The place where Thorfinn lived was close to the Fist of the First Men and was a small village with few inhabitants. Such settlements were not unusual among the Free Folk, but Thorfinn's family lived in a more remote area, both to avoid trouble and to make it easier for Raynard to go hunting.
Darie had many admirers, and in the early days, she worried a lot about avoiding these zealous suitors. But after she and Raynard got together, the suitors gradually disappeared due to the Free Folk tradition, and Darie has been able to live in peace ever since.
Raynard led them out this time, heading north, away from the Fist of the First Men. After walking a considerable distance to the north, the spot where Raynard had found the Shadowcat was just ahead. Only when he truly reached the destination did Thorfinn realize that his cheap old man's stamina was truly astonishing.
To be able to carry a pony-sized Shadowcat such a long distance showed extraordinary physical strength. Raynard's bear-like physique was clearly earned. Thorfinn was already breathless reaching this point. His younger brother was slightly better than him but was also drenched in sweat.
Orrik belatedly asked, "Father brought the Shadowcat back from here?"
Raynard, not understanding the meaning, asked, "What's wrong?"
Orrik looked at his father's puzzled expression and didn't quite know what to say. They were already very, very far from home. Orrik could only blurt out, "Nothing!"
Thorfinn, however, knew what Orrik wanted to say. Roughly estimating, they were already nearly 9 miles from home. Furthermore, walking through the mountains, the three of them had already spent over four hours on the journey. Raynard had carried hundreds of pounds of weight back over such a distance. What a beastly physique!
Thorfinn couldn't help but wonder. Raynard was so strong, and from his words, his fighting power was not weak. Why was he unknown among the Wildlings in the original story? Thorfinn couldn't figure it out. After much thought, perhaps the Raynard family in the original timeline tragically encountered the Others.
Only such a magical creature could have injured that "Snow Bear"!
Thorfinn looked at his father, truly envying his strength. One day, I will also become a powerhouse like him, Thorfinn secretly vowed.
Raynard returned to the spot where he found the Shadowcat and, after carefully observing the area, said, "It's a good thing the wind and snow haven't been too heavy recently, so the beast's tracks haven't been completely covered... Plus, there's the blood trail from its injury. We can backtrack, following these clues to find where it came from.
"However, we are looking for its den. As Darie said, it's a female Shadowcat. When an animal is injured, it has an instinct to return to its den unless it is trying to lead enemies away to protect its young...
"Especially now, most Shadowcats are raising their young, which means that by following the direction this big fellow was heading, we are highly likely to find its den."
Raynard's seasoned experience showed he was an expert. Thorfinn and Orrik listened intently, trying to remember this valuable advice from their father.
Raynard continued to educate them: "Shadowcats are solitary animals. Adult Shadowcats have their own territories. They usually roam alone, and the male and female only live together during the breeding season. After giving birth, the mother Shadowcat takes the kittens and raises them alone, separate from the male."
Thorfinn listened carefully, while Orrik, full of curiosity, asked a barrage of questions. Although they were childish, Raynard patiently answered each one and provided good instruction. Raynard was always like this; he was always patient and especially gentle with his family.
The three kept searching various caves. Most were empty. Some contained suitable prey, but Raynard didn't act on them. He had to consider Thorfinn and Orrik. He wouldn't forget that the main purpose of bringing Thorfinn and Orrik out this time was to gain experience. Teaching them wilderness survival skills and common sense was his primary task.
Each time, he avoided taking risks, and after confirming the cave did not belong to the Shadowcat, he would lead Thorfinn and Orrik away. All along the way, he was sharing various pieces of knowledge, some simple yet very useful, mostly based on experience.
Lunch was eaten on the mountain. They ate the dried meat Darie had made, soaking the tough dried meat in water to soften it before eating.
They did not light a fire; they didn't want to take chances. Lighting a fire in the wild is a big matter. It easily exposes your location, and if there are enemies around, lighting a fire is tantamount to seeking death. However, if one must spend the night in the wild, without a sufficient source of heat, it would be a dead end.
Therefore, lighting a fire must be done with extreme caution.
Thorfinn nodded in agreement with what Raynard said. Eating a simple meal was fine, and they had water with them to quench their thirst, so the fire was not strictly necessary.
