Enya watched as the boy groaned, peeling himself off the rough, hard ground. His purple hair hid his face, but his moans told Enya of his pain. Enya reached for her bag, pulling it up to her chest as her body crept away. Her eyes stayed fixed on the boy.

Hearing a flapping noise, much larger than any bird's, Enya froze. A moving, white beast glided down from the tree the boy fell from. It landed next to the boy.

Enya screamed, “Watch out!” The boy lifted his head at her words, his aqua eyes wide and his mouth agape. The beast growled, moving to stand before the boy. Its size covered the boy just enough, so Enya couldn't see him. Enya dug her knife out of her bag. The beast had the body of a fox and the wings of a hawk. It glared at Enya, its cool eyes almost matching its fur.

“It's okay, Belia,” the boy spoke. The beast looked behind and whimpered. “Come on, I'm okay.” The boy stood up, leaning his head against the beast's and stroking its ears. “Thank you for coming to check on me.” Enya stood shocked as the beast made a noise, as if to show its happiness.

The boy turned to look at Enya.

“Who are you?” he asked, defensive. Enya kept quiet, her gaze on the beast. “Hello? Who are you?”

Enya refused to budge, but she said, “Enya.”

The boy stepped forward, holding his hands up in surrender, and saying, “Oh, really? What a sweet name. Mine's Noah.”

Even though, Noah stood a single foot away, Enya didn't care. Her eyes went through him, to the beast siting on its hind legs, staring at her through narrowed eyes. Noah followed her gaze.

“That's Belia. She doesn't mean you any harm, I swear. Right, Belia?” Belia barked a short, quick noise and turned her head. “See? She could care less about you.”

I don't think that was what it meant, but whatever. Enya turned her gaze on Noah. “Why are you out here?”

“Huh?” Noah's eyes widened before he let out a soft chuckle. “I could ask you the same thing.”

In a firm tone, Enya said, “I'm going to live out here for a while. Now, what about you?” Noah scratched his cheek.

“I'm glad you said the same thing. It would have been embarrassing to be the only one. I'm living in that cave.” Noah pointed to Enya's winter home.

Enya huffed to herself, “Of course, you are.” Enya picked her bag off the floor and flung it onto her back, beginning to walk past Noah.

“Wait, where are you going?”

“Somewhere I can be alone.” Enya squeezed the strap of her bag. If I stay here any longer, I might endanger you, too.

At the sound of leaves crunching, Enya scanned their surroundings. Belia perked her ears and stared at a tree near the stream. Enya couldn't see anything, or anyone, but narrowed her eyes, feeling eyes on her.

“I need to go.” Enya picked up the pace and continued further into the forest, leaving Noah confused.

~

Enya searched and searched but couldn't find another cave, or any winter home for that matter. She huffed to herself, Guess I'll have to sleep in a tree again. I should find a way to cover myself up for the winter, though. Maybe a blanket of leaves? If I make it thick enough... No, maybe some fur.

Whatever, I have a few months to think about this. One month if I want to make that blanket in time.

Enya continued further into the forest, setting her efforts on finding a new stream. The one Noah lived by was on the left, so Enya curved her steps, heading more and more right.

Half a day went by before Enya found another stream, one a little bigger than Noah's, carrying a ton more fish. Hearing a growl nearby, Enya quickly climbed a tree. She looked down to see a young bear walking to the stream, nipping at the fish for dinner.

Enya waited for what seemed like an eternity before the bear caught a fish and trotted off.

Making sure the bear got far enough away, Enya climbed down the tree and sauntered up to the stream, sticking her hands inside the cool water. It caressed her skin.

I'll stay here for the night. It's already too late to keep moving, and if there are more animals around, who knows whether they're nocturnal? I'll move at daylight.