It had been a torturous month for Tiraris. Between hunting the monstrous demon, gaining more information, and hiding for Caden, Tiraris had found little peace. The killings were on a clockwork basis, driving Tiraris insane as she came within minutes of catching Remina on more than one occasion. Many of the more recent deaths had been from a group young of pick-pockets. While no one else seemed to care, Tiraris was furious. The deaths of the innocents weighed heavy on her heart.

After kicking Caden out of the room last month, she had switched locations frequently. She never stayed in the same place twice and for more than a few days. She always made sure to stay away from the public if she could help it. She knew he was looking for her and had already had a few close calls. She slept by day and stalked the streets by night in search of her illusive prey.

Her only companion for the past month had been a stray calico cat that had taken a shine to her. The two had become inseparable despite Tiraris' attempts for otherwise. Even now as Tiraris sat on a stoop in another darkened alley, the cat had weaseled her way into the human's lap. Absentmindedly, the troubled woman ran her fingers through the thick fur of her feline companion, listening to the purring and the rain sing her a slow, sad duet.

Shuffling footsteps to her left alerted her to the sound of an approaching passerby. "What do you think Caydence?" she asked the cat. "Is the informant going to stand us up again?" She did not know why she bothered trying. The people were too scared to talk to her, afraid of being killed by either side.

But her mind was not focused on the present. Instead, it revolved around that night a month ago. She could still see the mask of hurt Caden had worn as she lashed out him. She remembered his gentle kisses, his embrace, his silken hair, his eyes. 'His ego, his lust, his toying with you. He is worthless, Tiraris. Remember he would have hurt you in the end, all men do. Men cannot be trusted, no one can.' Looking down at the purring cat in her arms, she wished it was another purring cat with dreamy purple eyes.

'Nothing. He knows nothing. Why do foreigners always underestimate the tundra? Is it so hard to imagine that a frozen wasteland is going to be cold and dangerous!'

Zurna's right hand unconsciously raised and brushed against the skin at her left shoulder and neck juncture. Realizing what she was doing she quickly busied her hands with rolling the map up as she began telling Ryuu about the matukyu.

"The matukyu are a vicious breed only when they are disturbed during nesting season." 'And nesting season happens to be all-year-round on the tundra,' her mind cheerfully supplied. "They build their nests in the peat moss underneath the snow. From the surface it would only look like a very slight depression followed by a dome in the snow. It can easily be mistaken for a snowdrift.

"Disturbing a nest is a death sentence. The matukyu," she swallowed running her hand through her hair. "You won't see it until it's got you in its grasp, and that's if you are lucky. They can only be killed by short-ranged weapons because of the thickness of their white hides. Magic just bounces off them. However, getting close to one means being at perfect goring and gnawing range. The matukyu's limps are humanoid in appearance even though they prefer to move on all fours. They are strong enough to tear a man to pieces, and will do so if given the chance."

Memories flashed before her mind's eye of the enormous white beasts stained in crimson human blood. Shaking her head she continued, "They travel in herds. If you did manage to somehow kill one, you still have the rest to contend with. An encounter with them is next to impossible to survive. To date, there has been a small handful of people that have done so, of them only one is still alive today," she ended.

She stared into the flames not seeing them but past fires and horrors. Pulling her layers closer around her, she stood picking up the now warmed blanket bundle as she did. "Take this," she said offering the soft glossy pelt to Ryuu. "It will keep you warm tonight when the embers die. I won't be needing it." Part of her was loath to give it up, but her kind heart won out. The temporary gift she offered her companion was none other than the pelt of the very beast they had been discussing. Among the sionadyaki, the possession of the matukyu pelt was seen as a symbol of a great warrior. Only those who had slain one could carry it. The pelts alone were worth a fortune because of their defense properties; the rarity of their attainability just added to the value. Zurna recalled that many a trapper had come seeking to gain the elusive hide. None had succeeded.

"I understand," she replied with bowed head. "Could you help me?" she asked still refusing to look at him as she lowered the blankets and pointed to her side. "I seem to have really strained it with my stretching exercises this morning."

She turned her back towards him struggling to lift her nightgown to show him the damage. Her silken red locks felt like cool caresses on her inflamed cheeks. "What does he come here for, your client?" she asked glancing back at him over her shoulder. She could not hold his gaze though and allowed her head to drop forward once more.

The prayers and meditation grounded her, making Zurna feel a little bit better. Her aggravation was gone but the wariness she had been cultivating remained. She took it in stride, acknowledging it as a warning from the gods.

Returning to the camp, she was caught off guard by Ryuu's question and statement. Looking at him impassively she nodded her head once and softly replied, "Im fine. Thank you for asking." Ignoring him further she went about finishing dinner. It was simple fare, a thick stew with some hearty meat in it. She more played with it than actually ate as she contemplated the roads they should and should not take. It was cold by the time she finished it.

She cleaned up her utensils and supplies, stalling so she did not have to address Ryuu again. When she had nothing more to do but stare at his shivering form across the fire, she gave up and grabbed the map and her warmest fur blanket. She sat down next to Ryuu placing the neatly rolled fur bundle by the fire and unfurling the map.

The map itself did not have a single word on it only symbols. Different lines and drawings marked marshes, rivers, lakes, food trails, game migration paths, and most importantly to her, the location of the Salix arctica grounds. Pointing to the map she showed Ryuu their current location. "Normally, I would take the straight path here," she ran her across the map demonstrating what she was saying. "But the lake has swelled this summer due to how warm it has been. I fear the ice won't hold us if we try and cross. When we get to this point we will have to decide whether we should go one or go around it. My other more present concern is this," she informed him pointing to the picture of a horned beast with large teeth that bisected their desired path. "The matukyu have made their nesting grounds through the only way we can get to the holy grounds. Tomorrow will be the first day we travel through it. What do you know about them?"

The inside was warm, dark and hazy from the fire. It took a moment for the eyes to become accustomed to it, but Zurna knew her way well enough to move about blindly. "Zurna," her mother called, "who is that with you dear?"

"Hello mother!" Zurna moved to each of her elderly family kissing her mother, father and four eldest brothers and their wives in turn before answering. "This is Kaven Damal. I found him cold and weary talking to naught but his pony."

"Enough of your teasing Zurna, you'll frighten the poor dear," her Minali chastised her daughter. "Come here son, warm yourself by the fire. Don't be afraid to make yourself at home. Whatever yarns Zurna has been spinning are all false, I promise you." Looking towards her smirking daughter Minali commanded her attention. "Zurna! What are you doing? Get the boy some food, he looks half-starved."

Zurna smiled knowingly at Kaven before obeying her mother's orders. The men smoked and talked amongst themselves as the women worked on mending nets, darning socks, or sewing clothes. Handing him a wooden bowl of stew, Zurna sat on some cushions on the floor. "Sit," she whispered to him, patting beside her. From there she proceeded to name and point out her various family members. "My mother Minali and father Trafford." The matriarch and patriarch of the family were sat beside each other leading their circle's conversations and commenting on the work that was being done. "My parents are almost a hundred years old. My oldest brother Atenteben," here she pointed to a dozing man with deep wrinkles and a weather-worn face, "is about sixty years older than my youngest brother and I. In fact his family is expecting his first great-grandchild if you can believe that," she said laughing softly. "What about you? Where are you from? What is your family like? Why have you come this far north?"

Her heart pinged painfully at seeing the dry doctor return. 'It is just business. You are his patient, nothing more. He was indulging you because you were nearly dying. Now he non-criminal paying patients to take care of. Of course he will choose them over you.'

Tiraris played the frightened woman when Phoenix barged in. She gasped, pulling the covers up to hide her chest and shoulder, as was proper. While her body language was the perfect imitation of a frightened hurt, young woman. Her eyes told a different story. Those mahogany eyes blazed with the fires of hatred, distrust, and anger. Her left hand slipped under the covers reaching for a knife that was not there.

In an attempt to calm herself she lowered her head with closed eyes, her hands clenching tightly in the blankets. 'It would not do to blow up Wind- the healer's quarters because of his obnoxious patient.'

"Healer Wright, when you are done with your patient I believe my bandages need changing," she told him moving her hair back to cover her face. 'Please do not hate me Windsor!' the child Tiraris screamed.

"Enough you two! Cara apologize to your sister. Aliyah quit hiding, we talked about this," Zurna commanded with a natural motherly-authority. "This is no way to behave in front of a guest. Come help with Equi and then you can finish your chores she told them." The girls dashed off to where the family's small amount of livestock were kept.

"We do not get many visitors here. I am afraid they are not used to new people," she told Kaven by way of apology as she led her two companions to the animal pen. Inside the twins were fighting over a thick wool blanket for Equi. Rolling her eyes Zurna ignored them and began assisting Kaven in unloading the pony of his burden. "You can leave what you don't need right now, in here. Nothing is going to happen to it." Having sorted themselves out the girls provided the blanket and gave the pony one sugar cube each. Leaving the pen, Zurna called over her shoulder to them, "finish your chores! The horse will be there when you're done."

