“Can you sit up?” Snow asked and with her other hand followed along Fasta’s arm to her shoulder to slip beneath it. “You can’t stay here in the cold.”

“You are too small and fragile to be of any help to me,” she complained through more tears.

Snow heard the disappointment and the tremble of fear that worsened in Fasta’s voice. “I am stronger than you think.” She lifted her back to help her sit up.

An anguished moan fell from Fasta’s lips as her head dropped forward. “Oh my God! Oh my God! I’m bleeding. The dwarfs, they’ve come for me.”

Snow was about to soothe her worries when she caught a blur rushing toward them and heard a cackle of laughter.

“We’ve come for you. We’ve come for you,” a high-pitched, cackling voice called out.

A blur circled them so fast or it was the swirling snow that made it seem that way and made it impossible for Snow to tell if one or more were present.

“Don’t let him get me, m’lady, please don’t let him get me,” Fasta begged, gripping Snow’s arm. “He’s ugly so ugly.” Fasta cried and pressed her face against Snow’s arm.

Snow responded out of instinct, yelling in a commanding tone, “Be gone with you. Your tricks will not work here.”

A face popped in front of hers and Snow startled more from the fact that she could make out a long, hooked nose and that her own nose wrinkled at the horrid scent when the creature spoke in a whispery cackle.

“We’re coming for you.”

Thaw’s distant bark could be heard and the creature vanished from in front of Snow’s face and she watched, scrunching her eyes, to see a blur scurry off in the snow.

Thaw was suddenly at her side and she heard him sniffing the air, catching the awful scent. Fearing he would give chase, she gave a sharp command, “Stay, Thaw!”

“What goes on here?” Tarass demanded, coming upon Fasta buried tight in his wife’s arms.

“Fasta is hurt. She needs help,” Snow said.

Tarass stopped abruptly when he saw the blood.

Nettle and Rannock followed close behind him and one look had Nettle crying out, “Good Lord, you’re soaked in blood.”

Fasta let loose with a howling weep, still clinging to Snow. “It was one of the dwarfs. He came for my blood.”

“Bless you, Lady Snow, bless you for defending one of us.”

“You are a brave soul, m’lady. Proud we are to have you.”

“You are a blessing to the clan.”