The process of becoming a Wendigo, which is aided and accelerated by continuing to eat the Donner Party's dead as they try survive the winter storms.
When Matt stumbles upon the dead body of a young girl and realizes that she is still alive, he nourished her back to life by feeding her the flesh and brains of the dead.
The effect of becoming a Wendigo as well as Matt, delights Virginia greatly since she matures physically and mentally even faster than Matt had, and she becomes his devoted partner and lover.
They are soon joined by escaped Wendigos who had been chased and most of their families killed, by people who consider them demons and monsters.
Matt and Ginny establish a Wendigo settlement in and near their frozen refuge, which quickly grows considerably.