AN: While the characters may look like in the third ending theme of the anime, the landscape of this fictional world does not. Just to inform you. I will describe it in the chapters if need be.

Winter had come early this year. A thick layer of snow had accumulated over the landscape of the northern mountains during this first cold week in early autumn. It would probably melt again over the week, but the damage was done.

Bakugo Katsuki grumbled lowly while riding his mount along the mountain path leading to his tribes current winter quarters in one of the lower valleys, followed by his hunting companions. The sudden snow storm had them thrown back on their hunt, huddling in a cave for most of the time and unable to do anything about it. They were happy enough to have found a suitable cave at all.

His people were a tribe of dragon slayers, demon hunters and barbarian. They lived half nomadic, going from one designated camp location in valleys or on ridges to the next in these huge mountain ranges. Depending not only on seasons and the weather but also on tribe alliances and the different nature spirits moods. They were rather spiritual, or heathen as the low-landers called them and prone to a variety of traditions.

It was a good thing their old witch had urged them to reach one of their usual spots to settle during cold season two weeks earlier than normal. And better even that he listened to her. He may not be the official leader yet, as his parents were still alive and breathing, but they already let him do most of their work. Or rather his badmouthed mother would order him around to do it, since she was the current leader.

It irked him that he wasn't the official leader yet, but it took more time than he had first expected. Even though leader ship was settled by a fight between the candidates as soon as the old leaders decided to step down or were challenged, gaining the clans trust was just as important. None of his people would bother listening to a leader they didn't trust in, besides he was sure to win the fight too. But he would also work on gaining their respect even more, a perfect win was his aim.

It was even better that his family tribe was currently the leading clan of all barbarian tribes out in the northern hemisphere of the kingdom. Not that it gave him many preferences besides a more stealthy training in battle and tribe affairs as well as their traditions. Which was why he took his time challenging his mother, he would rather she step down freely since he did not wish to fight the old dragon. He would probably loose just as all those other challengers, besides his good training. He may be stronger than his mother, but she was still faster and more experienced. Even with his explosion magic he would lose to her, not that he would be allowed to use it.

Gaining the tribes respect was also the reason why he was out during this shit of weather. They had tried hunting down a demon that seemed to be living in the vacancy of the valley and could proof troublesome to the clan in the future. This camping spot of them may be sat at the ground of a high cliff and surrounded by high walls of a wooden fence unlike many of their other camping sides, with reason, but having some sort of shitty crawling demon near still unsettled his people.

The blond haired and red eyed male sighed as they reached a small creek leading directly to the next valley. It was no use grumbling over the failed hunt, the least they did was bring in some game and the demon wouldn't be out in this early snow yet. They had to wait till it melted again, which he was sure it would since it wasn't even close to the end of autumn.

A snow storm this early spoke for a harsh winter to come and it might have killed many of the plants they would normally gather this time around the year to prepare for the lean months. It meant they had to buy supplies from the surrounding villages, if they had any to spare. Even more reason for him to be grumpy as one of his friends gracefully pointed out.

He made to give back a snarky remark as they heard crashing and growling sounds to their left. The creek they followed had a broad, stony river bed in its middle and vertical, but not very high cliffs on either side. It would still be a hassle to fall down to the river, which was mostly shallow this time of a year but for the deeper part at its left side. The rivers right side wasn't even being suspended underneath the water anymore as it would be in spring. They were currently riding on the right cliff wall of said river bed, which was being kept clear as road. The left side being overgrown by trees and going steep into a mountain. The disturbing sounds came from the forest on the left river side and they could see some of the trees shaking.

The crashing got louder, but it was impossible to make out any details inside the thick brush. His companions readied their bows, those of which had them and Katsuki growled as his horse started to get nervous, nostrils widening. He pulled out his sword and wished Eijiro had gone with them instead of staying at the camp. They were practically caught on this stupid small road, only able to press on forward or go back the way they came with the steep terrain. No way would he leave the fucking horses to die, they needed them.

The crashing stopped for a moment after a surprisingly loud crash, and seeing several trees nearly bend had the young hunter hold his drawn sword even tighter. Whatever ravaged through the forest was strong enough to nearly split of trees! It definitely wasn't just an angry bear.

And then a human figure, smaller than he expected with all the crashing, dove from the trees and slipped in the snow. It seemed to be a young man, but it was hard to tell from the distance. The human stood back up in a hassle and flung himself down the river wall. Bakugo winced, nearly expecting him to fall to his death, but he only slithered down feet first and clung to the wall with all his might just meters below the tree line.

It was only the split of a second later that a demon crashed through the trees, trying to swipe its claws at the human being just out of its reach. It was an ugly grey skinned beast, about twice the size of a human, naked but for some stubble of rough hairs, with the face of a bat, an elongated body and tail and hideous short hind legs it hardly seemed to use as it was pulling itself on his strong, clawed forelegs.

And obviously it was awfully stupid. Swinging its claws at its prey it seemed to have forgotten the speed it came crashing from the trees and that there was a cliff right in front of it. The thing lost its balance and toppled down. Unfortunately it managed to grace the young human with its tail, getting him of balance too. With a shout of curses he managed to jump off, rather than tumbling right onto the beast, and aimed for a deeper part of the river to dive into.

During all of this, Bakugo had turned his horse speeding back the way they came from. There was no way any of them could climb down the cliff without breaking a bone and the river was too far from their side to jump into. Going back, with two of his companions high on his heels, to the opening of the creek was the only way to get down there and help the stranger. Though it wasn't that far and the rest of his people probably having started to butcher the demon with arrows, he hadn't much hope for its prey. The cliff wasn't high enough to slow it down after the fall.

A glance back told him that the young man, judging from his voice, had resurfaced and started swimming towards the other end of creek, closer to the hunters. Also the demon was up on its feet again and didn't seem to care about the arrows bouncing of its skin as its eyes focused on the swimming human. They should have taken the enchanted arrows with them after all.

"Fuck it!"

Spurring his horse on even more as they reached the opening he flinched as he heard multiple harsh growling. He had awaited a scream and turning his mount down the high and into the river bed he saw the reason to be a group of big wolfhounds attacking the demon. Their teeth actually managed to nip the beast's skin were arrows couldn't even punch through.

Katsuki watched them fascinated as a big stone hit the demon right on its nose. The thing was halfway through the river, the hounds could only do so much in keeping it at bay without getting killed. It was growling darkly and its eyes fixated on the young man who stumbled back slightly while cursing. He had shed his heavy cloak and formed a sling of what seemed to be a scarf and just put another stone into his makeshift weapon.

Even if it was makeshift, the young man was good at slinging stones to a killing force. But the only thing it did was anger the demon even more as its nose was now smashed and bleeding. The beast screeched and started to advance on him. It would reach him before the riders were close enough, that much he was sure of. He needed to think of something fast and grabbed a bigger stone.

The thought of not being able to kill the demon with the only weapon he currently had did not actually thrill the young man and using his dogs for the task was out of the question. He wouldn't endanger their lives as long as he could still fight. They could help him after his plan failed. Taking deep breaths to calm himself he managed to regain his footing within the river bed, starting to circle the makeshift stone sling above his head in steady movements, first slowly, than faster waiting for the perfect moment to get this right. He whistled his dogs back, he had just one fucking chance. Just. One. Chance.

The demon had swam to the other side of the river bank fast and now with the ground back under its feet it was getting even faster. The man ignored the arrows swishing past him and the screams for him to run. His concentration was fully on the approaching beast and the sling in his hand, not registering the sounds of hooves on the stony ground. Just as the beast opened its mouth and jumped to tackle him to the ground, barely three meters away, he let go of the sling and jumped to the side at the same time, connecting with the ground hard and painful.

The rattling breath and cut of roar was all he needed to tell him that he had succeeded with the first part of his plan: to crash the stone from the sling right into the demons throat and close of its windpipe. Still hurting all over from falling, more than twice this day, he jumped back up and onto the beasts back whistling to his dogs. With his weight and the help of his sling alias scarf he closed the demons still snapping mouth shut to stop it from coughing out the stone again. His five wolfhounds clung themselves to the demons right arm with their teeth to keep it from slashing around or throwing him off. Luckily its other arm was smashed beneath its body and its backside was in the deeper water trashing, but not able to get a grip.

