said softly.  "No I found nothing more scouting north of us, not a sign of the beast, not a hair out of place.  The tundra is an empty canvas of white.  Seemingly devoid of life."

Theon furrowed his brow.  "There's got to be something nearby," he replied, his voice low to be kept between him and his bird.  "Some clue.  I can't go on testimony alone.  Even what I'd seen wasn't enough.  There has to be something more."  He sighed and ducked his head against his chest.  Jouzan fluttered to his shoulder and pecked his ear making Theon wince. 

"Look around you, Theon.  Clues lie abound.  Even if Tarn's words are all there is to go on, that is better than nothing.  We might be further than we hope, but we are closer than we were." Jouzan cackled and gave Theon another peck on his ear, just in case he missed the point.

Damn the bird if he wasn't right.  He could not waste his thoughts on the 'what-ifs', only what had actually happened.  And they'd come a long way from the tattered camp he would have died in.  It was then that his eyes looked back to the tent where Elepheesa was putting Tarn to sleep.  His mind lingered on her, sensing her sudden change in attitude, from how she had been upon first meeting.  He wondered why she felt the need to shelter herself beneath her hardy exterior.  He couldn't help but think what might have happened to cause her to develop a need for her cloak of apathy.  Perhaps it was merely survival instinct, but Theon couldn't shake his gut feeling that it had to be something more. 

"Are you ready for sleep?"  He heard her voice ask behind him.  Theon turned then but found she still avoided his gaze.  Jouzan, however, was more than happy to leave his side and flew from his shoulder out to the open tent flap, appreciative of the warmth within.

Theon gave a shy nod at her explanation of their plans for tomorrow.  Night was falling fast and though he wasn't exactly tired, he knew he should get all the rest he could before they headed out at first light.  He rose to stand, but was caught off guard by her sudden question.  He blinked at her for a moment, but was not offended by it.  It showed in his stance when at last he did stand and she took his hand softly to lead him from the darkness.  The fire faded at long last and the only light came from the tent within.  He watched her features caught in the shadow, their contrasts stark and angular.

His own fared no better as he looked down at her, the violet amidst the red of his eyes glittered from it.  But his smile was fairly soft as he took her hand in both of his.  "I never said you couldn't ask.  If you want to know, by all means.  But I'm afraid you're quickly finding that I don't have all the answers.  That magic, that you called it, is from the sword itself.  I don't know what it is or why, but when you hold it, it makes you feel...so calm, ready for anything.  It stems into your very being.  It feels strange at first, but if you let it, it can make you feel invigorated.  I remember I called it Lohengrin.  But I'm not sure why.

"You see, I've been traveling these lands for nearly two years now, searching for answers to a question I'm not sure I can answer.  I'm not sure who I am, frankly.  Let's get inside.  I will tell you more."

As they finally did get inside the tent, Theon sat across from her, face to face so that it wouldn't be so easy for her to look away from him.  "It is difficult to explain.  But in the simplest way, the first thing I remember was waking up on a ship, bound for Serendipity, that is a country to the south of this cold place.  I woke up, not remembering anything before that.  I didn't even know my name until I heard people call that to me, so I took it upon myself to adopt it.  And the blade at my side, Lohengrin.  I found Jouzan when we neared the shore.  He came the night before we docked.  I didn't understand what I was doing there, or why I'd come to those lands.  I thought perhaps I might try to find some fragment of who I am, where I came from, where I belong, but I've traveled all this time and found nothing.  I'm sorry if the uncertainty of my being scares you.  It scares me too.  But I do know that I am as real as you are."

Theon reached forward then and grabbed her hand and pressed it to the cooling metal of his cuirass that she might feel the beating of his heart as it pounded in his chest.  "See?  My heart beats just the same as yours.  I hope that helps put your mind at ease.  I mean you no harm."  He let her hand go and stared at the oil fire she set up at the center of the tent.  "Was it that, that was bothering you so?  Your eyes wavered, refused to look at me."