Taking Kaven's hand she pulled him outside towards the largest tent. "You have to meet my parents and eldest brothers first. The others will come when they are ready." As she went to pull back the tent flap she paused. Solemnly she turned to him and said, "I promise on my life that I will defend you against the hordes inside." Her face was perfectly serious until she added, "You never what a wild human mama is going to do. They are nothing like those domesticated city ones." With the last addition she winked before entering her home.

The interruption startled Tiraris. Her fighter instincts took over causing her to grip the plate tightly, at best she could use it as a weapon of distraction. Even with Windsor's mouthed reassurances, she did not feel relaxed. 'Fool! You trust and you get hurt. Have you not learned this by now? How many more incidences will it take before it has been beaten into your thick skull? He will betray you, they all do in the end! You are going to die!'

Winsdor returned offering her more reassurances but it was no use. She was back in the old mindset. She say ramrod straight, listening to him try and calm her. "You were going to say something before we were interrupted; what was it?" Her voice was colder. The child-like warmth and amusement had disappeared leaving behind the calculating woman Windsor had first encountered.

Tiraris listened intently to what he was saying. 'A quilt? Now that is very interesting way of putting it.' She found herself fascinated and puzzled by this man. He was so innocent. 'He is like me before everything really started. He is good and kind. He is one of those pure souls, selfless and caring.' The thoughts surprised her. She had long since forgotten who she used to be. Having long ago locked away her youth in order to protect herself from her mother, she had become the colder more calculated woman she was today. Windsor's kindness was a new and foreign concept to her. She did not dislike it. But, she was wary of it. Past experience had taught her not to trust.

"Hate you?" She repeated, rejoining the conversation. "Now that is not fair. You had me knocked unconscious when I will wanted to do was to stop being an inconvenience," she teased back in mock innocence. "Of course, I am going to say 'I hate you.' You would do the same, I am sure. But, you are welcome nonetheless. I was wrong to say that; you were only trying to help me."

"Another thing in common. I too am an only child. I have not spoken to or seen either of my parents in a very long time. I guess that is best though given my occupation," she said trying to bring light to it.

"Did you always want to be a healer? Saving people's lives, healing their hurts, assisting the entrance of new life into the world, it all seems," she paused looking for the right word, "uncomplicated." Backtracking, she began again, "I mean I am sure you have your share of troubles; not everyone lives, not every job is easy or fun etc,. It is just," she sighed. "Uncomplicated," she finished shrugging her shoulders sheepishly.

"He is a pretty powerful healer," she remembered aloud, tapping her forehead. "Do you do magic as well? Or are you trained in other healing arts? I am afraid I do not know very much about it. I can do the few simple things necessary to keep myself alive but other than that, I am at loss, much like my cooking."

"You said you have no family to care for. Do you have parents? Siblings? Anyone?"

Her brows scrunched together as she tried to remember. "I bruised you?" Aside from their first meeting, she had had little interaction with. "Oh!" she exclaimed when it dawned on her. "I punched you!" Her hand came up to cover her mouth as her eyes twinkled in mirth. "I am sorry about that. But, under the circumstances could you blame me?"

The laughter left her eyes, replaced by something deeper, something had she seen it she would not have been able to explain. Raising her hand she gently cupped Windsor's cheek. "You have a kind heart, healer." Turning away she let her hand drop.

"Your healer friend. Who he is?" What she really wanted to ask was what he knew. She felt compelled out of necessity to trust Windsor, but that did not mean that that trust extended to the other healer.

His statement struck a chord within her. Before she knew it the tickle in her throat turned into full-blown laughter. She laughed and laughed, basking in the healing power of happiness. She laughed until her ribs hurt again, and she was more gasping than laughing. Tears running down her face, she began to catch her breath again. "I am sorry, it is just," a chuckle bubbled out, interrupting her. "It is just I cannot cook either. I am a disaster in the kitchen. Well now we have something in common. For all the things we can do, we cannot cook." She giggled a little more before settling down and eating some egg.

"Why did you do it?" She asked between bites. "Why did you save me, after you knew?"

Tiraris found the blush endearing. Before she knew it she was joining him in that blush as she reached up and touched her ear. "Thank you," she said without looking at him. "It is an old habit I suppose."

Her cheeks felt like they were on fire as Windsor left the room. 'You have received compliments on your beauty from High Lords and Ladies, why are you getting so worked up over this healer?' Before she contemplate this further, the healer was back with food.

"It looks wonderful!" She exclaimed with a grateful smile. Her stomach rumbled at the prospect. "However, I do not think I could eat this all myself. Would you share it with me?" She patted the bed next to her. "Please?"

Tiraris looked at him in mild surprise as she noticed his eyes. 'I thought they were the same color.' When she saw him replace his glasses and the eyes return to both being blue, she realized what she was seeing.

