Veera panted heavily with exertion, her cloak billowing behind her as her claws kicked up snow in her wake. Cold, Maran air filled her lungs almost to bursting with every breath as she struggled, fighting with each stride to lift her feet out of the drifts and move forward. She carried her spear in both hands, the rough leather grips allowing her a tight hold as she ran. For the third time that day the eastern gate came into view. Only one guard was on duty, a necessity of circumstance. He hailed her as she finally came to a stop, resisting the urge to bend over and pant. Instead she handed him her spear and placed her hands behind her head.

“Thanks for that,” she managed, feeling her diaphragm ache as the acid in her muscles finally began to dissipate. The guard regarded her with no small measure of skepticism as she greedily sucked down oxygen.

“Are you feeling alright Veera? The next festival isn’t for months! Besides, I thought you and the human were-”

“It’s not about the festival. It’s about training my body,” she replied, cutting off his mention of her mate. The guard got a nervous look in his eyes at her proclamation and lowered his voice.

“Look, just don’t let Antoth see you then, alright? You might give him ideas! Half day shifts are brutal enough as is.” Veera laughed at his reticence, stopping abruptly to clutch at a stitch in her side.

“How are you guys holding up?” She asked seriously, finally feeling well enough to reclaim her weapon and rest more casually against the wall of the gatehouse.

“Honestly I think we’re still getting used to it all. There’s not much construction we can do with all the snow, but the granary is under constant guard now. I suppose we should all be thankful to Kel for his moderation this year. Everyone can still move around at least. Far as I can tell no one’s been too uppity yet but…”

“But?” Veera prodded, fanning her feathers out in a question that also served to vent some of her excess heat. Her dress and cloak had done their jobs well. The guard shook his head as though what he was about to say was crazy or blasphemous.

“There have been a few calls for Antoth to step aside and allow for a new priest of Seil to be selected.”

“Has he resisted that?” Veera asked, knowing that such a course of action was very unlike the village Guardian.

“Well no, of course not! The captain isn’t that kind of Cauthan. It’s just that right now most of the villagers don’t want him to, not to mention I don’t know when the priests could convene to select someone with all that’s going on right now. Not to speak ill of the dead, but I’m not exactly upset at the fact that the captain has taken charge. He’s been on rounds almost non-stop since yesterday morning. I feel awful for Tarn though.” Veera nodded in agreement.

“I do as well. No one deserves to lose their father like that. That being said Vash was always very hands off, unless it was time to punish someone for blasphemy,” she spat, unconcerned with the look of discomfort on the guard’s face. “Antoth is the opposite. He listens before he acts. He may not be the next sun priest, but he’s an excellent leader.”

“Aye Veera, that he is. May Uthos guide him in these troubled times.” They both bowed their heads for a moment out of respect and prayer. “Would you like to head inside now?” The guard asked, feeling their conversation was about at a close. Veera made to answer in the affirmative but stopped as she looked to her left, eyes lingering over the snow-covered shrines. They’d gone undisturbed during the raid, possessing nothing of value to a roving band of scavengers.

“I think I’ll visit my father first, do you mind?” She asked, feeling nervous about revealing such a thing to a relative stranger. She blamed Asha for getting her to open up in her loneliness. The guard seemed surprised that she’d even asked.

“I…no, of course not. I’m not exactly moving anytime soon. Gate shifts are almost a full day or night now.”

“Sorry about that,” Veera replied, watching her breath as it vanished into mist.

“I’m not. It means I’m still alive. I hope you find some comfort with your father; I think we’re all on edge without the human around.”

“None moreso than I, I can guarantee that,” Veera said, earning her a quick nod as the guard looked to the skies.

“I don’t doubt that for a moment. We keep him in our prayers, you know? Antoth’s always believed his kind serves the Sentinel. Can’t say I disagree after all that’s happened, but that’s more the captain’s place than mine.” Veera felt a small amount of the warmth insider of her return.

