⇠
I wasn't sure how long I wandered in the woods.
It felt like months to me. Then again, it was impossible for me to tell.
Not to mention, due to my poor lack of direction, I had gotten lost trying to find the nearest town.
I was also down on my last bottle and had no idea how to find a water source.
Stumbling on a rock, I fell forward landing on my face. My eyes began to sting as I sat up.
I- I think I got some dirt in my eyes, I thought as I rubbed my eyes furiously. Why won't- why won't the burning stop?
Tears began to fall down my cheeks, frosting on my face as they did.
Stupid ice.
"I want to go home. I want-" I choked, "I want to go home!"
My tears turned into wailing and my dad's voice began to grow restless.
[Snow you have to be quiet! Someone could hear you!]
"I want to go home!" I responded. "I miss you and mom! And- and I miss- I miss Nessie!"
[Did you hear that?]
I sobbed loudly, actively ignoring him.
[Snow, shut up right now.]
My mouth shut on its own, completely erasing any sound I was making. However, tears continued to roll down my cheeks.
[Get up and hide behind a bush.]
My body did as it was told, hiding behind the nearest bush. I crouched awkwardly as I waited for more instructions from him but nothing happened.
Suddenly a slight crunch was heard behind me.
[Behind-]
Turning to look behind me, I froze. Right in front of me stood an old man who greeted me with a gun.
"Put your hands in the air." His voice was coarse and rough, but for some reason brought a little bit of relief in me.
His eyes were sunken as dark brown hairs adorned his grey hair. His chin was also hidden away by a crazy beard.
I haven't seen a person in so long.
[Do as you're told and don't put your guard down!]
Raising my hands, I couldn't help but shake like a leaf in a violent storm.
"What are you doing here?" He snarled.
My mouth opened but my voice wouldn't respond.
Seeing my hesitation, the old man shoved the gun to my temple. "Should I just kill you?"
[Answer him!]
"I- I'm looking for my mom!" I stuttered.
He looked at me up and down, his eyes lingering on my white hair. He finally responded, "Your mom? In the middle of the woods?"
"I think- I think they took her. I- I got lost looking for- for the town."
"They?"
"I don't know- I don't know who."
He stayed quiet for a moment. "She's probably dead."
I felt my heart sink like rocks in an ocean. "No- You're wrong. She's still alive! I have to find her!"
The old man heaved a sigh and put the gun away in a special sleeve for his gun. I felt my body relax.
"What a headache." He mumbled to himself as he walked off, leaving me behind crouched on the floor.
[Follow him!]
I scrambled up to follow him. "Did you by any chance hear that?"
He stopped and turned at to look at me with fierce eyes. "What?"
"If you could- could point me in the direction of the town?" I quickly changed the question after seeing his expression.
I don't think he heard it. Then am I the only one who can hear my dad's voice?
He didn't respond and continued walking.
"Sir? Sir?"
He flipped around. "Stop following me."
"I just- I just need directions. I won't bother you for too long!"
"Well you're not getting them from me kid."
"Sir, it's not even a hard thing to do please?! All you have to do is point." While I begged, I missed seeing him hop over something.
Without warning, after I took a step, a loud noise rang out followed by a soaring pain coming from my ankle.
I screamed, falling to the ground and grasped my leg.
"Damn it! Why didn't you hop over it you stupid girl!" I heard him shout but it was too fuzzy as the pain was unbearable.
I could feel my strength leaving and my body feel backwards as my world went black.
-
My eyes opened to the sound of the crackling sound of fire.
"Wha- What happened?" I muttered and tried to get up but a soaring pain went up my leg. A loud broad escaped my lips.
"Seriously." I could hear the old man from before click his tongue.
Tears invaded my eyes as the pain was nearly impossible to ignore. "What happened?"
He seemed to be standing by the fire, stirring something in a pot. "You stepped on a bear trap."
"A bear trap?" My voice came out bewildered. "I've only ever heard stories of that happening. I never imagined it'd happen to me..."
"It only ever happens to idiots." He scoffed.
Ignoring his comment, I looked at my surroundings.
I sat on a bear fur, which was laid on the floor of a single room cabin. The walls were bare, and the cabin only contained the necessities; a small single bed, a small table with a single chair, and a small drawer.
I think he lives alone.
"Is this where you live?"
"No. This is actually the restroom."
He's being sarcastic right?
My eyes moved onto my leg. Obviously getting to the town in this state would be impossible for me. "Sir, do you mind if I-"
"No."
"But you didn't even let me fi-"
"No."
I pouted. "Sir!"
He ignored me.
"I have no where else to go!"
"Not my problem."
"Please!?" I begged.
He ignored me again.
I grasped the fur coat underneath me.
