Aiden's Quest

by Dane Bagley

With nightfall, the snow fell faster and harder. The temperature dropped and Marcus was particularly glad for the warm pelts from within he slept. For a long time, the forest remained silent. Perhaps even the wolves lay huddled together in this blizzard rather than risk the cold.

  Then he heard a twig snap. His heart leaped, but then it was silent again. I’m surprised Aiden is up, he thought. I can’t imagine getting out of the warmth tonight. He began to drift off to sleep again when another twig snapped and then another. The sound drew closer and it wasn’t Aiden’s gait.

  He felt a heavy paw on his chest and then the smell of the wolf’s breath coming through the small crack through which he breathed. The wolf smelled him too and began to growl. Marcus knew Aiden was nearby; his best bet would be to lie still for a moment and let Aiden take care of the beast.

  The wolf’s other front paw was on his chest then, too. He felt the claws engage and realized the wolf was trying to rip through the pelts. He felt sharpness on his skin. The wolf was tearing open the pelt with its teeth. Marcus’ face was exposed and he could see the face of the wolf by the light of the moon. Its teeth were bared and he could hear it growl as it looked into his eyes. Marcus tried to scream but he couldn’t make the sound. He tried to move from underneath the wolf but the wolf’s claws were dug into his chest and his body was frozen in paralysis. The wolf’s mouth open and it was coming for Marcus’ neck. He could feel the cool air, and he could smell the strong scent of the wolf. Saliva dripped from its bared teeth.

  Then he felt a human hand on his shoulder.

  “Marcus.”

  “Marcus!”

  “Wake up, Marcus,” said Terrence.

  Marcus opened his eyes. The ground was covered in a thick blanket of snow. The scent of the wolf was intense as it emanated from the pelt with which he slept, but there was no wolf atop him. It was the breaking dawn of the first snow-covered winter morning.

  “Help us get the fire going before we freeze to death,” said Daxton.

  “What were it ye was dreamin’ of, Marcus? Ye seemed awfully disturbed,” said Jashion.

  Marcus didn’t answer. He wrapped his pelt around him but still felt colder than he had ever felt before. The blinding white of the ground was no better than the crisp blue above. His eyes teared up briefly and he quickly wiped it away. Firewood was easy to come by on the edge of the dark forest. It wouldn’t be long before they had plenty. But it was frozen through and getting it lit would be the challenge.

  Aiden must have known what kind of trouble they would be in because he was nowhere to be seen. He must have left before the blizzard was over because there were no tracks nor an impression where he had laid. This was disconcerting—but not surprising to Marcus. It was unspoken between them, when Aiden left. They simply moved on, did what they had to do, and awaited his arrival. For all they knew he may be nearby and watching all that transpired.

  Terrence seemed to like the challenge. Aiden’s departure opened up leadership opportunities for him. Though the youngest of the group and the younger brother to Marcus, Terrence was built more stoutly and had the most adventurous spirit. Jashion, treated as second in command by Aiden, happily acquiesced his position to Terrence. Daxton and Marcus were less pleased but nonetheless non-argumentative.

  Marcus returned with a bundle of wood and dropped it near Terrence, who was flinging sparks at twigs and branches with his knife.

  “Thanks,” said Terrence without looking up.

  Daxton was hacking at some meat with his knife while Jashion sat on a fallen tree limb shivering under his pelt.

  “Need a hand?” said Marcus to Terrence.

  “Nah, I’ve got it.”

  Marcus made his way toward Jashion.

  “What’s our status with food,” he asked Jashion.

  “Enough for breakfast…and probably lunch,” answered Terrence from behind. “We’ll need to hunt today if we want to eat tonight and tomorrow morning.”

  Sparks were still being sent, but nothing was igniting.

  “We’ve not hunted in the frozen snow before,” said Marcus, apparently to Jashion.

  “Doesn’t matter,” said Terrence. “We’ve got to eat…you’ve got a better idea?”

