'Just put your hand out,' instructed Yakov, his voice filled with impatience. 'He won't hurt you.'

            Natalya stared up at the beast that towered over her. White whisps spurted from its nose, an irritable whinny accompanying them.

            'It's only a horse!'

She glared at Yakov. 'That's easy for you to say. He's about twice my height.'

'He's a grass eating lump. Put. Your. Hand. Out.'

Muttering under her breath, Natalya did as she was told, even as her heart fluttered in anticipation. She'd never been this close to a horse before. Of course, she had seen horses in town from time to time. But it grew rarer over the years. And none had ever come close to the size of this monstrosity.

Yuri stood at least eighteen hands high, whatever that meant, and had hooves that had to be the size of Natalya's own head. Although less grumpy than his owner, Yuri clearly didn't have to contend with strangers very often. Especially not in his paddock.

Tentatively, Natalya touched her palm to the pink of his muzzle. Even through her gloves, she could feel the warmth spread across her palm. Natalya huffed out an excited laugh through her smile, Yuri nuzzling into her hand.

'Give him this,' said Yakov as he thrust a carrot into her free hand.

Gripping the end, Natalya held the carrot out to her new friend, who gobbled it up in an excitable bite. Natalya was only just able to whisk her fingers to safety as the final crunch came.

'Try laying it flat on your palm next time. He's less likely to snatch.'

Indignant to his master's comment, Yuri threw his head to slam into Yakov's side.

'Hush,' barked Yakov, but consented to scratch his mane affectionately all the same.

So, it seemed Yakov could be soft for more than just his daughter.

Yakov patted Yuri's hind quarters to spur him back to his shelter, then turned his gaze on Natalya. 'He likes you.'

'Oh. Good.'

'You can look after him from now on. He needs feeding twice a day, and I change the hay every few days. He's clean, doesn't do his leavings in there that often.'

Horses shit in their bed?

Natalya must have looked utterly horrified because Yakov sighed. 'I'll show you how to do it all when it next needs doing.'

'Thank you.'

'Follow me.' He trudged away from the paddock, Natalya fixed close behind him. 'That's my workshop,' he said with a vague gesture to a small shed. 'You're not to go in there without me.'

'Then how will I help you build anything?' she asked as they stopped by the steps to the hut.

Yakov grabbed a bucket from the entrance way, and simply walked away without another word.

Trying her best to remain undeterred, Natalya followed him. They trailed the outer tree line of the forest but didn't venture inside. Natalya was grateful. The small section that had led her to Yakov's grove had been relatively sparse, flooded by plenty of light. In comparison, these trees seemed to huddle together, blocking the sunlight from its downward stretch. That new fathomless wilderness was shrouded in mystery, and Natalya wasn't quite ready to uncover it.

Yakov dipped into the trees, hurrying into the depths of the Taiga.

Her footfall suddenly halted, Natalya cleared her throat.

Turning back, Yakov eyed her. 'What?'

'Why are we going in there?'

'I'm showing you where we fetch water.'

'How far in is it?'

Yakov stood motionless for a moment. 'Are you afraid?'

The acknowledgement stood sharp on her tongue, but she battled the pain rather than let it loose.

Sighing, Yakov stalked back to her side. 'This is my way of life, Natalya Dmitryevna. It is wild, and wholly unpredictable.' He stepped closer to her, the musky scent of his furs encircling her. 'But I promise you, it is far safer than being in the village with that svolotsch.'

Natalya tried to stand taller. He was right, of course. She couldn't pin point why the forest troubled her so. Perhaps the weight of her new life was finally bearing too much for her to handle.

His dark eyes were just visible above his beard and below his hat. 'If you aren't up to this, then leave now. I am only going to teach you if you're willing.'

It only took a beat for Natalya to decide. 'Lead the way.'

With a firm nod, Yakov pushed on.

***

Natalya sat bolt upright, her brow drenched in sweat. The screaming rang in her ears like a shrill alarm, her name on Micha's lips garbled and pained.

She took a moment to calm herself and listened to the simmering fire beside her. Every crackle was a lure back to reality; to the present. Now she remembered where she was, glancing around Yakov's hut as a distraction. She couldn't see much in the dying light, the strange shapes of the furniture looming over her. She listened to see if she had woken Yakov; only the corner of his bed was visible from where she was. He didn't seem to stir.

Pulling her blanket tight around her, Natalya tended the fire. She managed to get another small flame going, pleased with herself that she remembered what Micha had taught her years ago. Then her heart grew heavy, his final words echoing in her mind. He haunted her dreams enough, but now her waking heart was filled with sorrow.

She needed fresh air.

Quickly, Natalya tugged on her boots and outer coat, then hurried outside. The wave of cold hit her immediately, her teeth chattering instantly. Determined, she simply burrowed into her coat and closed the door with a soft thud.

