Sleep was without a doubt the last thing on his mind. Memories of whips, chains, collars, and steel bars kept flashing before his eyes, some of the images so sharp and clear that he could still feel the pain from the lash. His breath quickened; his body twitched. Ready to flee. Or fight.
But then Genya was there, her sweet scent once more washing over him like a soothing wave, and though he nearly leapt out from beneath her touch, it grounded him, right along with the quiet sound of her lovely voice, caressing his ears. She pressed his hand to her chest and he felt the steady beat of her heart, and bless all the Saints but her own hand on his chest kept him from falling into those hated memories.
He abruptly shifted, turning to face her and bringing their noses close enough to touch. He saw her so clearly in the darkness, eyes wide and lips slightly parted. "...don't leave," he whispered, quietly pleading. "I don't--I can't...don't leave." The wolf closed the distance between them, forehead pressing to hers. "Please...please don't leave..."
"I'm not going anywhere. You said it yourself, we're alike," she crooned to him. Her heart ached for the poor wolf and all the suffering he'd endured. He'd never known a kind touch or softness. Her nose brushed against his. They were pressed close as they curved into one another. "We're together, Aleksander. I'm not going to change that."
It felt right. It felt like they belonged. There had to be a reason why she'd felt compelled to go downstairs to free him. Maybe everything had always been leading up to this.
They shared the same breath. Their hearts felt as though they were falling into sync with one another. She reached up to cup his face and trace along the shape of his bottom lip with her thumb. "I'm not leaving you."
He sighed in relief, hearing that, and slowly began to relax into her hands. Only to nearly jump right out of his skin when the wind drug a branch across the cabin's roof; the storm had finally arrived. He heard the trees creaking as they swayed with the incoming gale, and the snow made sharp staccato notes as it was flung against the cabin's windows and walls.
But there was no danger; Genya was beside him, stroking him, comforting him, assuring him that they were safe, exactly as he'd done earlier for her. The branch's noise had made him snatch hold of the woman beside him, large hands gripping her firmly, nearly hard enough to bruise; a reflexive response. He forced his fingers to lessen, not squeeze quite so tight, but he didn't pull away. Despite the flagrant breach of his programmed training.
Genya flinched too at the sound of the branch against the window. She burrowed into Aleksander's embrace to hide from the danger until her mind realized belatedly there was no danger at all. They were both trauma inflicted. Neither were good with loud, sudden noises. They'd made it to the cabin in the mountains, but that didn't mean that the threat was gone completely. The need for vigilance would always be there.
Her face buried against his neck. She trembled slightly until she calmed. She was grateful that he held onto her so fiercely. It made her feel protected. She managed a weak laugh. "We're okay. We're safe," she whispered against him. "As long as we're together. We're safe."
It seemed they were bulwarks for each other. Feral and terrified on their own, but comforted and stronger together. It finally made sense to him now. Survival alone simply...wasn't possible, for either of them. Not yet. They had both suffered the worst nightmares at the hands of humans, and healing those wounds was going to take time. If they even could heal.
Both of his arms went around her when Genya gasped and dove into him, and he held her close, protected, as she clung. Nodding to her whispered assurance, he nevertheless directed a silent snarl at the intruding storm, irrationally peeved at the weather for upsetting her. The fit of temper passed quickly, though, as his attention was resolutely tugged back to the trembling human in his arms.
"...we're safe," he reiterated, daring to nuzzle at her temple, nose filled with her sweet, sweet scent. Warm cedar. Summer rain. Spring apples after the last frost. "It's just the storm," he told her, words murmured against her hair. "Announcing itself."
"It's just the storm," she agreed. Her voice was muffled. She hadn't lifted her face from the nook of his shoulder. He was warm. He smelled so good. Evergreen and fresh snow and something a little smoky too. Like the first curls from a fire. She felt safe here with him. They gave comfort to one another in equal measures. They took turns effortlessly. She never thought she'd find anything like this.
Her eyes remained closed against him. Breathing him in and feeling his heartbeat thrumming at her lips lulled her to sleep. She prayed to all the Saints, alive and dead, that she wouldn't have nightmares.
