The Frost Rush

Chapter 1: A Determined Tramp

Getting out of Alaska was one of his lifelong dreams.

Many too have dreamt of it, though they could not withstand the perilous tasks ahead of them. Some were lost in the mountains, some died in exhaustion, and many have lost courage and given up.

But he was different.

Back in his village when he was 15, rumors spread that a mountain of gold was discovered by a man called 'Manny' and was abandoned for unknown reasons. The village went completely ecstatic. Once they found that so-called mountain of gold, they could become millionaires and wander off to the land of milk and honey. A smile spread across his face. This could be the chance he was waiting for! A chance to venture off of Alaska and seek new sights and wonders he had never seen before. Most importantly, a mountain of GOLD!?

Without even thinking twice, He packed up all his belongings and joined the expedition alongside the prospectors.

And so, the 'Gold Rush' began. And it lasted for more than 3 years.

A siren sounded upon the camp he resided, signaling hundreds of men to wake up for the expedition to resume. He scuffled around his sleeping bag, and silently prayed that the god damn siren would shut off. But even if it would, the camp master would likely wake him up instead. He reluctantly got up off his sleeping bag and yawned while he ruffled his frosty white hair. Blue eyes looked out of the tent, as he watched his comrades packing their respective tents, clothes and food. Some were even petting their huskies and polishing their sleds. Heading back, he rubbed his palms together to ease out the cold and wore his fur coat before he too packed up.

"Jack! Wake up, child!" A gruff voice sounded outside his tent, "Wouldn't want to get left behind again, are we?"

The teenager, named Jack, only chuckled, "Yeah North, I am up and ready. And don't call me child!" he said.

"Well you better hurry up then! You remember what we discussed yesterday?"

"Split up, find the mountain. No need to remind me a hundred times!"

North let out a jolly laugh, "I just wanted to make sure you remembered. You're the birdbrain of the group after all.

Jack shook his head in amusement at his jolly friend as he finished wrapping his lamb for his travels and disassembling his tent.

Nicholas St. North was the leader of the prospectors. He alone towered above the rest of his men, probably standing in a 6'9 stature, and he was the most physically imposing member. Oh, North was also the oldest, aged 77.

But despite of the leader's intimidating and scary aura, Jack found out that the old man was actually a softy.

A year after he joined, food suddenly became scarce in the camp, and he was starving to death. People would lie that they don't have enough for the others, but secretly they would hide some meat and whiskey in their bags. Stealing food crossed Jack's mind as his pale skin got paler and he's starting to get skinnier and skinnier by the day.

He sneaked inside a random tent, teeth chattering and body violently shaking.

His nose twitched at the smell of roast beef, and his stomach grumbled in response. He ransacked the tent like a raccoon burrowing trash. After a while, he had finally found the meal, and he wasted no time taking a big bite of it. His eyes shed a tear as the savory flavor of the beef took over his taste buds. This was his first properly prepared food he had eaten since he left. He was stuck with canned Pork and Beans for most of the time. For a really cold weather, the beef was actually still warm. Jack was half-way done from eating until he heard heavy foot-steps outside. He instantly froze in place as he stared at the silhouette of the person, his eyes widened in fear as he came to a realization. That shadow was too big for a normal person, and someone with that kind of size was no other than North's.

"Great, of all the tents I entered it just had to be his," thought Jack.

North opened the covers, the curtain making a loud shink when he did so. North went out to boil a kettle of water from a friend's heater. Jack's body was still frozen, not reacting at all. When North finally noticed him, his mind went blank. Piercing blue eyes the same as his gazed at him.

"Who are you?" North asked.

Jack blinked, "Ja-Jack, sir… Jackson Overland."

"Overland?" North raised a brow. His eyes looked at the object Jack was holding in his hand, that is his roast beef, "It seems you have found my food."

Jack forced his body to react, but he was intimidated both physically and mentally. He planned to make a run for it, but a living mountain was standing in his way, so that's a no-no. Fight North? Not in a million years.

"I was hungry…" Jack reasoned, his voice trembling.

He began to back off when North started to march towards his direction. Fear formed up inside his body with each step the old man made. Now that North had him pinned in a corner, there was absolutely no way of escaping. He shut his eyes closed, and braced himself for any kind of offense North would give to him; a slap? A back-hand? A thousand curse words? You name it.

But instead, he felt a soft tap on his shoulder, and a hand rubbing that area in a soothing sensation. He opened his eyes slowly, and was surprised to see North kneeling down in front of him, eyes filled with concern.

"Huh?"

"You're as thin as paper," North said quizzically. "You must be starving. Poor kid. Come, take a sit in my chair while I prepare us something warm to drink."

North began to lead Jack to-said chair. Okay, Jack was bewildered in these turn of events, which he did NOT expect at all.

"Wait, you're not going to hurt me or anything?" Jack asked.

"And why would I hurt you?" North quirked a brow.

"I mean, I DID eat your food without permission…"

North started chuckling, which kind of took Jack off guard, "Well, at first I was going to, no lie. But when I saw your condition and, well, I realized that you're just a kid, I think you need the food more than I do."

"S-seriously?"

North nodded. "Besides, I ate some bread and coffee this morning. That could fill me up for the rest of the day."

Mentally, Jack let out a sigh of relief. He was glad that he was not going to die today. Normally, one would get a butt-whooping after an incident such as this. But for North to let it him off the hook just like that, he thought that the old man's kindness was something special.

Jack blushed in embarrassment after a realization, "Um, here's your roast…or whatever's left from it."

North began stroking his beard, looking at the munched down food, "Just… put it down. I expect that this will be last time that you will do something like this. Do you hear me, boy?"

"…Yes sir."

Jack could only laugh at the old memory now. After that moment, he and North became great friends. They were seen to be together on a daily basis and got to know each other very well.

Jack found out that North was a toy maker and ice sculptor in his country. He was also an expert in sword fighting, and a reindeer enthusiast. He was told by the old man that he had twelve reindeers back in his home, which were named after Santa's twelve. Yeah, Rudolf and Comet etc.

Jack had nothing to boast and be proud of. He was just a poor kid with no family, stuck in a frozen wasteland.

Well, at least HE is the best in snowball fights in his opinion.

When Jack finished tidying things up, he went straight to North, who was holding a piece of paper.

"What's that?" He asked as he looked at it.

"It is a gift for you." North gave the paper to Jack. What's written on it was a plus sign, and each end of the line has initials of 'N, S, E, and W'.

"Is this some sort of compass?" Jack held out the paper.

"Yes! It will help you in directions." North told Jack. "It is also my gift for your eighteenth birthday, Jack!"

Jack smiled at North, folding the paper and inserted it inside his pocket. "Thanks North. This could come in handy. I guess…"

"Anyways, let us depart. See you on the other side!" With that, North waved goodbye as he headed Northeast.

The other prospectors left earlier than him and North, all that's left was him and the whistling frosty winds of the mountain. As he adjusted his bag with a grunt, he began to march towards north, singing his favorite song and a smile on his face.

Author's Note!

2 years later and this is the result XD

This story is inspired by Charlie Chaplin's 'The Gold Rush' from WAAAAAAAY back in time

I hope everyone liked it and tell me what you guys think! LUMINOUS FADING AWAY...

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!