I sit around the corner and set to work quickly skinning and gutting the rabbit. I cut off its head and use the tip of the knife to cut open its chest and stomach. I quietly eat the insides while pulling the skin off the meat. I pull it off the feet and then peek around the corner licking my lips, worried that they don't want it any more. I yelp when the oldest is right there, I fall back around the corner, and notice that he doesn't follow. I slowly approach the corner again and see that he's patiently waiting with a smile on his face, so I hand him the rabbit and knife and retreat once more around the corner.

“We didn’t mean to scare you,” he says gently. His voice is deep, and gentle, but where the youngest has a distinguished tone, he sounds more like a knight. The other two who I notice are crouched behind him agree while the youngest just grabs the rabbit and knife and starts cutting the meat into the pot. He seems to understand that I don't trust them and that his brothers won't listen, so he keeps his distance.

In a shaky and quiet voice, “What do you want?” I ask them. They pause before looking at each other and then back to me.

"We were looking for shelter and saw your cave, we mean no harm." the oldest says and I can see the black haired one stare at what he can see of me as if evaluating me.

“You can stay here until the storm passes.” I say, "But no longer," my voice untrusting and harsher than I meant. I can hear the youngest chuckle, while the older two go and glare at him. The blond water mage stays at the corner and continues to try and to talk to me.

“We are in your home, are we not?” he asks. He pauses like he’s waiting for an answer and I just stare at him. I can smell his discomfort and annoyance at being ignored by a woman. His voice gives away his pampered background and conniving habits. He continues, “Why don’t you come eat the rabbit you hunted with us? We are uninvited quests so you shouldn’t go out of your way to make us comfortable.” He says gently. If I couldn’t smell his irritation, I would have thought him almost sincere. Then he smiles and I can see that he's never been denied anything.

                                                          ***

"You can tell that from a smile?" I interrupt, catching the pillow this time.

"Yes, now shut up and just listen." she glares and I smirk but seal my lips.

                                                           ***

I smirk and turn back around the corner to sit on the wall, “I bet you could get an entire village of both demons and humans to fall for that little act you have there.” My voice is more confident now and portrays my obvious amusement that he thought he could win me over like that. I can hear the older three laugh while he grumbles and stalks back to his spot by the fire. Once they settle down, I ask the question that could determine friend or foe. “What are you guys doing so far into nowhere in the middle of Winter?” they all tense up and look at each other. They suddenly become wary and suspicious of me. I roll my eyes and wait for their answer.

“Why are you out here in the middle of nowhere?” asks the water mage. I smirk and struggle holding back a laugh. He asks that when he's sitting in the middle of my home.

They sit tensely waiting for my answer, “I live here.” I finally respond and the youngest snickers. I can tell that they don't like this answer and sigh, "My parents were threatened by the locals to get rid of me, before I grew any older." We sit in heavy silence for a moment.

"Why did they have to get rid of you?" asks the oldest and I can feel the understanding come from the youngest. He's probably kept his powers a secret from every one he knows to avoid my very situation.

"Reasons that may become obvious to you after you answer my question." My voice shuts down any further questions and I patiently wait for them to decide how or if they answer.

The youngest finally sighs, “We are searching for someone who can help us get our home back.” He says cryptically.