"Well?" asked the man, when Alfred gave no response.

Alfred could only stare. Where did he come from? How was he tied up in cloth from Alfred's shirt? And the cave was far too empty. Where did the bear go? How could it...it couldn't... "Who are you?" he finally choked out.

"That does not matter," said the man. "Get these off of me right now!"

"Are you going to kill me if I do?"

"I do not want to do anything to you," said the man. "I only want to be free, preferably as soon as possible."

"I suppose you don't have all day, do you?" asked Alfred, pulling out his pocket knife.

The man snorted at that, but gave no response. He knelt in silence as the cloth strips were cut. When his wrists were freed, he rubbed them gently while staring expectantly at Alfred.

"What now?" asked Alfred.

"My ankles. Free those as well."

"What? Those are tied also?"

"Do not pretend to be stupid," said the man.

"I am not pretending anything," said Alfred. He paused, as the implications of his protest sank in. "Also, I am not stupid!"

The man laughed. "You are so very funny!" he said. "But save your joking, please. I do not appreciate being shot, and I do not enjoy being tied up."

Alfred felt himself paling. "You were shot? Where? When? Was it very long ago? Were you bandaged? I can help, if you need -"

"What did I say about being stupid?"

"How is it stupid to be worried?" Alfred asked frantically. "You just told me that so casually, and now I want to help and -"

Without saying a word, the man grabbed one of Alfred's wrists in his left hand. He pulled the soldier's arm forward, until Alfred was touching the man's right arm. Alfred was about to ask what the point of that all was, when his fingers brushed against something.

Another of his cloth strips. It was tied in the same place the bear had been shot.

"Do you understand now?" asked the man.

Trying not to panic, Alfred reached for the man's neck. He ran his hand along until he found it. The second cloth bandage. He could feel the dried blood staining it.

"You really are..." gasped Alfred.

"How very perceptive you are."

"How...?"

The man sat on the ground and indicated to his ankles. "Unbind me, and then I will answer your questions," he said.

Both men were silent as the remaining bindings were cut. Alfred expected the man to run from the cave as soon as he was unrestrained. Instead, he leaned against one of the cave walls.

"Are you too hurt to leave?" asked Alfred. It did not seem likely given that the injuries hadn't slowed the man down yet, but why else would he not leave?

"Nyet. It is daylight."

"And?"

"The sun is shining through the trees."

"And?"

"At my home, the trees grew close enough together that I did not have to worry about that."

"Why are you worrying about that now?"

"I can not go out into daylight. I can not be seen."

"And why is that?"

The man looked at Alfred. Even with it too dark to make out his face entirely, the soldier could tell he was receiving a glare.

"Alright, fine," said Alfred, when there was no other response. "Could you at least tell me your name?"

Again, there was no response from the man. This time, he chose to look at the floor of the cave.

Alfred sighed. This would be a long day. He lurched to his feet, gun at hand. The man abruptly turned to stare at him. "I won't be gone for long," Alfred said. "I need to get some water to clean your injuries, though. I also need to find some things so that fever won't set in."

The man snorted. "Take care not to get lost."

"I know you think I'm stupid, but I've dealt with this sort of thing before. I was a soldier not so long ago."

"That makes you doubly stupid," said the man. "But never mind me. Go."

Alfred went. He spent most of the day searching for the water and herbs he needed, and he grumbled about strange, rude people the entire time.

When he returned with the supplies, it was nearing nightfall. Alfred made the journey back surprisingly quickly. He realized that he wanted to find the man before the sun set. Was the man going to turn into a bear again? How did it work? Would such a change make his injuries worse? He had better treat the wounds before that happened, hadn't he?

Alfred burst into the cave. "I found everything!" he shouted. When there was no reply, "Hey, where are you...mister? ...Sir? Strange man? Are you still here?"

"Da, I am here."

The man had been curled up in the darkest part of the cave. Judging by the slow, warbling tone of his voice, he had just woken up.

Alfred fought his desire to thank God, and instead made his way over. "Move a little closer to the light, please," he said, managing to catch hold of the man's shoulder.

"Nyet," said the man. "I am going nowhere near there."

"Just a little closer," said Alfred. "It's going to be completely dark soon anyway, and I can't change your bandages without seeing."

"I can change my bandages on my own. Hand me some new ones."

Alfred was about to protest this, but decided that it didn't matter. The man had clearly been living in the woods for some time, and had to know how to treat wounds by himself. Besides, what did it matter who did the job? Why should Alfred care?

