User blog:ExdeathsBagel/Figure in the snow (White Horn WWYD)

 WWYD by Idontknowhowtofeelboutthat on the White Horn comment section:

''You've been hearing suspicious stories about vicious beasts residing in the frigid mountains close to your village. In an attempt to seem brave to the local women, you decide to travel into the mountains to find one of the creatures and possibly kill one or tell a wild tale about one. You pack the needed supplies as well as weapons and bid the town farewell. Once you reach the freezing tips of the mountains, you set up camp to take a break from the constant days and nights of hiking upwards. Night eventually approaches and it's practically a blizzard outside of your tent. You stick your head out of the tent's flaps to check if you left anything outside when you see a silhouette in the thick fog and snow. As it gets closer, you can see the curvy outline of a voluptuous woman, but she seems oddly tall. ''

''WWYD? ''

  

I can’t help but place rest my head in my hands on the table as my friends chat away. I was at the Inn I worked, but for the past few hours no customers came. My friends showed up to ease my boredom an hour back after their jobs sent them home early due to a lack of work, yet even now I felt myself droning out. It was just the same conversation from when they arrived: what do you think is taking the town’s livestock?

It was by no means a dull a matter, in fact it was a very serious one. Our snowy village is one that depends on livestock since we lack the environment to grow crops, in fact, we need to receive crops from villages down the mountain in order to feed our livestock. Not to mention, our snowy village drives most mamono away, so we couldn’t convince a Holstaur or a Weresheep to come up even if we tried. And trust us, many of our men did. To make matters worse, a snow storm, seemingly from out of nowhere has rolled in.

It was then that one of my friends Michelle, suddenly livened up the conversation and perked my interest by adding a new question: would you fight the beast if you found it?

“Ah, now Thomas is awake.” Robert said.

“Yeah, come on Thomas. We both know you’d fight the beast taking our village. Hell, you’d bring back its head and win all the ladies hearts!” Michelle teased.

I chuckled, “I know you’re into the macho men, Michelle, but you know I’m not that kind of man.”

“Sure, but I think out of all of us your pockets are hurting the most. How about this? You go up to the mountains and bring back that beast’s carcass and I’ll give you 50 shilver along with the 100 shilver bounty.” Robert said.

I contemplated it. Robert was the son of Haggard, the local blacksmith and arguably only stable business at the moment. Most of village men were buying swords and spears from Haggard to hunt the beast for that 100 shilver bounty, which was also set up by Haggard, who had just went out hunting for the beast yesterday and had yet to return. The 50 shilver from Robert alone was enough to cover a month’s salary, but before I could answer, the door to the Inn swung open and in walked Haggard.

Haggard was a man who looked exactly like you think he does based on his name, a large man with long black hair and a scraggly beard to go with it. Though physically intimidating, the man was very kind. He was also an expert hunter, so he stepping in empty handed didn’t help my odds.

I quickly got up to serve him, but he raised a hand telling me he wasn’t here to buy anything. Instead, he sat next to us.

“Well now, you look busy as ever, Thomas.” Haggard joked.

