A stick snapped under Lily's foot.

'Hush!' I whispered.

'Sorry.'

'Shuttit.'

'Shutting up.'

I glared at her.

I was trying to stalk a deer. I had already caught two rabbits and a vole. Lily had caught a small bird.

'Oh for heavens sake, stay here will you?' I ran off without waiting for a answer, leaving her standing dejectedly in the trees. I found the deer quickly without Lily. I slid I knife into my hand slowly, and whipped my hand forward. Something had warned it that I was there and It darted off, and my knife hit a tree and fell to the ground. I cursed and quickly threw another, but it was to far away. I collected my knives and went back home, collecting Lily on the way.

When... after I learnt how to survive, I left the city and explored before I found this place. I built a small wooden cottage and started to allow myself to build a home to settle in. It is set in where the trees are thickest and it is concealed by bushes and brambles. it is near impossible to find it if you didn't know where it was. Several times I myself had walked past it. I tie a red ribbon around a branch near the entrance so I don't lose it. I dumped the carcasses by my used fire pit and looked at Lily.

'I don't suppose you know how to prepare a carcass for cooking?' I knew the answer before she said it.

'No.' I nodded, already getting out two skinning knives.

'But,' I looked up. 'I know how to cook and season meat, my mother was a butcher and father was a baker.' My eyebrows rose, and I felt a spark of hope. I was absolutely rubbish at cooking. Every attempt was inedible so I gave up.

'Really?!?' She laughed at my face. Still chuckling, she started to gather sticks and kindling.

'You know how to light a fire?' I was surprised, she wasn't a hunter or a fighter or a thief. Well, I speak a lie. She showed potential for fighting with a bow. Lily nodded. I put one skinning knife away and started to skin the three carcasses. I plucked the bird and Lily held out her hand for the meat. When she was making dinner I showed her my food supplies and went to finish doing the fire. I strode behind my home to where I built a small shelter to keep wood dry. I took two logs and a basket of sticks back and lit the fire. I gently blew on the flames and slowly fed the fire dry grass and twigs. I placed the ends of four long sticks in the fire and sat back to watch Lily as she worked. Her face was furrowed in concentration and her soft, pale hands flew busily as she sprinkled, chopped, wrapped and squeezed. I then took the sticks out of the fire and placed them around the fire.

The meat was placed on a grid made out of sticks and Lily was turning it every so often. I was hard on her, but I was getting fonder of her. She would learn fast, and would be helpful. I just had to be patient. I just wasn't a peoples person. Especially since the city and him... No! Happy place, happy place.

Dinner was the best meal I had eaten in a long time. The meat was bursting with different flavours and we had apple juice and apple stuffed bird for afters.

I split the straw of my bed in half and made a slightly smaller bed on the floor. It was a sqish. I had two beds, a small log for a table with a candle and a cardboard box with clothes, a satchel, a roughly carved wooden cup, a wooden plate, a hair brush and red ribbons. I had two thick blankets on my bed, and a sheet beneath it. I put my threadbare rug on the straw mattress that Lily would sleep on. I went back outside with the candle to light it from the fire. I put it on the log table and Collected the jug from behind my home. I would have to make it bigger if Lily was to stay. I filled it with icy water from a stream and sat by the fire, trying to get warmer. It was getting dark earlier now, it was nearly autumn.

'So, how did you become...a...uh...you know. This.'

'I didn't have you down as a telling stories around the fire type.'

'Oh, sorry.' I got the blankets from inside and hung them by the fire. They would be warm soon. Lily yawned.

'Time for bed soon I think. We have a long day tomorrow. We have to get you a spare set of clothes, a dress maybe. We will sell your fancy dress you have got,' I ignored her gasp, 'And some jewels I stole from a Lady passing through.' Despite my efforts a trace of bitterness and anger crept into my voice. Lily slid a sidelong glance in my direction. I checked the blankets, they were warm. I chucked the water on the fire, put the jug back and grabbed the blankets.

'Come on Lily!' I yelled/whispered. She rushed inside and I quickly closed the door and slid the bolt into place. Chucking one blanket to Lils, I jumped into bed with mine. I wrapped it around me, shutting out the nippy air. It wasn't As cold as outside in my home, but I wasn't the best builder, and there were a few gaps where the air snuck in.

I tucked Lily in, and went back to my bed, doing the same to myself. I blew out the candle and settled down to sleep.

'Thanks, you know.' Lily said, a odd not in her voice.

'For what?' Was my reply.

'Everything.'

And that was that. I heard her sigh contently and I knew that she had guts. Just how much I didn't know until it was to late.