Exposed

Silvan's mood was sour. Although the cabin was spared, the path to town wasn't. Even with his axe, it would take days to clear all the large branches. If by some miracle they would disappear overnight, the large boulders made sledding impossible even after the snow had settled.

Taking inventory, none of his snares had survived, the small roof that kept his firewood dry was blown apart, and now he was trapped here as well. He sat down and looked at the grey skies with tired eyes. He'd had his fair share of bad days on the mountain. It comes with the territory, but this one was the worst so far.

"I even missed the sunrise." Although this was the only non-essential he'd lost to the storm, it broke something inside him.

The wind suddenly turned, the gust blowing cold air in his face. He wasn't even granted a moment of respite, it seemed.

Fine, he thought, getting up. He's probably hungry by now.

"How are you feeling?"

Jasper's eyes were still closed. He wasn't expecting an answer anyway. He'd been asleep ever since Sila intervened. He studied his friend. No shaking, a calm expression. Pulling the blanket aside, he got the first good view with daylight present.

The fracture seemed fully healed. Even the skin where the bone had protruded through was scarless. The frostbite, however. He double-checked his friend's calm expression to be sure. Not a hint of discomfort. It too had disappeared, but was replaced with something else, an unnatural discoloration.

Questions plagued his mind. Thoughtlessly, he extended his hand, but was stopped just shy of the injury by a small voice.

"I can't move."

"Jasper! How are you feeling?"

He looked at the ceiling, his eyes darting every few seconds while he got his bearings.

"I had a nightmare... It was cold and... painful." He paused. "I was high on the mountain. But there was someone else there as well."

"You insisted on joining me on my routine. Remember?"

"No," Jasper interrupted. "It wasn't you. The howl. There was this loud howl. It took away the cold, the pain, and..."

Jasper tried getting up. Tears began rolling. He couldn't.

"I can't move, Silvan. Why do I feel so weak?"

Silvan covered his friend's leg, hiding how nervous he was by breaking eye contact. He cleared his throat and spoke with authority.

"Don't worry. It's just a side effect from the painkillers I gave you. Some pretty hardcore stuff the locals showed me."

The lie did it's job stopping further attempt's to get up.

"Let's crack that bottle when I'm better."

Silvan looked at the empty glass container on the table and slid it into his mantle.

"Sure, buddy, let's do that."

The hot rabbit stew reinvigorated Silvan a little. He tried feeding some to Jasper but only managed a spoonful before he drifted away again.

The food was only a small relief when he thought about the work ahead of him. Did he even have enough time to get everything in order? Jasper was stable now, but for how long? His traps, the firewood. Sila.

Stirring his soup, he picked out a piece of meat. "You never know when you will need the strength," he recalled her words. Did she already know back then how this would play out? That Jasper would find him? What she'd do to him? Or was he just spiraling? Tying ends where there were none?

What was her deal anyway? Thinking back, she never spoke about herself. She was only ever interested in what he was up to. He followed many lines, trying his best to rationalize everything that had happened since yesterday. No, since he first arrived here. The good days, the bad. Lucky breaks and incredibly dubious mishaps. The voice. Sila.

"She's not normal," he finally decided.

As if conjuring her up with all his mind work, there was a knock at the door. Unmoving, Silvan's heart was racing. What would happen if he opened the door? Was one man's strength not enough for her? Did she taste blood and was back for more now?

Another knock.

"Friend? Are you alive, friend? There's smoke from your chimney."

Urho!

Silvan flung the door open. "Urho, come in, quick. You came at the right moment!"