FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The sky was infinitely grey, only promising of continued snowfall. So much was falling that my sight was limited, especially in the forest I found myself in. The winds constantly caused naked branches to sway like fingers clutching at the sky. All of the northern trees were bare, except for the durable pines. Snow covered everything else like a heavy blanket. All of my thoughts secretly desired a warm fire and cozy room. My nose had long since become numb, but a strong exhale of cloudy breath reminded me that it was indeed still attached to my chilled face. Glancing to my right, the tracks of my own boots had mostly been covered since I had settled down close to a hillside. The frozen flakes were already one foot deep, and there was no sign it would stop anytime soon. I clutched my rifle and pursed my lips.

The untamed land of the large country sized island was harsh during winter. The stretch of coastline was mostly beautifully green grassland, and easier to live on. Less than a day's walk from any beachfront, dense hilly forests and valleys created tough to breach barriers. Furthermore, imposing mountains tucked most of the land away from any intrusion. Virtually untouched, the land was left to its native inhabitants, surrounded by myths and tales told by the few daring to explore. The reason I was here was very different. The difficult forests and mountains had a very prized species of deer found nowhere else. The Hochka deer was small, but stout. The taste of its cooked meat was savory, and valuable in its own right, but the most valuable prize was the pelt. During any season the different shades of brown fur, ranging from an off cream color to a deep beige, were envied by everyone. It was well worth the agonizing cold. How much? Let's say that after a few years I bought a small home in the northern most province where I was born, and built a cabin nestled in the foothills.

'How much longer should I wait?' I glanced around the hills. I had spent the entire morning searching for the best place to wait, but now the entire afternoon had expired. The tentative evening light wouldn't last long, but I was at a spot I had hunted before. The forested hills had several dips and troughs resembling miniature valleys that one could overlook. The weather wasn't boding well for my hunt, but I remained hopeful. All I needed was a deer to venture within my range and sights.

'Hm?' Looking down the long barrel of my hunting rifle, I could see movement. I blinked and tried to focus, but I could only see the swirling white of snow and woody texture of trees.

"What was that?" Lowering my weapon, I looked around but didn't see anything except for snow and trees. The white scenery seemed to blur and distort my vision simultaneously. Nothing was there.

'I could've sworn something was there...' Not content with feeling paranoid, I returned my attention to the distant trough of the valley. 'Do not lose focus.' I concentrated on a tree before looking around. There was nothing to see except for the heavy snowfall all around me. The cold silence was deafening. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that something or someone was out there... watching me. Any vast section of untamed wilderness provoked that feeling. The lack of anything manmade within miles of the endless trees seemed alien to me at first. Only during my third winter season of hunting out here did I ever feel any sense of familiarity with the land.

'I wonder how nice this place looks after the start of spring.' A scene of vivid earthly colors seemed impossible through the heavy snow and bare trees. Warmer weather was tempting me, but there was a more important reason why I hunted during the frigid and dangerous time of year. Without the white backdrop of snow and leafless trees, the elusive brown deer would've been impossible to spot. Bears that hunted the deer were busy hibernating during the winter. There was also the issue of becoming lost in the untamed wilderness. Winter was the unlikeliest, but best opportunity to hunt for the valuable deer.

I took a deep breath of cold air and stopped daydreaming. My eyes darted into the distance. Far away, behind the cover of snow and trees, a brown shape was moving through the opposing hillside of snow. I stirred into action. 'They're here.' I crept up and moved to another tree where I could see better. I had staved off the bitter cold and deepening snow for this opportunity. Peering down my sights, I watched a small herd filing along the top of the neighboring ridge. The numerous trees made the view patchy at best, but all I had to do was wait and hope for one of them to come close enough into a small opening. A full minute ticked by like an hour, but my wish was granted. One deer meandered halfway down the hillside. None of the foliage was in my way. My sights were clear. This was the moment! Blood rushing, I took aim. Squeezing the trigger created a loud thunderous bang. The entire herd spooked at the sudden and loud noise. They scattered back up the hillside, except for one. That deer tumbled down the snowy slope until it reached the bottom.

"I got it!" White foggy breath escaped my mouth. I quickly slung the rifle over my shoulder and hurried down the snowy embankments. I jumped over the small creek snaking down the lowest points of the trough. I slowed to a walk and caught my breath as I trudged through the accumulating snow. The deer already had a thin layer of snow covering its motionless body.

'I can bring it back to the cabin to have the pelt skinned, meat quartered and dried, and have everything ready in just a week or two...' My mind jumped ahead to the future. I quickly went to work only to realize that I was facing a dilemma. I wasn't going to be able to drag the fully grown deer back down into the valley, up again, and all the way to my cabin. I was left with two choices. Should I return to my cabin empty handed, nearly an hour's walk through the blinding snow, and hope that the deer remains untouched? Would I even be able to find it in the snow? Or should I try dragging it back and prepare to build a shelter before nightfall? I didn't like either option.

