The Visdalen Valley stretched out in front of them, a vast expanse of pristine white only interrupted by the scattered remnants of civilization. Snow-capped roofs and skeletal frames of buildings jutted out from the undulating snow blanket, silent witnesses of past habitation.
The cold wind swept through the valley, piercing into their skin. The atmosphere was eerily quiet, save for the occasional bird cry echoing through the skies.
The pair approached the valley cautiously. The structures were fascinating and offered a potentially valuable opportunity to scavenge for supplies. Yet, there was an air of melancholy about the place that made Zayzal's skin crawl.
"We need to be careful," Sera whispered, her eyes scanning the horizon. "Just because it looks abandoned doesn't mean it is."
Zayzal nodded, clutching his spear even tighter. They tread softly, leaving barely visible footprints in their wake as they ventured deeper into the valley. The snow wasn't quite as deep as it was in the mountains, but it was still enough to make walking annoying.
They stumbled upon an old inn; its signage was broken, but the structure was relatively intact. The door creaked as they pushed it open, revealing a horror show.
Blood was splattered all over the ground like someone had tossed a human grenade into the inn. The blood had long dried, but it caked most of the building, leaving a harrowing and rotten scent throughout the building.
Tables were still set, beds made, and remnants of unfinished meals as if its inhabitants had vanished. There were a few things out of place and scratch marks on the ground, but no sign of human life.
Sera and Zayzal exchanged a look, their faces pale under the weight of what they saw. The inn, once likely a cozy and inviting place for travelers, now bore the scars of a grisly scene. What had occurred here? And, more importantly, who was behind it?
Sera's fingers twitched at the hilt of her axe while Zayzal tightened his grip on the spear. "We should leave," Zayzal murmured, his voice barely audible. Whoever could cause this much gore was not someone they wanted to face.
However, Sera's expression became pensive.
"This… This is similar to what happened after the light descended a few days ago." Sera muttered, holding her shield out in front of her as she walked around to inspect the building.
Zayzal raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you mean?" Then followed after her.
"After the light came down and began transforming us, I remember explosions going off as I was resisting. There weren't very many, maybe a dozen or so, but after we survived and ran outside to see what all the noise was, there was nothing but blood splatters just like this.
"And you think the energy that came with the light did this?" Zayzal asked, piecing the information together.
Sera paused, peering out a broken window towards the undisturbed snow. "I don't know, but it is similar."
The two slowly searched through the inn, checking every room, though there were only about a dozen, and they weren't very big. It wasn't long before they cleared the entire house, finding no signs of life, just blood splatters on the first floor.
"Well, there aren't any signs of a break-in, and there aren't any people, so you might be right, Sera," Zayzal said while he started a fire in the fireplace.
While Zayzal lit a fire in the hearth, Sera rummaged through the kitchen, finding preserved goods and canned foods. Their discovery was a small victory. The warm glow of the fire, combined with a hot meal, was a comfort they hadn't known for days.
"We can't rule out that it was something or someone else, but for now, it's the most likely," Sera said, walking back to Zayzal with a few cans of beans.
"...I wonder how many other people out in the world died like that. Dying before the apocalypse could even start." Zayzal let out a somber chuckle.
"I guess we'll find out," Sera replied, handing Zayzal a can of beans. The two sat there in silence for a while, enjoying each other's company in front of the warmth of the fire.
Zayzal took a deep breath, the warm, inviting aroma of the beans filling his nostrils. The serenity of the moment, juxtaposed with the harshness of the outside world, lulled them into a sense of security, even if for a fleeting second.
But as fate would have it, that moment was to be short-lived.
A loud roar echoed through the valley, sending shivers down their spines. It wasn't just any roar; it had a deep, guttural resonance that seemed to shake the very walls of the inn. It was uncannily similar to a bear's roar, but there was something off about it. More menacing.
"What in the world was that?" Sera whispered, her eyes wide with fear.
"We need to secure the place, NOW!" Zayzal urged. Moving with a swiftness borne out of survival instinct, the two barricaded the entrance with whatever furniture they could find. Sera quickly moved to the windows, locking them and drawing the heavy curtains to block any line of sight.