To his surprise, Genya remained where she was even after the storm settled in and got down to the business of blanketing the world with cold, white snow. Even though it was...strange, having her snuggled against him, fitting just right against the hard planes of this, he now realized, very compatible human form, he didn't pull away. She was warm, soft, and fragrant, and...innocent, in a certain way. A survivor, without question, but so young to be so broken inside.
A second silent snarl curled his lip as he envisioned that disgusting old man...doing things to the woman cradled so trustingly in his arms. But he quickly dismissed those thoughts, too; letting them wander about would only see his temper cresting and his teeth itch to shed the miserable bastard's black blood.
So instead he focused on Genya's quiet breaths, the fragrance of her hair that blended so perfectly with her natural scent, and how her small fingers curled just so in the front of his shirt, as if wanting him close even in her dreams. For just a moment, the barest breath, Aleksander let himself believe that, and, lulled by Genya's warmth and the sound of pinging ice on the roof, slowly drifted off.
Her sleep remained peaceful this time. When she did dream, it was brief. Her dreams were filled with soft shadows that caressed her. She dreamt of soft fur and strong hands and golden eyes that looked into the very core of her. It was a much needed sleep. She didn't stir even when the snow settled and the sun began to rise. The sky was clearer in the aftermath, but the storm had left several feet of snow.
They were effectively snowed in. Better yet, their trail and the path to the mountains were covered with heavy blankets of snow. No one could reach them even if they wanted to.
She stirred with her face still buried against him. She nosed along his throat. Unconsciously, she scented him. He smelled so amazing that she couldn't help herself. Yawning, she tried to open her eyes, but his embrace was too comfortable to leave it yet.
They needed to eat. She knew he'd need the food more than she did. Thankfully, she'd left bacon out to thaw. There were also chicken and cuts of meat thawing as well for dinner.
He only stirred when she did, swimming up from the deepest unconsciousness he could ever remember. No nightmares, no dreams, just deep, sweet sleep. The storm had blown itself out during the night; he smelled the cold new snow, but didn't hear the wind any longer.
Yet his arms were still full of soft, warm woman, and Genya's nose was pressed to his throat, nuzzling him gently. He swallowed, shifting slightly, and moved his head so he could see her, her lovely eyes still closed and face still soft with sleep.
"--I'm here," he managed to rasp, loosening his hold so she could pull away if she wished. He was definitely hungry, but it was warm beneath the heavy blankets and he was loathe to relinquish such a comfortable nest just yet.
She felt him. She could smell him. She knew he was wrapped up with her, yet when he spoke his confirmation, she smiled and snuggled closer against him. She rubbed her face against him like a kitten. She yawned at his throat. Her lips parted and skimmed against his skin. Her stomach rumbled with growing hunger. Sleeping as she had gave her body the reset it needed after all the stress.
"Need to cook breakfast," she sighed. She didn't want to leave this cozy cocoon. She wanted to stay right here in the warmth of his embrace. His hunger would be much bigger than her own. She sighed again and forced herself to sit up. It meant removing herself from his embrace.
She shivered a little while she stretched her arms above her hair. Her coppery curls were riotous around her face and shoulders from sleeping.
"I think there were some eggs. Eggs and bacon and toast?" she suggested to him. He could make himself a sandwich or three.
Logic attributed her affection to not being full awake, and he forced himself to remain absolutely still as she maneuvered about, at last pulling away to sit up and stretch and allowing the wolf to roll in the opposite direction and do the same on the edge of this human bed, shoulders hunched as fists clenched.
The fire had gone out, hence the chill in the air, which gave him the perfect reason to get up and get moving, mainly so he wouldn't have to see her as she currently was: tousled, sleepy, and no doubt smiling softly with their second day of freedom.
By all the Saints.
But rekindling the fire gave his hands a task, and he built it high and thick, a glance out of the window revealing the storm's footprint. New snow, piled in large drifts. Perfect. No one would find them here now. The offer of food was a welcome one. But he didn't want to just sit like a useless pup while she served them. So he followed her to the kitchen, looming lightly over her shoulder.
Genya shivered. Her legs were bare. The cold chill in the air nipped at her. She went to retrieve a pair of thick socks to pull on, so that her feet weren't touching the icy hardwood. It wasn't her cutest look, a long sleeved tee and socks, but who was here to judge her on fashion and style? Aleksander wouldn't care. This wasn't Os Alta.
