Tundra

Chapter I

                                                                             BEFORE

               "You will not be welcome here again if you don't fulfill your mission of honor. "

        He said that if necessary, you should rethink this phrase repeatedly , until a new wave of motivation gives your body a boost to continue. It worked the first three times , and you've never been the type of child who gets tired easily. But you were doing a path of ten kilometers uphill.

                    "You received a good training, you can do this. We are superior to them ."

         I'll do it , I need to, it's the thought that holds firm in your mind. All the bones of your body seem worn, you had two days of tiring journey, only two rest stops. The small villages you stopped by had a concentrated and old people, the feeling of xenophobia was present with the approach of strangers, and you knew you were "too Western" to be there. Apparently, Americans were one of the few nations known amongst that small portion of the population, and even if you were not native to any country in Earthrealm, they still confused you with them.

        "Go back to your land, wherever it is"

          It's been two days, but you lost the count of how many times you have heard this phrase. Cautious that discrimination could reach extreme levels, you slept with one eye open during the few hours you were able to rest.

          But finally, away from civilization, you feel for the first time that the sacrifice paid off as you see yourself closer to the amount of white cliffs, fully covered by extensive portions of snow. You were already in Arctika. However, being there implies a new challenge: how to get to the palace soon enough, and safely.

          The sight of the path left you physically in your limits. The small black dots between the vastness looked like pines, and noting that the same temperate vegetation started just a few meters from where you are, you decide to enter the forest, and through it, perhaps, reach the temple.

          With luck, you would also find a lake or river that wasn't frozen to serve yourself with more fresh water. Your little steel tank, filled for the last time on Xiao, had only a little of its initial amount, and you were feeling thirsty for a long time.

          While crossing the paths full of snow, you think that only a miracle would make you survive this. You are in uncharted territory, needs to accomplish a nearly impossible challenge and return alive to achieve honor and respect in your clan. Your greatest consolation was knowing that death in battle was a worthy way to be remembered. A little smile enlightens your face as you remember that, regardless of the fate of this mission, you will have your honor.

           Moving forward on your way , the boots weigh as they are covered in snow to the ankle. Your feet sinks at every step, and costs even more energy to complete the ascent. Moreover , the path was not frizzy and firm as you thought it would be , you were clinging to the wet branches of pine trees in order to keep safe before the difficulties and a heavy snowfall which spread dry leaves and snowflakes in the broad wind. At least the scenery is wonderful, you think by looking at your right side, analyzing the distant horizon. The snow-covered canyons make the set fully white, the sky, though, remains cloudy, gray. There is a minimum trace of sun.

              Crac

           A crunchy noise sounds around you, and the branch on which you are supported releases of the trunk. Your body collapses down the mountain, a thin scream erupts from your throat due to the unexpected and abrupt moment. All the way you traveled for hours vanishes in seconds. Your hands move desperately searching for something to hold on, but there's nothing but snow and smooth trunks.