"Why do you hide your eyes like that? They are too beautiful to be doing that," her eyes widened with her slip. "I mean, they are a part of who you are, you should not hide them." Nervously, she moved her hair onto one shoulder revealing her own pointed ears.

Meekly she asked, "Would it be possible to have some food?" She was all too aware of the hunger pains. She had not asked before out of embarrassment. The freedom she had earned by escaping her mother's cage made her self-sufficient. She had forgotten the need to rely on others.

"It is no intrusion. This is your home, it is I who is the intruder," she said still sitting on the floor. Taking a deep breath, she tried once more to stand, pulling herself up onto the bed. She was only semi-successful, as the pain flashed again and collapsed once more. "I guess you could help me up. I seem to be weaker than I thought."

Looking once more at Windsor, she really observed him for the first time. He was attractive, she would admit. He looked young. 'He cannot be that much older than me. Although, he is not really my type.'

"You know we keep putting it off and putting it off. We really need to discuss payment for your services. I cannot abide letting you and your family starve and risk their lives for me without compensating you in some fashion. If you are so insistent that I stay, then perhaps I can help you here, until I get better."

Zurna smiled at his awe. It was always shocking for people how large her immediate family was. "Thank you," she said softly to his compliment. "We try hard to make it so. Come let us get some food and a warm blanket for this fine fellow, and then I'll take you to meet the rest of my family."

Gently, she reached out rubbing her hands over the beast's head and flanks. "Besa, besa," she murmured to Equi quietly. "You really are quite beautiful, let's get you inside where the twins can spoil you rotten with sugar and apples," she whispered in his ear.

As if on que, her twin nieces, Cara and Aliyah came running over squealing and laughing all the while. "Aunt Z, you're back early! Did you bring us anything good?"

Zurna could not help but laugh. "Girls, this is Kaven and his horse Equi. They are going to rest and eat with us for awhile."

Cara, the bolder of the two, walked right up to Kaven and gave him a very wobbly curtsey. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sir Kaven. I am Cara, and the girl cowering behind your fine steed is my baby twin Aliyah."
"I'm not a baby!" Aliyah cried out still hiding behind Equi.

Blushing, Zurna apologized for being silly and not understanding. "A druid? I've heard of them but, you mean they actually exist? I thought they were just stories," Zurna looked at him in awe. The stories from her youth were still as much a part of her as ever. To her the druids were a mysterious but wondrous group of people.

Her warmed as she watched the girls giggle and squeeze hands with Brynmor. "You're really good with children," she smiled.

She fell silent for awhile just watching and being in the moment. From up ahead she saw the rising smoke columns of her family's fires. Her peaceful moment was broken however, as she listened to Sonia beret Yotar. The closer to the huddling of tents, the more irritated Zurna became. The words were spoken quickly and angrily in Connlaothian. 'That means Sonia is really angry. Wonder what he did not to upset her.' She almost pitied her brother's fate until Sonia turned and caught sight of her. Then the barrage of accusing statements were being hurrled at her.

Ignoring her sister, she turned to Brynmore she introduced him to her home. My parents, my twenty-five brothers, their families, and I all live here together. Come, I'm sure there is still some food left on the fire," she beckoned gently.

May I please also have the five peeps badge. I have nine threads going. ^.^ First badge *does little dance*

It's Never Summer in the Snow
~Ruby
Cold Poison
~Shea
Snow Angels
~Kiri
Fire and Frost
~Ramon
Return for Resupply
~Slight

She could not contain it anymore. It was simply too much. Her heart screamed to let him stay, to fold into his warm embrace once more, to forget about everything and just live in the now. But, her mind whispered darkly of all those who had turned on her in the past. 'Remember what you promised. Not again. Never again.'

His arm moving to hold her was the breaking point. Punching it, she screamed in face "get out! Get out, get out, get out!" She began to hit him and chase him from the room. "Go away!" She cried throwing whatever she could get her hands on. Thankfully for his sake that was mostly the pillows and blankets on the floor.

At last he was gone and she slammed the door shut. Sliding down it she bit her knuckle to prevent the full-blown sobs from being heard. Blood flooded into her mouth for her efforts. Giving up she curled up in a ball on the floor and just lets the sobs rack through her. 'This is my last moment of weakness. From this moment on, it is back to business. No more star-crossed love. It is time to live right in the reality. Fairytales are not true, and never will be.' As she lay on the floor her mind continued to spew poisonous thoughts into her, convincing her to lock her heart once more behind the strongest walls. 'Tomorrow, I renew the hunt and end this.'