The mountains were harsh and unforgiving, anyone that has witnessed their icy breathe and their thunderous voices echoing from the skies would find little to disagree with this statement.
It was no different for the valiant northmen that had been huddling together in the cold, they had erected walls of snow around trees to serve as crude tents. While hardly heated , it was atleast bearable. They all lay asleep, a true testament to their weariness it was that even Uhruz' snoring did not rouse them. All except Whunjo. His head lay on the belly of his brother, they saw in this simple means to warm themselves for there was hardly any firewood left. What they had they kept for emergencies. It made Whunjo grumble a little , reminded him of his toes which he had not felt since this morning. He was wearied from his travels. They all were. Hungry, thinning , cold, some a bit sick. He cast a look at those he shared his "tent" with.. there were several of these crude structures, for they were still numerous. He tried to push away the smell of sweat and the groaning, smacking and snoring of those he lay near to and thought of a ritual the day before.
Spring had come, it had not passed on them in this cold environment. They had all gathered in a circle, men and women in their prime, aside Asatrid being the exception. They had dug a small pit and placed branches there, a single torch was held by one man and while they held their cloaks and furs close around them in the wind, there Whunjo made a speech, "Hrm-hrm!.. Long have we traveled. A circle of the seasons... and a half! It is.. at this half that we now have come upon the beginning of the summermonths! Life will flow in the earth, animals and Man shall bring forth young,.." They all were staring into nothingness. The thoughts of fields kissed by the sun, young maidens to frolick with in haystacks or tables laden with rich dishes only made their current circumstances all the more bitter. "We have nothing to offer the Spirits.. the earth .. this time and they shall forgive us! For we are.. such good friends to them! And I know your thoughts blood-kin and friends... hrm-hrm.. Lips split, eyes tear and both fingers and toes ache! Still.. where Man goes there he has the chance to bring hope! Hope for a finer earth to live in... if Man is willing and fair of heart. It is now though.. that if any Spirits dwell within these frozen lands that we shall make this offer... for the sun to return here and may it bring warmth!" Asatrid was impressed! Perhaps one of the few for all others were merely listening, hoping more so for their own fates to improve. Ursell crouched down and the branches were laid in a circle with a cross coming out of it's center, "May this .. hrm.. fire, be a beacon to those that watch these lands. That they may gain an interest... and have these frozen rocks covered in soft moss and this valley be full of beauty! And... if they are thankfull.. let the Spirits help us on our way out of here, back home." ... "Home.", some said while the flames licked this symbol of warmth and life , "Home."
Wunjo suddenly was brought back from his memories as he heard something outside.. it was still dark and he could only wonder what creature would come here. He clutched his chest, "A bear?", he thought while whincing. He decided to crawl out and have a look.. His eyes widened as Ursell was standing there like a frozen pillar in the snow, she was staring wide eyed without seeing and her arms held wide, mumbling incoherent nonsense! He ploughed his feet in the thick layer of snow towards her and as he reached her he tripped with a grumble, tumbling her down on her backside. It seemed to have had some effect for she immediately woke, shivering violently, her skin was white and her lips blue. "Hrm-hrm.. what are you doing frow?", he said as he picked her up. She startled from him being there and she couldn't get any words out at first, she seemed deadly frightened by something, "A.. a m-mann..", she mumbled. His head turned to look around, "What mann? Speak sense." There was nothing nearby and on the fresh snow were no fresh tracks except hers and his own. Ofcourse with the moon partialy hidden behind the clouds it was no easy task to find anything, but still. She fell quiet and hugged herself. He grabbed her and brought her to Uhruz whom was still laying in the makeshift tent. His snoring hadn't ceased the entire time, Whunjo took his cloak that the big man had used for a blanket and he gave it to her, "A mann... he told me of a way through the mountains. He came to me...", she shivered rubbing her arms as good as she may. He grunted, if they would've had anything left he would have thought her to be drunk, while he folded his own arms over his chest. "Hrm-hrm..better find some sleep frow. The morning is far away yet and perhaps.. your mind will work better after some rest.", he sounded a bit more harsh than he intended, still.. did the Spirits visit one of them? It could be..
The night had gone by, the sun was setting. All had gathered, their belongings on their backs. Mouths yawned, eyes blinked away the remnants of sleep .. the hunting dogs of Kalf growled a little at having to rise so early. Whunjo stood at the head once more, around the pitt they were, now the ashes therein covered in snow. "Point it out.", he said. Ursell did as he said and she pointed to a small pass that rain in the flank of the mountain. Nobody had seen it in the few days they had spent there, hoping for the weather to subside. Kalf spoke, "Are we certain that it can be passed?" Wunjo grinned, "No." The crowd was looking at the natural road, "We do not ..-know- where this place will lead. Yet..hrm-hrm.. it is either for us to stay here and slowly wither away without having.. the strength to hunt any longer. Or.. we shall try and meet our fate head on." .. Disagreement among the northmen,.. they grumbled to one another, all were eager to leave. Still they were not so desperate that they would not mind clinging to life a while longer in this place. Asatrid held on to one of the dogs, "I do not want to go.", she seemed afraid. Ursell knew what was coming too, "Oh no, I would not lead anyone!", she had always been one of the more reserved and quiet ones. Such a task as leading them towards what she had seen was not a thing she craved for. Kalf was hesistant.. Uhruz deep voice suddenly rumbled to everyone, his frame had thinned, but still he was colossal. His arms were laid over his chest and his chin went up, "Foolish!", he said as a dull grumpy frown was on his face, "Whunjo is right!! .. Whunjo is always right!"
