VESPER

 

The snowstorm quieted for a moment and provided us a temporary reprieve. Even though the light snow was falling, it wasn’t enough that I had to brace myself for it.

When I stepped out of my cabin, I held my hands out and let the tiny flakes fall into my palm. I looked up and could almost see the sun behind all of the clouds.

“The snow hasn’t passed completely,” Rudy said.

I turned around and saw him gingerly dig his feet into the snow.

“There is still more snow to come,” he said.

“I know. That doesn’t mean we can’t step outside of the cabin. We’d been stuck inside of there for more than a day. Aren’t you anxious to get outside?”

He looked around for a second then held his arms out.

“I’m not anxious to get outside and see that the woods are covered in white,” he said. “All I see is more bitter cold that I have to deal with.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his innocence.

“The bitter cold won’t return until nightfall,” I said. “Come along.”

I started marching forward through the snow. It took me a few seconds to realize that the Omega wasn’t following behind me.

“You’re serious,” he said. “You’re really walking through the woods even though it’s still snowing?”

“It’s only a light snow. There’ll be plenty of time to return to the cabin before the weather gets more brutal.”

I held my hand out to him, inviting him to come walk with me. He seemed reluctant at first but eventually smiled as he eventually came toward me.

“You’re insane,” he sighed.

“Not insane. Just looking for an opportunity to enjoy the snow.”

I marched forward through the trees with Rudy right behind me. Even though the sun was covered by the clouds, there was still enough light to shine the path in front of me. I walked the beaten trail and admired my surroundings. The snow provided a tinge of white on all of the bushes and branches. It was like walking on the other side of the world.

I kept looking behind me to check on Rudy. The Omega smiled politely at me as he examined his surroundings.

“Have you ever walked through the Timberlands while it snowed?” I asked.

“While it was snowing? I’m not foolish enough to do something like that. I stay in shelter until the snow has passed like everybody else.”

“That’s the beauty of it. While everybody else is stuck in their camps, we get the rest of the Timberlands all to ourselves.”

“What exactly do we have all to ourselves?”

“We have things like this.”

I didn’t have to look very far to find the answer Rudy was looking for. I stepped forward through the path and found the small fruit bush sitting right in front of us.

“You see?” I said as I held my hand out.

“I see a fruit bush,” he said with a shrug. “I see nothing special about it.”

“Have you ever had these types of berries before?”

“Yes,” Rudy said, laughing with a big smile on his face. “We have more of those bushes near our camp than I could count.”

“So you’ve had these berries before?”

“Yes.”

“Here. Try one now.”

I plucked one of the berries off and placed it into his hand. Rudy looked down at it in his palm then gave me a skeptical look.

“I don’t get it,” he said.

“Just try it. Trust me, Omega.”

He sighed and stuffed the berry into his mouth.

“The snow comes with the cold,” I said. “They freeze the fruits on the bushes. The juices solidify and firm. It makes it easier for you to savor it. The flavors stay on your tongue longer. There’s more for you to chew. Can you taste it?”

“I…”

He chewed on the berry. He started to nod slowly and a smile came to his face.

“Yes,” he said. “I can taste it.”

“That’s what the snow brings. What’s been familiar to us all this time is something new. And since everybody else is in shelter…”

“…We have all of this to ourselves.”

The grin on his face grew even wider. Seeing his smile was enough to make me laugh.

“Come on,” I said as I put a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s sample all that the woods have to offer.”

Rudy and I walked down the path and observed all of the fruits available to us. Rudy’s enthusiasm only grew as he discovered new tastes in things he’d already eaten before. I enjoyed the fruit the same as him. But for me, just seeing how good of a mood he was in was more enjoyable than anything else.

Rudy was so excited about all of the things I showed him that it distracted him from the cold and snow. We’d walked a good distance from my cabin without either one of us realizing it.

We kept moving until we eventually came upon a small forest clearing. Rudy let out a deep sigh as he sat down on a large stone.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I need to rest for a moment. My feet are growing a bit weary.”

“There’s no need for you to hurry. We have plenty of time until it gets dark.”

Rudy rested on the stone while I made my way around the clearing. I whistled as I sampled all of the fruits available for me to pick.

“When did you realize this?” he asked.

“When did I realize what?”

“When did you realize that it might not be such a crazy idea to walk out in the middle of a snowfall to pick fruit?”

I chuckled softly to myself as I thought about it.

“Most of the other men and women in my sleuth ate fish. There’s nothing wrong with it. Fish are easy to catch and they’re satisfying in more ways than one. But I was always fond of more than just fish. I was eager to taste all of the nuts and berries the forest had to offer. It seemed only appropriate to try everything.”

“That still doesn’t explain why you would go out in the snow to taste fruit.”

“I suppose it was just chance. When I left my sleuth and built my cabin, I wasn’t sure how to prepare for the first snow I encountered. I ended up having to go out into the snow and pick some fruit because my stomach was rumbling.”

