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Description
Blood.
Even faint, it carried over the wind in an unmistakable odor that left a copper taste in Amenii’s mouth. Trudging through the snow she wondered whose blood had been spilled. Had it been some she had met, traded with, or worse yet knew. No, it would not do to dwell on that, hoisting her supply bag back onto her shoulders she pressed on through the growing drifts. Ever aware of the distance she had made from the hut.

How long until he returned and found her absent. Her tongue flicked out to lick at wet lips. It had only been several days sense she had won her freedom, and Nick and given her leave to walk freely around his home.

‘I trust you.’ He had said.

Ha! It had been their late night, of enduring his hunger for her body that had gained her freedom. She had recoiled at first, but had quickly learned that to do so was to only put her in greater peril. Instead she had taken to bury her face into the furs, this too was passing and had left her cold in the meat cellar again. The third time, she had forced herself to look into his eyes, to touch his face and run her hands down over his scared torso. There were so many there, and she found herself more curious than horrified.

This was one subject that she found they could meet on common ground, one that did not provoke his darker side, or cause herself to recoil in horror. Antlers, claws, teeth, he had been attacked, and attacked so many and lived to tell the tale. And it was in those retellings that Amenii slowly began to see him as he was: A Survivor.

It was hard to call him a villain, as he did not kill for pleasure, greed, or madness. His was born of a necessity to stay alive in the cruel world of snow and ice. She thought about those stories now as she took another step. Another step to freedom she chided herself, just keep waling Oakwoods, make for the tree line and you’ll be free.

But free to were? Free to what end? Another little voice echoed in the back of her mind. Save for the supplies on her back, she had nothing else, she had a rough map of the area, but Nick kept most of his secrets in his head. ‘The better to protect them that way.’ He had said when she asked about any literature he had, or drawings of the land.

Maybe he had suspected her intent and had hidden them, but after days of searching she found nothing. Nothing but sadness, and old memories. And Her pelt.

Kept tucked away in a chest, lined with resin and sealed tight she had found it one night while Nick slept off his exertions. Carefully folded and placed within it stood alone, hollow eyes staring back at her. That was the only time she had seen it up close, save for when Nick dawned it to go out, and that he often did out of her sight.

He killed her! She reminded herself, taking another step though her footfalls had slowed. And he will kill you too! The voice echoed her inner fears. No, No he won’t, he wouldn’t. A chill ran down her spine, and she tested the air once again.

Somewhere nearby a predator lurked. Senses reaching out to their limit Amenii listened, painfully aware she had no weapon to defend herself with. Unsure if it had sensed her, she took a step back fearful suddenly of the woods and the darkness beyond.

Giving the forest one last look, she turned, and ran back to the one place she knew she would be safe.

Previously: Arctic Drift: Is This Where You Sleep?
Next:

Description
Blood.
Even faint, it carried over the wind in an unmistakable odor that left a copper taste in Amenii’s mouth. Trudging through the snow she wondered whose blood had been spilled. Had it been some she had met, traded with, or worse yet knew. No, it would not do to dwell on that, hoisting her supply bag back onto her shoulders she pressed on through the growing drifts. Ever aware of the distance she had made from the hut.

How long until he returned and found her absent. Her tongue flicked out to lick at wet lips. It had only been several days sense she had won her freedom, and Nick and given her leave to walk freely around his home.

‘I trust you.’ He had said.

Ha! It had been their late night, of enduring his hunger for her body that had gained her freedom. She had recoiled at first, but had quickly learned that to do so was to only put her in greater peril. Instead she had taken to bury her face into the furs, this too was passing and had left her cold in the meat cellar again. The third time, she had forced herself to look into his eyes, to touch his face and run her hands down over his scared torso. There were so many there, and she found herself more curious than horrified.

This was one subject that she found they could meet on common ground, one that did not provoke his darker side, or cause herself to recoil in horror. Antlers, claws, teeth, he had been attacked, and attacked so many and lived to tell the tale. And it was in those retellings that Amenii slowly began to see him as he was: A Survivor.

It was hard to call him a villain, as he did not kill for pleasure, greed, or madness. His was born of a necessity to stay alive in the cruel world of snow and ice. She thought about those stories now as she took another step. Another step to freedom she chided herself, just keep waling Oakwoods, make for the tree line and you’ll be free.

But free to were? Free to what end? Another little voice echoed in the back of her mind. Save for the supplies on her back, she had nothing else, she had a rough map of the area, but Nick kept most of his secrets in his head. ‘The better to protect them that way.’ He had said when she asked about any literature he had, or drawings of the land.

Maybe he had suspected her intent and had hidden them, but after days of searching she found nothing. Nothing but sadness, and old memories. And Her pelt.

Kept tucked away in a chest, lined with resin and sealed tight she had found it one night while Nick slept off his exertions. Carefully folded and placed within it stood alone, hollow eyes staring back at her. That was the only time she had seen it up close, save for when Nick dawned it to go out, and that he often did out of her sight.

He killed her! She reminded herself, taking another step though her footfalls had slowed. And he will kill you too! The voice echoed her inner fears. No, No he won’t, he wouldn’t. A chill ran down her spine, and she tested the air once again.

Somewhere nearby a predator lurked. Senses reaching out to their limit Amenii listened, painfully aware she had no weapon to defend herself with. Unsure if it had sensed her, she took a step back fearful suddenly of the woods and the darkness beyond.

Giving the forest one last look, she turned, and ran back to the one place she knew she would be safe.

Previously: Arctic Drift: Is This Where You Sleep?
Next: