The Midnight Guard [TMG Book One]

Part III: New Friends

For many years there had been a story shared among the children of Journeys End, one that had caused most of their youthful and innocent eyes to grow wide with fright as they listened intently, unable to pull themselves away. The parents had of course always been there to reassure the young that there was no truth to such tales, it was only a story after all, the same story those parents had heard as children, though over time it had of course suffered some alterations.

As Midnight came to settle over the old town of Journeys End and all the lights grew dim, one was said to appear bright upon the mountains. If one were bold enough to look out into the night they would see this light, the ominous pale glow that came from a haunted ruin perched upon the highest peak of the icy mountains. From there anyone within could see the entire town beneath, every building and every person. It was said to have been an evil spirit that watched over Journeys End by night from within the walls of this ruin, but if one was caught to be watching him from the town beneath, the evil spirit would, as the children shouted; "get you!"

Funnily enough it was this that carried Wynter forward; a child's story. She hoped to find the ruin they spoke of and within it the mysterious stranger who had vanished from her room so suddenly and into the darkness. It was madness, but she could think of nothing else.

Wynter's breathing had become more laboured as the day wore on, her supplies were running low. All around her was serene silence but for the breathing of the frost-bitten wind. The sun shone without warmth, but Wynter had grown quite accustomed to the cold, it didn't bring her any discomfort and as long as it remained bright she would be safe. The mountains however were terribly steep and a small part of Wynter feared they would get the better of her soon enough.

Wynter now sat upon a narrow ledge halfway up the mountain where she was crouched, slowly munching on an apple. The town beneath her looked minuscule like a child's toy set. The people were nothing more than moving dots upon the ground, like ants scuttling about their work. Few had seen her enter the mountain pass and none had attempted to stop her. That was one of the good things about the people here, they minded their own business. Though it was truly a flaw just as much as it was a quality, it was the reason Journeys End had been so shrouded in mystery for so long. Wynter's fingers were numb around the apple core; she tossed it aside and watched it fall fast and silent down the sheer mountain face. It reminded her of the dream she had dreamt only hours before while sitting by the white fence, the one in which she had fallen from this very mountain as it had crumbled beneath her. She shuddered.

Just a dream.

Wynter rose to her feet cautiously and picked her basket from the snow, it was much lighter now. She began to slowly follow her perilous path once again. The ice was what made the journey dangerous, it hid beneath the snow and waited for unfortunate feet to slip upon impact, and then in this case, ultimately fall to their deaths. Wynter nimbly moved forward and tried her best to not look down, only straight ahead.

Though this was easier said than done.

*

Twilight had set in as Wynter neared the mountain peak. She had suffered many cuts and scratches from the icy needles that had covered her path and she was exhausted from walking. Wynter gritted her teeth against the stinging pain as her leg once again brushed the frozen nails of the mountain. She was walking sideways now, her hands were held high to clutch at the rocks above as she moved, supporting her body weight. Suddenly a rock came loose and crashed down beneath her. Wynter held on tight to the mountain with one hand. She breathed in and out, calmly as possible. She found another to cling onto; it felt secure beneath her shaky hand. With a final push Wynter hoisted herself up and onto the flat land above.