Orrik couldn't help but wonder, "But Father, few Crows ever come this way! If we don't have those enemies, what's wrong with lighting a fire?"
Thorfinn couldn't help but frown and say, "The Free Folk are not a unified whole. There are the Thenns, the Styr folk, Giants, and smaller tribes. While they might not have major conflicts day-to-day, small skirmishes are definitely common."
Raynard smiled. "Orrik, you're too naive! Thorfinn is right, there is no absolute safety. Even encountering your own people can be dangerous. Our enemies aren't just those Crows in black; danger can also come from within."
Thorfinn felt truly enlightened. Although his father seemed simple-minded in some aspects, he was never careless when it came to survival and daily life. This blend of toughness and meticulousness truly had a unique charm. No wonder his mother fell for his old man.
After a simple lunch and a short rest, the three continued their search for caves.
The work was not only tedious but also involved a great deal of walking. However, their efforts were not in vain. Finally, Raynard spotted familiar paw prints and fur, confirming the Shadowcat's den.
Thorfinn and Orrik, full of anticipation, followed Raynard toward the cave to investigate. They hid first and threw stones to test the waters, checking if the large creature was inside. Finally, after hearing a few weak cries, the three entered the cave.
The sight that greeted them was three starving little kittens, adorable, fluffy creatures decorated with black stripes and spots, simply irresistible. Thorfinn and Orrik couldn't resist the temptation and excitedly picked up one each to pet.
The Shadowcat kittens were very hungry and desperately looking for food. Although they had already grown tiny teeth, it was clearly not yet time for them to eat meat. Thorfinn and Orrik were completely helpless; they had no milk. They could only turn to Raynard for help.
Raynard was also a bit resigned. "How about we hurry back? Even though they are hungry, they aren't so weak that they'll die immediately. If we walk fast and get home, they'll have a chance to drink ewe's milk. One of our ewes is still giving milk."
Thorfinn and Orrik understood that this was the best option, so they immediately set off for home.
On the way back, Thorfinn and Orrik found themselves slowing down, each clutching a precious kitten in their arms. Raynard, of course, carried one as well. On the way back, Raynard watched his two sons panting as they sped up, and he had to watch over them even more carefully.
This is good. Free Folk children should run through the mountains more. That way, they will be strong enough when they grow up. Raynard stubbornly believed that the reason he was so strong was that he had run around everywhere as a child, doing all kinds of mischief.
Perhaps there was some truth to that. But Thorfinn and Orrik were already drenched in sweat, yet even so, they only slowed down slightly, maintaining their determined pace toward home.
The kittens in their arms occasionally let out cries, as if urging them to hurry.
After finally getting home, Thorfinn and Orrik dragged their exhausted bodies to watch the kittens drink ewe's milk before a tidal wave of fatigue hit them. This level of exertion was simply too much for them. Seeing his sons completely worn out, Raynard couldn't help but laugh. Looking at the eager way the two little rascals had returned, who would have thought it would be this tiring?
There were three kittens: one was a bit whiter, one a bit darker, and the other had a more balanced color. The kittens, who had been hungry for a long time, fell asleep after drinking the ewe's milk. They were very tired as well. These little guys did not yet know that their mother had died. If Thorfinn and his family had found the cave one day later, they likely wouldn't have survived the night.
However, seeing the three adorable creatures asleep, Thorfinn was genuinely happy. I wonder if one of them will become my animal companion? Thorfinn thought to himself.
Darie couldn't help but smile, seeing her sons tired but still wanting to play with the kittens.
As their mother, all Darie could do now was prepare hot food to replenish the nutrition for her two little men. They were still at a growing age, and not eating enough wouldn't do.
Thorfinn and Orrik, meanwhile, fell into a deep sleep, utterly exhausted.
Raynard, however, was a little uneasy. "Darie, I had another discovery today."
Darie said while preparing dinner, "What discovery?"
Raynard said, "I noticed that the animals nearby seem to have increased. Before, you rarely saw signs of so many animals here." But as he spoke, Raynard smiled and shook his head. "I hope I'm overthinking it. More prey is always a good thing."