“I can’t speak for the rest of his kind, but he certainly does. I’ll be back in a moment.” With that Veera hefted her spear and walked the short distance to her father’s shrine where she took a moment to collect her thoughts. “Hey dad, it’s me. I’m still alive and kicking, so don’t worry. I didn’t join the spirits that night, but a lot has happened. I’m scared now, dad. My entire world has changed and I don’t recognize it. I’ve gone from alone and outcast to…I don’t even know! The guards make casual conversation with me. People look at me differently. My…body has changed. I’m strong now. I’m fast! I killed, dad. I sent three of those hyrven fuckers to the afterlife. And well…I’m not going to give you any details but I know mom would be upset if I didn’t tell you at all. Russell and I became one, two nights ago. He treats me well and I know he loves me…and now he’s gone,” Veera finished in a whisper, pausing to take in a deep breath through her nose and forestall an oncoming bout of tears.

“I’m lost and scared dad. It’s easy to put on a brave face for the others because I know that’s what he’d do. It’s what Antoth would do and I respect both of them very much. It’s easy to stand tall around the village and in the temples because I know I’ve earned it; but when I’m alone, when my mind is blank and wanders…it gets dark. I’m afraid…so afraid of being alone again. I’m afraid he won’t come back. And most of all I’m terrified of having come to rely on someone so much. It just…” Veera choked back a sob. “It feels like when you left. I forgive you dad. I did a long time ago. I know why you had to go, why you had to try. There was nothing else you could have done. If he doesn’t come back though…I don’t know if I could ever forgive. It doesn’t matter who; him, Io, myself, the raiders. I wouldn’t ever forgive. I wouldn’t be able to forget. I’d become old and bitter and angry and miserable and….RRRRAAAAAAAAAGH!” Veera slammed her spear butt into the ground and yelled angrily, channeling all of her pent up frustration, anger, and helplessness into her lungs and out her mouth. Though it didn’t bring Winters back to her it did help, a lot. When she was done she breathed in deeply and slumped her shoulders as she relaxed. “Thanks dad, I think I needed that. I’ll be back if I need to let go again, alright? Tell mom that I’m happy with him, and do whatever you can to guide his hand. I’ll try my best not to become an old and bitter bitch like Ratha. She survived too by the way. Thanks daddy. I love you.”

Her business with the spirits concluded, Veera returned to the gate. She was met with an awkward look on the face of the guard. “Everything alright Veera?” She raised her crown feathers in a shrug.

“As good as it can be for now. Would you mind?” She asked tersely, no longer in a mood for idle conversation.

“Sure thing. Gods keep you Veera.” The guard wished her well as he opened the gate. Veera nodded as she passed by him.

“And to you.”

-----

Finding herself on the east side of the village, Veera figured that she could stop by the temple of Kel to check on Xan and Thantis. It would distract her and it was something Winters had expressly asked of her to boot. With a small knock against the doorframe she entered the space, finding it much as she’d left it the previous day, though with fewer guests.

“Hey Veera! Thanks the gods you’re here. This stuff is so boring!” Xan called out to her. The young Cauthan had been gently moved from the table and now sat in one of Thantis’ chairs. The furniture had been covered with leather and fur so that he could remain on it for long periods of time without too much discomfort. His bad leg was propped up on a small stool, one that Thantis usually used to reach herbs and other material kept on the higher shelves of his temple. Veera smiled at him, waving her feathers in greeting before resting her spear against the wall and walking to his side.

“I’m glad to see you’ve been getting better Xan; Winters would be happy to hear it,” she said kindly. Xan cut straight to the chase.

“Is it true what they said? Is he really going after the ursae!?” Veera sighed but answered him truthfully.

“Yes Xan, it’s true.”

“That’s awesome! I can’t wait to see how huge it is!” Xan exclaimed, his youthful exuberance clearly not dampened by his injuries. Veera’s downcast look did temper his enthusiasm though and he had the good sense to look bashful. “Err…sorry Veera.”

“It’s alright Xan, I’m dealing with it. How are you doing? Are the sutures holding?”

“What’s a sutures?” He asked, his nicked ear twitching.

“That’s what the humans call the thread I used to sew your wounds shut. Is it holding?”

“Yeah it’s really nice actually! Not that I’ve ever been sewed up before but it’s like it isn’t even there. Well, I mean, the hole in my leg is still there and it itches like crazy but it’s just…you know?” Veera chuckled and leaned forward to rub his short feathers. “Hey, cut that out!”

“I don’t think I do know Xan, but I’m happy you’re feeling alright. The pain isn’t too bad?”

