Chapter 36 | TWENTY-ONE QUESTIONS AND THE TREK BACK

He answers quickly, as soon as the sentence is finished: "No."

"Well, you didn't have to shoot it down so quickly," I mutter. "Why not, though?"

"Because we basically play that every time we have a conversation."

Oh. "You have a point," I nod. "But what else is there to do when you've been treed by a wolf pack?"

"It's not an entire wolf pack," he points out for no reason, and I deadpan.

"Yes, I know that, but you get what I'm trying to say here."

He breathes the cold, fresh winter air in deeply, tilting his head back to rest on the tree trunk as he looks up at the dark sky. "Fine. You start."

I smile, "Really?"

He looks at me, "I'm assuming that's your first question."

"No, nope, not my first question," I reply quickly while thinking of my actual first one.

I didn't think he'd actually agree to play. Now, what do I say?

I think I'll start off easy. Ask a few simple questions, and then directly hit the man with a bigger one.

"Okay, what's your favorite animal?"

He purses his lips for a split second, the corners lifting slightly. He looks at me, slightly amused. He's probably thinking, 'Really? That's your first question?'

I work to keep the smirk off my face. Vaughn'll have no idea what hit him.

"Dogs."

I nod, as I totally saw that coming.

"And yours?"

"Same. I like orcas, too, though," I answer, then ask: "Favorite subject in school?"

"Math," he replies. "What do you think about this current situation?"

I lift an eyebrow, slightly confused. But nonetheless, after peering down to look at the many branches below us, I answer. "Well, I honestly wish I was eating something by the woodstove right now. I'd much prefer that to being cold in a tree above human-slaughtering wolves. But other than that, the situation could be worse, I guess. I could be stuck up here next to an unlikeable human being, for example."

He tilts his head, "You think I'm likable?"

For some reason, yes. Even though you haven't exactly been cheerfully nice to me.

"My turn, not yours," I smile. "Favorite season...and why?"

"Summer. I don't have to worry about hiding my tracks," he answers. "What do you think of the village?"

"I...think it's unlike any other place I've been to. The people are...well, some of them, maybe most, are kind of odd. There's basically nothing to do except work, shop in the one store, and drink at the bar."

He thinks about what I said, nodding slightly.

Okay, my turn.

"I've heard stories of you shooting arrows at people. Thor, Luna. If you had had the bow when I showed up, would you have shot some at me?"

He looks up at me, seeming slightly surprised as he studies my face for a moment. "No."

I shake my head, "I don't believe you."

"You think I would have shot arrows at you?"

"You shot some at Luna, of all people, who was bringing you nice things like homemade food."

"She was everywhere every time I went to the village. I wasn't about to let her bother me out here, too."

"And Thor?"

"Friends with Matthias, last time I checked. Came out here to find my cabin."

I believe that, actually. Thor said he was looking for John, but from what I heard, everyone is aware he disappeared by the river.

"What do you think of Roan, Thornson, and Luna?" He asks me out of nowhere before I can say anything.

Huh. Most of Vaughn's questions are basically just him asking for my thoughts on certain things. Why does he want to know what I think?

"I'm grateful to him for helping me get here, but I don't exactly like Roan. I have no reason to dislike Thor personally. And, I suppose I dislike Luna, but I don't think she's intolerable."

He nods, so I say, "You told me you would only help me if I proved I could survive on my own. Did you actually mean that when you said it, or did you know you'd help me either way?"

He lifts an eyebrow, not saying anything.

"Oh come on, it's a harmless question."

He sighs, then reluctantly admits, "I was going to help you, regardless. I only wanted you to think I wouldn't."

I smile as I see he's entirely serious. I can't believe he admitted that, though. What a difference some conversation makes, huh?

"What's one place you would like to visit in the future?" He quickly changes the subject.

"Norway," I say without hesitation.

He doesn't react.

Not surprised at all, though.

"I don't know, I've just always wanted to go there, next to Alaska, of course. But, now I'm here, so..." I trail off. "Do you like pizza?"

I have no idea as to where the question came from, but it's a valid one.

"Yes."

"Oh, good," I answer before he asks me his next question.

"Fears?"

"I'm afraid of the ocean and being buried alive, specifically. Also, I hate snakes." They're so creepy; I much prefer spiders. They're easier to kill. "How about you?"

"Enclosed spaces, feeling helpless, and war."

And in that moment, as we sit at the top of a tree, looking up at the stars, asking and answering each other about different topics, a very questionable thought suddenly pops up into my mind.

Maybe we can be friends.

The wolves are finally gone.

Some unfortunate little animal decided to take a stroll through the wrong part of the forest at the wrong time of the night, and by the time it realized...it was too late.

As soon as we heard them take off, we descended to our original spot in the tree, where we waited for a bit.

Now, I've just followed Vaughn back down to the ground, jumping down the remaining few feet. I land kind of stupidly, though, stumbling a bit.

Vaughn looks at me, "You okay?"

I nod, realizing I currently hold the bigger bag, though.

And, I mean, he's stronger, so...he'd carry it with more ease.

I scratch my head for a second, "Yeah, I'm fine. I think the, uh, extra weight of this...hefty bag kind of made it more difficult, and that's what caused me...the harm."

He raises an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth almost appearing like it lifts a bit. "That's a shame."

Seriously?

He knows what he's doing, he's not stupid.

Maybe he thinks he's funny.

He's not.