'Think...' Frustration burned at me. Movement suddenly caught my attention, and I froze. Looking up, I was easily startled by someone who was my size.

"Ah!" I jumped to my feet. I found myself standing face to face with an arctic being. A very human like person! A black nose jutted out from a furry muzzle of pure white. Small triangular ears topped an undoubtedly canine face.

'An arctic wolf.' I realized who and what I was staring at. Roughly my height, the anthropomorphic canine was from a semi-nomadic hunter gatherer tribe that inhabited the harsh winter environment. Other than scant tales, I knew very little about the wolf people of the hidden land. I had never even seen one before.

The wolf standing before me was decidedly female. Her chest had two small, but noticeable breasts covered completely in white fur, like snow covered hills. She didn't wear clothes from what I could tell, not that she needed to. The fur on any animal in this cold region could handle the bitter cold, and her thick winter coat of fluffy fur likely kept her body much warmer than my own clothes could. Long white hair running from the back of her head blew in the cold snowy breeze as my echo faded. She tensed up from my loud reaction, but didn't flee or bare her fangs at me. I realized how much worse everything could've turned out.

"Sorry." I managed to speak. "You scared me..." My voice tapered off as I watched her ears move to the sound of my voice. A clawed finger pointed at me. I felt a chill rise on my skin for a brief second.

"Por'chita?" She spoke with an eye on my rifle. That word could've been the native equivalent of hunting, or not.

"Yes? Por'chita." I noticed her stare had settled onto my rifle. I held up my rifle, and the worrying chill left me. I had forgotten that I was protected from any unwanted aggression.

"Hotcka... Yumenda ni'tchit." She motioned to the fallen deer.

"Um..." I looked at her, unsure of what to say. "I hunted the deer."

"Men'litchna... You human?" She pointed far down the snow covered valley where I lived during the winter hunting season. The two words were choppy at best through her thick canine accent, but decipherable.

"Yes." I nodded and motioned to myself. She or her tribe must have seen humans before. Despite the harsh terrain and inhospitable winters, I wasn't the only one risking to venture across the straits to hunt here.

"I can't get there." I said and waved towards my cabin. Her ears and head moved curiously at what I had spoken. I wish I could've spoken and understood enough of her native language to communicate better, but there was a possibility we had enough to understand basic essentials. Anything else was out of my grasp.

"Masenyuk." She waved a hand towards her.

"Huh?"

"Masenyuk... Nithni." She pointed up the hillside and then to me and the fallen deer. The wolf motioned carrying the heavy deer.

"Carry it?" I motioned to the deer. Her ears moved forward in what reminded me of a nod. There seemed to be some understanding between us as they snow fell. She appeared friendly, and I was in a dire strait. There was also some excitement about meeting a tribal wolf. Maybe my predicament had turned into an odd opportunity?

"Ok." I nodded and stood at one end of the deer. She quickly approached. The arctic wolf picked up the deer's hind legs and I held up the front legs. She led me uphill through the thickening snow. I was glad to be walking within arms reach of her. Because of her fur coat, I had the feeling she could disappear if I looked away for a mere second. It was a little spooky knowing that she would easily be able to slip away and reappear, just like a ghost. I followed the best that I could otherwise. The wind rattled the naked trees, sending the heavy snowfall into a blinding wind. Shielding my face, I trudged ahead. My thoughts returned to the elusive moments prior to shooting the deer.

'Was she the thing I couldn't find earlier?' I wondered how long she had been watching me before deciding to reveal herself. 'No wonder I couldn't find her.' I felt chills form on my skin. How long had she been watching me? Clambering further up the hillside, we reached a small flat space before reaching the top of the ridge. It was a welcome relief for my legs, and I caught my breath. The tribal wolf paused and looked around.

"Menenum." She put down her side of the deer and walked away.

"Wait. Hold on!" I watched her walk through the blinding snow only to lose sight of her. She had simply vanished! 'Is she going to leave me here?!' I worried and dragged the deer towards the spot where she had disappeared. Setting my fresh kill down, I was surrounded by towering trees and standing in roughly a foot of snow.

"Hello?" I looked around before following the path she made through the snow. The few steps led to a steep hillside, and something else I wasn't expecting. 'A hole?' It appeared so natural, as if carved by Mother Nature herself, but it was too convenient. A shadow inside worried me, and I reached for my rifle. I openly sighed with relief when a familiar canine head poked out. Brown eyes stared up at me before disappearing back into the shelter. A clear invitation, all I had to do was accept it, or endure the cold on my own. A cold wind cut right through my coat and scattered snow around me.

"I guess I am staying with her for now, and whoever else might be inside." I decided and approached the entrance. I bent over and crawled inside the dark passage. The biting wind faded and my eyes quickly adjusted to the dim lighting.

