Alysanne II
The hard bleak mountains loomed far to the north, grey and black and blue. The colours shifted ever so slightly whenever Alys looked at them. On sunny days they resembled dull grey slate, but at night they were as black as coal. On cold days they glimmered a deep dark blue, and during snowstorms they seemed to be carved from ice. The mountains were grey now, but Alys knew they would shift colours again the next time she looked. I'll be standing on them soon enough. Perhaps I can bring a piece home as a token of my visit.
Alys pried her eyes away from the mountains and turned her attention back to the rough dirt path that stretched out before her. Over the past few months, hundreds of hooves had flattened the land into a road, which snaked its way between hills and rivers to connect the Wolf's Den and the Lookout Hill. Caravans frequently travelled between the two castles with goods stacked high in their wagons. Hopefully I don't run into any of those caravans today, Alys thought to herself. She was supposed to be exploring the mountains by now. It would not look good if she was caught riding in the wrong direction. Alysanne glanced up at the sun and judged it would take another hour to reach the Lookout Hill. I better get going. The sooner I arrive, the sooner I can grab Daven and leave. Alys urged her megaloceros onward with a gentle nudge. The small doe had stopped by the road to nibble on some grass while she surveyed the area, but now the loyal mount set forward at a steady canter, its hooves drumming against the hard dirt path. Alys tugged a roughspun wool hood over her head to conceal her identity, in case she ran into any survivors. She focused her attention on the road before her, while occasionally glancing around to check for wild predators and other humans. She could not afford to be seen defying orders. Especially not when Otto was already wroth with her actions.
It had been a few weeks since the incident in the jungle. Alys did not know how to feel about the bloodbath. A sharp pang of guilt twisted in her chest whenever she thought of all the men, women and beasts that had died, but there was something else there too. Pride? I saved dozens of survivors. I might not know their names or faces yet, but I will in the future. I killed the red devil and its pack. Dozens of castaways will live because of my actions. . . but why does my victory feel so hollow? Alys had known that there would be risks charging at the allosaurus, yet some impulse had compelled her to attack anyway. After all, only two of the monsters had been on the hill. They might have put up a fight, but in the end, her patrol would have slain them. Curse my poor foresight. I should have seen the trap for what it was. Perhaps Otto was right. . . no, no. I won't admit it. I could never have known. The fault wasn't mine.
Alys sighed as a gust of wind tugged at her cloak. The sword sheathed at her hip felt unusually heavy. Is everything true then? Am I really what Otto called me? Rash, reckless, impulsive. Even now the words still stung. Alys thought the pain would have ebbed away by now, yet the words swirled around her mind. Rash, reckless, impulsive. Whether the massacre had been her fault or not, she still had to bear responsibility for everyone's deaths. Even now she was supposed to be exploring the mountains alone as a punishment for her actions, yet Alys did not intend to sit back meekly and let others decide her fate. Ever since the incident, Otto had revoked her powers to command other survivors. Rangers were normally supposed to patrol in groups of three or four, with one designated leader. However, Otto did not trust her with the lives of his people anymore. The Wolf Lord had stripped Alys of her power and now she was forced to do everything alone, whether it meant patrolling the coast or exploring new land. However, in spite of her punishment, Alys had other intentions. It had been months since she last saw Daven and besides, nobody would ever know if she brought help for her journey. After all, the other scouts were exploring different mountains. Nobody would see Daven. . . at least that was what she hoped. There were a lot of things that could go wrong. What if Daven doesn't want to help me? Or what if he can't leave the Lookout Hill. He's the second-in-command there, I almost forgot. Perhaps sneaking away with him will be harder than I thought.
Alys put her heels into her megaloceros and broke into a gallop, racing down the road as if to outrun her doubts. Whatever the outcome of her misadventure, she had already gone through the trouble of seeking Daven out. The Lookout Hill is only a few miles away. I should try to find Daven regardless of whether he's free. Who knows when I'll see him again. A cold northern gale slammed into Alysanne's side; its freezing breath seemed to slice right through her leather clothing, reminding Alys of the harsh climate that awaited her in the north. She slowed down to a canter and patted her saddlebags to make sure that all her supplies were still there. Her doe must have weighed close to half a ton, yet even then the mount could only carry a hundred pounds of supplies beside Alysanne herself. The saddle already accounted for most of that weight but Alys had chosen the rest of her supplies carefully. The left saddlebag contained a hide sleeping bag, a few blankets, a change of fur clothing for when it got cold, along with the necessary materials to start a fire; an axe for chopping firewood, flint and steel for igniting sparks, and a bundle of kindling to keep the flame alive. Alysanne's right saddlebag held everything else that she would need to survive in the mountains; three hide waterskins filled with springwater, a dozen strips of smoked jerky, a single loaf of bread, a small chunk of goat cheese, two apples, a map, a spyglass, some bandages, and some medical tonics in case she got injured. Alys felt prepared for the upcoming task. She already had everything she needed. The only thing left was Daven.
