Jack's sudden sneeze was so hard that he smacked his forehead against Mark's chest, startling the warrior. "Was that you?" Ethan gawked at him. "You all right? I thought the cold didn't get to you."

"Er... y-yes," Mark lied, "Uh, sorry." He quickly faked a second sneeze to sell the part. "Just an itchy nose!"

"Don't apologize," Ethan laughed and moved on. "Just light up a fÿre and feel better soon!" Mark rubbed the frosted whiskers above his lips and waited until the blue haired boy was out of earshot before he snuck a peek at his sick passenger.

"Gods that was loud," he whispered. Jack sniffled and rubbed his runny nose, looking miserable. Amy paused beside him and positioned her body so that no one would accidentally spot the human as they passed.

"He's fortunate the Chïlá is all he has," she murmured. Mark nodded and closed the flap.

"Traveling isn't doing much good, I reckon."

"No, it isn't." Amy sighed and checked the sun's position in the sky. "Almost three cycles of the sky now. We're almost there, he just needs to hold on for a little longer."

"Cha." Mark nodded and continued plowing through the snow. The blizzard had officially marked the beginning of winter. The white powder already piled up to his shins, and snow fell more frequently. The strange trees glittered with sparkling ice, locked in the cold timeless sleep with the grass until the air warmed up again. When night fell, the temperature dropped severely, but now Mark and Amy took the right precautions to ensure their patient's survival: They checked for any gaps that wind might steal through, no matter how small, and they kept him near either a fire or Mark himself to keep warm. Tea helped, not just to keep warm but to also heal. His wounds were on their way to healing, but it would be a long time before his leg would fully heal.

 Not that Jack had anywhere he could flee to.

"Täjwéh!" Tyler's call rang in the chill air. The tribe stopped and waited, while the children were puzzled and asking their mamas what was going on. Mark trudged to the front to accompany the chieftain and officers.

"What is it?" He asked. Tyler was scanning the landscape ahead of them.

"We're at the edge of their territory," he intoned, "We wait." And so they waited. It was a clear afternoon with little wind, so it was a nice day to breathe all the crisp fresh air. Mark told Tyler he would scout and moved away from the others so he could check on Jack again. As soon as he found an isolated little hill that overlooked the forest line, he sat down and opened the shoulder pouch.

"Hey líten häna," he murmured comfortingly to Jack, "How you feeling? I bet you need some fresh air. It's not easy being cooped up in there, huh?" Jack mumbled a drowsy protest when he was blasted with cold air, and he tried to hide under his blankets as he coughed miserably. Mark chuckled softly and ruffled the top of his head that poked out between the animal furs. "It's alright. No one else is here. They won't notice you." He carefully reached in and cupped his hand underneath, scooping up the grumpy Irishman and setting him down on his thigh. Jack groaned hoarsely and tugged on his blanket again, not in the mood for anything other than sleep right now. Mark laughed, greatly amused. "Okay, fine, just get a little bit of air in you, cha? At least look around. It's beautiful here." Mark smiled at their gorgeous surroundings. "The issen sparkles... the trees sleep... And though it may be cold, it's a beautiful thing, this place." Jack did look. He did remember snow, and he loved its aesthetic just as much as the last time he had seen it all those years ago. But he appreciated the heat emanating from Mark's thigh more.

"I loved issen when I was younger," Mark murmured, "All the crystals and the beauty of frozen time, and leaving footprints in the white powder." Mark chuckled. "Before we grew up, we'd always play hunting games with one another. Leaving tracks in the snow was always great fun, especially if you managed to devise a fake trail." Jack peeked out from under his covers as Mark sighed. "My dad would help me practice before he fell ill..." He smiled sadly, eyes glazing over as he became distant. "He was the chieftain, but when he died his deputy had to take over. And that was Tyler's dad." Mark looked down at Jack. "I don't mind not being chief." He rubbed the Irishman's little head, mindlessly stroking his soft little waves of hair. "Tyler's great, and I'm honored to follow him. I doubt I'd have made a good leader anyway, but..." Jack glanced up at the giant as he grew lost in thought. "I just wish I could have had more time with him," Mark murmured. The Irishman blinked a couple of times. Susie suddenly beeped in his ear and intoned that the translator was at thirty-seven percent completion, but he barely heard it. The news he'd gathered from the few precious words accurately translated really hit home.

