Winter is coming in and this is going to be hard for everyone, including Heart. It's her first time alone for winter and no pack to provide for her. She wants to try and do this on her own, but she didn't realize how hard it was actually going to be.


Ch 18: Snowfall

After the event of Alpha's death, Heart returned home to Alastor's part of the forest. She was happy to be home and also glad to know that the pack will be ok. She saw how Lizzy was taking charge already of the pack and it made her happy to see. The new Alpha saw her off as she headed home, Ceil walked back with her to the border and said their goodbyes.

Even though Heart was glad she was back home, she was worried about Alastor. She had been gone for so long that the deer's rut had come and gone when she was away. It made her feel bad that she couldn't be there for when the deer was going through that. It must have driven him crazy with her not there. So much for their first time together. Looks like being official mates might have to wait.

She knew the deer missed her because when she got back to her home, he was laying in her den on one side of her moss bedding. He was so happy to see her back, worried that she would stay with the pack. The hybrid reassured him though, that she would never leave him. Even though Lizzy asked her to stay, she turned it down. Her heart doesn't belong there, it belongs down south with a certain deer. Alastor was happy to hear that Heart was here to stay and listened to her explain all that happened inside the pack. Including Alpha's story about how he met Dorothy.

After that, things went back to the way they were, Ceil kept track of everything happening in the pack and would tell Heart about it when they met. The pack was thriving and Lizzy has changed some things, but it was for the good. Heart was happy to see her half-sister was doing such an amazing job being alpha.

Fall seemed to fly by in the forest before anyone knew it it was getting chilly. More of a freezing wind started to come through the lands. The leaves were all gone on the trees and the forest looked barren. At least it had recovered from the fire so that it can still live. So that all the demons in the forest can thrive. This was going to be hard; it was Heart's first time on her own during the colder season.

Heart woke up that morning with a shiver. She was cold and when she opened her eyes, she could see her breath. It had gotten colder. Making her den big enough for the buck in her life was starting to backfire. Her den was so big it couldn't keep heat. She had to try and find something to make her den warm. At least try to get her bed a little warmer. Especially when Alastor wasn't there to lay with her.

The hybrid stretched and shook her fur. She needed to get warm so she got out of her den and started to run. Get her blood going to make her body temperature rise a bit so she can be warm. Along the way she was going to try and find ways to get her bed warmer. Some dead leaves and more moss, whatever she could find. At least the snow hadn't started falling yet.

As she ran, she managed to make note of things she found. She hadn't run into anyone to her surprise. The forest almost seemed dead. That worried her a moment but she just kept running. At least she was warm now. She circled back in a trot and grabbed the items the best she could in her mouth to take back to her den. She took note of some big branches as well. Maybe she could do something with those as well.

She took back what she could and started to build up her bed and even added some to her walls. She took the big branches and brought them inside and started to use them in the middle of the area. She wanted to try and block out some of the air that was coming into the den but leaving enough space for Alastor to still get around.

Heart was proud of her work and hoped it would do well for the cold. She went back out of the den and decided to try and find something for lunch since she had been out all morning and working on her den. At the same time, she hoped to find Alastor. He hasn't come to see her and it was odd for him to not stop by. Usually, he would check up on her. With the weather getting colder he was a bit busy, making sure everyone was warm enough.

The wolf tried to hunt but nothing was active, she thought it was odd. Lifting her nose, she tried to sniff around and found nothing but an old trail of a squirrel. She sighed and kept looking. She got to a stream and decided to take a drink before moving on. Eventually she did find something, but it wasn't prey, but Veronica. It was then Heart realized she was close to the mountains.

The white fox spotted the hybrid and her tail wagged. "Heart, hello!"

"Hello Veronica, good to see you." Heart greeted her back.

"You as well my friend, lovely day is it not?" The fox said with a happy yip.

She shrugged. "I'm a bit cold but I guess it's not bad."

"My winter coat is all coming in so I'm as warm as can be." Veronica answered and then looked at Heart with an odd stare. She then started to pace around her. The hybrid was confused a moment before she stopped back in front of her. "You don't have a winter coat yet?"

