Snowberry's Veil

Part 6

I awoke to build up the fire once in the night and saw that it was snowing. The forest was still with that unusual quiet of snowfall, with large flakes drifting slowly down between gaps in the trees. It might be snowing quite hard, but the forest canopy kept most of it out except in meadows and near the creek, so I wasn't seeing much. Snow complicated matters somewhat; it was difficult to move through and without any real footgear it was going to be mighty unpleasant to walk in. At the same time it made tracking and spotting anything dark moving against it much easier.

In the morning the felpyr was gone, but I suspected it was not far away. It wanted a warm place to sleep that would be safer and I suspected it wanted more than just that. It seemed too willing to associate with man to have not known our kind before, or at least elvenkind. That day I felt much stronger, although still stiff and weak. Several days of eating little more than medicinal herbs and berries were taking their toll. I could travel, but first I had to see if I couldn't get some clothing and supplies for travel. The bark and cloth sandals I made were already falling apart, and the pine bough shirt was little more than decoration. I needed something more, and the felpyr could use more food – what's more I suspected that if I fed and cared for it, I might have a companion for my travels, for a while at least.

Taking the bowstaff up, I checked the ends, finding the nocks well fitted and secure. Stringing it with the sinew, I checked the pull. It creaked and complained, but gave me a decent weapon, good enough for now at least if a bit lighter a draw than I preferred. Taking up my arrows and the supplies to make more, I bundled them in the beaver pelt that had been meticulously cleaned and licked by the felpyr. Arrows were easier to draw from a quiver, but a sack kept them secure while running or fighting, and it was what I needed now.

I rebuilt my sandals and, gritting my teeth, set out to stalk deer. The meadow I'd seen them in was a fair distance away, and it was going to be a cold walk. There was ice formed at the edges of the creek and snow in patches on the ground deep as my ankle in the small meadows between trees. It had stopped snowing by that time, but the low, leaden clouds promised more. I could hear wind in the tops of the trees and an occasional crack and pop of ice and old rocks, but other than my breathing and footsteps, nothing else.

I crept to the edge of the meadow and kept watch. Voe deer would come here to scuff through the snow and find grass, I hoped, and since I'd seen no tracks of predators other than myself and the felpyr, they might be relatively at ease – or as easy as deer ever get. I had not long to wait, sitting in the cold with one foot tucked under my knee then the other to keep them relatively warm. I resolved to learn some kind of spell to protect me from the cold; this was difficult to deal with. I couldn't feel my fingers and every breath in hurt slightly. The small group of voe walked into the meadow as I was swapping feet and I slowly let the slightly warmer one down for a more stable firing position.

The deer were led by a stag, tall, but a young one with only a few points on his antlers. The older stag must have died somehow, leaving this one in charge. He had three does with him, all looked well fed and healthy, and all were in their dappled white and brown heavier winter fur. The stag kept careful watch as the does ate, which made me respect him all the more. Still, I needed meat and skins more than he needed three does. I carefully and slowly lifted my bow; I was back a few paces into the wood at the edge of the meadow, but still had to stop several times, forcing myself to breathe slowly and carefully. The stag caught my movement once and stared straight at me, head high and tail twitching. After a time he relaxed some and looked around, ears swiveling and moving to catch every slightest sound. Finally I had my bow in firing position and letting my breath go, I fired an arrow. Without fluff to suppress the twang, the string made an audible snap, and the arrow flew poorly, arcing over the doe I'd targeted and into the forest beyond.