Disclaimer: The Chronicles of Ancient Darkness are the strict property of Michelle Paver. I own absolutely NO character, event or idea that was originally produced in the series.
Night Runner
Torak was startled awake by a howl in the distance. Wolf, Darkfur, and Pebble all raised their heads to listen. Another pack was out hunting, and they had made a kill. Torak could hear their harmony of voices ring with triumph.
Ren stirred next to him in her sleeping sack. For a moment, it seemed she would wake, but exhaustion still held her in its unshakeable grip. They had traveled a great distance that day, and she needed the rest. However, Torak found he could not return to sleep.
He stood and moved from their shelter into the early morning light. The sun had not yet risen above the towering peaks of the Mountains. A thick fog covered everything like a veil that clung to his skin and hair. Torak could not see more than few feet in front of him, making him feel enclosed in a tight space. It made him feel a tightening in his chest, much like he felt in a cave.
He turned toward a sound of padding feet behind him, seeing Wolf come towards him. I go hunt. He told him. Torak nodded and watched as his pack-brother disappeared into the shrouds of mist around them.
Torak found a large, flat rock nearby, and sat there until he felt the summer sun pierce through the clouds of fog, finally allowing him to see. A smile touched his lips as his eyes met a familiar sight. The Open Forest.
He felt more than saw Renn come to stand next to him. Stealing a glance at her, he saw she wore the same look upon her own face. "We made it." She said quietly. "We are home."
Torak nodded. "Yes. It's only a few days to the Raven camp from here. It will be good to see Finn-Kedinn again." Torak had promised his foster father that they would return. It wouldn't be long until he fulfilled that promise.
After Wolf returned from the hunt with a small roe deer, they took a moment to eat and build up their strength before setting out. Rip and Rek pestered the wolves for a share of their kill, but Darkfur gave them a stern growl. The ravens settled back with cries of indignation, impatiently waiting their turn. Once the wolves had finished, the two hungry birds eagerly descended upon the leftovers of the kill.
It took four days to reach the Raven camp, but Torak hardly noticed. After two winters of traveling the valley on the other side of the Mountains, it felt good to be back in familiar territory. Although he had loved the times he'd spent with Wolf and Renn, he had wanted to return to the Forest he grew up in for the last few moons. It was as if something were pulling him back here. Willing him to come.
On the fourth day of their journey, Renn spotted the camp from a the top of a hill. Torak ran to the top of the ridge to join her, but stopped when he saw the look on her face. "What's wrong?" he asked.
Renn shook her head. "The camp is… quiet." She said. "Something isn't right. It's near mid-day."
Torak frowned deeply. Indeed she was right. As looked down from the hill, he saw the camp, but no people. The Raven clan should be out fishing, hunting, weaving nets, or doing some other task. Any task.
Wolf and the cubs had stopped at a den they had found a short way into the Forest, and they could go back for them later. Right now, Torak wished only to know all was well with the Ravens. He and Renn cautiously made their way down to the bottom of the hill, where they emerged from the forest to the edge of the camp.
They split up, going to find any sign that the clan was still there. They would remain disappointed. The huts were all empty, the fire pit had long ago died. The only sign of life they saw were a few squirrels searching for stray bits of food that may have been left behind. Torak realized with a small jolt of fear:
The Ravens were gone.
That's the end of chapter 1! I will have more chapters up in the near future (hopefully). Please read and review. I know a lot of authors on this site must say that, but it's true. I'd like to know what you think.