Oh, so that is what she was looking at, her fur. Heart's ears went to the side. "Well, yes, but it's not that thick. I actually can get pretty cold in the wintertime. Since I'm a hybrid my genetics are weird, I'm more built for fire then snow."

"What about in the past?" Veronica asked.

Heart sat down for a moment, "Most of the time I would spend winter in the den when it got way too cold for me. My adopted mother would bring me food." Heart sighed. "I can't do that this year. I can't rely on others to help me. I'm not in a pack and I'm not a pup anymore. I need to learn to take care of myself."

"Heart, you know we can help you." Veronica told her with slight concern in her voice. "Especially Alastor. He wouldn't want you freezing to death."

"I'll be ok. I don't want to be a burden to anyone, especially Alastor." The wolf said with her ears back and eyes on the ground. "I…I want to try and do this on my own first."

The vixen looked at the hybrid concerned still. "I know Heart, but you have to know your own limits. Just…don't push yourself. Ok? We care about you and we don't want to see you hurt."

Heart's face relaxed at her words. "I know and don't worry. I'll be ok." She told her with a smile.

"We'll be here, let me help you for now. Take my kill from this morning. I'll be fine if I eat some berries." Veronica told her and started towards a tree.

Heart followed, "Veronica, you don't have to do that for me. You need it just as much as I do."

The fox went and grabbed a squirrel from behind a bush and put it in front of Heart. "Nonsense. I have more experience hunting in the winter. I'm made for it after all." She chuckled.

Heart looked at the kill and then up at Veronica. "Thank you, my friend, I appreciate it."

"No worries." The vixen said with a smile and wag of her tail. "Now head on back to your den. It's going to start getting cold tonight. I want you to be warm and safe. I'll make sure Alastor stops by to see you and keep you warm."

Heart chuckled at that. "I will and I hope to see him today. Goodbye for now Veronica." She says as she picks up the squirrel and heads on her way back to her den.

"See you." The fox says and watches the wolf walk away.

Heart trotted back to her den, the prey in her jaw. She honestly felt bad taking the food from the fox, but she was insistent she take it but she knew not to argue with her. At least it would hold her over for now. She knew that this was only just the beginning of the cold season. Before she knew it the snow would be falling and covering everything.

She got back to her den and went over to her bedding and laid down to start and eat the prey. The squirrel was gone in no time, she even went to chew on some bones to occupy her. As for the cold, it seems the alterations she did helped a little bit. It was still cold in her den but it wasn't as bad.

Luckily, someone walked up to her den, just the demon she was looking for. Her nose caught him way before he walked up to her den. Her tail wagged and she stood up and went to her entrance. There he was, Alastor, walking into her little clearing. She was excited and gave excited yips as she saw him, her tail wagging like crazy.

Alastor saw this and smiled at her. "Hello, my darling, I see you are happy to see me." He walked up to her at the den. Heart came out of her den a little and started to lick his neck as she did her excited yips. "My little wolf, you are so adorable with your little wolfie ways." He leaned his head down and started to lick her head.

Soon Heart stopped and lifted her head a little. "Sorry about that." She said a little embarrassed.

"No need to worry darling. I think its adorable. "The deer tells her. "Now, come on, let's get inside. You look cold my dear."

Heart turned and walked into her den. "Was trying to get the den a little warmer. It worked a little bit." She told him as she moved around the thick twigs in the middle of her den.

Alastor looked around and thought that maybe it was too much. "Well, if its working dear, but shouldn't your winter coat be in by now?" He asked.

Heart laid on her moss bed and put her ears back as she looked at the floor. "I don't get a very thick winter coat. I've always had trouble keeping warm in winter." She explained.

"Oh, I see. Well, you know dear. My den is a little warmer. You could always stay with me." Alastor offered as he got up to her.

Shaking her head, she responded. "This is my first winter on my own." She said and closed her eyes for a moment. "I want to see if I can do this."

The deer frowned a moment and just went and laid beside her. "Heart, you don't have to do this on your own. I love you very much. You're my future mate. I don't know what I'd do without you." He said to her worried and nuzzled into her neck.

Heart's ears went back at his words. "I know love, but…at least give me a chance first. Please?"