She had led him, hand in hand to the tent because despite her fears she cared for him enough to not wish him to stumble about in the snow seeking out the safety and warmth of the tent.  As he took her hand in both of his she felt warmth from the contact of his skin against hers and she shuddered unintentionally.  As he began to speak she felt relief.  She didn't want to continue the tense atmosphere between them.  She had noticed her own behaviour becoming more and more distant from him and knew she was deliberately giving the injured stranger and indeed Theon's bird kinder glances and sweeter smiles than she was allowing him but she was right to feel a concern about his mysterious nature and as he spoke he seemed to provoke more questions in her mind than answers though this was not his fault and the more he revealed about his lack of memory and the two years he had been travelling to have no more answers than before he began made her felt sympathy for him.  Though it also made their current adventure and hunt for the best seem less significant in his life and her also.

"I feel disgusted at myself that I have often wished I could forget my own past but hearing you I know that was wrong.  Not to know your past and indeed not to know yourself the way you describe must leave you feeling very vulnerable indeed.  It is no wonder I felt the need to guard myself from you, you leave me feeling as though I do not know you even as we spend more time together but as you barely know yourself and even then only know how you have behaved and where you have been in the last two years and nothing before it is obvious why I feel the way I do."   They were sitting opposite each other in the tent, she had stopped avoiding eye contact with him at some point in their conversation and her body language seemed less guarded now her arms unfolded and her furs looser about her shoulders, she was relaxing in his company once more.

For a moment she was distracted as a drink filled Tern snored loudly on his sleeping roll snorting like a large animal and rolling over to face the tent skin, his back to them and the fire that lit and warmed the space.  "You don't really have any answers for me, you cannot satisfy my curiosity the way I thought you could but you have made me understand you at little better and the way you make me feel" she hesitated not elaborating on what she said before adding, "I appreciate your honesty.  I dare say I would not have felt quite as worried had I not felt the tingling and vibrating through my skeleton and the heat in my heart that I felt when Tarn touched Lohengrin your sword and I in turn felt its power move through my body."

Her face was lit in a flattering low, warm light now.  Her cheek bones sculptural in their beauty, her hair loosely fastened fell about her face softly framing her features and drawing attention to her big eyes.  Even though she smiled now and made herself seem open to him her eyes still looked a little disappointed, sad even.

"To not know your name until a stranger addressed you with it must be a terrifying thing" she said with genuine feeling and an appreciation for what he had suffered with his memory loss.  The uncertainly of who you are does scare me, as it does you.  We would not be of reasoned mind if it didn't" she added laying down on the sleeping roll beneath her and looking at the bare, cold canvas floor where Theon currently sat. 

She had constructed a larger tent for them with relative ease.  She carried bones and animal skins enough to make a tent for three people but it was a larger tent than she would usually build, even when travelling in a larger group.  Larger tents were harder to heat, harder to conceal and ultimately more at risk in snow storms, harsh blizzards and strong winds.  She had built quite a generous tent on their first night as the snow drift behind it had acted as a shelter from the wind and aided it's concealment, though in the thick blizzard that fell that night they were never really at risk of any patrolling beasts looking for food.  Tonight, underneath the canopy of trees above them she was once again able to build a larger tent as the tree branches provided cover to protect them from the weather and helped to conceal their location.  Trees were rare here so it was likely to be the last tent of this considerable size she would be able to construct for quite some time.  Their tents would more likely be smaller, with less height and minimal space adequate for the two of them to sleep side by side with little room for anything else or any movement around them.  But even in this larger tent the issue of sleeping mats was problematic for Elapheesa had only 2.  She rarely needed the second and in truth it was kept to use should her first need to be abandoned in a hurry or else she found the first wet and temporarily unusable.  "We will be up early" she said looking at Theon and aware she would need to say something about why she had been staring at him so intently for a few quiet minutes as she contemplated the sleeping situation.  "We will make haste to Sa'Dihm and once our business there is complete return to this place and move onwards in search of the beast".  She felt in necessary to make clear that despite his revelation she would still be his travelling companion on this hunt and she would not abandon him now. 

