“Aleksandr! Hurry up and let’s go!”

“Don’t rush me, I’ll be right down!” Aleksandr replied carefully packing his supplies into the bag. He placed the bag around his waist and made his way down from the bedroom into the living area. There stood Raine near the front door.

“He won’t be gone for long; we don’t have much time. “ Raine said fastening their leather boots.

“I know, I’m almost ready, where is Isa?”

Raine shrugged before turning their attention back to their shoes. Aleksandr rolled his eyes and slightly opened the door into the second bedroom. He quietly peeked his head inside scanning the room before closing the door. Aleksandr grabbed his dark cloak from the hook and put on his boots. Together Raine and him made their way out the front door.

“Isa? Come on out, we don’t have time for games!” Aleksandr shouted. He walked around the cabin, checking near the chicken coop and stable. As he stepped closer toward the forest, he could hear a rustling coming from the trees. Aleksandr spotted small footprints and kneeled to get a better look. A small giggle entered the air, and Aleksandr smiled as something fell from the tree and toppled him to the ground.

“Surprise!” The young girl laughed.

“Okay, okay, you caught me. What were you doing all the way up there?” Aleksandr asked helping the girl to stand before getting up from the snowy ground.

“I was hunting just like you and mama!”

“I see, well you better get back inside before you catch your death. “Aleksandr said leading the girl back to the cabin.

“But I want to go with you!” The little girl whined.

“Isa, your far too young and I need you to watch over mother while were gone.”

Isa scrunched her small nose and made a face at Aleksandr who tried his best to ignore her. She continued to sulk all her way to the front door, where Raine was waiting for them.

“Finally! What took you so long?” Raine asked.

“She was just getting in some practice, weren’t you Isa?”

“Hmph!” Isa replied as she closed her eyes and refused to look at Raine or Aleksandr. The two exchanged a glance before Aleksandr sighed in defeat.

“I’ll tell you what Isa, you watch over mother, and I promise to bring you back something special, okay?” Aleksandr asked. The young girl contemplated what Aleksandr said before meeting his eyes.

“Okay!” Isa exclaimed flashing her toothy grin before running inside, closing the door behind her.

Aleksandr smiled before walking to the shed and grabbing his weapon, readying for the hunt. Together they made their way into the forest. The serene trees guiding them along the path. For as long as he can remember, Aleksandr has always found solace in the woods. His escape from the world and all its worries. Nowadays Aleksandr has been spending more time in the forest. Every evening when his stepfather returned home and most mornings before his chores.

But now was not the time for solace, now is the time for survival. He watched as Raine foraged for any food that had not been lost to the frost. Finding few berries, and even fewer medicinal herbs. Aleksandr stopped in his tracks when he heard a rustle coming from the bushes. He reached for his weapon, his gloved hands clasping the bow and arrow. Time slowed as Aleksandr waited and listened. He waited, and when the animal sprung from the bush, he struck the arrow into its heart.

“Find anything yet?” Aleksandr asked, finding Raine who was near the river leading into the village nearby.

“Just some mushrooms and herbs, I think we have seen the last of berries until springtime. You?”

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Aleksandr motioned to his right hand which carried two rabbits hanging from a hook. Immediately Raine made the same face as Isa had made before, Aleksandr hated that face.

“Look I’m sorry, okay? I’m not the one who decided to stop eating meat.”

“I didn’t say anything.” Raine scoffed.

“Fine, let’s just find a gift for Isa, then head home. Its already sundown.” Aleksandr said, searching around the riverbed. Soon the river would freeze over, and all the villagers would have to turn to ice fishing when the animals became scarce. A smooth round stone caught his eye, and Aleksandr picked it up to inspect it more closely. He traced his finger around the spiral etched in the middle and smiled before placing it in his pocket. “Alright let’s go, I’m starving.”

Raine and Aleksandr approached the cabin and opened the front door when Aleksandr was surprised to see a woman sitting down beside the table.

“Mother! What are you doing out of bed?” Aleksandr asked concern washing over his face. Before she could reply, Raine rushed past Aleksandr and swept their mother up into a tight embrace.

