It had to be snowing. While the garment was more than adequate inside the fortress, it didn't keep the arctic winds from slicing through as if she wore nothing at all. Lois couldn't tell north from south in this blinding snowstorm, which meant she had no idea where the cave was.

The cold had also served to cool her temper. It wasn't as if he'd struck her even if he could have been a little nicer about it. She supposed the thing to do was make her way back to the fortress and attempt an escape in less hazardous conditions.

But the same conditions that were keeping her from finding the cave were also keeping her from seeing the fortress.

She was already feeling sleep, which she recognized at once as a bad sign. Hypothermia was setting in, and she would be a human popsicle if she gave into it. She squelched the fear that rose up in her throat as she realized if she didn't do something fast, she was going to die out here.

She had to stay calm. "Well, at least, things couldn't possibly be any worse right now," she mumbled as she kept moving.

It was then she heard snarling of a wolf. There could have been more, but even one was dangerous. Despite the reduced visibility, she could see its fangs highlighted by its black mouth. It shook its shaggy white fur as if it was already imagining tearing into her. She caught sight of another one out of the corner of her eye, and when she looked to the other side, she could see another. They were surrounding her.

She didn't know what she was going to do. She did know she couldn't outrun the animals, and if she tried, they'd certainly see her as prey though it was pretty clear they already did. So much for staying calm.

sss

"You need to go after her, Kal-El," Lara chided as if he were still a child.

"Why? She left of her own free will, didn't she?" he said still irritated with her for trying to take one of the crystals.

Jor-El had told him they were not to be trusted often enough, but he couldn't help being disappointed every time they revealed their lower nature. He couldn't say why, but he had thought, hoped, that she might be the one. The one that proved not all humans on Earth were bad and broke the curse of his solitude. He had obviously been badly mistaken.

Then he sighed. "Maybe it's better this way. It was wrong to keep her her here."

"You may be right, but she isn't going to be able to find her way in that mess. Look at the storm out there. A polar bear couldn't find his way in such a blizzard."

"I guess I should look for her," he relented. As much as she was a problem he hadn't wanted or asked for, he didn't want anything to happen to her. And as Jor-El said, he really couldn't risk anyone finding out about this place. Two eye-witnesses were riskier than one.

He listened for her and heard her scream. Unexpected panic seized him as he sped off to her location.

sss

Kal-El found her. He made only brief eye contact with her, and she was somewhat astonished by the disappointment she thought she had glimpsed rather than his former anger. She didn't have time to dwell on it because one of the wolves pounced.

It latched onto Kal-El's arm, but he threw it back as it it were an irascible puppy. He was completely unharmed unless one counted the torn fabric. She'd known he was invulnerable, but to see it in action like this made it all the more real.

And he was rescuing her. She couldn't figure out why. He had been positively beastly toward her and her father, or at least, he had behaved coldly. This sudden act of heroics was most unexpected.

Despite the increase in excitement, she was sleepier than ever. She thought he caught her before she hit the snow, but she couldn't be sure as she slipped into unconsciousness.

When she awoke she was back inside the fortress. He had put her in a comfy chair and had carved a box into one of the walls to act as a fireplace, logs of wood set waiting to be lit. He had also draped a couple of their gossamer blankets over her.

He was bringing another. He wrapped it around her, and she shivered when his hand accidentally brushed her shoulder.

"It isn't as warm as you're probably used to," he said.

"No, but it helps" She supposed there wasn't much need for quilts when one didn't feel the cold.

She couldn't help the small cry of surprise when he started the fire with his eyes in the carved wall. She thought she almost saw a corner of his mouth twitch in amusement at her reaction, but if he did, his facial expression quickly returned to ice again.

"Thank you," she said softly, grateful to him for saving her life and for his care now.

He looked at her as if she were the alien specimen though to him, she probably was.

Finally, he said, "You're welcome."