Natalya trudged behind Yakov as they returned from the forest, the sound of their crunching footfall hovering over their silence. She kept her gaze on the ground, her mind consumed by thoughts of long ago as her icy breath danced around her.

Weeks had passed since her first foray in the forest, and each day she enjoyed her work more and more. Yet today, she was entirely despondent. Yakov had noticed and left her to the thoughts that consumed her.

Ekaterina had finally written back, Natalya infinitely grateful for word from her beloved grandmother after two months of silence. The glee was short lived. Amongst the care package she had sent was a collection of photographs. Natalya's apartment she shared with Sasha had been let to someone else. Ekaterina had only managed to salvage a few precious items, which included the photographs.

Natalya found herself staring at the one of her and Sasha more often than she cared to. Micha had taken it on his camera, the one he had spent years saving for. They were so happy when it was taken, both of them beaming. The Ferris-wheel was just visible, sparkling above them as they wrapped their arms around one another. Sasha was so handsome, the adoration in his gaze so beautiful and so missed. He had spent that entire day telling all of their friends how much he wanted to marry her. Natalya remembered that day so clearly.

It was before war had ruined them.

Yet it was the group photograph that truly hurt her. That ridiculous dissident group. Sasha and Boris had coerced Micha into taking it.

'Something to remind us of our glory in years to come,' Boris had said.

Mudak.

The elder Yelena was already dead at this point, Boris' wife run off somewhere. Andrei's wife refused to get into the photograph; she wanted no part in it, not for her or her children. She was smart. Natalya had only done it because Micha had asked her to. Sasha certainly hadn't wanted her there. She was sat at the front, cross legged beside Micha, little Yelena in her lap. Sasha stood far away from her, flanked by Boris and Andrei.

She was the only survivor from this photograph.

Natalya had always loathed this picture. It sat pride of place on their small table in their apartment. Probably to spite her. Every day she walked in and saw it, she was reminded of how empty they had all become.

As they reached the hut's clearing, strange voices carried to them. Yakov pushed Natalya behind him without a word. Two men came into view, Natalya peering round Yakov. It was Nikolai and Jan.

It was so odd to see them here, in the grove. They belonged far away from her sanctuary. Nikolai looked rougher than before, his black beard completely unkempt and his clothes dirty. His entire outfit seemed cobbled together from items others had discarded. Jan, in comparison, still seemed to be clinging to a life before Pikhtovka. He was still clean shaved, his blonde hair hidden beneath a hat. Even here in the nothingness of their exile, you could see two entirely different men with two entirely different backgrounds.

'They're some of the other convicts,' Natalya confirmed.

Yakov focused on them, his shoulders tensed in anticipation.

The two men soon spotted Yakov and halted their steps.

'Why are you trespassing on my land?' Yakov called.

Nikolai shoved Jan forward to speak. Jan adjusted himself and cleared his throat. He didn't seem to like his partner all that much. 'Avgust told us this was the only way into the forest.'

'He was wrong. Go and find another way,' Yakov instructed as he strode toward them with Natalya close behind.

'We need more fire wood,' explained Jan. 'This is the first time we've been sent to get it-'

'Yes because I usually supply it,' Yakov cut across, piercing them all with a hard stare. 'If Avgust wants more, he has only to ask.'

'He reckons you're too preoccupied with krol'chonok,' called Nikolai, pointing at Natalya.

Natalya hated his insinuation. Anger coursed through her as she stepped forward, an accusatory finger outstretched. 'Just because you're desperate for a belly warmer, doesn't mean everyone else is.'

Yakov caught her arm, tucking her under his.

'Who said I'm desperate?' Nikolai scoffed.

'Seemed it when you offered to share a bed with me!'

Jan had to restrain Nikolai.

'You ungrateful suka,' seethed Nikolai.

'Speak to her like that again and you'll have an axe in your neck,' Yakov warned as he pushed Natalya behind him again.

'We're just here for wood,' reiterated Jan imploringly.

'You can tell Avgust Georgievich that he's more than welcome to come and ask us for more himself,' Natalya called. 'That is, unless he's too afraid.'

'You need to watch your mouth,' spat Nikolai as Jan stopped him inching closer.

'Pass that exact message on,' instructed Yakov. 'You mudaki don't know what you're doing. We do. Idi na hui.'

'We have to-' began Jan, but Yakov pulled his smaller axe from his belt.

Natalya took a wary step back. She'd never considered that he might actually deliver on his threat.

'I will not have you hurt someone with your ignorance,' warned Yakov, using the axe to point at them both. 'Leave, before I make sure you never get that chance.'

The two men sized him up. Realising it was no use, they turned and fled.

Yakov slotted the axe back into his belt and simply strode into the hut. Natalya watched the intruders disappear, her heart hammering the entre time.

Would he have actually hurt them?

Unsure, she followed Yakov inside.

'Could you have hit him with the axe from that far away?' Natalya asked as Yakov got the fire going.

'Of course,' he replied. 'Throwing axes is a fun pass time.'

'Have you ever thrown it at a person before?'

As the fire sparked to life he slumped in his chair and smiled. 'Once or twice. Why do you think Avgust doesn't like coming here?'

Natalya stifled a surprised laugh. 'He doesn't have a gauge out of him though?'

