A small boy was lost in the Wildes. He was thin and hunched over with fear. Sallow skin, and a once-broken leg. He wore a rough spun shirt and pants made of hide over his skinny frame. His golden hair was shredded, roughly shorn to his ears, and his face and hands covered in small cuts. Laboriously, he limped on with a bag across his back, and a small animal on his shoulder.

This was a place he didn’t know. It had never been charted, and only a few lived out here. The cripple boy was too afraid to ask for directions. Even when rain pattered down on his head, he didn’t approach the small farms he saw in the distance. He merely trudged on, tucking the creature in his shirt when it was too cold for her.

Days passed and the little food he had in the bag was gone. He knew where to find more, but…

The boy looked around and stifled a cough. This place was good. He’d held out so long, but his companion needed to eat. The both of them needed to eat. And sleep somewhere warmer than a tree hollow.

“……….” To the right lay a house, to the left; a barn. The blond shuddered and headed for the barn. The creature snuck under the door at his direction and soon the both of them were inside. Two stalls and a large stack of straw.

The blond fought back another cough, and searched for a bag of oats. He knew they’d be around somewhere. “Mrtmirt!” The creature chirped from somewhere behind him. There it was. He put the bag down and limped over. The boy opened it and poured out a handful of oats to the animal, staring at his own handful. He had to eat..

He nibbled one and suddenly he shoved the whole handful in. SNARF! RAFF! Handful after handful went into his mouth and he fell to his knees.

He gorged himself on the oats, so hungry he didn’t hear the man open the door behind him. The first he knew of it was a shadow fallen across the wall he was facing. Falling back in fright, the boy grabbed the creature and held her between him and the stranger as he scrabbled away.

“It’s alright, Ealfric. The crow told me you’d be coming this way. There’s good food and a warm bed inside for you and your friend.” A dark, soft voice spoke. The man put out his hands to either side, showing he meant no harm and had no weapons.

The man crouched and stopped moving. Making himself seem smaller.“My name is Hauvell and I promise I won’t hurt you intentionally.” The boy- Ealfric – shuffled back a little more, though he lowered the animal slightly. She squeaked and slashed one paw out. “ah- You want proof?”

Hauvell took a fruit from his pocket, showed it and had a bite. “See? Safe.” He held it back out to Ealfric. The creature in his hands sniffed it, then looked back at the boy. It was safe. Ealfric snatched it and bit greedily into the sharp smelling flesh.

An hour later he was curled up on a cot near the fireplace in the farmhouse. His bag was his pillow, and his stomach was full of hot stew. Ealfric wasn’t asleep, but he was resting. Hauvell smiled, let his curly brown hair out of its ponytail, and sat back in his chair. Ready for the long night’s watch.