He was so focused on his task, arms shaking from the strain that he didn't notice the riders having reached him. Bakugo carefully dismounted and stood near, but he wouldn't interfere as long as the young man seemed to be able to handle himself. It was rude to interrupt a fight someone else was clearly winning. He had his sword at the ready just to be safe, but the demons movements got slower and slower, till it stopped completely.

The young man waited a moment longer just to be sure before stumbling of the demons back and sitting, or rather falling, to the ground on his ass a good distance away from it. He was breathing and shacking heavily, but was not given the time to catch his breath as the dogs surrounded him in a flurry of wet fur, tongues and high pitched whining, pinning him to the ground while making sure their pack mate was still in one piece.

Bakugo watched and politely waited as the man seemed to endure it for a time, but soon enough pushed the frantic dogs of him. By now most of the barbarian group had arrived by the river bed taking a closer look at the demon. By the signs of it, it was probably the one they had been hunting. Katsuki cleared his throat getting the young man's attention.

"For a moment I was thinking we would have to burry your body, never thought you would be nuts enough to try and suffocate a demon bare handed. You don't look to be on the strong side, so where are your weapons?"

He was met with deep blue eyes on a delicate face framed by wet, black hair pulled from their ponytail. The young men, probably around his age, stood up wincing and started removing the rest of his soaked clothing to prevent from freezing to death before answering. Luckily it wasn't as cold as during winter yet.

"I lost them on the run from this thing and knew the small knife I still have wouldn't be enough to save me. This was the best plan I came up with. Your luck it worked otherwise you surely would have been cursing the rest of the day trying to find all pieces of me to burry. Or dig them out of this things stomach."

Katsuki grinned and continued silently watching for a moment. The black haired male wasn't muscled like the barbarian and farmers boys he was used to, with no defined abs on his belly, but more on the slender side. Rather feminine looking with his soft, hardly tanned skin and barely any scars showing. That didn't mean he had no muscles at all, as his fight against the demon proved. By his talent with the stone sling Katsuki ranked him to be more of a light weapon user, using weapons with a long range like strings and bows, rather than a swordsman or bare knuckle fighter. He was also about a head shorter than Katsuki.

The smaller male had sent his dogs off with a round of sharp whistles moments ago, which they happily obliged tumbling through the snow and up the cliff with ease. Probably to get their masters belongings. Said master was currently standing on a dry patch of snow, now only in his underwear jumping from one foot to the other in the cold and shivering after having washed away any specks of demon blood from his body.

Bakugo snorted, moving closer and threw his thick, red cape over to the young man so he could cover himself at least a little. The gesture was appreciated with a nod from the stranger and grins from his companions. He ignored them besides showing a small smirk, he knew what they were getting at. It was known throughout the tribes that the son of the Bakugo's had a liking for males rather than females and this one fit exactly into his prey-pattern.

"So what do you plan on doing with your catch?"

He looked at the smaller male now seated on a bigger stone with the cloak around his body and only got a confused stare. The barbarian pointed to the corpse of the demon leading to the stranger making a disgusted face.

"Let it rot here for the crows to feed on? I have no intention of going near this thing again, but if you have any use for it go on. It's all yours."

Bakugo raised a brow but otherwise kept silent, motioning for is men to get to cutting up the beast and taking anything valuable with them. Its teeth, claws and skin would make some good money as well as other parts, but he didn't put it past the stranger not to want anything to do with the being that nearly ate him.

"While we are waiting for your dog pack to return, how about you tell me a little bit about yourself? Who are you and especially what are you doing here on our lands. You don't really look like a hunter, despite that pack of dogs."

He took another critical look at him, not being able to range the other male. He was neither a lone fur hunter nor did he belong to any of the tribes, speaking by the lack of tattoos and hunting trophies like the necklace of dragon teeth that adorned his own neck and the tattoos on his arms. He wasn't very muscled or tanned, so neither a fighter nor one of the farmers of these mountains.

Perhaps a magician searching ingredients for a spell? No, he would have jumped at the opportunity to get demon teeth and other body parts unless he refused to take them with the purpose to hide his intentions. Possible, but unlikely. A citizen from one of the small villages around trying his luck with catching game before the actual start of cold season? More reasonable, but the closest village was about a week's ride away, the closest farm a three day ride on horse and he knew most of the farmers.

