“ Grandma, I’ll be going out now.” I wore my jacket, strapped my dagger, and equipped my quiver of arrows. It is my first time to be with the hunting team yet I am so lucky to wake up late! “Are you sure don’t need to eat first before you go, Keil?” Grandma asked. Ever since my family died, it was grandma who took care of me. She might be quite old already but she can still move alright. But lately, she seemed to be getting a bit sluggish. It might be because she is getting older or the cold is already getting to her. Old or not, life is hard already since we live in an endless winter. “I’m alright! I have to run or they might decide not to let me go with them next time if I’m late!” I wore my boots and grabbed my bow then sprinted my way out while waving goodbye to my grandma. I just turned 18 last month which is required if you want to join hunting. Our main source of food is only by hunting down animals in the forest and collecting anything edible that still grows despite this thick snow. I have been practicing my skill with the bow these past several years so I am quite confident that I can help kill a deer or two; that is if ever we will find one. They became a really rare to spot after all. “Keil! I honestly thought you backed out at the last moment!” A guy who has a bunch of throwing spears hanging on his back greeted me provokingly. His name is Teku and he is my best friend. Apparently, he joined two months earlier than me since he is a bit older that is why he is so full of himself. But in terms of skill, I believe that I am on a higher level if not the same. “I have been waiting for this... Of course I would not back out on the last minute!” I told him while catching my breath between words; I had to run quite a distance after all. “It is just that I kinda overslept...” “That is evident indeed! You are still wearing your bed hair!” Teku laughingly teased me. I did touch my hair and yes, it is a damn mess. I tried to fix it yet the cold already made it dry, making it stiff. “You won’t get a girl at the rate you are going.” “As if you even have one.” I am still attempting to have my hair submit to my will but after getting it the way I want it, it returns to the way it was before. “Dammit! I don’t care anymore.” Teku kept on laughing at me then he suddenly stopped which seems to be because of something he saw behind me. I also looked behind to see that the captain was already here. He is a well built man and is holding a long spear. “It seems that everyone is here. We will now begin our hunt. Before we do, what is our goal again?” The Captain spoke in a loud and bold voice which really showed everyone who is in charge. “Take everything that seems useful while staying alive!” The rest of the men responded, except me. I did not know they say things like that but I think it is good way to unify the team. “And why is that?” The Captain asked. “You cannot bring back what you got if you don’t comeback yourself!” The men responded, including Teku. I have to keep these phrases in mind so I won’t stick out like a sore thumb the next time. “Let’s go!” The captain shouted. We made our way to the forests in the snowy mountains which is the usual hunting grounds. Although it is the nearest abundant forest, it is still quite far and has a travel time of about an hour and a half. There were only twelve of us who were composed of every able man, wearing baskets on our backs to carry any loot we can come across. After a long while, we finally reached the forest. It is chilly in all this snow even after having all this thick layers of coat. I already felt quite tired by just walking through the thick pile of ice but all the walking helped me feel warmer inside. We split into groups of three. Since Teku and I were still newbies, Captain went with us as a supervisor. “Keep an eye not just for animals and herbs but also-“ The Captain was giving us a lecture when I saw a bird flying near us, within range. Without hesitation, I quickly aimed and shot at it. It is good that I was able to hit the small guy or else it would be really uncool. “Whoa!” Teku was surprised by my sudden movement. The Captain then stopped talking and was staring at me for a while. Although what I did was what we came to do, doing so while the Captain is busy talking might not be a good idea. “Sorry Captain, I do not mean to disrespect.” I apologized to the Captain with a slight bow. “There is nothing to forgive. What you did is your mission. I am just amazed with your skill with the bow.” The Captain complimented me while he moved closer to the bird that I just killed. “That is my best friend for you! He did what I just taught him!” Teku boasted even when he does not even know how to use a bow. “Oh really? How many animals have you hunted