“Nothing?” Robert asked.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“I didn’t find the beast, but I did find something. Miller!” Haggard called for Miller, the Inn Keeper, who quickly rushed to our table. On a normal day he’d be pissed to see hanging with my friends on a work day, but even he succumbed to the lack of business around here.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Do you know anything that could leave horse tracks up in the peak of those mountains?” Haggard asked.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Miller was an old man, one of the oldest in the village, but his energy certainly didn’t show it. Being so old, he knew much about the village and the mountain peaks around it. Yet even he paused, thinking over the question.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Aside from being the horse stolen a few days back, no. I don’t know of any hooved creature up on those peaks.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“But it can’t be Michelle’s horse,” Haggard looked to Michelle in apology, who looked down, sadden at the loss of her horse. “That was a few days ago, and the tracks I saw looked fresh.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Are you sure? Perhaps the snow hasn’t covered the tracks yet.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“No, you don’t understand. The tracks were warm.” We all suddenly leaned close to Haggard, as if what he said was some sort of hushed secret.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“I’ve never heard of such a thing.” Miller gave Haggard a serious look, “Haggard, do you think you could kill such a beast?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Haggard laughed, “Of course. Who cares if it doesn’t have cold feet? It will certainly feel the cold once it dies. That reminds me, I came here for a reason after all.” He turned to us. “What were you lads talking about?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“We were discussing how we would kill the beast. Thomas here was saying how he’d wrestle it to the ground and stab a spear into it wretched heart before carrying its carcass to the village.” Michelle said.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Haggard laughed “Is that so? My Thomas I’m quite surprised. Given how you’re skin and bones I figured you’d be frozen long before you reach the peaks.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I turn red while everyone laughs at my expense.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Speaking of avoiding freezing, how good are you lads at patch work?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">While Michelle, and Robert were silent, I spoke up, “I’m okay at it.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Good, I need someone who’s at least okay at it. Thomas, would you be willing to go up to the peaks and sew up the first tent? I noticed it had a hole in it on my way back. I would’ve done it myself but the empty handed search for the beast has left me exhausted. It’s only a few miles away and I’ll give you 5 shilver for it.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Deal.” I say, eager for something to do.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Good, take my jacket so you don’t freeze. I don’t want you going right now mind you, instead go first thing in the morning.” Fortunately, I had yesterday off.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">My shift ended shortly after that, and I returned home. I didn’t tell my mom or dad about what I Haggard wanted me to do. While they trusted him, they definitely didn’t want me braving the cold. As the sun rose I met with Haggard at the Inn, he handed me his jacket, some sewing equipment and hiking supplies and wished me luck.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Before I could go however, he also handed me his spear, “Just in case.” He whispered to me. I knew how to use it of course, I did have some combat training; all citizens at a young age did as well as survival training. Being in a snow ridden village, it was sort of a necessity.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The tents placed in the peaks were set in place for hunters and by hunters or anyone unfortunate enough to get lost out there to serve as shelter. They would occasionally get ripped by a wild animal, and as such someone would occasionally check them and fix any they found. Much like hunting, it was seen as a sort of rite of passage, though not on the same level. I felt myself swelling with pride, I was taking on the task of fixing a tent that could serve as shelter for a hunter or someone else in need.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The cold quickly put me back in my place.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I swear at times the weather made no sense. A hunter could come back reporting a blizzard ravaging the peaks yet everything here would be still, while other times the opposite was true. The wind only made the cold worse. Even with Haggards coat and all my other warm clothing on, of which Haggard joked how I more so waddled than walked, they cold sliced through it like knife through fabric.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">While the hike should’ve only taken an hour, it felt like it took many until I could finally see the tent in the distance. Even as the snow picked up I knew I wouldn’t be able to miss it, the tent was bright orange after all, seemingly glowing in comparison to the white snow around it. As I got closer, the damage became apparent: a large tear on the side; one large enough that a man could crawl through.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Haggard was right; someone would at least need to be ‘okay’ at sewing to fix this, and it was when I began to do so did I realize why this was considered a rite of passage. My thick mittens prevented me from properly holding the needle and thread, so much to my disappointment I had to remove them.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">It felt like my hands would freeze as soon as I took my mittens off. I had to will myself to stop them from shaking in order to get the thread through the eye of the needle. That wasn’t the worse part though, no that came when I would drop the needle in the snow.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I put my mittens quickly because like Hell was I looking through the snow with my bare hands. While I had a few spare needles, I didn’t want to waste any thread and would dig through the snow, face practically planted in it to find the needle. The cold, the annoyance at dropping the needle, and the overall slow progress made me beg to return the current boredom and monotony of town. But I focused at the bigger picture: this would help whoever was hunting the beast to rest and prepare, and the village would be proud of me for doing this. The money was honestly an afterthought to me by this point. Keeping my focus on this allowed me to get through this somehow arduous task, and while I was happy that I did my hopes were quickly dashed away with a change in the air.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">What was before a simple snow shower had become a blizzard. I would have to take shelter here for the night. I had prepare for this of course with some dry food, but have never stayed a night outside my house beyond survival training. In truth, I was somewhat scared.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Grabbing my spear I crawled into the tent, which already had a sleeping bag within, a standard for the tents out here. I crawled into the sleeping bag, and tried to get some sleep, or at least hunker down until the blizzard ended. Given with how dark it suddenly got, I had no idea what time it was, but assumed sunset was fast approaching.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I don’t know when I awoke, but the cold was now agonizing. Even with my face mask on it felt like my face was now ice and if I even so much as blinked it would shatter. But that’s not what woke me up. What did was the sound of footsteps approaching my tent. I gripped my spear tightly. Despite the howling wind and snow pattering my tent, I could hear what sounded like two pairs of footsteps approaching, but they were approaching in such an odd gait.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I slowly rise up and slightly part the tent flaps, outside, even in the darkness, I see a silhouette. It looked human, but it was abnormally tall, and lower half was oddly shaped. My heart stopped as my mind jumped to the first thing it though it was: a Wendigo. Monster girls of strange outward appearances that put up a façade of kindness in order to lure men to their caves for things spoken of in hushed whispers.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I readied my spear as it got closer. That wasn’t about to happen to me. Maybe this was the beast that had been taking our livestock. Maybe I’d be proving Michelle right. I stopped just outside my tent. I knew my spear could reach it and as such quickly thrusted it through the slightly open tent flaps.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Nothing. Did it vanish?

