The Long Dark- A Journey Through Frozen Hell

East Bound and Down

Miho zipped up her backpack as she stood up and pulled it on her back.

Yukari sat on the cot, watching the two prepare for the journey.

"You wouldn't mind if we took your pistol, right?" Vaughn said, pointing at it.

"Mine is under repair. It's in my bedroom." He said.

"Sure. Take it." Yukari said.

Vaughn grabbed a holster on the table and put it on, grabbing the pistol and holstering it.

Yukari stared at the floor before grabbing her backpack.

"Miho, wait." Yukari said.

Miho stopped and turned as Yukari held out a firestarter.

"Just in case." She said.

Miho smiled and took the Firestarter.

"Be safe." Yukari said.

"I'll try. Stay inside." Miho said before the two left.

"Get on the basket." Vaughn said, standing on the foot boards.

Miho took off her backpack and set her rifle on top before sitting down.

"You ready?" Vaughn asked.

Miho nodded.

"Mush!" Vaughn yelled as the dogs started running.

Miho held onto the stanchions, staring ahead as Vaughn yelled call signs like gee and haw, turning left and right through the forest.

...

Back to Yukari, she sat bored on her cot, staring at the wall.

She suddenly gasped and quickly stood up, rushing into Vaughn's bedroom and spotting the dismantled gun.

She grabbed a chair and sat down, looking at it, and grabbing his screw driver.

...

Back to Miho and Joshua, they followed a small trail, letting the dogs pull them.

Vaughn's mask covered his face as Miho kept her hood up and face down to get away from the wind.

"So where you from Miho?" Vaughn asked.

"Japan." Miho said.

"Japan? What are you doing all the way up here?" Vaughn asked.

"I don't know. My plane crashed, and I don't remember why I was here."

Vaughn hummed, looking ahead.

"I'm originally from Edmonton in Alberta." He said.

"Why are you living up here?" Miho asked.

Vaughn stared ahead.

"I did it to start again." He said.

"Why?"

Vaughn sighed.

"I fought in the Canadian Army. 01' to 09'. I was part of the 40,000 sent over to Afghanistan for international security assistance. I have seen things some shouldn't have ever seen and I want to forget. I wanted to be a new man."

Vaughn had a look in his grey eyes that couldn't be properly described.

They were sharp but dull of any joyous emotion but anger and misery.

Still, they pushed on as the dogs ran through the snow.

Eventually, they came out of the trees and into a field as a river ran through it.

"Haw!" Vaughn yelled as the dogs ran towards the left, running alongside the river.

A wolf's howl caught their attention as Miho instinctively grabbed her rifle.

"I hope I don't drop my gun again." Vaughn said, grabbing the pistol with one hand and holding the sled with the other.

As they rushed on, the howling got ever so closer.

Even though the howling got closer, the wolves never appeared in their line of sight.

Slowly, the sun lowered throughout the day, slowly but never stopping.