Silence. The big man did not give any further reason, but eyed one after the other. Pretty much making it apparant that he would "convince" anyone with the layers of muscle on his bones if they disagreed. It was his way. Whunjo hid a private grin and rose his voice once more while he bent through his knees, "Will the brave Asatrid, who has come so far admit to fear then after going this far?" She seemed confused while she looked at the ground while her hands held on Freki's fur.. the young hound barked a few times, wondering what was happening. And as if the beast had given her some of it's courage she suddenly whispered, "I will come." "Hrm-hrm, .. and will not everyone else come? Where our youngest dare to thread.. surely we all do?" A voice came from the others, "And what if they are only a girl's frostbitten dreams we are chasing?" .. "Ha-hah.. is it not man's fate to follow his dreams? To where ever they may lead?!" More grumbles. Then it was Kalf's turn, "I think we should try.. yes.. I have had my fill of laying in the snow. Also there is barely anything to hunt here, we would freeze or starve if we stayed." Whunjo placed a hand on Asatrid's head and asked, "So, who will choose to die here... or join us on our journey while it is so close to it's ending?", a mad grin was on his face.
They had chosen to travel, shields and emptied bags were on their backs while those who had used their staves and spears for walking sticks. A few hours of walking and the gap in the mountain seemed to have gone around it's massive body, there was fairly little that drew their attention. Pinetrees and rocks covered in snow, they had been staring at some of natures' art. Mirrors of ice hanging from places where at warmer days there might've been streams running down or an old pinetree that in it's growth had lifted a rock the size of a child within it's trunk.. Another hour and they had been sitting in a small cave that held the wind back that wailed into the entrance, they had eaten the leftovers from a buck they had killed or from the legs of rabbits. Only the dogs were really feasting as ever on the bones. Gelert being the oldest taking the choice bits to break with his mighty teeth. Then Alfknutr and Kalf returned, damp and hot beneath their clothing from running, they were smiling. "We have made it friends!!", Alfknutr said, he grabbed Whunjo's shoulder who stopped chewing mid-motion. "Are you sure? I mean I hope that I led us well?", Ursell said. She had been feeling guilty for not knowing where she was bringing them, but then again she had a fair bit of "help" from someone else in the group in choosing this or that way. "Less than a mile from here is a ridge we can travel down from, if we are carefull. And beyond.. I shall not say just yet, the news would perhaps make legs feeble." ... "Or strengthen them for the final walk.", Uhruz gruffly added while he had been whetting his axe.
And less than a mile later they had stumbled upon a ridge, Kalf looked down, "So ahm.. anyone has some wings in his pack?" Whunjo came walking behind him while he still held Asatrid in his arms, she was sleeping deeply against his chest, "No rope that is long enough .. hrm-hrm.. We must find a different path." In truth they had not realised that they were descending since they left the cave, more steep than they would've thought. Whunjo turned around, behind them was a ridge higher up.. the pathway they had taken and a few trees on this plateau that served like some sort of balcony with an outlook to a great forest beyond. It was a shame for them that the thick mist prevented them from seeing as far. "Search along the mountainwall!", Froeydis piped up at the others. Most went to it, except Uhruz who had not forgotten the injury his brother sustained on her watch. He merely leaned on the haft of his weapon and scratched his worn skin.
Then Kalf's ear twitched, he heard the 'twang' of string and not long after the clatter of wood upon rock, "Anyone seen something to hunt?", he was grinning with anticipation for the thrill and perhaps a chance for warm meat. Uhruz looked at him, "Hm?! What are you talking about? There is nothing here except us!" Kalf appeared with his bow in hand and several arrows in the other, "Then who is shooting? And at what?" Uhruz picked his axe up from the ground, sensing danger, "Look around!" Their eyes suddenly tried to find a sign of life, but all they noticed were the shapes of the others trying to find a way in the thick weather. It wasn't until Ursell yelled, "Orks!! Orks!", that they found out they were ambushed! "Cover behind the pines!!" , a voice shouted! Shields appeared over heads like a roof.. Ursell shrieked as a strong arm yanked her near the men that had their protection up.. She could see Whunjo trying to glimpse around. Arrows were flying down in a volley, splitting around the place where she had stood. A few more shots went off, "They are shooting blindly.. stay silent and their arrows will .. hrm-hrm.. go astray." Not too far away Uhruz was crouching behind a rock with Kalf, the hunter was breathing deeply , "I think I see one..." "Then kill it.", Uhruz grumbled while his hands were chocking the axehaft. "Right..", he took in a few breathes and then exhaled, he then stood up to let fly, "Oi ugly!" It was the last that particular creature heard as the projectile lodged in it's skull! It fell forwards long after Kalf had went down, "I did it! I killed one!", the man yelled excited! "Not enough!" , Uhruz said while he rushed from hiding!!
"COME HERE YOU COWARDS!!!", the hulking warrior roared! Whunjo's eyes widened, "Brodr get out of there!" Too late. Arrows whistled from all around and a horrendous rumbling could be heard from above! Kalf peeked, expecting the worst. His teeth set upon eachother as he saw several shafts sticking out the front of Uhruz and a few more that had struck the floor of stone.. The big man moved, his last breathe no doubt.. He then suddenly turned around, "I will feed you your own innards!!" Was he still alive? Surely even he couldn't withstand such a volley. Uhruz grumbled and clutched on a cut along his arm. It was a this time that the rumbling like a wild beast had ceased and no more sound came from up ahead..
Whunjo handed the child to Ursell, "Brodr, you are well?" "Hrhh, no!! They fled!" He could not believe it as he saw three arrows were stuck in Uhruz' axehaft, "If this.. is no sign that the spirits are watching over us.. then I know not what could be." The roof of shields was lowered and both men and women carefully came out of hiding, Kalf was laughing, "That was the maddest thing I've seen him do since we left home! Hahaha!"