  Daxton made his way towards Terrence.

  “Meat’s ready. Need help with the fire?”

  “Na. Just be a minute. Sharpen your knife’s, they must be getting dull.”

  “It’s too cold. If you don’t get this fire going, we’ll freeze to death,” replied Daxton.

  Daxton and Marcus were under their pelts and sitting by Jashion watching Terrence struggle. His skin was looking blue and his movements were slowing. Deep body shivers came occasionally at first and then became more rapid. His breath appeared to freeze instantly, and was slowing. Jashion unwrapped himself and walked over to Terrence and put his hand on his shoulder.

  “I’ll take a turn, I will.”

  “I’ve g-got it.” Terrence kept at it, but his strength could hardly produce a spark.

  “Terrence,” said Jashion still holding his shoulder. It took a few moments and Terrence looked up with fear in his eyes.

  “Terrence, ye’ve done what ye could. It’s me turn now, it is.”

  Terrence was defeated. His hypothermia made him numb and his mental capacity was slowed. Yet his determination was such that he would have continued to strike the stone until he was unconscious.

  Jashion helped him to the pelts and got him covered. Once Terrence was covered he asked Marcus and Daxton to help. He began to rub a stick into another and asked Daxton to do the same. Marcus became the spark flinger. It was a good quarter of an hour before the first ignition. It didn’t last, but the next one did, only a minute later. Within ten minutes a decent fire was roaring.

  Jashion made his way back to Terrence. He appeared to be asleep. Jashion felt his skin and it was cold.

  “Marcus, help me get Terrence to the fire. His body is cold, it is.”

  Both Daxton and Marcus helped Jashion get Terrence to the fire. Terrence needed warming more than the food needed cooking. Daxton took the fire duty and eventually got it roaring. Marcus and Jashion huddled up to Terrence. Eventually he was warmed and his mind returned. Daxton cooked up all the remaining meat and they ate.

  Aiden would have never allowed such a bonfire—even in the bright morning. A fire such as this on a frozen morning in the dark forest would draw the attention of every creature, not hibernating, for miles around. Aiden sat perched under his pelt high in a nearby tree. With his keen eyes he had watched the happenings of the morning. There was only so much that could be taught by words and example. Some lessons could only be learned with the subject’s proverbial back against the wall. The difficult fire had been started and Terrence’s life had been saved. But at the expense of the frozen and sleeping dark forest becoming fully awake. Coming to the rescue would be problematic on many levels—but he may not have a choice. A large scout wolf was making its way towards the fire and to his companions. More than anything it was the deliberate nature with which the wolf traveled. Aiden strained in the direction from which the wolf came. Moments later he saw the pack.

  A frozen morning would not ordinarily be a time for the wolves to come as they were. The wolves knew of Aiden. They had been cautious, knowing the hunter who invaded their territory. But a fire such as this was a sign of complete disrespect. They were being taunted. Allowing the humans to act as though there was no threat would be tantamount to defeat. Their individual lives were not worth this.

  Aiden was on full alert. This pack was large—much larger than he had yet encountered. Warriors who fear not death are the most difficult to face. They were not coming to deliver any warning or to cherry pick off one of the humans. This was a pack coming for battle—to the death. It was also possible that this was not the only pack making its way, perhaps just the first. Time was short but he scanned for other packs making their way. None were apparent.

  Aiden climbed down the tree and set up to sh
oot the first wolf between its eyes with the arrow he had drawn. He hoped to drop it without a sound. Yes, the sound would alert Jashion and the boys, but so would it alert the pack. The wolves were not to be intimidated this day.

  Aiden watched patiently. This wolf moved in perfect silence but Aiden had triangulated its arrival. He had watched its pace and knew its preferences. Though the wolf gave no other clue it arrived just as Aiden had anticipated. Aiden let go of the string and the arrow flew. Between the wolves eyes it struck, dropping the marvelous creature instantly and silently.

