Reena follows the bear's orders and dashes home, skidding in the snow and kicking up ice and small rocks as she runs for No-Fur's cabin. Dakota and No-Fur see her as she flies past, but they assume she is following something and continue with their chase, simply rollin their eyes that she's making such a loud fuss.

As Reena slides to a stop infront of the wood cabin, she whimpers and dances on the tips of her paws, complaining to get in.

"No-Fur, please come back! No-Fur! Please! Come open the door, no-Fur! PLEASE!" She screams, frightening herself even more as she hears the howls echoing and thinks they are other wolves. She backs against the wall, scared, baring her teeth nd growling at a shape in the brush. It gets closer and closer as she backs into the door, almost causing herself to sit vertically. And then it comes from the bush, nd she attacks.

When No-Fur has managed to stop the bleeding on his left hairless paw, Reena is pouting in shame and still looknig over her shoudler for the bear, for It. Dakota has given her looks of sympathy and reprimand and even one that said 'What is wrong with you?' When No-Fur finally has opened his door, Reena ducks between his feet and rushes under the table, hiding herself. No-Fur and Dakota don't ask and continue their day as she flinches at the slightest noises.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Grampa, I don't like it when you stop forever."
"It's for suspense. Makes the story more exciting."
"We need five minutes while you get a pop for suspense?"
"Fine. Later that night."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Reena still shakes as she stares out into the pitch darkness of No-Fur's cabin. She can hear distant bird calls and the soft, slow breathing of Dakota. She's curled up very close to him for warmth and comfort, and at every slight out-of-place noise she shakes and her eyes widen further. She's now wormed her way underneath his large orange paws and is cuddled against his chest.

"....Reeh-nuh?" He mumbles, half awake. "You're kindah in mah pershnal bubble....."

"Shhhh! It's gonna come get us...."

"Reena. What are you talking about?"

"Hush, Dakota! Hush!" She whispers loudly.  "IT. The big bear. When I went to track the rabbit It was there. It told me to run away. I'm scared of It. Shush...." Reena mutters, tilting her ears forward for the slightest movement. a board creaks down the hall near No-Fur's room and she dashes out from Dakota's arm, barking and howling and causing an awful fuss. But the bear isn't there, it's just No-Fur in his pajamas, staring at her like she's insane. In shame, Reena hides her face and whimpers.

"I'm sorry, No-Fur. I thought you were It."

"Reena, what is It?"

"The big bear...." No-Fur's eyes widen and he leans down ,stroking her ears.

"You saw Takiyok Alark?" He says cautiously.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

"Grampa. what's Tayock Ollerk mean?"
"I thought you wanted fewer stops. And it's Takiyok Alark."
"What's it mean?"
"Inuit for big bear. Hush. Story."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Reena has heard enough Inuit to know the meaning. "Does Big Bear smell of death and fear and terrible rotten stink, No-Fur?"

"Yes. He is a spirit of a terrible man who stole and murdered. It is very bad that he has come to our woods, Reena." No-Fur cautioned, still petting the long tuft of fur on the front of her head to comfort her. Dakota staggered in, tired.

"Whash goin on?" He mutters, blinking his yellow eyes. They've taken on a hint of green in the last year, but they still weren't very visible through his mop of fur.

"Reena saw Big Bear." Dakota falls to his haunches instantly.

"You're kidding." He mutteres, and looksover to Reena. He frowns, and sighs. "You're screwed. Did you tell her he only appears to those who are set to die in the next few days? That it kills them?" No-Fur narrowes his eyes and hits Dakota's shoulder with his bronze hairless paws. It wasn't exactly a tap, but it wasn't a punch, either.

"No. Thank you for worrying her." No-Fur mumbled crossly.

Reena has already run to a corner toward the center of the cabin.

 The next day, she is just as or more shaky. She's only gotten two hours of sleep and Reena owed that to No-Fur allowing her to sleep in his bed. She had curled up next to his legs and listened to him breath, also hearing as Dakota crept in and lay next to her, providing extra comfort and warmth.

Reena looks around every corner twice and no hunting is done the whole day, as she refuses to go into the woods and Dakota will not go alone. Their daily meals are cold leftover caribou and it is eaten in silence, a still silence that unnerves Reena. She savors the flavor of the meat, gnashing it between her teeth and smelling the rich scent, but it reminds her of Takiyok Alark and she drops the meat in her bowl. Dakota gazes sadly after her as she walked away with her tail between her legs, and drops his food as well to follow her.

Reena avoidshim, however. She does  not want company and simply resorts to curing up in a ball, hiding her face under her tail, and ignoring the coaxing of No-Fur and Dakota to get up and do something. As she walks to her new sleeping spot in No-Fur's bed, Reena sighs, and thinks heavy-heartedly,

'If I am to die, how long do I have?'