"Wow." It was a small hollow in the side of the hill big enough for a small tight group to weather any storm. Numerous pelts of various animals covered the ground ranging from squirrel to beaver, but none of them were deer pelts. Tribal ornaments decorated the dimly lit walls. Feathers, tanned hides, and other materials made directly from nature were evident. In the center was a fire pit with only a few smoldering flames crackling. In all, it was a little cozy shelter to endure the rough northern region's weather. Rustling and movement caught my attention. Across from me, the arctic wolf was kneeling beside the fire pit. She quickly went to work and rekindled the low flames, bringing them back to life. The entire den was aglow in soft oranges and red of firelight. It was only the two of us inside. The lack of hunting equipment mad eye doubt that she actually lived here all alone. She must've been waiting to reunite with her tribe, but was trapped in the storm as well.

I started taking off my thick coat when a voice interrupted me.

"Human." The arctic wolf spoke. Her mysterious voice had a slight echo within the shelter. "Unhee." She motioned to a pair of animal pelts at the back of the shelter, near the fire.

"I don't want to get your stuff wet." I pointed to my coat where the snow had melted into little droplets. Her ears swiveled and moved at the sound of my voice, but she seemed to understand why I didn't move. The space quickly warmed up to my surprise. Any lingering snow quickly melted. I rubbed my hands and face as warmth returned to my limbs. Breathing in, I could smell pine needles, soft earthiness of the ground, as well as the fire. My nose then wrinkled. There was definitely a canine smell that was hers, but something else made me think. The second smell in the air was heavy and confused my nose. Although I was just happy that I could smell anything. The cold had made my nose numb for over an hour.

"Thank you for allowing me inside here. I would've had a difficult walk home through this blizzard." I realized that she had saved me from getting caught up the the terrible weather alone. She looked at me with a silent gaze. "Um. Thank you." I flashed a smile. 'She cannot understand what I say.' I reminded myself. The arctic wolf flicked her tail and shuffled to the wall with a heavy sigh. The time slowly ticked by. From the corner of my eye I noticed that her tail would move irregularly. Sometimes hands and paws flexed and grasped as if agitated. I didn't pay much attention to what she was doing. It was too difficult to communicate complex thoughts to her, and I wanted to think about bringing the deer to my cabin as soon as the snowstorm passed. I watched the fire and daydreamed contently.

'I think I will be able to sleep here through the night.' I thought and pet one of the pelts.

"Grrr..." A soft throaty growl broke my train of thought. My eyes snapped up from the pelt and fire pit. The arctic wolf's demeanor had completely changed from before. She had dropped onto her hands and knees. Her ears were flat against her head, and her jaws had parted revealing numerous white teeth. Claws gripped at the ground with force. Her eyes were tightly shut. The expression on her canine face was tough to read, but she had suddenly appeared aggressive. The growls continued erratically, overpowering the blistering winds from outside, filling the hidden chamber with grumbling. I curled myself up defensively, not wanting to move too much. She seemed completely oblivious to me. Reaching over, I realized that my weapon was out of arm's reach. I hoped that I wouldn't have to use it in self defense.

'Am I trapped here as a guest, or a prisoner?' I briefly worried that I had trusted her all too readily. My lack of understanding had suddenly put me in a dangerous place. Would I be able to overpower her if necessary? All I could was was watch from across the fire. She bared her teeth at the ground angrily and softly growled. The sound sent a chill down my spine. She was acting like a wild beast!

"What the..." I noticed that her hand was tightly wedged between her thighs. My ears detected the muffle sound of movement. She had ceased growling and was lightly panting. The bizarre scene suddenly made sense. I knew that heat was a powerful force in wild animals, but did it affect the native wolves as well?

'Is that really happening to her?' I had no idea, and I knew so little about the native wolves of the land. When the wolf's eyes opened, her gaze settled on me. 'Uh oh.' I froze. My worry and concern turned into embarrassment. Shadows against the walls moved as she quickly approached and sat down beside me. I was too afraid to move. A needy hand touched me. Her grip held onto my shirt like a vise.

"Ochapa tenathu... Hassnetch'ni." Her voice seemed to plead despite an evident throaty growl. She motioned with a hand just above her groin. "Ochapa..." She groaned, hoping to make more sense to me. While she spoke, her hand dipped and rubbed between her legs.

"This is... I don't know..." I glanced away, unknowingly leaving myself open. Her body pushed onto me and I felt a damp nose touch my cheek. An odd wetness touched me as I realized she was licking me.

"Hold on... Easy!" I tried inching back only for her tongue to dart faster against my face. Her body leaned forward and bumped into mine, threatening to topple me over. I knew I would've been her prey in one sense if that happened. I grabbed ahold of her and she managed to stop the assaulting affection. Through the glow of the firelight I could see the need and desperation in her eyes. My gut felt twisted about the whole situation, especially at what I was about to say.

"If I am going to do what you want, then we might as well do this together." I rubbed her arm. She was easily strong enough to overpower me, and have her way. I didn't want to be her enemy through an entire sleepless night and fight. Her tail wagged at the tone of my voice and her hands grabbed at my clothes. She was more than happy to remove my clothes without knowing how.

