Jack awoke before dawn, the air crisp with the biting cold of the Ice Age morning. The village of Vinterhold was already stirring, warriors preparing supplies for the journey ahead. Eirik had assigned three skilled hunters to accompany Jack—Torvald, a towering man with a thick beard and sharp instincts; Anja, a swift and silent tracker; and Rurik, a quiet but observant warrior who spoke little but missed nothing.
Jack tightened his furs and checked the crude blade he had fashioned, though he knew it was no match for the metal weapons the villagers carried. Still, he had survived against worse odds. The journey to the ice cliffs would take three days, crossing frozen rivers, treacherous ridges, and deep forests teeming with beasts that had not yet gone extinct.
Eirik met them at the village gates. "The seer does not take kindly to outsiders. Listen well, follow the rules, and do not question her visions."
Jack nodded, his mind focused. "We'll return with answers."
The group set out, their breath forming clouds in the frigid air. The landscape was a vast, unforgiving expanse of ice and snow, punctuated by jagged rock formations and the occasional skeletal remains of massive prehistoric creatures. Jack marveled at the untouched wilderness, knowing that in his own time, such sights no longer existed.
The Frozen River
By midday, they reached the first obstacle—a frozen river stretching for miles, its surface slick with ice. The river, though appearing solid, held dangers beneath its deceptive stillness. "We must move quickly," Anja warned. "The ice is strong in the morning but weakens as the sun rises."
They tread carefully, moving in single file. Jack felt his heart pound as the ice creaked beneath his feet. Each step sent a shiver down his spine, knowing that beneath the thin crust was a freezing death. Halfway across, a sharp crack echoed through the valley. Jack barely had time to react before he heard Torvald's urgent shout.
"Move! Now!"
Jack sprinted, feeling the ice splinter behind him. A deep groan rumbled through the ground, and suddenly, Rurik's foot punched through the surface. His panicked gasp turned to a shout as the freezing water swallowed his leg. Jack lunged forward, grabbing his arm just as the ice threatened to drag him further in. The cold was immediate, biting through Rurik's furs, turning his skin a deathly pale.
Torvald and Anja rushed to help, throwing a length of rope across the widening crack. With one great heave, they pulled Rurik from the water just as a large section of ice collapsed into the dark depths. He lay on the surface, shivering violently, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.
Anja knelt beside him, rubbing his arms briskly to restore warmth. "We must get to shelter soon, or he will not survive the night."
Torvald nodded. "We press on. No stopping."
The Forest of Shadows
By nightfall, they reached the edge of the great forest. Massive, snow-laden pines loomed over them like silent sentinels. Here, the wind howled through the branches, carrying whispers of the unseen. They set up camp beneath a rock overhang, lighting a small fire for warmth. Jack chewed on dried meat provided by the villagers, its smoky flavor a welcome comfort.
As the fire crackled, Anja spoke. "The seer is said to know the past and future. She speaks in riddles and dreams. Many believe she is not of this world."
Jack considered this. Could the seer hold the key to understanding the time fractures? Could she lead him to the portal? He wanted to ask more, but something about the forest made him uneasy.
Then, a distant howl pierced the night air. It was long, deep, and not alone. Another followed, then another, until the darkness was alive with the voices of a hunting pack.
The group tensed. Torvald gripped his spear, his knuckles turning white. "Wolves. And they are close."
Jack's hand instinctively went to his blade. He knew they were not alone in the dark.
The firelight flickered, casting shadows that danced ominously against the trees. Jack listened intently, straining to hear over the crackling flames. Then he saw them—eyes glowing like embers in the distance, moving slowly, watching.
"They are testing us," Rurik murmured through chattering teeth. "They know we are vulnerable."
Jack swallowed hard. He had faced wild animals before, but this was different. This was a pack—organized, patient, deadly.
Torvald did not hesitate. He stood, raising his spear high, letting out a deep, guttural shout. The sound echoed through the trees, a challenge, a warning. The glowing eyes flickered, some retreating slightly, but others remained, unafraid.
Jack knew that if the wolves attacked, it would be a fight to the death. And in the frozen wild, there were no second chances.
They would have to survive the night before the journey could continue.