I have no where to go. What do I do?
I don't even know how to build a small tent. Or build a fire. Or hunt. Or- I can't do anything.
I don't want to die.
"Fine."
My eyes widened and I looked up. "What?"
"Just until you heal. Then you leave."
Beaming I said, "Thank you sir! I won't even be a bother!"
He grunted in response as he began to pour a sort of soup into a bowl. The tasty smell wafted into my nose, causing my stomach to growl loudly.
After chuckling awkwardly, I reached for my bag and sifted through it for food. All that was left was a can of peas. I internally sighed and was about to reach for my knife when the old man let out a loud cough.
Looking up, I saw that he held a bowl of soup for me shyly.
"Sir!" Ignoring the pain, I scrambled up and reached for the bowl. The bowl felt warm under my cold fingertips. After taking a sip, a slight scream of joy escaped my lips. "Sir, this is the best thing I've had in ages!"
"Calm down."
"Yes sir." I bowed quickly and went back to enjoying the soup with teary eyes.
It's warm.
We ate in silence and once we were done, he handed me his plate.
I stared at him in confusion.
"Wash them. There's a river behind the house."
Glancing at my leg, "But-"
He handed me a long stick. "Use this."
After handing my the stick, I watched as he grabbed an axe and walked out of the cabin.
I stared at the stick absentmindedly.
It shouldn't be too hard right? I can do it...
Using the bed to prop myself up, I tried my best to stand but the pain was excruciating.
I panted heavily to bare the pain, however, it hardly did anything to help.
Don't be a wimp. This- This is nothing.
Attempting it again, I was able to stand on my own while leaning heavily on the stick.
See? Wasn't too-
I took a step.
Ah. Nope still hurts.
Pushing through the pain, I managed to hobble all the way down to the stream.
The water ran down the pebbles, the sound of rushing water seemed to add a peaceful atmosphere to the location. It also made the chilly afternoon even chillier.
After washing the bowls, I sat down to rest on the smoothest rock. My leg pulsated with pain but it was a little more bearable than before.
A push of nostalgia hit me, as I remembered the times my dad would take me fishing by the lake at our house.
That was before I was kept at home. After that, I couldn't go anywhere.
Tears began forming in my eyes, so I pushed the thoughts away.
I have to stay strong. It's the only way I'll find mom.
"Kid! Come back!" The old man shouted from his house.
I hobbled back to greet him. "It's very beautiful here sir!"
He gave me a glance before grunting in agreement. "Sit."
Obeying, I sat down on the single chair by the small table.
I watched as he opened a small cloth, procuring different herbs. He grabbed the bunch and put them into his mouth and began to chew them.
"Sir what-"
He held up his hand as he spit whatever he chew back into the cloth. I watched in disgust. After wiping his mouth, he began to unwrap the bandages around my wound.
"Sir?"
I cringed when he began to splatter the substance on my leg, both out of disgust and pain.
"This'll help with infection. Can't due much about the pain though." He grumbled as I whimpered.
"Infection?"
"Germs can cause injuries to get worse. You could lose your leg."
I swallowed some spit that formed. "L-Lose my leg?! Like- Like-"
He wrapped my bandages again. "Like cut it off completely."
I sat there in shock for a few moments before realizing he was finished.
"Thank you." I mumbled quietly.
The old man stood up and dusted himself off before crawling under the covers. "You sleep on the floor."
I nodded and hobbled over to the spot I had woken up from. After laying on dirt and piles of leaves, this felt like heaven.
A satisfied sigh escaped my lips. "Sir?"
There was no response.
"Sir, what's your name?"
Silence.
"My name is Snow Roux." I spoke gently. "I- I just wanted to say thank you."
"Roux? Like Wynter Roux?"
My heart soared and I sat up to see his expression but his back faced me. "Yes! That's my dad! How do you know him?!"
"Who doesn't know him?" The old man grumbled lowly.
"Do you know where he is? I haven't seen him since the war started!"
There was a moment of silence before he responded with a simple, "No."
As quickly as I soared, my heart dropped with disappointment. "Oh."
I settled back down. "Sir, you live here alone don't you?"
Again, there was no response but I didn't care.
"It must be lonely. I can't imagine living all by myself in the middle of nowhere. Although, it is very beautiful here. Still, I hate being alone."
"Don't you ever shut up?" He spoke up after my rambling.
"Sorry," I apologized, "I just haven't spoken to someone in so long. Not since-"
My throat felt tight as I remembered the day I left home and tears welled up in my eyes.
"Are- are you asleep sir?" I choked.
There was no response.
He must've gone to sleep. Thank goodness.
That night, like many others, I sobbed myself to sleep.
Only this time I tried my best not to cry too loudly as to not wake up the old man.