Freezing night. Warm thoughts. Part three.

"What is here?"

"Quite." Closing his mouth, Lei got even closer to him, their eyes were so close that Longwei could see every detail of his iris. Feeling awkward because he had never been that close to someone, he looked away and whispered, "You're too close. Don't you want to move aside a little?"

But Lei without listening to him kept his hand on his mouth, all his attention was directed to the noises outside.

Unable to sit like this Longwei took Lei's hand and exclaimed, "Teacher! Are you doing this on purpose?!"

But the next what he heard made him shiver and move towards Lei even closer.

The loud cries like someone was actually crying and then a strange voices which sounded like a million of men were whispering something.

Lei pressed his ear to the wall and took out his sword. The fire in the middle of the room, strangely enough, went out and everything plunged into the cold darkness.

Longwei lowering his voice as much as he can whispered, "Teacher, what is it? Is it one of the beasts?"

Lei did not answer.

Feeling the upcoming horror, Longwei tried hard not to show how much he got scared, but the more he heard the cries, the more he got scared.

The loud cries were replacing by millions of whispers and then the cries again. Through the darkness, Longwei saw the shiny surface of Lei's sword and his heart became a bit calmer.

The cold wind enveloped from all around, even though the door was closed. The whistle of the blizzard made the strange cries even more scary.

Longwei slowly stood up and was about to go towards the place where fire was, but Lei had stopped him. "Where are you going?"

"I want to light a fire."

Through the darkness, Lei's eyes were still shining like two stars. "Don't make any noise. Sit quietly."

"It is getting too cold in here. With fire, we'll see who is it."

"I said no."

"Where is your bag?" Longwei extended his hands and suddenly felt Lei's strong hand on his shoulder.

"I said, sit quietly." He whispered, and tone of his voice made Longwei stop and obey him.

Without saying anything further, he was just sitting while Lei was listening to noises very attentively.

When the cries and whispers silenced Longwei pressed his ear to the cold wall and said, "I think it is gone."

Feeling Lei's intense breathing, he extended his hand and felt Lei's sweaty forehead. "You are so scared." He whispered and broke into laughter. In such darkness, Longwei could feel Lei's furious and serious gaze on himself which made him laugh even more.

"Stop laughing. It is not done yet."

"But don't be scared teacher. I am here with you. I'll protect you."

Saying this Longwei put his hand on his back and was about to say something more but the cries were heard again. This time, they were louder and full of anger. And then, the quick steps surrounded the house. It was like someone was running around the house. The steps were heard everywhere. Even on the roof.

Lei clutching his sword was ready to attack at any minute.

After a few minutes the cries silenced again and the creature stopped running.

Lei whispered, "When I open the door, you should sit here. Don't go out. Just be here and whatever you hear, just stay quite."

"Wait, what? Are you gonna go out? To meet that beast? Are you insane? Did you hear its voice? I don't think that it will be happy to see you."

"Do as I said."

Saying this he stood up and approached the door.

After so much time in darkness, Longwei's eyes finally could see things around. Seeing Lei by the door Longwei stood up and whispered, "I'll go with you."

Lei did not answer.

"Teacher!"

Lei pressed his ear to the door. Outside, there was no sound. Only the usual whistle of the wind. Longwei approached him and whispered, "Tell me what is it? Is it the beast? Is it one of the beasts with whom warriors fight?"

"No."

"Teacher, you mustn't go out. Let's sit here and wait when it'll be gone. It can't reach us while we are here. We are lucky enough because there isn't any window otherwise…"

Lei closed his mouth again but there was no sound.

When Longwei was about to say something Lei pushed him aside with all his powers and with a quick movement opened the door and ran out. Closing the door loudly, his steps joined the whistle of the blizzard.

Feeling the pain again, Longwei felt that one of the wounds began to bleed again. Falling down because of Lei's strong power, he felt a slight dizziness. Managing to stand up he went up to the door and wanted to open it but the heavy stone door was strongly shut.

"Lei! Are you there? Lei!" Shouting loudly, Longwei knocked the door but all was in vain. Pulling the doorknob he continued, "Lei! Let me out! Lei."

Listening what was happening outside, he did not hear anything.

"Fire. I should light a fire."