  Aiden listened for the pack. Whatever sound they may make was obscured by the roaring of the fire. His companions weren’t even thinking. As if the fire wasn’t big enough already, they were reloading and enlarging it. He couldn’t leave his post, it was the best place to kill off two or three and set the pack into temporary disarray. He turned toward his companions and fired an arrow.

  It struck in a tree a few feet above their heads, not far from the fire.

  “It’s Aiden, it is,” said Jashion.

  “Is he in trouble?” asked Daxton.

  “I think we’re in trouble,” said Terrence. “Get this fire out!”

  The boys sent copious amounts of snow onto the flames and in several minutes the fire was quenched. Indeed, it quieted the fire and helped Aiden hear the pack. What he heard was the pack coming much more rapidly, for they too heard the fire being extinguished. They suspected that they were no longer coming for a surprise attack. They were known, but were not going to stop the attack.

  There was no time to rejoin his companions. The pack’s progress would temporarily halt as they encountered their fallen companion. He would take out as many as he could as they halted. No matter the wolves resolve, this would divide them at least temporarily. This division may allow at least some advantage to he and the boys.

  Twenty wolves could not move silently. Aiden heard them arrive. He could have shot one or two at this point, but he preferred to have most in view staring at their fallen brother. This would allow him to choose which to take out and to kill, perhaps, three or four of them.

  Aiden watched them gather and having picked out the alpha male and alpha female, released his shots. Both went down and that disquieted the pack. Most were off in whatever direction their first reaction took them. One headed towards Aiden, unwittingly. Its body became the next carcass. Two others were slower to move and they were gone. Fifteen leaderless wolves remained; disunited, stunned, and confused. Another day, they may have left and re-banded awaiting a more opportune time. Aiden did not suspect that this would be the case that morning. The frozen air would have kept them from coming this far had their resolve not been as strong.

  At least two wolves were heading toward the smoke that was once fire. He couldn’t head that way. His friends could handle two, especially since they knew something was up. The howls that followed Aiden’s kills left his companions without any doubt of the danger surrounding them. His friends were to his right and Aiden went left. The wolves would no doubt all head to that landmark eventually. He would pick off those he could from behind.

  The howls had stopped; to some extent the wolves were regrouping. Aiden’s non-silent friends confirmed the arrival of at least two of the wolves. He was left without doubt of the success of the kills. Whatever he heard, the remaining wolves heard also. Aiden’s count was thirteen to go. For all he knew, those thirteen may have rejoined together.

  From behind him the nearly black haired wolf watched closely. The mighty hunter was focused in front of himself and not behind. The cold may be affecting his judgment. This hunter was vulnerable and it readied itself for the pounce. The unfortunate twig made it so that that the hunter was warned. Still it mattered not, for the wolf was on him.

  Aiden turned and readied his knife. It struck the attacking wolf in the heart. But the claws sunk deep into Aiden’s left shoulder. Twelve wolves to go, but then Aiden was injured. He knew not the state of his friends. Blood dripped from his shoulder, warming the skin temporarily. There was no time to wait, to rest, to recover.

  “That was close,” said Daxton. “I hope that’s it. Why didn’t Aiden just get those two? Do you think he chased them to us? To test us?”

  Jashion reached down and pulled his knife from the chest of the brown wolf near Daxton. If it hadn’t been for Jashion’s perfect throw, Daxton would have been gone. Daxton had shot the gray wolf with his arrow and was admiring his work as the brown wolf came upon him.

  “If it’d been so easy to get these two, Aiden’of gotten ‘em, he would. He’d not test us with this danger, he’d not. I fear there’s more out there, else Aiden’s in trouble himself. Let’s go!”

  Terrence was feeling better, but was frustrated that he hadn’t got either of them. He hoped that there were more. He wanted his kill. How often does a person want something that they should never want? Terrence would get what he wanted, and soon.