"Hey! Wait... I'll get that." I fended off furry, claw bearing hands from pulling and tugging. Gradually, I managed to strip down without too much interference. She drew closer to my side as I pulled my shirt over my head. As soon as I tossed it aside the arctic wolf leaned against me. The softness and warmth of fur was a welcome sensation against my skin. Her hands didn't jerk or roughly grasp at me, but instead carefully held me like I was a fragile vase to her. It was an odd embrace, but I felt that she needed it nonetheless. The arctic wolf's head leaned forward and began licking my face again, but this time she was very gentle and loving. The smooth appendage glided across my skin like a warm kiss. The affection was odd but well intended. I placed an arm around the wolf's back and lightly rubbed her.

"Iss'anyu hanyatch... Iss'anyu hanyatch..." She spoke, repeating the words several times. I wasn't sure if she was thanking me, apologizing, or saying a prayer for the both of us. The arctic wolf settled atop my leg, and my eyes widened. I immediately felt a burning heat on my skin. I tried looking down, but her muzzle brushed against my chin. I could not see, but I felt her hips softly and deliberately grind against my leg, letting me know what I was in for. Admittedly, being a guy, thinking about sex was enough for me to be prepared despite the situation. In an instant my length found itself buried in her soft fur, right where she wanted me. Trapping it with a leathery palmed hand, the wolf stroked me tenderly. My hips rose on instinct.

"Ohh..." That felt better than I wanted to admit.

"Sa'ate." The canine hummed happily and released my rigid member. She pressed against my chest with her hands, urging me to recline.

"Just a sec." I laid down as she requested, and two hands planted beside my head. Gazing up, I could see the arctic wolf looming over me on all fours. I readied myself and watched with great anticipation. She rose up and leaned back a little. Downy fur touched me before a hand helped. She guided herself, taking me inside. I held my breath feeling her slide down until she settled atop me. All I could see was her thick fur, resembling fire and ice from the firelight, but the other sensations I felt were overpowering. The vise-like heat surrounding me burned with a primal ache, and I could feel everything through her now. Her desire and need for intimacy pulsated through our physical connection.

She began rolling her hips. I clenched my teeth and drew a shaky breath before meeting her halfway. She yipped when our hips bumped together, and redoubled her efforts. It only took her a few moments before she reached her plateau and fully reacted.

"Ahhh. Hha!" A delighted cry of unbridled passion filled the humble shelter. She was trembling atop me. Her claws dug into the pelt I was laying on. She shuddered before crying out.

"Aaahawoooooh!" Her voice turned into an odd howl of pleasure that echoed inside the tiny chamber. It resembled the winter winds outside, scaring me and thrilling me at once. I stared up at her with wide eyes.

"Are you ok-?" I asked despite knowing she wouldn't understand. A hand was immediately placed on my chest to keep my laying back. The arctic wolf resumed grinding only to stop and shiver. She opened her eyes after a few more heavy breaths. Her lips moved, whispering something that I couldn't hear.

"M'pechne... Human." She whispered and craned her neck down to me.

"Nnggh." I felt my length move inside her. Propping herself onto her arms, she stopped just shy of laying on top of me. Her nose was an inch from my face, but my once chilled skin could feel the faint whisper of a breath waft onto me. Whiskers teased me, but it was only a distraction. I was completely unprepared when her body resumed grinding against me. I moaned and began matching her movements. The arctic beauty didn't cease or tire this time. I felt my cheeks flush, and heart leap as pleasure built up inside me. She was coaxing me to give into her desire. I grabbed her rear wishing it would last forever, but the wonderful sensations came to an end all too soon. With an exaggerated grunt, it was over. For that brief moment I wasn't inside a hill weathering a snowstorm. She rocked slowly feeling me finish, accentuating every second of pure bliss. My own deep breaths filled my ears. I didn't have any words to say as I went limp.

The wolf lowered herself and laid on top of me. I didn't know what to expect through the dizzying pleasure as her muzzle lowered, inching closer to my face. Would it be a bite or a kiss? I barely noticed a flicker of pink slip past her lips through the firelight. I grunted contently feeling a soft tongue gently lap at my throat and chin. I held onto the arctic wolf and ran my hands through her thick winter coat, reveling in its softness. Every moment, touch, and breath was united. We were experiencing the exact same feelings, sensations, and closeness together. The arctic beauty only gradually removed herself from my arms, leaving a warm pocket of air between our upper bodies. She sat back up and firmly placed both hands on my chest, canine fingers splayed. Claw tips barely touched my skin, desiring me to stay put. The arctic wolf patiently sat atop me, lightly panting, waiting for me to be ready again. I gingerly pet her hips and legs.

'This is going to be a long night.' I looked past the beautiful canine lady towards the crackling fire, still burning hot.

