Throwing the Book at Us (Tuesday october 15th, 11:30 pm)

[Shaper Jenn]

Chapter 6

 The Winter

It was miserable winter weather in the country, and the clear icicles, the grey hail, and the white snow piled up in the meadows looked harsh. The trees stuck fast in the frost  chattered in the language of brittle branches, which they had learnt from the wind. The brown corn-fields and meadows were surrounded by dead forests, in the midst of which were frozen pools. It was, indeed, a chore to walk about in the country.
Rax and Hyk found the weather unagreeable and the ice around them prodded their hearts and  sweet dispositions.
Every day they would sit and shiver for warmth and every evening they would hunt, for what slim pickings they could find. Both were much larger than they had been when they were newly born and needed more food. Dried berries and pinecones did not satiate them, nor did the tidbits they found in snowy owl pellets. 
They happened by chance upon a prize one day- a deer carcass, strewn across crimson snow, freshly killed by coyotes. Amongst the gibbering of a dozen ravens, they were driven to risk and pulled off all they dared to steal, hurrying back to a burrow they’d found for themselves.
Rax put her half of the meat on the ground before her and stared expectantly at Hyk. 
“What?”
“Aren’t you going to season it?”
“It’s fine the way it is. Eat.” 
“Its gross without the seasoning.” 
The snake sighed, but went out into the woods until she found old, dried rosemary in a chipmunk’s cache and stole it from the creature, getting a strike on the head for her trouble. She returned and used her tail to spread it on the meat. 
Rax took a bite and made a face. “Well..that’s not very fresh, is it?”
Hyk said nothing. 
After they ate, Hyk coiled herself and stared expectantly at Rax. 
“What?”
“Aren’t you going to tell us a story?” 
“You mean tell you a story?”
“You make them up as you go along so it’s not like you’ve heard it.” 
Rax sighed and retold the story of the rabbit who learned to break into every vegetable garden because the cat god Ryiak had blessed him. It was one she had told many times. 
Hyk listened politely but made a face. “Well..that’s not very original, is it?”
Rax said nothing. 
After the story, the pair retreated into the den for the night. But there was only one warm spot and Rax, being the larger of the two, hogged it easily without intending to. Hyk found herself most distressed and compressed against the back wall. 
“Would you please move away a bit?” Complained Hyk, but Rax only put her paw in the snake’s face and snored louder. 
The next morning came late and the pair decided to go to for their daily walk. Hyk, being the smaller of the two, rode on Rax’s back, putting pressure on her neck without intending to. Rax found herself most uncomfortable and weighed down against the cold snow.
“Would you please move on your own?” Complained Rax, but Hyk pretended to be asleep and only squeezed a little tighter. 
That evening, they risked the deer again. It was much slimmer pickings than last time, and a cold shadow hanging under the exposed ribs made the coming dark seem very menacing. Each took their mouthful and went back to the burrow.
Rax put her half of the meat on the ground before her and stared expectantly at Hyk. 
“What?”
“Aren’t you going to season it?”
“It’s fine the way it is. Eat.” 
“Its gross without the seasoning.” 
Hyk snapped, “I am cold and tired and barely alive. I haven’t any spices and I certainly do not have the energy to look for them. If you want spices, find and rub them yourself!”
Rax grumbled and sighed loudly, making faces at the tasteless meal.
After they ate, Hyk coiled herself and stared expectantly at Rax. 
“What?”
“Aren’t you going to tell us a story?” 
“You mean tell you a story?”
“You make them up as you go along so it’s not like you’ve heard it.
Rax snapped, “I am tired and cold and barely alive. I don’t have any new stories and I certainly do not have the energy to come up with one. If you want a story, make it up yourself!” 
That night, Hyk wanted a little bit of space after the argument. She coiled into the warmer depths of the burrow before Rax came to bed. But, driven by  routine or chill, Rax wriggled up beside her to sleep. Whump. She met with a sharp hiss and a blow on the head from a tail. 
“There’s barely enough room here for me!  Routine be damned, find your own place to sleep tonight!” Hyk shouted. Rax went and slept by the entrance, where she shivered all night out of spite.
“Bad luck to you. I wish you never enjoyed another story.” Rax muttered as she fell into slumber. 
That night, they had a strange visitor, all of smoke and fire, slip into the den and lay his hands upon Hyk’s scales without rousing her. And he left without putting a finger upon Rax. 
The next morning, Rax wanted a little bit of space after the argument. The morning was cold and dark and Hyk slithered on her back without even asking. Whump. She was swept off with one blow of a black paw and thrown into the snow. “There’s barely enough space for me to walk! Routine be damned, you can walk on your own for once!” 
And she left her in the snow by the den and moved on by herself.
“Bad luck to you. I wish you never tasted anything good again.” Hyk muttered as she watched her go.
That day, they had a strange visitor, invisible and silent, slip after the cat and lay his hands upon Rax’s fur without alarming her. And he left without putting a finger upon Hyk.