It was a few minutes later that the guards spotted her. No sooner had Alysanne glimpsed a watchtower far in the distance, than a long deep-throated horn rumbled across the plains. The sound shook the earth, loud enough that even Alys could hear it from miles away. Damn it! The whole base will know I'm coming. How could I have been so naive as to think I could sneak in unnoticed? Alys hesitated for a moment, then put her heels to her mount and galloped to the Lookout Hill at full speed. There was no point trying to be discreet anymore. She would only arouse more suspicion if she tried to turn away. The guards had already spotted her and the whole population would know of her arrival.
I didn't think this plan through, Alys reflected glumly as the plains rushed by. I seem to have a bad habit of not thinking things through. The Lookout hill was coming into view. Alysanne was close enough to see a few guards in the tallest watchtower pointing at her. Rash, reckless, impulsive, that was what Otto called me. Perhaps he was right. I do seem to make poor choices on a regular basis. Choices that get people killed. Choices that will make the Wolf Lord even angrier than he already is. Alys shook her head furiously, scattering the negative thoughts away. No. My choices were justified, I have to remember that. My choices will save dozens of lives in the future. My choices will reunite me with an old friend who I haven't seen in months.
Alys began to scrutinize the Lookout Hill carefully as she drew closer. The base was built on two hills; one of them was short and squat, while the other was tall and sharp. The larger hill stood twice as tall as its neighbour, and a stone watchtower had sprouted from its back to make that height difference even more drastic. The watchtower must have stood as tall as a young redwood tree. It was a round grey building, with stone brick walls and dozens of arrow slits along its impressive length. Three or four watchmen peeked down at her from between the stone crenellations, abandoning the warmth of their watchfire to get a closer look at her approach. One of them pressed a horn to his lips and gave it another blow to remind the Lookout Hill that a rider was approaching. The rest of the base was situated on the shorter hill, but what the knoll lacked in height, it made up for in girth. The short hill accommodated a dozen wooden buildings on its crest, surrounded by thick stone walls that were wide enough for guards to walk along. However, Alys could see signs of civilization sprouting up outside those formidable stone walls; a few ramshackle wooden huts stood vigil on the plains, while a handful of survivors toiled in the fields behind a wooden palisade. Men and women stopped what they were doing for a few seconds to watch Alys ride past them, then returned to their work. Even a few sheep lifted their heads from their enclosure to bleat at her as she passed. So much for being stealthy, Alys thought to herself as she made one last attempt to conceal her identity by tightening her hood. Half the Lookout Hill already knows I'm here. I really didn't think this plan through. It'll be a wonder if Otto doesn't find out about this.
The outer town was connected to the inner hilltop courtyard by an impressive oak gate. Two spearmen were guarding the entrance but they advanced to meet Alys as she brought her mount to a halt. The doe whickered softly as the guards approached, their weapons brandished hesitantly.
"We weren't expecting a rider," one of them said.
Alys didn't recognize either of them. They must have been new castaways, rescued by the rangers of the Lookout Hill. Alysanne would use that to her advantage. She drew herself upright and tried to look authoritative. "There was no time. I came straight from the Wolf's Den and I need entry to the Lookout Hill."
The guards exchanged glances. "She's wearing the right uniform," Alys heard one of them whisper to the other. "Are we supposed to let her in?"
The first spearman made up his mind. "What business do you have here?" he demanded, tightening his grip on his weapon.
Alys could have kicked herself then and there. Damn it. Why didn't I think of an excuse earlier? She shifted uncomfortably, straining to make up a plausible excuse on the spot. The awkward silence that followed was all the guards needed to know. They crossed their spears and blocked the gate. "No entry," the larger of the two said. "I suggest you leave while you still have a choice."
Alysanne sighed in defeat. She had been too optimistic. Did I really think I could enter the Lookout Hill without any problems? Otto was right. Sometimes I'm too impulsive for my own good. Alys was turning her doe around to leave when a third voice called out to stop her. Out of the corner of her eye, Alys noticed that the two guardsmen had been joined by their captain. "You there, hold on a second! Turn around and show us your face."
Alys froze in her saddle as panic set in. This is bad. I should have bolted when I had the chance. Now they're going to know it's me, and Otto will find out about this misadventure for sure. With no other choice, she turned her mount around to face the guards. Hopefully there won't be any trouble as long as I do what they say. She drew her hood down before the spearmen, and her golden hair tumbled down around her shoulders. Alys studied the ground, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible.
"Alys?" A familiar voice called.
She looked up. It took a few seconds for realization to set in, then her face broke into a grin and she immediately vaulted off her doe. "Daven!" she flung herself into his arms, breathless with laughter.
Daven seemed taller and stronger than the last time she had seen him. He isn't slouching anymore, and his arms are thicker from months of hard labour. Daven's normally pale skin was slightly darker now, and his thick messy brown hair had grown to cascade around his ears. Everything about him looked more natural, more earthly than before. Daven even smelled like pine and mud. He had just returned from the forest, if Alys were to guess. Daven's warm brown eyes gleamed when he smiled. "Wh-what are you doing here?"