The fire in the tent was glowing, embers dancing a little as white smoke moved up out of the tent greeted by the cold air outside.  The heat was adequate but their thick furs were still essential to maintain body heat and protect their health.  "I am not equipped for two companions" she said gesturing to the sleeping roll beneath her.  "I have not ever had the company of two, almost strangers" she continued, "not ever.  I ... only have two sleeping rolls" she said looking guilty that she could not serve him better.  "Sleep is what we need now, or at least opportunity to rest our eyes and our bodies." She lifted the largest of furs that she wore over her already considerable layers.  In lifting the fur she revealed a slim portion of sleeping roll remaining.  "You may share" she said smiling softly before turning to face the tent skin. 

The thin strip of sleeping roll was of course a mediocre offering for a man of Theon's height and build but in this place and indeed to Elapheesa and her kind, an offering of this type was considerable.  She offered him to share what was the equivalent of a bed and in positioning her own body against the cold tent skin and allowing him the shelter of her curves and proximity to the fire she was giving the best she could give and certainly more than she had ever offered before. 

Theon felt the air almost become physically lighter and he straightened his shoulders, feeling a weight being lifted from them.  He couldn't help the smile that stretched across his face from ear to ear.  At last this thing wouldn't be held over their heads any longer, for the stress of hunting such a savage and mysterious beast was enough to take a toll on a man alone.  For though Elepheesa had braved the harshness of this tundra alone as she'd so often claimed before, even Theon knew that coming to find these slow and gradual answers – if they could be called that – about the creature they hunted could only bring more and more compounding tension to the stability of one's mind.  But in her expression, Theon could read that she would not leave him, not since she'd devoted herself to his cause.  Though it did leave him to wonder why still, she would remain though she would gain nothing from it.  But neither did he, save the knowledge of ridding the tundra of something that could so brazenly and brutally kill without any kind of discretion it seemed.

So Theon nodded to Elepheesa's concern and felt as if there wasn't any need for anything more to say.  Their shelter was warm, comfortable, and she had done the right thing to give Tarn the other bedroll as he'd needed it more than Theon and though he wasn't concerned about sleeping on the hardened skin covered floor, he was actually quite surprised when one such as Elepheesa moved over some to make room for him.  He actually blushed at the thought and kept his face averted for a moment before he felt it vanish.

Indeed the positioning would be a little awkward and a little uncomfortable at the fact that he was much larger in size than she was, he wasn't averse to curling into a more agreeable position.  He unbuckled the straps of his cuirass which was getting to be more of a hassle when it came to sleeping arrangements but in the least it might save his life during the day.  He set it off to the side and Jouzan hopped into it, nestling into the remains of Theon's body heat.

Theon took the fur from his cloak and set it more securely around him as he scooted closer beside Elepheesa.  "I understand your concern, but I should let you know that perhaps you worry too much.  Don't mistake my words as carelessness.  In a place like the tundra, I'm sure you can imagine that one can never worry enough, but I do not mind sleeping on the floor, I don't mind sharing a bedroll either."  He had laid down then, close enough to feel her body heat radiating off of her though and pulled the bear skin up over both of them.

"When I was traveling north though the mountains, I came across hunters and trappers very much like yourself.  There were three of them: Nali, Turk, and Hasphat.  Female, male, and male, respectively.  They made their living in the wild, and even dressed in the skins of their kills and they never forsook anything they killed, using every bone and joint.  They were like you in this aspect, but in many ways they were different.  Their world was perfect, they hadn't a care in the world, not of government, not of men and their wars, not of bandits, brigands, or even strange travelers like myself.  They were happy, content in their loneliness together, if that makes sense.  Nothing could ruin their world, for it was theirs to rule alone.  Whatever gods there may be, they certainly smiled on them."

Theon paused and then turned his head to hers.  He gave her a speculative look, knowing it was not his place but brave to answer nonetheless.  "You don't have to answer if it is not your please, but before, you said something about...trying to forget your past.  Why?  I don't understand.  What happened that would make you want to forget?"