“No, it’s not. Thantis has been giving me a few herbs each morning. He said tomorrow he might have time to show me how to mix them himself. The other wounded have demanded his attention so far,” he said, face drooping as he thought of his fellows.

“I understand that. I’m sure he’ll find time for you as soon as he’s able. How’s the eye?”

“Really damn itchy, and everyone says I can’t rub it!” He pouted in frustration.

“Well I suppose you could Xan, if you want an open, bleeding gash for an eyeball that is.”

“I think that would look pretty cool with the bone cane to be honest,” Xan replied quietly, looking down at the leather scroll in his lap. “It has made this a bit more difficult though.” Veera followed his eyes and noticed that the surface was full of various runes.

“What’s that you’ve got there?” She asked curiously.

“Runes. Thantis says it’s the first thing I have to learn,” Xan complained as he gestured to the piles of scrolls that lined the left side of the temple in various neat piles and stacks. “He says that we’re only as wise as the priests who came before us, and only then if we understand what they discovered. He says the only way to learn new things is to first understand what came before.”

“That sounds pretty wise to me, and very much like Thantis,” Veera remarked.

“Yeah, but it’s boring!” Xan protested anew. “Training was much more fun, like what you’re doing. Even boring training was less boring than this.”

“I know Xan, but…” Veera trailed off, unsure how to comfort the young man, especially when she still had all of her limbs and eyes uninjured. Xan didn’t allow them to wallow in discomfort though.

“It’s alright Veera. Honestly I think it’s pretty clear I’m lucky to even be sitting here right now. Do you think Winters will help me learn to walk again when he gets back? I feel like he’d be good at it.” A wide smile broke on Veera’s face as she imagined the scene.

“I think he’d like that very much Xan. He asked me to check up on you in his absence and sends his regards. And if it makes you feel any better I’m learning human runes.” Xan’s eyes widened.

“Woah really? What do they look like?” He demanded eagerly. Figuring that it would distract both of them, Veera drew her knife and began tracing in the dirt where Xan could see from his seated position. When she’d finished with the twenty six letters she looked back to him.

“There you go! That’s all of their runes. They do have different ones for numbers though.” Xan’s nose wrinkled as he looked them over.

“Don’t tell him I said this but those runes look pretty lame. And why are there so few of them?”

“Apparently they build their words using combinations of each rune, so you don’t need too many of them to make all the necessary sounds.”

“Huh…I guess that makes sense. Still not nearly as cool as ours though. See this one, the one that looks like hyrven teeth? That means battle! Much cooler, right?”

“You would learn the rune that means battle first,” Veera ribbed him.

“Nuh-uh! I also learned spear, and shield, and uh…alright fine, point taken.” Veera chuckled as he turned his nose up.

“Whatever works for you Xan. I’m just happy you’ve turned yourself around so quickly. I can’t imagine it’s easy for you.” The young guard looked pensive for a moment.

“I mean it’s not but…it’s better than being dead, right?” He reasoned.

“Yes Xan, it’s infinitely better than being dead,” she agreed.

“What’s better than being dead?” A kind voice inquired from behind them. Thantis had returned from his morning rounds. “Ah, I thought that was your voice I heard Veera. Welcome child, be welcome in the house of Kel.”

“Thank you Thantis. I was just checking up on Xan.”

“Ah yes, my remarkable…if excitable new pupil.” Xan’s ears perked up, drawing Veera’s attention to the nick on his right ear. It looked angry, but it was definitely healing.

“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean Thantis?”

“It means that a calm mind is an open mind, something I hope you will soon learn, young one.” Veera agreed, but stepped in on Xan’s behalf anyway. She waved to get Thantis’ attention.

“Oh Thantis, Russell had a message he wanted me to give you. It was something about a new method of preparing tea. He said it would really bring out the flavor of the leaves.” The old Cauthan’s eyes lit up.

“Yes, what was it child? Tell me!” Veera and Xan looked at one another, baring their teeth in smiles. After a moment of waiting in anticipation Thantis cottoned on and shook his head with a chuckle. “Ah Veera, sometimes you prove wise beyond your years. Xan, I apologize. An open mind is only useful if one has the passion to learn and finds excitement in the workings of the world around them. Your passion is certainly unquestionable.”