"To see you, why else?" Alys grinned back. She was suddenly aware of the two guardsmen gaping at her awkwardly, unsure of what to make of her. "Look, maybe the gate isn't the best place to talk. Can we go inside?"
Daven noticed his companions staring and nodded. "Open the gate. She's with me."
The guardsmen gave Alys another wary glance but moved to obey their commander. They each took a handle and pulled the huge doors open. Daven gestured for Alys to follow him inside the base. She grabbed her doe by the reins and followed without a backwards glance.
"We c-call it the Lookout Keep," Daven pointed at a large stone castle sitting on the peak of the hill. The structure was short and square, but formidable. Sturdy grey towers sprang up from each of the castle's four corners, and crenellations dotted the walls. Alys admired the building as she followed Daven toward it. Unlike the castle being built in the Wolf's Den, this stronghold was completely finished. Alys was surprised by how quickly it had been erected and said as much to Daven.
"We h-have more hands working h-here than at the Wolf's Den," Daven told her. "And m-many of them are skilled stonemasons."
"I never realized," Alys mused aloud. She always thought the survivors of the Lookout Hill had similar skills to those at the Wolf's Den. Of course, she had known that the Lookout Hill did not have a blacksmith, but Aly spotted many more differences as she walked around. There were more forresters, hunters, and foragers at the Lookout Hill, whereas the Wolf's Den boasted more farmers and rangers. That made sense, she supposed. The Lookout Hill was located near a dense taiga forest and the climate was ill-suited for crops. In contrast, the Wolf's Den was built in a warmer field, surrounded by miles of flat land all around. Before Alys had more time to look around, Daven was opening the doors to the Lookout Keep. She tied her doe to a fence and followed him inside the castle before she could receive any more curious stares from workers in the courtyard.
It was much quieter inside the castle. Thick stone walls muffled most of the sound from outside, and wool carpets soaked away the noise from Alys's footsteps. Torches blazed from sconces on the walls, leaving the castle hallway hazy and obscure. They passed a cook on their way to Daven's room, but the woman was too preoccupied chasing a pair of giggling children away from her kitchen to notice Alys. When they were safely inside Daven's room, a small furry creature exploded from a messy pile of furs on a bed. The otter scampered over to Alys and she smiled, scratching it behind the ears. "Patches! I'm glad to see you too, my little friend."
The otter chirped in delight, jumped onto her arm, and scurried upward to perch on her shoulder. Alys beamed and turned to Daven. "How's the little one getting along?"
"W-well enough, but he was h-happier at the Wolf's Den. He m-misses the other creatures."
Alys nodded. She had not seen many animals at the Lookout Hill. Aside from livestock grazing in the fields, Alys doubted there were many domesticated creatures for the otter to play with. "What does Patches do all day? Follow you around?"
"N-no it's a bit too cold outside for him. He stays in the c-castle. Sometimes he gets into trouble w-with the cook."
Alys laughed. It was easy to imagine the curious mammal stirring up mischief in the kitchens. Patches vaulted onto Daven's shoulder and wrapped around his neck. He stroked the otter's scruffy fur and gestured around the room. "I keep Patches in h-here when I'm busy. He spends more t-time in this room than Joseph and myself put together."
Looking around, Alys saw that it was true. The small room hardly seemed inhabited. The drafty stone walls were barren and there were no decorations aside from a wooden drawer wedged between two pristinely folded beds. Only Patches' heap of furs gave the impression that anyone lived in the room. Alys made her way over to one of the beds and sat down, cross-legged. "What's the matter, Daven? Too much work around the base?"
"Exactly the case," he nodded. "There's always so much to do, especially with the new houses we're b-building outside the walls. I was g-gathering wood from the forest before I stumbled upon you."
"Good thing you came when you did. I was about to leave."
Daven looked puzzled. "Wh-why? I thought you came to visit me."
"Well, I did. . ." Alys said, scratching the back of her neck. "It's just that I'm not exactly supposed to be here."
Daven only raised an eyebrow.
"I guess I better explain," Alys sighed. "As of right now, I'm supposed to be at the mountains, scouting for new locations to build bases. The Wolf's Den is starting to get crowded, and from the look of things around here, the Lookout Hill can't hold many more mouths either."
"I see," said Daven. His shoulders sagged a little. "I suppose you'll w-want to get going then. Well, it was nice of you to d-drop by, even if it was only for—"
"—No Daven, that's why I came here. I want you to join me."
He seemed a bit taken aback. "R-really? Alys, I'd love to. . . It's just that Joseph might need me around to help with the base."
Alys was about to respond when a familiar voice spoke up from the doorway. "I'm sure Joseph would like to have a say in this matter too."
