“Call out often so I can make out where you are,” he yelled over the howling wind.

Her side hurt and her breathing was a challenge, the swirling snow and wind quickly robbing her of breath when she spoke. But she fought back against the storm, remembering why her mum had named her Snow. She had told her the delicate snow was also a force that could conquer the strongest of men.

“Tarass!” she called out again and did so again and again until it echoed in her head like a litany. She was about to call out his name again when she realized he’d been silent and fear soared in her and had her yelling out, “Tarass, are you there? Tarass?”

“I’m here,” he called out, sounding closer to her.

“Don’t leave me,” she said, for only herself to hear and feeling foolish for sounding so cowardly. But with the terrifying fall and her precarious hold on the sapling, and not able to see anything, she silently admitted that she needed Tarass. Without him, she wouldn’t survive.

“Never would I leave you,” came the strong voice and a solid arm coiled tightly around her waist. “Put your arms around my neck.”

His warm breath fanned her neck and a tingle of relief washed through her. She didn’t hesitate, didn’t think to argue, didn’t think it might be unwise to do as he said. She did something unexpected… she trusted him.

She let go of the sapling and wrapped her arms around his neck.

He pressed his cheek to hers, his lips near her ear. “Keep hold of me. Even if we should slip, keep hold of me.”

“Aye,” she said with a nod and held on, praying all would go well for them.

It was a slow ascent with only one slight slip. It made her realize the immense strength he possessed, holding her firm with one arm while using his axe in his other hand to dig into the snow-covered earth after his feet found firm footing. And so it went slow and steady until they reached the top, a barking Thaw greeting her as Tarass hoisted her up and over the edge to collapse in the snow.

Thaw didn’t waste any time showering her face with sloppy licks.

Tarass followed soon after, though didn’t collapse in the snow. He was on his feet and he reached down, his hands slipping under Snow’s arms, and lifted her to her feet.

“We need to get to the safety of the cottage,” he said, pulling her hood up over her head.

She needed to alert him to possible danger, her words rushing out of her mouth. “Someone grabbed me.” He stood so close that she felt him tense.

“The cottage,” he said and went to take a step.