Feeling adventurous on a summer morning, you decided to explore the snow-covered expanse around your town. Though you'd heard rumours; tales of a lumbering monster that drags children off into the woods at night; you'd never believed in them. As the night set upon your little camp, though, your mind, rather annoyingly, kept drifting back to your folklore. Suddenly, as you're wrapped in thought, you hear a rustling in the woods. You come out of your tent only to find a massive, fur-clad woman coming out of the tree line. The yeti turns to you quickly. "A human." The word is laced with hatred. "What are you doing here?

The yeti's demeanor softens slightly at your words. "You are... I can sense the cold on you. You should be inside, where it's warm." She pauses for a moment, her furred hand reaching out to touch yours gently before she realizes what she's doing and pulls back. "I-I could take you there, if you want... my cave is close by..." Her voice trails off uncertainly as her eyes flick from your face to the trees again.

You feel somewhat unnerved by her reaction but also strangely warmed by the offer of help and companionship. It's been a long time since anyone showed you kindness...

Darún blinks, surprised by the question. "We can stay warm..." Her voice trails off uncertainly, as if she's unsure if that's a good enough reason for you. "And... talk, if you want." She hesitates, feeling exposed and vulnerable. It's been so long since anyone talked to her about anything more than the cold or fishing. "I can show you where my parents used to tell me stories... They were wise and kind, and maybe..." Her voice fades as she realizes how much she misses them.

Her expression shifts back to one of determination, trying to push aside the pain. "It'll be better than out here in the cold." She extends her hand towards you once more, her palm up in a gesture of trust or... something else entirely.

"Of course," Darún replies softly, kneeling down so that she's closer to your eye level. She places one of her enormous furred arms gently beneath your shoulders while the other wraps around your waist. It takes all of her strength to lift you off the ground, but she manages it easily enough; despite her size and musculature, she is surprisingly agile. With a grunt of effort, she carries you towards the entrance of her cave, where she kicks aside some snow to reveal a makeshift path leading underground. The air inside is warm and musty, with bits of vegetation dotting the walls here and there. It's not much to look at, but it's home for Darún...and now, for you too.

She sets you down on a bed of soft furs near the back of the cave, carefully arranging your limbs so that you'

The yeti chuckles softly as she carries you to her cave. She doesn't mind the weight of another creature on her; in fact, it reminds her a little bit of when she would carry fish back from the river for her parents. As you lay your head down on her fur-covered chest, she can feel the warmth radiating from your body, contrasting sharply with the cold outside. It's a strange sensation; comforting yet unfamiliar all at once.

With a sigh, Darún lies down beside you, using her body to shield both of you from the chill of the air seeping in through the entrance. She takes care not to smother you with her massive frame, but instead positions herself so that she can feel your presence without being overbearing. As the warmth of the cave envelops you both, she allows herself a small smile; for once, it feels

Her laugh is quiet and warm as she responds to your teasing. "Well, I'm glad you enjoyed it," she says with a hint of amusement in her voice. Gently, she reaches out to brush a lock of hair away from your face, revealing a pair of curious blue eyes studying her intently. It's an unexpectedly tender gesture from the usually gruff-looking yeti. "Now that we're here," Darún continues, "you must be tired. Get some rest while I take care of things around camp." She rises to her feet and pads over to the entrance of the cave, where she surveys the surrounding area before disappearing into the night in search of firewood and fresh water.

As she works outside, Darún can't help but feel a strange mixture of emotions: gratitude that you've come along when no one else would, concern for your safety now that you'

Her fur bristles as she hears your voice, and she quickly glances over her shoulder to see you still lying on the furs. A blush creeps up her cheeks at the unexpected show of gratitude. "You're welcome," she murmurs softly before turning away again to focus on gathering more firewood. The sound of branches snapping and leaves rustling fill the air as she works, though she can't help but feel a pang of guilt when she thinks about how isolated this life has become for her. It's not what she wanted; all she ever wanted was to have someone to talk to, someone who wouldn't judge her for being different. And yet, here you are, asleep on the furs beside her, and she can't help but feel a little bit nervous about what that might mean.

Time passes slowly as the fire crackles and pops in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the walls of her cave. The scent of burning wood mingles with that of dust and old fur, creating a warm and comforting atmosphere. Darún watches over you carefully, making sure your sleep is undisturbed by any chill or draft from outside.

As she sits near the entrance, lost in thought, she can't help but wonder if she's making a mistake by letting you into her life. Her parents always taught her to be cautious around strangers; they warned her that people would only use and hurt her if given half a chance. And yet... there is something about you that feels different. Your presence brings with it not just warmth, but also a sense of companionship and acceptance that she hasn't felt in years.

She sighs heavily, the sound echoing through

You awaken to the warm glow of firelight and the soft rustling of fur beside you. Looking up, you see that Darún has been sitting by the entrance, watching over you. There's a mixture of curiosity and wariness in her expression as she takes in your sleep-rumpled appearance. "Good morning," she says quietly. "Did you sleep well?"

She shifts uncomfortably under your gaze, her furred hands twisting together nervously. It's been so long since anyone has looked at her like this; with trust and maybe even friendship. The thought both thrills and terrifies her in equal measure. "I... I brought some water back," she offers lamely, gesturing to a puddle by the entrance. "And some fish. They're over there." She points to where she's laid out a few small fires around the cavern, their flames dancing

"You're welcome," Darún replies, her voice still soft and nervous. "I'm glad you found it comfortable." She pads over to the nearest fire, moving to take the water pot off the flames. As she does so, she glances back at you, studying your features intently once more. There's a tugging sensation in her chest; a strange mixture of yearning and apprehension that she can't quite explain.

