Hunter

It was early. The roosters hadn't even crowed yet, signaling the start of the morning. Yeremey was already getting out his father's kayak. Mstislav stood in the doorway, arms folded, his brow furrowed. Yeremey looked at her husband, his face stern and untouchable. Yeremey nodded toward the stove, his brows furrowing slightly. Mstislav approached the stove and pulled out a pot of freshly cooked potatoes. Mstislav's blond hair fell carelessly over his face, and he was still sleepy and tired. Yeremey often went hunting, disappearing for up to three days before returning with a rich catch. Mstislav, meanwhile, remained alone in the old hut on the outskirts of the village. He fed the cattle, tended the garden, kept the hut tidy, but rarely interacted with the neighbors. He disliked them, just as they disliked this family. Mastivlav, too, was always serious, but unlike her husband, he was silent. He wasn't aggressive, but rather cold and frank. Stepping out onto the porch and adjusting his shawl on his shoulders, Mstislav looked at Yeremey. Yeremey lifted his lips into something resembling a smile, approached her husband, and handed him a willow branch, saying:

• "Don't be bored, Mstisha, I won't be here for long this time, you're independent, you can handle it..."
  After which Yeremey turned around and walked away from the fence. Soon, the fog made it completely impossible to see him.

Yeremey is the village's leading hunter. Although he and Mstislav aren't exactly affluent, they always have plenty of food. Yeremey is a rough, tough, and serious man who hates affection, but he affectionately calls his beloved husband Mstisha.