บท 19: Start of a journey
The early morning light cast a pale glow over the village as the group prepared for their journey. Each person wore layers of thick, white wool vests and jackets, designed to blend into the snowy landscape and keep out the biting cold. They were bundled against the chill, their breath rising in small clouds as they moved through final preparations, each equipped with the tools they needed for survival.
At the front of the group stood Mikkel, his posture firm and confident. He wore a small handgun on his hip, ready to be used if necessary, and a heavy long axe slung across his back. The axe had a weighted core, perfect for both defense and cutting through the thick, frozen terrain. Mikkel also carried a mountain map, a GPS device, and a well-worn survival handbook that had been passed down over the years. Around his neck hung a pair of binoculars, allowing him to survey the distant landscape and search for safe routes.
Just behind Mikkel were Bjorn and Anna. Bjorn, who had only his trusty ice axe as a weapon, was laden with essential climbing gear—crampons, helmets, harnesses, and thick, sturdy ropes, which he had coiled around his shoulder. Beside him, Anna wore several ropes slung across her own shoulders, with a set of carabiners fastened securely on her hips. Her face was calm and steady, her eyes fixed ahead with quiet determination.
In the center of the line were Elin, Arne, and Tobias. Arne carried a mechanical spear that he had crafted himself, its sharp tip gleaming in the morning light. Beside it hung two smaller handguns Mikkel had entrusted to him, along with a set of seven hatchets specially balanced for throwing. Tobias, who walked beside Arne, had a net strapped to his back, intended for trapping smaller animals they might encounter along the way. Elin walked beside them, carrying an assortment of sleeping bags and other essential supplies, her arms steady and prepared to support the group's needs.
Near the back of the group were Arvid and Olaf, each carrying a substantial share of the food and various hand tools needed for the journey. These included small axes, a large hammer, and a few rugged saws, all meant for chopping wood and setting up camp. With them were their wives, Astrid and Helene, who were responsible for the group's medicine and health supplies. Their medical kits were stocked with essential items like First-aid kit, bandages, antiseptic, gauze, pain relievers, and Menstrual products.
Just a few feet ahead of them were the younger children, positioned between Arne and Arvid for protection. Though they were the smallest of the group, they carried only their own knives for self-defense and their sleeping bags, which had been rolled up and fastened to their small packs. The sight of them between the two strong men gave the group a sense of security—Arne and Arvid could both see and hear the young ones, ensuring that they remained safe and protected.
As Mikkel surveyed the group, a quiet sense of pride filled him. Everyone had come together for this moment, each person playing their part, prepared for the challenges that lay ahead. This journey would demand all of their strength, skill, and resilience, but he knew that they were as prepared as they could be.
With a final look at the village they had called home, Mikkel raised his hand, signaling for the group to move. One by one, they turned from the only world they had known, stepping forward into the vast unknown with hope in their hearts and a determination that bound them together.
A few hours had passed since they left the familiar wreckage of Altera, and now the group was moving through a dense, snow-laden forest that stretched endlessly before them. Once, this place had been their hunting grounds, a forest teeming with small animals and the occasional prey, familiar terrain that Arvid, Mikkel, Bjorn, and Arne knew intimately. But today, something felt different—off. The silence was thick, almost unnaturally so, settling over the trees and blanketing everything in an eerie stillness.
The forest was beautiful yet ghostly. Fresh snow coated the ground, untouched and undisturbed, its flawless surface marred only by the tracks left by their own group. Tall pine trees dominated the landscape, their thin, straight trunks stretching skyward, while their branches drooped under the heavy weight of fresh snow. Here and there, the thin pines bent under the burden, their dark green needles barely visible beneath the heavy white blanket. The color palette of their surroundings was limited to muted whites, grays, and subtle hints of blue. The overcast sky above offered no warmth, casting a cold, lifeless light over the snow-covered land. It was as if the forest itself were holding its breath, waiting.
Bjorn couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled, and his muscles tensed as he glanced around, eyes searching the shadowed spaces between the trees. There were no signs of life—not a single footprint, not the slightest rustle of movement. He had spent countless hours in this forest with Arne, where the woods always seemed to respond to them in some way. Small birds would flit overhead, and the occasional arctic fox-cat would dart between the trees, its three long, bushy tails trailing behind it like a ghostly ribbon. But now, there was only silence.
Unable to ignore the feeling any longer, Bjorn quietly stepped out of the group's formation and moved closer to Mikkel, who was leading at the front.
"You shouldn't leave formation, Bjorn," Mikkel murmured, keeping his eyes forward, his voice low.
"I know," Bjorn replied, his gaze flickering to the shadows at the edge of his vision. "But this silence… it's unsettling. Whenever Arne and I hunted here, the forest always answered back, even if just with a small flutter of wings or a fox-cat slipping through the trees. But now, it's too quiet. There aren't even any footprints—nothing."
Mikkel nodded slowly, his expression serious. "I noticed that too. It's as if everything vanished the moment we arrived. But it's a big group—maybe we're simply scaring them off."
Bjorn's jaw clenched as he scanned the treeline. "That's what I thought at first. But even so, it feels like we're being watched. I don't know if it's just the silence getting to me, but..."
Mikkel considered his words for a moment, glancing over his shoulder to ensure the rest of the group was still moving steadily. "There's a clearing about half an hour's walk from here, on our right. It's open but shielded enough to be a decent spot for a camp," he said thoughtfully. "It's noon now, and I'd prefer not to stop so early, and..."
Bjorn cut him off gently. "I think we should. There's something unnatural about this quiet, and the kids and women need the rest. I'd prefer we take the time to set up while we still have light. Count in at least three more stops for water and rest, and we'll be reaching nightfall."
Mikkel's hesitation was brief, but it was there. "If it were just us men, I'd agree to press on," he admitted. "But you're right. We have families with us—no use testing luck tonight."
Relieved, Bjorn nodded. "Exactly. If we can find that clearing soon, we'll have time to settle before dark."
After a final pause, Mikkel relented with a sigh. "Alright, we'll head for the clearing and make camp."
Bjorn turned to go, but not before catching the faintest trace of doubt in Mikkel's expression. He knew Mikkel wasn't fully at ease, but neither was he. Whatever lay beyond those trees, hidden in the silence, it would have to wait.
Bjorn made his way back to the rest of the group, his footsteps crunching softly in the fresh snow. He met Anna's gaze first, a brief flicker of concern passing between them before he addressed the others.
"We'll be making camp a bit earlier than planned," Bjorn announced. "There's a clearing up ahead, and it'll give us enough time to set up before nightfall."
The group murmured in quiet agreement, the tension in their faces easing just slightly. But even as they moved toward the promised clearing, the silence followed them, pressing down on them like a shadow, heavy and watchful.
The forest remained as still as ever, the untouched snow beneath their feet seeming to stretch on forever, a reminder of the quiet, unseen forces that lurked just beyond their vision. For now, all they could do was keep moving forward, step by careful step, until they reached the safety of the clearing and the sanctuary of firelight.
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