Shuichi didn't seem to have a horse with him either, unless it got killed by the demon. But there was no road up the mountain where the demon chased him from. What the hell did he do out here at this time of the year and without a horse? It would take him weeks to reach the closest village.

The young man looked to the side for a moment, apparently considering what story he would tell the barbarian as said man started tapping his foot impatiently. He was on their territory and Katsuki wouldn't let him leave without a satisfying answers. The man locked back up with a sudden fire in his eyes clearly stating he wouldn't be easy to coop with. The barbarian thought he rather liked the look in his blue eyes, it suited him.

"My name is Tomoya Shuichi. I am from a small town called Windfall. It's near the western coast and close to the northern mountains. You should know it."

Bakugo nodded. He hadn't been there himself, since it wasn't on the route they would take when going to the bigger coastal cities, being more inland, but he knew where it was. It was nearly a three weeks ride from their current position. Pretty far away, but he could tell this Shuichi was telling the truth, at least about his name and whereabouts.

"We had trouble with this year's crop and I was trying to catch some game, maybe bring back some furs, to help out my family. I came this far north so I wouldn't be caught by the crowns hunters … again. I wasn't aware I had been hunting on your grounds, lord Bakugo, I thought I was still on crown territory. Not that I caught anything at all …"

Bakugo grinned, this Shuichi knew who he was, probably overheard his comrades talking or recognized the tribe signs and tattoos, and he used the correct title as ordered by the king. Not that he minded being called lord, but other tribe leaders saw it as kind of mockery and wouldn't take it kindly. Not knowing if he would react good to being called 'lord' and still doing it showed how much spunk he had.

Shuichi also seemed to know about the difficulties between the crown and the barbarian tribes regarding hunting regulations and territories. If he really had been hunting on crown territory or believed to do so none of the barbarian would have bothered, it served the king right to have his stupid rules bite him back. And they were still pretty close to the crowns territory, on a beeline matter. Ignoring various high cliffs and deep gorges as well as fast running rivers it was but a day of walking. Going the actual paths would take a couple of days more since they were still up in the mountains.

Apparently Shuichi was a good liar too, besides his courage or possible death wish. His story seemed pliably and within reasoning, part was even the truth. But overall it was still a fucking lie. Bakugo had always been good at telling when people where lying to him and even though Shuichi didn't break eye contact once during the story, he was still lying.

He caught a glimpse of the young man's left earring, a beautiful black stone, small and round. He could barely make out the raging fires of the black opals colors and his smirk widened. Yes, he had spunk indeed. The young man also had a fist sized, black leather pouch around his naked neck, as well as a string of sunstones, which he tried to hide from view. He was a hunter that was for sure, a gem hunter.

And gem hunters always had some little treasures on them, treasures which could be made into money that would provide his clans survival during the cold season. Not that he would be stealing them. No, they may be a barbarian clan but he did not wish to cause trouble that would enrage the king more than he already was with their behavior and traditions. That man didn't like them and only let them do as they pleased, to a certain degree and being nothing more but a (temporary) compromise, because the mountains were too wild for his soldiers and their skills too needed with keeping pestering creatures and his own lordling's at bay.

But every foreign hunter not belonging to a barbarian clan, may it be a game, fur or gem hunter or anything around the line, had to pay a fee to the leading tribe for being allowed working in their territory. He didn't question why the young man was still in the mountains, most gem hunters had been gone the month prior due to the bad weather. The work was dangerous as it was and only bearable during the warmer seasons. Perhaps he had a bad year, but surely he could pay for their hospitality and for crossing his lands, least taking valuables from them.

Small crashing sounds announced the return of Shuichi's hound pack, he hadn't believed them to take long since Shuichi couldn't have been running from the demon over a long distance. He would be dead otherwise.

Bakugo suppressed a twitching as he hadn't noticed Shuichi standing up (he was preoccupied by his discovery which of course needed to be proved first) and wading through a shallow part of the river to reach the other side, before his dogs decided on pulling his still dry backpack through the waters. Sure enough his pack zoomed out of the trees at the far side of the creek, carrying a bow, quiver, a short spear and dragging a big backpack with a folded fur sleeping bag.

Still grinning devilishly, Bakugo watched the young man pull out some spare clothing. It was only thin clothing to wear during early autumn, apparently he had neither a spare fur cloak nor spare boots as his feet stayed naked. He was currently wringing out his wet clothes the best he could, shivering madly.

