Rainimator One Shots

No Turning Back

The high peaks of the mountains pierced the clouds. The cliffs were steep and the narrow path, if that's what you'd call it, was covered in snow. The snow hid the true danger of ice to be slipped on just waiting silently to send someone over the edge. If that wasn't bad enough the cliffs acted like walls of a prison to a giant frozen lake which seemed to be more like an ocean than a lake. To those who weren't aware of the lake's presence they would have likely have assumed that the flat surface of snow below the mountains was a vast plain stretching out  as far as the eye could see.

While the lake seemed safe to cross as temperatures here dropped far below freezing all year round, the lake had a dark secret. Over the centuries the lake had turned into several huge ice sheets. These ice sheets moved slowly most of the time, however just a slight change of warmer weather would cause the sheets to become a deadly stormy sea of ice sweeping away unsuspecting victims. This is why few people choose to cross through such a landscape by choice.

Commander Hilda and her troops found themselves having to trek through the perilous mountains. The Nether Horde had managed to open up a network of portals launching a humongous attack on what was just an outpost in the eastern part of Frostbourne territory.  Hilda didn't want her soldiers, who were only stationed there as a lookout more than anything else, to die in what was an invasion. The attack had come from behind the outpost just a little deeper into their home territory. This meant that they couldn't retreat further into the Frostbourne territory to gather up more soldiers to fight against the enemy. Instead they had to retreat high up into the mountains. The plan was simple. Wait until help could arrive from the capital and then the small battalion would descend down to the battlefield sandwiching the invading army in the middle. The opposing army wouldn't dare to follow Commander Hilda and her retreating army for the fear of dying in the harsh mountains which they didn't even have mapped out.

24 hours had gone by since the fleeing battalion had positioned themselves on the edge of the mountain range. Through a spyglass, Hilda could see that the enemy had stayed put. Whoever was leading the attacking army knew that providing they didn't advance towards Dreadfort, the rest of the Frostbourne would be blind of their presence. "Looks like they think they've got us under siege." Hilda announced as she lowered the spyglass.

"They've got a good tactician that's for sure. Someone has foreseen our plan of creating a pincer movement should they head further into Frostbourne territory. By keeping us perched here means that that can't happen since we are supposed to be the ones informing enemy movement around here and with no other way to get a messenger out without going past them then we are essentially trapped in their eyes." She exclaimed and handed the spyglass to a soldier standing next to her.

"What are we going to do then?" He asked her as the others murmured in agreement with his statement. Commander Hilda stepped back from the vantage point and walked towards the centre of where everyone was gathered. "Officer Vimir what supplies did we manage to take with us and how much food do we have?" Hilda asked her second in command. "Some medical supplies, weapons and about 2 to 3 days of food if we ration it." He replied. Hilda thought carefully for a moment.

"Maps! What about maps?" She asked him as an idea began to formulate in her head. "Maps?" He inquired. "Yes, maps of the surrounding area." Confirmed Hilda. "Hmm I'm not sure how that's going to help. I mean I think we have some that got mixed in with the medical supplies." He said rummaging through a box. He was able to pull out a couple of maps. "We've only got these. They're probably outdated and they're not waterproof since the best maps including the silk ones went to the elytra corps." Vimir explained and handed the maps to Hilda.

"Then we'll just have to take care of the ones we've got." She replied as she began studying them. "I think we can make it out across this narrow mountain stretch within 3 days. From there we cut round the south of the lake through the Barren Frontier. We will be able to gather food from the small desert villages located there." Commander Hilda announced loud enough for everyone to hear. Despite her confidence the others were clearly doubtful about her plan.