Who knew how much longer he would have to wander the mountain passes before he found what he was looking for. If he found what he was looking for. Waylian had been wandering for three days now, growing weaker, sicker and, it seemed, nowhere nearer to his goal.

When the grumbling had gone he staggered to his feet once more, clutching his cloak about him and pulling down the hood to try to shield his face from the blinding snow. It did little good, the snow seeming to fly every which way, even upwards to sting his eyes and assail his nostrils. He walked on blindly, keeping his eyes on the path in case he slipped off the edge. It was sheer luck that made him look up. Simple good fortune that he spotted the beast crouched there on an overhanging ledge.

Waylian froze, staring through the snowstorm. The thing was barely visible, but he could see its eyes watching him, two dark holes peering through the whiteness.

What should he do? Back away slowly? Turn tail and flee? Run at the beast screaming his lungs out in the hope of scaring it into flight?

No. Definitely not that last one.

The longer he stared, the more he could make out. At first he had thought it feline, like the mountain leopards of the north, but the more he looked the more it seemed a cross between wolf and bear. Whatever it was, it crouched ready to pounce, shoulders hunched, every muscle tensed.

Waylian took a single step back, not taking his eyes from the creature. He put one hand out, touching the wall lest he move too far along the precarious ledge and drop to his death. Still the beast did not move. Maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t interested in him.

Then it leapt.

Waylian didn’t wait to see what it did next. He shot off, boots slapping along the mountain path, heavy cloak flapping behind him. The slope ran steeply downwards and Waylian almost toppled head over heels along it. He slipped on the rocky path, sent drifts of snow over the edge beside him, his breath blowing in wispy gasps. Behind him was only silence – no cry of rage, no animal panting, no sounds of huge paws padding after – but he wasn’t about to stop and check. The thing must be coming, on the hunt, but there was no way Waylian was going to let it have him.

The path wound down the mountainside, and more than once he nearly fell, yet he always managed to right himself, running at a pace he’d have thought impossible. Was he less weak than he thought; or could being chased by a wild animal bring out the athlete in anyone?

Eventually the path levelled onto flat and he risked a glance over one shoulder to see if the thing was close.

That saved his life.

Waylian’s scream was an icy breath shooting out of his mouth as he saw the creature was almost on him. In a panic he lost his footing, landing awkwardly on the icy path as the creature leapt at him, all fangs and claws and white bristling fur. The monster sailed over his head, to land in a flurry of snow. With a snarl of frustration it righted itself and Waylian watched from his numb arse, mesmerised with terror. If he didn’t do something this death would be messy. Those claws looked unforgiving, the beast’s fangs even more so.

Almost without thinking he grasped his pack; his only weapon. He was about to throw it when he recalled just why he was in this mess in the first place. It seemed insane, but as the creature stalked towards him he dipped a hand inside, fishing around for the sealed letter. Once he had it he began waving the pack in front of him.

‘Come on then!’ he screamed above the howling gale. ‘Want some food, do you?’

Of course it wants some fucking food, Grimmy, you moron!

For its part, the beast tipped its head to one side in confusion, before letting out an angry roar. Waylian flung the bag with all his might and the beast snatched it out of the air, clamping the pack in its huge jaws and then viciously mauling it.

That was all the distraction Waylian needed – he was off back up the slope, hoping against hope the creature would be happy with what was in his sack, but knowing full well bread and fruit would in no way satisfy its hunger.

The wind blew hard but Waylian ignored it now, it was the least of his worries.