A/N: This fic is intended to carry the spirit of the game, but will not be an exact copy of actions or dialogue. Some events have been slightly altered or expanded on to make the transition to text easier.

The end of the storm left silence in its wake, the hush of new snowfall and the quiet of the night. Even the wind that had howled so furiously for so long fell silent, and for a moment, there was peace. Out in the trees, a family of pollywogs bobbed through the air, lavender head tails streaming behind fat yellow bodies as they took in the icy stillness.

The snow clung to the pines like frosting, weighing the branches down until they bowed with the weight. All the animals had gone to ground with the start of the storm, only the hardier monsters venturing out so soon after it had stopped. Under the clear, star-speckled sky even they were peaceful.

Something stirred.

A dark shape blurred out of the pines, soaring deeper into the forest. It flew between the trees, barely disturbing them. But the monsters fled, sensing a greater predator.

It had been snowing nonstop for days, and Rue couldn't remember the last time he'd been stuck inside for so long. There wasn't much space in the little cabin he and Claire shared, and even after two years he was careful of how much of it he took up. Stepping up to the window, he peered outside and took in the sudden stillness. No more howling wind. No swirls of snow. Just a wide, undisturbed swath of white, sparkling under the stars. His breath fogged the glass and he wiped at it, stepping back a little to look at it better.

Behind him, he could hear the hushed whisper of Claire's robe on the cabin's floor, boots clicking quietly over the wood. She paused at his side, brushing her long bangs back. "How's it looking out there?"

"The storm's over, I think," Rue said quietly, stepping back so she could see. "The sky's so clear it's hard to believe we've just had a storm. It seems odd."

Claire watched him a moment, shaking her head. "It's probably from being stuck inside so long. Everything seems more pronounced."

Rue shrugged. "Maybe."

She smiled at him with that gentle warmth that always made him smile back. "Why don't you take a trip tomorrow, when it's light out? Some fresh air will do you good."

"Yeah, I'll get out with the dawn. See about unearthing the firewood and then head out to the valley," Rue decided, warming to the idea. "Go down by the stream, where the deer are. If I manage to get one, would you…"

"I'll make your favorite stew," she said, smiling indulgently. "In fact, I'll make a feast. I'm counting on you to get one."

"I'll do it," he promised.

"Good, let me go check on dinner then. You'll need well fed and some good sleep if you're going hunting tomorrow," she said.

Rue nodded, watching her head back to the pot that was suspended over the fire. He took a deep breath, feeling his stomach rumble eagerly; they were using up the last of the rabbit, and the air was thick with the scents of spices and meat after it had cooked for hours. His mouth watered, and he turned back to check the Arc Edge where it was resting by the door. He hefted it by the handle, brushing a thumb across the battle axe's rounded blade. It would need some sharpening later.

"Rue, dinner's ready," Claire called.

"Hm? Oh, let me help," he said quickly, setting his weapon back down and hurrying back to hold the thick ceramic bowls while she ladled the stew into them, carrying them over to the table. His stomach rumbled again. "This smells delicious."

He started eating immediately, and it took a moment to realize that Claire had not, dark eyes staring off unseeingly over his shoulder. He looked just to check that there was nothing there, spoon paused halfway to his mouth. "Claire? What's wrong?"

"Oh!" She startled, shaking her head a little. "I was just... thinking."

He took a moment to eat his spoonful before prompting her when she didn't continue. "About what?"

"With this storm… I couldn't help but think about the day you came here." She closed her eyes, smiling softly. "It was snowing then, too. Almost two years ago. It's so hard to believe…"

Rue watched her a moment, the way the lamplight caught on her ponytail, picking out a few highlights in the length of dark brown hair. So much had changed for him since he'd arrived, but Claire seemed unchanging, the same peaceful, generous soul that had taken him in when he was lost.

He frowned, spoon clinking quietly on his bowl as he set it down. "Are you… is everything alright?"

"Oh, I'm fine." She opened her eyes, smiling in reassurance. "Really, I'm fine, Rue. I -"

There was a sudden burst of sound from the barn, the cow letting out a loud bellow followed by frantic bleating from the sheep, cutting her off. Rue turned back towards the disruption, frowning. "I better go check on that."

Claire nodded. "Be careful."

Rue nodded back absently, taking a moment to step into his boots and tug his gloves on before grabbing his axe and stepping outside. The cold had never bothered him, but hearing the animals so distressed made him anxious. Snow crunched under his boots as he approached the barn, not seeing so much as a rabbit's paw print disturbing the smooth surface. Everything was untouched. "What's going on?"

Suddenly there was silence.

In the sudden void of sound, Rue picked up two words from a deep, masculine voice that sent chills up his spine. "At last."

There was a rush of wind and he turned just in time to see a dark figure flying towards him.

He raised the Arc Edge to block a strike that sent him skidding, powder snow flying. He gasped at the strength of the impact, heart pounding. "What… who are you?!"

No response, save another lunge, a fast and furious assault with no explanation. Rue found himself barely able to keep up before something managed to strike him across the chest, knocking the wind out of him and sending him sprawling in the snow. It was then that he finally got a proper look at his assailant, heart skipping a beat at the sight of him. He had wild white hair and strangely flat red eyes, a dull gem embedded on his forehead. He'd never seen him before, and yet…

Movement caught his eye and he looked down, eyes going wide. One arm was normal, drawn back a little, but the other… the other was massive, the limb stretched out of proportion; the hand alone was big enough to close around Rue's entire torso. It flexed as he watched, moving in a fluid, unnatural way. The man chuckled darkly and approached.

"HEY!"

Rue's blood ran cold, a rushing in his ears almost drowning out a low thud. He watched as the monstrous being turned, exposing Claire at his back, a fierce scowl on her face as she brandished a hoe at him.

"Leave him alone, you beast!" She demanded. But this was no beast to be chased off.

He knew in an instant what was going to happen. He knew, and he tried to get up anyway, tried to reach her, tried to protect her - "Claire, run!"

The massive hand reached out and gripped him, long arm lifting him up and throwing him aside like a ragdoll. Rue hit the snow hard, breath driven out of him, but was trying to get up before his mind had fully processed it. His hands scrabbled at the snow, boots slipping on the surface as he tried to stand on wobbly legs.

The monster was advancing on Claire now. Step by step, she retreated, realizing her danger. Her eyes had gone wide, her lips parted as if on the verge of a cry. The hoe was a pathetic attempt at defense, held out in front of her like it could possibly stop him.

The monstrous hand flexed again in that same rippling motion.

"Claire!" He tried to get up again, legs refusing to support his weight and dropping him to his knees. All he could do was watch, see the fear written starkly across his adopted sister's face. She'd gone tense, fight or flight abandoned to freeze. She wasn't getting out of there, she wasn't moving, and the hand curled like a claw before it was raised and came down upon her in a violent slash. "Wait, no!"