She yawned again and padded towards the kitchen. Her eyes drifted to her lupine companion. The memory of being entwined with him sent a warm tingle through her. She'd never felt so safe and comfortable in a man's embrace before. She craved more of it. She craved more of his touch. She watched as the muscles in his arms and shoulders flexed as he stoked the fire back to life.
It took her too long to realize that she was staring. Abruptly, she turned to get the bacon and eggs out. She found a frying pan as well. He joined her in the kitchen to learn.
"We're going to cook the bacon first," she explained to him. She turned the heat on the stove and let the pan get hot. She thought she might as well cook the whole pound of bacon. Whatever he didn't eat, she could put into sandwiches later. "We have to be careful though because it releases oil that pops."
She had him stand behind her while she used tongs to lay out a few strips in the pan. Immediately, it started sizzling.
He watched with the single-minded focus that all lupines and canines possessed, sharp gaze tracking every movement. From the flame beneath the skillet to the way she laid the strips of bacon in the pan, he automatically memorized it all. Genya started on the eggs while the bacon was cooking, breaking half a dozen into a mixing bowl and whisking them to a fluffy yellow froth. Another skillet, and the scrambled eggs went into it, their scent mingling with that of the bacon more than enough to make his mouth water.
Toast was the easiest, since it involved placing slices of bread into the small convection oven and letting them brown, and by the time breakfast was ready the wolf thought he'd be able to be passing fair at doing the same, if it ever came to it. Genya directed him to plates, glasses, milk, juice, and jam to bring to the table, and he obeyed without hesitation or protest.
Then she showed him just how delicious it could be to put strawberry jam on a toasted bacon and egg sandwich, and he'd polished off four of them before she'd finished her first.
He was a quick learner. He took to everything once she gave him detailed instructions. He moved alongside her in the kitchen with growing ease. He'd be able to cook on his own in no time. On top of the milk and juice, she'd made tea for the both of them. There'd been an assortment of green tea, chamomile and breakfast tea. She chose the green tea since he seemed to like it the day before.
They settled in and had breakfast together. It might have been their first morning together in their new home, but it felt so easy. She didn't feel any strangeness.
"Do you think you'll be able to get out so you can run and explore?" she asked him. The snow was thick around them. She worried about him feeling cooped up and bored. There were a lot of books for her to read to pass the time and an old AM/FM radio if they could receive anything this far.
She nibbled on her toast. He ate much faster than she did. She didn't mind. He had to feel ravenous since he was much bigger than her.
The tea was a nice finish after such a hot meal. This he sipped slowly, as Genya did, savoring the astringent flavor. "Eventually," he answered, giving the kitchen window another brief glance. "The looser snow should melt by the afternoon, at least enough to get the door open."
He could probably force it open now, but as there was no reason to, he wasn't going to waste the energy. "I made a good circuit yesterday, and the other animals will be doing the same as we are: staying in their dens and waiting for the snow to melt."
He'd spied the bookshelves in the living room, too. His first master had taught him how to read, and when given the opportunity, he'd always enjoyed it.
"What animals are out there?" she curiously asked. She imagined there were deer and elk out there. Bunnies and squirrels and the smaller wildlife. Possibly other wolves as well. He was much larger than the normal wolf, so he'd probably scare them off. She wondered if there were mountain lions as well.
Genya didn't exactly know how to butcher a deer, but game meat would help them go far as far as supplies. They could freeze what they didn't use. It would mean less trips to the mountain. The freezer was packed with bags of frozen vegetables. There were root vegetables in a cellar. She was impressed with how well stocked they were.
"Maybe after the snows melt in a few days we can go back down the mountain. See what the current news is and get some produce and whatever else we need," she suggested.
He sipped and swallowed, then replied, "Elk, deer, moose, rabbits, foxes, a cougar higher up the hill, and a den of black bears on the other side of the lake. That's what I've smelled, anyway. No humans, not this far up." Thank the Saints.
"I'll go out and hunt tomorrow, once the snow packs again." Hunting in loose snow was exhausting, as well as futile. "I should be able to bring back a decent sized deer, so we'll have plenty of meat." He doubted she knew how to field-dress venison, and he'd never done it without fur and fangs, but they'd make due.
"As long as we're careful," he cautioned after she mentioned going back down the mountain. "You'll have to put your disguise on again, if we do go." Because going out as she was now would send red flags all the way back to Os Alta.
