Discovering the reason why Rath had left earlier, Kate had the task of getting a wounded Rath and the supplies to the cave. After Kate made several trips transporting the supplies did Rath attempt to move. Walking, then crawling to the cave didn't get him any closer to the cave. Finally he had to use Kate and his bo staff as support to enter the cave.

Helping Rath to the cave floor, Kate wrapped him in a deer skin blanket.

"This should keep you warm," she said tucking the edges of the blanket under him, "Think the supplies will last until you're healed?"

"We'll see," he said, "How's your clothes?"

"Noticed my blanket poncho?"

"Yes."

"Properly freeze before worrying about the current fashion trends."

"Look in the pack."

Opening his pack, she pulled out the deer skin gloves, shirt, moccasins, and pants.

"I'll look like a reject from a Tarzan movie."

"Then freeze."

"When did you do this?"

"Between smoking the meat and you helping Fran."

As the days went by and the air getting colder, she wore the deer skin clothes. As he laid on the cave floor, the supplies slowly dwindled away.

Retrieving water and heading back to the cave, her ears detected movement. Stopping her eyes scanned the scenery. When she couldn't detect anything else, she continued back to the cave.

"Rath are..."

Her body froze. Sleeping beside Rath was a wolf. Its black fur was decorated with some gray strand of fur especially around the face.

"Rath," she said without waking the wolf up.

No response.

"Rath," that brought the wolf to lift its head up and stare at her.

"You need to learn to be quiet," remarked Rath stroking the back of the wolf's neck.

"Be quiet?" commented Kate, "There's a wild animal laying beside you."

"Lets he knows the meaning of quiet," lifting up a small lump of fur.

"What's that?"

Removing his pocket knife from his coat pocket, "A rabbit that our guest brought," unfolding the blade.

Grimacing, the blade cut into the rabbit.

Walking towards him, "Here," taking the knife and rabbit from him.

The wolf gave a low growl.

"Easy Gray Face, she's won't slit my throat until I'm asleep."

"What's his problem?"

"Not use to females being forthright."

"Huh?"

"Never mind. Do you know what you're doing?"

"Skinning this rabbit."

"How?"

Moving the blade to decide where to cut, "Well first," going first for the neck then decided against it then went to left front paw.

"Here," taking back the knife and rabbit, "First, make a slit where the tail and ass hole meet," this brought a laugh from Kate, "Then cut along the back of the legs. Grab the tail, put your foot on the head. Then pull down. Slice the back the front legs. Pick pulling until you're at the head. Finally cut through the neck," holding the skinned rabbit up, "There don't worry you're going to get practice."

"What make you think that?"

Cutting off a leg, "Cause Gray Face," throwing the piece towards the wolf, "is going to hunt for the food and will receive a raw portion that catch."

"Just like that?"

"Yes, now cook our portion," handing the rabbit to Kate.

This arrangement went for days. Gray Face brought in the food as Kate cook. Once she did forget to give Gray Face a raw piece. As the stream filtered from the cooked meat, it stared at her.

"Well are you going to eat?"

It stared at the cooked portion then at her. Its face had, "Are you talking to me, stupid?"

"Listen you can starve if you feel that way."

"Are we having problems, dear?"

"This stupid animal doesn't like my cooking."

"Sweetheart, he receives a raw portion not a cooked portion. Now apologize."

"I'm not apologizing to some dumb animal."

"Only dumb animal in this cave is a drama queen who can't swallow her ego and accept being wrong."

"I'm sorry," mumbling curses under her breath as she took back the cooked portion.

Picking up the canteens went to get them filled up.

Watching her leave, Rath stared at Gray Face.

"Don't worry," he said, "She's trainable."

Gray Face just laid his muzzle against his front paws.