A/N: I nkow this chapter is quite short, but I had no time writing it. Anyway, here it is:

Rhosyn drifted into sleep as soon as her head touched the pillows. She's always been like that – whatever happened, once it was gone, it never bothered her anymore. Eirlys, on the other hand, was different. Even Gwenda was snoring slightly when she was still awake, gazing the ceiling of the little chamber where the three of them were sleeping. She revived moments of fear: the wolf, with those fierce yellow eyes and streaming breath, the sound of his steps on the fresh snow, the feeling that death was just an inch away... and then the coming of the bear.

She turned, and shut her eyes, trying to have some sleep at last. But dreams were escaping her, just as they escaped the wolf tonight. Her mind could not let go this memory, she kept wandering away and then back to it. Until today, she thought the forest was safe, full of friends: the trees were her friends, giving shade when the sun was too hot, and firewood for the cold nights like this; the creeks where their friends as well, the flowers, herbs and berries, and so were the animals. Never she or Rhosyn encountered anything ferocious or fearsome in this forest – never before today.

She was half asleep when she heard the noise. The night was still silent, apart from Gwenda's snores and Rhosyn's mumbling (she's always talked in her sleep), and the sound of the wind. This was different... like... like something, or someone scratching the door.

"Rhosyn... Rhosyn! Gwenda!" she whispered, half wanting to wake them, half thinking she was silly and a coward. You're a good girl, Eirlys, but too faint-harted. You have to learn not to be afraid, girl. Indeed, she had to. She got out of bed, and went to the door, peeped out through the little window, and saw – the bear. Not any bear, it was the one that saved them, she recognised him immediately. He was huge, but not fearsome at all. But something was not right about him. He was... ah, yes, he had been injured during the fight. But could it be, that he followed their footprints and came to this house in seek of their help? Or was this just her childish, daydreaming mind's work? Such things could have happened in the old world, she knew. Those times, when magic was present. But today? She was not sure. Better to ask Gwenda. Anyway, this poor thing is in need of our help. And so she went to wake Gwenda and Rhosyn.

As soon as the old woman saw the bear, now lying on their doorsill, she immediately ordered the girls to take him inside. The aimal was heavy, and clearly not strong enough, so it took all the three of them, and several minutes, to get him into the house. Then Gwenda made Rhosyn start the fire again, and Eirlys fetch a bowl of water. When the water was boiling, the girls cleaned the wound and cut the thick, blood-soiled hair around. Finally Gwenda took out a needle and stitched up the wound. Now the bear seemed to be conscious again. Weak as he was, he still tried to get up, and pain glistened in his big brown eyes.

"Hush, my bear, hush!" said Eirlys, touching his hair lightly. "Now you will be all right. The wound is clean, it won't fester. Drink this, the fever will go." She took the cup of wine mixed with herbs that the old woman handed her, and made the bear drink it all.

"This was all I could do" Gwenda said finally. "Yes, the wound is clean, and it will heal." She looked at it – the scratch was long, across the bears chest, now neatly stitched. "not that it will take a short time. But I suppose we can keeep him in the cottage until he feels better. Now, girls, into bed!"

And with this, she disappeared into the sleeping chamber. Rhosyn, yawning followed her, but Eirlys was still kneeling beside the bear.

"I'll stay a bit." She looked up at her sister. "Look, his hair is covered with ice. I'd better comb it out before it melts and he catches cold."

"All right." Rhosyn said amused. Surely, this day was most surprising. Not only they had been attacked by a wolf, and saved by a bear, but now Eirlys is showing great interest in a wild animal. Until today, she kept herself to her flowers, and was even afraid of humble stags.
Well, interesting enough, but better have some sleep, or I won't get up all time tomorrow. I hope I'll dream of spring when I will be able to get out at last.

But when she fall asleep, she was dreaming about a limping wolf that found no hiding place. The moon was suddenly covered by big dark clouds, and as the wolf curled up under a pine shrub, it slowly started to snow again.