Four nights had passed since Valentina had spoken with Ellerie, and since she had seen the wolves. The latter didn't worry her, but Ellerie did. Her golden eyes haunted the brunette, filling her mind. Everything in her was ablaze with curiosity towards the raven haired woman. She wanted to know her, befriend her, but Val hadn't seen her around the village, or anywhere for that matter. It was as if Ellerie had appeared suddenly and then disappeared off of the face of the earth. The woman was a mystery, and the brunette wanted to learn all about her.

Finishing her shift at the bakery, Valentina hung up her apron, yeast and flour cluttering the floor. Skilled hands pulled the bonnet and ribbon out of her hair, coffee colored hair cascading down her shoulders and back. Her head shook, the tension on her scalp easing. Rolling her neck once and pulling her shoulders back, the woman yawned and got back to cleaning. She swept the floors, wiped the counters down, and set the displays up for the following morning, minus the actual baked goods. By the time she had finished, the sun was beginning to set, the sky colored in violets, reds, and oranges. It was beautiful, but she knew she couldn't dawdle—not today.

Pulling her cloak on, she locked the bakery door, leaving the key underneath a nearby rock as the owner of the bakery insisted when she first started working for him. Still, rapidly cooling air greeted her skin, and she clung to the red fabric tighter. Feet marched her forward, towards the little cottage by the river. She didn't get far before hearing rustling behind her, and a boisterous voice calling her name.

Her head swung around. Green eyes widened at the woman she had desired to see for days now. "Ellerie!" She exclaimed, not containing her excitement as she ran to meet the woman. "I've not spoken to you for days, where have you been?"

With no reserves, she engulfed her new friend in a hug, smelling a mixture of pine and leaves, a scent in which was becoming her favorite. The raven-haired woman accepted, clinging to the red cloaked girl with a wide smile. When they released, Valentina's eyes sparkled, matching cinnamon colored orbs.

"I've been occupied," Ellerie finally said, linking her arm with Val's and pulling them forward, continuing on the dirt path.

The brunette hummed, walking closer to her friend. "What are you doing out here? It's very late."

"I enjoy walking in the evening. The sky is beautiful as the sun falls and it is quiet; it gives me time to think."

"About?"

Thin lips curled. "Nothing in particular."

The brunette hummed once more, and they walked in comfortable silence as the sun set. Before the cottage appeared in sight, Valentina spoke, her voice erupting almost urgently.

"I have never had a true friend."

"You work in the village bakery," the taller woman lead on. "Surely you must have a friend or more."

Dark hair shook, and a pit was beginning to form in Valentina's stomach. Had she sounded too desperate? Did not having a confidante make her unappealing? She was desperate for a friend--gossip and acquaintanceship did not satiate her hunger for human interaction.

Eyebrows rose in surprise. "Really?" Ellerie asked. "Why not?"

"Grandmother," she murmured, unsure whether she should divulge the information or not, "doesn't allot much time for companionship."

The raven haired woman paused, then spat out, "She mustn't be a decent woman then."

Val agreed.

"Why do you stay?"

The sun was almost set completely, the sky a darker shade of violet. The birds had stopped chirping, crickets taking their place. An owl cried in the distance, and the wind had picked up. Leaves danced across the ground, crossing paths with the two women.

Why did she stay other than she had no place to go and she feared what her grandmother would do? If Valentina were to leave, there wouldn't be a warm meal in front of her or a cozy bed to sleep in. She would be alone, more than she already was.

"It's very complicated," the brunette simplified.

Ellerie shrugged. "Okay."

The cottage came into view, and Val felt the same pit form in her stomach. Much like before, she didn't want her time with Ellerie to end—she thoroughly enjoyed her company.

One window was lit, and relief flooded over the brunette because that meant her grandmother hadn't ran out of firewood. It had been low before she left this morning and she almost went out for firewood before her shift. She assumed that the old woman wouldn't go through six logs that day, and she was correct.

Valentina let go of the older woman, looked back at the cottage, and then locked green eyes with amber. "Must you go?"

A soft hand gripped Val's. "Will you be allowed to have me?"

"Not with her knowing," she hissed, but before Ellerie could respond, an idea formed in her mind. "You could sneak in through my window when she goes to sleep."