'Lavra would have killed me if I'd actually hit him. It was more of a warning.'

'You said once or twice.'

'Fine. Several warnings.'

They smiled at one another, Natalya sinking onto her cushion on the floor. This had set her mid at rest. Yakov really was a bear; defensively vicious.

'It's nice to see your smile again.'

Natalya's cheeks flushed pink. Each day dragged more honesty from starikan. Perhaps he would share even more.

'Why wouldn't you let them into the woods?' Natalya scanned Yakov's unreadable expression. 'Is it really that they don't know what they're doing?'

'Partially,' huffed Yakov, smoothing his brow with the butt of his hand. 'I don't like the idea that they would be cutting down trees unsupervised. They could get themselves killed, and I can't be doing with that.' There was a pause. 'It's more that I don't want Avgust spying on me through them. I know that's what he's doing.'

'How do you know it's you? Perhaps it's me,' teased Natalya.

Yakov didn't laugh this time. 'That worries me even more. You've angered him, and he doesn't let things go-'

'I thought you liked that I put him in his place.'

'I do. But I don't trust him at all, devochka moya.' His gaze was hard, piercing Natalya's own. He'd never been so affectionate before. He looked at her like she was his own daughter, like Irini. Had his icy exterior really thawed so much? 'I don't want you getting hurt.'

There was a long silence.

'Who did he hurt before?'

Yakov's chest heaved and fell, the weight of the unspoken name seemingly pressed down on him. 'You're a smart girl. I think you already know.'

'Lavra.' The word barely escaped her clenched jaw. 'What did he do?'

He ground his teeth together. 'Irini doesn't know.'

'Then you don't have to tell me-'

'If I do then you might actually behave with a little more caution.' He let out a long sigh, pain and anger sweeping across his face in equal measure. 'Avgust and Lavra were engaged.'

'What?' screeched Natalya.

'I know. It's disgraceful. His parents pressured Lavra's into agreeing to the match.' His mouth twitched at the corner. 'Then I arrived in the village.'

'Have you not always lived here?'

Yakov shook his head. 'I preferred a nomadic life, like my mother's people. Reindeer herders. She'd settled in a village far east of here, married my father who was a local. But I carried on with her lifestyle and kept wandering, either working as a carpenter or healer, whatever was needed. Even after the revolution I was able to keep it up. Took longer for the Soviets to gain control of all these little villages.' He became pensive.

'And then you met Lavra?'

'And then I met Lavra. Zvezda moya.' He was almost wistful. 'She was uncommonly caring. And beautiful. But it's the way she was with people that struck me. I was used to healing people with my herbs, but she could do it just by being there.'

'Was she like Irini?' ventured Natalya. 'Irini has such a soothing presence.'

Yakov smiled at her with pride. 'I think there is something of the old world about you, you know. You see things everyone else misses.'

Natalya blushed again. She couldn't help but feel gleeful at the delight in his voice.

'Yes, she was like Irini.' He paused a moment. 'I begged zvezda moya to leave with me, but this was her home. She was so rooted here, and I wouldn't deny her anything. So I asked her to marry me and said I would stay with her.'

Biting her lip to contain a grin, Natalya shuffled closer to him. 'That doesn't sound like you at all.'

'She was special,' returned Yakov somewhat defensively. 'You only get one love like that in your life time.'

Silence engulfed them both, delight ebbing from Natalya as fast as it had arrived. She fiddled with her fingers to quell the sadness that rose in her throat.

Yakov sensed he had said something upsetting, so pressed on. 'Lavra wanted to be the one to tell Avgust her decision. She felt she owed him at least that.' His hands balled into fists, his knuckles dug into the arms of his chair.

'Is that when he hurt her?'

'He doesn't see it that way,' seethed Yakov. 'Filthy pervert. He maintains he was trying to reignite their love. As if forcing yourself on someone could do that.'

'He forced her to-'

'He didn't fully succeed, as Lavra put it. Not that that makes it any better in my opinion, but she insisted. As gentle as she was, my Lavra was still a fighter.'

'No wonder you threw several axes at him.'

'I wanted to do more than that,' grumbled Yakov, the anger rolling off him in waves. 'But she asked me not to hurt the feckless worm, so I didn't.'

'But he hurt her!'

'It would be her justice I was seeking. It wouldn't have been right for me to ignore her wishes and placate my own anger.' There was a long silence before Yakov continued. 'He is a spineless slabak who picks on those he knows he can dominate.' Their eyes locked. 'I know how strong you are, and it's clear he is wary of you. But he will use others to try to hurt you, like that Nikolai. And I am not always with you to look after you.'

Another silence.

'Teach me to throw axes, and I can protect myself.'

Yakov released a long breath, sizing her up. 'Very well,' he said, clambering back to his feet.

'Now?' she asked as he found more axes from his trunk.

'Yes, up you get.'

Natalya shot up, excited as Yakov shoved a weapon into her hands. She made to run outside, but he stopped her.

'You're going to come to the woods with me tonight.'

Natalya raised an eyebrow. 'On one of your late night adventures?'

Yakov simply nodded.

'Why?'

'It's time,' he murmured. Yakov cleared his throat, uncomfortable with the intimacy of the silence. 'Come on then, let's see what you've got.'

They headed back outside, Natalya's head buzzing with eager anticipation for the night ahead.