In the woods – Blizzard night
The wind howled. A biting cold whipped the trees, whipping up the snow in swirls of icy needles.
Under this sky saturated with snowflakes, something disturbed nature: the walking of an animal.
His footsteps sank deep into the fresh powder, immediately covered by a new gust.
The creature looked like a wolf—but a wolf with four eyes, pure white fur blending into the landscape, and footprints slightly too large to belong to any known animal.
He squatted down near a small frozen river, closer to a large puddle, and began to drink.
---
A few places — A chalet engulfed in snow
Through the white veil, only a rectangular shape could be distinguished: an old rustic chalet, almost completely buried.
Inside, the fireplace enveloped the room in orange warmth.
In an armchair, a huge man, motionless, contemplated the flames.
Behind him, in the shadows where the light did not reach, stood a little girl. Her fragile figure contrasted with her silent presence.
His stomach growled.
Girl: — I'm hungry. When does the food arrive?
Sir: — When you have brought back the food to prepare, of course.
The girl tenses up.
Girl: — This thing is almost impossible to spot... let alone capture. It's almost a mission impossible.
Sir: — You said "almost". You are full of resources. You will get there.
He gave a smile.
And then I have already reached the level where I no longer need food to survive. I just eat it because it's delicious. This is not your case yet. So go hunting.
She pouted, visibly upset.
Girl: — You know that I can't lie…
Sir: — Yes. That's why you are my little goddess of truth. Cute, but unable to tell a lie without breaking down.
His eyes changed. Less childish. Heavier.
Sir: — And now, remind me of the rules. You chose to live here. You accepted my laws to escape your little hell. So: the rules of food?
The girl clenched her fists, melancholy, angry.
Girl: — Your meal, your choice.
Your meal, your property.
You earn your meal.
You work before you feed yourself.
Your meal is your reward.
Monsieur: — And what about hunting?
Girl: — Hunting is an instinct. Your first prey, whatever it may be, becomes your only prey in this forest.
Hunting is an art. Like an artist, you must pay precision and attention. Never rush. Unless you're not a real hunter...
Sir: — I know you didn't hunt. You wanted to avoid training. But it will take place. Even hungry.
As soon as the last word was spoken, the girl had already disappeared, running outside with her bow in hand.
In the snow, she thought:
[How dare he remind me of this place... these kids' rooms... I'm going to explode... ]
---
The Hunt — Blizzard Night
The wind became a storm.
The girl finally spotted the creature.
[Its fur blends in too well with the snow... But the wind tells me its position. The traces too. ]
She drew her bow.
An arrow flew through the storm, charged with energy and pure anger.
The four-eyed wolf collapsed.
But before it reached its prey, a flash: the beast burned cleanly, as if reduced to ashes.
Footsteps were approaching.
Three figures emerged from the blizzard: Jude, Jule, and Lucie.
---
The confrontation
Jude: — From cursed illegitimate girl to wild girl... for others it would be a disgrace, but you...
Jule: — This place is your real home, little pest. Illegitimate children, abominations like you, sully the nobility.
Lucie: — If you are here, in this frozen desert, it is to die. The world will be better off without a waste like you.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
Just one.
Jude: — You do well to cry, you nameless vermin.
Jule: — I understand why we abandoned you.
Lucie: — Ask your mother for forgiveness—
The sentence was never finished.
A breath.
A vibration.
Then silence.
The bodies fell to the ground, cut into absurd fragments—as if someone had tried to slice meat without knowing how.
The girl smiled. An empty, icy, emotionless smile.
Girl: — Poor fools… It wasn't for me that I was crying. But I only managed to squeeze out one tear.
---
Return to the chalet
As the snow began to fall again, she dragged the pieces back to the chalet.
Upon entering:
Girl: — I brought sushi. Do you want some?
Sir: — Dragons no longer eat humans since they live in harmony with us.
Girl (insistent): — But… no one will know. Please.