On the boat, Max was feeding the little cubs some dried fish. "Father, how far are we from reaching our destination."
Sven, who was helping to salt the bear meat, paused for a moment. "Approximately past noon, we will reach our destination.
Although we must prepare ourselves since where we are going, there are many hot springs, so at this time, it is a meeting point for bears before they go into hibernation.
By the way, Einar, you don't think it is a bit of a waste to give fish to the two cubs when we can give them their parents' meat. "
Max just scratched his nose and stroked the head of one of the cubs. "I'm giving them fish as a little whim on my part.
When we find other bears, I will feed them their meat. "
Sven just gave a little laugh and continued salting the meat.
'I suppose Einar may be soft enough not to feed two cubs with his parents.
But he's also cruel enough to skinning his enemies while they're alive.
He's a good son; I can't wait to give him control of the Jarlom so that I can dedicate myself to taking care of my grandchildren. '
After sailing for a while longer, the ship approached a great coast that seemed to be black due to the large number of stones it had.
When the ship was very close to the coast, two warriors got off it and, using a rope, began to drag it to the beach.
While the ship was dragged, everyone prepared their crossbows because they did not know if there were any white bears nearby.
Upon reaching the beach, Max got off the boat and could feel the cold air coming down from the nearby mountains, carrying with it a scent of land that, with the smell of the sea, gave rise to refreshing air.
While everyone lowered the boxes from the ship, Max gathered Eskol, they began to walk around the place to be able to choose where to set up camp.
Max, who was walking through the rough terrain, could feel a snowflake touch his face.
"From the state of this place and the snowflake that has just touched my face, I think we could be facing the first snow of the year."
Eskol scratched his beard. "That's good and bad at the same time; I think it would be best to find a place with some trees; otherwise, we could be in the middle of a blizzard."
Eskol's hand tightened a bit as he saw snowflakes slowly falling from the sky. "Let's increase the pace as otherwise, it will be dangerous for everyone."
Max nodded and put on his fur hat, then started jogging with Eskol.
As they went further into the rugged terrain, they ran into a small plateau, so they climbed, and it was then that they could see a small forest in the distance.
"Eskol, do you want to return, or do you want me to return?"
Eskol held the handle of his ax. "I'll be back, but remember to be careful, Einar.
I don't have a good impression of that forest; I can feel something dangerous hidden inside it. "
Max looked seriously at Eskol. "I could also feel a sense of danger; I guess there must be some group of bears inside.
Either way, I will stay away until the others arrive. "
Eskol just gave Einar a severe look and started jogging towards the beach so he could guide everyone.
When Eskol was far enough away, Max readied his crossbow, dagger, and ax while carefully looking out into the forest.
For a while, Max had no trouble waiting, sitting on a rock staring out at the forest.
But it wasn't until the air began to get much more potent and what appeared to be snowfall became the start of a blizzard.
'Unfortunately, I have to go to the forest to prepare a small shelter.
I suppose the danger of freezing to death is greater than I can feel in the forest.
I just hope I'm not wrong. '
Max then held his crossbow on his shoulder and walked carefully into the forest.
In just a few minutes, the wind started to get much faster, so when Max reached the forest, he walked quickly inside.
Once he reached a remote area outside the forest, Max used his ax to cut down some small trees and some thick branches.
While he was cutting down a small tree, he could hear the noise of some leaves and branches being stepped on.
So his hand stopped, and he very slowly reached down to grab his crossbow from the ground.
When Max took his crossbow very slowly, he got up and looked towards the place where the noise was coming from.
Max swallowed a little saliva when he saw a small white bear; by its size, he could tell that the bear had not long since become independent from its mother, so it should be alone.
This only relaxed Max a bit, but he knew that even as a young white bear, he would react aggressively if he moved as he would take it as an attack.
So without being able to move or run, Max felt a bead of sweat running down his face while he slowly moved his hands to point his crossbow at the bear.
The noise of the dry leaves caused by the bear who was walking slowly towards where he was, caused Max to go into high alert because his life would possibly be in danger.
The closer the bear got, Max could see the haggard face of the white bear, who seemed to be starving.
This only made Max breathe easily because if he got upset, he might not be able to shoot the crossbow accurately, as he might not have a second chance to shoot.
When the bear was close enough, Max could see the predatory look in the white bear's black eyes.
Those eyes made Max see that the confrontation was inevitable, so when the two blinked, time seemed to stop for both of them.
The seconds seemed eternal for Max, but when the noise of some leaves was heard, Max's senses returned to normal.
It was then that he could see how the bear rose up on two legs and lunged at him.
At that moment, Max pulled the trigger of his crossbow, and the bolt went through the bear's throat, but this did not stop the inertia of the bear's hand that ended up on its head.
At that moment, time again seemed to slow down, so he could hear and feel how those claws cut the metal of his helmet as if it were paper.
After slicing through the hoof, the bear's claws dug into its skin and cut it steadily, in a desperate attempt to prevent the claws from injuring its eye.
Max pushed his head back, thus preventing his eye from being destroyed, but this did not save the rest of his face where the claws could hurt him.
When the claws left his face, Max was disoriented by what he could only feel as the white bear was pushing him with all its weight.
So when his head hit one of the logs he had cut, he regained his consciousness and could clearly see the bear's angry face.
"I'm not going to die being bear shit."
After saying those words, Max raised his hand and could feel his armor being pierced by the bear's teeth, so he gave a cry when those teeth reached his skin.
Feeling the pain of being bitten, he used his other hand to grab his ax from his side, and with all his might, he buried it in the bear's left eye.
This caused the bear to let go of Max's arm and give a muffled cry of pain as only a large stream of blood came out that covered Max's entire face.
Max, who had lost his vision from the blood in his eyes, could only feel the trembling body of the bear fall on his chest.
The pain he felt and the inability to breathe properly caused Max to use his only free arm to push the head of the white bear.
Using all his strength, he managed to push him just enough that he could free his bloody hand, but it was at that moment that he felt himself lose his consciousness.
So using his last strength, he took a piece of log and placed it under the bear's body close to his chest.
For if he lost consciousness with his chest oppressed by the weight of the bear, he could die.
When he was done, he simply closed his eyes and lost consciousness.