“Yes sir, I’ll try to work on the whole being calm thing,” Xan agreed, looking back down at his rune sheet.

“Achieve balance young one, just as Kel maintains the balance between life and death. Now Veera, how are you doing my child? Is there anything I can do for you today?”

“No Thantis, I’m as well as can be expected under the circumstances. I won’t take you away from your duties. If anything I’m the one who should be asking you if you need help, no?” He waved her off with his cane.

“You are kind to ask Veera, but as much as possible it now falls to Xan to aid me. As he recovers that will only become more true. There is nothing like hands on experience to teach a young one the ways of making brews and poultices. Perhaps in the spring you can be of service, yes? Gods willing we will make it that far and I find myself in need of herbs again.” Veera smiled confidently.

“We’ll get there, and I’ll remember that Thantis. Thank you. I should probably get going then; leave the two of you to it?”

“As you wish Veera. Know you are always welcome here,” the priest assured her.

“I do Thantis, thank you. My mate sends his regards and his apologies for not being able to stop by in person before he left. I’ll stop by soon Xan; be well.”

“Same to you Veera, thanks!” The young one waved a farewell as Thantis closed his eyes and nodded his head at Veera’s message from her human. Their conversation done, Veera collected her spear and departed. Once in the street she gazed up at the star, hanging low in the sky even at midday. She murmured into the frosty air.

“Where are you right now, my love?”

-----

‘Sir, I believe we should be moving on now.’ Io woke Winters with a combination of her own voice and a brightening of his visor’s display. ‘The star of the system should just be setting.’ Winters blinked his eyes open, raising his hands into the air and stretching out, rolling his neck back and forth.

“Yeah…thanks Io,” he yawned. “Did I miss anything?”

‘No sir, it was eerily quiet.’

“Understood. Let me just answer nature’s call here and we’ll be on our way.” Io rolled her eyes and looked away.

‘Just watch the frostbite, sir. I daresay Veera won’t be able to cure that.’

“Mmm, charming as always Io. Anyway, how have you been?”

‘I cannot complain sir. I had some down time to think while monitoring the suit’s sensors. It was peaceful, if nothing else. Watching the sunset, even through the trees, was an added treat.’

“I’m sure it was,” Winters agreed, looking around as twilight shrouded the forest, lending the snows a deep purple hue. “Think about anything interesting?”

‘No sir, just a few calculations.’

“Such as?”

‘The type of convertible you’d be able to purchase with your back pay upon arrival at Earth, assuming standard rates of inflation and warp speeds,’ she answered casually, looking around as Winters gathered his things. He didn’t bother hiding his surprise or his approval.

“Getting a bit ahead of yourself there? Can’t say it’s a bad idea though.”

‘I’m not the one who promised mountains,’ she shot back with a smile.

“Touche, but I like the idea of that little cabin. Shall we?”

‘After you have your kina sir, you promised Veera,’ Io prompted him with a kind wave of her finger.

“Yeah, thanks for the reminder Io.” Winters let out a small grunt of appreciation as the now familiar taste coated his tongue. “Seriously, we need to get some of these back to earth. That’s just too damn refreshing on a day like today.”

‘That’s definitely against multiple laws that existed long before first contact,’ Io informed him, her body language indicating that she was all in favor of breaking those laws.

“I’m sure someone in Beta will want a crack at them. It’s only a matter of time. Where’s the trail Io?”

‘The winds swept most of the footprints away, but I have the heading and we’re bound to find fresher tracks as the night goes on. Please proceed sir,’ Io requested, an arrow on his HUD directing him north by northwest.

“Got it. Thanks Io.”

‘Of course sir, let the road trip continue.’

-----

In the dead of night as Winters continued to walk along, Io’s programs began flashing multiple alerts and warnings on his display. Taking cover behind a nearby tree, he waited for an explanation.

‘No lifeforms in the area sir, but there’s an old camp up ahead. Perhaps this is where they took shelter last night?’ Winters took a closer look as he exited cover and approached. They’d moved back into a denser area of the forest, the thinner trunks slicing the moonlight as it poured into the small clearing that had clearly seen plenty of activity the night before. Snow had been moved and disturbed all around, with sled tracks, burnt out campfires, and bodily waste all present in large quantities.