His nose was still in her neck and he just took a whiff of her, her scent filling his nose. He nuzzled back into her. "Ok my love. I'll let you, but as soon as you need help you come to me, ok?"

"I promise." Heart reassured the deer as she looked back at him and smiled sadly.

"Thank you darling, that makes me feel a little better." Alastor whispered as he closed his eyes.

Heart rested and closed her eyes as well, enjoying the warmth of the deer next to her. This winter was going to be a hard one and with Alastor being busy keeping track of all the other demons, making sure they were safe, it was going to be harder on the wolf. She could get through this…she had to.


As the month went on, the weather only got worse. The cold kept creeping lower and lower. Snow had fallen lightly before. Heart was able to stand it to a point. She couldn't go out for awfully long and she kept adding more stuff to her den to keep the cold out. It would work for a little while till the temperature would drop again. Now the snow was falling and laying on the ground.

When Heart woke up that morning, she came to see a blanket of snow on the ground. There wasn't any wind that morning so it wasn't as cold but it was still a bit chilly. She could stand it for now. It was getting harder and harder for her to hunt and find kills. She hadn't seen any of her friends as the winter weather settled in, probably because they weren't going far from their dens and the cold kept them inside.

Alastor always was walking around and he would sometimes find Heart when she was looking for food. He would always ask her if he could take her in for the winter, but she always denied him. She wanted to try and get through winter. Alastor was almost starting to get annoyed by her stubbornness but he knew better to not try and get in her way. She was determined and he would only step in when she needed him. Although it was starting to get harder for the hybrid, she was sure she even lost weight because of this. She was still ok though; he would come lay with her at night when it was cold. It kept her warm, but he always left in the morning to make his rounds.

The wolf was very cold this morning, the morning was dark and the clouds were gray today. "Looks like we might get more snow." Heart said as she looked up at the sky. She sighed in annoyance. "Just perfect."

She stretched outside her den and her paws crunched under the snow. She had to find something before this snow started to fall. She has been unlucky the last two days hunting and she was starting to feel it. There was only so much chewing on bones could do. She made her way out and the forest was silent. It almost seemed dead, the leaves off the trees and the snow on the ground. It looked nice and peaceful at least as she walked around.

There was no one around and it was so weird to not see anyone. She guessed that is how it always was when the forest was full of life though but there were always sounds. She just kept walking, her stomach growled a moment and it hurt when it did so. It had been a few days since she had a meal that filled her up. It was barely anything at all. Her ears went back a moment. She had to try and find something. With a sigh she kept walking.

She didn't know how long she was out for, but snow started to fall and it got on her fur. Some of it had melted but there was a thin layer on her that made her shiver. She couldn't give up. She had to keep going. The snow was starting to fall more now though and a slight wind was starting to pick up.

"This isn't good, but…I have to keep…going." Heart said through her teeth.

So, the wolf pushed on, fighting the wind and unknown of the storm that was a head of her. The wind soon picked up, the snow fell heavy now with a sheet of white. She was blinded now, unsure of where to go. She had to keep pushing, keep going. Her paws started to freeze and feel frozen. She could try to find Alastor or at least his den. She had to make it there…but she was slowing down. Although as she walked…before she knew it the world went blurry and then black.


Alastor was running. The snow was falling increasingly faster, and there was wind picking up. A storm was heading in and the deer needed to be with his mate to make sure she was ok and safe. His hooves crunched against the snow and his hot breath was coming out of his nostrils. He was in a hurry; he didn't want to be in this storm.

He made it to Heart's den and got inside. "There is a real bad storm coming my love. I have come to keep you company and keep you warm." He said as he walked around the den with the things Heart has put to try and keep the cold out. "I know you won't-." When he got to her moss bed, he was left in surprise…she wasn't there. "-mind." The deer stopped where he was and was frozen for a second. "Heart?" He called out as he looked around the den for a moment but he did not spot her.

Alastor climbed out of the wolf's den and tried to look around, but he saw no tracks. She has been gone a long time. A spike of worry hit his chest and he tried to find any sign of her. With the snowstorm upon him, he didn't have much time to try and find her if she was out there. She wouldn't be able to last long in this cold.

"Heart?" He called out just in case but he got no response.