"Give me a moment," said Alfred, taking off his shirt. He began to tear more strips from it.

"At this rate, you will have no shirt left at all."

"Doesn't matter," Alfred said, as he pulled the remains of the shirt back on. He handed the newly-made bandages to the man, along with the water and herbs. "Heroes aren't bothered by the cold. Wash the places you were shot, and chew the herbs, will you?"

"You think you are a hero?" asked the man, as he let the water run over his injured arm.

"I know I am!"

The man laughed, but said nothing more as he finished washing and rebandaging his arm. He remained silent as he tended to his neck wound and began to chew on the herbs that Alfred gave him.

Finally, "It is Ivan."

"Sorry?"

"Ivan," said the man, his voice thick from the plants in his mouth. "That is my name."

"Ivan," said Alfred, trying it out. "It's a good name."

"I thought it was time you knew. You looked so very silly, trying to call for me without knowing my name."

As the sun began to set, Ivan moved farther towards the back of the cave. That deep in the shadows, Alfred could hardly see him.

"Will you be alright?" Alfred asked. "I mean, are you going to -"

"This has been happening to me for many years," said Ivan. "I am fine."

"But with the injuries?"

"I changed back with no trouble. It will not kill me."

"I see," said Alfred. All was silent, and he wondered if Ivan had changed yet or not. "I'm sorry I shot you," he blurted out. He had no idea why he had to say it now, but it was very important he did. "I didn't know you were a human. How could I have?"

Ivan snorted and shifted, letting Alfred see that he was still human. For now. "What is your name?"

"Alfred."

"Alfred," he said, trying the name out with his deep voice. "Does it matter so much, Alfred? Is it that much better to kill an animal that was minding its own business? I never hurt anyone as a human or a bear."

"You attacked me."

"After you pointed a gun at me, da. I think you would have done the same, had it been you being shot at."

Before Alfred could reply, there was a scraping sound. Alfred could just make out Ivan kneeling on the ground, falling to his hands and knees, breathing heavily, staying strong. He did not cry out as he changed, and Alfred wondered what it was like. Was Ivan so strong when he was younger? When was he able to hold back his screams?

Ivan did not leave the cave that night, nor the next night, nor the night after that. Alfred thought that he was waiting for his injuries to heal, but the wounds in his neck and arm grew smaller, and he still showed no desire to leave.

"Aren't you going to leave?" asked Alfred, after Ivan discarded the bandages for good.

"It is daytime."

"Right," said Alfred. "You're afraid of the light. I understand that. Well, actually I don't, but -"

"A point to this, please," said Ivan.

"Why don't you run out when it's night? You'll go outside when it's dark, won't you?"

"Maybe I do not want to go just yet," said Ivan. "Maybe it is comfortable in here."

"Comfortable?" America ran his hands along the uneven floor, coated with slime and broken rock pieces. "I think I need to find more herbs. Are you sure you didn't catch a fever?"

Ivan laughed. Echoing through the cave, it sounded a little like a roar. "Oh Alfred, you are so very funny! Tell me, why do you not leave? It is likely that we are staying for the same reason."

"Oh...well..." Alfred considered. "I suppose it's because you are here. No, wait!" he cried, feeling his face burn as Ivan laughed again. "I meant that I could not leave you here alone while you were hurt!"

"That makes sense," said Ivan, short of breath from laughing so hard. "And now I am better, so you surely are making plans of your own to leave, are you not?"

Alfred had no response to that, so he did the only thing he could think of. He changed the subject. "Will you answer me a question?"

Ivan chuckled. "For making me laugh so hard, Alfred, I will."

"How did you end up like...this?"

At this, Ivan stopped laughing. While it was impossible to see the expression on his face, fear and anger rose from him like steam. If he had not been in such a good mood so recently, Alfred suspected that he might have hit him.

Ivan turned towards the wall until Alfred thought he was never going to answer. Finally, "It was my father."

"Your father?"

"Da. He grew angry and cursed me."

Alfred blinked. He knew of many children who were beaten by their parents for misbehaving, but cursing them to turn into an animal was new. "How did he do that? Was your father a wizard?"

"I have no idea," said Ivan. "I can hardly remember him. He left when I was very little. I only know that much because I was told by Katyasha."

"Who's Katyasha?"

"My sister."

"Oh." A thought occurred to Alfred. "Does she live in this forest too?"

"Da, she does."

"I saw her when I went through the forest, a few days ago."

"Was this when you were going to kill me?" asked Ivan, wryly.

