It was snowing hard the next morning, The small shelter was nearly completely buried up to the door in white pearlescent snow. They each struggled to clear a tunnel to the sleigh and free it from its own cold clasped tomb. The goats, bobbed like fish in a white sea as they awoke from the clustered pile they'd been sleeping in.

By the time they'd untangled the leads and lashed the beast to the sleds, morning had near passed them as they stumbled through the white landscape of the changed forest as they resumed their journey

It was a long stretch as the mountain, now looming over them in a fuller stature, seemed ready to crush them in a moment. Yet ever paradoxically, very far away, a Vanier of blue skies like a wavering dream, ready to vanish at a moment's notice behind a passing cloud.

A wild dog barked in the distance now and again, drawing the journey to a pause till the sounds quieted. Then slaving on against the bitter elements.

Althea gasped as she reached a flattened section of the wood like a giant had stepped on the once-proud forest, the faint hit of old smoke bit her nose amid the cold. Something had burned here recently. A lot had burned here.

The footsteps of the beasts never wavered, pressing onwards at their steady pace. They were growing close to something. The driver gave a loud whoop and his companion threw a hand in the air as a response., something was rising from the snow.

She shaded her eyes against the glare of the white expanse and tried to peer ahead from atop the sled. The trees had all but vanished from around them, leaving only a white, winter plain.

It was difficult to make out, but there did seem to be a dwelling ahead. A great fence, made of thick posts lashed together, tight and hardy, half-buried into the ground, and covered in small scratches. Almost like scars from a past battle, it made her think this was another village. A Barricade against potential dangers of the forest.

It was a sight that confused her.

She didn't think these men fearful, nor particularly timid, but. Why build such a wall? They stopped and one of them dismounted from the sled, The Map Reader, that's she what called him because there was little to separate the two men. Walked forward towards the doorframe, patting the sturdy animals as he passed. He examined the large wooden posts as they stretched past him on either side, then fumbled with a thick knot around the gates.

He threw open the gate and allowed him and his partner to enter. he took the lead of his sled once more and they kicked up a trail in the fresh snow as they rode in. Settling to a stop at the entrance of a simple Cabin. Other buildings were scattered about, but none seemed large enough to be proper dwellings.

The Cabin was proud against the elements, its Door sealed tight against them, and for all intents, a secure outpost against the cold. A simple log cabin covered in a simple thatch roof, long and fairly well-sized for two men, forming a simple L-shape.

But to her eyes, it was squalid and small from Althea's perspective.

One of them called her over, waving her into the dwelling. She shifted off the sled and started trudging through the snow.

Tolan was getting the fireplace ready when the Mysterious Lady stumbled in after them, their eye's skimming the room absorbing and its admittedly, simple accommodations.

The cabin wasn't than a large room with a room to the side, A large brick Fireplace sat in one corner with the diner table in front of it. Pelts and dried vegetables hung from the ceiling in garlands and banners. Axe and Saw mounted beside them on the walls, along with coils of rope. Behind them, Above the door, A Massive simple carving of Four Sparrows in flight, Their wings upturned towards the sky, painted in colors of Blue, Black, Red, and Yellow.

Tolan noted as she ran her hands along with the rough work table they had rudely forced into the opposing corner of the room, next to the door. Her back was to them, as she tacitly examined some of the tools that were scattered about.

Tolan tended to the fire, sparking a tiny flare amid the tinder, raising it into a great flame. Vir casually threw aside his winter coat onto the bench by the dining table and lay down on it with a groan.

Tolan sympathized with him but knew there were other things to be done before he could rest. With the Fire lit and warmth coming back into the space he let go of his breath, watching the fog dissolve in the air. Standing tall, He turned back to the door.

The Lady had taken a place at the table and was fiddling with one of their fishing hooks. if the creek wasn't frozen solid, they might have some use. He plucked the curved shape from her hands like a child and placed it down on the table. He then headed out the door to finish tying up the Goats and to close the gate before Nightfall.

Althea was growing concerned, she thought they had moved to another village, but, this was their home. Had she been sold as some wilderness bride to these Men?

To be their companion amid the Forest. The disturbing thought raised a score of new terrible panic in her heart. Bile in her throat she struggled to swallow.

She was already promised, she had an honorable duty to attend to in uniting two houses. She was to remain pure for that purpose, the ancient law decreed this, lest both houses are shamed and...

She dared not think about the consequences of her circumstance.

She could not make herself known, her Ode was still returning and would take several more weeks to fully heal. And even then, it would be weakened and need to be restored to full strength, a poor defense when she need it the most

She thought to flee, but it was too late for that. Too late had she grown suspicious or even been well enough to think. So many things had happened her mind was still trying to sort them, these past days, or Weeks? had helped, if only she wasn't so shocked by her surrounding. Maybe her thoughts could regather into something cohesive.

But she did know, that she could not stay here. Not for a moment, but the storms were too strong. Any plan she had would have to wait until Spring to enact. If she could wait that long.

She'd examined the tools laying before her, curiously she picked one up. A simple crooked shape, like a barbed dart, yet too small to throw or to be an arrowhead. Possibly a fish hook. She briefly considered taking it as a possible weapon or tool to aid her escape. A hand reached down over her shoulder and pulled it from her grasp. Placing it back on the table, slightly farther away from her.

She tried not to let the panic claw its way up her throat. though she could feel its advancing pressure.

He then moved towards the door and vanished for a time, leaving her with the other one, who was laying down after their journey. She watched him for a moment.

He sighed, the massive frame heaving with the breath as his shoulders slumped. He sat suddenly and reached down under the table removing the belt around his waist and emptying his pockets.

Scattered pieces of silver, a knife, and various smaller items that she didn't understand the nature of. They looked like small totems or charms like she would see at the temple. But, those were of different animals and depictions of the Ancestors, the 18. His were, Birds?

Glancing to the sides, she realized, there had been something of a bird motif at the village as well. No one severed chicken or foul there. The blankets had odd shapes in them that, in hindsight, were also birds. And most telling. Certain buildings were marked with carved Birds.

Her eyes glanced towards the knife. Even from across the room she could tell, it was different from hers. First, the blade was sheathed in loose-fitting leather, but she had a sneaking suspicion that these men did not have access to the iron tools of her village. Strange, was this land so poor as to not know how to smelt and craft even simple iron?

She creaked under the weighty implications, Such as poverty. How was it that she should be stranded in such squalor, with pagan barbarians?

She felt the need to pout, or rather cry. She wanted to go Home, just wake up tomorrow, in her own home, and have her family there, telling her it was all just a bad dream, and that she should be getting ready.

The thought of her family pained her with the longing, it had been so long. Father would be furious to find her missing so long, or worried. Either, Both.

Ancient Fathers and Mothers, Guide this foolish child. She prayed as the desperation settled in, much like the snow, from the winters storm.