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">A sudden pull threw me out of my tent as I cried out in surprise. Now face first in the snow I quickly looked up at the beast. It had the lower body of a horse, a furry one at that, but the upper body was that of a brown haired woman and dressed in a simply fur covering that could barely qualify for a shirt. I suddenly recalled from the lessons at school that this was a White Horn, a type of Centaur. They were revered as good omens and guardians of humans who traversed the snowy peaks. They were incredibly rare and I had just tried to stab one. She was looking down at me, holding my spear.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I threw myself down back down in the snow in prostration, “I’m sorry! I didn’t not mean to hurt you, mountain guardian of man!”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I felt her hand lightly grip my shoulder and pull me up, before I could say anything she gently wiped the snow off me

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">She gave me a light smile, “It’s alright. I should’ve announced my presence. I assumed you were asleep.” Despite the howling wind, the softness of her voice reached my ears with ease.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“No, no. I should’ve assumed you were a mountain guardian, at the very least checked. I’m really sorry.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“There’s no need to call me that. My name is Claire. I’m not some sort of guardian, I am a White Horn. We help humans out here, it’s simply who we are. May I have your name?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Thomas.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Well Thomas, may I ask what you are doing out here? Out of all the men I’ve kept an eye one, you are by far the youngest. Please take no offense.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“None taken, but how did you know?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">She chuckled, “The way you waddled through the snow, it was kind of adorable. The other, heavier set men, simply wore their coats like armor. But back to the question, what are you doing here?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I pointed back to the tent, “The tent was torn and I was sent to fix it. Then this blizzard hit and I had to huddle inside to wait this blizzard out.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“I see. Would you like to head to me cave? No offense to your peoples tents or your sewing skills, but I assure you my cave is far warmer than it.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“I don’t want to-” A sudden gust of wind caused by to stop and suck in my breath, the cold was still agonizing.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Without another word I felt her pulling me onto her back. I resisted knowing what mounting a Centaur meant. “I’ll be okay just walking.” I quickly said.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“It’s too far away, and I don’t want you out here longer than you need to. Mount me, don’t worry, I don’t see you like that.” As I mounter her, I thought I heard her whisper “at least not yet.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The speed at which she moved through the blizzard was astonishing, even more so was that she would leap over crevasses I did not know existed. As such I clung to her for fear of falling off. The warmth she seemingly exuded was intoxicating while being surrounded by this bitter cold. After what felt like a few minutes, the cold vanished as we stepped into her cave.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Despite the fire, the cave was still somewhat dark, but also very warm and inviting, and I suddenly felt very tired. I felt Claire move over something that crunched under her hooves, but as she sat me down it felt very soft. I was too tired to protest and felt myself drifting to sleep with her lying next to me.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">When I awoke, the interior of the cave was much brighter, but as I saw, that was thanks to the fire. There was still a terrible blizzard outside, and Claire was gone, much to my worry. I chased it away by observing the now much more lit cave, starting with what I was sleeping on.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Up against the cave wall was a large pile of hay, how she managed to bring hay all the way up here is beyond me. I next went to the fire, curious as to how it could burn even in this blizzard. I slapped myself at my own stupidity when I saw what was keeping it lit. Oilwood, the wood from the only trees out here. Oilwood trees were incredibly resilient, growing throughout the year, regardless of how harsh the blizzard. The wood from their branches burnt for incredibly long periods of time and with immense intensity, hence the name. They were used almost constantly in the village for warmth and light.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">On the opposite wall, the fire illuminated a large desk, stacked with books on one end, and with one opened on the center of the desk. While I don’t think of myself of a nosy person, my curiosity overrode my manners and I approached the book to see what she was reading. A sudden glint, however, caught my eye, it was coming from the end of the cave. I turned to face, and my heart stopped.