Thin lips opened, and a hearty laugh jumped from the older woman. "I must go home for dinner, but I will be back. Give a signal when it is safe to come to your window."

Ellerie turned, hurrying away through trees. A smile had permanently engraved itself on Val's lips when she walked inside the cabin after having watched her new friend leave. Warm air greeted her, and her skin was grateful, embracing the heat and safety from the outside air. Her grandmother said nothing, rocking in her chair and smoking, not even bothering to recognize her granddaughter. Valentina hurried with dinner, keeping it as simple as possible with boiled potatoes, meat, and bread. She proceeded with washing the dishes after scarfing down her dinner, moving efficiently and silently.

"The laundry needs done," her grandmother rasped, blowing smoke out of her mouth.

"I'll do them before I go to the bakery tomorrow," Val responded, trying to be as civil as possible.

A thick cough came from the old woman. "See to it that it gets done."

Val excused herself from the room and hurried to her own, latching the door and changing into a fresh chemise, this one white in color. After, her feet took her to her window. A set of golden eyes deep within the trees glared at her, before turning away. Thinking nothing of it, nimble fingers untied the fabric keeping the windows shut and opened them, making sure that they didn't fly open and hit the side of the cottage. If they did, it would cause a commotion, and her grandmother would know that something had occurred.

Cool air rushed into the room. Pale skin bristled at the exposure, gooseflesh covering every inch of bare skin. The brunette ignored it and leaned out of the window, eyes scanning the trees before her. She whistled loudly, trying to make it sound as bird-like as possible. With no response, she did it again. Again, without a response, Valentina went to shut the windows, but stopped when she heard rustling. Her eyes shot up, watching a lithe body emerge from the trees.

"Hurry!" She whispered out, knowing exactly who it was.

Ellerie moved faster, now running to the window. Val moved out of the way just in time as the raven-haired woman jumped into the room as agile as a cat. Taking no notice to her athleticism, the younger woman embraced her, hating the separation despite only having been away for moments. When they released, the brunette shut the windows. They moved to the bed, sitting across from each other, and tried to talk and laugh as quietly as possible.

There were no uncomfortable moments of silence or awkward transitions. Everything between them flowed so casually. They learned more about each other, similarities and differences, likes and dislikes, dreams and future plans.

Ellerie was becoming less and less of a mystery. Her favorite color was the same as the brunette's, which was blue, but it wasn't as simple as that. There were different variations of the color, and the only one that would appease either was the shade as deep as the water in the river, rich and brilliant. She enjoyed running through the forest, swimming in the lake, and settling next to a fire with a sweet treat. The raven-haired woman had a younger brother, who looked just like her, and both parents. They didn't live in this village, as Val was well aware of, but closer to the village west of them.

Valentina asked when she could meet her family, but revoked the question when the raven-haired woman rebutted with the same question. There was no way that Val would introduce Ellerie to her grandmother unless the woman was incapacitated or seconds away from death.

What shocked the brunette, out of all the revelations, was what came next.

"I do not want to have children."

It was a foreign concept to the young woman. All the women in her village had children. It was almost a tradition that every family consist of parents and children. Anything besides that was odd.

"Why?" Valentina inquired, attempting to wrap her mind around the concept.

Ellerie's cheeks blushed. "There are a few reasons."

"Like?"

"I do not want to be pregnant." She paused, as if unsure of whether she should reveal the next part." I also do not find men attractive."

The brunette agreed, maintaining eye contact with her friend. "Some are not."

"All of them, are not."

She flinched at the tone, shifting on the bed. "I'm sorry if I offended you."

Gold eyes softened. Ellerie reaches her hand out and laid in on a bony knee. "No, no, do not apologize. I should have spoke a bit nicer, I should be the one apologizing."

The air between them settled and shifted back to it's original state. They continued to laugh until it was late in the night and Ellerie needed to leave. They hugged, holding each other longer that what was necessary, but content with the length. When the women parted, the older woman brushed a strand of chestnut hair behind a small ear in silence. She smirked and turned to the window, untying it, climbing out, and running towards the forest.

"Until tomorrow!" She yelled over her shoulder.

Val watched her from the window, raven stands trailing behind the woman. "Until tomorrow." It was a whisper, as if it were a secret that she could only share with Ellerie.