“Let me get this straight… You went out into the snow for the first time because you were hungry?”

“I’m a bear at heart. Sometimes nothing can stop us from getting our snacks.”

I turned to Rudy and smiled at him as I popped a small berry into my mouth. He snickered at me, shaking his head in slight disbelief.

“You’re an interesting man, Vesper.”

“I could say the same about you.”

Rudy continued to rest peacefully on the stone as the snow fell around him. I made my way around the clearing, whistling the entire time I helped myself to the fruit.

“Let’s see…”

I was reaching down for a small plum when I noticed something strange.

I stood up straight and started looking around the clearing. My eyes narrowed as I tried to look for something in the darkness.

Something there…

My eyes widened as I caught the scent. I spun around and immediately started marching toward Rudy.

“Quickly,” I said. “We have to go back.”

“W-what? What is it?”

“There’s someone here—”

“Look out!”

He grabbed me just in time to pull me to the ground. I fell to the floor and heard the splintering of the tree above me. I turned my head up and saw the knife that was sunk deep into the bark.

I rushed back up to my feet and saw the stranger suddenly standing in the clearing before me.

Boots. A long coat. Pants. A mask over the bottom half of his face. They were the kind of clothes you would expect from a city-dweller and not someone who lived out here.

But I wasn’t too much concerned with the outfit he wore. My eyes were locked on the blade he held in his hand. He stared at me with the worst of intentions.

“Get back to the cabin,” I muttered to Rudy.

“But—”

“Do what I say, Rudy.”

I look into his eyes and saw just how worried he was. I had to convince him to listen to me.

“I’ll make it back to the cabin,” I said. “I promise.”

Rudy remained reluctant. But he eventually nodded and shifted into the small deer that he was. He galloped through the trees and headed down the path back to my cabin.

I turned my attention back to the stranger who had his knife pointed at me.

“Who are you?” I said. “What are you doing here?”

He didn’t answer me. He just stared at me, holding his knife like he was only moments away from using it on me.

“Who are you?” I yelled.

He remained defiant. He took a step toward me and pointed his blade right at me. I shifted in my spot and roared into the air.

I charged at him just as he raced toward me. As he raised his hand into the air, I leaped up and caught his arm in my mouth. He howled in pain as I sunk my teeth into his forearm. He dropped his blade to the ground.

I could have ripped his arm off completely but I stopped. I pulled away from him and watched him crumple to his knees. He held his arm in his hand. The blood trickled down his sleeve and onto the white snow.

“I don’t want to kill you,” I said. “Tell me who you are. Why are you hunting in these parts?”

He looked up at me with the same anger in his eyes. I couldn’t see his mouth.

“Tell me!” I shouted.

He refused.

I watched as he worked his way back up to his feet and ran off into the woods behind him. He disappeared into the darkness just as quickly as he’d appeared.

I moved over to the knife and picked it up from the ground. I examined it for just a moment before beginning the journey back to my cabin.

I couldn’t see Rudy fast enough. I’d never moved so quickly in my life. I arrived at my cabin as soon as I could. When I stepped inside, I saw Rudy huddled in the corner of the cabin with his arms wrapped around himself.

“Vesper!”

He rushed up to me and wrapped his arms around me. I patted him on the head and held him in my embrace.

“You’re okay…”

“I’m okay,” I said. “I told you I would make it back.”

“W-what happened?”

“He ran off as soon as I hurt him. He’s not much of a fighter it seems.”

“If he’s still out there then that means everybody else is still in danger.”

“You’re right.”

I looked down at Rudy and saw the concern in his eyes. Such an innocent Omega. It hurt me the first time I saw him when he was in trouble. Now it bothered me even more.

“He dropped this.”

I held the knife up to Rudy. Rudy stared at the blade curiously.

“It’s not like anything I’ve ever seen,” he said. “We have tools in the camp but—”

“This isn’t anything made in the Timberlands. The blade is too straight and sharp. There’s too much finesse to it.”

“Then he is from the city. Whoever he is, he’s come from Dirge and now he’s here. Vesper, what will we do?”

I stared at the knife in my hand, contemplating the decisions we could make.

I still had questions about the hunter. Going out into the woods looking for him would only mean certain danger. But something had to be done.

“My herd,” Rudy whispered. “If he’s out there, they’re in danger.”

I knew what I had to do.

I put a hand on Rudy’s shoulder and smiled.

“When the snowstorm passes, I’ll escort you back to your herd. Talk to your elders. Talk to your Alpha. Warn them of what’s to come.”

“I…”

His voice suddenly soft, Rudy put his head down.

“…I’m not eager to see Knox. Not when he learns that I slept with you… But you’re right. I have to warn him and the others. I can’t let whatever happens worry me.”

I pulled Rudy close and held him in my arms.

“The snow will pass soon. I will take you to your herd. Whatever happens, know that I’ll be by your side.”