*Awoooooo*

  Albion was running as fast as he could through the snow that threatened to pull him under.

  He tried desperately to use his ring but it wouldn’t work, all he got was a weak fizzle.

  “What the hell, this is the worst possible time to stop working.”

  {Not charged}

  Albion swatted at the book, the fear and rage causing him to pale as he tried to understand.

  “You didn’t think to tell me it had limited use.”

  {The use isn’t limited as long as you charge it with Prana crystals.}

  “Fuck, if I knew that I would have bought some. FUCK!”

  Even while he yelled at his journal he ran desperately for the mountains. He couldn't stop or the beasts would catch up to him.

  He never thought he would have to use all the herbs so early in his trip. He underestimated the wilderness.

  He shouldn’t have.

  He used so many of them in the earlier part of his trip that he ran out before his journey's end.

  He couldn’t outrun the wolves. He knew that, but he could see a glint of something in the distance. The sun reflecting off of something far away.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  He could see green, a color so foreign in this icy tundra and…a building!

  He was nearly there.

  *AWOOOOOO*

  The beasts were right behind him.

  He couldn’t see anything around him, he just kept running forward.

  Rushing for the town that peaked out of the vast northern expanse.

  His scarf was frosted over, soaked by his breath it froze in the rough winds. It clung so tightly to his face that he could barely breath.

  He could hear the crunch of footsteps in the snow behind him.

  They were so loud now.

  He could hear the beast’s panting, their labored breathing as they hunted fresh prey.

  He could imagine their saliva freezing as it hit the ground, the hungry stare of whatever wild beasts were after him, the jaw of the beasts as they unhinged, trying desperately to swallow their prey in one bite. Leaving none for the others.

  His foot slipped on a patch of ice, maybe it was a frozen lake. It didn’t really matter, either way he was headed for the ground. As soon as he hit the floor there would be no escaping.

  ‘All of this for nothing. I’m just going to die like that?’

  No.

  He couldn’t.

  He was falling but he put his all into moving forward, he caught the snow in front of himself with his arms. Pulling himself forward. Every inch was a new hope. He leaped forward, he felt something warm billow around him, breath.

  The beasts were upon him.

  He could see Aberelt just over the horizon.

  He could see the town square. God. It looked so warm.

  He was so close.

  He could smell the breath of the beasts.

  The putrid smell of rot.

  He would soon be rotting between their teeth as well.

  Just. One. More. Step.

  He threw all his weight into his foot. Sending himself tumbling forward. Instead of snow, though, he met only air.

  He had found a deep cave...somehow.

  He had escaped the wild beasts.