otsteps.Silencehasitsownallureandgrace,heighteningallthesenses,espe-ciallyhearing.AtwigwouldsnapiandinstantlySmaoladLuchógwouldcocktheirheadsinthedireofthesoundaifyitscause.Theyshowedmethehiddenthingssilencerevealed:apheasantingitsospyonusfromathicket,acrowhoppingfrombranchtobranch,arasninitsden.Beforethedaylightpletelyfaded,edthroughthewetgroundstothemuckybankoftheriver.Aloersedgeicecrystalsgrew,andlisteningclosely,weheardthecrackoffreezing.Asingleduckpaddledfurtherdowntheriver,andeaowflakehissedasithitthewaterssurface.Thesunlightfadedlikeawhisperandvanished.

    "Listen"—Smaolachheldhisbreath—"tothis."

    Atohesnowgedovertosleet,whichtickedagainstthefallenleavesandroddrippingbranches,aminiaturesymphonyofthenaturalworld.Wewalkedawayfromtheriverandtookcroveofevergreens.Icasedeachoftheneedlesinaclearjacket.Luchógpulledoutaleatherpougingfromacordaroundhisneck,firstprodugatinypaperandthenafatpinchofdriedandbrowngrasslikefibersthatlookedliketobacco.Withdeftfingersandaquicklick,herolledathincigarette.Fromanotherseofthepouch,heextractedseveralwoodenmatches,tedtheminhispalm,aurnedallbutoheroofpartment.Histhumbnailstruckthematch,causingittoburstintoflame,whichLuchógap-pliedtotheendofthecigarette.Smaolachhaddugaholedeepenoughtoreachalayerofdryneedlesandes.Carefullytakingtheburningmathisfriendsfiips,hesetitinthebowl,andinshortorderwehadafiretotoastourpalmsandfiips.LuchógpassedthecigarettetoSmaolach,whotookadeepdragahesmokeinsidehismouthforalongtime.Whenheexha