already?” The Captain asked Teku with a smile. “Um... How many is it? I kinda forgot to count them down.” Teku then laugh awkwardly. “If my memory serves well, your best friend who you taught how to hunt has one more kill when compared to yours” Captain replied as he handed me the bird which I grabbed and placed in the basket on my back. “Tha-that’s!” Teku was so embarrassed that he started stuttering. “Well?” Captain seems to enjoy toying with Teku. I just kept silent since he might get back on me if I also joined on picking on him. “I am just reserving my energy to hunt for a big prey! That’s right! I don’t want to waste my spears on small birds like that!” He was able to make an excuse but he should know that the Captain and I already know that it was just a lie. I saw another bird of a relatively smaller size flying across us from the sky. While the two were bickering, I drew my bow and fired a shot. It was a perfect shot on the body and it fell to the ground. “And now he has two more kills than you!” The Captain laughingly teased Teku again. “Dammit!” Teku uttered in frustration which made the Captain laugh even more. I grabbed the bird and added him to my basket. After the two were done talking, we continued exploring the forest where we Teka and the Captain were able to get lots of herbs and some fruits while I was able to hunt down another bird. After a while of travelling deeper into the forest, I was able to hear a different sound. It seemed like the distant noise is of a coarse sound of breathing of a beast. “Can you hear that?” I asked the other two. “Hear what?” Teku answered. “It seems like there is a large animal nearby.” I said. “If it is so, let us quietly trace it to see what kind it is. Do not engage without my orders.” The Captain commanded. “Yes sir!” I replied. I then went into the direction as to which the sound was from and the other two followed me. We walked as quietly as we could so we moved at a sluggish pace. After a while, we reached a place with no many trees yet there is a deep cliff. Near the cliff is a large black boar. Its height is almost like mine despite being on all fours. It has long white tusks which look like they will be a good material for ornaments. It has been a long time since I was able to taste boar meat so seeing the beast got me kind of excited. “Let us retreat for now. It is too dangerous to take it on by ourselves. We will regroup first then-” Captain was issuing commands in a low voice when Teku suddenly sprung out and threw one of his spears. “I can take it on all by myself!” Teku’s spear was able to hit the boar’s body. It released a grunt but it was not enough to mortally wound the beast. “You idiot! Why must you?! Darn it!” The Captain was really angry by Teku’s insubordination but since the Boar has already noticed us; the Captain was forced to take into arms. “We have no choice! I will take the front, you two will support me from the rear!” The Captain commanded while he pointed his spear against the boar. “Got it Captain!” I replied. “I told you that I can do it on my own!” Teku threw another spear at the Boar which hit its right foreleg but the wound seems to not affect the boar’s ability to move as it is still standing steadily. “Why don’t you go down already!?” “Here it comes!” The Captain focused his senses on the boar’s movements. The boar started charging against us and the Captain was in front of us. When the boar is in front of the Captain, I shot an arrow at it which successfully hit the eye. The boar started swinging its head and squealing in pain. “Nice one Keil!” The Captain said then he thrust his spear into the boar’s flank. The spear pierced the boar’s flesh but not too deep due to its thick skin and meat. The Captain pulled out his spear from the boar and stepped back. Since the Captain was no longer in our firing path, Teku and I started raining down on the boar until we were out of spears and arrows. The boar who has a lot of weapons embedded on its body released a louder squeal and started charging again at the Captain. The Captain met it head on with his spear and this time the spear was buried more deeply into its flesh. Probably because the momentum the boar has while charging at full speed helped. Blood splurted out from its chest and even the Captain was not safe from being painted in red. “I told you I can deal with it!” Teku boasted even when his contribution was the least of us three. He then went closer to the boar and started pulling out his spears. “What a catch!” “Teku! Get away!” I shouted as I noticed a small movement from its limbs. I started running towards Teku. “Huh? Why would i-“ The boar then suddenly got up, using the last of its force. It used its head to swing it against Teku but I was able to get him out of its way by pushing him aside. Unfortunately, I was the one who was not able to avoid it. “Keil!” Teku shouted while I got flinged into the air and fell into the cliff. Dammit, my chest hurts, my back hurts. The sky is now starting to get dark all of a sudden. It hurts, I can’t breathe. I can’t move, why can’t I move!? I can hear Teku calling me but it’s faint, it’s getting even fainter, that idiot. It’s so cold... I am starting to... Dammit... I don’t want to die like this... Grandma... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Ugh.” Am I alive? Where am I? I opened my eyes and the dark sky met me. I was lying on the ground yet it somehow felt warm. I looked at the direction as to where the heat came from and there, I saw a campfire to my right. I got up from the ground in order to sit. I took quite the effort to do so since my whole body was sore and I am bruised all over. As I got up, small crushed leaves fall from my body. Are these medicinal herbs? Maybe the Captain and Teku was able to rescue me despite my fall. “I am glad that you are awake.” I heard a gentle, feminine voice from my left. I looked there and saw a beautiful girl. I reckon that she younger than me but not by much. She has a beautiful pink hair and skin as white as the snow. She is wearing a pink dress which looks quite thin to be worn in a place that is so cold. She is very pretty especially due to her golden eyes that just sucked me into another world. I never saw anything like that before. It glowed like a lantern dropped by the heavens as it reflected the light from the campfire. “Hello? Are you alright?” The girl asked me as she leaned towards me and her face was right in front of me. When did she get too close!? Did I just get dazed that long? Damn, her face is too close! “Y-yes, I am quite fine.” I avoided my eyes to hers since it felt kind of awkward to stare face to face at this distance, especially with a beautiful girl.”Are you the one who saved my life? Thank you very much!” “You have to eat so you will recover more quickly.” The girl got up and produced a bowl of soup. She handed it to me which I accepted. “Thank you very much.” The soup has a bland color and filled with vegetables and herbs. It is hot so my first bite soothed my body but the taste is quite lacking. “Oh wait, may I know if you saw a basket with me when you found me?” “Yes, wait a minute.” The girl went inside a small cave and came back with all my things. The basket filled with the birds I hunted, my bow and a dagger. “These are all you have when I found you, is the basket you are talking about one of these?” Wait, she does not know what a basket is? Now that is weird. “Yes, it is this one.” I grabbed the basket from her and I pulled out the birds that I hunted a while ago. I was able to move already but the bruises throbbed at every movement, painful. “A bird? And it’s dead... Why are keeping them?” The woman curiously asked as she sat in front of me. “Why not? You haven’t eaten one before?” “You eat them? All I eat are the fruits and vegetables I am able to gather around here.” “You should try some then! These are pretty tasty!” “Really? Okay!” The girl grabbed one of the birds and was about to chomp on it. “Wait! Seriously? We need to cook them first!” I stole the bird from her hands as quickly as I could. That was close, but very cute. “Do you have hot water that you can spare?” “No but I can go and heat some.” The girl got up then she got a pot and filled it with water. “I’ll teach you how to prepare these then.” I told the girl after she placed the pot atop the camp fire. I grabbed my dagger and slashed its neck. “You have to drain the blood first.” The blood of the bird dripped to the ground filled with snow, painting it in a red color. “That’s pretty.” The girl said as she stared at the snow painted in crimson. She looked at something she thought was beautiful, and so did I. “So what’s next?” “Oh, right. Let us wait for the water to boil first.” I moved the birds and dagger aside while she was still busy looking at the blood soaked snow. “By the way my name is Keil, what’s yours?” “Silvwi.” It is quite a unique name, it is the first time I heard of it but somehow I love it. “So Silvwi, may I know what are you doing here in this place?” “I live here.” She answered while smiling. You are already damn pretty when you are not smiling so please stop that! “I-I see, you live here alone?” I avoided eye contact again so I can regain my composure. I breathed in and out deeply to calm myself. “I’m alone ever since my parents did not come back.” She looked at the ground again but her smile was gone and I saw the sorrow in her eyes. So she’s all alone, I wonder what happened. “Have you been living here for a long time?” “I