Winter 1786

I tried to make the least sound possible. I had heard there was a great deal of animals on that land. As I walked through the snow, I spotted a big colorful willow. I had to stop for a minute and look at it. There wasn't much time to see beautiful things on a world like that; in fact, there weren't many beautiful things on a world like that. At least no longer. So I admired it for a minute as a "Wow" slipped through my lips.

But I had to search for food. I hadn't eaten in a while and I had no meat stored. I kept walking until I heard some leaves moving. I got myself in the middle of a bush and held my breath. I sneaked through the leaves and spotted a huge elk, also searching for food on the snow. I couldn't hold a smile.

-I'm sorry… - I whispered as I pointed my bow.

I aimed as precisely as I could and in a quick movement, filled with a second of adrenaline, I got up and took the shot. The elk fell right to the floor with a groan. I had hit the throat. However, as the animal fell, revealed a man behind it. The man was running to the elk the moment I shot it and he stopped with the surprise of seeing him fall like that. I ran to the dying animal.

-I am sorry… - I whispered and then stopped running, taking a look at the man.

He was a Native, he wore animal skins around his waist and large long pants, along with boots, but what surprised me was that he was wearing nothing on the upper part of his body. "I am wearing three layers of clothes and I'm cold!", I thought. He had dark hair and eyes and typical Indian toned skin. He was quite attractive in general.

-Sorry, mate. – I said to him – This one is mine. I shot it.

The man just stared at me like it was the first time he saw another human being.

-Hannah? – He suddenly said to my surprise.

-That is my name! – I smiled as I got on my knees to put an end to the elk's suffering. – Have we met?

The man seemed confused, still staring at me. I used my knife to cleanly take the elk's life and prepared myself to skin it. The Native guy also got on his knees, from the other side of the animal, staring at me.

-How is it possible that you are here? – He asked.

-Look, I am not very good with faces. I'm sorry. Who are you? – I talked as I prepared the elk.

-You as well? You do not recognize me?

-I'm sorry…

The man looked down, sad, and merely said it was not my fault. I truly tried, but his face did not seem familiar at all.

-How did you plan to catch the elk anyway? – I laughed, changing the subject. – You were not armed and you were running towards it. Did you plan on catching it with your hands?

-The wolves were aiding me… - He said and then looked back. He seemed confused when he turned around and saw nothing. Was he expecting to actually see wolves?

-I have had the pleasure of meeting some wolves around here and none of them were the aiding type…

-No, it is true, they were behind me…

I nodded with my head. The man seemed slightly insane to me and I was fighting myself not to laugh. He must have drunk that famous tea from the widow…

-Alright wolf man, what is your name?

-Ratonhnhaké:ton.

-Rah-doon-ah-what?

-Ratonhnhaké:ton.

-Let's just stay with wolf man for now… - I smiled to him.

He continued to look in my eyes as if he knew me and was sad that I did not remember. I was still skinning the elk. After a few seconds, out of nowhere, the man got up and headed in my direction, walking around the animal's corpse. I pointed my blade at him, but all he did was kneel by my side and hug me. I froze for a moment, with the surprise, and then, not even sure why, I hugged him back. He was murmuring how happy he was that he had found me and I pushed him away after a few seconds.

-I hope that was due to the cold! – I joked, with a smile.

He also gave me a sort of smile and I was still confused. I had no idea who he was and he seemed to be so happy to see me.

-Speaking of which, how are you not dead with your skin out in the open like that, in the snow?! – I asked.

-I am used to it. – He merely informed.

-So how do you know me? – I asked. – Are you from one of the tribes I exchanged supplies with?

-Y… Yes… - He did not seem sure of himself.

-I see… So which tribe? Who do you stand for?

-I am from a Mohawk tribe, taking shelter not far from here. – He explained.

-Hum… I believe I remember them.

-Who do you stand for?

-Myself.

He looked at me in another way, almost smiling, but surprised at the same time.

-What? – I asked, still smiling.

-Nothing. My mother used to say similar things.

-Is that so?

-Yes. That is how she conquered my father.

I laughed out loud and looked back at the elk.

-Are you suggesting anything, wolf man?

He smiled and got up, walking around like he was trying to solve a big mystery. He was focused deeply in his thoughts and continued to do that for a few minutes, as I prepared the meat and put in in several smalls bags. I was seriously convinced he was a lunatic and every now and then he took a glance at me and frowned, like I was the mystery.

-Listen, I won't be able to carry all this meat, so you can help me and take some for yourself, if you wish. – I suddenly said and he stood a few meters away from me; stopped walking and crossed his arms.

-You are Hannah Fisher, am I right? – He asked out of nowhere.

-Yes… - I answered, getting slightly scared.

-You must remember me. You met me at this exact spot, 12 years ago. – He said with a very suspicious look.

-That is not possible… - I said with a smirk, as if I was teaching him a lesson.

I was merely trying to make him stop being so full of himself for knowing my name. I had no idea how we had met and he was acting like he knew everything about me. I was a 25 year-old woman in the middle of nowhere and he was a (huge) lone man. Who knows what his intentions were…

-Because you are from another time and only came here 10 years ago? – He said extremely fast.

I looked at him as my jaw fell. I wasn't even able to disguise my surprise. How on Earth could he know that?! He had said it like the information about the moment we met was a test and I fell right in the trap. I got up with my knife in my right hand and continued to look at the man, thinking of what to say.

I wasn't able to say anything, however, since we heard foots approaching, hitting the snow, and laughs. "Washington's men…", I thought to myself in a second and attached the bags of meat to my waist.

The Indian man tried to reach me, but stopped halfway between us and put his hands on his head. I murmured "Run!" but he did not seem to be alright. He blinked several times as if he had gone blind.

-Get out of here… - He whispered.

I frowned. What the hell was he doing? All I saw was him fall and I ran to him. I caught him in the air, but he was too heavy, so I had to lay him on the ground right away. He had fainted and the guards were approaching. "Goddamn it", I thought to myself. I had no choice but to leave him there. I got up and, trying not to hit any stick or leaf that could make noise, I ran into the trees.

-What do we have here? – I heard one of the guards shout behind me.

I turned around and, although with difficulty, I saw the Native being surrounded by bluecoats. I felt bad for him, I knew how much some Natives suffered in the hands of Washington's men. But what could I do? They were too many and the man had lost his senses. Even though I was a good fighter, I could not risk myself because of him, I would certainly get killed.