Nick: A Winter's Tale

Chapter Five: Campfire Tales

As the sun slowly dipped below the horizon, the cold was already beginning to rise once more. Alice pulled her coat tighter around her, though it didn't help the gradually sinking pit she felt in her stomach. It had been hours, and nothing had yet be found in regards to Nick's location. Many had already given up hope, turning their sleighs and trundling slowly back to Hilldale to warm up or check on their families. Alice and Christopher, however, were still just as convinced they could find Nick as they had been that morning.

By now, only a few sleighs remained as the shadows steadily began to grow larger. The wind was beginning to pick up, causing flurries of powder snow to dance across the forest floor.

"We should stop soon," said Alice to Christopher, "The deer wont be able to go through the night."

"We're so close," Christopher replied gruffly, "We have to be!"

"I'm sure we are," said Alice, "But we need to rest. If we build a fire, Nick might notice it over the night."

That notion did get through to Christopher, and he steadily brought the sleigh to a stop within a sizeable clearing. Those who remained in the search party began unpacking various shelters and camping equipment, and got to work creating their home for the night.

Alice assisted carrying in gathering firewood and dumping it into a large pit that the others had constructed, and soon they were gathered around a roaring flame, which successfully kept back the biting cold of the night. Alice glanced over at Christopher and saw he was surveying the treeline intently, looking for any sign that his son might be out there. Each time he heard movement, his face brightened, only to be disappointed when it simply turned out to be one of their party members who had completed their rounds.

"Miss Tertell," said one of the men. Alice looked away from Christopher to answer, and the man continued, "I hear you're quite a storyteller. Why not ease some of the lads' spirits."

"Oh.. Okay," said Alice. She thought hard. Normally it wouldn't be a struggle to think of one of her numerous tales, but her mind was so thick with worry over her friend that it was proving harder. Eventually one did come to mind.

"I have one, but... well, its not a happy one," she explained. None of them seemed to mind, however, and she began her tale."

"According to the settlers who originally found this land, there was a witch who lived in these woods," Alice recounted, "An old, wise woman who could speak to the woodland creatures she shared this land with."

Each of the men murmured in interest, and Alice continued.

"They called her Perchta, and she claimed to be the descendant of an ancient goddess from a faraway land," Alice went on, "It was said her memory spanned thousands of years, and she led them to great fortune. Its said that it was her guidance that led them to discover the coal mines, and caused Hilldale to prosper."

Christopher grunted in a half amused, half unconvinced way. He was a firm believer in hard work and persistence, not magic and fairytales.

"Well, whatever she did, the settlers wanted more," Alice continued, "They began to demand she lead them to further riches, but she warned that their greed would be the herald of their demise. When they continued to demand, eventually Perchta refused, which angered them."

Everyone around the fire was now listening intently, fully immersed in Alice's tale.

"The town master at the time went out to teach her a lesson, and its said he shot and killed one of the animals that followed her," said Alice, "He believed that it would scare her into submission and force her to agree to help them again. One of his advisors had attempted to stop him, but had ultimately failed, and left the master's service shortly thereafter."