The cold air whipped across Iskra's face as she followed her mother through the trees. They were checking the traps that they had set the night before. Her mother usually did this on her own but had said that it was time for Iskra to learn how to help out around the house.

"Come now," Revna sighed as she stopped again waiting for her small daughter to catch up. "There is another trap just ahead." She turned slightly to see the child jogging to keep up.

"Mama," she took in a shaky breath, "you walk so fast I can't keep up."

Revna knelt to her daughter's level, "I just have longer legs. You'll be able to keep up soon."

Iskra took in a deep breath and then continued forward toward the trap ahead. They had passed three traps that had yet to go off, and by the looks of it this one hadn't gone off yet either. Revna examined the trap carefully as Iskra knelt beside her.

"See these tracks here?" Revna pointed to some larger tracks along the melting snow. "These are wolf tracks. Looks like our dinner got snatched up."

Iskra shivered, "Does that mean the wolves will come snatch us up?"

Revna laughed, "You have no need to be worried about wolves. I'll protect you." Revna glanced toward the path and then back in the direction they came. "We should probably head back though. I doubt any of the other traps secured anything if these three failed."

The two began to head back toward the house. Revna seemed to be leading them a different way home than the way they came. They came up to a large clearing. Revna seemed to be walking a very specific path. Iskra deviated, enjoying the soft crunch of fresh snow beneath her feet. Her mother was almost into the tree line when a soft cracking noise caught the young girl's attention.

Suddenly, the snow beneath her gave way and she slipped into icy cold water below. She felt a pulling sensation as her clothes filled with the water and she began to sink quickly. Sharp pain shot through her tiny frame as the icy cold hit her skin. The water was dark the only point of light coming from where she had just fallen through. She flapped her arms and kicked her legs trying to get closer to the light, but her body sank deeper and deeper. Her lungs ached and her vision began to dim. A shadow shrouded the light from above and her vision went black.

"Iskra!" Revna cried as the girl jolted forward emptying her lungs of the icy water. "Thank the gods..." The girl shivered against her mother's equally drenched clothing. "Thyra will be able to get us all nice and warm again. Let's get home."

Thyra and Rune were sitting by the hearth when Revna opened the door. They didn't even glance up, expecting Revna and Iskra to come join them. When Revna came into the room holding a nearly blue child Thyra jumped from her seat.

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"Rune get more blankets!" She ordered. "We need to get these wet clothes off of both of you. You get your clothes, I will get Iskra's." The women began to work quickly.

Once Revna was dressed in new clothing, she was at Iskra's side. "She fell through the ice over the pond."

Thyra nodded as she continued rubbing warm blankets over the child. "It's a miracle she's not dead." She gave her friend a stern look. "You saved her life."

"She shouldn't have been out with me in the first place," Revna stated. "She's too young."

Thyra rolled her eyes, "Fell was younger when Rune took him hunting for the first time. She needs to learn." She let out a relieved sigh as the girl shifted slightly. "She won't forget today anytime soon."

Rune ran back into the room with a stack of blankets. He rushed over and placed them at Thyra's side. She tossed one to Revna and pointed to the chair closest to the fire. As Revna sat the other woman lifted the child into her arms and placed her on her mother's lap, then covered them both with a few blankets.

"You'll be warm in no time," Thyra smiled softly.

Color slowly returned to Iskra's face as she warmed by the fire. She opened her eyes slowly to see her mother gazing out the window with tears on her cheeks.

"Mama?" She muttered, reaching her hand up to wipe the tears away.

Revna jumped slightly and quickly turned her frown into a warm smile, "Søta." She let out a sigh of relief. "You had me worried." The girl snuggled closer. "I told you to stay close." The girl sniffled as she pulled the blanket up to cover her face. "Iskra, it is very important that you follow me exactly whenever we are away from the house. You could have..." She stopped, noticing the soft sobs escaping from under the blanket. "Oh, søta...I'm sorry. I was just so very worried about you today."

"I'm sorry," she whimpered. "I just like the sound the snow makes."

Revna's eyes locked onto Iskra's, her mind obviously elsewhere at the comment. Tears filled her eyes, and she took a deep breath, settling herself once more. "Snow does make a beautiful sound, doesn't it?"

...

A loud thump caught her attention. She rolled over opening her eyes to see her mother closing the door to their room. Her armor had already been doffed, in favor of her nightclothes. Iskra smiled warmly as her mother leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Happy birthday, søta." Revna sighed. "I told you I'd make it home in time for your birthday." She ruffled the girl's loose curls as she slid into bed next to her. "Rune told me you were starting to get worried."

"Rune said he wouldn't tell..." she frowned and pulled the covers over her face.

Revna chuckled, "Rune and Thyra don't keep secrets." She rolled over to face her daughter. "Iskra, you never have to worry about me." Iskra glanced away from her mother. "Søta? What has you so worried about me?"

The girl took a deep breath, "I had a dream that you got eaten by a dragon. Mama, it was so scary. And then you never came home. What if you got eaten by a dragon in real life?"

She took a deep breath and lifted the child's chin, "You don't have to worry about me, Iskra. If for any reason I don't come home...I'll still be with you. Right here." She placed her hand over her daughter's heart. "I'll always be with you."

"But you won't really be here," she sighed. "Who will take care of me? What if I fall in the lake again?"

"I think Rune and Thyra have everything covered on that front," Revna pulled her daughter in close, "and you know better than to play by the lake." She kissed the top of her daughter's head. "Now I think it is time to sleep. We can talk more in the morning."