Alys and Daven both turned to see the large man leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, a smile on his face. He rustled Daven's hair enthusiastically and pulled Alys into a hug. "Good to see you, Alys," he chuckled.
"And you, Joseph," she said with a hint of unease. Fool, Alys berated herself. I forgot yet another important detail. Joseph will surely keep Daven here and worse yet, he'll tell Otto of my coming. Any trust the Wolf Lord has in me will be gone now. Alys braced herself for the worst.
Joseph only smiled and shook his head. "Go on, Daven. I can handle things here on my own for a few days. Go have some fun and get some well-needed rest."
Alys was taken aback by the response. It appeared Daven was surprised as well. He clasped Joseph's hand happily. "Th-thank you, Joseph. I'll try to return as soon as possible."
"No need to worry my friend, take all the time you need. Now go pack your bags."
Daven gave a curt bow and then rushed outside, as happy as Alys had ever seen him. Joseph chuckled and smiled at Daven's departure. Alys lingered in the room a while longer. "Joseph," she began hesitantly. "I would appreciate it if you could keep my arrival confidential."
"Ah," he mused. "This rift between you and Otto, if I'm not mistaken?"
Her shoulders sank. "You know about that?"
"From letters and messengers, yes. Otto was furious but I see the merit in your actions. Even here at the Lookout Hill, that allosaurus pack had a terrible reputation. The jungle will be safer without them. . . although perhaps the price was too high."
Alys sighed in relief. "That's what I thought as well, but the deaths of all those men and women still troubles me. I know Otto must be right, but does that make me wrong?"
Joseph studied her carefully before answering. "Right or wrong, it makes no matter. Whatever the case, this situation is in the past and you would both do well to forget about it and move on."
Alys nodded, weighing his words carefully. She felt slightly more at ease, but the guilt still hung over her head nonetheless. "I'll try my best to put it behind me," she vowed. "I just hope Otto can do the same."
"That makes two of us, but I have faith that everything will be better soon. As Otto himself said, small conflicts like this threaten the unity that binds us together. We must put these animosities aside if we are to survive together."
Alys nodded. "Thank you for everything, Joseph. It was nice of you to let Daven come along with me."
He smiled understandingly. "There are so few pleasures in life. We need to cherish them while they last. And don't worry about your arrival, you have my word that this news will not leave the walls of the Lookout Hill. I'll make sure the guardsmen that saw you earlier get the same message."
Alys thanked him again, and, after bidding farewell to both Joseph and Patches, made her way outside to where her mount was waiting. Alys pulled her hood up and tried to ignore the stares of curious survivors as she brushed her doe's neck. The megaloceros snorted and licked her hand, searching for treats hidden in her sleeves.
"Ready to leave?" Daven asked as he approached Alys, leading a megaloceros buck by the reigns. The giant elk's saddlebags were fully stocked and Daven had changed into a warmer outfit.
"Ready when you are," Alys replied with a smile. She climbed onto her doe's saddle and looped the reigns around her hand. Daven followed suit and the two of them headed toward the gate side by side. The guards opened the wide oak doors without question when they saw Daven, though they remained sceptical of Alysanne's presence. She ignored them completely. When they were outside the hilltop courtyard, Alys set the pace by nudging her doe into a light canter. Daven kept up atop his megaloceros and the two of them left the Lookout Hill behind them.
Alys was glad to be free of all the curious stares that pierced her back. When they were a safe distance away from the two hills, she pressed her heels to her doe and took off at a full gallop, laughing into the wind. Daven caught up a moment later, a look of concentration on his face as he struggled to stay balanced on top of his mount. Alys slowed her mount down so they could talk. "When did you get so good at riding?"
"I tried to p-practice here and there," Daven called back.
"You're doing much better than before," Alys called encouragingly. A memory of Daven clumsily learning to ride bubbled into her mind and she could not help but smile. Her competitive nature got the best of her and Alys found herself challenging Daven to test his mettle. "Care for a race?"
"I'm going to lose," he groaned.
"With that attitude, yes. What if I give you a head start?"
"How m-much time?" he asked.
"A minute."
Daven considered that for a moment. "M-make it two."
He was already charging away before Alys had time to rebuke his offer. She shook her head with a smile and waited patiently, watching Daven grow smaller and smaller as he thundered into the distance. Alysanne's doe stamped her hooves impatiently. "I know girl," she brushed the doe's neck. "We'll catch up soon."
When Daven was a fair distance away, Alys kicked her heels into her mount and galloped toward the mountains, hot in pursuit. The great stone titans loomed ominously in the distance, though they were getting closer with every passing moment. Great storm clouds swirled around their icy peaks and Alys spotted a few large dots that could only be argentavis circling around the mountaintops. The lower halves of the mountains were covered in trees that seemed like hairs. The way they shifted and swayed in the wind made the mountains seem like great slumbering bears in the midst of hibernation. Alys closed her eyes for a moment to savour her freedom. The sensation of the wind tossing her hair, the sound of her heart beating in synchronization with her doe's hooves, and the comforting cold of the atmosphere all blended together in euphoric harmony. She hardly noticed Daven until she was right behind him. Dark spruce trees were materializing all around them, replacing the cold white tundra with a gloomy green forest. Alysanne's mount was trained well enough to dodge the trees without guidance, so she focused her attention on overtaking Daven. His ungainly megaloceros buck was having trouble navigating through the slender openings between trees, so Alys pressed her advantage by slipping through the smaller gaps to overtake him. Alys cut in front of his path, forcing Daven to slow down and match her speed.
