Blizzard

Chapter 2: White Bear

Upon arriving home with Gunther, Enar sat on the rug of the house, Gunther with him. Suddenly a familiar voice could be heard from the kitchen.
"Oh, I'm so glad you boys made it threw that storm. Eric would have killed me if you got lost out there and I didn't find you."
It was Sidra, one of the main maids. "How unusual for snow to be around in spring. Let me get you two some warm stew."
"Thank you Sid, I'm glad we have you around."
Sidra was a woman in her mid-twenties, but she cared for Enar as if she were 15 years older. She was strong and skilled in many occupations such as cooking, hunting, lumber chopping, and more. She had always been like an older sister or mother to their family. She set two bowls of stew in front of the boys.

Gunther almost immediately started. He had been cold and shivering since leaving the pit. Enar was just starting to lift his spoon when he heard heavy footsteps coming down the stairs.
"Son! I was about to go out there and find you boys myself." His father said.

"No need, I can carry the weight for both me and Gunther." He replied.

"I can handle myself." Gunther intervened.

"Well I hope your evening has been pleasant because we are staying inside until the storm ends."

"We weren't planning on leaving."

"Well, don't get too comfortable, tomorrow I'm sending you to go hunting with your brother."

"Sounds fun, wanna come along, Gunther?"

"No thanks, I'm going to stay home tommorow and let myself thaw out." Gunther replied.

"Well in that case, I'm going to bed."

The next morning, Enar was awoken by his excited brother.
"Come on Enar, we're going hunting!" Eske shouted.
"Alright, can you get my bow for me?"
"Yea, while I do that, you need to get dressed."
Enar put on a black cloth shirt with another brown cloak for today. Eske ran back in with both of their bows and quivers to go with each.

"Alright, let's go!" Eske said, throwing Enar's equipment on the ground next to him. Enar grabbed his quiver, latched it to his body, then put the string of his bow over his torso. He looked out the window to see a blanket of snow on the ground that would probably go up to his ankles.
"This is unnatural... it should have cleared up by now." he said.
"Who cares, at least we get to hunt!" Eske replied.
The two walked out into the snow after saying goodbye to Sidra and their father. They walked up into the hills where the forest was. Once they had gotten considerably far into the forest, they equipped their bows and began searching for clues that hint towards an animal. Enar was very skilled at tracking animals, he was naturally a good hunter. His brother followed him as he followed an invisible trail until they finally came across a caribou with very large antlers.
"Shhh, stay down and don't make a sound." Enar whispered into his brother's ear. They slowly crept towards the deer, who was feeding off of something on the ground.
"Watch how I do it first, then I'll let you try." He knocked an arrow and closed one eye, his breathing getting slower. Just as he was about to shoot, his brother spoke.
"Uhh... Enar!" He said
"Shhh, im trying to focus! Do you want to go hungry?"
"Hunger won't matter if that gets to us."
Enar turned to see an unnaturally large white bear stalking them with bared teeth. If it weren't for its fearsome look, it could be considered beautiful for its amazing fur. Even from afar it looked so soft, and it seemed to sparkle in the sunlight, as if millions of tiny crystals were hanging off the tip of each fur.

Enar stood in awe for a couple seconds, and he finally snapped out of it when the creature started running. He dropped his arrow and, with his bow in his left hand and Eske's arm in the other, ran for his life. The deer was still there, however, just watching them as they ran with a blank look on its face. That somewhat creeped Enar out.
The boys ran for a long time with the bear getting close, but just not close enough. Just when it seemed as they might make it back to the village, Eske tripped, sending both boys tumbling down a hill over rocks and twigs. Enar hadn't hurt himself, and he was ok besides a few small cuts and bruises. However, the bear was gradually making its way down the hill. He looked over at his brother to see him lying there, eyes closed, unconscious.
Enar panicked. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't leave his brother there, but he couldn't carry him either. There was no way he could kill the bear either, it was huge! Then he suddenly noticed something sticking out of the ground near him. It was a beautiful spear made completely of... ice? His days just kept getting stranger. However, he did not hesitate to pick the ominous weapon up. It had beautifully carved holes in the spear tip and the other end of it. It sparkled with frost and snow, the tip sharp and edged. It was spectacular. He turned to see the bear snarling at him, ready to pounce. He may have just gotten a strange new weapon, but he still wasn't fully trained yet. He grasped the spear tightly and stared back at the bear. There was complete silence. Then it all happened, seemingly all in an instant. The bear had lunged forward, paws in the air, and in a motion as fast as the wind itself, Enar forced the spear into the bears chest, puncturing the sharpened butt of the spear into the snowy ground. The bear just layed there, limp with its paws dangling over the ground. Enar couldnt believe what he had just done. He walked over to a rock with wobbling legs. He sat on it as he began staring into the forest for a long time.