He huffed and started to try and sniff for her if there was anything left. He went along the tree line, hoping she would have brushed against one. Give him an idea on which way she went. He got a hit and he thanked the gods. With an idea on a direction, he started to follow it. He tried to keep his eyes out for her. Try to find her before this storm gets worse.

Alastor tried to follow the very faint smell he had of her. He had no tracks to go off of since the wind and snow had blown over them, making them disappear. "Heart?" He called out again, hoping she would hear him.

His heart pounded in his ears as his worry still spiked. He tried not to go into a panic as he started to go faster. He got a small sniff of her and he followed it, making a left turn and running. He wasn't sure where she was going but it was getting closer to his cave. Whether it was intentional or not he was not sure but was glad she was close. Although it started to fade and wear off and he was lost again.

"Heart!" Alastor called out again. Still nothing. He was starting to go into a full panic.

Then he tripped.

Alastor was always graceful on his feet, so that fact that he tripped surprised him. He fell forward and rolled twice before coming to a stop on his side. He was groggy a moment before he shook his head and stood up. He shook the snow from his body and looked to see what he might have tripped on. It was a mound of snow but it was odd to him. He went over and sniffed it. It gave a familiar smell.

Trying his best, he moved some snow and found black fur underneath. His eyes went wide and he started to move more of the snow. Soon he discovered it was Heart.

"Oh gods." He said in a panic and tried to lick her face but she was cold. She wasn't moving but he could see she was just breathing slow and steady. "Heart! Heart please, can you hear me?"

She didn't respond though and the deer grabbed her by her collar and managed to move her a little out of the mound of snow. Even so there had to be a better way to carry her. Get her out of this cold and snow. Alastor was left with no choice as he had to use his powers. Summoning shadows they managed to pick her up and carry her with no problem. He then led the way through the snow back to his cave so that she could get warm.

Trying to fight through the wind and the snow, they managed to get back to his cave. The shadows got Heart inside as well but she still had not moved. "Put her on the pile of furs. Start to cover her." He ordered the beings.

Doing as told the shadows put the wolf down and started to pile the pelts on her. Alastor watched them a moment before going to where he kept a secret stash of meat for the winter. He didn't want to give her anything big at the moment, but he found a groundhog and brought it over to her. She could eat it when she awoke.

Alastor laid beside her, watching her. He felt worry spike in his chest. Leaning forward, he started to lick her face gently. Mainly to see if it would help warm her but also because it was a comfort to himself with giving her kisses.

The deer pulled away for a moment and he felt a wave of emotion wash over him that he has never felt before. "I should have been there. I should have come to your den sooner. Maybe I could have stopped you. Protect you." He felt his face get a little wet. He was crying and not even realizing it.

Alastor put his face into the wolf's neck and nuzzled his face there. He stayed like that for a while with her. Waiting. Hoping she would be ok. He has felt this so many times with her. This feeling of worry and just being scared. With Heart it's the first time Alastor was able to experience any of these feelings. He didn't like them but at the same time they were welcomed since it meant that he truly did care. He loved her and she was the only one he would be able to love.

After about an hour Heart seemed to move. Her body finally had warmed up from almost being frozen. She was confused a moment when she felt nice and warm now. Was she dead? Is this what happens after you die? She opened her eyes a little and it was blurry at first but her eyes got adjusted quickly. She was in a familiar spot, once looking around a little more she realized it was Alastor's cave. So, she wasn't dead after all!

"Darling? My little wolf can you hear me?" A voice said to her. Turning her head, she saw that it was Alastor that was speaking to her. "There you are my love. Oh, my goodness, I was so worried about you." The deer's tail was wagging like crazy.

Heart looked at him for a moment and tried to speak. It came out very hoarse and groggy. "Al? Where…am I?"

"You're in my cave, love. I brought you back here to warm up." Alastor told her with a small hint of sadness in his voice. "I found you out in the snowstorm."

Heart's ears went back at those words and she looked away from him, ashamed. "Alastor….I'm sorry."

"Don't be sorry my wolf. There is nothing to be sorry about." He rescued her.

"Yes, there is." Heart whined and put her head back down and turned away from the deer. "I tried to let my stubbornness get in the way of things. I would have been fine if I had just let you help me from the beginning."