He surveys the area, and I also glance around, seeing the snow around the base of the tree has been packed down.

After thinking about it for a second, I laugh lightly, and Vaughn lifts an eyebrow in my direction. "Why are you laughing?"

I bite my lip slightly, "Nothing, it's just...the snow here."

He looks at me expectantly.

"It's been packed down."

"So?"

"Like, wolf pack? It's been packed down."

He pauses.

...And then turns around and starts walking in the direction of the cabin.

Well, it's official.

Vaughn's completely fed up with me and my wolf jokes.

It sucks to be him, though, cause I'm certainly not.

Besides, even if my jokes are bad, they're still better than his.

Sure, he can chop wood, and cook, and be all manly and everything, but are his jokes superior? Nope. Not in his wildest dreams.

I jog up to walk beside him, asking casually, "What are the chances of them coming back and killing us?"

"Just keep walking, and we'll be fine."

"How far do we have to go?"

"If I tell you, you'll be disappointed."

I frown. "I'd be disappointed because I'd know there's still a long way to go. So now I'm disappointed without you telling me because the thought of it tells me what I need to know, so now I'm disappointed."

He glances at me. "You sure you're okay?"

I think back to what I said before about the bag.

Wow, he's going to be so annoyed with me...he's going to regret ever helping me. I almost feel bad, actually.

"Yeah, the bag just must've put some more weight down on my shoulders, and now the added...um, strenuous activity is probably getting to my head." I stare pointedly.

He doesn't say anything for a bit, but when he does, he sighs slightly. "Mikaere?"

"Hm?"

He looks at me, "This is me noticing your staring."

I smile, lifting the duffle bag strap. "Trade? Please?"

Shaking his head lightly, he takes the heftier bag from me and hands me the lighter one.

"Thank you!"

I might be delusional, but I think I see the corner of his mouth twitch slightly. But then again, we're currently trapped in the moonlight, and I can't really see anything all that well.

"Just walk," he says in reply.

That's what I'm doing and have been doing, but okay.

We fall into silence, a breeze picking up and biting coldly at our unprotected faces. But, it's a silence I don't mind. It's a comfortable silence, and I no longer feel the need to fill it with unnecessary thoughts.

Is it maybe because you know that he'll actually respond to you for the most part, now?

I frown at my thoughts. Is that, deep down, honestly the reason why?

I have no clue.

Either way, I find myself feeling...lighter after our game earlier. I don't know why--maybe it's because he actually bothered to think of questions to ask me. Thoughtful questions, at that. And, for some reason, his acknowledgment pleases me?

Or maybe it's just because now I know a little bit more about my uncle's friend.

I shake my head, focusing on the exterior weather rather than the conflicted storm of thoughts inside.

There isn't exactly any time to think about weird rising feelings, at the moment, I try to remind myself.

But maybe the truth is I just want to avoid the thoughts for as long as possible because I'm scared of what I'll realize.

Who knows?

We continue to trudge through the snow, with the wind wildly whipping my hair in every direction.

It gets annoying, and I'm left with one thought: why didn't I buy any hair ties at Luna's store?

We keep going, however, and I try to ignore the way I can barely feel my face.

But when the wind picks up even more, and suddenly it's snowing, my eyes begin to water. And, I almost walk straight into a branch I didn't see through the darkness.

Before I can do just that, however, Vaughn holds his left arm out in front of me, stopping and guiding me away from the twig before he continues on walking.

Whoa, that was close.

"Be careful," he advises, raising his voice a bit so that I can hear him. But, I'm still barely able to over the sound of the wind and my current struggling.

"Well, it's not like I'm trying to pull a Thor!" I shout back to ensure he can hear me.

"Just keep going, we're almost there," he assures me, ignoring my allusion.

I listen to him, dodging trees and branches here and there, their dark shadows contrasting with the white snow.

But then...a faint light.

Hope!

Or rather, the faint glow of a woodstove from inside a cozy, warm, cabin.

I'm tempted to run the rest of the way and just get there as soon as possible, but I really don't want to risk hurting myself.

That wouldn't be too good, considering the simple medical supplies I have.

Plus, I really don't trust Vaughn's medicinal skills all that well.

I just keep my squinting eyes trained on the window, wondering where the dog is.

"Where's Moose?" I question loudly.

"He's fine."

"I assume that he's in the sauna, then?"

Well, I hope he is, at least.

"Yes."

"You really should reconsider letting him stay in your cabin. This is horrible," I call out over the wind, referring to the harsh and freezing elements.

I mean, yeah, Moose is a Newfie and completely covered in thick fur. But nevertheless, I still feel bad for any creature left out unsheltered in this weather.

He doesn't say anything in reply.

After a few more yards, we finally reach the steps to his cabin and climb up them. Vaughn swiftly pulls open the door, moving to the side so that I can walk in first.

And immediately, I feel relieved.

My numb, frozen face feels the glowing warmth in the room first, and then I smell the familiar scent of Vaughn's home.

Wood, food, and a slight smoky smell, thanks to the woodstove.

I breathe in deeply, and deep down, I know that I'm glad to be back.

However, I've got to go to the outhouse, as sitting in the tree for a few hours delayed the trip back.

After dropping my bag and hatchet on the floor, I turn around to head back outside. After realizing that Vaughn didn't follow me back in, I glance down to see he did, however, leave the second bag inside.

He's probably gone to check on Moose. That's good.

So, taking a deep breath, I prepare myself to step back out into the cold.