"Bears!" she exclaimed with wide eyes. She'd always thought bears were cute with their adorable little ears. She wasn't so sure she was ready to come face to face with one. She heard black bears were the nicer of the bunch at least. She felt partly excited and a little nervous about so much wildlife around her. She'd always been a city girl. She was so out of her element out here.
But she didn't mind it. Here was safe. She was protected from the roaming, reaching hands of the Lantsov. He would have never expected her to come here. Ketterdam maybe. He'd expected her to hide somewhere she could get lost in a crowd.
She curled her legs beneath her as she finished her toast. She pushed her remaining bacon over to him. She'd eaten a few strips her and her eggs. "There's chicken thawing. And some steaks. I can roast the chicken for dinner and cook the steaks," she offered.
Accepting the bacon with a grateful nod, he chewed it much slower than before, taking alternating sips of the hot tea. "Mmhmm." Then he swallowed. "A mother and two cubs. But they're hibernating just now, and won't emerge from their den until the spring." They still smelled moderately awful, all that shaggy fur and heat in such a confined space, released slowly on the cold breeze.
"It's the cougar that we'll have to watch for." A mountain lion was no joke. "If it's a female with cubs, she might not venture this far down the hill. But if it's a male guarding his territory, then there may be a fight." He was formidable in his wolf form, as lethal and dangerous as a dragon, but a male cougar was just as deadly.
Aleksander caught Genya's eye and spoke firmly, this time. "Do not go outside without me. Understand?"
She knew going down the mountain meant Tailoring herself once more. She could Tailor the both of them really. Each time, a different face. They could figure out the best strategy for that in a few days. In the meantime, they had enough here to last. She thought it was sweet there was a mother bear hidden away with her babies in their den. She imagined them curled together and sleeping until it spring.
She saw Aleksander's expression turn deadly serious. His tone was firm. There was no room for argument. She nodded her agreement.
"I promise," she replied. It was too cold to go outside anyway. She wanted to stay warm and cozy. A nap already sounded wonderful. She'd never been so idle and indolent. There was always something to do in her service to the Lantsovs. "There are plenty of books here. Would you like me to read aloud?" she offered. It was a good way to pass the time for them.
Her promise softened his expression, and he nodded acceptance. Then finished off the bacon and the tea. Genya then mentioned reading and his metaphorical ears perked. "...yes, if you would like." A corner of his mouth tilted and he added a bit shyly, "...you have a lovely voice."
This time, he helped her with the clean up, drying the dishes as she washed and rinsed. Then he checked the fire in the hearth, adding a few logs to feed the flames before gingerly settling down on a corner of the large couch in the main room. If reading the day away was what she wanted, then that's what they would do. He was well-used to idleness, unless one of his masters needed a killing done.
Genya turned pink. Her cheeks flooded with warmth at his praise. As a servant to Tatiana and her constant companion, she'd heard her share of compliments. Usually, it was about her looks, and they always made her feel gross and uncomfortable. Aleksander praised her voice instead. His sincerity in his bashfulness made her feel funny, but in a good way. She smiled at him. It was warm and shy, and it stayed on her face even as they cleaned up.
She didn't know that he could read. Perhaps it should have occurred to her to ask. While he tended the fired, she looked at the bookshelf and studied the options. "A mystery? A classic? There's even some romance," she suggested to him. She liked that they had so many options. It would keep them busy.
"A mystery might be interesting," he replied quietly, watching as she browsed the shelves. But he had to snort to the 'romance' offer, wrinkling his nose in distaste. "No, thank you." Things were already confusing enough without adding the written word to them. "I've never understood how humans could even write about things like that. It's almost painful to read, and the cover art is atrocious."
Humans never actually looked like that, in his estimation. All flowing hair, rippling muscles, and half-naked women clinging to their blond barbarian...it was truly uncouth. Particularly to a lupine with little to no knowledge of how those things actually worked.
...although unbeknownst to him, he was learning, and quickly.
Genya picked a mystery novel from the shelf and brought it with her to the couch. She took a seat next to him and tucked her legs beneath her. She was chuckling softly at his distaste for romance novels. "They're unrealistic, but they're fun. Good fluff for the brain," she told him. Reading had been a good escape for her growing up. She'd devoured romances as a girl and dreamt of that epic romance to sweep her off her feet. When she'd became a young teenager, she'd blushed as she read the steamier novels.
