The Long Dark- A Journey Through Frozen Hell

Signal to Noise

Miho woke up earlier than Jeremiah and packed her bag of things.

She put in her lightly packed bag and inspected her weapons.

The spear she thought might work or the rifle that only scared the bear away.

She picked the spear, thinking about how she would defend herself against the bear with it. It would also cut down on the weight she was already carrying. She left behind her bedroll, lantern, and most of her firewood. Only carrying some food to keep her going and turn right around and stay light enough hurry back.

Miho picked up the map Jeremiah used to show her the radio towers. Unfortunately, the closest ones were in the muskeg, the next region.

Miho left the cabin and started her trek to the radio towers.

After walking through the train tunnel, Miho opened her map and looked around the muskeg.

Putting away the map, she started her trek to the closest tower.

As she walked through the snow, a deep feeling of dread, impending doom, or fear started to rise in Miho.

Yet, even after all this. The fate of Milton, the Old Bear, the hunger, the thirst, the cold. She still held onto hope.

Miho reached the bottom of the hill the radio tower sat on.

As she began her climb, something inside her made her look behind.

The Old Bear, with rage filled eyes, charged at her and stood on its hind legs.

Miho quickly sidestepped the bear, missing her.

Miho readied her spear and jabbed it into the left side of the bear's shoulder.

The bear made a terrible sound of pain as it swiped at her.

Miho stepped back and tripped, falling on her back as the bear stood up.

Miho readied her spear as it came down on top of her.

The bear fell onto the spear point, piercing its thick hide.

The bear quickly got off, running into the muskeg, leaving Miho on the ground, leaving blood on the spear point and her.

Miho breathed heavily, watching the bear run out of sight.

Miho stood back up, looking back at the radio tower, and pulled the switch.

The tower made a humming noise, letting Miho know that the tower was working.

Miho turned her attention to the next closest tower, which was across the Muskeg to the left of the region to the North.

Miho sighed in frustration. She was fighting against the cold, hunger, thirst, and mythological bear. To her, this wasn't fair, but if she wanted to leave, she had to do it.

Miho walked across the ice, watching out for any breaks.

Miho heard the huffing from a bear and spun around, looking around to not see the bear.

The ice below started to crack as Miho looked down.

"Oh no. Oh no no no no!"

She bolted across the ice but it broke, plunging her into the water.

Fortunately, Miho grabbed onto the edge of the ice, pulling herself back up. But now she is soaked from the waist down.

Miho wanted to cry, but she couldn't. She had to get to the tower.

Miho managed to get off the ice, collapsing to the ground on the snowbank.

Miho looked up to see the signal tower peering over the trees.

Miho pulled off her boots, pouring the water out and put them back on. As she was doing that, she felt an unfamiliar feeling. A feeling of pure hate.

Miho struggled to her feet, using her spear as a walking stick to help balance her shaking legs.

After she walked in the direction of the tower, her pants stuck to her legs and began to form ice.

Miho hurried her pace, walking through the snow.

When she made it to the tower when she heard the bear roar.

Miho bolted, running to the tower and climbed between the bars.

The bear slammed into the bars with immense force as it reached its paw between the bars to get Miho.

Miho lowered her spear and stabbed, stabbing through the callused paw.

The bear cried in pain before hobbling away.

Miho jumped up, grabbing her pant leg and shaking them, knocking the ice off before turning on the tower to receive a humming noise.

"One more." She said, looking at the map and aiming southeast.

Miho turned and walked, making it to the southeast tower without even encountering the bear.

She reached for the tower, looking around to look for the bear, turning on the switch and listened to the hum.

"That's it! Haha! I got them!" Miho yelled loudly.

"Now time to get back to Jeremiah. And dry clothes."

Miho walked down the hill, looking around and listening for the bear.

Eventually, her heavy breathing was all she could hear as she walked along the tracks and to the tunnel.

As Miho walked to the entrance of the tunnel, she heard the sound of snow crunching.

She turned around and was greeted by the Old Bear.

"Oh-"

The bear charged, raising itself on its hind legs and came down on Miho.

Miho used her spear to hold the bear off as she fell and hit her head on the iron track, knocking herself unconscious.