Chapter 5: An Icy Situation
As the sun began to rise in the morning sky, Alekus shook Kie softly with his front paw.
“Kie, it’s time to get up,” he whispered softly, as to not scare him.
Kie yawned wide, opening his eyes. They met Alek’s who was almost nose to nose with him
“Good morning, Alekus,” he said, stretching as he sat up.
His stomach growled in protest. “Let's eat, I’m hungry,” he said, digging some fruit out and started munching on it.
Alekus chuckled, plopping down beside him and open the map. “Ok so, we need to continue up this path until we make it to these mountains. From there we have to go threw these cave. Stay close to me in there, I know my way through and it's easy to get lost for a first timer.” Alek said showing Kie the path.
“What about after we get out of the caves?” He questioned.
“We’ll continue after we get through the cave,” Alek said, putting the map away. “The caves alone are going to take us a few days to get through,” he said getting up, he held his hand out for Kie. “Also, we have to stop by the next town, it's the only one between here and the mountains and we need warm clothing,” he added.
“Oh, alright. Sounds good to me,” Kie said as he got to his feet as well, almost losing his balance but Alek helped him regain it.
“Still not used to those antlers of yours, are you?” Alek asked him.
“No, not really. But I like them better than I did at first,” Kie admitted.
The two of them walked along the road quietly until they reached the town. Alekus lead Kie to a shop and opened the door for him
“Get what you want. My treat,” he said as he let Kie in before going inside himself.
The shopkeeper looked up from his work as they entered. “Welcome, what can I do for the two of you?” He asked.
“Yes, we need warm clothing,” Alekus spoke up before Kie could say anything.
“I see, hmm, I should have something that will match your cloaks, give me a moment,” he said walking to the back.
Kie looked around while they waited and noticed a silver jewelry set with a necklace and headpiece, he picked up the box and waited for the shopkeeper to return.
“How much is this?” He asked curiously.
The keeper looked at the box and thought for a moment, “500 gold.” He said
Kie blinked and checked his coin count… he had enough but it would leave him mostly broke.
“Ok, add it to the other order,” Alekus said.
“But, its…”
Alek held up his hand, cutting him off,“I said I’d buy whatever you wanted, I meant it,” He said with a smile.
“Thanks Alek,” was all Kie could say, he had not expected him to buy something so much.
The shopkeeper sat the boots, jackets and scarfs on the counter and added up the total, along with the jewelry. After he was done, he told Alekus the price and it was paid for.
Alekus nodded to the Shopkeeper. “Thank you for helping us so quickly,” he said with a nod.
“Your welcome, come again,” the shopkeeper said, returning to his work.
Kie blinked slightly as he followed Alek out of the store. “I somewhat see what you meant when you said, you can tell real from fake.. But it's almost hard to tell.. The longer I stay here… The longer it feels real,” he said, sighing.
“It will do that to you,” Alekus chuckled softly as he walked along the road.
The two of them walked in silence for the next few hours, the flat lands with forests doting the open planes, making way for hills and light trees, more rocks and underbrush dotted the lands here, but as they walked the ground turned to stone. The oaks and maples of the flat lands slowly turned into pines, tall and slender as they with stood the high winds of the highlands better than the thicker trees.
Alekus was the one to finally break the silence.
“We should find a place to rest, it’s going to start getting cold. We need food and rest before we even attempt these caves,” he explained in a serious tone.
Kie sighed softly, “Alekus, couldn't we, go over the mountains? I’m….I’m claustrophobic,” he admitted solemnly.
“Well, I mean we can, but…. It will take longer, plus there's snow and ice up there.” He huffed, looking up at the mountains that towered before them.
“Please? Plus, my antlers might get in the way inside a cave, like they did in the tomb,” he added, reminding Alek of his issue in the tomb.
Alekus blinked a few times, “I didn't think of that… you’re right, it’d be best to go over,” he said.
They found a nice spot in a small clearing and set up camp.
“We can rest here till tomorrow… There's a river over there so we can get water, and maybe some fish for a hot meal.” Alek squeaked as he stretched.
“Ya know, probably the best thing about being trapped inside a game is we don't have to worry about carrying stuff on our backs…. Unless we just want to,” he laughed, smiling brightly.
“Won't argue there, but your not the one with these ten pound antlers on your head.” He said in a joking tone.
Alek laughed. “you got me there,” he said, chuckling.“So the river runs into a lake, want to go swimming?” He asked, looking at Kie.
“Hmm… Sure, let's go,” he said happily.
The two Viscets walked over to the lake and put their armor and stuff away before walking into the water. The two swam around for awhile before treading water to talk.
“This is fun, it’s rare I get to swim back home… I live in a city where there isn't lakes, and the pools are always full and never cleaned good, ” Kie sighed softly as he relaxed a little
Alek chuckled. “Well, I come from a completely different world than you. How I ended up inside a game is strange and almost impossible, but this place reminds me of home.” He said,sighing.
“How did you end up in here?” Kie asked curiously.
“Well, you see... I ended up in your time for a short time, and I tried to find a way home…. But the portal I opened… It didn't lead to home, it brought me here,” he said.
“Oh, I get it now. Even if you get out… You can’t go home,” Kie ponderd, drooping is ears.
Suddenly his eyes grew wide with horror.
“What is it?” Alek questioned looking at him with confusion.
“SNAKE!!!!!!.... A SNAKE HAS MY LEG!!!!!” He screeched out in terror as he began lashing his paws in the water, trying to get away, but only made it worse.
