I felt the itch of the pre-dawn light telling me to rise. Well that and my mate moving as if she already knows I am about to rise. Sometimes mornings were worse than goodbyes. They come when you don’t want them to and at the worst moment when you just felt like you laid down. 

Biting my lips, I went ahead and tossed the covers off me. Throwing my legs over the side of the bed and staggering up as I walked towards the nail holding my winter coat. Snatching it off the hook, I threw it over my shoulder as I staggered outside. My head bent back in the thick winter wind as my lower body led me to the long drop. I don’t remember yanking open the wooden door but I clearly heard it bang close behind me as I pop out my little friend in this blasted cold.

I quickly finished my business and cut back through the cold to stumble inside, snow trailing my bare feet. It wasn’t until the warmth of the fire licked my feet that I felt stinging pain letting me know, I once again did something stupid. 

Guess I would go hunting a little later, how terrible!

Plopping down into a chair by the fireplace, I rocked with my head resting against the warm quilt wrapped around the headrest. I almost let myself fall off to sleep but a boot slammed damn straight into my face. Leaving a stinging pain behind where the boot landed. 

Snarling, I sat on the edge of the chair as I pulled my thick winter pants out from under my ass. Kicking my feet into the damn sleeves. I didn’t even have to glance back to know that my Bella was holding the other shoe, waiting for me to slip up. Such a fierce bear that one was. 

I pushed myself out of the chair and pulled the pants up all the way, lacing them as tightly as possible. My eyes hunted around the fireplace for my thick wool socks only to find them hanging up just above the fire. Snatching them down, I hopped around a bit as I threw my toes into those warm bastards. 

“Don’t forget your shirt and doublet, dear. I don’t want you trying to bring icicles home on your nipples again.” a sleepy voice echoed in the log cabin.

I couldn’t help grumbling. Get drunk one time and nobody let you live it down again. 

Tossing off the coat, I grabbed my wool shirt and pulling it down over my head. Followed by my thick leather vest. Finally back into that snug bear fur that left me feeling like I was back in bed even though the evil witch was glaring at me. 

Having no choice left, I kicked my feet into my thick winter boots that had fur on the inside. I hobbled over to the bed and put on the other before bending down to kiss my lovely mate on the forehead. I could pretend to be the most civilized, right?

“Don’t stay out until dark if you don’t catch anything by noon. Just come home. We have enough doubloons to last the rest of the winter. It’s our neighbors who we should worry about. I don’t think that young lad caught anything since he became of age.” She went on gossiping, which rushed me the quickest out the door.

Stumbling only to stop to grab my bow, quiver, and hunting blade. I could hear her snorkeling as I stumbled into the cold morning air, once again. 

Sometimes life was unfair. Women could rest inside the house during the cold. Do the so-called cleaning and cooking and act like they did so much hard work. While I have to travel through this unforgiving snow that reaches up to my knees. Stalk a wild beast that is twice as likely to kill you in better conditions. Somehow end its life and then gut it, pour out its insides and carry all that back.

Back through the unforgiving snow, just to place it on a rack in the cellar. Where I will eventually, sometime that day, butcher it and wrap the meat up, all nice and neat. Doesn’t this sound more heart wrenching than just dusking some drapes? Rearranging a few things and throwing some items into a pot that’s already pre-set up. Waiting for it to cook, just in time for the hardworking, back breaking, most epic hunter in all the lands, to come home? 

I mean, it sounds…

Crack!

My body snapped to attention as I crouched down and pulled an arrow from my quiver. Just placing the tip upon the bow’s body as I listened quietly to the almost dead silent woodlands. 

Crack!

My head snapped to the left as I heard something mucking through the knee high snow. Had to be some dumbass human, who else would be making all this racket. Stepping on hidden branches like this? I bet it wasn’t even all that hidden and the dumbass just stepped on it anyway, thinking it could support his weight and keep him out of the snow a little.

I glanced up because sometimes the cleverest hunter didn’t just walk on the ground. Sometimes those beasts walked in the trees like it was the firm ground. I lost a number of friends in my youth to those clever bastards. 

Heavens, was I glad that guy decided to walk through the gardens today. There was a big one sitting in the nest of branches. Almost hidden by the natural color of the snow resting on the trees. I watched the incredible feline chest rise in small movements as its eyes stared towards the noise. It was hunched and ready to strike.

I aimed at it but waited. If I shot first, it could turn back and attack me. My first arrow definitely wouldn't claim its life. That thin fur might look like shit protection against a steel tip broadhead but that just wishful thinking.

I slowed my breathing as we waited. One of us freezing our asses off while the other was probably picturing the tasty prey.

The whole time, the sound of the dumbasses grew closer. Occasionally growling could be heard. I wanted to take a look at the dumbass but the creature's muscles could be seen on its fine white coat. Grey shadows could be seen lining certain joints of the beast.

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I caught sight of a snow laden head pop out just as blur rushed towards it. I readjusted my aim, pulled back and let the arrow go just as a snarling growl of triumphs resounded.

It was quickly followed by a cry. My eyes caught the white feline coated in red, spinning around. Sadly, I already had another arrow notched and flying before it could spot my head peeking out of my own matching white clothes.

The arrow cut through the breezy air and slammed into the beast chest. Even with my stronger than normal man strength, the beast only staggered as the hit didn't even go all that deep.

However, I had another flying right after. My boots started ripping through the thick snow backwards as I wanted to put these sturdy trees between me and the angry kitten.

