The full moon cast harsh shadows on the ground, dipping Gimma into a bright but cold tint. Embry squinted and slowly made his way over to the hunting party already assembled on the main square. The dry snow crunched under his feet, and he felt the ice-cold air filling his lungs.

The air smelled fresh and clean, but here, in the monastery, he could also smell the burning wood in some of the fireplaces and the animals in the stalls nearby. The faint yet sharp scent of thunder was also to be found, always wafting around the pages as they wandered around, fixing the last of the protective spells for the big hunt.

People murmured calmly, but the screeching sound of short swords getting a last test and knives slipping into sheaths, spears clacking and arrows tumbling around in their quivers meant the time for the nightly hunt was close.

Embry stared off into the darkness beyond the gates, thrumming with energy. After arriving in Gimma and finding a new home, he had bonded with another Page.

Berinn.

The Page had a sharp tongue and a cheeky grin, and his spark was strong. But after the Mage had caved to Berinn’s endless stream of seductive offers and let the Page into his bed, everything had been askew.

Embry’s magic felt more off-balance than before and even if he could concentrate more and didn’t blow up… things… he knew it wasn’t supposed to be like this.

And he didn’t know what it was, but his magic kept tangling around traces of a lingering, unfamiliar spark smelling so strongly of thunder that it didn’t fade immediately. Sometimes the Mage could smell it out in the cloister, in the middle of the night, and it made him WANT.

It drove him up the wall. Because he had a bond, but his magic was acting up and throwing a tantrum, and he felt so out of control.

A strong hand clapped Embry’s shoulder, pushing him involuntarily forward. He staggered but caught himself.

The man behind him laughed.

“Damn, Em. Are you sure you want to hunt with us? We don’t want to end up having to save you when a boar or a mean weasel attacks you.”

Embry straightened up. “Very funny.” He looked the other Mage over. “Does the wolf coat serve any purpose, or is it just to blend into a pack?”

Aik’s booming laugh echoed through the night. “It’s my good-luck charm. The first wolf I killed. And it keeps my back warm. Plus, the ladies and lads like it. Hopefully enough to keep me warm when we‘re back.” He waggled his eyebrows.

Embry sighed. After catching Aik in many situations with various people in different positions, he gave up on questioning Aik's taste in partners. “If that’s your only concern. What will you hunt tonight?”

Aik shrugged and scratched his chin. “I am not part of the chase with the nets, and traps aren’t my thing, so whatever crosses my path and is big enough will be fair game. And you?”

They slowly trudged towards the gate where more and more people spilt out into the darkness surrounding the monastery. “I want meat. Boar or deer, maybe?”

Aik nodded approvingly. “Sounds good. You know you have to present it to your Page?”

Embry groaned. “I know. He’s reminded me several times. Every single day. For weeks.”

“And no magic,” Aik reminded him.

“I know, I know.” It could interfere with spells and the magic of other Mages. Healing charms could be spoiled, and protection tokens made futile.

They passed through the main gate and received their torches from peasants, who smiled and wished them good luck. The residents were thrilled by the hunt. A wandering pack of wolves had already killed three young cows, and the farmers would be relieved to have the pack gone.

For most, the chance to eat game was also a welcome change from the sometimes bland winter diet, and the feast that followed the hunt was always highly anticipated by everyone.

Aik cracked his knuckles. “Let‘s go. I am so ready for a good kill.”

They stomped towards the trees, little glittering flakes falling from branches here and there. The snow would be soiled and red in the morning. Embry thought about how he missed hunting with his family, his mother kissing him goodbye and wishing him luck. And his heart ached for them.

Aik bumped his shoulder. “Thinking about Ûwila?”

The younger Mage kicked some snow and smiled at his friend. “Yeah. Father would have liked this. We ate more fish, and there wasn’t a lot of game to hunt. So every time we did hunt, it was a huge thing for everybody.” He sighed. “I really miss them. Everybody. Sometimes I see mundane things or hear a certain sound, and it reminds me of home. Before everything burned.”

Aik clicked his tongue. “I am sorry it happened. But I’m glad you‘re here.”

Embry huffed. “Yeah, me too.“ He tilted his head and stared into the trees. “Am I allowed to use Sight?”

Aik laughed. “Nah, no cheating! Though you have to show me how that shit works.”

They trudged deeper into the forest, listening for the other hunters and the occasional hollering and howling.

***

The moonlight was bright enough for Embry to see the herd of deer. They calmly stood in a little clearing, nibbling on branches and searching for acorns. The ears and heads went up here and there when they heard snow falling from the trees or little creaks and cracks. The other hunters were far away.

Embry tried hard to suppress Sight and concentrated on one doe he deemed perfect as an offering. He had been sitting for a while, his thundering heart slowly calming down enough to concentrate on the herd in front of him. He didn‘t dare get any closer, and he had only one shot.

He drew his bow, forcing the bowstring further backwards and praying the wood wouldn‘t make any noise when bent so much in the cold. The doe looked in his direction, still chewing, contemplating if the little rustling she heard was worth fleeing.

His magic hummed.

He shot.

***

The quarry was a warm weight on his shoulders when he made his way back to the monastery. He lumbered, mindful of his step so as not to slip or stumble. The doe was heavy, probably half Embry‘s weight, and he felt his footsteps growing heavier, sinking deeper into the snow when he left the woods.

He knew he should be tired, but the thrumming of the magic kept pushing him forward, dragging him back towards Gimma. He saw other hunters dragging their prizes back to the monastery. Though only game or foxes. The wolf hunt would probably take all night, chasing them through the woods and into the nets. Wolf meat had a foul tast,e so they‘d likely do the grim part of the work in the woods anyway.

Embry wheezed, the cold air starting to hurt his lungs. The Mage changed the position of the doe on his shoulders when he passed the gate, and people clapped, studying his catch approvingly.

Deer was something everybody liked to have on their plate, and a big, beautiful one like her was even better.

He slogged towards the fires burning in the middle of the main square, where the Pages, some peasants and other hunters were checking the spoils. Women and men happily presented their prizes and praised the hunters.

Embry huffed, stopped and looked up at the moon. This tradition was tiring. He was, nevertheless, looking forward to the preening face of his chosen one and all the praise he was about to get. He made his way over to the group and felt the tug getting stronger.

Just when he was about to reach them, the tug wrenched him away, dragging him in another direction.

Sight crawled back into his vision, brightening the darkness and bringing out the details hidden by the nightly shadows. He saw Aik, blood-soaked but proud in the midst of the group, grinning at him broadly. There was also Benji and Eva, who inspected the beast with wild, predatory eyes herself, and he bet she wished to be the one hunting in the woods.

And there was Berinn, who watched him with a cheeky grin, wanting to step forward.

But this wasn’t for him.

The words stuck in his throat, and Embry couldn’t get out the apology he was about to mumble as he passed his confused Page.

He heard Aro scolding Berinn, who was shouting, distressed by the public dismissal he had just received. Embry knew that would cost him later, but the magic tugged and dragged and hissed and urged him onwards. He passed the refectory and the great cellar. His knees started to give out, and he had to lean against the cold wall. He wanted to get rid of the doe and just close his eyes for a bit. The weight on his shoulders felt heavier with every step.

He looked up at the moon, still fairly high, and wondered why he couldn’t offer the doe to his Page.

He dragged himself closer to the garden of the monastery, wondering who his magic had picked to be worth the offering.