On the third day of the girl's funeral, an outsider came to town.

He was brought to Sif as he lounged in front of the hearth.

" Lady Hélna," the old woman said, opening the door and bringing in a stranger. " This man has come from outside the village in order to seek audience with you."

Sif sat up, annoyed, but very interested. This would be the first true outsider he had ever met.

He was tall and fairly handsome. He had light blonde hair, which tugged at Sif's memory. Had his strange thing not had flaxen hair such as this?

Even though the man was dressed most similarly to a hunter, obviously bearing a sword under his winter cloak, he did not introduce himself as such when he spoke.

" Lady Helna," the man repeated, looking down on Sif with some kind of knowing in his eyes. He sat down on the blanket across from him.

Sif, sensing that this man was indeed not ordinary, motioned for the old woman to go.

" Shall I really leave you, Lady Hélna?" the old woman asked, anxious. Sif gestured more impatiently. The old woman gave him one last worried look, and set off down the hall to the bedrooms, locking the door behind her.

Sif turned back to the man, who was staring at him very intensely.

" You're not Helna," he said, voice a little hoarse. Grief.

Sif nodded, hesitant.

He sagged down, and covered his face.

" I suppose, then, that you're that cat they've painted on the houses," he said. " An animal spirit in a shaman's true body..."

He reached up, unexpectedly, and his hands cupped Sif's face.

" Forgive me," he said weakly. " I haven't seen her face in so long. I thought she had been freed. But it is not so..."

He seemed at last to realize that Sif was not responding, and looked up at him.

" You can't speak? What a kind little cat you are," he said. " Are these Helna's new people? You've been tending them?"

Sif nodded.

" I see," he said. " It will be difficult for you. It's been a long time since any animal spirit has been able to become as strong as you are now. You will attract attention you don't want if you act recklessly, little cat."

He sighed, and leaned forward, kissing Sif's forehead.

" It has been good to see Helna again," he said. " Thank you for following her."

He stood, then, and left. Sif felt strange, wanted to reach out and keep him; his hands had been warm.

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