The plan how to manage this already set in his mind Bakugo mounted his horse and urged it through the river towards the young man. His comrades were by now done with taking the demon apart and one of them, the black haired always grinning Sero, followed him on his own mount and with one of the pack horses. He probably had caught on to his leaders plan being just as smart and always watchful to his doings.

The pack of wolf hounds growled a little unsure of the vibe coming from the blond haired male but gave him space anyway. Shuichi being done with wringing his clothing looked up at them and with a quiet 'oh' removed Bakugo's cloak he still had been wearing, reaching it up to the bigger man who fastened it back on his shoulders. He still felt cold, but he would be fine with dry clothes at least.

"Thank you for lending me this. I should hurry back to the village. I have no wish staying any longer after this experience."

Bakugo's smirk didn't falter at the second lie this day, making the young man more than a bit uncomfortable. Clearly, he was outnumbered.

"It would be ungracious of me to just leave you alone here out in the wild and in this weather with half your garb wet. And who knows what other creatures have been drawn in by the smell of death. Besides, you have taken care of the very demon we have been out for nearly a week hunting and even gave us your kill to sell and earn money from. The least we can do is provide a safe and warm night with good food to fill your belly. And I won't take no for an answer."

Smirking even wider Katsuki held his hand down for Shuichi to take, red eyes daring him to refuse. Shuichi did hesitate, considering his options, but with a sigh and unpleased frown he took the offered hand. In comparison to the barbarian his hand was sort of delicate for a man. But Katsuki could feel the calluses on them speaking of his hard work as he pulled the smaller man on the horse to sit behind him with ease. To him who was used to tussle with heavy muscled barbarians the young male was feather light.

Since Shuichi was still shivering Katsuki pulled his cloak over him, trapping him in red darkness and pulling him closer to his back that he would have to sling his arms around his torso to keep balanced. Katsuki wasn't using a leather saddle but a thick, quilted blanket to ride like all of the tribes during hunts. He could practically feel the other glaring daggers at his back at being treated this way. But after he pulled on a pair of socks he put his feet between Katsuki's legs and the horses belly, dipping his toes into the fur of the barbarians high boots were they would stay warmer, not that he could reach further down. He also surprised Katsuki as his hands snaked up to the binding holding the cloak and loosening it just so that he could pull it down the muscled barbarians back far enough to stick his head out. Katsuki glanced back at the grinning male.

"Sorry, I don't mind the warmth but I would rather not suffocate down there … and it smells of hunter. How in hell are you even able to bear this weather and still be warm half naked?"

Katsuki had a sly smile on his lips as he urged his horse back onto the path and answered with a simple "Training I guess". Only in the deepest winter would he wear a shirt beneath his cape.

Years back he would have thrown the other off the horse after being told that he smelled. He couldn't stand insults even if they were hidden by questions afterwards and was known for his short fuse. But he had 'chilled out' as some of his friends would call it since being responsible for the tribes affairs and after some years travelling with other people than barbarians, satisfying his need for adventure. He still liked venturing to unknown regions but nowadays it needed more than a bit teasing to have him explode. And throwing Shuichi of his horse would clash with the plan he had in mind.

Sero had already fitted Shuichi's belongings onto the spare pack horse, always a nervous eye to the stalking dogs, but a small whistle from their owner had called them off and now they mingled with the trek. Two stayed close to the pack horse with Shuichi's belonging while the other three surrounded Bakugo and his horse. His stallion took in their smell, but only snorted lightly deciding they were no bother for him. Bakugo instead looked more closely, something about them was off. He had noticed before, but now he had the time to actually get a good look at them.

They were big, even for wolves more so for wolf-breeds going nearly to his waist and their keen eyes had a shine to them as if they understood every single word he was talking with his people. They had to be wolf-breeds, a real wolf would never listen to a human by a mere whistle nor walk with complete strangers in the way these five were doing. But he was not sure if they were normal wolf-breeds, though he had never heard of dire-wolfs being breed to dogs.