“No arguments with your analysis here,” Winters said as he walked through the area, turning his head slowly to take in the full scene. Io had returned to her desk, regarding a couple of screens thoughtfully.

‘While there’s plenty here to examine, I suggest that we continue on sir.’

“In a minute Io,” he replied, walking away from the center of the camp to the outskirts.

‘What’s piqued your interest sir?’

“Nothing yet, but I was thinking maybe we would get an idea of how far they post guards from the camp itself, would give us an idea of how close we can get.”

‘You know my sensors are perfectly capable of such a thing, sir,’ Io replied with a bit of hurt in her voice.

“And if we get stuck in a blizzard and have almost zero visibility?” She pouted but nodded her head.

‘I suppose it couldn’t hurt. Proceed sir!’

“Thanks Io, appreciate it.” With a small smile Winters began walking in ever increasing circles away from the center, taking note of what he thought might be prints or markings that would have been made by a Cauthan standing watch in the night. He’d just knelt to examine what appeared to be a small piece of meat jerky when Io gasped. His hand went to his pistol immediately. “Talk to me Io!”

‘I think I have something, sir. It’s ridiculously faint but I think it’s worth checking out, a formation in the snow.’

“Where?”

‘About a hundred yards straight ahead sir,’ she ordered. He moved immediately, watching as Io’s expression became clearer and harder as he walked on.

“It wasn’t something small, was it Io?”

‘No sir.’

“It was just so far away you couldn’t tell, could you?”

‘Yes sir.’

“So what are we dealing with here?”

‘See for yourself,’ Io replied, activating the external helmet light and illuminating the largest paw print that Winters had ever seen in his life. His blood ran cold.

“Holy fucking-”

‘Language sir, but yes, I agree. Holy fucking shit.’ Io yelled, hunkering down in a miniature pillbox. Winters didn’t even bother to fire back at her as he beheld the massive imprint in the snow. The winds had rounded the edges over the course of the day but there was no mistaking the foot-long claw marks that rested in front of the main portion of the print. It was so wide that Winters could have easily camped for the night inside of it with just a bit of digging.

“Analysis?”

‘That print is about seven feet wide, sir. Extrapolating…’ Winters moved around the formation as he waited, spotting another a few feet away. ‘Sir, given what I know of the fauna on Mara via samples and observation, the compression of the snow, and the spacing of the prints…’ She hesitated, seemingly unwilling to believe her own analysis.

“I don’t like that look Io,” Winters growled, his grip on his shield tightening as he took a step forward an into the space where the ursae’s paw had been.

‘We could be dealing with an animal the size of a truck sir.’

“What, like those four wheeled ones that mainly deliver in urban areas? That’s never going to be enough meat.”

‘Like an eighteen-wheeler, sir. Look at the depth of the print, how it compacted the snow. I have no idea how this thing moves so stealthily but it weighs more than a ton easily. I don’t use this term lightly sir. We’re hunting a leviathan.’ Winters’ breath caught in his ribcage, a trickle of fear and doubt creeping unbidden down his spine. There were times when being human by nature was at odds with being a HEL Jumper by profession. Now was one of those moments as every self-preservation instinct inside of him rioted in an effort to get him to retreat. He swallowed hard to fight it off, remembering why he was out there in the Maran wilds in the first place.

“Then we’re going to kill a leviathan.”

-----

Veera looked around her home as the cooking fire died down. Asha had offered to remain with her that night as well but Veera had demurred, insisting that she spend time with either her family or her mate. The second night without her lover felt less panicked but more hopeless than the night before. The fact that, in all likelihood, he was fine didn’t do much for her. She exhaled a long, deep breath.

“I miss you darling.” With nothing more to do she knelt before her small shrine and prayed to the gods. To Valta she offered a prayer that her human would find his strikes to be true and his hand steady on the hunt. To Meylith she prayed for their home and family to be reunited and made whole. To Kel she prayed that he be shrouded in the cloak of winter, his namesake. She prayed that he would achieve his goal and return home alive.

