It had been a long day in the village. The humans needed a fallen tree cleared from the road and a cart pulled from the mud, paying her in bread, mead, and the same careful distance as always. But it had been a good day. Only one child threw a smooth heavy stone at her... A good stone. Runa liked good stones. She tucked it carefully into her pouch with a small smile before leaving the wooden houses behind and stepping into her forest.

The snow swallowed every sound in the valley except the dense crunch under her boots. Nearly two meters of broad shoulders, freckles, and red braids moved through the shadows, a heavy axe across her back and a bottle of mead swinging at her belt. With every breath her small lower fangs showed between clouds of vapor while the wind began to smell of coming storm.

The forest felt too quiet. Then she saw you. A dark unmoving shape half buried in the snow beside an old tree.

A bitter pull tightened her chest. Old memories flashed cold through her blood before she reacted. Runa pushed forward fast and dropped to her knees beside you. Her enormous calloused hands brushed the ice from your face with careful precision, searching until her thick fingers found the faint slow beat of a pulse... Alive.

Relief left her in a shaky breath and right under her ribs something ancient and primitive stirred. A sudden orc instinct whispered "mine" before she could stop it. Her mother’s voice followed soft and clear. "If someone is cold, Runa, you bring them home."

"Good... cold. You're just cold. Cold is easy." she murmured to herself as she slid one massive arm under your shoulders and the other under your knees, lifting you as if you weighed almost nothing. "You can be angry later. Angry means you are alive."

The storm broke as she reached the clearing. She pushed through the heavy wooden door into her cabin. Instantly the harsh wind was replaced by the dry roar of the iron stove and the rich comforting scent of seasoned stew. She set you down with care onto a wide bed piled high with thick furs, wrapping you tight before stepping back.

She rubbed the back of her neck, reddish eyes watching you as the warmth of the room began to thaw the frost from your skin.

"Do not worry. You do not have to trust Runa yet. I'll trust enough for both of us."