She stopped reading them after the old man started abusing her. She had no room left in her heart or mind for romance. No hope for such a thing for her.
"Have you ready many romances?" she asked in amusement since he was so opinionated about them.
"Fluff?" His eyebrows went up, curious. "Is that what humans call it?" Fluff, hmm. He shifted to give her room as she sat beside him, more than a little surprised as she settled comfortably, even pulling her legs beneath her. And unconsciously, he was sure, leaned against his left side as she opened the book to the front page.
"One or two," he replied, sniffing again. "...didn't really like either." His mind was sharper than a human's, particularly when it came to imagery. And memory. Like all lupines, he possessed a photographic recollection, and reading those particular words had conjured all sorts of imaginings in his mind, so much so that he'd had to get rid of the books entirely.
They'd belonged to his first master's aged wife, salacious books of foreign poetry, and had mentally unsettled him so much that he'd never touched another.
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ninetydegrees
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on 2023-11-12 06:54 pm (UTC)But then Genya was there, her sweet scent once more washing over him like a soothing wave, and though he nearly leapt out from beneath her touch, it grounded him, right along with the quiet sound of her lovely voice, caressing his ears. She pressed his hand to her chest and he felt the steady beat of her heart, and bless all the Saints but her own hand on his chest kept him from falling into those hated memories.
He abruptly shifted, turning to face her and bringing their noses close enough to touch. He saw her so clearly in the darkness, eyes wide and lips slightly parted. "...don't leave," he whispered, quietly pleading. "I don't--I can't...don't leave." The wolf closed the distance between them, forehead pressing to hers. "Please...please don't leave..."
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on 2023-11-12 07:18 pm (UTC)It felt right. It felt like they belonged. There had to be a reason why she'd felt compelled to go downstairs to free him. Maybe everything had always been leading up to this.
They shared the same breath. Their hearts felt as though they were falling into sync with one another. She reached up to cup his face and trace along the shape of his bottom lip with her thumb. "I'm not leaving you."
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on 2023-11-12 07:36 pm (UTC)But there was no danger; Genya was beside him, stroking him, comforting him, assuring him that they were safe, exactly as he'd done earlier for her. The branch's noise had made him snatch hold of the woman beside him, large hands gripping her firmly, nearly hard enough to bruise; a reflexive response. He forced his fingers to lessen, not squeeze quite so tight, but he didn't pull away. Despite the flagrant breach of his programmed training.
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on 2023-11-12 07:51 pm (UTC)Her face buried against his neck. She trembled slightly until she calmed. She was grateful that he held onto her so fiercely. It made her feel protected. She managed a weak laugh. "We're okay. We're safe," she whispered against him. "As long as we're together. We're safe."
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on 2023-11-12 08:01 pm (UTC)Both of his arms went around her when Genya gasped and dove into him, and he held her close, protected, as she clung. Nodding to her whispered assurance, he nevertheless directed a silent snarl at the intruding storm, irrationally peeved at the weather for upsetting her. The fit of temper passed quickly, though, as his attention was resolutely tugged back to the trembling human in his arms.
"...we're safe," he reiterated, daring to nuzzle at her temple, nose filled with her sweet, sweet scent. Warm cedar. Summer rain. Spring apples after the last frost. "It's just the storm," he told her, words murmured against her hair. "Announcing itself."
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on 2023-11-12 08:08 pm (UTC)Her eyes remained closed against him. Breathing him in and feeling his heartbeat thrumming at her lips lulled her to sleep. She prayed to all the Saints, alive and dead, that she wouldn't have nightmares.
"Thank you," she murmured sleepily. "Aleksander."
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on 2023-11-12 08:27 pm (UTC)A second silent snarl curled his lip as he envisioned that disgusting old man...doing things to the woman cradled so trustingly in his arms. But he quickly dismissed those thoughts, too; letting them wander about would only see his temper cresting and his teeth itch to shed the miserable bastard's black blood.
So instead he focused on Genya's quiet breaths, the fragrance of her hair that blended so perfectly with her natural scent, and how her small fingers curled just so in the front of his shirt, as if wanting him close even in her dreams. For just a moment, the barest breath, Aleksander let himself believe that, and, lulled by Genya's warmth and the sound of pinging ice on the roof, slowly drifted off.
