Couple days have gone by, Hiroshi settling to new work, Olivia working hard to study literature, while Nata was left to keep an eye out on them.

  Nata couldn't help herself but to stick with Hiroshi whenever she was around.

  She understood it was jealousy, but what for. He is only their caretaker after all.

  And how Hiroshi's after every other day after work comes out looking worse for wear every time.

  First Bandaged head, next time bandaged arms and whatever else he was hiding, she couldn't help but worry for his well being.

  She knew she didn't need to worry, she knew it was bad for to do so, but couldn't help it.

  Trying to shake off the bad feelings, and seeing Olivia had already fallen sleep by her side, she tried to get some sleep as well, than stewing in her thought for the entire night.

  A blizzard has been savaging the lands for days now, making the brutal wilderness of Siberia nearly unlivable, as Nata drudged through the haze and piled up snow.

  Being abandoned weeks ago after an attack she and her parents couldn't have predicted, leaving her wander and survive all alone.

  Trying to find any animal to ravage for their meat, she kept on walking through the layered snow, only thing keeping her warm being her long hair and tail.

  As mist seemed to get heavier, and weather only getting worse, she noticed as trees gave way to an plains, fully covered in endless sea of whiteness, with what she presumed as fires or suns, piercing the haze beyond the horizon.

  She debated if she should try make the trip, the risks and rewards that loomed beyond, before with gust of a wind startling her, but also gave her a whiff of food.

  Knowing going back to the forest would just be as questionable if she got something to eat before starving, and seeing there was guaranteed something at the lights, she decided the risk was worth it, as she proceeded to drudge through the piles of snow.

  As she got closer, she could start hearing voices she wasn't familiar with, as the lights kept on getting brighter as the storm between had less room block her view, and she first could notice large building, alongside a small one next to it, with a lot of fencing protecting it from outsiders, however, it seems someone had gotten through before her, so sniffing around to make sure things were fine, she could smell blood.

  Keeping her eye on surroundings as she approached, it didn't take long before she noticed the red blotches going out of the fencing, and stronger smell coming from beyond it, so she carefully got through the hold, and to her delight, she saw an mauled chicken, with plenty of meat still on it and appeared to be recently left there.

  She made sure the one who killed it wasn't around, before taking the chicken, and digging her face into it.

  Ripping the bloody raw meat, eating it with delight as there was easily enough to fill her in full.

  But as she was half-way finished, she could hear weird sounds and someone approaching, and in a hurry dragging the chicken, she hid herself under the snow, hoping they don't notice her.

  Step after another, getting closer, and soon she could also smell them. Smoke, blood and that of an fox.

  Before long, it was clear to her that the hunter had taken note of her, so she had no other choice than to get up and defend her feast and life.

  As she barked and growled, looking at the hunter, a human loomed above her, with flame by his side, as fear consumed her even when keeping guard.

  They spoke, but she didn't understand any of it, as she kept barking in hopes they go away, but it didn't seem to help, as they only got closer, enough that she could see some shiny pipe he was holding, that smelled heavily of smoke.

  She tried to keep her ground, but soon, they stood right in front of her, making her feel small in comparison, and as it slowly reached down, she couldn't help but whimper and shrivel into a ball.

  But when she expected to be dead, she felt a warm touch on her head, before getting her hair and ears ruffled up, and after some time, she looked in fear and worry to see what the person was doing, only to finally see their face, stubble on his jaw, face slightly dirty from blood and soot, and unmistakable smile, the kind she knew to be it's own kind of warmth.

  She may not have known it yet, but this was the day her life got turned around, and she met her father.

  The process was slow.

  The man took care of her, cleaned her, fed her, and gave her room to get his trust as he kept work on the lands during the winter, making her question why he would do it, as warmth and safety was inside of their home.

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  But as Nata got braver and more curious, she came to learn of the barn, full of cows, horses and section for chickens.

  As spring, so did the her realization what world she had stepped onto.

  As snow disappeared and ground became workable, the man plowed the grounds, and started to grow plants that she was unfamiliar of, and as she explored her curiosity, he was more than happy to give some loads for her to work, alongside the homework of learning Russian.

  When Summer came, she got introduced to the whole new world, as with first loads of stock, they headed to nearby town of Varkuta.

  New friends and faces to meet, whole new aspects of the world she couldn't have imagined, and things tho learn.

  It was like living in paradise for her, as she learned and grew while working and supporting her father, who did the same to her.

  And as winter solstice came, He was more than happy to throw a birthday for her, to celebrate a year of the new life she would never want to leave, but also the day she could never forget.

  As she was happily taking a nap after usual spring-day's work on her eight year being on the farm, father came running in with a hurry and snatched her onto his arms

  She quickly stirred awake from the hassle as he quickly carried how down into crawlspace cellar, as he was sweating bullets with heavy worry in his face

  "What is going on?" She tried to get answer, but father only hushed her to be silent, as she could shortly hear knock on the front door. And after couple minutes of not responding, kicking the door down.