It was still dark, but everything was quiet. There were no howling, icy winds or even birds chirping. I wouldn't have known that we endured a snowstorm through the night together. I could still hear her passionate throaty growls in my thoughts like echoing dreams. Her grip on me had loosened, whether it was her hands or legs, I wasn't too sure. She was laying on me, like a blanket covering me, resting her pretty head on my chest. The only sound I could hear was her soft breathing. The arctic wolf was unbelievably soft and warm. My hands were somewhere on her back, buried in her fur. The furry body of the winter dwelling canine was so thick and invitingly warm, I never wanted to be removed from its sensations. However, there was something more that remained beyond the afterglow. The sense of companionship radiated through me like sunlight, but it was still dark. My eyes closed again as I fell back asleep to the peaceful sounds of her breathing.

I awoke again from a pleasant slumber. I was still naked, but my coat had been placed over me like a blanket. The sensation of furry pelts beneath me stirred my mind.

'Huh?' My eyes shot open only to find emptiness. 'What time is it?' Blinking, I looked around the den, half expecting a clock to be within reach. I wasn't in my cabin. The air was cooler than I remembered. I could see that the fire had burned out, but the morning light filled the shelter with golden hues. I sat up only to breath a quick exhale. 'Sore...' I felt many muscles resist my sudden movement, but that reminded me of someone.

'Where did she go?' The arctic wolf had disappeared. I was all alone in her little shelter. A few strands of fur and hair remained in my skin, but there were no signs of where she went. 'Did she leave?' The thought made me worry. Grabbing my coat, I covered myself and crawled to the shelter's opening. My aches made the short journey cumbersome as I found myself touching cooler, bare ground. Shielding my eyes, I peeked outside. The cold bit at my uncovered skin, but it was harmless compared to yesterday's blistering winds. It had ceased snowing. Lingering clouds allowed plenty of sunshine to reveal the forested hills covered in thick snow. Everything appeared peacefully frozen in time.

My gaze dropped and found fresh paw prints leading out from the shelter. Following their path through the snow, I finally noticed a familiar figure. The arctic wolf was standing outside in the cold, and it was a beautiful sight. Partially disguised from all the snow, she appeared to possess a magical power of appearing wherever she wanted. Standing upright, she was facing the sun with closed eyes. The thought of sunbathing after a snowstorm seemed ridiculous to me, but she had the body to do it. The look on her face seemed so... satisfied? Maybe it was more relief, but I could not decipher her canine body language. I gripped the coat tightly around me and stood up.

"Hey." I spoke up, and her head snapped towards me.

"Henee! Henee!" The wolf quickly hurried over and ushered me back inside. I sat down on the pelts and she immediately joined me. Our sides were completely touching. We were both completely naked, although she had a warm coat of fur. I didn't mind the warmth and soft contact from her anymore. It was a wonderful feeling when it was freezing outside. Looking closer to our sides, I saw where her fur mingled with my skin. Her front resembled a wall of fur to me. The thick winter coat was anything but human, but she wasn't that different compared to me.

The arctic wolf was equally curious about me. Her ears were facing me with full attention while she looked over me in the sunlight. Unlike last night, she was completely calm and reserved. The desperation in her eyes had been replaced with softness. I could see that her eyes were a soft brown, like the peaty earth. The long hair, claws, and fur... She was wild like the wilderness in every sense, but kind, gentle, and very beautiful at the same time.

"So..." I didn't know what to say about everything. There was a mix of giddiness and bashfulness inside me. "We, uh, about last night..." I didn't know what words to use since we could barely understand each other. Her ears fell back from the tone of my voice. There was a sense of guilt and apprehension in her beautiful eyes. They mirrored my own feelings.

"Letuiva mas'etchni." Her triangular ears move up again, but she remained unsure. I grinned and grabbed ahold of her hand. A smile formed along her black lined lips. The large padded hand intertwined with mine. The leathery warmth contrasted with that of her fur, but I liked it the same. She leaned closer, and I felt her cool black nose brush against my cheek. Little chill bumps formed where her nose touched. Her other hand held my shoulder as she gently licked me. I did not resist and liked the little affectionate gesture. Her broad tongue was warm and smooth. The pleasant swipes caused me to lean into her touch.

"Hmmmrrr." A playful growl stirred within her throat. She suddenly slumped over me, pressing her cheek against mine, threatening to topple me over. I held onto her trying to remain upright. She was strong!

"I'm sore!" I weakly laughed at the straining within my muscles. She nibbled my ear and sat down, but her arms loosely held me in a loose hug. "Your mouth does all of the talking, but not always with words." I lightly rubbed the top of her muzzle before retracting my hand. Her playful mood subsided as her eyes intently stared at me.

"Human... Ame Hovkenmu." She spoke in her wild tongue. I knew there was some deeper meaning behind her words, but I couldn't give my wildest guess to what she meant. Glancing around the little shelter, the arctic wolf appeared to search for something.

"H'enik yuva. Hmm. Nenyik yuva." She looked and motioned towards the empty fire.

"Of course I can make a fire!" I had no honest clue what she had just said, but I had the oddest desire to impress her. The wolf giggled in an odd canine raspy voice

"Ne. Ne!" She pulled my hands back, but held onto one.