“Please, keep him safe.” Her task complete she slowly moved to her bed, peeling back to the blanket and sliding in. Sleep took a long time to find her. She’d spent the day out and about the town, hanging out at Zolta’s temple and with Gentia. It had helped for a time. Conversation and immersing herself in the slow recovery of her village distracted her from the lack of human in her life. But in her room, alone in her bed, the absence of his body, warmth, and voice hit hard. Everything just felt empty. “I hope you’re alright Russell. I miss you.”

-----

As Seil crested the horizon Winters and Io began looking for shelter. They’d pursued the group of raiders throughout the night but hadn’t been hasty in their tracking, especially when they knew there weren’t the only hunter out on the prowl. Every so often Io paused and had him remain still, focusing all of her attention on their surroundings and sensors. They’d never gotten a firm confirmation of the ursae either way but the prospect was unnerving enough. With the light of dawn a sense of relief came over them.

‘How about there, sir?’ Io asked, pointing to a fallen tree that had formed a drift of snow that would shield them from the elements as much as possible. Winters nodded and shifted his bow from his shoulder into his hand, beginning again to form a pile of his gear.

“This looks as good a place as any. You’re going to be alright during the day?” He asked, knowing she’d probably be alright but wanting to check anyway.

‘Of course sir, I’ll be fine. However I must say this recent temperature drop has been worrying. I’d have expected a higher ambient temperature by now.’

“What temperature would we have to start drawing from the batteries?”

‘Approximately fifteen degrees Fahrenheit sir,’ she informed him immediately.

“And we hit twenty last night. I guess it’s better to be moving at night than the day in either case, evens things out with my body heat generation. Just let me know if you need to tap into the suit’s power sources to moderate my temperature. We’ll cut our trip short if we need to,” he promised. Io wore a decidedly conflicted look on her face.

‘I understand sir, but I’d much prefer a triumphant return. If necessary I will shut down some of my less vital functions to conserve power,’ she offered uncertainly.

“Last resort Io. Worst thing that could happen would be you terminating some of your subroutines, suffering ‘death’ and having to go through a factory reboot. We have the cloak and plenty of spares, alright?” Winters insisted, making sure she understood the conversation was closed and that her subroutines took just as much priority as his own organs.

‘Yes sir, sleep well.’

“I’ll try. Can’t say this is particularly comfortable relative to what I’ve grown accustomed to,” he complained, wondering what Veera would get up to that day while he rested.

‘That is truly saddening sir,’ she replied sarcastically. ‘I seem to recall multiple pleas from Veera for you to remain in the village where it’s comfy.’ She ended her sentence with air quotes.

“Yeah, yeah, I know,” he insisted, waving a hand as if to dismiss her. “What do you think? When will we catch them?”

‘Given our progress today I believe we should be able to find them tomorrow, though perhaps late in the night.’

“You think they’ll surrender?”

‘Any of them who remember you will likely flee immediately and leave behind anything they consider less valuable than their lives. That being said, I’m not sure that nomadic Cauthan even understand the term surrender, to say nothing of the fact that we can’t communicate with them yet. Their language is completely distinct from that of Veera’s people and something tells me we won’t have the same type of opportunity to study it.’

“Well, it’s not like they can really harm me. Worst comes to worst we’ll just waltz on in and take back what we need, right?” Io frowned at him.

‘Mr. Murphy has a bridge to sell you sir. You of all people should know that nothing ever goes according to plan.’

Winters grunted in acknowledgement as he scooped out a slightly wider space inside the drift so that he could find greater shelter from the wind and hide his equipment. “No need to remind me Io. It’s not like I ended up on this planet because of Murphy’s Law or anything.”

‘Be that as it may sir, if that had truly been the case you’d have either crashed here in a way that killed you or overshot the planet. I was only trying to remind you to be cautious,’ Io insisted, hands on her hips.

“Just let me hope a little, yeah? I know that in all likelihood I’ll either have to kill some of them or…I don’t know.” Io grimaced at the shadow that fell over Winters’ face.

‘I suppose humanity really is quite fortunate, isn’t it? For now though, here on this primitive planet, we must do what is necessary. You can do that, right?’ It pained her to ask such a thing, but circumstances demanded he at least consider the fact that in the end he might have to kill more Cauthan instead of an ursae. Winters sighed long and hard, the end of his breath a small growl.

“I guess so, Io. If it comes to that I have to.”

‘Then our hunt will continue tomorrow. Goodnight sir.’

“Night Io.”