The Search

Chapter 5 Flashback

The snow grew harsher, and the day darkened as they trudged forward. The wind howled louder, making conversation impossible. Eventually, Planet noticed something.

"Look, do you see those lights coming from the top of the hill?" he pointed out. "We should head up there."

They made their way up the hill, the lights guiding them through the blizzard. As they entered the dimly lit village, a loud "THUMP" startled them. A young woman in thick winter clothes with vibrant orange hair swung open her door and called out, "What are you two doing out here all alone? Come inside before you freeze to death!"

Parrot and Planet gratefully entered the warm house. "Thank you so much," Parrot said.

"Don't worry about it. We rarely have visitors, so it's nice to see some new faces. You can call me Eve," the woman introduced herself.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Parrot, and this is my friend Planet," Parrot replied, as Planet waved a friendly hand.

"Nice to meet you both," Eve smiled warmly. "Now, if you don't mind me asking, what are you doing out here?"

"We're looking for a totem," Parrot explained.

"A totem?" Eve asked, puzzled.

"It's not just any totem. It was stolen from our town last week, and we believe the thief went further north," Parrot elaborated.

"Well, I hate to break it to you, but beyond this town, there's nothing but thousands of miles of polar desert, and then a vast expanse of mountains. The only people who know what it's really like out there have never come back. I highly advise you to turn around now," Eve warned, concern evident in her voice.

"I don't think we can do that," Parrot said defiantly.

"We?" Planet echoed in disbelief.

"Yes," Parrot affirmed, staring hard at his friend.

"Well, I guess I can't stop you, but I would at least spend the night here. Traveling the polar desert at night is a death wish," Eve advised.

"Here, you can borrow some of our spare jackets and gear," she added, directing them to a room filled with warm clothing and supplies.

              ***

Back in their hometown, the flowers had lost their vibrant colors, the trees were bare of leaves, and the ground lay lifeless. The town had been slowly withering away, causing people to leave one by one.

"I'm going to miss you all so much," Orla said to her daughter, her voice heavy with emotion.

"We were actually hoping you could come with us. There's another town two weeks east of here," her daughter suggested gently.

Orla's face fell, and her gaze shifted to the window overlooking the once beautiful garden.

Seeing her mother's sorrow, the daughter sighed. "Look, we know how much you love this place, but you have to be realistic. Without the totem, there's nothing left here."

"I know," Orla responded quietly.

"Then why? Why stay here?" her daughter asked desperately.

Orla took a deep breath. "Because I have hope. I have hope that everything will be okay," she said, smiling wistfully at the garden.

Turning back to her daughter, Orla continued, "You know how I always say the universe is a mysterious place?"

"Yeah," her daughter confirmed, nodding.

"Well, I believe that somewhere out there, the universe has chosen someone who will do anything it takes to help this place. Someone very special. After all, dreams can be magical, can't they?" Orla said, hope glittering in her eyes.

"I understand. Goodbye, Mom," her daughter said, resigned with a sad smile.

"Oh! One more thing," Orla stopped her daughter as she was leaving. "Promise me that if everything here goes back to normal, you and the kids will come back."

"Mom, I don't think it will," her daughter said, doubt in her voice.

"Promise?" Orla insisted with a hopeful smile.

"I promise," her daughter replied, smiling back despite her doubts.

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"You should be able to see a ravine on the other side of this hill. If you follow it, you'll be taken all the way to the mountain range. But past that, I have no idea what's out there," Eve informed Parrot and Planet, who were now well-rested and fully geared up for the harsh cold winds.

Eve directed them out the back door, watching as they disappeared into the swirling snow just inches away from her.

As Parrot and Planet walked, they forced themselves forward against the relentless winds. Planet began to fall behind, the reality of their dangerous journey weighing heavily on him. Parrot noticed and called out, "Come on, let's head down to the ravine. The wind probably won't be as bad down there!" His voice struggled to rise above the storm's roar.

"Let's just head back to the house! It's too dangerous right now!" Planet screamed, his face carved with concern.

"We're never going to get anywhere if we head back! Look, there's the ravine. Let's stick close to it. I'm sure the weather will clear up later," Parrot urged, hoping to change Planet's mind.

Reluctantly, Planet submitted, and they continued their journey. When they left Eve's house, it had been daytime, but the storm made it seem like perpetual twilight. The clouds, snow, and howling winds obscured the sun's golden rays. The landscape was an endless expanse of disorienting infinite white.

The harsh conditions silenced them, leaving them alone with their thoughts. Planet's mind was a storm of its own, plagued by a sense of agony. As they dragged them selfs through the snow, fragmented memories began to surface—confusing, gruesome flashes that felt both foreign and familiar.

He saw children, bundled in thick, black winter clothes, laughing and playing in a snowy world. He smiled slightly at the wholesome scene. But then the memory darkened. He heard desperate screams—"NO, please NO!" The peaceful snowscape was replaced by chaotic swirls of white, moving so fast he couldn't see his hands. The giggling children reappeared, now blue and lifeless, buried in the snow. They were dead—or dying.

"Please," a small voice cried. A child was holding the hand of someone lying in the snow, frozen and still. Planet winced, his mind reeling. In desperation, he screamed, "Enough!" But the wind swallowed his voice. He wanted to forget whatever that was. He didn't know why he saw it or whose memory it was, but he was determined to ignore it.

Parrot, meanwhile, was consumed with worry for his hometown. He couldn't stop thinking about the place he loved, where he had grown up and met Planet, his best friend. The town was his family, and he couldn't bear the thought of it withering away. The totem was the heart of their community; without it, they had no home. He felt a heavy responsibility to save it, knowing that without the totem, many would be left homeless.

Time passed as they continued to walk. The moon had risen, casting a pale light on the snow-covered landscape. The storm had finally diminished enough for them to set up camp and light a fire.

"Parrot," Planet said, grabbing his attention.

"Yeah?" Parrot replied, still standing close to the fire, absorbing its warmth.

"I feel like this isn't worth it. We're putting our lives on the line. What if the people who took the totem find us? What will they do?" Planet expressed his doubts, looking directly at Parrot from his sleeping bag.

"I'm not sure, Planet. All I know is that everyone's relying on us," Parrot said, his focus still on the fire.

"Surely the town will be fine without the totem," Planet said, trying to convince himself as much as Parrot.

"I hope so, but our town was built around the totem. Without it, we don't have a home. No one has a home," Parrot emphasized, his voice filled with determination and a hint of desperation.