Mark sighed and rubbed his eyes before he suddenly felt a small touch on his other hand. He looked down to see that Jack had leaned out and put his hand on the much larger hand sitting in the giant's lap. His eyes widened for a second, but then he smiled and turned his hand over, affectionately ruffling Jack's hair before letting it rest back down again. Jack kept his hand on Mark's, sliding it across the warm surface and then placing it spread out on the giant's thumb pad; his hand was small enough to fit entirely in the fingerprint. The touch was so feathery and cold, giving Mark a small thrill as he smiled again, threatening tears fading back to bright optimism.

"You are a very strange creature," he remarked with a light laugh. Jack smiled back, finding himself meeting Mark's gaze as they regarded each other with wondrous peace. This was soon broken by Mark, who gently pulled his hand away, but only to gingerly scoop Jack up in his arms and snuggle him and the soft blankets. He was so warm, even seeming to silence the tickle in Jack's throat. But as he sighed and relaxed in the warrior's hand, Mark suddenly noticed two silver blurs moving across the horizon, and his eyes widened.

"There they are!" He quickly put Jack back in his sling and took off running back to the tribe. Jack grunted as he was knocked around by the giant's gait, but Mark hurried across the drift and made it back to the rest of his tribe.

"They're here!" He called. The others roused gladly at this news, and no sooner had Tyler emerged from the mingling groups did the two arctic streaks approach. Their powerful legs propelled them through the snow, but little kicked up and left behind hardly a pawprint to follow; muscles rippled under shimmering silver fur with light blue marks; slender chests heaved frosty billows that trailed behind like the black-tipped tail streaming behind them.

"The cholubändes," The chieftain exclaimed gladly. "Bring the offerings!" Mark caught a glimpse of Ethan's blue hair bobbing through the crowd as he dashed away to get the offerings. The two animals approached the migrating tribe and finally slowed, and Tyler in turn stepped forward and offered a chuff in greeting. Jack, wanting to know what all the fuss was about, was elbowing his way up to the lip of the pouch despite his weak condition. As the two animals chuffed back in response, making low purring noises, Jack finally managed to poke his head out. He was astounded to see Tyler crouch down before two mansion-sized snow leopards and bow his head; the rest of the tribe did the same, including Mark [which almost unbalanced the Irishman, but he managed to hold on]. The slightly smaller one-- the female-- walked up to him and headbutted the chieftain's shoulder. She continued to emit a purring noise that sounded more like an amplified house cat, but she did not attack. The other watched, sitting warily on top of the snow as Ethan hurried up with two skin-wrapped packages.

"I got the meats!" He set the offerings down and backed away with a quick duck of his head. Both felines approached and sniffed the packs before growling in approval. Tyler finally lifted his head as they checked the offerings.

"It's the usual kind, the uncommon pâelfreis that you do not see in your territory often," he said, informing in a soft-spoken tone of respect. "There is also yorüs, and newly cured pelts for your cubs. Meat, in exchange for safe passage through your lands." The male sniffed approvingly at the bargaining contents, but the female wandered away. She turned toward the tribe and prowled toward them, slipping through their ranks as the people snuck confused glances and mystified whispers. When she passed Amy, the young doctor dared to look up, and her eyes widened when she realized just who the leopard was heading for.

