After the two lynxes had taken yesterday's prey and had another long talk, they stepped out of the den together into the barely warming sun and roamed their territory, which was now only in Salim's possession.

It took Valja a long time to decide which side she wanted to leave the territory on and which direction she wanted to head off in. It would make a considerable difference where she went. In the north she would get to know the snow much better, in the west the endless lake awaited her, the south offered heaps of dangers and encounters with Baldskins and their creatures, and if she decided to head east, to where the lynx had once come from, she might come across Alicia's grave.

And now, after the sun had almost reached its highest point, they finally stood on the border of their home territory and looked down on the steam path that formed the end point of it. Heaps of snow were piled up on the sides, but the black stone was completely empty.

“Are you sure you want to go north?”, Salim asked again. There was no way he was going to risk her getting hurt or even dying for something she didn't want at all.

But his daughter nodded resolutely and stared out at the wide meadow that opened up before them with a sparkle in her eyes. There was only one problem, this path of Baldskins was blocking her way out. Countless colourful steamers, almost reminiscent of the Night of Colours, raced past them at uncontrollable speeds, making it almost impossible to cross.

Several times Salim had seen animals that had been trampled by their round paws and whose bodies were barely leaking blood, because they were so flattened. How ruthless could these creatures be, killing something and not eating it, no, even running over it, followed by thousands of others. They showed no compassion or stopped briefly to at least look at their prey. And the lynx really didn't want to do that to Valja. He didn't want to have to bury his third cub as well.

“We'll just wait and see”, he explained instead, nodding slightly and sinking down into the snow. Not that it would have been particularly pleasant, but leaving Valja here alone was out of the question.

The lynxes just grumbled impatiently and sat down next to her father. You could tell she didn't like waiting here at all, when the adventure was waiting for her just a few fox bodies away. But Baldskins and their steamers had never been the most considerate and she had to learn that too.

The sun continued to move along the sky, making time pass relentlessly fast and not once had there been a gap in the endless loop of creatures passing by. They were either blocked in one lane or the other.

But then, finally, a ray of hope in the murky darkness. A black creature on round paws ran past them, only to be followed by another in the distance. Otherwise, the black stone was clear.

“Run, Valja! Now! Quick!”, Salim frantically urged Valja and gently pushed her onto the steam path after making sure it was actually empty. His daughter remained there, somewhat taken aback, but then she ran as fast as her legs would allow to the other side onto the snow-covered meadow.

The lynx exhaled with relief when he knew she was safe and smiled slightly. More steamers rushed past him and their noises sounded almost louder in his ears than usual. Amidst all the colours and creatures, he spotted Valja sitting hesitantly at the edge of the path, trying to spot him.

“Go on, Valya!”, he shouted over the noise so she could hear him. “I know you can't wait! I love you and I'll never forget you.” His voice broke at the end of his sentences, but they had made their impact. Valja stood up and turned around. For a brief heartbeat, he could see her golden eyes sparkling with zest for action and adventure, even if there was a hint of melancholy in them.

Salim sighed deeply as she disappeared into the white of the meadow and was no longer to be seen. He looked after her briefly, but then turned back to his own territory. She would be fine, he knew that. And after all, she had survived this far. Unfortunately for him, he couldn't be there for her and protect her any longer. Valja was now on her own, but he trusted that she would cope with life out there. He had no other choice.

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He slowly moved away from the steam path and sank deep into memories of the time his daughter had spent by his side. Sadness overshadowed his face and clouded all his senses. All he could hear was her laughter and her voice. He smelled the scent of her fur, which seemed to carry the wind with it. And saw her before him, her beautiful eyes, the pale pattern of her fur and that special colour. She would be gone forever, even though he had always known that she would leave one day, time had passed far too quickly. Had he even appreciated that she had been there? Had he been too reckless to believe that she would miss him as much as he missed her? Valja was impetuous and had mourned her brother for a really long time, and he didn't want the grief to overwhelm her again, but would she even think about him anymore? Had he been as important to her as Akuma?

And worst of all, when she gave birth to her own children at some point in the future and they began their journey, would he be allowed to visit these boys in his dreams? He had never been their biological father and he didn't know if they made an exception for stepfathers wherever Akuma and Miles were now.

Suddenly, something heavy and warm landed on his back and Salim's eyes widened in surprise. Before he could react, his legs gave way under the weight and he slumped into the snow. The cold white immediately spread across his muzzle and there would probably be countless lumps of ice in his fur when he got up again. If it came to that at all.

A rough, but in a strange way melodious voice reached his healthy and upright ear: “You did it again.” Salim froze as he recognized the voice. The lynxess of the neighbouring territory.

He gathered all his strength and tried to rise, but the lynxess didn't move a mouse's body. Instead, she emitted a dangerous growl that still seemed far too close to his ear.

“You said you wouldn't cross the line again. But apparently, I have a liar on my paws.” He could see a quick movement of her head. “There's the shrub over there. Do you still remember? And yet you're lying here on my turf.” But Salim couldn't see anything at the moment, neither the colour of the cat's fur nor the bush he was supposed to have stepped over again. Instead, he looked into piles of snow that blinded him.

“I'm sorry about that. I wasn't paying attention to the border. I was thinking”, he defended himself, but his voice was muffled by the masses his head was stuck in.

“I was thinking”, the lynxess mimicked him quietly, but Salim could detect a hint of an amused undertone in it. “If I crossed the line every time, I thought about something, we'd soon have to move it deep into your territory.”

“Sorry,” came a murmur from the lynx. It was a complete mystery to him why she hadn't already engaged him in a fight or, since she was nailing him to the ground, killed him already. But he was extremely grateful to her. “Can you please let go of me? Then I can go back to my territory. I promise it won't happen again.” He almost took on a pleading tone, but that was too humiliating for him.

“How am I supposed to believe you? It would probably be best to kill you right away”, she asked and Salim's eyes widened in alarm. He wouldn't let himself be murdered that easily.

“I'm not a breaker of the law of the lynx circle like you are.” His voice sounded a little shrill. “I know what you've done, and I will avenge my two cubs on you. I wouldn't let any murderess in the world get away with what you've done.” Before he could stop the words, they gushed out of him and involuntarily he realized that this was his death sentence. He didn't know the mind of a murderer, but he feared she couldn't let him live like this. Not after everything he knew and had thrown at her.

Salim narrowed his eyes as the fur on the back of his neck bristled, waiting for the final bite on the back of his neck.