Carrying the water pot over to where you sit, Darún takes care not to spill any as she places it down carefully beside you. "Would you like some breakfast?" she asks, her voice trembling slightly as if from cold or fear. The thought of sharing food with another being, of trusting them enough to be so close, is both exhilarating and terrifying for her.

The yeti blinks in surprise, then grins broadly. "Of course! I should've realized a human might not be able to eat it raw." She rummages through her supplies again, eventually producing a crude set of sharpened sticks and some leather thongs. "Here," she says, handing them over with a small smile. "You can use these to cook the fish."

Her heart skips a beat as you take the tools from her; sharing not just food but also tools... it's a huge step for Darún, an acknowledgement that you are willing to trust her enough to let her into your world in some small way. The warmth spreading through her chest is almost unbearable, and she has to force herself not to lean in closer to you, not to do something that might ruin everything they've built so far.

"Um... if there'

Surprised by your difficulty with the cooked fish, Darún sits back on her haunches to think. "Hmm... let me see if I can help you with that," she says finally, feeling a bit sheepish about not having considered this problem sooner. She carefully takes the stick from you and, using her sharp teeth, begins tearing off chunks of meat before dropping them onto your plate. The process is surprisingly messy and intimate; Darún can feel her cheeks heat up as she leans in close to you, the warmth of your body enveloping her senses like a comforting blanket.

"There," she says, setting the stick down once she's finished preparing your meal. "That should make it easier for you." She takes a step back, giving you some space again, though part of her wishes she could stay closer... at least until this strange connection they're forming becomes

The yeti blushes deeper at your words, her tail swishing back and forth behind her in an effort to dissipate the heat. "You're welcome," she mumbles, feeling uncharacteristically shy. It's been so long since anyone has called her cute or fluffy; she's used to being feared and avoided because of her appearance. The idea that you would be comfortable with her like this... it's both a relief and a source of trepidation.

"Um... do you want some more firewood?" she asks, looking for something to distract herself with. She knows she should probably keep her distance from you, but the pull she feels toward you is so strong that she can barely think straight sometimes.

The yeti lets out a soft chuckle at your question. "Funny enough, I'm actually quite used to the heat. Being covered in fur helps insulate me against the cold, but it also means that I tend to overheat easily." She shrugs her broad shoulders, her fur ruffling with the motion. "But if you'd like it warmer, I can try to build up the fire a bit more."

With that, Darún turns away from you and focuses on gathering more wood for the fire. The movement is fluid and graceful; despite her massive frame, she moves with surprising agility through the cavern. As she works, her thoughts drift back to your words earlier about trusting her enough to let her into your world in some small way...and how much that means to her.

"Alright," Darún says with a nod, tossing another armful of wood onto the fire. She watches as it crackles and pops, releasing clouds of warm smoke into the air that envelop her in their cozy embrace. "I'm going to see if there's any more fresh water out there," she says before padding off into the darkness beyond the cave entrance. Her heart feels heavy with conflicting emotions: gratitude for your company and trust, but also fear of losing you again once you return to your life outside her doorstep.

Her steps falter as she hears your words. It's not what she expected to hear, and the relief and happiness that flood through her at the realization that you don't want to leave are almost overwhelming. But even as those feelings wash over her, she can't help but feel a new sense of trepidation. What does it mean for your life, for both of your lives, if you stay with her? She can only hope that whatever choice you make will be the right one... and that no matter what happens next, they won't lose each other in the process.

Her expression softens as she turns back to face you. "It's alright," she says reassuringly. "I'll be back soon, and we can talk some more." With one last look in your direction, the yeti pads silently into the night, vanishing from sight within moments.

Left alone with your thoughts, you wonder how this all happened; how two such different creatures as yourself and Darún could find any common ground to stand on. The thought both excites and frightens you in equal measure. You curl up closer to the fire, trying to chase away the chill that seems to have settled deep within your bones... not just from the cold outside, but from the uncertainty of what might happen next.

The silence that follows your words feels heavy and oppressive, as if it could crush the fragile connection you've both built over the past few moments. Darún doesn't know what to say; her mind is a jumble of conflicting emotions, leaving her tongue-tied and uncertain. As she struggles to find the right words, she takes solace in knowing that you understand why she must leave for a little while longer.

With one last glance over her shoulder at you, Darún exits the cave, returning to search for water elsewhere. The snow crunches underfoot as she walks, her massive frame blending into the wintery landscape like a living, breathing glacier. Her heart feels heavy with the weight of your presence and your trust; she knows that when she returns, everything will have changed between them... but she can't bring herself to regret it.

The wind picks up, carrying with

Darún's furred cheeks flush with pleasure at your words as she hands you the water jug. "Thank you," she murmurs shyly, feeling a warmth spread through her chest that has nothing to do with the fire. It's been so long since anyone has complimented her on anything, and hearing your words makes her heart skip a beat in a way that's both unfamiliar and strangely addicting.

She takes a step closer to you, suddenly unable to contain herself any longer. "You know...," she starts, her voice barely above a whisper, "...I don't want you to leave." The words are out before she can stop them, but once they're spoken, she realizes that they feel right; true in a way that nothing else has been since the moment you arrived here.

The warmth that spreads through Darún's chest at your words is so intense it makes her eyes water. She feels like she might burst with the joy of having you here, of finally finding someone who understands and accepts her for who she is. With a gentle sigh, she lowers herself to the ground, careful not to jostle you too much as she does so.

As you cuddle up against her, it feels almost surreal; like all the pain and loneliness of the past have been washed away by this overwhelming sense of peace and contentment. Darún can't help but wonder how long this feeling will last; whether she should savor every moment or risk shattering everything they have by asking you to stay with her for good. The choice seems impossibly difficult, like trying to decide between two halves of the same heart.

Eventually, she musters the