It didn’t take much to convince Recter to join their adventure. In his words, he ‘would gladly bathe in toad acid and eat gar bugs if it meant leaving the deer behind’. Noah could only assume that meant he was eager, a theory that was supported by his quick packing and the smile that clung to his face as he absentmindedly hissed a pleasant melody. Noah couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched the drakon from a few feet away, the normally alert warrior seemingly unaware of his presence. Noah had already made his rounds, updating them on the new developments and informing them of his departure. While some expressed sadness or other pleasantries, most simply grasped his arm and wished him well on his journey. They were capable adults, warriors all, that didn’t need the constant oversight of their chief. That much was clear. It gave him comfort to know that they would be in good hands while he was gone though, in case unexpected events did occur.
Ta’Ku joined the two near the edge of camp and together they crossed the barrier and began their descent. Each of them had donned thick furs that had become unnecessary in the Spring-like air of the plains, and they felt the chill on the wind the second their feet made contact with the other side. The other sensation was less pleasant, a stifling weight that settled on him like oppressive humidity. He knew from experience that he would get used to it with time, but it was not something that he had been thinking about when he considered going after Julie. He noticed the others react in their own ways as well, with either a grimace or a full-body shiver. Nevertheless, they began to pick up speed, and before long the first bit of snow became visible. If not for the months of wandering in the tundra earlier in the year, he likely would have found the sight to be beautiful. On Earth, the pure white of snow always reminded him of happier times. Sledding as a kid, warmed chocolate, and fireplaces, or the white dress that his sister wore at her wedding. Happier times indeed.
Diana’s wedding had been a lavish affair, not due to her own tastes but rather that of their parents. The first daughter to be married off was a momentous occasion in any family, but all the more so in theirs. The flowers had been gorgeous, the wet bar extensive, and the guest list packed full of potential as his father called it. Even with all of their machinations, there would be no damper on the joy and love that had been in the air that day. Noah remembered seeing his sister enter through the sanctuary doors, her elegant gown a pristine white with a train so long that the maid-of-honor was tasked with ‘tail control’. His sister had been beautiful that day, her eyes shone with joy and she couldn’t keep the wide grin from her face from the moment the doors had opened. His brother-in-law, Patrick had been nervous to the extent that he had asked Noah to find him deodorant only minutes before the ceremony was supposed to start. He laughed at the memory, his all too keen sense of smell making it all the funnier.
Noah had gotten the third dance with his sister, which to him meant that he got the first dance that wasn’t required. It had been a slow song and she had rested her head on his shoulder, letting a couple mascara-laden tears fall on his pressed suit. Her words came back to him now, just as sweet and heartfelt as they had been in that moment.
“This joy will be yours too before long. You will fall head over heels in love with someone who can make your day with a single smile. And they will love you more than they know how to express. Get your hopes up, I’m sure of it.”
The memory of her words brought tears to his eyes, which he quickly wiped away to avoid the icicles that would form otherwise. He also couldn’t help but notice the hollow ache he felt in his chest. He had gotten his hopes up. Then of course the world had ended and romance came after survival on the hierarchy of needs. I’m surviving now though. The thought came unbidden but stopped him short nonetheless. He was surviving, a fact perhaps proven by the longing he felt for the kind of love his sister had. Love in a fallen world. He smirked. This wouldn't be what his sister had had in mind, but perhaps it wasn’t too late for him to find the dream his heart had clung to. That of course brought his previous interaction with Jelline to mind. He frowned. Even though she took on a human form, it felt too much like forbidden fruit for his tastes. Ne’Ja came to his mind next. He couldn’t deny his admiration for her, she was a badass warrior with a heart of gold that may have even caught his eye a time or two. There was however the orc thing. Maybe that sentiment would change sometime in the future, but he just couldn’t picture it.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Julie had sparked some feelings. His short stint with her had secured a permanent place in his heart, he wouldn’t deny that. She was also the first woman he met in this traumatic new world, a healer no less. Part of him wondered if they ever would have hit it off if they hadn’t been the only adults present in their time together. Their differences in perspective later on had been all too clear, and the gap hadn’t closed with time. No, as simple as it would have been Julie wasn’t the head-over-heels lover that his sister had alluded to. Given the option, he wasn’t keen to settle for less. He allowed the thoughts of romance to fade from his mind as he refocused on the path ahead. The time for such dreams may very well come, but there was nothing he could do to make them happen right now.
They ran through the first night, thankful for the hard-packed snow that appeared to have been trampled many times over. At first, the sight had been unnerving to them, causing them to be on high alert for several hours but eventually, they dismissed it, chalking it up to the beasts that Jeline had mentioned pushing their way into the plains. Noah found it strange that they didn’t come across any beasts on their first day. On their way up the mountain, they had regularly seen beasts in the distance, even if they had been wandering alone. It wasn’t until the third day of running that they came across the first signs of life. Unlike the previous time, however, they found themselves gazing at a massive herd of cattle-like beasts with an obvious leader. The bright red bull stood head and shoulders above the rest, making the hulking beasts look small by comparison. Noah had no doubts that the beast was Copper, perhaps well into the Caste judging by the clear difference it was being shown. He also had no illusions about their odds in facing the swarm. They immediately turned tail and diverted their course by several hours to avoid contact with them. Perhaps they would stop for some XP farming on the way back, but for now, they had a mission to accomplish.
They rested after putting a full day’s travel between them and the beast horde, taking turns keeping watch as they slept. They ate their packed rations and were back on their way just after dawn. Noah found the running to be therapeutic, not to mention the satisfying sensation of closing in on the subject that had plagued his mind for weeks. With their improved bodies they covered the ground at record speeds, and so it was only three weeks into their journey when they reached the next barrier. When Noah stepped through this one, bile rose in his throat and he immediately hurled into the nearby snowdrift. The others didn’t fare much better than him, and they opted to take a day to adjust to the environment. Noah thought it was similar to altitude sickness, but instead of thinner oxygen, they were experiencing thinner essence. After a full day of rest, they started down the hill again, feeling sluggish but growing accustomed to the environment with every passing day. The environment underwent another change as snow made way for black earth, a welcome sight as they closed in on their destination. As Noah looked down the mountain he could make a dark and vibrant green far in the distance. It wouldn’t be long now.
