"Tyler..."
My mother's voice echoed deep within the darkness of my vision. When I opened my eyes, I was met with the usual sight. A few wooden splinters from the shattered wooden window, broken by the storm's intensity, had landed beside my bed.
Snowflakes and ice particles, blown in violently through the window, hit the old room's walls, leaving stains. The snowflakes that fell to the floor melted due to the room's warmth, leaving behind small puddles.
I slowly got out of bed and started to repair the window after picking up the broken wood pieces beside it. I had to use bandages to fit the broken pieces together. After placing them back in the window frame, I secured them with nails.
The weather looked terrible. The name of the village I live in is Longspeel, and the people here are always trying to get used to these kinds of weather conditions. According to the stories my mother once told, there was a time, though no one knows when, when the world we live in had green lands and a bright blue sky. But now, when I look at the sky, all I see is a dull white color.
The villagers, however, dismiss the stories my mother used to tell by the fire in the village square every evening as mere legends, unwilling to believe what she said. The young children, on the other hand, found the stories entertaining and captivating, so they listened to my mother with great attention.
These days, my mother has taken on the role of an explorer, trying to find a way to move our village to a better location. The village here can no longer withstand the storm's severity. My mother always loved reading old books passed down from our ancestors. Sometimes, she would get so engrossed in them that she would start acting childishly and do strange things.
I threw my bear fur cloak over my shoulders, fastened it, and opened the weathered wooden door of the house, which creaked as it swung open. I pulled the hood of the cloak over my head and stepped outside, walking toward the square.
The square looked eerily quiet. The only sound I could hear was the clattering of snow and ice hitting the windows and doors. It was normal for the village to be calm and silent at this hour. No sane person would risk going outside in this fierce storm and getting injured.
But I, on the other hand, spent my time every day, tirelessly and relentlessly, thinking about when my mother would return home, no matter what the weather was like. The villagers have started to believe that my mother and her companions, who haven't returned for over a month, might be dead, but they are wrong.
My mother is not one to give up easily. I've even witnessed her beat several of the men in the village. That's why I believe she will return one day. Even though I've been scolded by a few elders for my thoughts, I don't care about anything they say.
"Tyler..." The voice I heard behind me belonged to the village elder, Richard. I turned my head and fixed my gaze on him. He was holding his hood tightly with one hand to keep it from being blown off by the storm.
"What are you doing out here in this weather? Go back to your home immediately. I know you're waiting for your mother, but it's been a month, boy..." Everyone thinks this way. I didn't listen to Richard and instead turned my head back, letting my thoughts drift into the shadows of the deep forest.
Richard was still standing behind me, saying a few more words, but I could only hear his muffled voice as my focus shifted entirely elsewhere.
It's forbidden for non-explorers to leave the village. With the constant snowfall, your footsteps quickly disappear in the snow. I can sense the danger outside. Bears, which have become aggressive due to the harsh conditions, occasionally find their way to our village and attempt to attack. If you get lost, it takes a long time to find your way back. That's why Elder Richard never allows us to leave the village, no matter what.
"Are you listening to me, Tyler..." Richard raised his voice and placed his right hand on my shoulder. After waiting a moment, he continued speaking.
"I can imagine how much you care for your mother. I know how much her disappearance saddens you. If I had the means, I would do everything I could to save her. I don't like losing anyone from my people either, but you have to get used to this, son... You're still very young, and there will be many different things you'll experience in your life... So now, go back home and continue resting." After Richard's words, I couldn't hold back my tears.
The tears that fell from my eyes froze from the cold before they could slide down my cheeks, turning into tiny ice droplets as they hit the ground. After crying a bit and collecting myself, I walked back home with Richard.
We were both silent on the way. After he dropped me off in front of my house, Richard turned and continued walking.
With nothing else to do, I went back inside and shook off the snowflakes clinging to my cloak before taking it off. I removed the cloak from my shoulders, gave it a few shakes, and hung it on the peg next to the door.
I decided to light the stove to warm up. I started searching for old things to burn. As I bent down to look under the bed, I saw the small chest that my mother always kept hidden. At first, I hesitated to take it. I reached out my hand but didn't want to touch it; my mother constantly warned me not to open the chest.
After waiting a little longer, I slowly pulled the chest toward me and placed it on the bed. Before opening it, I needed to start a fire. After finding some old wooden pieces inside the house, I tossed them one by one into the stove and lit it.
I sat down right next to the stove, crossed my legs, and carefully placed the chest in the middle of my lap, slowly unlocking it.
I could still decide not to open it. If my mother found out I had opened the chest, she would probably chase me through the entire village and beat me. But since she wasn't here, I figured nothing would happen. Besides, I was just going to take a quick look...