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Swords, axes, a variety of spears, including Haggards, were stacked against the wall. Haggards simply spear stuck out against the much higher quality weapons around it. Forget the hay, how did she bring all these weapons up, and why? Surely they were necessary for hunting.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Good morning.” I jumped at Claire voice.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I quickly spun around, she was still in her simply fur shirt, though it and her horse half was drenched in snow and ice. She was holding a few rabbits in each hand.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Good morning. Sorry for looking around” I say, feeling somewhat guilty I was snooping around her cave.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">She gives me a light smile, “It is fine. Do you like them?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Yeah, they’re meticulously kept. May I as why you have so many? Are you some sort of collector?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">She chuckles, “I might be a White Horn, but I’m still a Centaur, a proud warrior. By the way, I just put your spear there just to get it out of the way. Feel free to take it back. So, are you hungry?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">My growling stomach echoed through the cave, answering her question and giving her a laugh.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“I guess that’s a yes?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Yeah, but I’ll skin them, you just rest up. You’ve already done so much for me.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“It’s quite alright, I’m not tired from the hunt at all.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Please. I hate not doing anything for a guest, and you’ve saved my life and have given me food and shelter. I really want to repay you.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">While she seemed adamant about skinning the rabbits, she gave look telling me there was one thing I could do, “I suppose, there is one thing you could do, if you don’t mind of course.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Of course not. What is it?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">She suddenly removed her shirt, in the brief moment I didn’t avert my eyes I saw she was wearing nothing underneath. After a quick thank you I heard her move the fire before coming to me and sitting next to me. She told me to look up.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Her back was too me, and her shirt was hanging over the fire. She held out a brush. As she turned her head to face me I could see it was the fire causing her face the turn beet red. “Could you brush me? I struggle to do it myself. I’ll skin the rabbits in the meantime.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Focusing my gaze on her horse half, I saw that her fur was full of mats and knots. “Please,” I hear her say, “You would be doing more than paying me back if you did.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Or course,” I say, “Don’t worry, I have a Newfoundland at home, a dog with fur like yours. I know what I’m doing.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Thank you.” She gives a warm smile.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">While I begin to brush her she pulls out a knife and puts the rabbit next to the fire. After the first couple brush strokes she gasps and drops the knife.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“I’m sorry, did I pull your fur?” I was worried I hurt her.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“No, no. That just feel really good.” Her face becomes even redder, “My apologies, I’ll get back to fixing breakfast.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">After another few strokes, her skinning becomes slower and slower until she simply stops. This time I don’t say anything and continue brushing. If her tranquil expression and slow breathing are anything to go by, this must feel like heaven to her.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">It was hard to tell how long I brushed her, as the blizzard outside never ceased. I brushed both sides and when asking if I could do her flank, she simply nodded.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“There, done.” My voice rang out through the cave, making realize how quiet everything was aside from the crackling of the fire.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“What?” Claire said, somewhat drowsily.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“I said I’m done.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Claire passed for a moment before suddenly jumping up. “Oh my goodness I’m so sorry! I completely phased out.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“It’s fine. I’ll help you with the rabbits.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Claire puts on the now dry shirt shift herself to another end of the fire. A noticed a small puddle formed over where she was once lying. Silence quickly overtook us once more, though this time with an awkward air to it.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Claire had a troubled look on her face.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“What’s wrong?” I ask.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">She hesitated, “This blizzard, honestly with how severe it is, I don’t think you’ll be able to go back to your village until it subsides.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I felt my stomach flop, “Wait, can’t you just take me back?” I