It was totally silent here. Only the rustling trees from the surrounding forest gave a hint of any form of life. Her breath burst in white clouds, floating into the darkness. Perhaps it should feel eery, and yet all that found her was serenity. Natalya's mouth hung open as she drew in a frozen breath, the crisp air dancing across her tongue before it slipped down her throat. It reminded her of the first day of snow when she was a child; when life felt a little more carefree. Ignorance and happiness often go hand in hand. She certainly appreciated this change of scenery though, even if her new found companion was a strange one.

Yakov seemed to savour his words, only giving a grunt or a nod to indicate when she had made a mistake or had done well. It was understandable why Irini thought them similar, though Natalya greatly resented the comparison.

Natalya dared to trudge a little further out, her boots crunching over the loose ground. Her steps were careful and measured, as though it were a bottomless icy lake beneath her feet. These felt like her first free steps into her new life. Happy with her spot, her gaze wandered to the sky.

She had never seen stars like these before. They were countless, all shining brightly across the dark canopy. It was the edge of the world here, and she and Yakov were the last two souls clinging on before a serene emptiness engulfed them. Her grandmother would love this; she'd say it healed her aching bones. Sasha too.

Pain seared across Natalya's chest, and she rubbed it with the flat of her palm to discourage it.

Maybe this is what Sasha was searching for when he had suggested Siberia. Maybe this is the world he had known through the war.

Perhaps he had seen the beauty in the wilderness, and simply wanted to return to it. He'd seemed happy when his letters came from the far reached of their country. Perhaps, he had no plan at all, and she gave him too much credit.

Did she wish he was here with her now? She wasn't sure. She thought her time for pining for him had passed many years ago, content to live in her memories. He had been a ghost to her so long before he died. Yet her final moments with him had restored a slither of hope. It should have crushed it dead. But she had seen him again; the young man with hazel eyes that had danced her into a frenzied freedom the day they met.

Natalya took in a final long, deep breath, filling her lungs with the smell of the cold night. Then she spun around to return to the fire.

Yakov sat outside his hut on a chair, smoking a pipe, watching her with interest.

Frozen, Natalya stared at him. Neither uttered a word for a long time, sizing up their opponent.

Finally, Natalya cleared her throat. 'How long have you been sitting there?'

'Well before you came out. You walked right past me.'

Natalya didn't say anything, simply looking at her feet. Had he heard her cry out in her sleep? Maybe she hadn't been loud... Her grandmother maintained her outbursts were only occasional, but she knew she had the dream every night.

She took a chance to glance up at him. He already avoided her gaze. It was clear that even if he had heard her, he wasn't inclined to discuss it.

'Why are you out here so late?' she asked.

'It's not for you to know.'

She huffed, resentful at being shut down. 'Are you coming back inside?'

'No.'

There was a long pause.

'Very well.' Trudging back into the house, Natalya let the door shut with a loud thud. She climbed back into her makeshift bed and looked to the fire once again.

            Yakov really was a bizarre man. He seemed to have a very strong moral compass, yet he cloaked it in the gruffest exterior she had ever encountered. She had seen him soften around Irini; there was no hiding the warmth or depth of his affection for his daughter. Yet he seemed angry at Natalya for looking too closely. Perhaps he was just very private, like Irini said. Or maybe he really was the wild man that Viktor made him out to be. She really couldn't tell after only one day.

Natalya thought about drifting off to sleep again, but she was too wound up from her dream. Instead, she lay there and waited for Yakov to return. Yet, a long time passed, and he never came back in. Where on earth was he? Had he frozen solid in his chair? Natalya didn't want to look and be accused of prying.

It must have been a good few hours before she heard footsteps descend on the hut. She had just began to doze again, but the opening door woke her. Instinctively, she glanced up, his shadow looming over her.

Yakov closed the door and removed his bigger coat. 'You're still awake.'

'Almost,' she said, her voice throaty. The unmistakable scent of a campfire clung to him, and something potent like alcohol. Had he been outside drinking? Why go somewhere else to do that?

Yakov sighed. 'Well, you need to sleep. We start our lessons in the morning.' He began to climb the steep steps to his bed.

'You're a fine one to talk,' she retorted.

Yakov paused. He stepped closer to her, Natalya now seeing his flushed face in the dimming light of the fire. He didn't appear angry... well, at least no more than usual.

'Best you not worry about me, my girl,' he said, his voice hushed. 'My heart is far lighter than yours.'

His words made crushing imprints on her chest.

Yakov gave her a nod before he climbed up the steps. 'Goodnight.'

'Goodnight.' She turned over and tried her best not to dwell on what insight he had into her heart.

Or her mind.