“Mother, how are you feeling? Has your headache gone away?” Raine questioned worryingly placing their hand on the woman’s forehead. The woman grabbed Raines hands and held them between her own.

“Oh, you two sound like a couple of worry warts, I’m fine really.” Their mother replied before turning to Aleksandr. She sat up from the ground and walked towards her oldest, placing her hand on his cheek. For a moment Aleksandr closed his eyes and leaned into her touch remembering when he was younger, and it was just the two of them against the world. His mother, Ila, had always seemed to know when worry plagued Aleksandr’s mind. She smiled, “Why don’t you go skin those rabbits in the shed and I’ll go get started on dinner, alright?”

“Are you sure? I can cook, you should re-- “Aleksandr began but his mother raised her hand stopping him.

“Oh, Aleks I told you before, I’m not sick, just pregnant, now go. Raine come help me with these greens. Taryn will be home soon” Ila said refusing to hear another word on the subject.

Aleksandr bit his lip before turning on his heel and making his way to the shed. As Aleksandr skinned and butchered the rabbits, he listened for the sound of his stepfather. A cruel and selfish man from the village who married Ila when Aleksandr was ten and four years old. She had no choice but to marry Taryn. Money had become scarce, and Ila was having trouble providing for Raine and Aleksandr. His mother was a proficient hunter and homemaker with a skill for the bow, something her and Alexander shared.

She had always been an outsider from the village, having lived in the cabin her whole life. Ila had grown up in the cabin alongside her great Aunt. Her aunt was a miserable old woman who was jealous of Ila and often forbade her from leaving the cabin. His mother would sneak out under the moonlight to spend time in the forest. And that is how Ila met Aleksandr and Raine’s father. A mysterious man whom he had never met. Ila refused to say much about their father, and anytime Aleksandr tried to bring up the subject, she would become increasingly irritable until she burst into tears. Aleksandr tried his best to avoid upsetting her, but he would be lying if he said he was not curious about his father.

“Oi boy! Are you deaf? You going to continue to dawdle, or are you going to help me with this horse?” A voice bellowed snapping Aleksandr back to the present. A blond man stood outside the shed holding the reins to Harriet, the family horse. A brown mare with white spots who Ila had raised from a filly. Aleksandr quickly dropped what he was doing and walked towards Taryn.

“Sorry.” Aleksandr said looking down at the floor, refusing to meet his stepfather’s eye. The man just grunted before harshly handing the reins to Aleksandr. He watched his stepfather walk to the cabin before he made his way to the stable. He tied Harriet to the post and took off the saddle before giving her a good and thorough brush. He filled the trough and took off Harriet’s headgear then wished her goodnight. He opened the front door and saw Taryn on the rocking chair with Isa hanging on the side. Aleksandr removed his shoes and hung his coat on the hook. His mother’s head peeked from around the corner with a warm smile.

“Aleksandr, just in time! Why don’t you go freshen up and then we can eat? I made some sweet cream rice, you’re favorite!” Ila said.

Aleksandr nodded and before climbing up to his room Isa ran up to him and spun around in a circle exclaiming, “Alek’s look at the ribbon papa bought for me. Isn’t it pretty? “

Aleksandr touched the stone in his pocket and saw Taryn’s smirk from the chair. “It’s beautiful Isa.” Aleksandr replied before climbing up the ladder. Raine was laying down on their sleeping mat and Aleksandr noticed their eyes were red. He crouched down beside the basin and began to wash his hands, “What happened?”

Raine sniffled, “Its nothing.”

“What did Taryn say?” Aleksandr asked using a small towel to dry his hands.

“It doesn’t matter, I’ll see you downstairs.” Raine replied sitting up from the mat and running their hand through their long dark hair in frustration.

“You can’t let him get to you." Aleksandr began but Raine stopped him.

“Aleksandr just drop it, okay?" Raine snapped as they quickly stood and headed to the ladder.

“Alright I got it, let’s go eat. Last one down cleans the dishes tonight!” Aleksandr said racing Raine down to the kitchen.