Jack stood frozen in place, staring at the dark structure buried beneath the snow. His breath came in short, visible puffs as he slowly approached, his heart hammering in his chest. The ancient structure looked like nothing he had ever seen before—smooth, dark stone, unblemished by time, standing in stark contrast to the jagged ice that surrounded it. Snow had piled up against its sides, but enough of it was exposed to reveal strange, carved symbols that ran along its surface.
He reached out, brushing away the frost covering one of the symbols. The moment his fingers made contact, a faint hum vibrated through his fingertips, sending a chill down his spine. The air around him felt denser as if reality itself had thickened in this one spot. Could this be the place Yarra had spoken of? A place where time bent?
Jack took a deep breath and circled the structure, searching for any form of entrance. His gloved hand ran along the smooth stone until his fingers brushed against an indentation—almost like a doorway. With a shove, he tried to push it open, but it wouldn't budge. Frustrated, he stepped back and surveyed the ruin. He needed to find another way in.
The wind howled through the mountains, and Jack pulled his fur cloak tighter around him. He knew he couldn't linger for long—exposure to the cold could kill him. He scanned the structure again, this time noticing a narrow passage partially hidden by ice. It was a tight squeeze, but he had no choice. He slid sideways through the icy gap, his breath quickening as he pressed forward.
Inside, the temperature was noticeably different. It was still cold, but no longer the brutal, biting chill of the outside world. The walls glowed faintly with a soft blue hue, illuminating strange symbols that covered every surface. Jack's breath caught in his throat—this was something far beyond what he had imagined. Was this truly from his own time, or something older, something not of this world?
He walked carefully, each step echoing slightly in the hollow space. The deeper he went, the stronger the hum became. It wasn't just a sound—it was something he could feel in his bones. The passageway led to a larger chamber, its ceiling stretching high above him. In the center stood a massive stone pillar, covered in even more intricate carvings. But what caught Jack's attention was a strange, metallic device embedded in the base of the pillar. Unlike the ancient stone around it, the device looked advanced—almost modern.
Jack crouched beside it, brushing away more frost. It was made of metal, smooth and polished, yet it showed no signs of rust or wear. A single panel with glowing markings pulsed faintly. He hesitated, his mind racing. Could this be connected to the phenomenon that had pulled him into this time? Was this his way home?
Before he could react, the symbols on the pillar began to glow brighter, pulsating in rhythm with the device. The hum in the air grew stronger, and Jack felt an invisible force pulling at him. He stumbled backward, his pulse racing. Something was happening—something he didn't yet understand.
Then, the markings shifted, and the air around him crackled with energy. Jack knew one thing for certain—he had found the key to his return. But unlocking its secrets would be another challenge altogether.
Jack stood in the vast, glowing chamber, his heart pounding as the markings on the pillar pulsed brighter. The hum in the air grew to a deep, vibrating resonance that seemed to shake the very ground beneath him. He took a cautious step forward, eyes fixed on the metallic device embedded in the base of the pillar. The glowing panel was no longer faint; it now radiated with an otherworldly intensity.
Slowly, Jack reached out and placed his hand on the metal surface. The moment his fingers touched it, a surge of energy pulsed through him. A bright light burst from the pillar, illuminating the entire chamber in a dazzling white glow. Jack staggered back, shielding his eyes as a deep, mechanical sound echoed through the space.
Then, a ripple formed in the air before him—like the surface of a pond disturbed by a single drop. The ripple expanded outward, growing into a shimmering, circular vortex. Swirling lights and shadows danced within it, and Jack could feel the pull of something powerful just beyond its threshold.
His breath caught in his throat. Was this the portal? Was this the anomaly that had dragged him into the Ice Age? If so, could it be his way back?
He turned back to the metallic device, examining it closely. The panel now displayed a series of shifting symbols—ancient yet strangely familiar. As he watched, they seemed to arrange themselves into a pattern, one that felt almost like a countdown.
Jack's mind raced. He had no way of knowing where the portal would take him—whether it would return him to his own time or throw him even further into the past. He clenched his fists, torn between hope and fear. The tribe had become his family. Leaving them behind felt like abandoning them. But staying here meant giving up his chance to return home.
Before he could decide, the ground trembled. A deep rumbling filled the chamber, and cracks formed in the icy walls. Jack barely had time to react before a blast of frigid air rushed in, carrying with it the unmistakable roar of something massive. He spun around just in time to see a shadow moving in the entrance—a towering figure with glowing, predatory eyes. Something had followed him.
Panic surged through him. He had no weapons, no tribe to back him up. The portal was his only hope.
The vortex pulsed again, the symbols on the device shifting more rapidly now. The countdown was nearing its end.
With no time to hesitate, Jack made his decision. He took one final breath, whispered a silent farewell to the world he had come to know, and leaped toward the shimmering light.
The moment he passed through, everything went white.