Chapter Two – The Cold

It was taking longer than I had expected to cross the snowy fields of Boxx. My legs were beginning to tire, and my body was slowly losing warmth.

Luckily, however, I could just make out a light through the heavy snowfall in the distance. Upon closer investigation, I found it to be a cabin, with a single torch lit beside the door, seemingly impervious to the snow.

I have learned that, while traveling, it is best to continue through something, then rest afterward. But I had never experienced such cold, so I found myself at the door of the cabin, knocking gently and hoping that somebody was home.

"Just a moment!" came a man's voice. After a few seconds, the door was unlocked, and it opened a crack, and I found myself looking at a middle-aged man, who sized me up. "Who are you?" he asked cautiously.

"My name is Todd," I told him, "Sorry to disturb you, but I'm traveling, and in need of some shelter for a while." He continued to look at me for a few moments, before finally opening the door and gesturing me to go inside.

I gladly stepped into the cabin, where, to my relief, a fire was lit in the fireplace. I quickly huddled beside it, rubbing my frozen hands together, allowing myself to be engulfed by the warmth.

"You must be heading to Craftia," the man stated, "That's the only reason anybody shows up around these parts."

I nodded. "I'm heading there for provisions, then I'm going to the Blok Desert." I said. The man seemed surprised for a moment, then he set a hand on his chin and gazed at me for a few moments.

"You wouldn't happen to be the son of an explorer named John Kraftem, would you?" he asked.

"You knew my father?" I asked, surprised. The man grinned and nodded.

"Of course I did! He's had a few expeditions out here in the snow where he came here to rest, just as you have," he told me with a stroke of his thick, gray-brown beard. "Is it true that he's been in an accident?"

I dropped my gazed to the floor. "Yeah...That's partially why I'm going to the desert," I explained, "If I can't find my father, I intend to finish the expedition he started!"

The man let out a hearty bellow. When he was done, he told me, "You're just like him, I'll give you that. But are you sure about the journey ahead? How can you manage when an entire team of experienced explorers could not handle this expedition?"

I didn't have an answer to that. Nobody had brought it up, and I had never really thought about it. I am only one person, I thought, doubts beginning to cloud my mind, Am I capable of pulling this off?

Seeing that I was troubled, the man stood and walked over to a chest that was sitting near the fireplace. He opened and rummaged through it for a moment.

"I'm sure you'll find someone to aid you somewhere along the line," he stated, pulling something out that I couldn't see at first, "But here's a token that might help you out along the way."

He held the item forward. It was a pickaxe, with the head made out of a greenish-metal that I had never seen before.

"This is a special hammer I forged long ago, when I too was an explorer," the man began to tell, "I came across a rare, green ore that has never been seen for hundreds of years. It's called Caldius."

The man motioned with his head towards the pick, so I took it out of his hands. It was surprisingly light, compared to Iron or Gold.

"Candium is lighter than other metals, and works just as well," he told me with a grin, "I'm sure it'll come in handy."

I ran my hand along the green head, which was cool to the touch. "I...I can't take something this valuable with me." I said.

The man chuckled. "Don't worry, your father gave me a fare share of rare gifts, so I'd say this is repayment for that." he said.

"Thank you very much, sir." I said, bringing my pack around to my front and setting the pick inside of it.

"Call me Stone. It's a nickname I got back from the mines long ago." the man told me, extending his hand my way. I stood up and shook it, feeling warmth returned to my body.

"I'm Todd," I said. Then, I walked over to the nearby window and gazed outside. The snow had let up a bit; it was my best chance to go.

"I need to leave. Thanks for your hospitality!" I told Stone, making my way to the door and opening it. Once I took my first step outside, I could feel the cold creep upon me once more, although it wasn't as bad now.

"Good luck with your journeys!" Stone called after me as I ventured back out into the snow.

I was a lot more confident now, tracking through the snow. Looking up, I could tell that I was making good time, and would arrive at Craftia just before the sun fell...

But it's too bad that it couldn't be that easy.

Out of the corner of my eye, I picked up some movement. I turned my head, and was surprised when a Spider arose from the snow, its crimson-red eyes staring at me.

They won't hurt you in daylight if you don't hurt them, I thought, side-stepping and trying to make my way around it.

It snarled at me. "Flesh." it said, taking a few steps towards me. Is this spider confused over what time of day it is? I wondered, backing away and quickly reaching into my pack...But I then realized that I never crafted a sword for this journey.

And so, as the Spider leapt towards me with incredible strength, I was forced to pull out the Candium pickaxe and slammed it into the side of the creature's head. It fell back, dazed for only a moment, before coming at me again.

This Spider wasn't giving up. I quickly began to run, making sure to still go North. I could hear the footsteps of the Spider crunching through the snow behind me.

Crap...How far can I go before this thing catches me? I thought as I ran. I turned to look over my shoulder, seeing the Spider gaining on me...

And, in that moment of not paying attention, I came upon a frozen pond, and found myself slipping and sliding around for a moment before finally falling on my face.

I groaned in pain, and turned, seeing the Spider leaping at me, knowing I was done for...

But something swooshed past me, and slammed into one of the Spider's eyes, sticking into it. The creature snarled and began to move backwards, swinging its head around in pain.

It was an arrow. I turned to see a lone figure standing there, with a bow in their hand, and yet another arrow at the ready. The Spider must have also seen this, because he turned and quickly ran away.

I let out a sigh of relief, my heart pounding. "Thank you." I stated to the person, stumbling off of the ice and standing up.

"This area is dangerous. Due to the cold, the creatures here tend to attack at any time of day." they said. It was a girl's voice. I moved closer to her and could make out her appearance.

She looked to be about my age, with long, brown flowing hair that was a bit tangled up. She strung the bow over her back, and set the arrows in the pouch beside it.

"I take it you're heading for Craftia." she said, and I nodded.

"I wanted to get there before dark, but that damned Spider came from nowhere." I said, wiping some of the snow off of my clothing and checking my equipment.

"It's never fun getting attacked by one of those," she said, "You don't look like you can defend yourself, so I'll help you get to Craftia."

"Really? That'd be very helpful, thanks." I said, putting my pack back on and following her as she turned off and tracked through the snow.

It hadn't been my first encounter with a Spider, but it was definitely the closest I had ever come to death. If it wasn't for that girl, I wouldn't have even made it to the city.

I guess I owe her my life.

To be continued...

Next Chapter – The City