The feline staggered forward with the determination of a bull seeing red. Ignoring the wound that enlarge arrow after arrow, at its chest. Frothy red slithered out from between its teeth as it took a step after step.

Just from the way the blue eyes looked a little enlarged and it shook its head as it sought to end us together. I knew without a doubt, it was a goner and I didn't need to keep firing.

I took the second that my view was blocked to put up my bow and grabbed my hunting knife, which could really be deemed as a short sword.

When I stepped out from behind the tree, the beast collapsed only two steps from the tree. I circle wide while I wait for it to bleed out. I wasn't nearly worried about blood bringing other predators. The dumbass would have seen all that was near, coming. since I didn't hear much from him, he was probably dead.

As I made my way over, I kept a careful gaze on the feline. Maybe it thought it was really clever but I could see its hide rising. Even as subtly as it did, there were ways to make it out. Like the bubbles forming at its mouth, the way its ears pricked as I stepped through the snow.

I spotted the darker hues of red in the snow and inched closer as I made out the slight sound of groaning. Like someone trapped under a pile of rocks would make.

The moment I stood over the poor creature, I immediately knew I wasn't facing anything normal. For one, the guy's face was shredded and he was still alive. He looked like some animal chewed up carcass. Like granny down the road decided to try and be a butcher without adequate skill or strength.

Definitely look like this guy never getting laid again. 

Unfortunately, I couldn’t do much for him. I didn't bring my full kit because I forgot it. Besides with these injuries, I don't think he was making it anyway. Not with the wounds he sported all over his body.

I was just about to move away when I realized that some of his wounds look like they were days if not weeks old. He shouldn't have survived the winter with his clothes to begin with.

I reached down and sifted the fabric between my fingers. Soft like cotton. His feet were bare and resembled what the healer said was rot foot. There was not a drop of blood on some of these wounds even though I could clearly make out the bones. 

Actually it was all dried up and clotted. Throwing a quick glance back, my eyes came upon the feline that slowly rose.

The shit actually stood up, ignoring the wound on its bloody chest. It turned and gave me a creepy smile.

My hand reached down to where my sword or short axe would be but it grasped empty air. A cold curse slipped out of my mouth along with a breath of life as the beast’s snout slid back. I could see its intentions as clear as I could make out clouds in the bright blue sky. 

I itched backward, every so slowly. Aiming to make a run for it the moment it decided to pounce. I only had that slim chance to put some distances between us. 

Fuck, I should have came more prepared for whatever this shit is. 

The feline took one step, as if it was trying to incite fear within me. Sadly, it underestimates me. I had the fear beaten out of me early on in my life. Now I was much like it, a cold killing machine.

My eyes studied it as we both took steps. My goal was to angling inward to the Duke’s hunting ground, its goal was merely to provide me that last hope before it snuffed out my embers. It probably would add a little heel twist to putting out my fires of life.

It felt like ages as we stepped in sync but only eight minutes had passed. However, it was more than enough for us to have crossed the imaginary boundary that separates true wild lands from the Duke’s hunting lanes.

Which really didn’t make sense to me. He had to waste a lot of man power to hunt the bigger beast that stumbled in and a few die because of that stupidity. Not to mention those who die during the Official hunting parties.

Ah, it was really…

Crackle!

I didn’t turn my head but I knew it was one of those heavy armored guards. This was one of the many patrols that watched this half of the forest. A safety net to hunters like myself who find themselves coming across something more demonic than wild.

The beast on the other hand, snapped to that direction. Its large, white furred head snapped back as a bolt slammed into it. I didn’t even hear the sound of the crossbow but it might be one of those magical ones. 

The feline roared not in pain but anger. It disregarded me and shot out faster than before. Slicing through the snow into the low brushes. I heard the sound of metal ranging and yells going up. I made the smart and only decision, running the opposite way. 

If the guards couldn’t handle that beast, then what I needed was my own gear. I could stand a better chance or die with a little more dignity than being unarm. With worry high on my plate like those cold greens your mama tells you to eat or she raised her sunbaked hand at you.

My breath came out in heavy puffs of smoke. I felt like I was blowing clouds with my pipe with how bad my breath mist up and trail behind me. My long black hair wasn’t even floating as reckless as my breath and yet my lungs weren't even straining. 

I cut to the right as I caught sight of familiar trees which led to my cabin at the edge of a small hunting village. However, I also had this odd feeling that something was wrong as I pumped my legs, all but sprinting home.

My eyes came upon the open land before the village and the first thing that hit me was the sight of thick trees of smoke stabbing into the sky. Followed by the heavy smell of burning pine wood, almost a wonderful scent if you were smoking meat but this just gave me a heavy stomach. My legs continue to cut through the snow and I made it to my cabin to find it intact.

I heaved a sigh of relief as I threw open the door but my woman wasn’t home. I stood in the doorway, taking in everything but it was perfect. Perfect in a way that said that nobody broke in, nobody took anything. It was as if my woman had started lunch as some winter roots laid cut on the cutting board. Her heavy coat still sat on the nail beside me. Her boots weren't that far from the fireplace. This didn’t make any sense.

Even the ground outside wasn’t showing signs of someone being dragged or anyone coming but me. One set of steps since the new snow fell a little after I left. I could barely make out the little grey shadow in the indentations. 

So where did my woman go?

I ran my fingers through my beard as I trample over the cellar door hidden behind a thick rug that hadn’t been moved. I threw it aside and grabbed the ring that would allow me to lift up the thick cellar door. Throwing it open, I stepped down onto the first rickety step, then next. Yet, when I made it to the bottom, she was not in sight.

Where the hell could she have gone?