Among those who managed to fend off the goblins, several were injured, and two lay dead. The scene was grim, but amidst the chaos, a few stood out for their bravery and skill. The boy with burn marks on his face had fought fiercely, managing to wrest a dagger from one of the goblins. A blonde girl also stood out, her quick thinking and determination evident as they tried to formulate a plan for the night.
"We need to get out of here," the burn-marked boy urged, his voice steady but firm. "The smell of blood will attract more monsters. We can't afford to stay and be sitting ducks. Leaving the injured behind might be our only option."
The blonde girl shook her head, her eyes flashing with defiance. "No, this is the safest place we have. If we leave, who knows what dangers we'll face out there in the dark. Abandoning the injured isn't an option."
A tense silence fell over the group as they weighed their options. The boy with the burn marks looked around at the faces of their fellow captives, some still trembling with fear, others resolute despite their wounds.
"This place might seem safe now," he countered, "but once more goblins or other creatures catch the scent, we'll be overrun. We need to move and find somewhere more defensible."
The blonde girl remained firm. "If we leave, we might be attacked again before we even find a new shelter. We need to stay together and protect each other. We can barricade the entrance and keep watch in shifts."
The burn-marked boy sighed, his frustration evident. "Fine, do what you please," he said, his voice laced with resignation. He then gathered the best-fit-looking kids around him, preparing to leave for the snowy forest. One scrawny kid, desperate to join them, approached hesitantly.
"Can I come with you?" the scrawny kid asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The burn-marked boy sneered, pushing the scrawny kid to the floor. "I don't want to carry dead weight," he retorted harshly.
Without looking back, he led his group out into the snowy forest, taking the weapons that the dead goblins had carried with them. Their departure left a bitter silence, the divide between those who chose to stay and those who ventured into the unknown stark and irreparable.
The blonde girl watched the burn-marked boy and his group disappear into the forest, her heart heavy with worry. She turned to the remaining children, her resolve hardening. "We need to stay strong," she said, her voice steady. "Let's start by tending to the injured and fortifying our shelter."
The children nodded, some more reluctantly than others, and began to gather materials to barricade the entrance. The blonde girl moved among them, offering words of encouragement and helping where she could. She knew that their survival depended on their unity and determination.
As the night wore on, the group worked tirelessly, using whatever they could find to strengthen their defenses. The injured were tended to as best as possible, and a watch was set up to keep an eye out for any approaching danger. The blonde girl took the first shift, her eyes scanning the darkness for any signs of movement.
Meanwhile, in the snowy forest, the burn-marked boy and his group trudged through the snow, their breath visible in the cold air. The forest was eerily silent, the only sound being the crunch of snow under their feet. The boy led them with a determined stride, his mind focused on finding a safe place to rest.
After what seemed like an eternity, they finally found a small cave. Suddenly, the wind began to howl ferociously around them. The blizzard intensified, ripping through the trees and reducing visibility to nearly zero. They discovered the cave just as the storm reached its zenith, the wind so powerful it felt as if it could tear them to shreds.
Inside the cave, they huddled together, trying to stay warm. The storm outside raged on, the wind howling like a wild beast. Suddenly, a chill ran down their spines as they saw a figure emerging from the blizzard. It looked like a man, but it had no flesh, only glowing blue eyes and a snowy cape. Antlers crowned its head, giving it an eerie, otherworldly appearance.
The children felt a deep, primal fear. They knew instinctively that making the slightest sound could mean their death. They held their breath, hoping the creature would pass by. But then, they realized one of their group was missing.
"Where are you guys? This isn't funny!" came a voice from outside the cave. It was the missing child, his voice carrying through the storm.
The creature turned its glowing eyes towards the sound, and the children felt their hearts stop. The burn-marked boy motioned for silence, his eyes wide with fear. The creature began to move towards the voice, its steps slow and deliberate.
The burn-marked boy knew they had to act quickly. He grabbed a handful of snow and threw it towards the opposite direction of the voice, hoping to distract the creature. The glowing eyes followed the movement, giving the children a moment of respite.
"Stay quiet and follow me," the burn-marked boy whispered to the others. They moved deeper into the cave, trying to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the creature. The storm outside continued to rage, but inside the cave, they found a small measure of safety.
As they settled in, the burn-marked boy couldn't help but think about the child they had left behind. He vowed to find a way to rescue him, but for now, their priority was survival. The night was long and filled with tension, but they managed to make it through without further incident.