#if it's a huntsman yes you do have to shoo them out and I Struggle to do that half the time

[a-kind-of-truth]

The White Stag

“The White Stag,” her grandfather started, settled amongst the midst of his grandchildren. Most of them were eagerly listening, their eyes wide and mouths gaping. His grizzled face looked at each in turn, showing the mauled and mangled visage they knew so well. “Or as the hunters knew it, the Winter Storm.”

That had a few scooting closer to each other as the storm outside rattled the window shutters.

“It is a creature more myth than truth, as very few have seen and lived to tell of it. Even less have even thought to hunt the beast. But alas, there are always people willing to face impossible odds. For all sorts of reasons.”

He gestured with his hands, “Be it need, or greed.”

--------------------------

Anna stalked through the bushes, her heart beating quickly like a punch to the chest. She’d seen it. It. The White Stag with capital letters and all.

“I know you’re there.” The voice was harsh and as cold like when she had been warned by the Huntsman. Anna trembled. Was it just her or had it turned freezing all of a sudden? A woman turned around the tree and Anna almost felt her heart clench. Oh no, that was even worse. The woman glared down at her, her tugging downwards into a scowl.

“You’re…” The woman yelped when Anna grabbed her and pulled her down next to the tree. With a deftness born of urgency, she tossed a part of her cloak over the woman. Good thing too, the woman was wearing a dark blue that would have popped out against the snow. That and she was about as cold as the air outside of her little makeshift hiding spot.

The woman struggled, but Anna quickly looped arms around her, keeping her from escaping the confines of the cloak. “Shhh! The White Stag is about.”

“Is it?”

“Yes, now quiet.” The woman settled more comfortably by Anna. Anna for her part tried to ignore the woman despite the look she was giving her. She was being more sensible and trying to keep an ear out for the damn demon deer.

There was no movement, and even the wind had settled down. It almost hurt to wait, she really, really wanted to bolt into the snow and finish her errand as fast as possible. Time limit or not however, it was better to make sure the danger was away. Still, soon enough even caution couldn’t keep her still and she pulled away from the woman and stood up.

“I think we’re safe. Now hurry, if you go now you can make it to the village before night falls.”

“Oh?” The woman stood up, looking at Anna as she dug into her pack. “And where do you go?”

Anna held up her pick in explanation, “I have ice to get.”

“Pardon?”

“Ice. This late in summer the mountain is the only place you can find any. Now, the village is that way.” Anna didn’t bother to see if the woman took her advice. More determined to get as high and away from the deer’s stomping grounds as possible.

Anna needed to find a thoroughly frozen lake to get a chunk of ice the size she needed. It would have to be huge. Big enough to survive the travel back to the village. She had a small sled, and a fur to keep the sun off the chunk once she had it. Really though, that was only half of the challenge. Getting it down in time was the real issue.

“Why?” Anna choked, turning around. The woman was right behind her.

“I need it. Why else would I bother?” Anna pointed back towards the village, “Now shoo, it’s dangerous out here.”

That got her a frown.

“Why do you need it?” Anna turned away. Eventually the woman would get cold, give up and head down to the village. If not she could just… oh she didn’t know, strap her to the sled. That wouldn’t work, better to try and outpace her. The woman was following her easily, which was weird considering the snow and the branches and the fact the crazy woman was wearing a dress of all things in this altitude.

“You never told me your name.” If the woman was going to bother her then she better serve as entertainment.

“What?”

“Your name, mine is Anna Hunter and yours is?” The woman froze, then blinked. She was quiet long enough that Anna looked back, realizing that the woman was holding her sides. Then the woman started laughing, hard and long with the sort of laughter that Anna would have better described as insane.

“Ah, once I am free I am going to freeze that rock until it cracks into splinters and be done with it. In the end a ‘Hunter’ shall claim you indeed.”

Something butted against her back, pushing her forward. Flinching she noticed the woman was gone and in her place was an extraordinarily large white doe, looking about as disgruntled as a shapeshifting demon deer could.

“Come on, better to be done with all of this at last. We’ve an adventure to be on, redemption and a curse to lift.” It spoke in the woman's voice and she couldn’t do anything but obey. Not with the fear that suddenly rushed her veins. Then Anna thought of the village below and the fever. That had her squaring her shoulders and marching forward on hed own two feet.