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I regret asking that, because her worried expression suddenly becomes pained, “I…no. I’m afraid I don’t know the way. I’ve seen men from your village, even rescued a few, but don’t know exactly where your village is.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“It’s okay. I’m sorry if I upset you. I just don’t want to be a burden to you.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“You aren’t!” She suddenly blurted out before turning red and looking down at her unskinned rabbit carcass.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Awkward silence quickly returned, but this time I refused to let it linger and tried to converse. “So, you’ve rescued other men from my village?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Her eyes remain distant as she peers into the fire, “Yes. Only a few. They all leave as soon as they’re able. To be honest, you’re the only man to have stayed this long, the first to have...brushed me.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I pause, contemplating what to say, “You must be lonely here. I know the feeling.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Do you not come from a village?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Yeah, but to be honest I don’t have many friends, and even then I don’t see them all that often. I don’t know how long you’ve been out here, but if you don’t think I’m a burden I can keep you company.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">She smiled, “I’d like that.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">We returned to making breakfast, this time the silence not so awkward. Even with the six she brought back, it was clear who had the bigger appetite. Claire wolfed down five by the time I was done with my one.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">She blushed, “Sorry, I intended to get more, but I came back early to check up on you. Would you like to go hunting with me?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Of course.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">After getting the necessary equipment, I mounted her, still somewhat hesitantly, and we quickly rode into the blizzard outside. Most hunters in the village preferred to ambush prey with spears, tackling rabbits, bears, and even snow bison fearlessly. I stuck with the bow and arrow. It was a pretty unpopular method, seeing as how the white out could be blinding and the wind mess with your aim, but I could never bring it on myself to get so up close with something I had to kill, even something as ferocious and dangerous as a bear.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Claire and I moved deeper into the valleys and peaks that accompanied the outskirts of the village, though it all looked the same, Claire would tell me how certain paths led to caves, frozen rivers, and even the remains of older settlements.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“You must’ve lived here for a while.” I say, struggling to keep my voice above the howling wind.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Fortunately, she heard me with no trouble, “About a year, but I traveled around, better than being cooped up in a cave all day you know?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">We continued to ride, running past rabbits, not to surprising, but we even passed a bear out hunting for its own meal.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Out of curiosity, what are we hunting?” I ask.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Oh you’ll see. I’m just so happy to have some company that I really wanted to commemorate this moment.” She sounded excited and after a few minutes, we were standing over a hill and below us was a herd of snow bison.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“There. We’re going to hunt us a bison!” She said excitedly.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“A bison?!” I said in shock. Snow bison were far out in the peaks and valleys from our village, hunting one was not only something that took our best hunters about a week, but was done normally to celebrate some grand event. “I’m flattered but I don’t think I’m worthy of such a hunt.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“It’s fine. I don’t hunt these guys too often, normally as a treat, but I wanted to hunt with you because it’s such a blast! To celebrate meeting you! Ready?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I was too shocked to reply, ‘celebrate meeting me’? How could I be so important to her after only meeting her in yesterday? Claire must’ve took my silence for confirmation, because she suddenly began trotting downhill at breakneck speeds. I wrapped my arms tightly around my waist while she laughed.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The sound of an avalanche echoed through the land, it was the bison, kicking up snow as they fled.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Get the bow and arrow ready!” Claire shouted over the noise.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I reached into her sling to pull out her bow and arrows. To say they were of high quality was an understatement. The bow looked to be made of a combination of wood and a metal with strange inscription that seemed to make it shine. The arrows appeared similar. I recalled the rest of her weapons in her cave appeared to be of similar quality. Come to think of it, she really didn’t answer my question, only calling herself a warrior. What sort of warrior uses weapons like this, and why around here?