  The young male and female, destined to become the new alpha pair, had come together and were closing in. These humans, whom had invaded their territory and were so respected—even feared by the packs, didn’t seem such a concern. They were easy enough to track; fire, smoke, loud talk, and loud march left the pair in no doubt as to their whereabouts. Still, much of the pack had been killed. They were deadly, if not discreet. They were not quite in sight, but via sound and smell it was clear that they were not far away and right where the pair were headed. The female circled left, the male circled right. They would both be upon them in no time.

  Aiden approached the campsite carefully with bow drawn. As he suspected, some of the pack had gathered. Three wolves were sniffing around. Their fallen comrades had distracted them temporarily in their search. Aiden took out the one looking the opposite direction of him, hitting it squarely at the base of the skull. The she-wolf fell quietly without initially alarming the other male and female who were facing each other. It would not be possible to pick either one off without the other noticing. He strung and aimed for the larger male. The shot was good, but not perfect. It struck the body, just missing the heart. The male howled and went down but was not dead. The female ran. Aiden’s shot hit the she-wolf in the hind quarters. This shot was not deadly either. It continued to limp away. The pain in his shoulder had affected those shots. The male still howled until the next shot put it out. Ten, Aiden calculated, with one injured.

  Another pack of four had gathered some little ways off. They answered the howls of their fallen pack mate.

  The howls disquieted the boys. The warmth of the fire had worn off. Each of their skin was frozen and numb. Still, inside a fire burned.

  “There’s more,” said Marcus.

  “Let’s go back,” said Terrence. “It came from that way.”

  They hardly felt the cold so warm was their blood being pumped rapidly through their bodies. The sun shone brightly and their adrenaline rushes took some of the chill out of the air. The boys turned around and headed back to the campfire site, ready for more battle. This time they were coming for the wolves, they were hunting rather than being hunted. This change temporarily threw off the young alpha pair.

  The other young female, the one with an arrow stuck in its hind quarters lay on their return path. The wolf was unsuccessfully attempting to remove the arrow with its teeth and licking around the wound. It heard and smelled the boys returning. It got up painfully, yet ably, and crouched for a spring.

  Terrence had taken the lead back, sword drawn, with keen eyes. The female bared its teeth and leaned back. The wolfs leap was weaker than it hoped; it came down near Terrence’s knee. The she-wolf instinctively nipped at his knee as he brought down the hilt of his sword upon its head. It was not a strong hit, but it did minimize the effect of the bite and forced the wolf back a little. Terrence drew the sword back and swung hard. The injured and fierce creature moved and prepared to lunge at him. Daxton had his bow drawn but was afraid that he may hit Terrence as easily as the she-wolf. Jashion circled to the left w
ith his knife drawn. The movement of the boys provided some distraction and the wolf didn’t pounce. Terrence struck again, this time hitting it with a glancing blow. The angry wolf turned and Jashion saw the arrow stuck in its backside. That had to be Aiden’s. It was a poor shot. Something was wrong, he feared.

  The next blow from Terrence was significant—hitting it across the face and drawing blood with the gash. The wolf reeled and Daxton let his arrow go. This one struck its shoulder. The wolf turned to run but Jashion let his knife fly, striking it in the heart and putting the wolf out of its misery for good.

  “That was mine,” said Terrence with anger seething in his expression.

  “Terrence!” said Marcus.

  Terrence dropped his head and calmed down. “Let’s go, there’s more where these came from,” Terrence said.

  “I’m concerned about Aiden,” said Jashion as he retrieved his knife. “See this arrow,” he said indicating the arrow in the hind quarter. “That’s Aiden’s, it is. I’ve never seen a poorer shot from Aiden, has ye?”

  The realization of Aiden’s mortality concerned the boys. He actually could be hurt—or worse. This thought had never occurred to them before.

  “Let’s find him,” said Marcus.

