They had taken a moment to rest before bringing in the Sled and its cargo. There wasn't a lot, mostly provisions for their journey, tools for the work, and a few gifts that were slipped in for luck.

They carved a tunnel between them and the small latrine, the bitter winds still biting the soft sides as they made use of it.

Tolan looked up to the stars, Trying to glean some kind of understanding. the former chaos of the stars had settled and revealed a variety of signs and omens, the sign of the Owl featured itself as expected, a time of revealment and revelations. Others appeared s well, mostly for new beginnings and portents of a long journey, A difficult journey.

He looked back towards the house, Vir was supposed to be cooking dinner but was likely cleaning a trap they'd left out over their trip. Tolan warned him it was a bad idea, whatever had been caught was already half-eaten by the time they'd retrieved it. But a few were fresh kills and were serviceable for a meal. But he couldn't help but wonder who would be cooking.

He had questions, but also faith. The Blessed in Wind Rock would answer any quandaries he had. But he also remembered something else, a phrase often repeated to him during his youth.

"Don't ask for what you don't want," he muttered to himself.

A stiff breeze kicked up and forced a shiver under his coat, he turned and marched back towards the door. The Wind, howled about him in an eerie manner, which caused him to pause.

Then Run.

He threw himself towards the door, Throwing it open and shouting. "Vir!" His meaning was instantly caught by his brother, who threw boots and coats onto himself and grabbed a pair of long spears from the rafters, and handed one to Tolan, their guest looked around panicked and confused. They each then waded into the snow and shut the door tight behind them. Tolan made sure to lock the bolt as he did. Their guest would be safe through all this at least.

They waited in the dark for a moment, listening to the wind hiss and whistles in their ears. Then, A howl.

They turned, moving as one creature. stomping through the snow, making their way towards the gate. Vir whispered to his brother.

"Think they'll try and jump the fence?"

Tolan glanced about "I'm not sure, but Night fighting like this favors them over us."

His brother gave a mental nod, Damn wolves. more vicious than the dogs. The Wolves had never truly resettled after the Demons had invaded their territory. Nothing was safe from them and afterward; the Wolves filled the ranks of those evil creatures perfectly. Nothing could be done about it, short of extermination. but that would take too many men and would distract from vital business.

"Damn things, Must have followed the scent of the goats," Vir whispered.

"Quiet, listen for them, Keep your eyes open," Tolan replied. They waited in dreadful tension, moving towards where the animals were calmly sleeping under a thatch pavilion. A Young ram stood up when they approached, baying to the rest.

The Animals stirred and became agitated, Tolan nodded, that was good, That meant they were still there and not eaten yet. Vir tapped his shoulder. He turned and saw it.

The Low growling form of a red-eyed wolf, ragged and waning, a creature of pitiless malice and hunger. A nightmare in blackened form.

Vir raised his arm in defiance, Tolan touched him, he pointed. From the corner of his eye, Vir spotted the second one. Tolan raised his arm as well, the two stood ready. The two forms stalked them and in turn, stalked by the eyes of the men.

A twig broke the silence as the Wolf leaped for Vir's throat.

Althea tended the fire, keeping it from drooping as she waited. The sounds of mad howling filled the night. Shuddering against the cold, she dragged another log to the fire and threw it on in disgust.

The man that had gone out had returned, his second had left immediately, dragging bronze-tipped spears with him, and it seemed unlikely they were to be fishing this late at night. Then she heard the howling.

Of course, a Barbarian land would be harsher, more brutish, and hard. But she hadn't expected it to be so harsh as to mount an attack. The thing that brushed against her Ode kernel was like a cold wind, cutting deep into her like it wanted to cut her to pieces.

Her blood curdled towards it, weakly trying to resist it. The force, alarmingly close, was like an animal's hot breath, dripping with appetite and the bitter stench of ruin. Whatever was out there, was a horror, A Monster. She could've laughed, Why not. Her life was not only ruined, and her family most likely disowned, A monster had crawled out from the Shade realms to hunt her unfortunate soul for Laugrin the Evil to feast upon and torture for some slight on her part.

She groaned, and those men had rushed out there with their primitive spears hoping to kill these beasts. All she could hope for now was a swift death and a prayer that her ancestors would show mercy and save her soul from damnation when it was over.

She kicked the fire with the long brass prod and gently wept as she dared to hope against the impossible, Crumbling like a log in the fire. As her fear slowly turned her soul to ashes.

Tolan speared another one of the squealing creatures and felt the warm lifeblood pour out onto his hands as he did. Tossing it aside to make room for his next opponent. The Spear tip smoked in the cold night air as the blood dripped from it.

Vir pulled his knife from the throat of a beast that had nearly pinned him, tossing the dead flesh aside and giving a silent curse as he spat to the side. Tolan gave him a hand up as Vir snatched up his fallen spear.

"Hells, In my own house too. These bastards aren't going to kill me." He vowed,

Tolan responded simply by screaming at the top of his lungs and charging the beast like a mad man.

Vir snickered, well, Now he felt sorry for the wolves. Another one of the mutts snapped at him. Vir jabbed at it with his spear, cutting a line across its flank. forcing it to yip and run.

Two more stepped forward to replace its advance.

Well, Not that sorry.

He let loose his terrible warcry and plowed the beast aside, helping to cover his brother's flank while they dealt with these invaders. The Wolves closed behind Tolan's charge only to be met with Vir's following attack, striking them from behind before they could ride on Tolan's back.

A swift blow to their heads and shoulders left a pair of animals bleeding in the snow. A fire burned in his lungs as he lifted his spear again. He surveyed the grounds for new enemies and found none.

Tolan stood over the last wolf, pulling his spear from its sickly side.

Vir took a moment and drew closer to Tolan.

"How many?"

"Six I think," Vir replied.

Tolan looked about at the camp's scattered wreckage, counting the scarlet stain on the pure white land.

"I'd say seven." He countered. Rolling the dead one over and spitting. Tolan put a hand to his stomach and pulled away.

"You bit?"

Tolan shook his head, "Let's get inside, this will have changed our plans."

Vir chuffed "I would think so. We should make a final sweep, make sure these bastards don't get in again." Tolan nodded and made their rounds in the dark. They spotted a tree that had fallen, giving the wolves a partial rampway into the compound. Vir groaned.

"Must have fallen during that big fire. or maybe it just keeled over. We'll have to remove that."

"That, and check the storehouse for rats and other pests." Tolan reminded him. Vir frowned and continued onwards, checking and securing everything around the base. Not taking a chance after this attack, and searching for hidden trespassers. When they were both satisfied that nothing else had worked its way in, they vowed to remove the tree at first light, removing the danger of similar incursions from happening.

High above them, In the great Heavens, the Wolf retreated, as the Leopard stepped forward to stalk the Fates of Man below.