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Thomas, get ready!” Claire snapped me out of my thoughts, she managed to get a bison away from the rest of the group and I had a clear shot. I drew the bow back with an arrow ready with surprising ease. Maybe I was just overreacting, perhaps these were just highly decorated weapons.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The arrow flew at such a velocity I was thrown off Claire. I wasn’t holding onto her too tight mind you, but the arrow still flew at such a speed that it was unfazed by the wind. It hit the bison with much a force that it staggered back but still ran on.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">As I landed back first in the snow and the sound of the herd faded, I heard what sounded like snorting. Even with the wind and snow I saw that is was bison, and it looked like it was ready to charge. They weren’t afraid of humans, hunters would come back with large wounds as proof, and some didn’t even come back at all.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">It charged, I know it would be on me in moments and I had no time to jump out of the way. I closed my eyes and braced to be gored. A sudden force rocketed me to the side and I heard a grunt of pain, it was Claire. I opened my eyes only to see Claire holding me tight as we fell back into the snow.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I got up but Claire didn’t follow, she was still on the ground on her side, wincing in pain. “Bastard knocked my hind as I got you. I’m sorry.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Another snort, it was the bison getting ready to charge again.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Thomas, come here quickly!” She held out her spear. “Thrust this at him as soon as you can. Trust me, it’ll stop him in his tracks.” I heard it charging behind us. “Go!”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I quickly pivoted and thrusted the spear at the bison, I felt Claire reach up and grip my arm for reinforcement. I didn’t look, didn’t want to, but what I felt and heard was frightening. I felt and heard the impact, and like Claire said the impact stopped it dead. If it wasn’t for her tight grip I felt like my arms would’ve snapped. I felt myself bending down as the bison collapsed. Claire reached for the spear and pulled it back with sickening wet sound. I saw that only the spear head was coated in blood and brain matter, nothing else. I even gathered enough strength to look at the bison, I was expecting to see its head blown off, but the only sign of impact and a clean, small hole in the skull.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Are you alright, Thomas?” Claire asked.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I noticed I was shaking. “Y-yeah. You?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">She smiled, “A sore rump but I’m good. Don’t worry, I get bruised up from time to time, just give me a minute.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">We both sat in the wind next to our quarry, I was still shaking and it wasn’t from the cold.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Claire looked at me worriedly, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“What was that?” I said, barely above a whisper, “What the hell are you using out here?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“My weapons are for the game around here.” Claire stated calmly.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I looked at the bison carcass, “I don’t believe you. Where did you get those weapons from?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">   “From a village down south, they’re pretty powerful, but they need to be for this game.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“A village down south? My village is to the south from here, I thought you said you didn’t know your way there.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Claire stammered, “I…I guess I went around it. Look, my hind is better, let’s take the carcass back and have a feast!”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I wordlessly obeyed, not much of choice was available. We moved the bison onto a large cloth, making sure it was secured and bundled before Claire and I went back to her cave in silence. The air of mistrust was obvious as we did our work, Claire giving me apologetic looks. Even with the meat roasting over the fire, it didn’t change my spirits despite the growling of my stomach.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Thomas, I’m sorry.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“What are you hiding from me?” I ask bluntly. “Have you been the one stealing our livestock? Why are your weapons so powerful? Do you intend to attack us?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Claire held her hands up, “No, of course not. Please Thomas, I want to answer you but -”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">A sudden noise cut her off, it was one I immediately recognized. The sound of whinnying horse. I turned to cave entranced and there he was, “Michelle’s horse.” I quickly moved to bring it in from the cold, the blizzard somehow worsening every moment he was out there.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Thomas wait!”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I didn’t listen to her. As soon as I touched the horse a white light enveloped me, it was blinding, not to mention the sounds of howling wind quickly faded. When my eyes adjusted I saw that I was in a poorly lit room. Judging from the stone walls, lack of windows, and a stair case, it was a basement. I tried to approach the stairs, but found myself stuck to the horse. My hand was somehow stuck to its fur, which I noticed wasn’t so much fur as it was some sort of mucus.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I looked at Michelle’s horse, the poor beast looked to be in pain, and I also noticed it was severely emaciated. That’s when I heard a door open and footsteps coming down. The sight shocked me.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">A young girl, with ivory pale skin and white hair. She seemed to be wrapped only in a cloak. The smile she gave as she saw me made shiver. It felt like she was looking into my very soul with eyes that betrayed the age of her appearance.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Good job, horsey.” The girl held out a small, strange colored carrot. The horse did not except it, so the girl quickly pulled out a dagger, and with a pull on my hand, the mucus stretched and the girl separated us with quick cut on the knife. The horse cried out in pain before the girl shoved the strange carrot down the horse’s throat. The beast suddenly became still, and the girl led it to the other end of the room, her gaze never leaving mine.