“What did you do?” Blythe demanded. Gunter looked back toward the village, silent, then looked at the new leather sack on Mariel’s back. Mariel watched his eyes for any sense that he knew what was in there.

“No time mom. We have to go.” Mariel picked up Koda’s badger and handed it to him. “Hold on to digger tight alright?” Koda nodded and grinned. She stood and turned to Kai. “I need you to carry Koda for me.”

Gunter grunted and tossed his son on his shoulders in one motion. Mariel leveled an angry glare at her father that said I still haven’t forgiven you, Gunter looked down at the ground.

“This is your fault, Gunter.” Blythe chided him. “If you had only been more stern with her, she wouldn’t be so defiant, and we wouldn’t be in this mess.” Gunter continued to train his eyes on his feet.

“Where are we going Mariel?” Varren asked attempting to break the tension.

Mariel pulled her eyes from her father and looked at Varren warmly. “We are going to the Aurai.” Gunter looked up at this and Mariel sensed fear in his eyes. She cleared her throat and began walking before anyone could object.

Kai was the first to catch up to her and Mariel steeled her nerves as she looked over at him. Sweetie perched on his shoulder cleaning her paw. Mariel wanted to reach out and pet the large cat’s soft gray fur. Sweetie looked up and the moonlight reflected off her eyes. She glanced down at Kai’s strong dark tanned chest. The way he grew out his bark down the sides of his ribs made him look even broader. Her face flushed. She looked away quickly at the trees.

“The Aurai? They are dangerous Mariel. Who can heap hot coals into their lap and not be burnt?” Kia murmured.

Mariel looked back to see her father looming close enough to hear their conversation. Varren ran up with Blue at his heels. Sweetie hissed at the wolf and stood up on Kai’s shoulders. Kai glared at Varren and Varren shrugged back. Blue locked his eyes on the bobcat and trotted just behind Kai. “What do you want with the Aurai?” Varren asked.

“Slow down,” Blythe demanded from the back. She had fallen behind and was breathing heavily already. Gunter slowed just enough to close the gap between him and his wife but still overhear the conversation at the front.

“I had a vision of HaShem. It was more than a vision really; it was like I was actually there.” Mariel spoke just soft enough that her father could hear as well but not loud enough to stop Koda from playing with Digger. Koda and the badger batted at one another and wallowed. “It was cold and there was a blanket of white covering everything. HaShem called it snow. He said it was coming as a judgment on all the Viv. I am going to make a deal with the Aurai not to bring the cold winds. Then there will be no snow and the Viv will be fine.” Gunter grunted but Mariel wasn’t sure if it was in disagreement or a warning to Koda to stop climbing around.

“HaShem said he was sending a snow and you are going to work out a deal with our greatest enemy to go against him?” Kai shook his head. “You are reckless Mariel.”

“You see Gunter,” Blythe said. “Say something to her, she has lost all sense.”

“We can’t make a deal with the Aurai, we have nothing they want. They will just burn us up on sight.” Varren added.

“They won’t touch me.” Koda declared. He had been paying attention more than Mariel had thought. “Me and Digger will tear em up.” He returned to climbing up on Gunter’s shoulder and shoved his Badger off his father’s head.

“We have one thing they want.” Mariel tugged at the leather strap around her chest.

“What is in that bag Mariel?” Her mother called forward still waddling and panting at the back. Mariel ignored her.

“He showed you a vision. Why you of all the Viv?” Kai asked.

“He must not know her very well.” Varren chuckled and Kai joined laughing.

“He told me to warn the Viv.” Mariel said, “he told me to tell them to flee south. It was a terrifying vision.” She shivered remembering the cold. Remembering the fleeing animals. “I agreed at the moment. I was caught up in the scene of it all. When I awoke though and found myself in the judgment seat, I realized it was foolish. No one could convince us we are too stubborn.”

“So, the Chief was right?” Varren muttered. “You were going to claim a vision from HaShem?”

“And he was going to kill me to keep me from stating it.” Mariel replied hate pouring from her words. “Maybe I should just leave and let the Viv be buried in the snow.” Maybe HaShem was just setting her up to be sacrificed she thought. Could it be that HaShem was nothing more than a wicked prankster? Did he take joy in turning one Viv against another? She looked up at the sky. A cloud crept over the moon’s surface. Was he watching her right now? “We should get off the bank and travel through the forest.” Perhaps HaShem wouldn’t be able to see them from cover, she thought.

Varren pointed at the double red stripes on either side of his face. “The hunters?”

The hunters would be tracking through the forest searching for them by now. A dozen of the best ax men and spear men. Webs of roots intertwined through Viv Forest. Mariel had abnormally keen night vision from her bond with Bright-Eyes but none of the others were so blessed. One bump to a tree while a hunter was rooted, and they would know exactly which way Mariel had gone. She looked at the forest and back up to the moon. She had to find a way to hide from both. The dark rushing river filled her ears. She looked down at the black water. It was going the right way, but it would be cold. Her mother would have plenty to complain about. A grin crept on her face. That was all the convincing she needed. She ran and leaped into the water tucking both legs up to her chest.

“She has come completely uprooted.” Blythe gasped. “Look at your daughter. We can’t take Koda into this water at night.”

“I’m fine ma.” Koda laughed. He tightened his stomach and grew out his thin bark to cover his chest and legs.

“It’s not that cold mom.” Mariel chattered her teeth while growing out more bark under the dark water.

Varren leaped in and Kai jumped in next. Gunter looked at Blythe for approval.

“It’s too cold Gunter, look Koda can barely grow out his bark it is just the outer skin of a sapling.”

“I’m hot ma.” Koda whined. “I need to get in the water.”

“It’s not hot out here, it is the middle of the night.” Blythe glared.

“It isn’t all that cold out here Mrs. Koa,” Varren shouted.

“Just wait here mom.” Mariel suggested. “Apologize to the Chief and tell them I escaped into the water.”

“I will not apologize to that old coot. I would rather have my roots axed and tossed in a fire.” Blythe grumbled dipping one foot into the water. “The sun will be up soon, perhaps it will warm the water.” She stepped down into the water and shivered. “Well come on then Gunter, I have seen enough of the Chief for one day.”

Gunter stepped down from the bank beside his wife and waded out only when she was ready to go deeper. Koda reached down and splashed the water with his hand. Digger leaped for the bank, but Koda snatched the angry badger by its neck and tossed it into the water laughing. Sweetie swam toward the edge to get out of the water, but Kai laughed and called her back.

“Will they be alright?” Mariel pointed to Sweetie and Blue. The bobcat and wolf were swimming around their bonds, appearing uncomfortable.

“Blue will be fine.” Varren splashed water at his wolf.

“Just keep Blue back from Sweetie and she will be fine as well,” Kai said.

“What?” Varren raised his palms out of the water. “Blue just wants to play with the kitty.”

“Not funny Varren.” Kai swam ahead so Sweetie would follow him downstream.

“I’m just kidding.”

“It’s really not funny Varren.” Mariel began to swim downstream.

“Let me swim.” Koda demanded. “I can swim good.” Gunter smiled, grunted and tossed the boy into the cold water. Koda came up with a gasp and began to swim after his sister.

“Don’t go too far ahead Koda.” Blythe said. “How far are we going to swim Mariel?”

“Till we get to the plains mom.”

“The plains.” Blythe gasped. “That is too far Mariel. Get back here. Did you hear me, that is too far.”