The morning broke bleak and cold, the rays of sunlight shattering on the tall pines raining down dappled light on the small wooden cottage isolated in the drifts of pristine white snow. Surrounded by only trees and the dreams of slumbering animals for many miles, Juliana believed she had found home again. Kale was a game hunter that had fled from the red crosses of his hometown, a hamlet just outside of Austria. He welcomed her into his home, and shared what little he had with her although he was rather gruff in manner at times.

She came to have a relationship with the man, for there was noone else but the forest of which Juliana was already steadfast companion with. He would leave in the early morning, and not return until dusk with whatever he caught. She would tend to the cottage, and prepare the food in the evenings when Kale returned. Perhaps it was the comforting lull of routine, but a year passed unnoticed and a relationship grew deeper as their hearts opened to eachother.

They mutually decided to stay there, in that cottage, although never spoke about it. They knew their own hearts, and were peacefully content. If at times, especially in the last month if strange men drew Kale away from her for 'walks' and secret meetings in the forest or she sat lonely and heartbroken in front of a sputtering fire more than a single night or even several that was fine. Juliana was blinded by the love of her knight in shining armor, and did for herself as best she could.

He did not come back one night, and all that crowded her mind was the simple fact that she had not said goodbye. Panic mounted as she sat alone in the cottage, and abroad in the forest. She cried his name aloud in her sleep, and the thatch on which she slept moldered as it was watered by her tears every night. The morning broke bleak and cold the morning she found him, and it was raining a bitter winter rain that heralded the coming end of the year. Found him lying against a tree in grievious health barely a few yards from where their love had sprouted and then blossomed, and now it seemed that flower was to die.

She tried to get him to speak to her. Tell her his stories of the forest one more time. Tell her of the falcon, and the phoenix and the weaver. From him she could get no answer. He only..reached up and stroked her cheek with the back of his hand once before the light in his grey eyes dimmed as he fell unconscious.

Her life shattered and became a blur of endless worrying grief as she was helpless save for a few small tricks half forgotten, but repeated endlessly as if her will alone would help him back to her. Time and life ceased to have meaning save for the unsteady sound of his breathing.. until the birds fled and the cricket ceased to chirp and the hunters came for them.

((Once again, very good hun

((yup quite good :)

::applauds.:: Good job!

((BRAVO!