Alys reigned her mount to a halt, both of them breathless from the exertion. Daven was puffing from the race and his buck seemed no better. "I th-think," he said between ragged gasps, "it's s-safe to say you w-won."
Alys grinned happily but took a moment to catch her breath before replying. "You put up a good fight."
"I think we b-both knew I was doomed from the start," he laughed. He laboriously climbed off his elk and grabbed the reins to lead his mount on foot. Alys also dismounted and began walking beside Daven. She was mildly concerned to realize they had lost sight of the path that lead to Ice Harbour. She had never travelled down that road herself, but she knew from talking to other survivors that it snaked between the mountains and led to the coast, where their new seaside town was being built. Rash, reckless, impulsive, a small voice whispered. Alys shook her head to clear the thoughts away. It doesn't matter if we follow the road or not. We just need to get to the mountains. As long as we keep the mountains in sight, we'll be perfectly fine.
Alys glanced up at the horizon, straining to see beyond the pointy treetops. She could make out the mountains. They were an hour's ride away if she were to judge, but she wanted to give their mounts a rest, so she continued leading her doe on foot. Unfortunately, the world had other plans. It started to rain; a light drizzle at first that barely made it through the foliage overhead, but it quickly grew into a torrent that soaked Alysanne's clothes. We can't get drenched in this cold climate or we'll freeze to death, Alys thought urgently. We need shelter now.
She spotted a cave in the distance and ran toward it, tugging her mount along behind her. There was no time to check whether it was inhabited or not. Alys only unsheathed her sword and plunged into the darkness, desperate to get out of the freezing downpour outside. Daven followed her into the cave with his own sword drawn. They peered into the darkness together but could not see anything. Alys glanced at the megaloceros and they seemed perfectly tranquil. If they were not trying to flee, that meant the cave was safe. She sighed in relief but shivered from the rain soaking her hair and clothes. "We need a fire right away," she said.
"On it." Daven started gathering up a few dry branches that were scattered about the entrance. Alys opened her saddlebags to retrieve her flint and steel, as well as a bundle of kindling. Her hands were shaking from the cold but she managed to light the kindling on fire. Daven began heaping branches on top of the smouldering pile, and they soon had a weak fire blazing. The rain was drumming down too ferociously outside for them to gather logs. They would have to make do with whatever twigs and sticks they could find inside the cave.
"Turn around," Alys ordered Daven. He complied without question as Alys retrieved her spare change of fur clothing from her doe's saddlebags. Alys stripped her soaking wet hide clothes off quickly, tossed them near the fire, and donned her heavy fur gear.
"I'm finished, you should change now," Alys suggested. She turned to face the cave wall while Daven rustled about behind her. When he announced he was done, she turned back around to bask in the warmth of the fire.
"The rain isn't l-letting up," Daven observed. "We'll be stuck h-here for the rest of the night."
"All well and good. We can head for the mountains first thing tomorrow. We're only an hour's ride away and the mounts needed rest anyways." Alys moved to tie both their megaloceros up against rocks. She glanced toward the dark bowels of the cave but could not see anything in the pitch black. A flash of lightning directed her attention back outside, where the spruce forest was briefly illuminated in startling white. Rain was pounding down relentlessly and all the forest animals were probably seeking shelter. She just hoped nothing tried to join them inside the cave.
Daven joined her by the mounts to retrieve food from his saddlebag. Alys did likewise, selecting two strips of jerky, an apple, and a chunk of bread from her rations. Daven held a pre-cooked haunch of rabbit leg and two baked potatoes. After returning to the fire with Daven, Alys began chewing on the dried jerky. It tasted fine, but it was way too hard for her liking.
"Trade?" she asked, offering her other strip of jerky for one of Daven's baked potatoes. They swapped food and Alys bit into the potato, enjoying the crispy texture of the seasoned skin and the softer insides, stuffed with chunks of bacon and green onions. She finished the rest of her meal and drowned it down with a waterskin.
Alys glanced outside to where lightning was flashing and thunder was drumming amidst the unrelenting torrent of rain. As soon as that storm lets up, we'll be outside, heading for the mountains.
"Alys?"
She turned back to the fire. "Yes Daven, what's on your mind?"
"W-well I was wondering why you n-needed me for this mission."
"I just wanted to see you again. It's been months since we last met."
