A tomato came flying and splattered against Vaunn’s face. The pulp burst across his cheek, juice running down his chin. He grimaced, then sprang into motion. He slipped between the trees, brushing past trunks, branches whipping at his shoulders, then leapt over a tangle of roots. He caught a young blond boy on the run and pulled him along with his momentum.

  “I’ve got you, Hyo.”

  “Well done, Vaunn.”

  Hyo spun around and hurled a handful of dirt straight into his face. Vaunn cursed, bringing a hand to his eyes. Blinded for a moment, he stumbled and lost his balance. Hyo took advantage immediately, slipping in behind him.

  “In the end, I’m the one who won,” he said with a laugh.

  “You cheated.”

  “What matters is winning. So, are you ready for the baptism?”

  “I can’t wait, brother.”

  Hyo ruffled Vaunn’s hair before giving him a light slap on the shoulder.

  *****

  A boy tugged at Vaunn’s sleeve.

  “I’m hungry.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll find food.”

  Another boy, a little older, his blond hair tangled from running, stepped closer.

  “We shouldn’t wait much longer to set up camp,” he said. “After that, we can eat.”

  “You’re right.”

  It was barely four o’clock, and yet night had already fallen. The icy wind crept everywhere, biting at the skin and whistling through the trees. The three boys wore long fur coats and leather trousers padded with wool, still not enough to keep the cold at bay.

  “I’m going hunting,” Vaunn said.

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  “Olfny and I will set up the tent and gather some wood.”

  Vaunn pushed through the snow, his bow held tight against him, the quiver thudding against his hip. He crouched low, eyes fixed on the ground. Tracks showed in the snow, nearly erased. They were deep, uneven, and looked recent.

  They led him to the entrance of a cave. He drew a deep breath, then crossed the threshold and moved inside. Warm vapor rose from the ground, and the air grew heavier, almost suffocating.

  A muffled sound reached him from deep within the cave. He froze at once, bow still lowered, every sense on alert. Something was moving in the darkness.

  A silhouette suddenly took shape. A wolf advanced toward him, fangs bared, fur bristling. Without warning, the beast lunged. He barely dodged, throwing himself aside. The bow slipped from his hands and struck the ground with a dull thud as claws passed a breath from his belly.

  He rolled and grabbed the dagger at his belt. He rose and drove the blade into the animal’s flank. The wolf let out a harsh howl and backed away.

  He released the dagger, rushed for his bow, and seized it. He drew the string and loosed an arrow that buried itself in the wolf’s shoulder. The beast growled, retreated again, then leapt sideways. Vaunn fired a second arrow. It cut through the air, but the wolf dodged it. He cast a quick glance at his quiver. Only three arrows remained.

  The wolf lunged again. Vaunn fired almost point-blank. The arrow pierced the animal’s head, and it collapsed to the ground. Its legs twitched for a few more seconds, scraping faintly against the stone, then went still. Warm vapor drifted from its muzzle.

  A sharp cry rose up, immediately followed by trembling whimpers. Vaunn moved toward a rock with dark, sheer sides. As he drew closer, the whimpering grew louder, more urgent.

  He drew his bow and advanced slowly, each step measured, his eyes fixed ahead. The sounds came from just behind the mass of stone, very close now.

  He rounded the rock. There, huddled against the wall, small shapes quivered. Three wolf pups, pressed tightly together, their fur still pale and bristling. They cried softly, letting out small, plaintive whimpers.

  He lay down beside them on the stone, still warm. The pups stirred at once, and he felt their fragile warmth against him. One of them, smaller than the others, its fur a light gray, clumsily wriggled between his arms. It nestled against him, shifted for a moment, then settled into the hollow of his neck. Its breathing was fast and uneven, but little by little, it calmed.

  *****

  Vaunn suddenly jolted awake. The small gray pup had just nibbled at his fingers. At once, the other two stirred as well. They began to squirm, whimpering and jostling one another, roused together in the same moment.

  Vaunn slowly freed himself, gently pushing them aside. He straightened, picked up his dagger, then approached the she-wolf. He cut a few pieces of flesh and gathered them in a fold of his coat. When he returned to the hollow, the whimpering started up again immediately. He knelt and placed the pieces in front of them.

  One pup stepped forward and took the meat delicately between its teeth. The other two rushed in right after, tearing into it in turn.