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“What-”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“No, please don’t say anything. I know you must have tons of questions and I know the answer to them all. I am a Lich, my name Mayuri, and that horse’s mucus membrane was the result of an experiment, an experiment I deem successful. Any other questions?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I remained silent in shock and fear.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Good. Forgive my forwardness,” She suddenly pulled out a large book. “Now I have a few questions for ''you. ''First, what’s your-”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">As soon as she looked down at the book I ran to the stairs. I reached the door, only to be shot back down the stairs by some sort of force as soon as I touched it. As my head rang from hitting the stairs I heard Mayuri laugh.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Nice try, but I’m not letting you escape. No, you’re the first man I’ve ever got a chance to experiment on! And I intend to be thorough. Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to see other men in that blizzard, only to be protected by a White Horn?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Claire?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“That’s her name? Wait you know her?! Oh what I wouldn’t give to experiment on her, I-” She paused, a spark of inspiration clear on her face. The grin she gave me was one of sadistic glee. “It’s your lucky day human. I intended to toy with you until you were but a pile of goo, but now I think I’ll just use you as bait for her. A mamonos body is far more fascinating than a human’s. Granted, I’m still gonna poke and prod you a bit, but don’t worry, you won’t be as bad as the other animals I played with.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I looked at Michelle’s horse, which was still in a daze and seemed to be slowly melting, and the pieces clicked. “You’re the one whose been taking our livestock?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“I needed specimens for experimentation. I’ve grown bored of magic, and to me, warm, living bodies are the greatest untapped playground of knowledge. Come, I’ll show you the fruits of my labor.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">She didn’t wait for me to get up. Instead, with a flick of her wrist she raised me up in a purplish aura and led me to another room. I can barely describe what I saw in there, and not just because I’m struggling to purge the images from my mind. Bodies of different animals were mashed together in ways never intended. Others had parts lying around, some of which were still moving. And the sounds, my God the sounds. She must’ve set up some sort of soundproof spell because as soon as we stepped into the room we were accompanied by a cacophony of noises the ears were never meant to hear.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I tried to drown them out with my own screams, Mayuri I’m sure was taking delight in my terror because we stayed in their longer than we needed to. When stepped back into the main basement room we were accompanied by a new sound: banging. Followed by clopping. While my stomach sank, Mayuri gave another sadistic grin.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“The Demon Lord is showering me with her blessings today. This is going to be good.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The clopping continued until it reached to door, after a few bags, the door came flying off its hinges and Claire came racing down. Before she could reach me I was surrounded by a purple aura again and dragged behind Mayuri.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Let him go!” Claire unsheathed her sword.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Aw, you care about this human? How sweet. How’s this, in a snap of my fingers, I’ll take you both under and merge you together! I’ll call you…Ludwig! How’s that?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Claire responded by charging and slashing at Mayuri. While Mayuri stepped back to evade most of the impact, I still saw blue liquid trickle down in front of her. Claire and I were suddenly lifted, magical blades surrounding us.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“You’ve wounded me?! How did-“ she took a look at Claire sword, “I see, a blade such as that is especially adept at getting though magical barriers. Hell, anything lesser is overkill. It’ll make for a fine trophy. Any last words you two?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“You’re just going to end us like that, Mayuri? Don’t you want to see what this body is capable of?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Mayuri tilted her head, “How is that you know my name and what I do? Has word of me spread throughout the land despite my best efforts to remain hidden? No matter. No, White Horn, or Claire as you’re called, I have no interest in you proving to me your capabilities. I’ll understand that when I’m taking you apart and putting you back together.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Then what about your own body? Have you ever tested its capabilities?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Mayuri grinned and slowly set us down, “I don’t know how is it you know me so well, but you know what? I’ll humor you.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">She suddenly arched her back and I heard what sounded like snapping and cracking. In a loud snap and explosion of blue liquid she changed. Once the height of a small girl, she was now slightly taller than Claire, it was all thanks to her elongated spine. Ribs more so resembling blades travelled form the top of her exposed spine down to her waist where it ended. Each snapped and some even extended slightly, as if reaching for Claire.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Be honored, it’s been a while since I’ve used myself.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Mayuri paced forward two of her rib blades shooting to Claire who effortlessly deflected the blows, but more came and Mayuri was closing the gap fast. Claire remained undeterred, and after a parry she charged and hammered the hilt of her sword into Mayuri’s spine.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">After a sickening crunch Mayuri’s spine snapped into, though shocked, she quickly recovered as she landed on Claire’s back, digging the remaining of her blades into Claire’s sides. Claire was trying desperately to throw her off, but she simply laughed.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Relax, I won’t kill you. Once you pass out from blood loss I’ll begin my experiments!”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">In a panic Claire tossed her sword and tried to reach around and grab Mayuri, who was now laughing and crawling around Claire, leaving large puncture marks. Claire’s sword landed next to me though, I picked it up and charged. Mayrui looked up in shock as I thrusted the sword at her. Intent on making contact with her face, Mayuri rose her hands up to make a magical barrier the blade effortlessly stabbed through.