it was nice, traveling with @Antigone. the boy was thoughtful and informative. his questions were deep. sorcha began to make a game of how many smiles she could elicit from beneath his solemn red mask.
the days turned to weeks. the land warmed beneath the brimming sun. snow melted and grass took its place as king of all foliage, preparing for wildflowers, bees, butterflies. 
they hunted small game. once, sorcha had found the long-dead carcass of a fawn. that had fed them for a while, at least until a brown bear mother with cubs had come to claim it.
she was getting hungrier now. long travel and no feast had whittled her down to muscle and bone. the scent of deer drew her up the rise into a wide plateau. "how are you doing, anti," she whispered to her companion, worried that he was in the same condition as she.