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first place.
    It was odd to see Amelia trying to pet him, and flinching as he nuzzled up at her. She looks so like Grace, especially in my sister’s dress. Grace would have loved him. Grace wouldn’t have wanted to give him back, she’d probably have smuggled him into the house and tried to feed him cheese.
    The pup seemed to understand that the girl was nervous. He didn’t jump about all over her, like he does with me. I led them both back over to the hollow tree, and we gave him the food I’d brought. I showed Amelia his little nest of blankets and how cosy it was, but she shivered.
    “He’s out here all on his own…” she said. “Do you think he’s frightened?”
    I told her probably. He’s only young, after all.
    She looked at me when I said that, and nodded. The pup had finished his food and he came back to us, wagging his tail and looking happy. He was dancing about, nearly tripping over his own fat paws. He made her laugh, and she reached out to stroke his ears – and this time she almost looked like she enjoyed it.
    Then she said, “What’s his name?”
    I looked at her with my mouth open. I hadn’t even thought about it. I suppose because I know we can’t keep him, I just think of him as the pup. But I think if he has a name, it will be easier for her to help look after him. She might notfind him as frightening if she can call him something.
    Amelia knows how to get to the spring now, so she can bring him his food. That means if I get some time away from the cabin, I can go looking for his mother. Then we can bring him back.
    She named him Frost.

 
    A melia sat on a fallen tree and watched Frost sniffing about in the fresh snow. He had eaten the scraps that Noah had given her and then he’d looked at her hopefully, nosing at Amelia’s pockets as though he thought she might have something else hidden away.
    “Noah’s right,” Amelia murmured, as she watched Frost look suspiciously at his own tail, and then start to whirl round and round, chasing it with fierce little growls. “You do eat a lot. Noah said he’d go and check his snares later.” She shuddered at the thought of the poor rabbits, but Noah’s family lived by hunting. She knew they only caught what they needed to survive, but she still didn’t like it. At least Noah hadn’t asked her to go and check the snares for him.
    “And now he’s got to feed me as well as you. I think between us we got most of his breakfast.” She sighed. “I wish I could do something to help.” She sank her chin into her hands and stared down at her snow-soaked boots. She still wasn’t sure why she had come here. It must have been for a reason – to help, somehow. But Amelia wasn’t feeling very useful.
    Frost stopped dancing after his tail and padded over to her. He rested his heavy muzzle on her lap, and Amelia swallowed hard. Even yesterday, she would have been terrified. His mouth was open a little, and she could see his teeth. Frost was far from fully grown, but his jaws were strong. Deep down inside, she was still scared of him. But he was so warm against her knees, and his eyes sparkledwith mischief. He seemed to know that Amelia was sad, and he waggled his whiskers at her. She giggled and gently cupped her mittened hands on either side of his head. “You’re funny. Funny little wolf.”

    There were flakes of snow caught in the grey-white fur round his muzzle, and they glittered in the faint sunlight – he looked like he had been dusted withsugar. Amelia brushed them away gently, and Frost slumped on to her feet with a contented little
oooof
.
    “That’s nice,” Amelia murmured. “My feet are damp. I wish I’d come time-travelling in snow boots, not slippers. Grace’s boots are good, but they don’t keep the snow all the way out.” She shivered. It was growing colder – the light was fading. She’d have to set off back to the stable soon. Noah had piled up more straw for her to hide behind, even though he’d promised Amelia