The Sketch Survivors: The Enemy Among Us

White Supremacy

Safer's Legion departed the next morning. Shepherd Staut had admitted to hearing Yalerojope howls in the night, but he was not discouraged, and followed them out of the cave with his herd of cow-creatures (some of which hauled sizeable backpacks). Clamoring down the dirt road from earlier, the nomadic Staut gave one silent, hopeful glance to Soal and Irene, who happened to be standing alongside one another as he left, and then turned his back, crosier in hand, seeing through that his cattle did not go astray. Once he was out of sight, the talkative Emma began to chatter.

"There goes the gumdrop shepherd," she snickered playfully. "with his gumdrop cows. Moo."

"Quiet down, Emma, this is dire," the serious George returned to the scene. It was near ten o'clock in their perception of time. That allowed them much time after their rest. "If there was one thing we learned from that Shepherd, it was that we were right, the Key is at the top of this mountain-island." The forest of mushrooms surrounding them seemed to be drowned out by the natural sounds of a real-life forest.

The towering mushrooms grew ever taller as the peak approached. Winds began to settle in, their chill almost icy; icier than such an environment could allow. Three days and three nights came and went. Strategically placed cavern mouths supported the Legion, shielding them from the all-seeing Yalerojopes, hiding much further into the dripping darkness than Staut had- he had boarded up the entrance, and then traveled downhill. Everyone snacked on fruits and "filtered" mushrooms that Staut had gifted them. Thronost was estranged, but he managed with Irene at his side; the two were longtime companions. Bridget and Heather simply shivered, speaking little as the peak approached, hesitatingly obeying every instruction given (collecting firewood, etc.). All of them pondered the whereabouts of the other Shepherds. Was Staut really the last one? Did he even know that he was? If so, did his cattle indeed keep him company? There was much to consider, but the Legion sucked in everything they came across.

Unbelievably, the ground soon turned crispy, crunching under the boots (and boot, for Thronost) of every legionnaire. The site of the Key was obviously imminent. The mushroom forest was coated in a rug of snow, which troubled Soal; he was not prepared to face another Scright Gardens-type blizzard. Although he hoped he was overthinking, the snow was rough, unyielding, and a major hindrance to the Legion's adventure up the mountain. Worst of all, the frigid climate permeated their steely armor and numbed their gloved hands and feet. Staut was correct about the Shepherd's plight. Soal could not imagine spending just a week on this mountaintop, let alone its peak, the source of the ague that stabbed Safer's Legion.

The fourth night was a night of desperation. One last stony cave opening gave the Legion one final refuge from the ice. The legionnaires huddled together for added warmth, but even combined, their efforts at insulating themselves were hopeless. Thronost pined for the comfort of Beleggose, the spoiled children, Bridget and Heather, audibly cried in the evening, and everyone else was simply miserable. Yassón had clearly won this battle. Yet, they pressed on, the site of the key closer than ever.

And, just when all hope seemed to be depleted... it worsened.