When I open up the cabin door again, the last thing I expect to see is Moose sprawled out by the woodstove.

Vaughn's lying on the futon, eyes closed, but I can tell he's pretty much aware of everything going on around him.

I shut the door behind me, immediately taking off all of my winter clothes and setting them by the woodstove to dry.

After petting the dog, I walk over to the cot, which has remained untouched since I last left it.

I sit down on it, criss-cross applesauce style as I raise an eyebrow at the man in front of me.

There's silence between us for a few moments.

"Any particular reason for your staring?" He questions lowly, keeping his eyes locked shut.

Do I even mention it?

I decide not to put him on the spot about it, smiling softly and lying down. "What makes you think I was staring?"

The side of his mouth lifts slightly, but he doesn't reply.

However, by asking him that, I basically confirmed his assumption. Oops.

We lay in silence, both glad to be sheltered from the harsh weather outdoors.

After a bit, Moose gets up and slowly comes to lay on the floor between the cot and futon, sighing in contentment.

I've realized, though, that he doesn't like the hardwood floors inside, as he has a bit of trouble walking on them. Which is probably why he likes the bedroom/living room area so much. The carpet.

Eventually, Vaughn rises and goes to the kitchen, pulling out different things.

Curious, I get up and walk over to him, observing the different items.

"What're you making?" I inquire as I lean against the counter.

"Venison stroganoff," he pauses. "That okay?"

"Sounds good," I respond. "...Do you need help?"

He glances at me, "Do you want to help?"

I hesitantly nod, and he begins instructing me on what to do.

Besides instruction on how to make the dish, we work in silence for the most part, and when it's finished, we eat in silence, too.

I don't mind, though. I feel comfortable enough to not have to say anything.

After dinner, he leaves to go start the sauna, so I opt to start a book I have downloaded on my tablet.

That's a bad idea, apparently, because before I know it, hours have passed by and I'm halfway through the whole thing, completely enraptured. Vaughn's taken his sauna and is now laying on the futon, not yet sleeping, and I've moved to sit criss-cross applesauce by the woodstove.

I've kept telling myself, 'okay, after this chapter, go take the sauna,' but when the time finally comes, I never do because it's always a stupid cliffhanger.

"Mikaere?" A voice cuts through the silence.

I glance behind me, but he's lying with his eyes closed and hands beneath his head. "Yeah?"

"Are you taking a sauna tonight?" In other words, 'go take a sauna while it's still hot, you idiot.'

"I mean, I was planning on it." Before I got caught up in this novel.

"What are you reading?"

"A thriller-mystery."

"About?"

I read him the story's description, and afterward, he asks, "I'm assuming it's quite good?"

I nod, but then realize he can't see me.

"Yeah," I answer, then mutter bitterly, more to myself than to him: "But I think I'm going to go take that sauna now."

I really don't want to go brave the cold again, but I have to, unfortunately.

"Take Moose with you," Vaughn tells me, apparently indeed having heard that last part. He offers no explanation as to why I should take the dog, but I assume it's so he can go to the bathroom before he's kept inside for the rest of the night.

"Alright," is all I say in reply, getting all of my things together. After, I waste no time putting on my boots and coat for the frosty trek.

I quickly click my tongue twice to get the dog's attention, and he rises right away, following me outside happily.

As soon as I close the door behind us, I realize that I forgot to grab my flashlight. I shrug, deciding that I don't need it. I can see the warm glow of the fire inside the sauna through the window, and the path between the two buildings is clearly defined.

Moose follows beside me, and I proceed to get on with my nightly sauna-and-shower schedule.

I'm quicker this time than I usually am, as I'm in a hurry to get back to that book. As I wash off, I try to limit my pointless mind-wandering as best as I can. However, I do, in fact, remember how it has been exactly two weeks today since I arrived in Chickaloon. Tomorrow it will have been exactly two weeks since I met Vaughn.

And for some reason, it feels like longer.

The water burns slightly as it hits the cut on my face, but I still don't know how bad it is.

It's probably not even bleeding anymore.

After I've dried off and gotten dressed, I step back outside into the cold. I can practically feel all of the warmth leave my body as the wind whips and bites in every direction like a mad dog.

Speaking of dog...where's Moose?

I pick up my bag from the side of the sauna, stopping when I hear a low rumbling sound coming from my left.

A growl.

Oh. So that's where Moose is.

I shake my head, wondering why he's growling at me, as I haven't deviated from the path at all. Silly doggo.

Since it's nighttime, and I don't have a flashlight, I'm unable to see him in the darkness. However, I know that he's following me, keeping to my left as I start walking forward in the direction of the cabin.

Moose continues to growl at me, but I ignore him, staying on the path back to the warm cozy fireplace that awaits me.

But then, all of a sudden, I hear alerted and worried barking up ahead, as if Moose is sending out a warning.

Wait...

As if Moose is sending out a warning...

But the barking...it's coming from the porch...?

My eyes widen as I instantly take off for the cabin, absolute pure fear drenching every part of me, driving me forward as fast as I can go.

Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap.

What was growling at and following me, then? A wolf? Oh my God, why am I not dead yet? Why have I not already been attacked?

The fight or flight stress response has long since kicked in, adrenaline pushing me to run faster and faster.