However, the roaring drew closer, its resonance intensifying. A shadow flitted past the window, confirming their fears. Whatever was outside was big, and it was getting closer.
The pounding began. Thuds so strong they felt it reverberate through the floor. The inn's wooden walls creaked and groaned under the assault. With every thud, their barricades shifted, their defenses weakening.
Sera took her axe in one hand and shield in the other, positioning herself behind a table. Zayzal, with his spear at the ready, stood close to her, forming a line of defense.
The onslaught seemed to last an eternity. And then, with a final, ferocious pound, the barricade gave way, and the creature lunged in, its massive form filling the entrance.
It was unmistakably a bear, but there was something terribly amiss. Its eyes were glowing with an odd hue, reminiscent of the light they had seen descend days ago. Its fur, matted and disheveled, was as brown as dirt.
'Fuck! It's massive!' They stared up at the bear, eyes wide with fear. Sera faired better, but Zayzal had never seen a bear up close like this, and it looked so much bigger in real life than it did behind a plexiglass barrier.
The bear roared, revealing saliva-dripping jaws, its eyes locked onto the pair.
The enclosed space of the inn was both an advantage and a disadvantage. The bear's size made it difficult for it to move swiftly, but that also meant there was limited room for Sera and Zayzal to maneuver.
As the bear lunged towards them, Zayzal thrust his spear towards its massive paw, hoping to divert its charge. Simultaneously, Sera aimed a hefty blow with her axe at its flank. The bear let out a cry of pain but retaliated swiftly, swiping its huge clawed paw at Sera.
She raised her shield just in time to deflect the blow, but the force of the impact sent her crashing into a wall. Luckily, she reacted fast enough to form a barrier behind her to break the impact a bit.
Zayzal, seizing the momentary distraction, thrust his spear again, aiming for the bear's eyes.
The bear dodged, but the spear grazed its muzzle, causing it to roar in pain and anger. With a feral scream, it reared up on its hind legs, bringing its full height and bulk into view, casting a menacing shadow over the room.
Realizing they needed a change in strategy, Zayzal yelled, "Sera, the fireplace!"
Sera caught on instantly. She grabbed a burning log from the fireplace, hurling it towards the bear. The bright flames startled the creature, causing it to stagger back.
Using this moment of hesitation, Zayzal lunged forward with all his might, driving his spear deep into the bear's chest. The bear let out a final roar of pain before collapsing to the ground.
Both warriors, panting heavily, surveyed the aftermath. The once-cozy inn was in shambles, but they were alive.
"That..." Zayzal began, trying to catch his breath, "was no ordinary bear."
Sera, still regaining her composure, nodded. "I've never seen anything like it. But we don't have time to discuss. Look!"
She pointed to the burning log that had been thrown earlier. It had landed next to a curtain, which was now alight, flames slowly creeping up its fabric. The carpet nearby had caught fire, and the blaze was rapidly spreading across the room.
"Damn it! We can't stay here," Zayzal exclaimed. Without wasting another moment, the pair rushed to the kitchen and other rooms, scavenging what supplies they could find - more canned food, bottles of water, and a first-aid kit.
As the flames spread throughout the inn, smoke began to fill the rooms, making it harder to breathe. Zayzal and Sera covered their mouths with cloth, trying to minimize the inhalation of the toxic fumes.
Emerging from the burning inn with their hastily gathered supplies, they felt the cold sting of the winter air again. Zayzal looked at the inn one last time. "I guess there's no going back."
Sera shook her head, her gaze intense. "We need to keep moving. North. Up the Visa River. Maybe we'll find help or a vehicle."
The duo began their trek, the orange glow of the burning inn illuminating the snowy landscape behind them. As they trudged through the snow for hours, the sounds of the night engulfed them once more - the distant howl of the wind, the crisp crunch of their footsteps, and the occasional chirp of birds.
Hours passed, with the two making their way through the valley, following the course of the Visa River. The journey was exhausting, but the promise of finding safety kept them going. The river, partly frozen, glistened under the moonlight, guiding their path.
As dawn approached, the river began to widen, indicating that they were nearing a more populated area. And then, as the first rays of sunlight painted the sky in hues of pink and orange, they saw it - civilization!