"Huh?" I watched as she placed my hand onto her chest, directly over her heart. The fluffy fur on her chest was warm, but she didn't stop there. She reached towards me and placed her own hand over my heart. I glanced down at the canine-human hand. Aside from the fur, it looked a lot like a human hand, albeit somewhat bulkier. Its claws protruding out touched my flesh without harm, and the leathery palm pads were very warm against my skin. A pair of soft brown eyes watched me without a word. The whole act of touching one another was bizarre, but her gaze never left mine. I could feel something. My heart was beating. Could she feel it? I touched the top of her hand with my free one.

"Passu'chinvuk... Human." She whispered. "Yuva utu envenk." The fire, our hearts, and the connection all meant something that I couldn't understand without words I knew. After a few more moments she released her hands from me. My hand shifted to the side and touched one of her breasts. She didn't seem to mind in the slightest, and reached back to comb through her hair. I lightly rubbed over it. The breast was soft and supple with the added sensation of fur. There was a small bump of flesh in the middle that was hidden from view.

"You're so soft." I retracted my hand wishing she would understand. Her ears shifted at the sound of my voice, but she didn't say anything in return. She reached over and handed my clothes to me. "Oh! Thank you!" I had completely forgotten about them since I was with her. She curiously watched me put my clothes on. Her nose smelled a few articles but she didn't interfere. When I finished, she placed a necklace over my head. The ornament on the end was a little wheel shape made of wood holding a small stone in its center.

"Oh. Thank you." I didn't know what to make of the odd item, but I could feel its sacredness in my hand like a weight. She smiled and touched my cheek. I couldn't help myself from grinning at the leathery warmth gracing my skin. The arctic beauty crept towards the entrance on all fours. I hastily followed when she glanced back at me. I grabbed my rifle and exited the hut. Standing upright, I emerged with a much needed stretch. The cold air felt foreign against my skin after the long night and pleasant morning. I felt completely different.

'Is this what love at first sight feels like?' I thought to myself. I wasn't sure what to make of my emotions. I looked back at the dead deer that I had shot yesterday. It was frozen and would likely remain so in the snow. Yesterday morning I had embarked with the sole purpose of killing a deer and dragging it back to my cabin. Then I would prepare it for a high buyer across the straits where I lived, only to return again next winter. Glancing up I saw the arctic wolf standing in the snow to my right, watching and waiting for me. To my left was the deer. I had a choice: to follow her, or to immediately return home. A burning curiosity filled my soul like the morning sunshine. I wanted to know who she was, and why everything had happened. The language barrier between us was leaving many more questions unanswered than answered.

Her tail wagged as I walked towards her.

"Monsothen'yu... Human." She held out a hand. I gladly grasped hands with her before being led further into the snow covered hills. The nearly two feet of snow was difficult to trudge through uphill, but manageable. I stayed close, fearing that she would disappear. She guided me through the forest of pines, elms, ash, and oak trees. The silent stillness was broken only by the sound of breathing and our footsteps. The landscape never seemed to change in its untouched beauty, but apparently not everything was untouched. Along the snow covered path, a tree close by caught my attention. The face of the trunk had been altered by hand. The bark had been stripped away in one section, and the wood itself had been carved into the image of a wolf. I had never seen anything like it before. It wasn't the only one. Many of the trees ahead of us had similar features. The trunks had sections where bark was completely stripped away, revealing carved faces resembling wolves. I only paused for a second to stare at the strange handiwork before keeping pace with the arctic wolf.

'Is this a graveyard or spiritual place?' I had no idea. The land leveled off as we reached a plateau. She stopped as we emerged from the tree line. I looked at her and wondered what was going to happen. Her head craned up towards the sunny sky.

"Awooohhohohoh." Her howl echoed into the chilly air. Scarcely a second had passed before we heard a reply in kind.

"Awoo!"

"Awoohoh." There were a few howls responding back. Her tail wagged as a renewed smile emerged along her muzzle. She looked at me and pointed ahead before eagerly leading me through the snowy plain. I could see several primitive styled huts along the plateau. They were made primarily of wood and bark. It was a small native village. As we approached, I could see canine inhabitants against the snowy village backdrop. Several wolves rushed out to greet us. Clouds of snow erupted into the air as they ran. Unlike the naked female wolf I was with, they were dressed in furs tied around their waists, chests, limbs, or covering their backs. That made them easy to see. Not all of them had pure white fur coats. One had light hints of grey and another light golden yellows in the upper back. Lengthy hair was braided and adorned with feathers or strips of leather.

They met her with hugs, open mouths of excitement, and wagging tails. However, I was met with hesitant curiosity. They smelled the air around me, and some prodded my clothes. The words they spoke in their language blurred around me like a gust of wind.

"Anshu ney'kunyu." The female arctic wolf shooed them away from bothering me. Some raced ahead into the village, barking wildly about our arrival. The others walked with us back to the village. Their tongues were quick to ask many questions that I couldn't begin to understand, let alone answer.