He might ask his mother about this since she was famous for having hunted together with dire wolves in her young years, not that he really believed those stories. Whatever her connection to these mythical creatures, they never bothered their tribe since his mother was the leader and there were a lot of dire wolves out in the northern mountains. The tribes still hunted them, but stuck to the rules his mother set avoiding the season when the wolves might have pups for example. He would have to keep an eye on these guys as long as they were near. They could bear trouble if he tried to intimidate Shuichi into cooperating, which he intended to do. What a nuisance, he could as well find out a bit more about them and make their master feel more comfortable around him.

"Hey pearl, what are your dog's names?"

The body behind him twitched at the nickname, but he still answered truthfully. Apparently he liked to brag about his unusual companions, not that he didn't have the right to. Katsuki himself loved to brag about being friends with Eijiro to any who knew him or about his tribe and himself being a barbarian right from the cradle generally.

"The big black one up front is Amaroqu, he is the alpha. The pretty white with grey markings behind him is his mate Yashka. The red one with golden-brown markings on our right is Yashka's old mother, Moro. The black one with the grey-blue markings and blue eyes is Blue, obviously. And the petit brown-grey colored one is Timba. They are Amaroqu's and Yashka's daughters."

"How long do you have them and aren't you supposed to be their alpha?"

"I am their leader and pack mate, not their holder or master. They only listen to me and accompany me because they want to. Moro is with me for nearly ten years now, I found here in the wilderness as pup and took care of her since then. I wanted to set her free once, believing she was pure wolf but she just wouldn't leave. Figured later she was more dog than wolf simply born with the pride of an old wise grandmother that wouldn't take shit from anyone younger than her. Especially not about where she was supposed to live."

Katsuki snorted, she sounded just like his mother and the low growl the dog send their way as well as the look in her golden eyes told him as much. Amaroqu may be the alpha and Shuichi their leader, but like a cat she would only follow their orders if she liked them and sometimes not even then just to proof she could. He already liked the piece of fur.

"The winter six years back she went to the mountains alone, she often went wandering around for weeks and it didn't concern me anymore. This time she came with a belly full of pups, three in the count. The other two found nice homes with hunters, Yashka stayed with me and it was the only time Moro had pups, probably regretted it in a way since she left me to teach them manners and the like. It was three years later that Yashka vanished for a week and came back with Amaroqu, who was smitten with her. Moro accepted him and we got along too so I had three dogs. Of course it did not take long for the first litter of pups three years ago, though they didn't had as second yet. Well, I kept only two of the four pups and that's the whole story."

Katsuki felt him shrug his shoulders as if to end the conversation, but he was far from pleased with the amount of information. The more he knew the better he would be able to read the younger man's intentions.

"What about your family?"

He could practically feel the glare from the black haired and see it in the way Sero was starting to grin. He was riding just short to his right, mindful of the wolf-breed walking between them. Considering the time it took the young man to answer he was probably debating if he should lie and be found out the moment Katsuki or one of his men decided to visit Windfall and ask about him. He decided to stay with the truth mostly, but the barbarian knew he kept critical information back.

"I was taken up by the family of the village's smith as I was young and never knew my parents. Parts of the smith's family are farmers but I stayed with the smith and his son, his wife decease soon after they took me in. I work either in the smithy, at the farms or doing random jobs around town. I thought of moving out after turning eighteen two years back, but father insisted I stay in one of the rooms above the smithy. I couldn't find any reasons yet to turn him down and that's why I still mostly work there or in the fields."

Realizing that Shuichi was but a year younger than him and despite years of working in a smithy still looked like he never ever touched a smiths hammer, Katsuki couldn't help the chuckling snort from escaping his mouth. While he had learned how to forge weapons thanks to his mother, Katsuki's muscled build mainly came from his fighting and hunting training. He still believed he could swing a hammer better than the lean male behind him even without the years of practice.

"Yeah sure, as if your weak little arms ever had swung a hammer or pulled a plow. Tell me another."

A fist hit his back below his shoulder blades into his ribs making him choke on the chuckle and pain shoot trough his spine. It nearly made his eyes tear up.

"I may not have as much muscles as you but I know how to strike painful points. So don't test me. Knowing the right technics swinging a hammer or working a plow is a piece of cake. And for most of the work you need brain more than muscles. I am doing fine with my bodies built, thank you so much."

Katsuki refrained from rubbing the now sore spot. Shuichi did have as much bite as he had predicted and he was definitely upset at him judging by the look he received.

"Ouch."