If the hunter was surprised, he did not show it. His face only grew darker, his eyes narrowed, and his lips became whiter. He did not move as he stared at me, studying. I was curious, why did he not shoot?

I lifted the arrow slowly and showed it to him, "Would you like this back?"

He did not blink, or make a sound, only stared, his arrow still pointed at me. I cocked my head as I watched him. Something stirred in me. Something I suddenly remembered.

"This is a test." I whispered, feeling somewhat taken aback, "Was this a test for you, or for me?"

I was not out of danger, but I began to move from my spot, the arrow following my every move. I knew I had to be careful. I knew if I were to show a form of aggression, it would only take a slight movement from his hand for my body to be dead before I hit the snowy ground. I thought quickly as I walked around the hunter with slow, deliberate steps. I was determined to find his arrows. It only seemed logical.

I still had the old arrow in my hand as I walked away from the hunter, my back facing him and I continued on, my eyes searching. It was difficult. The snow was thick on the ground and more was falling from the skies, covering anything it fell on. I could hear the crunching of snow beneath my feet, but did not here the hunter's. I knew he was right behind me, though, somehow I knew.

"Ah." I said, finding my first arrow, half of the shaft embedded into the thick trunk of a tree. I raised my eyebrows at it as I gripped. With a grunt of much effort, I pulled it out and again nearly lost my footing.

Two.

I continued walking, humming a very slow and soft melody. It was a song I knew very well and I remembered it always gave me comfort and warmth and strength. It had a slow rhythm and I used it to find the rest of the hunter's arrows. There were thirty-seven in all.

I turned to face the hunter and was not surprised to see him with his arrow still facing me, his face steady. I smiled and raised my eyebrows, suddenly finding the situation very amusing. I bent down and piled the arrows on the ground beside his feet and took a few steps back.

"For you."

For a quick moment, his eyes looked at the small pile of arrows before staring back up at me.

"Who are you?"

I blinked a few times, surprised that he spoke in a far softer voice than I had imagined but also felt a bit disturbed I could not answer his question.

I sighed softly, "I…don't know."

A pause, then, "Do not lie."

"I'm not lying." I said, looking at him, "I can't remember anything before you attacked me."

The hunter stared again for a moment, his eyes disbelieving. I didn't say anything. There was no point.

"You are to come with me." The hunter said sounding very disgusted. He straightened up and relaxed his arms, but his fingers were steady on the arrow, "I am to take you to be judged."

"'Judged'?" I repeated, looking at him, confused, "Then, why did you try to kill me?"

"If I wanted to kill you, you would be dead."

Pause. "Oh…"

"Have you any weapons?" Was his reply.

I didn't know. I frowned, slowly feeling around under my coat with both hands, around my arms, around my waist when I felt a hilt close to my hip. I recognised it, it was very special to me and I knew that if I was to take it out, I would be killed. I continued searching as if I knew nothing about the weapon, fruitlessly feeling down my legs. There were more, smaller knives that could easily hide in my palms. Huh.

I looked up at him. He had already gathered his arrows and was placing his now-filled quiver around his shoulders. His hands were still on his bow and looking at me very rather suspiciously. He narrowed his eyes at the shake of my head and walked over to me, not caring if I was being truthful or not.

The hunter did not have time to search me, however, when the sudden ear-piercing screech of laughter reached us. We both looked up toward the sound, our faces identical in fear, recognition, and resolution. We both reacted swiftly to the sound and began to run.

The laughter was behind us, but it echoed through my ears as if it were right beside me. It was only the sound found in nightmares and in the thoughts of very deep and dark secrets. I continued to run, unaware the hunter was no longer beside me. I slowed to a jog, listening. The laughter was gone, but that meant nothing. The creatures lived in shadow and I was surrounded.