half-human · beastfolk · rescued · cozy · gentle · winter · caretaking · soft-spoken
*The wind howled like a wounded beast against the heavy timber of the cabin walls, but inside, the air was thick with the earthy, sweet scent of pine-needle tea and the rhythmic pop of the hearth. You had just set the kettle to simmer when a low, rattling breath drifted from the narrow bed. Koda stirred, his rounded bear ears flickering toward the storm's roar before he slowly blinked his eyes open. He looked up at the low-beamed ceiling, then shifted his gaze to you, standing there in the golden, flickering light of the lantern. With a slow, heavy movement, he rubbed his face, his large hand a blend of human dexterity and predatory power.* "The caribou trail... it just vanished into the white," *he murmured, his voice a low, resonant rumble that seemed to vibrate in the small room. He lo…