  An isolated wolf had approached the campsite at the time that Aiden had killed the male with his second shot. The wolf watched, not thinking that it had been spotted. This one had seen Aiden at work before. In fact, the skin that Marcus wore was the skin of its brother. This wolf was cunning, it wanted revenge, but was patient. Aiden had sensed its presence. He shot an arrow in its direction but missed. The wolf ran.

  Aiden pursued but at a slower pace. He could see the trail in the snow. It was better to let the wolf return. He heard the pack of four howl again, and another isolated wolf returned the howl. He suspected that it would join. Aiden’s count was still ten, but the true count was down to nine with Jashion’s kill.

  Terrence walked with a limp. His knee stung and he felt the warmth from the blood streaming down his leg. This did not slow him down but rather helped to speed him up. He wanted blood, the blood of a wolf more than anything.

  They heard the cry of the wolves, then closer, and headed towards them. The sound of an unfrozen river could be heard some ways off, in the direction of the pack. They walked purposefully in this direction for some time without any other sights or sounds.

  The young alpha pair gathered at the site of their fallen sister. They sniffed the she-wolf for a moment and then took off at a more rapid pace in the direction of the foot tracks in the snow.

  Aiden’s instincts brought him back to the camp. There he saw the fallen she-wolf, and the direction of the tracks where his friends had gone. They were heading towards the pack and not away from it, a pair of wolves were clearly on their tail. Aiden followed.

  Behind him he sensed danger and turned. An older and very large, majestic grey stood. He had seen this wolf before. This wolf had entered the camp when Jashion and Jemma had been attacked by the anaconda. The wolf stared him down and bobbed its head up and down. Aiden reached for his bow. The wolf did not move. Its stare was fixed and it showed no fear.

  Aiden did not pull back the string. But he held it ready to do so. After a minute the wolf turned slowly and calmly and began to walk away. Something was very different about this wolf than the others. Aiden chose not to shoot. Aiden headed towards the others.

  They had reached the edge of the gorge with the river fifty feet below. The view was gorgeous. Icicles lined the edge and mirrored the water with a sparkling reflection. Evergreens bent with the snow and ice. Had they come upon it at a moment of peace they would have stopped and admired. Under the circumstances they hardly noticed, their focus on the danger surrounding them. Walking along the edge meant that the wolves could only approach them from their left side, allowing them to keep a close watch.

  This group of five wolves was neither the bravest nor the smartest of the pack. But together they presented a challenge. Jashion was the first to spot them ahead. He crouched and indicated that the others should crouch too. The wolves ahead did not seem to be aware of them as yet. That presented some advantage. The real problem was the pair behind them. They had spotted the boys and were approaching from behind. When Aiden arrived, and saw what lay in front of him, he drew the string of his bow, but hesitated. It was a long shot and his aim had been off since the injury. If he shot and missed, he may hit one of his friends. Quickly he decided that he had no choice. He pulled, aimed, and fired. He hit the male in the chest and it fell. The female saw and howled. This alerted the rest of the pack. It was six wolves to four young men.

  Terrence turned and ran towards the female. It was ready for the attack. Terrence swung his sword as the wolf ducked and pounced. Terrence bent over but it clawed his back. He screamed in shock and pain but turned his angry eyes towards it and swung again, missing again. The female was determined to take this one out—if that was the last thing it did. Aiden ran towards him. The others stood and watched, knowing that Terrence wanted this one. Jashion changed his attention to the pack coming.

  “Daxton, shoot ye arrow at them. Quick! Get ye one,” said Jashion.

  Daxton fired and hit a small female giving it a flesh wound that barely slowed it down.

  Terrence swung again, angrily, carelessly, thoughtlessly. The wolf bit his arm and he screamed again. Marcus had had enough. He took his club and threw it at the wolf, hitting it in the ribs. The wolf howled and turned. Terrence regrouped and swung again. This time hitting the wolf. Marcus was defenseless with his club lying beside the wolf. The wolf turned to attack Marcus and Terrence struck again. The wolf was hurt. Terrence thrust his sword into its side and penetrated its heart. Marcus was going to go for his club when he heard Aiden shout.

