~ Tiefing ~"You shouldn't always wear that form. I doubt it can be healthy. Why don't you become human, just for a day?""I CAN'T."The woman glared at me. Well, I was good at glaring, so I glared back -- I glared at her until my eyes felt like watering. Hers didn't."I said all I'm going to say!" I snapped. She continued not to blink."What do you mean, you can't? Of course you can, Tiefing. You know how. What's there to be so afraid of?""I am not afraid!!!"I felt like howling. DAMN

I took Surry's advice and spent the night in contemplation of what was to come. Less than a week from now the remainder of my Pack -- minus the seven children and a couple of others, particularly the elderly Saro -- would be leaving this place, possibly never to return.Our destination was the southernmost trail up the mountain. When my group had first descended, frozen and starved, the furthest thing from our minds was "I wonder how we'll climb back up this thing the next time." I had no idea if it was even feasible -- hence why Rufias had gone off to check on it early this afternoon.He believed it was doable, and I believed in him. Therefore, there was no more use in hesitating beyond waiting for the weather to shift.We had decided to move out on the first warmer day that came along, when the temperature was at

Winter gales sometimes leave the most bittersweet trails. I thought about this as my Pack stood there in a silent reverie, watching the cave that had been our home for many weeks now.It was silly, I suppose, to hold such an attachment to a place that I knew deep down could never house us for long. The days we spent here paled in comparison to the place we all knew and loved; yet still, we had worked so very hard to turn it into a livable space within a very short amount of time. This cave had been our sanctuary, our retreat, when we felt we had nowhere else to go. I found it impossible not to feel a strong sense of gratitude -- an obligation to say what might be a final farewell.I spared a moment to look around myself. On either side, my closest companions stood silently in watchful commiseration. Surry and Rufias wove their fingers together tightly on my lef

The snow blinded me. Winter gales buffeted my ankles, my arms and my shoulders. With my head pressed deep into my armpit I moved along as cautiously as possible, clinging tightly to the rocks in the vain hope that if I stumbled, I might still be able to catch myself.This was definitely the most dangerous, and perhaps the most stupid, thing I had ever done. And I had fought with Tando -- thrice.Cillium's outline was barely visible right in front of me. *How are you hanging in there, Cil?**Not great* came the reply, which didn’t surprise me. *Has Rufias any idea when we might be done? I can barel

~ Cillium ~Something strange was in the air this morning that had nothing to do with the dampness.Rayla seemed on-edge. So did Rufias and Surry. After speaking with Mem in hushed tones for some time while the rest of us waited, the four of them joined us again without comment. Rayla gave the order to move on -- and that was it.What was the matter? And why hadn't she confided in me yet?I watched her from behind as we walked, for once not distracted by her beauty and my... interest. She chewed her lip, something she often did when she was worried. For some reason it annoyed me.That almost made me stumble. Me? Mad at