The ground crunched with each step. Devi tucked her fingertips inside her hands under the long sleeves of her cloak for warmth. A distant light flickered like a candle flame through the trees and falling snow. Wolves howled somewhere for what could have been the lack of prey—soon to be no more.

When in dangerous situations, Maltheaus, her trainer, often said to establish dominance quickly. That usually pertained to humans or warlocks. These were creatures that did not understand the unspoken rules of dueling. There was no code of conduct; there was only survival.

Devi dodged down the hills to cut across the frozen river instead of taking the high-ground, a direct path to the Seers Overlook. A lesser-known cave entrance resided. Every step was careful and light. She had to move quickly to gain access before sunrise. The river was long and winding, with chunks of ice built up in stubby solidified waterfalls.

Nearby, more howling persisted. The sound was getting closer. But from which direction? Devi held her breath, trudging on, hoping that the snow would fall fast enough to mirage her. As the snow fell, the entrance would be nearly impossible to find. Her faith resided in the river. Inside her mind, she could visualize it. Every detail, even to the last bit of rock, spilling out of its mouth.

It had been the summertime when she'd last been—although those had been more welcome times. She'd only ever use the entrance if she needed to be discreet—otherwise, there'd be other Muti Onis (those born with a unique gift), old friends, and teachers who would test her patience.

Her body began to feel numb to the elements. Finding a place to rest for the night would be another challenge. Skarsgen, an old friend of her mother's, lived in a small cottage built into the ground just North of Seers Outlook. If there were no empty warm sheds to rest her eyes, she would have to find a way to him.

As she worked her way down an icy incline along the river, she saw two glowing yellow eyes in her direct path. The eyes and the sizeable Grey coat of fur that accompanied moved in closer. She stood still, hoping that the creature didn't yet spot her. It sniffed at the air, circling where she needed to pass through. Maybe she could work her way around one side of the river? She could hug the trees until she surpassed the beast and went unnoticed. Or she could make a run for it.

The cave was not too far from this point. Once inside, she could escape through the hidden passage. A wolf of that size wouldn't dare try to squeeze through.

First, she would need to make a distraction. In her mind's eye, she retrieved a deer running through the forest. She remembered how it had a slight limp and that it had been a sizable creature. It bled, leaving a trail behind it. The smell of rust and dirt permeated her nose. Like a hologram, it appeared into reality. The wolf paced back and forth over the ice. It wasn't going anywhere. Devi decided to kick it up a notch; she held the image of an Aykezin warrior chasing her with an enchanted fire sword.

She summoned him for the wolf. It stood ground, bearing its teeth. Now was her chance. She'd have to be quick as the warrior would dissipate if she couldn't concentrate on its manifestation.

As quickly as she could, Devi darted past the wolf. It wasn't easy to spot through the snow, but the entrance was there —merely feet away—the river fed into the rocks and cave system. Large ice crystals hung around the mouth of the cave-like teeth. Behind her, she could hear the wolf had stopped growling. She turned her head only to see its eyes staring directly into hers.

There was no time to stop. Devi focused on the entrance--there was no time to stop. Suddenly she felt the ground beneath her disappearing. For a split second, Devi wondered if the ice had broken. No, she was slipping. Falling. On the ice, she had landed, her limbs sprawled out in an attempt to brace her fall. Tiny drops of blood seeped out of her head as her body lay limp.

The wolf howled and didn't waste any time waiting. With his nose pressed to Devi's body, he made loud, scruffy sniffing noises. He licked her face. Devi was still. Her cheeks and face became as white as snow falling upon her.

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The wolf retreated—but didn't leave. With his fur raised, he bowed. His back retracted. Hair fell off like dying petals. Skin ripped and shredded off, leaving a pile of dead remains. Claws shot out into the ground like daggers. The wolf's yellow eyes bulged and bled out of its changing face. Until there seemed to be nothing there except a dismembered pile, it looked like a body exploded, stark against the fresh snow.