Jack was terrified and ducked down, but Mark didn't even notice until the soft muzzle bumped his forehead. Startled, Mark looked up and into the blue eyes of the sacred creature. She held his gaze with an intense stare, but the warrior couldn't bring himself to look away. Her whiskers twitched, and then her head turned down toward the pouch draped over his chest. Mark felt a flare of panic, both fearing for Jack's safety and for the possible discovery his tribe might make when they realized the human's existence.

But when the silence and irresistible curiosity had coaxed Jack to peek again, the leopard only purred softly and blew a gentle breath of warm wind. He flinched and almost fell back in the pouch. The female looked back up at Mark again with those wise blue eyes, and Mark stared back. But now, his fear was fading. A comfort stole over him, and despite the cool color he felt a soothing warmth sparkling in their depths. She rumbled and then broke the gaze, turning tail and gracefully returning back to her mate.

Jack let the breath he had been holding out and sighed in relief, watching as the big cats picked up the offerings, flicked their fluff-tipped ears at Tyler, and then strided off into the snowy distance. He slumped down, having only been worried about how close to those fangs he had gotten. But Mark was still reeling from his encounter. It was a sign... it had to be, I know it was! I was right to save him, I know that now. Oh, thank the gods...! But when he looked up, he couldn't help but feel sheepish and hot with embarrassment as he realized that all eyes were on him. Most everyone looked astounded, Tyler most of all, but Amy looked relieved mixed with apprehension.

"... Probably last night's dinner," she suddenly announced, "He had the last of it this morning." Chuckles ensued as everyone stood and brushed the snow off their clothes and gathering their things. Mark sighed with relief and brushed white powder off his knee as he too rose. He took the opportunity to glance down at Jack and notice his slight trembling in the safe darkness.

"Don't be afraid," he whispered in the hopes of comforting the alien, "She wouldn't have hurt you."

"Mark!" At his name, Mark looked up to see Tyler coming up to him.

"Cha?"

"While everyone else readies their supplies, can we take a walk?" Mark's brow quirked.

"Wha- now?"

"Yes." The warrior had no choice but to follow his leader away from the rest of the tribe. He glanced over his shoulder and caught a nervous look from Amy reflecting his own dread. They trudged out a small ways, just set apart from the others so that the wind would not echo their words into listening ears. When they stopped and looked out at the vast plains, Mark's foot fidgeted nervously in the snow, as he waited for the chieftain to speak.

"... You know I value you as a great warrior and friend," Tyler finally said. Mark felt hot again as he swallowed with a suddenly dry throat.

"O-of course," he answered. Tyler's shoulders shrugged with a sigh, and he turned to him.

"I-I mean it, really. You're a great warrior, and there's no one else I would trust more. Which is why I wouldn't be upset if you took my place as Chief." Mark's eyes bulged.

"What!? Why would I- I would never do that, Tyler!" He exclaimed, "You're our leader, I wouldn't dare mutinize, or--"

"It's all right, really," Tyler interrupted wearily, "The gods clearly want you to be leader instead. I mean, what else could that sign have possibly meant? Why else would the cholubände have gone to you, if not to decree you as our true leader?" Mark's head was spinning.

"No, no! Tyler," he placed his hand on his friend's shoulder, "That is a flattering but blasphemous suggestion. Not to mention that I would make a terrible leader." He managed a wry smile. "You're doing a great job, honestly. I would follow you to and beyond the depths of Ygrâtr's Maw. Besides, Amy was right: I-I had the rest of my supper early morning." Tyler still looked uncertain, so Mark gently added, "I know my place, and it's at your side. You are our leader, no one else. There could be no greater chieftain that has brought us more peaceful times." The leader was quiet for a few heartbeats, and then his dimples relaxed as he smiled a little.

"Thank you, Mark." He pat the warrior's broad shoulder. "I don't think I would have made it this far without your support." Mark chuckled.

"Cha, maybe a little bit." They laughed, and then shoulder to shoulder they headed back to the rest of the tribe to finish the journey to the winter grounds.