Never did I see so much snow. A white world - never did I imagine this even in my wildest dreams.

A tired sigh was heard in the cold wind, and Fur tied his coat tighter around him. # Come, old friend. Let us continue #

The big grey wolf that he rode on dangled his tongue and shot a glance at his rider before he started to strode forward. Fur was a brown-haired, dark-eyed elfin warrior, muscular and agile - a true wolfrider.

They had travelled a long way from Deer Den, his home since the last eight summers. He didn’t know why he went out on this journey in the first place, but he had felt it so strong, that he just couldn’t bear to wake up and go to sleep in the same old place anymore. He had to get away. So he went, at first just for a short time, but it became longer and longer and he still did not want to return. And now it had been several moons since he left. And this time had taken him to the north, where he first encountered snow.

Soon enough, the white started to fall from the sky, and Fur laughed when he felt the small flakes turn to water on his face.

But soon the snow fell harder, and all sight disappeared. A wind started to howl, and the snowflakes no longer gently fell on him, but struck him fiercely like pins of steel. The world turned grey and white, and he could not see more then a few feet ahead.

He soon dismounted Ash, and strode beside him, his hands held high to protect his face.

The dry voice answered him in his mind.

Fur smiled and patted the wolf’s head. # You are right. We must find shelter # He starred forward. Wasn’t there a darker shade over there? A cave or at least a cliff-side. They struggled on, and Fur almost laughed with relief when he saw the dark shades turning into a mountain wall, and a cave-mouth, even darker in the darkness.

They reached the entrance, and in a moment, they no longer was blinded by the snow, nor deafened by the howling of the wind. Fur took out a flint and tinder, and soon, he held a small flame in his hand, and the light flickered on the stonewalls and cast long, dancing shadows. The cave streched away into blackness as the light from the entrance faded away just a few strides into the cave.

"We will rest here", he said aloud. Ash sniffed around a while and finally came to rest. Fur lay down beside him, rested his back on the wolf’s, and soon they were both asleep.

* * * * * * *

Fur woke up as a frenzied sending reaching his mind # Danger! # In a second, he was on his feet, his dagger drawn. He felt Ash’s presence at his side, and felt how tense it was, ready for anything. For a time that felt like an eternity, they stood still and quiet, and then Ash relaxed a bit. # Gone # was the short message. It was still dark, but Fur decided to explore the cavern. Not even his keen elfin eyes could penetrate the darkness ahead, so he lit a piece of birch-bark in his packing, and made a small fire that glowed with a steady light. With his attention on top, he started walking inward the cavern, the dark wolf by his feet. The cave dwindled and spread, much more than he first had thought.

Fur nodded. # You are right. It smells like bear, but still not… #

They went on, stretching all their senses to the limit.

But when the attack came, neither of them got the warning in time. Fur saw a big dark shape hurling itself at him from the side, and the small fire fell to the floor and went out as Fur was thrown to the floor, his head swirling with pain. He heard Ash growl in rage, but the sound faded away as he sank into a heavy and black sleep.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

To be continued…?