  "Search the house." a commanding voice came out from the doorway, as multiple footsteps dispersed into the house

  The atmosphere was extremely dense, as everyone upstairs seemed to be in a hurry, aside from one set of footsteps, that was slow and deliberate.

  "They don't seem to be in the house." one of the men came reporting to the commander, who just gave a scowl at them.

  "Don't take me for a fool, I clearly smell his manflesh... but I do wonder what this aroma with him is." the commanding voice said.

  And as the steps he took slowly came closer and closer, she could feel cold sweat coming onto her, especially after hearing them stop right above them, making her feel fear unlike she has felt since coming onto the farm.

  Instinct kicking in, she pushed her father away with all of her strenght, before their ceiling boards was broken through, and with firm hand-grip on her shirt-collar, she was lifted up to the sky.

  Trying to assess what was going on, she saw multiple russian thugs, fully geared and holding guns, many pointing at her and to the hole where her father was, raising him arms in distress and shock from what just happened, as she shortly brought face to face with a man with barely distinguishable horns on his head. "Well, look what a surprise our trouble has given us." he said, with wicked grin on his face, staring into her soul.

  "LET HER GO!" father shouted out, barely peaking his head above the broken floor boarding, with guns trained on him.

  "You have no right to demand me of anything. You haven't paid your debts yet." the wicked man kept his grin up, as Nata wiggled in his grip powerlessly.

  "I told you already, harvest was bad and I will pay you extra on next payment." he tried to negotiate, but it only brought the wicked man's mood worse.

  "And I told you that wasn't in our contract. So, I came to repossess until that month's payment is fulfilled." clearly not giving any leeway to the father.

  "But, this little toy of yours has peaked my interest." he returned to smiling, and giving stare at Nata.

  "LEAVE HER OUT OF THIS! TAKE ANYTHING YOU WANT, BUT NOT HER!" father shouted, clearly in distress on what he was going to do to her.

  "Poor choice of words, my friend." the man said, as his grin got wide with clear bloodthirst came to his mind. "Take his life." He commanded, as he put Nata slung over his shoulder and started to head out.

  "FATHER!" she screamed out, before he returned it with "NATA!" as in front of her eyes, the man was pierced with bullets from all surroundings, only tiny amount of blood spilled outside of the hole, as everything else was left in that hole on the floor. A bloodpit of her despair.

  Waking up, nearly screaming her lung out in horror, Nata took note of her surroundings, and seems Olivia had already awakened and headed out, as she could note sun had risen from the window.

  As she slowly came out of their bedroom, she took note that Hiroshi and Olivia were already enjoying breakfast.

  In sleepy, cheerful daze, she happily slid into her spot at the dinner table. "Morning, Hiro~." she greeted, as her tail wagged in slow rhythm.

  "Are you alright? You look like you just got out of washing machine." Hiroshi noted, taking her messy appearance.

  "Bad dream." she muttered, digging into her sandwich.

  "Well, if it helps you out, I looked up some Russian recipes, and thought i could try making borscht. Heard it's pretty traditional food there." Hiroshi said with a smile, and as Nata looked at him, she couldn't help but get reminded of the very nightmare she woke up from.

  "P-please, no." she muttered, as she started to tear up with clear past trauma, causing Hiroshi to panic a little.

  "Fine, I wont. Let's have leaf stakes today then." he quickly pivoted, trying to ease her mind, as he went to comfort her with a hug.

  As she was put into safe space in his arms, her memories returned to her past.

  "You know, family is important." father spoke, as they were calmly cloud-gazing in front of the farm-fields.

  "Why is that?" Nata asked in her curious naivete

  "Then why do we life. Why do we connect to people. Why do we feel loneliness. Because without family, we'd be lost to only fend for ourselves." He explained, which Nata seemed to understand decently well.

  "So please, I want you to make me a promise." he calmly continued.

  "If you ever do find someone to be part of your family. Protect them with your heart, as it is the only treasure you can rely on." he calmly explained.

  "But I want to stay with you." Nata quickly argued back, clearly not happy in implying she will leave him behind.

  he only gave a chuckle, as he continued talking. "Of course you want to, but I have made mistakes in my life that will come bite me some day. You may not like it, but I won't be there for you forever. So please, promise me. Promise me you will have a good family."

  'I DO! IF ONLY YOU WERE HERE TO SEE ME!' she screamed internally, seeking the past that she knew she couldn't recover.

  'So please, promise me Hiro will stick with me.' she internally pleaded to whatever whims her nightmares had brought upon her today

  "I am here for you, Nata." She heard Hiroshi speak up. "So don't worry."

  Looking up, through her tear filled eyes, she saw his warm smile shine, as he put his hand on her head.

  "Day is still early. Don't exhaust yourself right now." he said with warm tone.

  She nodded in agreement, as she happily hugged him back.

  After all, she still had to have strength to be by his side.