Alastor just smiled sadly at her and gave her a few licks on her ear. "Heart, I can understand. You were determined to prove you could do this on your own. There is nothing wrong with that."

"But I almost died!" Heart snapped and tears started to fill her eyes, "I almost died…because I was so stupid." She said softly and then the tears started falling.

The deer lord's ears went back a little but went and laid next to the wolf a little better. "But you didn't and you're here now. We all learn from our lessons, do we not?"

Heart said nothing as she just cried and leaned into Alastor more. Wanting to feel him and just have his comfort. "I don't want to leave you." She whispered.

"And you won't. You're not going anywhere my love. I promise you this." He whispered back to her.

The wolf turned her head and rubbed her face against the deer's. "I'm sorry Al. I'm so sorry." She cried to him. "Thank you…for finding me. I'd be…dead without you."

Alastor just kept licking the hybrid's face as she cried, trying to get her tears away. He said nothing as he just let her cry. She was just so scared and probably in shock. Eventually she calmed down and just rested her face against his neck. Breathing in his scent as it calmed her. Eventually her breathing evened out but she still kept her head where it was.

"Are you feeling ok now dear?" Alastor asked softly.

"A little." She answered in a whisper. "I just…"

"Shh, my wolf, don't speak. Just relax ok." Alastor told her and then took his hoof to bring over the groundhog he picked out for her. "Here, why don't you eat. I'm sure you're starving. You haven't had much luck out there."

"I don't want to take your food Al." Heart said as she turned her head away.

"You're not. I'm offering it to you. I'll even share with you." Alastor reassured her. "You're my mate Heart and I want to look out for you. For both of us. For our future together." He said and nuzzled her neck.

His words sunk into the hybrid a moment as she laid there and looked at the prey in front of her. He did have a point. They were together and even if they hadn't officially been full mates yet, they were planning to be. They wanted to be with each other and with that, you had to look out for one another. You have to have each other's backs and work as one. Everything was a combined effort.

Heart looked at the groundhog and pulled it towards her and then took a bite. It was good at least and she swallowed a bite before taking another. She didn't realize how hungry she was now until she started to eat. She hadn't eaten in almost two days so this was wonderful. Alastor watched her and was happy to see that she didn't argue anymore and just decided to have at it. The deer only took small bites here and there, he honestly wasn't hungry. He only said he would share to get her to eat and he was happy it worked.

Once Heart had had her full and laid back and snuggled into the warm furs still on top of her as well as the deer next to her. "Thank you, my buck." She said and then looked up at him. "For everything."

"No need to thank me. I'm just doing what any other mate would do. Look out for them." The deer told her with a smile and nuzzled his nose against hers. "Here come with me for a moment."

Alastor stood and Heart did the same. She was wobbly for a moment but she managed to stand up. After being in the snow, the cold and being weak from not eating she had a tough time. Alastor fixed some of the furs on her so she would stay warm and walked to the entrance of his den. Heart followed, keeping close to the deer's side so she could lean on him a little bit. She still felt a little weak and didn't want to fall.

Once they got close to the entrance, they could see the outside. "Let's sit and watch the snow. Watch the storm pass. We are nice and warm in here, so you'll be ok." Alastor told her.

Heart looked outside and then up to the deer with a smile. "I like that idea." She said and was quick to lay down as she still felt a little wobbly.

He smiled down at her and laid down beside her. He leaned his head against hers and the two were silent as they watched the storm go on outside. It was amazing to see the land turned white, the trees were so bare and everything so silent except for the howling wind.

Heart leaned more into Alastor and gave a small sigh of satisfaction. "I love you, my great buck."

Alastor looked down at her and smiled. "I love you to, my little wolf."

The deer started to lick her ear, giving it small kisses to reassure her. Everything would be ok. He would take care of her, no matter what. He couldn't picture his life without her. Finding her in the woods, frozen and covered in snow, really scared him. He wouldn't want her to leave his side. Not now. Not ever. Not even snow could take his darling wolf away from him.


Damn it snow! Why you got to be such a bully! The snow was hard but it seems Alastor was there to save the day. So many things happening to these two but Heart can be stubborn when she wants to be XD