The village was in a flurry of activity from our arrival. Most of the snow had been mashed down from heavy paw traffic.. Everyone stopped whatever they were doing. Younger pups playing in the snow even stopped to watch me. Warriors and hunters of durable stature watched with hardened eyes. There were no modern weapons to be seen. Only bows, axes, and spears were visible. In order to survive the regions harsh winters, one had to be strong. The mothers carried infants in cradle boards on their backs. Clearly well fed to care for their young, they were pudgier and appeared stockier with heavier winter coats. However, they were no less athletic than their male counterparts.

"Human." The female wolf I had stayed with spoke to me. "Matchenyu..." She placed a hand on my chest. She then abruptly walked away . The group walking with us came between us.

"Hey, where are you going?" I was cut off from her. One wolf approached me.

"Hello. Human tongue." The wolf pointed to his mouth and then mine. My eyes widened.

"I can understand you!"

"I can speak for you." He nodded with a grin.

"How do you know what I'm saying?"

"I spent two seasons with a few humans along shore. We fished." The coast was miles away, but I didn't doubt his survival skills to walk several miles across the changing landscape.

"The wolf I was with all night... Why was she all alone?" I had to ask. The interpreter went to work and answered my question.

"Female wolves go through Hassnetch'ni." He explained.

"What does that mean?"

"The fertile time."

"Heat?" I guessed. His ears swiveled at my word.

"During this time, an unmarried wolf will hide in shelter. Others search for her between a hunt to become her mate. A catch is offered as a dowry." The explained the lengthy process with the simplest of phrases. "She chose and accepted you." He pointed to the necklace she had given me.

"Oh." I felt the necklace's rock between my gloved fingers. "What is she doing now?"

"Preparing." He simply stated. "Ritual."

"For what?" The wolf didn't seem to understand my question.

"You need to talk to someone." He motioned for me to follow. Unsure, I walked with him. Half a dozen other wolves tailed us, following at a short distance. "The chieftain wants to speak with you. He has heard of what happened."

'Already?' I thought. Word traveled fast in a village of less than one hundred. "What is happening?"

"Council deciding what happens. No human come here before. No human mate wolf before. Let's enter." I couldn't help but notice all of the large paw prints in the snow as we went inside.

'It feels like I'm somewhere unreal.' I had never imagined that one day I would enter a village full of wolves in the middle of winter. Upon entering the large hut, I felt as if I had instead entered an entirely different world. The large hut's walls were adorned with large antlers, decorated skulls, odd colored pelts, old brittle weapons, as well as useful tools. A small hand drum made from stretched hide bore a unique pattern painted onto its surface. Lowering my gaze from the walls, five tribal figures that comprised the village council were seated in front of me in a semicircle around a dormant fire pit. The first wolf was male and had a typical snowy white coat. The second was female arctic wolf and wore a cloth around her chest. On the other end was not an arctic wolf, but a male Samoyed dressed simply with buckskin garments. Beside him was a male arctic wolf with some light brown hues along his sides and stomach. The wolf in the middle was their chief. His long hair was adorned with numerous snow owl feathers giving him a grand appearance that made me speechless. If the arctic wolf I was with could disappear into the snow, then could he turn into a bird or fly?

"Sit here." The translating arctic wolf whispered and directed me to a cushioned pelt. I was more than happy to sit down and rest after last night's events, and hiking through the snow covered hills. The smell of an odd smoke made my head buzz. The source of the odd smoke was a large bone pipe resting in his hand. Smoke blew out of his mouth and nose as he calmly exhaled.

"Human!" The chief bellowed. "Matenassa..." He began to ramble off several words while gesturing to each wolf seated around him. The translator was quick to say their names in my language.

"Yellow Branches, Wide Step, Pleasant Skies, Lightning Shield, and chief Pathayooskoo... Thunder Bearer." He finished with the imposing wolf seated in the center. All of their names were fitting of their physical prowess.

"Denhuk'kyu mentun roura atchil, human." Despite the verbal barrier between us, the chieftain's strong gaze never wavered from mine.

"He wants to know what you think about her."

"Um." I took a breath and thought about last night and the morning. "I know very little about her, but she is very loving and caring." I looked around the seated group of wolves. "She is the first wolf I have ever seen, and I was afraid of her at first." The translator worked to convey everything that I had said. "She can disappear in the snow too." I added. The translator laughed with a raspy canine voice before quickly deciphering for the others. The hut filled with laughter for a brief moment. While Pathayooskoo thought and whispered to the female wolf beside him, I suddenly felt stupid for not asking a certain question.

"What is her name?" I asked my translator. "The female wolf I stayed with."

"Ohakapi." He said before translating the meaning. "Snow beauty."

"Ohakapi..." I said the word. I wish I had known it earlier.

"Human!" The chieftain drew my my entire attention back to him. "Nemitsu'kunde nenk suomuo."

"She will stay with you." The chieftain baffled me.

"Stay... with me?" I blinked in surprise and quickly turned my attention to the translator. "What? It was only for one night..." I said, but the wolf shook his head.

"Very sacred happening." His gaze was stern like the chief's.

