Once they were deep enough into the woods, she had Javier gather wood and she set about getting a suitable shelter built. She was able to find a felled log that provided good protection from the wind. The wind in the woods was a lot less pronounced than it had been on the beach, but it was still there. She cleared the area of rocks and sticks and sat Michelle down next to the log.

Michelle had managed to keep her pack mostly dry and she was able to change into dry clothes. Meanwhile Javier had gathered enough wood and dry kindling to start a fire. Between himself and Huan Li the two men had a pleasant fire going in a short time.

Keva moved Michelle closer to the fire and hugged the woman. Her teeth had stopped chattering but her lips were still blue and she was sluggish in her responses. That could be because she was tired, or it could be early warning signs of hypothermia. Either way, they had all changed into dry clothes and the fire did wonders to warm them all up.

Keva wasted no time in preparing food for them all. Michelle ate first. It was enough that the woman ate something before drifting off to sleep in her sleeping bag. Her lips were no longer blue and she wasn't shivering, so Keva allowed the woman to sleep. After Michelle was taken care of the other six of them ate and settled down, three in their sleeping bags, while the wolves made the best out of the dry forest floor.

The red-haired Alpha looked over at the aging Elder. "Well?"

The Asian man raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Well, what?"

"Oh, come off it, Elder Li," Keva placed special emphasis on 'elder'. "I know that you are just brimming to tell me all the things I did wrong, how I could do better, how I deserve to be better for my pack. Or any other of a thousand platitudes that you gave me while I was training and even after my pack chose me as Alpha. You have always had something to say, either about me specifically, or what I was doing."

The onslaught of accusations didn't seem to faze or surprise Huan Li at all. The older man calmly regarded the young woman. "You have made decisions, you have shown you care for your pack mates, and you have shown a dogged determination which will serve you well in these cold northern regions. We hunt those which are more dangerous than perhaps even I imagine. I am here only because of my experience and my age gives me an advantage, one that may prove inadequate for the task at hand, I'm afraid." He sighed softly and looked at the red-haired woman, "To you specifically I will only say this."

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Keva awaited the final verdict with pursed lips and a scornful glare.

"Continue to care for your pack and follow what you know to be right. Your pack mates will be your judge. Whether or not they live or die, they will be your judge and jury. And it is their verdict that you must abide by, not mine." With that Huan Li laid down in his sleeping bag and closed his eyes to sleep.

Huan Li's words kept repeating themselves inside her head, unbidden and unwanted. Her pack would be her judge and jury, whether they live or die, it was they who would judge her. She knew that Huan Li spoke truth in that assessment. She just wished that she didn't feel so unsure of herself. She laid down to sleep, but sleep was a long time coming.

The next morning Michelle said she felt a lot better and she had no lingering effects from the previous day. Thankfully it hadn't rained and the morning in the forest wasn't too terribly cold. It was very brisk and Javier couldn't get a fire going fast enough. It was one of those mornings where you just didn't want to get out of bed, or the sleeping bag in this case.

But eventually they had to get up and repack their bags. The wet back packs hadn't fully dried out overnight but they had dried substantially. It was enough that the extra back packs could be carried by the rest of the pack. They cleaned up and sanitized their campsite before heading out, east through the forest, then they would turn north and continue in their search for the bear men.

The more north they traveled the colder it got. They had brought winter clothes but the weather had taken a turn for the worse. It had starting snowing on their second day there. By the end of the first week, they were trudging through more than a foot of snow. Soon, it would be impossible for them to travel on foot, at least without skies or some sort of snow shoes.

Keva kept the group together. As they huddled inside their clothes for warmth they continued to walk north. The weather got worse and traveling became slower and more arduous. There were times that the flurries got so bad they found themselves in 'white out' conditions and had to stop, sometimes for a day or more before they could continue.

For the first week or so, they passed by hamlets and small villages of houses and buildings. They made use of the warmth of civilization but they couldn't stay long, if at all. Mostly just to get out of the cold for a small warm meal. Their lack of money was something they couldn't overcome. Although they were able to buy pairs of used snow shoes for the humans.

The real concern was the uncertainty of their journey. They could travel as far north as they wanted, but when would they have traveled far enough? Was there anything worth finding in the frozen wastelands that they were so doggedly trudging towards? The deep forests of Scandinavia was their only lead and they were slowly making their way closer to them, at least that's what Keva hoped.

Eventually they left all islands of civilization behind. They were now traveling in deep forest. They had been going this way for at least a week without having seen another person or building in the dense forest. They had become very good at making snow shelters and for every three days of travel, they took a full day to rest.

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