tact with the tree trunk. The impact sends a violent shudder up Leya's arms, rippl

o the afternoon air and she steps back to squint up at the tall tree. Precariously, i

ht - but Leya doesn't hear them. In such moments, she would have yelled a theatrical 'Timber!' as most lumberjacks do, but t

The heavy chains wrapped around her waist only slow her moveme

iration beading her dark brows like fi

he chain through the thick branches a

then repeats the process for the other. Leya cranks up the heating, pausing to cup her palms over

ed like elongated, arthritic fingers. The journey to her cabin would have taken her ten minutes had it been summer, not a speck of snow in sight and cl

parked at the side of her cabin. She knows who it is without searching for the

stard, her ginger tabby cat, paces by his boots whilst meowing conversationally, looping around his ank

een them, Leya notes the slight quirk of his mouth as a grin appears on his face like the sun from behind a cloud. She

r eyes - one that Holland had often pointed out as cute - indexing her every emotion. Leya wipes at the smudge of

truck and makes her way towards the cabin, snow and ice crunching b

ands, his lips spreading in a familiar fluidity that has Leya gazing a

e side of the cabin, admiring his meticulous work, much

to help you?" he says, sparing her an exasperated, pointed look. "I don't understand why you make it difficul

er of his lip, then shrugs and starts nailing the panel he holds over her windows. "I

me for this. By the looks o

her hammer slightly. "But I told

n her, a sly smile growing.

your hospital bills if I hit o

ly curious eyebrow. "Yo

open manner in which he regards her, she averts her gaze to the plank and begins hammering

mmer my finger off," he says plainly

ent," she

the crinkling corners of his dark eyes, the flash o

, "Is that

lent for a moment, listening to the rhythmic pounding of the hammer on wood. "I'

smile that does not reach h

you hid

r eyes meet his for a scant moment, the intensity of his gaze prickling her guts like thorns, and her lip

jok

htens, swallowin

lossoms red and gold, peering from the curving horizo

or her face, teasing a twig from one of her loose braids. Leya does not realize that she had been holding her breath, not

watercolours, she notes the horde of lumbering clouds rolli

k your doors and don't leave until the signa

of her head. "It's ju

ly he can hear. His face smooths over a moment later and his grin reappears like the sun from behind a c

nd nods, stepping back to watch him

side, Ley. No leaving

ocking back and forth on her heels. "St

de, she didn't

s and slips into the car, the eng

only the faint red glow of its tail lights remain - brighter for a moment as he slo

ion to the ground where Mustard purrs affectionately whilst winding nim

and the grey trees ascending towards aphotic clouds of the looming storm. A northerly

that does not garner his owner's attention, th

material of her pants and she detaches his paw, then turns, letting th

dark, starless sky, Leya's cabin sits. The wind whisks away puf

wel wrapped loosely around her head in a turban. Tucked under one arm is a laptop s

nd wriggles her toes a moment, gazing at the chipped black nail polish. Snow and sleet begin pelt

Blackness falls upon her like a landslide. A crashing sound echoes from beyond the wooden barriers of her home

words fall upon no ears but hers, she somehow finds comfort in the soft narration of her actions, finding company in the muted voice that leaves h

water from the shower with the piece of cotton, enjoying the lack of st

water rushing in the background, blending words to that of

fsbane poured all around the cabin. Leya sinks into the couch

30

section and her stare grows calculative while gazing at the sudoku boxes.

lls by

e violent downpour beyond the four walls ensnaring her- shielding her; the fierce howling of sl

hat draws Leya's attention back from t

30

ce area with a sink, humming fridge, round table (which she carved from a tree half a mile away) along with two seats. Far too exhausted

riding on a gauzy caul of rain. Leya could hear the booming thunderclaps, ricocheting through her ear canals in muffled growls, but the fork

amount into the plastic, mustard yellow bowl and begins to shake it - us

it, rattling the kibbles back and forth when Mustard's absence prolongs. Scowling, she picks up her phone and turns on the fl

th

ls by the

and flashes the l

pt

that floods her intestines. A flash of lightning brightens the room for

ng colder by the momen

gles to put on her hearing aids, her trembling hands placing them

r while searching the bedroom and bathroom. "Mustard!" T

hreatening to crumble the tiny home. Her face blanches to that of the snow battering her win

and boots. The sudden surge of adrenaline temporarily numbs all rational thought as she

nts over and over, reaching for

door and her, Leya stands, gazing at the protective wood. Slowl

ht of t

arms marbles ou

would be o

Must

ek. She tastes blood. Caught between a crossroads, she knows there are only two glaring options: st

a stinging web of hurt as it leaps from one conclusion to another like an all-hungry spider a

nd Mustard. She knew the terrain like

f you cros

hard. Each second that passes is a breath

o the floor. Wood loosens beneath her trembling fingers. "It's just a cat... they're replaceable... you're not." She pries the first plank from its pla

and reaches fo

nhales a long, trembling

er a step back. Icy rain and snow melt on her face like tears and within seconds

rch, Leya steps o