"I meant to say that... I mean... I live miles away in a cabin for a short time!" I didn't understand how any of this was possible.

"No." The wolf shook his head. "She will stay with you." He reiterated. "You are part of sacred ceremony." He touched the necklace that Snow Beauty had given to me at the shelter. "You will bring good fortune to Snow Beauty, her family, and the tribe."

"So I need to understand this..." I began to ask the translator. "Am I marrying her?"

"Mar-ree?" The wolf's ears splayed out at the funny word.

"You said something about a dowry earlier. What does that mean?"

"You two become mates." He meshed his fingers together. "Begin family."

"Family?" I immediately felt nervous. "But I can't understand her, and she can't understand me." I said and gestured to the translator who conveyed my words.

"Mathayuska nesh inyuk tenekapoloyo." The wolf pointed to his ears and then placed a hand over his chest as well as the female wolf who was seated beside him.

"Your ears do not, but your hearts do. He placed his hand on his mate's heart to show you" The translator said as chief Pathayooskoo continued. "He has also heard good things about you, and everyone is pleased to hear this." A few more words were spoken between the chieftain and the translator.

"What did he say?"

"We can go now." He told me, and quickly pulled me to the hut's entrance.

"Wait! My legs are sore." I had difficulty getting up suddenly. The translator laughed, and I could hear the seated wolves behind me holding back their own laughter. But there was no time to rest when we were outside. The wolves waiting outside asked the bilingual wolf several questions. He quickly chattered back at them and tugged me along through the snow.

"I am taking you to her father's hut for his blessing." He spoke. I followed the wolf to another, humbler hut. "Wait here." He said before quickly entering. One of the wolves who had followed prodded my shoulder.

"Human?" The young male tilted his head, unsure what to make of my coat.

"Um. Hello" I didn't know what to say.

"Hamya'ha?"

"You may come inside!" A head poke out of the hut before darting back in. It took a few moments, but I managed to kneel down and crawl inside the small home. Seated on a pelt was an arctic wolf. Owl feathers adorned his long unbraided white hair. Her father had a white coat of fur, but with hints of a pale golden yellow on his shoulders and neck. He wore a loincloth made from beaver and armbands of squirrel fur. Without a word he held out a hand and gave something to the translator.

"A parting gift for you and your new mate." The translator quickly explained and handed the mysterious item to me. "Wear it and have more successful hunts."

"Thank you." I looked at the item dropped into my hands. It was an arrowhead of bone. Little etchings were carved into its surface in swirling patterns representing the wind. I didn't want to lose it.

"He only has a few things to say to you." The translator said. I nodded.

"Ohakapi." The male spoke, and everything he said was told to me.

"She is strong," he tapped his sides, "and very smart." Both of those claims were very true to my understanding.

"Ton'kyou num." Her father told me with a stoic face. I turned to the interpreter for some advice, however little it may be.

"Mutual care... He say care for her and she care for you." The translator elaborated.

"Yes." I promised. The father smiled and waved a hand for us to leave. We promptly left and returned outside. The translator took me to the edge of the village, close to where several others were gathered around a nearby hut. There were several murmurs of approval as a figure emerged.

'It's her!' I recognized he female arctic wolf, however, I almost didn't as she approached me. This time the white furred wolf wasn't naked, but dressed in tribal garb. A buckskin loincloth draped to her knees, however, she was still topless. She carried a bow in one hand a bag made of buckskin slung over her back in another. A quiver strap ran from her shoulder to her hip. Her hair was beautifully combed with two braids. The rest flowed freely. The winter coat of white fur had been keenly groomed to the point of appearing silky. Her dark lips were curled into a little smile along her muzzle, but her pretty brown eyes smiled like sunlight. Her name, Snow Beauty, made perfect sense. The small crowd followed her. Standing before me, she smiled without saying a word.

"You're beautiful." I quietly spoke. Her ears turned and the translator quickly told her what I meant. She leaned forward and licked my cheek lovingly. The crowd parted as her father emerged, tugging along a small sled through the snow, but what it was carrying stunned me.

"What is all of this?" I was baffled.

"Pelts." The translator was quick to answer. There was no doubt in my mind. They were valuable Hochka deer pelts. It was enough for a small fortune. I could've fallen over in the snow and woke up from this dream, but it wasn't a dream in the slightest. Her father spoke something that I didn't understand, but it made his daughter's ears fold back bashfully.

"What did he say?" I asked the translator.

"Each pelt is for every healthy child you two will raise." He said.

'Two, four, six...' I counted only to realize there were a lot, and the deeper meaning of what he said suddenly dawned onto me. "Oohhh... Wow." I rubbed the back of my head. Ohakapi held my hand and smiled brightly. 'I think I will be living at my cabin most of the year now.' I thought to myself. Honestly, it was all bizarre. There would be a lot changes, but that wasn't a bad thing. Looking at her, I couldn't help but smile. Her happiness was contagious.

"Ready?" I said and the translator quickly conveyed my word.

"Mm." She nodded and we took out first steps together through the snow...

End