Project #134

CHAPTER 18

As was predicted, snow did come later that day. The precipitation started out with a few flurries and began to get heavier as the day came on.

"Not too bad so far!" Fox commented with optimism.

"It has been getting heavier, though. This wind is also getting pretty bad." Victoria stated.

"Let's keep it up though! We are getting closer with each step." Aron said.

The wind continued to whistle through the air providing an arctic chill. The snowfall wasn't providing a challenge for the trio yet, but that wasn't going to be the case for the rest of the day.

The group continued to walk through the heavy flurries with high spirits. The feelings of worry and anxiousness about the trip had turned into excitement and triumph. Eventually, at the mid-day point, the three took a break for lunch. For their meal, they took shelter underneath a large pine tree to prevent a blanket of snow forming on them.

Their rations were almost out, but with the end in sight, this didn't present a major problem.

"The snow is really starting to fall!" Aron commented while peeking out under the tree.

"It seems as if we are about to come full force with a blizzard." Victoria acknowledged. "Do you think it will be too risky to go on?"

"Hmm..." Fox thought. "I guess we should consider possibly taking shelter if traveling becomes too much of a hassle."

"We're still continuing after lunch, right?" Aron asked.

"Yes. I see no reason to stop for the day." Fox responded.

The crew finished their lunches quickly and continued on walking through the falling snow. The flakes to this particular snowfall were quite large, equivalent in size to bottle caps found on soda bottles. The wind let out a fierce howl as it picked up speed. The sky was also starting to get darker, showing promise of a more powerful system arriving towards them.

"How are we doing team?" a walking Fox shouted behind him.

"Still doing well!" Victoria answered back.

"What she said!" Aron responded.

"That's cheating. Come up with your own answer!" Victoria playfully jeered to the wolf behind her.

"You two never cease to entertain me." Fox chuckled.

Unfortunately for the group, the conditions really started to deteriorate over the next hour. Fog was now settling in, making it difficult to see. In addition, snow was falling much faster than before, and the wind had reached its peak.

"Fox... remember our plan for the weather today? I think it might be a good idea to implement it." Aron shouted ahead.

"Wha....t?" Fox asked back, unable to hear Aron. He paused to rejoin the other two not far behind.

"Fox, I think it might be a good idea to find some shelter. It's getting crazy out here." Aron said.

"I must agree with Aron, I can barely see where I am going." Victoria said. She then proceeded to shake off the snow stuck in her fur.

"Alright, it sounds like a plan to me. We just need to find somewhere to take refuge until this passes." Fox declared.

"It's too dangerous to pitch a tent in this mess. If the snow piles up high enough, we could be trapped." Victoria acknowledged.

"That's a very good point." Fox added.

"So what now?" Aron asked.

"The three of us should stay together until we find a suitable spot." Fox suggested. "If we split up to look in this low visibility and howling wind, someone could get lost."