"Erm, yes. She tried to stop me, though I didn't know why at the time." Alfred grinned. "She told me her name was 'Yekaterina' though."

"'Katyasha' is her nickname from childhood."

"Oh, I see."

Ivan sighed. "I have not seen my Katyasha for so long, nor my Natalia. I miss my sisters so very much! I am glad they are doing well on their own. I used to look after them, but now..."

"I think Natalia is doing a fine job keeping herself and Katyasha safe," said Alfred. "When you lived with your sisters, did she often carry around a large axe?"

"An axe?" Ivan wrinkled his brow. "No, she never carried an axe before. I believe she took to gathering wood for the stove after I left. She is a strong girl to carry such a thing. Even I had difficulty lifting it, once upon a time."

Alfred laughed. "When I lived at home, I had to do all of the chores that involved heavy lifting. My brother and I are twins, but I was always a little stronger than he was."

"Twins? Which one of you was born first?"

"I was."

"Ah," said Ivan. "So we are both older brothers, da?"

"I guess we are."

Alfred had to know.

He and Ivan had stayed in that cave together for many days and nights. He knew his companion's voice. He knew what he felt like. He knew his thoughts.

But he did not know what Ivan looked like. And it drove him mad.

Alfred asked Ivan about his appearance several times. The only response he ever received though, was "I look like what I look like." Either Ivan enjoyed teasing Alfred too much, or even he was not sure of his own appearance. In any case, the question continued to gnaw at Alfred's brain. He could not rid himself of the burning curiosity. He needed to find out the answer.

And so, he came up with a daring plan.

He hated himself for it. It was a dirty trick, something a hero should never stoop to. But it would answer his question, and it was not as if it would hurt anyone.

A voice in his head reminded him of Ivan's fear of the light and of being scene. But who was there to see him? It would only be for a moment. No one would come by.

The next morning, Alfred left the cave under the excuse of getting more water. Ivan cheerfully wished him a safe journey and to come back soon. Alfred waved back, trying not to look very guilty.

Immediately after leaving the cave, he stood behind a tree. "Ivan! Ivan, help!" he screamed. "Someone, help me!"

There was a clatter from inside of the cave. Alfred could imagine Ivan leaping to his feet. "Alfred?" Ivan called, a moment later. "Alfred, what is happening?"

"It got me!" Alfred shouted. "I - I can't get away! Help!"

"No!"

There was the sound of more movement, this time closer to the mouth of the cave. Peeking around the tree, Alfred could see that Ivan wasn't out in daylight yet. He was close, though. There was no going back. Alfred closed his eyes and screamed.

At the cave's entrance, Ivan gave a shout like a battle cry and burst outside. Hearing this, Alfred swung around the tree. Upon coming face to face with one another, the two men froze.

Ivan was as tall and powerfully-built as a human as he was as a bear. His hair was the same snow-white as the fur he wore at night and the hair of his sisters. His eyes were the shade of violet as when he was a bear. Looking into them, Alfred saw the same fear and desperation as the first time they met, when the soldier had recently put a bullet in his leg.

"Alfred, what happened? Where is the danger?" asked Ivan.

"I...oh god," Alfred stammered. "I'm sorry, I had to see you!"

Ivan's eyes widened as he realized what had happened. He grabbed Alfred by the shoulders. "Bozhe moi, Alfred! This is -"

Before Ivan could say a word, a powerful wind struck the two of them. They were torn apart and thrown to the ground.

"Alfred, listen to me!" shouted Ivan, as the soldier struggled to his feet. "There is nothing to be done!"

"What's happening?" asked Alfred. "How did a storm start up so quickly?"

The wind was ferocious now, biting at their skin. The air was thick with snow, so thick that Alfred could hardly see. He reached for Ivan, only to be blow back again.

"It is no storm! Father has found me!"

"Who in God's name is your father?"

The wind and snow was too much now. Alfred was crawling, but it was no good. Through the whiteness, he could only make out Ivan, who was smiling sadly.

"General Winter," said Ivan. "He has found me, and now I go back to him. Goodbye, Alfred. I shall miss you."

"Ivan, you're not going anywhere!" screamed Alfred. "It's just a storm! We'll get back in the cave, and we'll be fine! Ivan! IVAN!"

But through the raging snow, Alfred saw a figure approaching. As it drew nearer, he could see that it was a young man with dark hair that spilled to his shoulders. As Alfred screamed in protest, the strange man grabbed Ivan by the arm and pulled him away. Though the man was much smaller than Ivan, both vanished into the storm.

The tempest died down not long after, leaving Alfred completely alone.