Suddenly the loud cry was heard again. This time, the creature was screaming out of pain.

"Lei! Is that you? Are you there? Lei!"

Kicking the door, Longwei unable to sit here, took one of the swords which were lying in the corner of the house, these were old and broken swords which weren't able to join the fight again. Looking for another sword in the darkness was a hard task, and the cries outside made his heart tremble. Finally when his hand found a normal sword he lifted it up and the sword under its heaviness fell down. Collecting all his might, he lifted it up again and ran up to the door. Pushing it with all the powers he had he finally managed to open it. The door widely opened and the cold wind rushed towards his face.

Taking his breath away, the wind like a thousands of sharp razors hit his wounds.

Looking around he shouted, "Lei!" But there was no one. Only the darkness and distant tall trees which were making everything even more gloomy.

Stepping a little away from the house, he closed his face with the scarf. The sword in his hand was so heavy that he wasn't able to swing it.

"Lei! Where are you? Teacher!"

Walking around the house, he did not see anyone. But the giant steps which were left after the beast were on the snow. Following the footprints, he found out where Lei went. Towards the dark forest.

Longwei shouted his name again and then went towards the forest.

The blizzard was walking among the trees like a gentle fog. The sword in his hand wasn't that heavy anymore.

Unpleasant silence made his heartbeat echo throughout the forest. Breathing quietly, he was ready to attack at any moment.

Step by step, inhale and exhale, to and fro, the tree branches were chaotically dancing on the wind. Clutching the sword, he whispered, "Teacher? Where are you?"

His long lashes were covered with snowflakes, his thin shirt soaked with blood did not protect him from such a freezing coldness. Shivering, he said to himself, "What am I doing?! He tricked me and made me endure punishment but I am trying to help him. Father, do you see? Your unconditional kindness is my quality too."

Stepping to a branch, breaking it, the crack filled the whole forest like it was a loud bang.

Unable to go any further, he felt someone's presence behind, slowly turning back his eyes fell on the beast.

Covered with black fur, the creature much taller than Longwei or Lei, was loudly breathing. Seeing its dark red eyes Longwei couldn't see its face or anything else. But in appearance it looked like a giant wolf or bear.

But its long hands and long legs remained of human.

Standing face to face with each other, Longwei couldn't move.

The beast too, was just staring at him and for a moment Longwei even thought that it is not so scary or dangerous.

Suddenly the beast cried out and it almost broke Longwei's ear membranes. This kind of cry was like nothing else. It almost shook the tops of the trees and the even the wind silenced.

"Longwei! Catch him!"

Seeing Lei running towards him, Longwei lifted his sword up and wanted to hit the beast but it quickly ran away towards the house.

"Catch it!" Unable to run further, Lei fell down, the drops of blood covered the snow.

Longwei wanted to approach him but Lei shouted, "Go and catch him!"

"But!"

"Go now!"

Holding tighter his sword Longwei ran towards the house. Hearing the cries from somewhere, he stopped and looked around. The blizzard became even stronger and now everything was completely hidden in it.

Feeling goosebumps on his back, Longwei wanted to call Lei but the cries and whispers surrounded him from all sides. The beast was running around of him and Longwei could feel the strange scent of its fur.

The whispers became even louder, it was like it approached him even closer. The black tall figure ran by him but strangely enough it did not want to attack him.

"Longwei! Longwei! Help me!"

"Who is it? Lei is that you?"

The whispers became quiet again and this time Longwei could hear the words properly. This was his father's voice. And the voice kept repeating his name.

"Father? Father! I am here!" Stepping towards the whisper, Longwei threw away his sword and the tears came to his eyes. "Father!"

"Longwei! Help me. Please help me." The whisper was slowly fading away but it did not stop him from stepping ahead.

Lowering his voice Longwei whispered, "Father, is that you?"

The wind took away his whisper and the next what he felt was someone's hand on his back. Turning back he said, "Father!"

But it was Lei.

"It is just tricking you. Don't believe it. It is not your father."

Eyes full of tears Longwei shouted, "But I heard him!"

"You heard the beast. This was the beast's voice."

Feeling weakness in his legs, he sat to the snow and tears slid down his cheeks.

Now, there were only two of them and the cruel blizzard.