The hunter was standing above me. What he was waiting for, I didn't know. It didn't matter. I was defeated and I understood that. I looked up and felt the new fall of fresh snow falling on my face. I didn't feel cold anymore, warm and comfortable as if I was sitting beside a large fire. I closed my eyes.

"Where did you find this weapon, murderer? Thief?" I heard the hunter hiss into my ear.

I opened my eyes slowly, looking into his grey eyes. I was calm, demure. The hunter had leaned down and was holding my head back, his fingers tangled in my hair. He held my own dagger against my throat threateningly, but death meant nothing to me.

"I've always had it, hunter." I said to him, honestly.

"Liar." He insisted, "You are not allowed such a weapon."

I paused, blinking, then as I swallowed. Something triggered in my mind suddenly, "It was a gift."

The hunter scoffed pushing it further, "A gift. Such lies. You are not worth such a weapon."

I winced, "Read it, hunter. Read the inscription. It is your people's writing, isn't it?"

As if I was in any position to do anything else, the hunter gave me one suspicious glare before letting my head go and using that hand to wipe away extra snow off the blade. I watched his face as it slowly changed from scepticism to disturbance. He seemed to have read the writing over and over again before looking back at me in disbelief.

I said nothing. What could I say? I knew it was a gift, but I didn't know from whom or where. I just knew it was mine. The hunter made a low growl in his throat and stood up and hands in fists. I stayed where I was, sitting quietly, watching the hunter, his back toward me.

I could not possibly know what was going on in his mind, but I did not think today was the day I was to die. A peaceful thought, but it was not to be. I slowly stood up from where I sat and leaned against the trunk, my arms across my chest. The hunter suddenly turned to look at me, his long legs moving across the snow, my weapon raised high.

He did not attack me. The hunter had lodged the dagger into the tree trunk behind me, over my head. He had his arms on either side of me, panting and standing rather close. He had lost his control, his placid stare gone. He looked upset and ruffled. His gaze was just as intense, but there was almost something sad in there and it was aimed directly at me.

I furrowed my eyebrows, curious.

He closed his eyes.

"What does the inscription say?" I asked him and he opened his eyes.

"You can't read it?" The hunter asked me after a moment, the usual control he had taking over as he slowly straightened himself.

I shook my head slowly.

He paused, "You will find out in time."

He turned away swiftly and walked over to where he had dropped his bow, quiver, and cloak. I sighed. It was getting cold again. That warm feeling was gone and I could feel myself shivering from the wet clothing I wore. I looked around, curious where mine was. I pulled the dagger out of the tree and secured it safely on my hip. I began to walk.

"You cannot wander alone." The hunter said, now walking beside me, "This forest is dangerous."

"I think you've been the most dangerous one, here." I said, looking at him.

He looked slightly uncomfortable, "I apologise. I didn't know who you were."

"And who am I?" I asked him, curiously, still searching for my coat.

He did not answer, simply dropped his cloak over my shoulders, "I will find it. You will stay here."

I watched as the hunter moved swiftly through the snow toward the nearest tree and began to climb expertly. I had to admit; his sudden change in attitude was rather disconcerting. I wrapped the cloak around me tighter and sat where I stood, wondering how long he would take. I pulled out the dagger and inspected it with both hands.

It had a curved double-sided blade; the delicate writing on each side of the smooth metal, glistening from whatever light the sun had left, peeking through the snow and forest canopy. I followed the blade to the hilt that looked like white stone, but the dagger was much too light to be made of something so heavy. Gold string was carefully wrapped around the hilt. Perfection.

I did not hear him and was startled slightly when I felt a presence kneeling beside me. I looked up and saw the hunter staring at me as if he was seeing me for the first time. He was trying to understand something, something I couldn't explain to him. He lifted his hand and looked as if he was going to touch my face but let it drop and handed me my coat instead.

I took it from him as I stood, shedding his cloak so that he may take it. I knocked away any snow that might be clinging to my own coat before placing it over my shoulders.

"We must go." The hunter said finally, walking ahead of me.

"To your home." I said, softly, keeping pace.

The hunter only nodded once.

"What will happen when we arrive?"

The hunter did not reply, then, "Where did you learn to fight?"

I paused, "I don't remember."

"You how to fight like my people. It is…surprising."

"Why?"

"Your kind are not welcome in these forests." He said somewhat hesitantly.

"My kind." I said to myself, thinking.

The hunter said nothing after that.

"How long before we arrive?"

"Not long." The hunter said softly, sadly.

I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked at him, "Why are you acting this way?"

"Which way it that?" The hunter asked.

"Gentle."

The hunter paused for a fraction of a moment, but continued walking, "You will know when we arrive."

"If I refuse to go?" I said, stopping.

"I will find you." The hunter said simply, slowly turning where he stood to look at me with a frown.

I blinked, "Why can you not tell me what you know?"

"It is not my place. I have failed already."

"How have you failed?"

"My emotions have controlled me. I should not have allowed that to happen. I am young. I will learn my place in time."

"What emotions?" I asked him, curiously.

The hunter blinked once and looked away. I walked over to him, slowly placing a hesitant hand on the cloak over his arm. He did not move, but he seemed bothered by the touch all the same. I placed another hand on his other arm making him shudder. He was looking nervous, almost scared. I walked closer to him and pressed my body against his, my arms tight around his back, my head on his shoulder. I could feel his heartbeat against my chest, his breathing erratic. For a moment, the hunter merely stood there, but as if to say there was nothing to lose, he wrapped his arms tight around me, his face nuzzled against my neck. I felt the warmth again.