DOOM PUSHED THROUGH knee-high snow, pausing on the rise that overlooked the valley, watching the snowfall against the sky brightening with the coming dawn. He looked back at an annoyed snort and grinned. Tiwaz, in her panther form and walking in the path he created, was covered with the huge, feather-like flakes. “You look adorable,” he teased. She growled, shaking herself in irritation. The freedom from snow lasted only a moment as new flakes fell to take their place.

He looked back towards the sky. “It is getting close to dawn. You ready to head back before you have to change?” Her expression was a ‘what do you think’ look and began walking back towards Kerk’s house. “You’re doing much better as a panther. And very well in human form. I have to confess, you amaze me with how quickly you catch on to some of the more subtle nuances of hunting.”

When the panther fell behind, he stopped and turned to see what was the matter. He received a pawful of snow in the face. He sputtered, wiping his face impatiently as she bolted away. “Tiwaz!” he bellowed, chasing after her.

He never caught up to her. She was in the house and by the hearth wrapped in a blanket before the sun broke the horizon. Doom shook the snow off his cloak outside before entering, glaring at her faux innocent smile. “Tag, you’re it.”

“I will get you back,” he warned.

“Maybe,” she teased as Kerk walked in.

“Are you two at it again?” the man asked dryly, looking between the pair like he had his own children years ago.

“He started it.” “She started it.” They traded a look then burst out laughing. The smith smiled, shaking his head. “So, was hunting better?”

The pair sobered up immediately. “No. It was worse than the last time,” Doom reported, unhappy as he sat in his chair. “There was not even sign of more than rabbits and squirrels, and not many of those. I hesitated taking any because others need the meat, too.”

Kerk sighed. “I was afraid of that. Been getting worse every winter. Like there is something leeching the life out of the land. Doesn’t get much better in the springs and summers either. Prey used to be thick in the past. You could almost shoot an arrow into the air over the forest and end up with a feast for a week. The hunters have needed to range farther. Days away from Bralden sometimes, just to bring something back, and too many hunters have been going missing, from both the wolflen tribe and the others here.” He sat down heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose briefly. “If the weather gets much worse, the village’ll begin to starve because no traders can reach us to make up for the lack with the snow so heavy on the roads.”

Tiwaz looked up at Doom. “Maybe we should start going out further, too, Doom. You said I am doing well.”

Doom would not meet her eyes. “Yes, but you are not that good yet and there’s a lot more you need to learn before I can teach you about longer hunting trips.” Her expression darkened. He tried to convince her. “It would be better if you stayed here. I can go farther and return faster alone.” Kerk remained silent, watching the interplay between the pair with concern.

Tiwaz said nothing as she got to her feet. “Ti, wait,” he said, trying to catch her arm, but his fingers only brushed the blanket as she sidled away from him. “Let me explain!” He flinched at the sharp sound of the bedroom door slamming, rattling several objects on the walls.

“She’s a proud one, Doom,” Kerk said as he returned with a mug of hot broth for himself and Doom. “I don’t think she’d ever take to being told she’s not good enough graciously by anyone. Even by you.”

“I know.” Doom clenched the mug until the clay began to squeal under the pressure and he forced himself to relax his grip. “She just won’t relax and enjoy her freedom. Our freedom. She has never known anything but training to fight and fighting. She never knew what it was to just play. I would have hugged her for her swatting snow into my face if it wouldn’t have ruined the moment…” He sighed. “Like I did just now. I don’t want her believing that everything is a life-or-death battle she must fight. That was what it was like when we were slaves. It’s different now.” He added in a low voice, “It should be different now.”

“Lad, there are some people who are always going to be like that,” Kerk pointed out in a gentle tone. “Makes no difference whether or not they were slaves once.” Doom said nothing, his gaze focused down the hall towards the room he shared with the temperamental woman. “And it’s too late now anyway. She is who she is and trying to change her will only make her dig her heels in deeper.”

“I suppose,” he agreed reluctantly.