Blue fire. He had heard of the strange new fires that now dotted the landscape, burning without anyone to tend them. They both frightened him and awed him. Acts of the gods, they had to be, but were they gift or trick? Elk Charm did not seem to fear them, though, so he let his own caution subside; probably the former. You find me. He smiled sadly. He had found her, yes. But far later than he had wanted.

A quick-lodge—yes, he remembered this from the seal hunters. Still, it had been a long time since he had seen one made. He helped to pull the largest branches, or else hold them in place. When the shelter was ready, he climbed in next to Elk Charm, careful not to disturb their work with his great size. He had lost much of the fat on his body. His muscles felt weaker, too; he would need to eat well and resume his daily training to return to peak condition. He thought he heard Ferox's laughing voice in his head again: Rufus, you are withering away! Still, it was good that Elk Charm was smaller than him.

Her closeness was a warm reminder of her, and the time they had spent together in the wetu. A part of him was tempted to pull her into his arms and hold her. He would not—could not—do such a thing unless invited. Too much time had passed, too much space had opened. But the thought lingered, even as he remembered, somberly, that he must speak. He watched snowflakes drift with a light breeze in silence as he gathered his words.

The first ten days were as you said, he began, hesitant, as if trying to convince himself to keep going. He did not have the same storytelling skill as the others had, but he would try. This is a time to remember what has been. We travelled for three days to reach the sea. It is so much greater than any lake, the water so deep and vast that you could believe it goes forever. The hunters looked almost like seals themselves, even diving underwater. I was much more clumsy. Samo chuckled weakly. The first beach we found had seals, but there were great black monsters in the water. Whales, each the size of many wolves. So, we travelled north.

We only caught fish that day. Chakliux said he would go back—to see if the whales had left, yet. I think. This was the last time I saw him.

Samo paused and took a deep breath, trying to focus his clouded thoughts.

The next day, we killed a seal. We were divided—some of us saw clouds in the sky and wanted to go back. Others thought it would be alright and that we should try to get another. I was among them. We were able to injure one; luckily it stayed close to shore so we could track it. As we followed along the shore, the sky grew cloudier, the sea angry. I thought I could risk it. When I dived down, something grabbed my leg. The current, maybe. Whatever it was I could not fight it, even though I tried.

Samo grimaced. Then...I don't remember well. It must have carried me far away. There was water in my lungs; something or someone pumped it out. I don't know who or what. When I woke up I did not know where I was, or who I was. That place was... He hesitated again. Perhaps she already knew the place he spoke of. It was very cold. Colder than anywhere I had ever been. The sand was black, and there was ice that never melted. To the south were strange wolves; I kept my distance from them.

But I remembered you, Elk Charm, and the Singing Hills. In time, other things came back to me. Chakliux, and the seal hunters. I looked for their scents, your scent, but for a long time I found nothing. At least I knew I needed to go south. I watched the sun and tried to look at the stars. I hunted and rested. Then, finally, I found you. Or you found me.

He smiled at her tentatively. His throat felt hoarse; he realized he had been talking a long while. I...did not speak to many others, while I travelled. Only a few. I was...afraid. I...I can tell you why. But it will be an even longer story then. He coughed, let himself pause.

You were not alone, here? he asked, turning the thread towards her, if she wished to share her own story.

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