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on 2023-11-12 09:33 pm (UTC)They were effectively snowed in. Better yet, their trail and the path to the mountains were covered with heavy blankets of snow. No one could reach them even if they wanted to.
She stirred with her face still buried against him. She nosed along his throat. Unconsciously, she scented him. He smelled so amazing that she couldn't help herself. Yawning, she tried to open her eyes, but his embrace was too comfortable to leave it yet.
They needed to eat. She knew he'd need the food more than she did. Thankfully, she'd left bacon out to thaw. There were also chicken and cuts of meat thawing as well for dinner.
"'Sander?" she mumbled against him.
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on 2023-11-12 11:09 pm (UTC)Yet his arms were still full of soft, warm woman, and Genya's nose was pressed to his throat, nuzzling him gently. He swallowed, shifting slightly, and moved his head so he could see her, her lovely eyes still closed and face still soft with sleep.
"--I'm here," he managed to rasp, loosening his hold so she could pull away if she wished. He was definitely hungry, but it was warm beneath the heavy blankets and he was loathe to relinquish such a comfortable nest just yet.
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on 2023-11-12 11:15 pm (UTC)"Need to cook breakfast," she sighed. She didn't want to leave this cozy cocoon. She wanted to stay right here in the warmth of his embrace. His hunger would be much bigger than her own. She sighed again and forced herself to sit up. It meant removing herself from his embrace.
She shivered a little while she stretched her arms above her hair. Her coppery curls were riotous around her face and shoulders from sleeping.
"I think there were some eggs. Eggs and bacon and toast?" she suggested to him. He could make himself a sandwich or three.
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on 2023-11-12 11:24 pm (UTC)The fire had gone out, hence the chill in the air, which gave him the perfect reason to get up and get moving, mainly so he wouldn't have to see her as she currently was: tousled, sleepy, and no doubt smiling softly with their second day of freedom.
By all the Saints.
But rekindling the fire gave his hands a task, and he built it high and thick, a glance out of the window revealing the storm's footprint. New snow, piled in large drifts. Perfect. No one would find them here now. The offer of food was a welcome one. But he didn't want to just sit like a useless pup while she served them. So he followed her to the kitchen, looming lightly over her shoulder.
"Show me?"
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on 2023-11-13 12:29 am (UTC)She yawned again and padded towards the kitchen. Her eyes drifted to her lupine companion. The memory of being entwined with him sent a warm tingle through her. She'd never felt so safe and comfortable in a man's embrace before. She craved more of it. She craved more of his touch. She watched as the muscles in his arms and shoulders flexed as he stoked the fire back to life.
It took her too long to realize that she was staring. Abruptly, she turned to get the bacon and eggs out. She found a frying pan as well. He joined her in the kitchen to learn.
"We're going to cook the bacon first," she explained to him. She turned the heat on the stove and let the pan get hot. She thought she might as well cook the whole pound of bacon. Whatever he didn't eat, she could put into sandwiches later. "We have to be careful though because it releases oil that pops."
She had him stand behind her while she used tongs to lay out a few strips in the pan. Immediately, it started sizzling.
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on 2023-11-13 12:37 am (UTC)Toast was the easiest, since it involved placing slices of bread into the small convection oven and letting them brown, and by the time breakfast was ready the wolf thought he'd be able to be passing fair at doing the same, if it ever came to it. Genya directed him to plates, glasses, milk, juice, and jam to bring to the table, and he obeyed without hesitation or protest.
Then she showed him just how delicious it could be to put strawberry jam on a toasted bacon and egg sandwich, and he'd polished off four of them before she'd finished her first.
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on 2023-11-13 01:13 am (UTC)They settled in and had breakfast together. It might have been their first morning together in their new home, but it felt so easy. She didn't feel any strangeness.
"Do you think you'll be able to get out so you can run and explore?" she asked him. The snow was thick around them. She worried about him feeling cooped up and bored. There were a lot of books for her to read to pass the time and an old AM/FM radio if they could receive anything this far.
She nibbled on her toast. He ate much faster than she did. She didn't mind. He had to feel ravenous since he was much bigger than her.