Alekus blinked and stuck his head under the water… he came back up and chuckled softly at Kie. “It's just a water plant Kie, it's not a snake,” Alek said, trying not to laugh.
Kie blinked at him a few times and used his other hind leg to free himself from the plant, then swam back to dry land, slightly embarrassed, behind him he could hear Alekus giggling.
Kie is so adorable I can’t even
Kie shook himself off and put his armor back on.
“I’m sorry to laugh Kie, but you have to admit… you jumped to conclusion way too quickly,” Alek teased.
“I hate snakes… I thought it was a snake,” he huffed, pulling his green cape over his shoulders.
“Sorry Kie…” Alek sighed as he pulled his cloak on.
“It’s fine. Let’s just go back to the camp,” Kie huffed as he walked away.
Alek’s ears drooped. ~I screwed up,~ he thought as he followed.
They made their way back to the clearing and set up another fire, Kie sat down, watching the flames dance. “We didn't even get a fish,” he said, groaning.
“I did,” Alek exclaimed, pulling out two large Pike from behind his back.
“Oh sweet, nice catch Alek!” Kie laughed smiling softly a little.
Alekus nodded and pulled out some skewer sticks and impaled the fish, putting them over the fire to cook.
“Kie, I really am sorry for laughing at you,” Alek stated.
“Don't worry about it, it’s ok,” Kie mumbled
A while later their fish were cooked and they sat in silence eating their food quietly.
After they finished, they settled down and fell asleep. Late that night, Kie woke up to Alek shaking him softly.
“What is it?” Kie asked with a yawn.
“Shh!” Alek hissed, motioning to the bushes “We have to hide,” he whispered in a low voice.
Kie blinked, but crawled his way behind the bushes.
“What's going on?” He whispered.
“Dragon!” Alek hissed as he huddled next to Kie in fear.
~Dragon? But why do we have to hide from….~ He thought and paused, realizing the white viscet beside him was shaking like a mouse. ~He’s afraid of dragons,~ he finished his thought as he pulled his arm around Alek and pulled him under himself to hide him more.
“Easy, Alek, it's alright,” he whispered softly, holding Alek in hopes to calm him.
Alekus buried his face in Kie’s chest, still shaking, whimpering like a scared puppy.
Kie looked up at the sky as the dark shape flew over them, letting out a deafening roar.
~That's not a part of the game,~ Kie thought as he looked down at Alek and rested his head down onto the scared cets back. “Easy Alek, it’s gone now,” he said after a few moments.
Alek whimpers and hugs him tighter.
Kie sighed, sitting down hugging Alek in return.
“Rest my friend… I’ll keep watch,” he said, holding Alek, allowing him to sleep against his chest.
Kie rested against the tree and soon fell asleep to.
The two started up the mountain early that morning, it was easy going for the first few hours, but as the day wore on the ground became more and more steep and treacherous. They stopped around noon for rest before they continued on.
“You know where we are going, right?” Kie asked as he pulled himself up some rocks and then turned to help Alek up.
“Yeah, we just go over the mountain, wherever we come off I'm sure we can figure it out,” he replied as he continued on up the mountain.
As they traveled, the rocky grounds became more and more stone and snow, and higher up the snow got deeper and deeper. As it grew dark, it was easy to see their breath before them in the bitter cold, finding a safe location the two huddled together during the night to rest. When morning came they continued on.
“Maybe this was a bad idea… the ice and snow is getting bad… and I think I feel a storm coming,” Alek said, sniffing the air.
“The wind is pretty bad too, glad we have these warmer clothing,” he replied as he walked.
“I agree…hmm, you know we could use some rope to keep each other from falling,” he said, pulling out a long piece of rope and handed one end to Kie.
Kie caught it, tying it around his waist. “Good idea,” he said as he looked around.
The two of them continued their way over the mountain, stopping every few hours to rest and warm up. They munched on their dried meat as they walked as there was no other means of a meal up on the snow and ice covered mountain. They came to a gorge with ice bridge over it.
“This looks like the only way,” Alek said, looking around and seeing no other way to go. “I’ll go first to make sure it’s safe, then you can follow,” He ordered as he slowly made his way over the bridge.
Kie followed slowly after, but being much larger and heavier than Alek, the bridge began to crack.
Alek looked back at Kie, their eyes met for a moment before the ice shattered beneath Kie.
A massive ploom of snow, dust and ice flew into the air as the ice bridge broke.
Alek was yanked from his feet and drug a ways before he dug his claws into the ice, feeling the rope around his waist tighten, almost to the point of not being able to breathe. He twisted and grabbed hold of something, sliding a ways over the cliff face but stopped short of being drug over.
As the air cleared, Alek could now see the vast opening beneath him, an open casum beckoning any who fell to the dark depth of the mountain and surely to their death. His eyes grew wide, too terrified to move, but a voice broke him from his trance.
“First off, Ow… second of all, Alek…You, You saved me,” the voice was shaky, almost out of breath.
Alekus blinked a few times and looked again, he was holding Kie by one of his antlers, as he dangled over the dark cavern. He slowly backed himself up, and as Kie was able to dig his claws into the side of the cliff they both worked on getting back up to safety.
“Thank you, thank you.” Was all Kie could say as he sat there on his hands and knees panting.
(( Art? ))
They rested for the rest of the day, night and late into the next morning. There near death experience had taken allot out of them and they just needed time to calm down from it.