Devi didn't budge. Off in the distance, a loud horn sounded. It had a melodic tone the echoed through the forest.

There was a crunch from underneath the pile, a crack, and then a sigh. A hand reached up through the bloody skin, fur, and bones. A tall, lean man began throwing the parts out of the way, revealing naked flesh. His curls were long and wet, like he had just been born. A yellow hue swirled around in his irises. Blood smeared down his back and stained his skin. Brushing her hair out of her face, he leaned in near her mouth and nose to listen for a breath.

With both his arms, he carefully scooped her up and cradled her. Her cloak draped down, and her hood fell from her head. Her long delicate hair tapered down. Devi's eyes were closed tight. Her features looked soft like a doll. The man's eyebrows pinched together in confusion. It was not an Aykezin warrior.

The man walked off, carrying Devi away into the early morning.

When Devi opened her eyes, there were a crackling and layers of blankets wrapped around her. A hearty fire had been going across the room that looked well-tended. She struggled to wriggle her arms free.

Quietly in the corner, a man sat at a wooden table eating some oats. Devi nearly fell back to sleep out of comfort until she realized that she had no idea where she was or why —which was ironic considering her extrasensory ability to collect memories and channel them. His was by no means anywhere she'd ever been before.

Devi shot up and placed her hand on her head, which felt sore. When she touched it, there were bandages wrapped around it at the back.

"I wouldn't touch those," the man scolded, "you know how long it took me to get it to stop bleeding?"

Devi didn't respond, guessing it was rhetorical. Dizziness drew her head back to the straw pillow. "Where am I" she finally asked. She could hear the tinging sounds of his spoon against his metal pot, scooping bites into his mouth.

"Well," he started casually, "this is my place." And then he didn't say anymore. Devi wrinkled her nose.

"Okay—-but where did you find me?"

The fire snapped a few times viciously. Sounds of wolves calling somewhere outside made Devi shift uncomfortably.

"It's okay—they're not going to find you in here." He said, standing up taking his bowl over to a bucket of water for cleaning.

"I'm not worried about that," She snapped, "I want to know why I'm here—with—"

"With me?" He finished. She stared at his back as he leaned over the bucket. His hair hung down over his broad shoulders. Long deep scars curved up his left arm and disappeared under his short-sleeve shirt. "What were you doing all the way up near Seers Overlook?"

"Did you save me from that wolf? I fell—-that thing would have killed me, and I didn't realize anyone was around."

He cleared his throat and turned, facing her now, "Did anyone follow you"?

Devi gasped; his eyes were so familiar. There was something she couldn't quite place, and something didn't add up. Her stomach ached and growled as she answered, "You—apparently."

"You need something to eat," he said, quickly grabbing at a loaf of dry bread. He placed it on a plate with some fresh butter.

Outside the window, Devi could see the sun was low and had already started to set. He set the plate next to the table by her bedside. She sat up and grabbed it eagerly. The bread was tough as she'd tear it into pieces. He stood there for a second, watching her. A smile crept on his face, and he turned away, "That's good. Eat."

She observed him as she swallowed the chunks of bread (slathered butter). The room was very tidy and a tad extra than the bare necessities were around. Devi finished her snack and pushed the plate on the table, "finished," she said, placing her back against the wall behind her, "Now tell me, who are you?—and exactly how long have I been here?"

As he walked to a closet and pulled out some rope, he said, "I will be happy to tell you more, but I've got some business I've to go to do." He furrowed his brows, looking at her.

"What are you doing?" She asked and started fidgeting.

"Look, get comfortable; you need rest," he said, now walking towards her with the rope.

"Don't you fucking dare."

"I'll only be gone until next sunrise, and I promise I will feed you again."

She tried to fight him, which didn't work well because her arms were sore and bruised. Stars danced around her head.When she finally gave in, he gently tied one wrist to the bedpost in an expert knot. When his hand brushed up against her, in her head, she saw flashes of paw prints in the snow, a little boy and girl hiding in a cabinet, and a woman pressing her finger to her lips as she closed the door tight.