A/N: As usual, I would recommend putting the video on loop.

On the other side of the door, the water path flowed into a larger stream. Snow covered the ground and fallen tree branches while the pines blocked out some of the night sky. The clouds overhead did well to hide most of the moon, giving them little light to go by. "I guess that we follow the stream," she muttered, not wishing to talk loudly in case there was some dangerous animal nearby or something else. Or, maybe, they would get lucky, and they would find the homes to be quite close to their current location. "Unless kelremm can walk in the snow," she continued softly.

"No, it may be another form of water, but it's not enough for a kelremm. The water has to be in liquid form. The only issue that concerns me is this mage. What if the mage could form a temporary stream to guide them to somewhere else?"

"Wouldn't that leave some effect on the terrain?"

"Yes, but it's been a few weeks since they've been here. More snow might've covered their tracks, but again that's just an overly cautious solution. If it's the case, we won't find out unless we camp out here, and I personally don't want to be so exposed in these woods."

"Then, let's follow the stream down some and set up a camp for us. We both need rest if we're to continue tomorrow." She received a simple nod from him, and they followed the stream. (F/n) had hopped onto the snow covered ground and was doing her best to avoid snapping any dried wood. Alerting something out there wouldn't do either of them any good. Her mind wasn't helping either since her imagination was recalling tales from childhood.

There was the tale of the snow pixies, who would lure humans into their homes at night. They would promise eternal gifts of warmth and food to lost souls. Once the human had walked into their snowy cave, they would be killed and served as a feast for the hungry creatures. It was a gruesome tale, but parents told it so that their children wouldn't wander off into the snow. She only hoped that it was a story and not based on an actual account. Of course, she wouldn't follow a snow pixie anywhere.

Once they couldn't see the wooden door, the two of them stopped. "We should be safe here for the night, but we should try to gather some of the twigs and needles to make a dry bed for ourselves. We can lay one of our cloaks over them, and we should do so under those branches. If it snows while we sleep, we'll want some cover for ourselves."

Agreeing with him, she started to brush away the snow in the area. Her hands weren't too fond of the work, but they would enjoy the warmer bed and makeshift blankets later. Of course, she didn't back too far into the woods because of her own fear and Tarhuinn telling her where to stop. If something were to surprise them and catch her, he wouldn't be able to make it far. Thankfully, he had handed her one of his daggers for protection against such a happening.

It felt comforting to have a weapon concealed safely on her. He had detached the sheath as well from the belt so that she could store it in one of her boots. She had placed it on the outer side of her right leg in such a manner that it wouldn't bother her too much when moving around. Granted, it still took some getting used to, yet it reminded her that if something did attack, she would be ready.

When they both had cleared away the snow, they put more nearby twigs and needles onto the bed. It would be softer than the stone that they had been sleeping on previously. If only it weren't so cold. Once it was finished, she reluctantly took off her cloak and laid it over the bed. Tarhuinn took off his as they both lay down. He draped it over them and allowed her to rest her head on his chest. Since they were out in the open, they had agreed to take shifts. For tonight, he would take the first one.

Due to her exhaustion, she fell asleep rather quickly. Tarhuinn combed his right fingers through her (h/c) locks, a light smile on his lips while he did so. He was quite pleased that she was growing accustomed to him, yet she would still become embarrassed about things that a husband and wife would normally do. It was adorable.

In some respects, he was grateful that she had convinced him to go on this journey. Not only would he possibly get more time with her but also he loved the expressions that she would bear on their travels. He had been smirking when they traveled through the area with the water pixies. Fear had been evident on her facial features, and she had understood that she could only rely on him for safety.

During her training session, she bore a look of determination, which he now admired. It had worried him at first, thinking that she might use it against him. After her guarantee that she would keep her promise to him, however, he knew that it would only serve him positively.

Before they had left the secret passage, she had even displayed a clear worry for his health. If they didn't have a limited supply of medical supplies, he would've had her rub salve on his back just so that he could feel her delicate hands glide over his skin. His memories of their last kiss filled his mind, and he instinctively trailed his fingers over to where his marks were. He pulled back at her shirts. A smirk tugged at his lips upon seeing them. When they healed, he would make sure to place another two on her.

His thoughts were pulled from such desires when a nearby snap alerted him. Carefully, he moved (f/n) off of him and rested her head on the bed. He sat up and had his left hand on one of his daggers. Tarhuinn glanced behind him and to where the sound came from. Peeking out from behind the tree were two glowing eyes. They reminded him of a pale full moon, but he made sure not to be distracted by them for long.

The creature, which they belonged to, began to advance slowly. Little white hands grasped the side of the tree trunk as thin strands of white hair fell down from its sickly looking head. Its parched lips parted to let a thin snake's tongue slither out. It moved its hands from the trunk to the ground, and its white tail carried it quicker across the snowy floor.

Tarhuinn by now unsheathed a dagger, preparing for its strike. It stopped a few feet away and raised its hands. "I don't wisssh to harm you. I only wisssh for a piece of that human there. A few ssstrandsss of her hair will do. They look ssso yummy. I haven't had human hair in ssso long. I'll leave you be otherwissse."

"Are there more of you nearby?" he asked, not letting up his grip on the blade.

"No, thisss isss my territory. If you go down further, you'll encounter more of usss, but we only come out at night. We mean no trouble, except to asssk of sssome deliciousss hair. It's nice to sssee human hair rather than jussst kelremm hair."

He didn't care for how the creature was looking at (f/n), but he controlled himself not to strike out. Who knows what he would alert if he did. Besides, this creature seemed to hold valuable information. "You've seen other kelremm out here? What did they look like?"

"I'll tell if you promissse me four ssstrandsss of her hair."

A glare set upon his countenance as his grip on the knife tightened more. He felt that he might crush the handle of the blade. "Fine," he practically spit out. Tarhuinn was disgusted with the trade, but this creature might know where Tergii and Bimaa went. "Now, answer my questions."

"I've ssseen three kelremm travel thisss part about once a month. They all wear white cloaksss, but the one unfortunately keepsss their head ssshaven. The other, with the hair to her kneesss, usssually sssuppliesss me with a few ssstrandsss. For the third, ssshe hasss jaw length hair and eyesss like the darkessst night sky. Unlike the firssst two, who are tall, she isss rather ssshort."

That was the same description that the trader had given them of Tergii and Bimaa. The third was presumably a mage, but this creature said that she was a kelremm. It wasn't possible for kelremm to have magic, though. At least, there were no accounts of such a thing. Had the members of the third complex known the mage to be a kelremm and just didn't tell him. Was that a secret they were forced to keep? Right now, it just wasn't adding up. "Did this third one cast magic at any point?"

"I'll need two more ssstrandss."

Almost, he lashed out at the creature. He glanced to (f/n) and found her to still be asleep. She had curled up into a ball to keep herself probably warmer. "Fine, you have a deal," he growled out as he motioned the creature to continue.

"I have heard the third dissscusss magic with the other two, but I have never ssseen her cassst any."

With the creature having kept its part of the bargain, Tarhuinn reluctantly reached over to his beloved and held onto six of her strands. This creature didn't deserve to touch any strand of her beautiful hair, but the consequence of breaking the promise might put her into more danger. That, he couldn't have. So, he plucked them from her head, earning her shifting quite a bit in her sleep. He handed the six strands over to the creature, who took them eagerly. It slithered off back into the forest while (f/n) rolled onto her stomach to get comfortable. Tarhuinn moved her to lie on his lap as he remained sitting up and alert for more things roaming in the night.