  Marcus turned where Aiden was pointing and realized that the pack was nearly upon them. All he could do was reach for his small knife. It was a poor weapon against a wolf. Marcus backed away from the group closer to the cliff’s edge. He spotted a more sheltered area and walked towards it with his knife drawn.

  Jashion and Terrence were back to back with their sword’s drawn. The wolves circled around them. Daxton fired another shot, missing the wolves and grazing Jashion’s abdomen.

  “Ye’oww,” he yelled and one wolf lunged, biting Jashion near his ankle.

  Aiden fired a shot and dealt a fetal blow to the small she-wolf that Daxton had grazed before. Jashion delivered his dagger into the wolf at his foot. It was not sufficient to kill the wolf, but it got its jaw off of him. The dagger was stuck within the animal and blood came from it, yet the animal crouched for another attack. Daxton was afraid to fire again. Aiden’s next shot struck a male, but not fatally. The male moved away from the group and Daxton shot at it. He delivered a fatal blow and turned his attention to the group. Jashion was lunged at again, and again was bitten. Jashion was able to remove the dagger from the beast and delivered another blow, this time killing it. Then Jashion dropped to his knees in agony.

  Terrence moved towards one. He could sense the fear in the wolf’s eye. He struck with his sword and injured the wolf. It moved back and then went forward again. Terrence’s next blow brought the wolf down, but only temporarily. Terrence went for the final blow but was struck with a sharp pain in his calf. He looked down and saw an arrow through his calf. Daxton had regained his confidence and fired, missing the wolf and injuring Terrence. Terrence’s anger knew no bounds. He tore into the wolf with every bit of strength he had left. The wolf was killed and minced all at once. The final wolf was baring down on Jashion. Jashion look resigned to his fate. Aiden, however, was not. He aimed and prepared to fire. As Daxton turned to watch Aiden fire he saw another wolf coming at Aiden from behind. He instinctively shot at the wolf hitting it squarely in the head and knocking it down as Aiden fired and killed the wolf attacking Jashion.

  Aiden, Terrence, and Jashion were injured but alive. Daxton ran to his cousin Terrence feeling horrible about putting the arrow
through his calf. Aiden approached Jashion to see about his injuries. Aiden calculated the threat. One wolf left, he thought. The one left was the wolf who stared him down and then walked away. He suspected that they were temporarily safe.

  “I’m fine,” said Terrence to Daxton with eyes still filled with rage. “We’ll get it out and I’ll be fine. Where’s Marcus?”

  Where was Marcus? They began to look around. There he was at the edge of a cliff with his back towards it and the wolf who stared down Aiden walking towards him. Marcus’ knife was drawn and he was edging back towards the cliff’s edge. Aiden sprung up and ran towards the cliff looking for a better shot. The wolf walked purposefully towards Marcus. The old grey was within the reach of a lunge. Aiden set up for the shot. He would only have one shot and he could not miss. The wolf began the lunge and Aiden let go of the string. The arrow fired true and hit the wolf in the stride of its lunge through the ears. The blow was fatal.

  Marcus had reached the edge of the cliff. His heart beat out of his chest. The wolf showed no emotion, it simply stared as it walked towards him. Marcus couldn’t go in any direction. He nearly slipped and then the wolf lunged. He edged back instinctively and lost his balance. He dropped his knife and tried to bend over to catch his balance. It was too late. Both feet slipped off and he began to fall. He caught himself briefly with his hands on the edge of the cliff, but the force tore through the skin and down he fell.

  During the thirty-foot freefall time slowed. Marcus considered his short life and his circumstances. He thought on his family whom he missed, and his friends. Hopes, dreams, fears, and concerns all became one. He impacted a small ledge about thirty feet down with his face. He then tumbled the remaining twenty feet landing upon the edge of the water and lay there with his head bleeding and broken, his body torn up. He lay on his back with his eyes open—unblinking.