"N-no, I mean you came to the Lookout Hill all by yourself and when others noticed it seemed as if you wanted to run away. Is something the matter at home?"
There's no use hiding anything now. He knows something is amiss. "You deserve to know the truth," Alys agreed. "I volunteered for this mission, it's true, but I did it to get away from the Wolf's Den. Things are just so. . . tense and suffocating back there. Otto hates me for a mistake I made, a mistake that cost the lives of many good survivors and their mounts. He doesn't want me to jeopardize anyone else's life so I need to scout the mountains alone. Or at least I was supposed to. I could have done it by myself but the truth is that I wanted to see you again."
Daven pulled her into an embrace. "It's alright, I understand. If it w-would make you feel more comfortable, I c-could ask Joseph to be restationed at the Wolf's Den."
Alys frowned. "Otto put you there for a reason. He might be angry if you switch, but I appreciate the thought. Really, I'll be fine."
"Are you s-sure? I don't want you to f-feel alone."
"Don't worry about it, I still have other friends there. I barely see Willam since he's always busy caring for the sick and injured, but every once and a while he shows up for dinner. And I chat with Maron whenever I go to the forge to get my weapons and armour repaired."
"That's good," Daven said, with a hint of relief and something else in his tone.
"Oh, I haven't kept you updated at all but there are so many new survivors at the Den. Just a few weeks ago a new group made their way in. One of the men died of his wounds and the other man is still in the infirmary, but I've gotten to know the two women well. Lori is by far the nicest survivor I've ever met. She's friends with practically everyone, even that slouch Alex. I don't know how, but she just seems to see the best in everyone. I'm not sure whether to admire her courage or pity her naivety."
"She s-sounds like a good person," Daven said. "There aren't many people like that on the island."
"My thoughts exactly. Although it does make you wonder how our experiences shape our character. I know I wouldn't be the same without everything that happened to Lucy. . ." There was a brief moment of silence but Alys cheered up again. "I think Lori is just naturally optimistic. The other woman I was telling you about, Jeyne, is more grounded in reality. I enjoy talking with her about all sorts of things, since she always has good advice and suggestions. She doesn't know how to fight but I promised to teach her one day, when both of us have time. Even so, I wouldn't cross her path. Jeyne can be really scary if she wants."
Daven laughed nervously. "She s-sounds just like you when we first met."
Alys punched his shoulder. "What are you saying?"
"Remember the very f-first moment we m-met? You clubbed me on the h-head with a piece of wood."
Alys couldn't help but laugh at the memory. "I guess I see your point."
Daven persisted. "We got chased by r-raptors right after that first meeting but I was more scared of y-you. Especially when you started punching and k-kicking them."
"Ha! If you think I'm scary you should see Leo. He's the master-at-arms of the Den who trains all our new survivors how to fight. I've sparred against him almost every single day, but I've never once beaten him. He uses two swords at once. Two! And he usually fights multiple opponents at once. But once you get to know him he's really funny and charming."
"Oh," was all Daven said.
"Listen, don't tell this to anyone since it's technically violating Otto's rules about never patrolling with anyone else. But sometimes after we're done sparring, Leo and I will go racing in the forest. He's actually really talented at riding. It makes me happy to get out of that cramped base, especially with good company like Leo."
"I'm glad you're happy," Daven said. He looked tired. "I'm g-going to get some sleep."
"Sure, I'm going to get some rest myself."
They grabbed their hide sleeping bags together but Daven seemed a lot quieter when Alys tried to make a few jokes. As they unrolled their sleeping cots, Alys herself struggled to keep her eyes open. After a good night's rest, we'll both be ready for tomorrow. Alysanne made herself comfortable within the soft furs and drifted off to sleep staring at the rainy night.
Alys awoke to sunlight dancing across her face. It streamed into the cave, weaving between spruce branches to caress her face. Alys was pleased to see that the rain had let up. Only a few crystal dewdrops clinging to the trees outside lived to tell of last night's storm. Birds were chirping in the forest and the morning smelled pleasant, the sweet fragrance rain permeating throughout the air. Alys stretched and yawned, cramped and stiff from sleeping on the hard stone floor. Daven was already up, preparing breakfast for both of them.
"Morning," she said groggily.
"You're finally awake. Here, I made food."
He handed her a loaf of bread with some cheese smeared in between, along with half a sausage and an apple. Alys wolfed the food down quickly. It was not the best meal she had ever eaten, but it filled her stomach all the same. "We should start heading out. We have a long day ahead of us."
They gathered their gear, cleaned the cave a bit, and headed outside with their mounts in tow. Alys quickly located the mountains to the north and climbed onto her megaloceros. Daven got onto his buck and they started riding toward the mountains together. Alys was still a little tired and the ride passed by in a blur. She vaguely remembered travelling through the spruce forest, past trees and wild animals, until they reigned to a halt where the forest ended and the mountains began.