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on 2023-11-13 01:19 am (UTC)He could probably force it open now, but as there was no reason to, he wasn't going to waste the energy. "I made a good circuit yesterday, and the other animals will be doing the same as we are: staying in their dens and waiting for the snow to melt."
He'd spied the bookshelves in the living room, too. His first master had taught him how to read, and when given the opportunity, he'd always enjoyed it.
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on 2023-11-13 01:47 am (UTC)Genya didn't exactly know how to butcher a deer, but game meat would help them go far as far as supplies. They could freeze what they didn't use. It would mean less trips to the mountain. The freezer was packed with bags of frozen vegetables. There were root vegetables in a cellar. She was impressed with how well stocked they were.
"Maybe after the snows melt in a few days we can go back down the mountain. See what the current news is and get some produce and whatever else we need," she suggested.
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on 2023-11-13 01:55 am (UTC)"I'll go out and hunt tomorrow, once the snow packs again." Hunting in loose snow was exhausting, as well as futile. "I should be able to bring back a decent sized deer, so we'll have plenty of meat." He doubted she knew how to field-dress venison, and he'd never done it without fur and fangs, but they'd make due.
"As long as we're careful," he cautioned after she mentioned going back down the mountain. "You'll have to put your disguise on again, if we do go." Because going out as she was now would send red flags all the way back to Os Alta.
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on 2023-11-13 02:07 am (UTC)But she didn't mind it. Here was safe. She was protected from the roaming, reaching hands of the Lantsov. He would have never expected her to come here. Ketterdam maybe. He'd expected her to hide somewhere she could get lost in a crowd.
She curled her legs beneath her as she finished her toast. She pushed her remaining bacon over to him. She'd eaten a few strips her and her eggs. "There's chicken thawing. And some steaks. I can roast the chicken for dinner and cook the steaks," she offered.
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on 2023-11-13 02:17 am (UTC)"It's the cougar that we'll have to watch for." A mountain lion was no joke. "If it's a female with cubs, she might not venture this far down the hill. But if it's a male guarding his territory, then there may be a fight." He was formidable in his wolf form, as lethal and dangerous as a dragon, but a male cougar was just as deadly.
Aleksander caught Genya's eye and spoke firmly, this time. "Do not go outside without me. Understand?"
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on 2023-11-13 02:24 am (UTC)She saw Aleksander's expression turn deadly serious. His tone was firm. There was no room for argument. She nodded her agreement.
"I promise," she replied. It was too cold to go outside anyway. She wanted to stay warm and cozy. A nap already sounded wonderful. She'd never been so idle and indolent. There was always something to do in her service to the Lantsovs. "There are plenty of books here. Would you like me to read aloud?" she offered. It was a good way to pass the time for them.
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on 2023-11-13 02:30 am (UTC)This time, he helped her with the clean up, drying the dishes as she washed and rinsed. Then he checked the fire in the hearth, adding a few logs to feed the flames before gingerly settling down on a corner of the large couch in the main room. If reading the day away was what she wanted, then that's what they would do. He was well-used to idleness, unless one of his masters needed a killing done.
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on 2023-11-13 02:37 am (UTC)She didn't know that he could read. Perhaps it should have occurred to her to ask. While he tended the fired, she looked at the bookshelf and studied the options. "A mystery? A classic? There's even some romance," she suggested to him. She liked that they had so many options. It would keep them busy.
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on 2023-11-13 02:45 am (UTC)Humans never actually looked like that, in his estimation. All flowing hair, rippling muscles, and half-naked women clinging to their blond barbarian...it was truly uncouth. Particularly to a lupine with little to no knowledge of how those things actually worked.
...although unbeknownst to him, he was learning, and quickly.
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on 2023-11-13 02:54 am (UTC)She stopped reading them after the old man started abusing her. She had no room left in her heart or mind for romance. No hope for such a thing for her.
"Have you ready many romances?" she asked in amusement since he was so opinionated about them.
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on 2023-11-13 03:01 am (UTC)"One or two," he replied, sniffing again. "...didn't really like either." His mind was sharper than a human's, particularly when it came to imagery. And memory. Like all lupines, he possessed a photographic recollection, and reading those particular words had conjured all sorts of imaginings in his mind, so much so that he'd had to get rid of the books entirely.
They'd belonged to his first master's aged wife, salacious books of foreign poetry, and had mentally unsettled him so much that he'd never touched another.
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