  “No!” shouted Terrence.

  Aiden took off running with Daxton not far behind. Terrence and Jashion limped and crawled towards the cliff’s edge. Aiden began crawling down the icy rock edge as Daxton watched from above.

  “Marcus,” Daxton called. “Marcus, are you okay?”

  There was no response from Marcus. His skin looked white, covered with blood. His unblinking eyes unnerved Daxton and he felt sick. He began to vomit on the cliff’s edge.

  Terrence arrived moments later. He looked over the edge and then promptly passed out on the side.

  Jashion’s thigh was bitten badly and he moved at a snail’s pace towards the cliff’s edge. Aiden got down the frozen and icy cliff and made his way toward Marcus. He shook him and shouted at him, checked his pulse and put his ear on his chest checking for a heartbeat. None was found. He pounded his chest with his fist twice and listened again. Then he reached down and pulled Marcus’ eyes shut for the last time.

  After covering the body with stones from the river, Aiden began climbing back up the treacherous cliff. He was frozen from the cold and the river water, his shoulder was in intense pain and the cliffs edge would be challenging to climb even in the best of circumstances; but what choice did he have? Nearly everyone was injured and would require treatment, including himself.

  Up he climbed, slipping more than once and wincing when he had to use his left arm to catch himself. Upon reaching the ledge he had nothing left to pull himself over. Daxton came over and helped. With some effort Aiden pulled his legs over and lay on the frozen, snow covered ground. As he lay there he reflected on the wolf that took Marcus, the wolf that he could have killed twice, the wolf that he had let go both times. If ever he had the opportunity to take out a wolf he would never let it go again. No wolf of the dark forest was a friend to man.

  Aiden only allowed himself a five-minute rest. He was close to succumbing to hypothermia himself. He alone had the ability to treat the wounds, his own included. The air had warmed some, but was still below freezing. Between the cold, the injuries, and the threat of further attacks they were in a precarious position. Aiden was a man of action and action was required.

  He broke off the arrow tip in Terrence’s calf and pulled the arrow through. Terrence passed out again in agony. He bled profusely and Daxton again looked sick. Aiden tore cloth from his shirt and held it over the wound.

  “Daxton, hold this.”

  Daxton held it but turned his head while looking white and faint himself. Aiden had learned much about healing while with the Tengeer’s. He had brought with him a pack of the best herbs for healing. He administered them skillfully to Jashion and Terrence. Once their wounds were dressed and the bleeding had stopped he got Daxton to help him dress his own shoulder wound. Daxton struggled with the wound but found it within him to continue.

  “We must get to a safer place. We need our pelts. We cannot use fire today; it will be unsafe.”

  Neither Terrence nor Jashion were in any position to walk. They proceeded anyway. They settled down much further from the edge of the dark forest than Aiden felt best, but they clearly could not go any further. Aiden and Daxton retrieved the pelts and other supplies. It was late afternoon by the time they were settled. No fire meant no food, and minimal warmth. The pelts would have to be sufficient, but the lack of food made it harder for their bodies to warm themselves and made the healing more difficult. Still, Aiden did not think that they could risk an attack by igniting another fire. If they could survive the night, the morning would bring better opportunities; at least he hoped.

  That night was the worse night each of those young men had ever faced. There was no attack on them. But between extreme hunger, freezing conditions, miserable pain, and most especially the sickening grief, what sleep each one took in felt dark and heavy. The best news that the morning brought was warmer air. It would be a few weeks before the air was this cold again. They moved slowly and cautiously through the edge of the dark forest. Aiden realized that they would not reach the corner of the woods where they would have to choose between the paths to Cardsten or Agedon by the end of winter, not with them moving so slowly. He also realized that their preparations were not yet sufficient for what may lay ahead. He decided to stay in the dark forest past the winter to allow for healing and learning. By the next winters end, they’d be ready.