The journey to Frostfall began at dawn, the cold winds biting against their skin as they traveled northward. The landscape grew more barren with each passing mile, the trees thinning out and the sky turning a pale, icy gray. The mountains loomed ahead, their peaks covered in a layer of snow that shimmered in the dim light of the rising sun.
Alucard walked alongside Garret, Seraphina, and Jasper, the group moving with purpose but remaining alert to any signs of danger. The Blackwood Forest was behind them now, but the threat of the sorcerer's forces still lingered in the air. Alucard's senses were sharp, every rustle of leaves and distant howl of wind making his hand twitch toward his sword.
Frostfall was a remote village, hidden in the foothills of the mountains, far from the reach of most travelers. It was the perfect place for the remaining hunters to hide, isolated from the chaos that had engulfed the realm. But Alucard knew that even in such a remote place, the sorcerer's darkness could find its way in.
"How many hunters are we talking about?" Alucard asked, breaking the silence.
"Not many," Garret replied, his breath visible in the cold air. "Maybe five or six. The northern clans were hit hard when the sorcerer's forces first attacked. Frostfall is all that's left of them."
"Do you think they'll join us?" Seraphina asked, her voice muffled slightly by the thick scarf wrapped around her neck.
"They will if Garret speaks to them," Jasper said confidently. "The northern hunters respected him more than anyone. If he can convince them, we'll have a real chance at uniting the rest."
Garret's expression remained grim. "We'll see. Some might have lost hope. It's been years since the northern clans have had any real leadership."
They pressed on, the wind growing colder as they approached the mountains. The path became more treacherous, narrow and covered in patches of ice. Alucard's boots crunched against the frozen ground, each step sending a sharp jolt of cold through his body.
After hours of walking, they finally reached the outskirts of Frostfall. The village was small, no more than a dozen wooden houses clustered together in the shadow of the mountains. Smoke rose from the chimneys, a sign that the village was still inhabited, but the streets were eerily quiet.
"This is it," Garret said, his voice low. "Stay close. If the hunters are here, they'll be watching."
As they entered the village, Alucard felt eyes on them from the windows of the houses. The people of Frostfall were clearly wary of strangers, and for good reason. The realm had grown dangerous, and trust was a rare commodity.
They approached the largest building in the center of the village, a longhouse with thick wooden beams and iron reinforcements. Garret stepped forward and pounded on the door with his fist, the sound echoing through the quiet village.
Moments passed before the door creaked open. A tall, broad-shouldered man with a scar running across his face stood in the doorway, his eyes narrowing as he looked at Garret.
"Garret," the man said, his voice a low rumble. "I never thought I'd see you here again."
"Eldric," Garret replied, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "It's been too long."
Eldric looked past Garret, his gaze settling on Alucard and the others. "Who are they?"
"They're hunters," Garret said. "And we've come to ask for your help. The time has come to gather the clans again."
Eldric's expression darkened, his eyes filled with a mixture of doubt and bitterness. "The northern hunters are gone, Garret. What's left of us isn't enough to fight anyone, let alone the sorcerer's forces."
"That's why we need to unite," Alucard interjected, stepping forward. "We can't do this alone. Together, we stand a chance."
Eldric looked at Alucard for a long moment, his eyes searching for something. Finally, he stepped aside, motioning for them to enter.
"Let's talk," he said, his voice heavy with the weight of the past. "But I'm warning you now, it won't be easy to convince the others."
As they stepped inside, Alucard felt the chill of the outside world slip away. But the cold truth of their mission remained—the hunters were broken, and it would take more than words to heal them.