I finished unlocking the chest and began to lift its intricately carved lid with slow movements. When I fully opened it, I found a blue-embroidered diamond necklace nestled inside. I didn't know what the designs engraved on the diamond meant, but the necklace looked beautiful. When I held it up to the light, the beams of light passing through the semi-transparent diamond refracted, creating an even more stunning effect.
I didn't understand why my mother wanted to keep such a beautiful necklace hidden. It looked like something that could be worn and admired. I gently placed the necklace around my neck and fastened it.
Keeping something so beautiful locked away in a chest might cause it to get damaged. I'm sorry, Mother, but when I find you, I'll give this necklace back to you...
I tilted my head slightly forward and began examining the necklace hanging around my neck. I touched the engravings on the diamond with the thumb of my left hand.
I was so focused on the diamond necklace that I didn't realize how much time had passed. The fire I had lit in the stove had gone out, and the storm had subsided. The sound of snowflakes hitting the wooden window was no longer there.
I got up from the floor and put on my cloak again. To be on the safe side, I also took my hunting knife with me for protection before opening the creaky door once more. The village was still quiet and empty. Smoke was billowing from the chimneys of every house.
I started walking briskly through the center of the village. I needed to leave without being seen by Elder Richard. I have to find my mother...
When I reached the forest's edge, fear had already begun to creep in. My heartbeat was palpable, even from the outside. I tried to control my breathing. The warm breath that escaped my lips turned into mist and dissipated into the wind. To better see my surroundings, I tied back my slightly long hair with a band and started walking. After covering a few hundred meters, I began carving directional marks into the first tree I encountered.
If I got lost and happened to stumble upon these marked trees, I thought I might be able to find my way back. With heavy and cautious steps, I continued walking deeper into the forest.
I reached a sloped path. Now, I had to be even more careful with my steps. If I made a wrong move, I could slip and get lost on this unfamiliar path—exactly what happened.
I lost my balance from the step I took and began to slide down. The snow was soft, so I wasn't hurt, but the sharp branches of the dried bushes were scratching my body, leaving small wounds.
I didn't know how long this would go on. If I didn't try to stop myself, I could end up seriously injured. But I couldn't tell where I was going because I was tumbling so erratically.
When I felt my speed slowing, I realized the slope had ended. As I slowed down, I dug my hands into the snow to further reduce my speed and then slowly stood up.
I must have hurt my leg during the fall. When I tried to stand, I noticed that I couldn't put proper weight on my right foot. I grabbed onto a nearby tree for support, stood up, and began limping forward with slow steps.
"Auuuuuuuuu..." The deep, echoing howls of a wolf pack resonated all around. They must have been hungry, and I suspected they had caught the scent of the wound on my leg.
This was really bad. If a wolf decided to attack, I wouldn't be able to defend myself, and even if I tried to run, a wolf's speed was far superior to that of a human.
Even though I didn't want to accept my death, it seemed there was nothing else I could do. I'm sorry, Mother... I'm about to die without finding you.
I could hear the approaching footsteps from within the darkness. The harsh growling sound made it clear that it was a large wolf. The footsteps were getting closer with each passing second. There was nothing I could do but be afraid...
I closed my eyes and began to wait for my death. As soon as I shut my eyes, I started to see my mother's face.
She was looking at me with her usual smiling expression. She always wanted me to be strong and happy. But today, because of my own foolishness, I'm about to die...
I don't want to die... I don't want to die...
When I heard the wolf charging at me, I opened my eyes and drew my hunting knife, swinging it desperately. But before I could land a single blow, the wolf caught me, sinking its teeth into my abdomen and lifting me into the air.
"AAAAAAAAARGGGHHH!" Its sharp teeth were tearing through my flesh, causing excruciating pain. I was losing a lot of blood, and my strength was fading fast.
With one powerful motion, the wolf flung me several meters away from its jaws. My eyes, half-open, stared at the leaves on the trees above.
I was breathing in ragged, uneven gasps, fully aware that I was moments away from death. The sound of footsteps drew closer until they were right beside me. I could feel the wolf's head at my feet. It opened its massive jaws and began tugging at my leg.
The pain was so intense that I wanted to scream even louder, but it was useless. I couldn't even open my mouth.
I could feel the strain on my ankle. I tried to lift my head and saw that my ankle had been torn off.
"AAAAAARGGGGGHHH!!!" All I could do was scream. The wolf then leaped at my chest and started biting at my throat.
I couldn't breathe. I tried to raise my hands to push the wolf's head away, but I couldn't. My vision began to darken within seconds.
I think I was starting to die...