Hope and Darkness

Hope and Chaos (Chapter 1)

The small group trudged through the snow. Justin pulled out a piece of hard cheese and attempted to unfreeze it using his body heat. “Matthew, are you sure this is the path that the group were headed to? I mean, we’ve only destroyed two since we left and there must be more.” Matthew looked around at the dry thorn bushes and noticed a thin piece of black cloth. “I know it.” Harley dragged his shield through the snow, but only succeeded in getting his wool jacket covered in snow. “I hope so. We’ve had no fighting at all. All it’s been is release hostages then burn the captive’s shelters to the ground.” Matthew shrugged. “It’s better than watching your attempts to cook. I have to say, I’m glad that Jeremy let Lucy come with us. I mean, last time you cooked almost all the new ones threw up and had diarrhoea, and the veterans only survived by pouring the slop you called lamb shank into a bush.” Toby smiled. “I have to say; when I smelt that thing I almost wanted to jump off that nearby cliff.” Charlie tried to keep a straight face, but never even got close. “I have to admit, I was one of the ones who threw up.” Harley gritted his teeth. “Ha-ha, very funny. Now get back to your work, Matt.” Toby grinned. “I’m sure that your job isn’t cooking.” Harley exhaled in annoyance. He looked at Lucy. “Anything you can do to help?” he asked. Lucy grinned. “Apart from giving you my recipes and teaching you to cook, no, not really.”