was born here so I have been living here my entire life.” It was actually the first time that I got to hear that someone was able to live in this cold forest. That is strange in itself. “How about you? Why did you get injured? Did you fall from the cliff?” “Yes I did. A boar sent me flying that is why I fell.” She tilted her head, as if thinking what a boar is. “You know, the large four legged animal with thick fur and long tusks.” “Ah, those big ones!” “Did you already encounter one of those?” “Yes, there are a lot them here but somehow when they see me they readily run away.”The boars here are generally hostile because of hunters like us. It is favourable for her not to be attacked but is it not strange? “I forgot, the water might be boiling already!” Silvwi got up to get the pot then placed it in front of me. “So what will we do next?” She was smiling again but this time I got my guard up as I focused on what I am doing instead of her. “Just pour the hot water into the birds so it is easy to pluck their feathers out.” Which I did. I removed all the feathers of every of the birds. “See, that’s how easy it is.” “Oh!” Silvwi exclaimed in amazed as she lightly claps her hands. She is so innocent like a child and I think that it is very adorable. “Then we will chop them into pieces so they will be easier to cook and eat.” I used my dagger to slice the meat up until all are nicely diced. “Then you can just boil them for a while, how about you boil it with the soup you made instead?” “Okay!” She happily grabbed the meat and dropped it into a pot and placed it into the campfire. Now that I think of it, she is too carefree and trusting for someone who lives alone and it is somehow impressive that she is still in one piece. I am just glad that I was the one she found and not someone malicious. That’s right, I am really glad that I am the one she found. She sat beside me again and stared intently at the pot we are cooking. It is probably because all these things are so unfamiliar to her. She was swinging her body front and back while humming a soft tune while waiting. Her voice is not that amazing but it somehow calms me down. I wanted the time to just stop. The heat from the fire, the coldness of the snow, the smell of the boiling soup, the sweet tune she produced and her gorgeous golden eyes. I never felt this... different in a long time if ever I did before. “Keil? Why are you smiling?” Silvwi asked me as she tilted her head. Was I smiling? What’s wrong with me? “O-oh, I was just excited to eat what we just made. Even I haven’t tasted meat in a while.” I replied in a smile why I spout my pitiful excuse. “I see.” She smiled back. Why did you smile back? Do you have something against me to make my heart ache this badly!? Wait, she’s making my heart ache? We just met, dammit! “It smells good!” Silvwi removed the lid of the pot then the smell of the soup enveloped the cold air. “Is it not ready yet?” “Ah, it should be ready now. Let’s dig in!” I enthusiastically replied. Silvwi got two bowls and poured the soup until the bowls are full. She handed me one which I accepted as she sat beside me near the campfire. “Wow...” That is the only word that came from her mouth after tasting the soup. “Delicious, right? You should have a taste of the meat itself!” I told her as I drank some myself and it did actually taste good. The vegetable soup she had really enhanced the flavour of the meat. It might have been even more amazing if it was the boar meat instead. “So how is it?” “...” She was speechless. She kept on eating the meat and drinking the soup until her bowl is empty before she let out these words as she licked her lips. “Delicous.” We were able to finish all the food together which was the best meal I had in a while. “It is getting late, we should get some rest now. Let’s go inside the cave, we should rest there.” Silvwi asked and I nodded in agreement. She was right; I should rest up so I could go back to where the Captain is. They are probably worried now, especially Teku. “I-I’ll be alright out here. You go inside and rest.” It is wrong for a boy and a girl to sleep in a single roof, is also looks pretty cramped inside there. It is the duty of a proper man to refuse when under these circumstances. “Are you sure you’ll be alright?” She asked and I nodded back as a reply. Silvwi went inside the cave while I laid down again beside the campfire. Somehow, the pain across my body which I somehow did not feel a while ago while I was with Silvwi came back. Ah, my whole body is sore and this place is really not the most comfortable place to rest up. “Here, you can use this. Rest well” Silvwi came back and handed me a blanket. How thoughtful is she? Oh man, I should sleep now before I get anymore weird thoughts.