I awoke sometime later that day not entirely sure how I felt. I knew something had gone from me and it was more than my maidenhood. I rolled over and saw Leif laying next to me, thankfully, this time I was less surprised at his presence. I took the time to get a close examination of him in his day form. His skin was cold and smooth, he looked statue-like with a greyish hue. I knew from the other morning that he could move so wasn't as rigid as a statue but it was still a little unnerving. I wasn't entirely sure whether he was breathing or not and this was truly alarming. I swung my legs out of the warm blankets into the cold air of the wooden house the Night-walker's called their home. I gathered some clean clothes and hastily drew them on, shivering in the crisp air. I looked back at the one who had taken one of the few gifts I had had to offer a husband and threw one of the blankets over his naked body. I didn't know whether he could even get cold during the day but it made me feel slightly better.
I stoked the fire in the living room back into some form of life and went in search of food for myself. The supply in the small kitchen was low but there was enough to get a stew going on the fire I'd revived in the other room. I carried the pot with a chopping board and the vegetables in it, returning for a pot of water and the dried meat I had located in one of the cupboards. I then set to cutting vegetables and dropping them in the pot. It sure gave me plenty of time to think about my situation and what I could do about it.
From what I gathered, Leif; Chief Night-walker and drop dead gorgeous, had given me his blood as a healing draught when I was dying from an attack by Dire-wolves. It hadn't been willing and he made it clear he hadn't wanted me there. However, my drinking his blood had created a bond between us and we knew what each other were feeling. Things got interesting when unfiltered surges of desire had caused us to 'do the nasty' the previous night. Thinking of that nasty sent a shock-wave through me so sharp that I was left gasping for breath for a moment. I'd like to think it was more him than me but I also knew this was untrue, I was as curious about boys as the next girl and he just happened to be there. I was sure interested enough to keep my mind pondering over him as I chopped the carrots. My mind turned away from the contours of Leif's flesh and doubt began to creep in, not unlike the wind blowing in under the door. I didn't know where we could go, we were very different and I didn't know the second thing about Night-walker's. The first I had learnt a day or so ago; they didn't eat humans. But he had said I wasn't even human; I didn't even want to ponder that.
I looked around the small cabin and sighed. My family would be missing me and although Leif said he would get word to them I knew it would do little to relieve their fears. I knew I should go and see them but the snow, which incidentally was still falling, had blocked all the passes. I didn't know how the Night-walker's hunted in it and I wasn't sure I wanted to find out either. I heaved the last of the veggies into the pot and threw in the meat as well. I heard myself sigh and I returned the cooking utensils back to the kitchen and put them away after cleaning them. The room was cold and I know I didn't do the best job I could but I was eager to return to the fire. I looked around the room and noticed it was in a state so decided to clean it from top to bottom. I gathered some rags and set to it.
By the time I had finished I was parched and aching a bit but the room was almost gleaming. I poured myself some water and looked out the window at the falling snow, trying to let the hushed forest soothe me but I could still hear the nagging doubts in my mind. I turned my attention to the bookshelf and examined the titles a little more closely that I had before. A thought entered my mind as I spotted a book on Myths. I grabbed it and planted myself on one of the chairs in front of the fire. I scanned through it and found the section on Night-walkers. Smiling to myself I began to read.
"It's mostly lies you know." came a voice behind me.
"Name of the Eleven! Don't you know it's rude to sneak up on people!" I gasped.
"I didn't mean to startle you." the voice replied, I looked round and saw Loretta standing behind me.
"That's OK." I shrugged, "So, you mind telling me what you folks are all about?" I asked, "Seeing how I am learning nothing from here?"
Loretta smiled at me, her teeth white and perfect. She flicked a black braid out of her way and sat next to me. Her veil was made of a lacy black material and she was almost beautiful. There was something ethereal about her presence and I shifted slightly to make room for her. "I will tell you what I can." she said, "We don't eat people, nor do we have much association with humans. Not here in the forest anyway."
"Why?"
"You have seen us during the day." she replied.
"What exactly is that?"
"It's... hard to explain... it's how we sleep, like you do but it's more enforced." she said, waving her hands as she spoke. "I can't describe it any other way."
"What does it feel like?"
"The same as sleeping does for you I imagine, time passes, we're aware of it, but not at the same time. Sometimes there are pictures while we're in Harmony. Our skin greys and everything in our body stops until the sun sets." she explained.
"I think I understand." I nodded, not entirely sure but I had a better idea. "Is that the only reason you shun human-kind?" I asked.
"No. There are other creatures, human but not, who pose a threat to us as well as you."
"Such as?"
"The Vampire, we may have similar traits but they are all evil, preying on humans for sustenance and pleasure. They kill as they see fit, we only want to be left to hunt and do as we do."
"Is that where all the stories about Night-walker's come from then?" I asked, slowly becoming aware of others moving around behind me.
"It is a common misconception."Loretta said with a sad smile. "We are quite different and yet similar in some ways." she added, rising. "We can continue this conversation later if you wish. I have to hunt." I nodded and watched her stretch, cat-like but there was something far more dangerous about her than the farm cat. She shot me a look that I couldn't decipher before turning away from me. I looked down at the volume on my lap and I smiled, maybe I should have just asked!
I helped myself to some of the stew I had cooked and tried my best to think of nothing particular. I knew Leif was up and about because I could feel a slight tingling in the back of my mind. I wasn't sure if it had got stronger since the previous night or whether I was learning to recognise it. His feelings seemed to be associated with colours in my mind, at the moment he seemed content, which was a hazy orange. I focused on the colour and the bond and watched it changed to a yellow for excitement. I puzzled over this before realising he must be getting ready to hunt with his companions. "Not quite," I heard him say to me. I opened my eyes and say his intense blue ones looking down at me. I managed a weak smile and thought my own colour must be a deep red, like my cheeks.