Alys and Daven both dismounted and walked, leading their mounts by the reigns. It was easier to survey the landscape this way. So far nothing looked promising; the rough gravel slopes of the mountains sloughed away as they walked, which would make it hard to build upon. A few patches of weeds and wildflowers grew amidst rock outcroppings that jutted out of the mountain like spikes. Trees grew on the side of the mountain, their twisted wood trucks angled upward like strange sculptures. Alys spotted wildlife as well; mountain goats that clambered up steep slopes in search of food, argentavis that circled the mountain peaks far ahead, and even a sabertooth that briefly stalked them until Alys unsheathed her sword, showing the cat a flash of steel. It backed away after that.
The lower half of the mountain was rather dull and grey, Alys remarked to herself. Only brilliant blue and violet wildflowers broke the monotonous landscape with small splashes of colour. They were still too low to get a good view of the surroundings, so Alys focused on looking for flat spots. So far nothing looked good enough for a new base. They travelled onward for a few more hours, slowing gaining altitude as they delved deeper into the mountainous territories. Alys glanced to the east and west, where other mountain clusters loomed. There were scouts assigned to those locations as well. Alys wondered if the others had found anything promising yet.
Finally, after a few hours of travelling up a gradual slope, the land levelled out enough to provide a potential base location. The ground was mostly dirt and gravel here, but a few hours of terraforming could transform the plateau into a suitable foundation for a castle. Alys signalled for Daven to stop, then reached into her doe's saddlebag to produce a map. She marked the plateau down using a piece of charcoal, rolled the paper back up, and slid it into her pocket. After that, Alys and Daven mounted up and continued the next portion on elkback.
They found a few more flat areas along the way, all of which Alys made note of on her map. However, as they got deeper into the mountains, the landscape got steeper and more pronounced. The mountains began jutting into the sky, while deep valleys separated individual mounds like trenches. It would be hard to cross through the steep drops, especially since many of them boasted fast-flowing streams and rivers. Alys and Daven followed the same mountain chain so they would not need to cross any valleys.
At one point, Alys glanced toward the peak of her current mountain and was alarmed to see a cluster of large rocks moving. She thought it was an avalanche until she used her spyglass to take a closer look. A small herd of woolly mammoths was lumbering along in single file a couple hundred feet above Daven and herself. The way they were travelling made it seem as if they were using a trail. If Alys could make her way up there, it would certainly make the rest of the journey easier. She pointed the herd out to Daven. It was too dangerous to ride up there, so they both dismounted and started hiking toward the mammoths at an angle. It took roughly an hour to reach the higher elevation, but the mammoths were indeed following a trail. Alys gave the beasts a wide berth, following them at a distance. Perfect. If we follow this path, we should be able to get around faster.
The sun was already high in the sky and it was starting to dip down. Alysanne's stomach rumbled and she realized they had not eaten lunch yet. She signalled for a break and their small party settled down to eat. The megaloceros foraged around for small shrubs to feast upon, while Daven and herself dug into their food rations. After a small but hearty meal, they mounted up again and continued following the mammoth trail. Alys shivered as an icy gust of wind buffeted against them when they rounded a corner. The atmosphere was cool and crisp up at this elevation, and the air held a certain pristine quality that was not found elsewhere on the island. Alys took a few deep breaths and smiled. She glanced downward at the breathtaking view below. Streams glimmered in the mountain basins as water raced along the valley, blue and green and white. Spruce trees shifted and swayed in the wind, the dark green forest occasionally complemented by a few specks of yellow or orange from deciduous trees that had somehow made their way into the mountains. It reminded Alys that fall was nearly upon them. She wondered what the new season would bring. Perhaps more adventures, new friends, and love. The thought of brand new opportunities both frightened and comforted her. Alys decided she was eager to see what the future had in store for her.
The mountains began shifting colours as they slowly wound their way up the mammoth path, higher and higher. The golden light of day shifted into a mellow orange, then a tender pink as evening descended upon them. Alys made use of the fading daylight to mark down a few more flat plateaus on her map. From this vantage point, it was easy to spot the flat areas once you knew where to look. Unfortunately, most of them were very small, probably not large enough for more than twenty or thirty survivors to call home. From the sounds of it, Otto wanted a large base to house close to a hundred. Eventually all their settlements would have to hold that many, and they were filling up fast. Alys already noticed renovations at the Wolf's Den to push their walls out further and increase the space inside the compound. No real luck with base locations yet, but I'm sure we'll find something promising tomorrow. It's probably best that we find shelter before night falls upon us. I don't want to be travelling around in the dark, especially at this height.
"Look up ahead," Daven said.
Alys spotted wispy grey tendrils rising into the evening air just around the mountain bend. Smoke? Does that mean there are humans up here? It took Alys a moment to realize what it actually was. Mist. That means there's a hot spring nearby. When they rounded the corner, they were immediately graced by the sight of a large flat plateau with shimmering turquoise pools steaming into the dusky air. Alys was happy to see that the mammoth herd from earlier had already beaten them to the hot springs. The great woolly beasts were relaxing in the heat, while the younger mammoths splashed around playfully in the pools. A few other animals were also basking in the warmth, including a few megaloceros, some mountain rams, and a group of chalicotherium. The hot springs were a veritable oasis, with lush green plants growing around the pools. Glowing mosses gave the springs an otherworldly feel. It almost reminded Alys of the jungle. She never imagined they would find such a vibrant ecosystem this high in the dreary grey mountains.
