"Who's there?" he called out, his voice deep and gruff, carrying the authority of a man used to protecting his own.
I stood still, letting him study me. "I… wanted to hide from the snowstorm," I said, pretending hesitation, my voice rough from the cold air. "Can I stay with you?"
The man's eyes narrowed, but there was no hostility—just caution. "Who are you? How did you get here?" he demanded, his tone firm.
I shrugged, keeping my tone humble. "I was out here to hunt for food… then suddenly the snow started. My place is a bit far from here, so going back isn't possible. But I found footprints leading this way… so I followed."
The man paused, his gaze still sharp. "You're not from around here, are you?" he asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
I shook my head, letting a hint of exhaustion creep into my voice. "No, I'm not. I'm just a traveler… a hunter. The storm caught me off guard."
He studied me for another moment, then nodded slowly. "So you are a hunter?"