I tear up the steps as soon as I reach them, not bothering to turn around as I rip open the front door, letting Moose inside first.

I quickly follow after him, bumping harshly into Vaughn as I shut the door behind me.

"Mikaere?"

I stumble a bit, not exactly in the most graceful state, and immediately his hands come up to steady me, and strong, large hands hesitantly grip at my hips. However, they leave me shortly after I lean back against the door, closing my eyes as I try to regain my breath.

My heart's racing rapidly, and my chest almost hurts as a result of it paired with the freezing air that was filling my lungs.

Seriously? Chased by wild animals, probably wolves, twice in one day? What is this, 'The Grey'?

"You...don't happen...to have...another dog...that I don't...know about...do you?" I manage to get out, recalling when I was first growled at out here, and it turned out to be Moose.

He doesn't reply, but I hear footsteps moving away from me, and I assume it's because he's going to look out of the nearest window.

"Wolves?" He considers, and I open my eyes, looking up at him as he comes to stand in front of me.

"I have...no idea. Something was growling...at me when I came out of...the sauna, but I just...figured it was Moose," I weakly point to the dog, still struggling to catch my breath. "But when he...started barking, I ran...as fast as I could...inside. Didn't see...anything."

Vaughn's brows furrow as he nods slightly. "Are you okay?"

I just nod back in response, not wanting to talk more than I have to at the moment.

I really should run more. Maybe then I wouldn't be so out of breath.

Vaughn takes my upper right arm gently and guides me to stand by the woodstove before moving towards the place where his winter clothes are hanging. I watch as he calmly puts on his coat and boots, after which he pulls out a flashlight out of basically nowhere. Or maybe it was his jacket pocket. Who knows? Then, he grabs his rifle, which is conveniently situated right above the door.

"You're seriously going out there?" I ask slowly, finally having regained my breath, and he glances back.

He nods.

"Why?" I ask.

"I need to see if they're still there and how many there are," he explains in his usual soft and low tone.

"Are you taking Moose with you?"

He glances down at the dog who has followed him to the door and is currently looking up at him lovingly. Then, he looks back at me. "Should I?"

I'm taken off guard a bit, surprised by his genuine question, and I'm sure I currently look slightly conflicted. Why is he asking me? Why does he want my opinion? It's his decision, after all.

Either way, though, I choose to hesitantly nod.

Yes, Moose would be safer in here with me. But, would Vaughn be safer out there alone?

He tilts his head slightly as he tends to do, and after a couple of seconds of trying to read my expression, he offers: "Mikaere, I have a gun. If you want him to stay with you, he can."

I pause. That was...weirdly thoughtful. Huh.

But, no, I stand with my previous decision.

I shake my head, "It's fine."

Nodding once, he turns around swiftly, opening the door. He lets Moose follow after him.

I take off my coat and boots, debating whether or not I should look out the window or just sit down by the fire.

After the scare I just had, I think relaxing and reading are well-needed. However, I am also curious as to what is going on outside, or if I would even see anything.

In the end, I decide to quickly glance out the window, but I'm only able to see a faint glow from Vaughn's flashlight and the dark silhouette of him and Moose.

So then I go back to sitting by the woodstove, tablet in hand.

However, I'm unable to focus on the story. My mind keeps drifting back to what's going on outside.

Are there wolves still around? Does Vaughn see any? Will he need to shoot any?

Staring blankly at the flames instead of the screen in my lap eventually causes my tablet to fall asleep.

I impatiently wait for them to come back inside, or for a hint as to what's happening outside.

Like a gunshot, for example.

But one never comes.

When they finally return, Vaughn puts the gun back up above the door as Moose trudges over to greet me.

"So?" I ask, and the man in front of me looks down.

"I only saw a few tracks. It was probably one lone wolf."

I nod faintly, thinking, then ask: "Do you think it might be that one from when we went to the cave?"

He considers it, "Probably."

"Well anyway," I start, "I really don't think 'making the rounds' is paying off that much."

Except for physically, maybe. It's good exercise, I guess.

He just stares blankly at me, but I laugh a bit. He knows it's true.

I go back to reading my story now that I'm finally able to focus on it once again. Vaughn only lays down on his futon after grabbing his own book and lighting a couple of lanterns near him.

Where'd the lanterns come from? I don't recall seeing any before.

Maybe they were kept under the futon, and I just didn't notice them. That makes sense.

We both read in silence, except for the audible turns of paper pages or the occasional click of my fingernails accidentally hitting my screen.

Moose lays down beside me, resting his head against the side of my leg.

Smiling, I switch to holding my tablet in my right hand so that I can pet him with my left.

He's so sweet. I love this dog.

"I'm surprised he likes you that much."

I glance up, surprised myself, though I most likely look more confused than anything. "Am I really that unlikeable?"

I know that's not what he was implying...probably, but I want to see what he'll say.

"No, that's not-" he says quickly, then pauses. "That's not what I intended to insinuate. I just meant that he hasn't been around many people, so I didn't expect him to trust a stranger so quickly."

I smile, glancing down at Moose, strangely feeling honored that he likes and trusts me.

Also, I have a hunch that if he didn't trust me, Vaughn would've probably stayed just as closed off as the day I met him.

"Thanks, buddy," I whisper softly, so the man on the futon can't hear, as I keep petting him.