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">In a flash I was rocketed back, the word flying out of my grip and and landing somewhere in the room. My arms were in pain but it worked, and Mayuri was knocked against the wall, her hands chunks of what they used to me.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“You bastards!” Mayuri charged forward, her rib blades acting like spider legs as she scampered towards me. Claire trotted forwards and placed a hoof down hard on what remained of her spine, stopping her in her tracks. Mayuri looked up at Claire, shocked.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“How? What are you?!”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Claire raised her hoof over Mayuri’s face, “Take a good look.” Mayuri’s face became shocked as she looked at the underside of Claire hoof, whom quickly brought it down with a sudden crunch.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">The room went silent, and Claire suddenly collapsed. I ran to her.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Are you okay?” I say.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Her voice sounded weak, but she gave me a light smile, “I’m fine. Don’t worry, I get bruised up from time to time, just give me a minute.” She suddenly collapsed.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Despite the numbing pain in my arms I quickly moved around to look for something to stop the bleeding. Unfortunately, the room was mostly empty and my closest option was the horrific room, but I had to save Claire. Taking a deep breathe, I opened the door and dashed in, slamming it behind as to hope Claire wouldn’t have to hear any of the abominations within.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Silence. The abominations were unmoving, it seemed they had fallen into the merciful embrace of death. I was able to search the room in peace, and eventually found gauzes that weren’t caked in blood or some other unidentifiable liquid.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I ran back to her and quickly began dressing her wounds. Out of curiosity, I turned to Michelle’s horse and gasped in shock. The poor thing was a pile of brown goo.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Her experiments lives were tied to her soul.” Claire said, still weak, but looking better than earlier. “She was keeping them alive indefinitely to mess with them.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“How did you do all this?”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">She gave me a weak smile, “Guess I can’t hide anything from you now. I hunt monsters, real monsters like Mayuri. I hid it from you because…because I didn’t want to lose you. This is a lonely business, all the men I rescued I told them about what I did and they fled the first chance they got. I decided not to tell you because of my loneliness, but now I see I should’ve told you. I’m sorry, please forgive me.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Of course I will, you’ve saved my life twice after all.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“That doesn’t mean you should forgive me. I put you in danger because of my selfish desire for companionship.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“That’s not selfish, maybe desperate, but not selfish. You want a friend? I’ll be your friend. Just promise me you won’t hide anything from me.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">She chuckled, “Of course, I’ll start right now. I know where your village is, and while your patchwork is good, a doctor wouldn’t hurt.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“I don’t think I needed you tell me that.” I said with a chuckle.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Claire and I quickly made our way back to the village, much to my surprise, the blizzard vanished when we stepped outside.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“It was her magic. She was using it to hide herself from her villagers and me. With her dead, the storm has subsided.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Haggard was the first to spot us approaching the village, I called to him to bring a doctor and he went bolting back into the village. We were soon surrounded, a doctor cutting through the crowed and taking Claire. I tried to follow her, but Haggard and Miller took me aside, eager to ask what happened to me and if I was okay.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">I told them everything, and by the end of it Haggard looked pale and Miller crossed himself.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“A Lich, by the gods”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Thomas, I don’t think we should tell Michelle about this, or any of the villagers about their livestock. I’m sorry but I don’t think they would want to know, we’ll just say it was a bear.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“No. The truth might be harsh, but they deserve to know. If they decide to look for the answers on their own and brave the peaks and valleys, they might end up worse if they had just known.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“I think he’s right, Haggard. I’ll be sure to let them know, hard as it might be. Poor Michelle, she’ll be devastated.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Miller walked off, leaving only Haggard and I who quickly cleared his throat, “So, I guess you slayed the beast. Looks like you’re 100 shilver richer.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Make it 150. Robert bet me something similar and although I can’t produce the body, I think I still fulfilled it.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Haggard swore under his breath, “I told him not to make bets willy-nilly. He’ll be losing more than 50 shilver I assure you.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“Regardless, just give as payment to the doctor and any left to Claire, she did the work.”

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“That won’t be necessary.” We heard the doctor say as he approached us, Claire looking much better than before.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">“I told you your patchwork was good. What, didn’t believe me?” Claire joked.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">Claire moved in with my parents and me. A quick scolding followed, but then the hugged me in a tight embrace, telling me they loved me and thanked God I was safe. Claire couldn’t stay in our house, due to her size, but thanks to the 200 shilver (Haggard made Robert pay double) she was easily able to afford her own.

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin">She quickly landed a job in the village as a hunter, saying she had to since her job of monster hunting had long stretches of no opportunities. “Granted that’s a good thing, it means there aren’t a lot of monsters out their anymore. Now I can focus on what’s important, like my friends, like you.”