Alys and Daven made camp in the corner, careful to give the other animals space. Although everything here seemed peaceful, many creatures were nonetheless touchy about personal space. It seemed rather remarkable that no predators were present. I shouldn't be surprised. There's a veritable army of herbivores up here. They would chase any threats away with ease.
Alys and Daven decided not to make a fire. After all, most of their food was already pre-cooked. Besides, the hot springs already provided enough warmth and there was no telling how the other creatures would react to the flames. Instead, they made their way over to a pool and dipped their feet inside. The water was almost scalding hot at first, but Alys quickly adjusted. It felt great to wade around in the water, but Alys did not want to go through the trouble of swimming. She was already tired from a day of travelling and it would be too bothersome to change clothes. Perhaps we can go swimming on the way back. I'd love to live here. It's so warm and cosy. Perfect for a base, she realized. This place is amazing. Perhaps there will be better locations up ahead, but if nothing else works, then these hot springs are more than suitable.
Alys returned to their small camp to eat a small dinner before unfurling her sleeping bag. It was too hot to sleep inside the furs, so she simply slept on top of it, using the bag as a cot. After eating his own meal, Daven joined her with his own sleeping bag in hand. It was already fairly late so they went to sleep without much chatter. Alys drifted off to sleep watching brilliant constellations of stars swirling in the night sky.
The next morning was warm and misty. Alys woke easily, refreshed from a comfortable night of sleep. She noticed that a few of the other animals had left the springs on their own journeys. This time she was awake before Daven, so she prepared their breakfast of jerky strips and bread, with potatoes and cheese on the side. When Daven was awake a few minutes later, they ate their meals together and prepared all their gear for the day's journey. Alys decided that they would continue following the mammoth trail, since it had blessed them with good luck so far. After packing all their items, they mounted up and plodded onward, leaving the hot springs behind.
The day went much the same as the last. Alys and Daven travelled along the mammoth trail slowly, noting down any flat plateaus they spotted in the lower regions of the mountain. The journey was slow and peaceful, with lots of room for friendly banter and conversations. Alys was glad to be with her friend again. It was almost like their early days, when it was just the two of them, Patches and Lucy. She sometimes missed the simplicity of life back then. There was so much more freedom back before they had joined the tribe and built the Wolf's Den. Will it ever be like that again? Perhaps not, but at least I still have Daven to visit whenever I want.
After a few more hours of travelling, they stopped in the middle of the trail to eat lunch. There was nothing new in terms of base locations. Alys already had a suspicion that the hot springs were the best place they would find, but it never hurt to keep searching. Aside from the dull task of searching for suitable areas, Alys passed the time by spotting animals. She had the pleasure of seeing a mother dire bear lead her two cubs in search of berries. It was also fun to watch the argentavis far above, lazily circling around mountain peaks in the hunt for carrion or weak prey. The birds never bothered healthy creatures, but occasionally she would see three or four birds converging on a single location. Whenever that happened, Alys knew some animal had made a kill and the argentavis were gathering to feed on the corpse once the predator had left.
When Alys and Daven were both full, they climbed aboard their megaloceros and headed off again. The mammoth trail, although wide and flat in most areas, was beginning to narrow down as it wound closer to the peak. Whereas before it was wide enough for two mammoths to walk abreast, now it was so thin that they would have to travel in single file. Although the road was wide enough for Daven and Alys to ride together, she decided it was better safe than sorry and maneuvered her doe to the front, so they could travel single file. The next few hours were relatively uneventful, although Alys did spot a few ruins and dead campfires at intervals along the edge of the path. Humans built these stations so they could rest as they travelled along the trail. I wonder how long ago these were created, and by whom? Alys did not dwell on the questions for long. The ruins were in the far stages of decay, and the dead campfires were probably months old at best. Whatever humans had travelled along the mammoth trail had long since journeyed away.
Alys was carefully making her way along the narrow trail when the air was pierced by a blood-curdling screech. She barely had time to comprehend what was happening before a huge shadow descended upon her, its deadly talons outstretched. Alys tried to draw her sword but her assailant was too quick. She leapt from her saddle to avoid being skewered alive. Dazed, Alys glanced up to see a large argentavis with crimson wings circling around their party, screeching and snapping. Daven tried to hold it away with his sword, and his buck tossed its antlers to keep the monstrous bird at a distance. The argentavis made another pass, this time at Alysanne's undefended doe. The poor mount cried out in agony as the argentavis slashed its neck, snatched it up, and flew away, saddlebags and all. The encounter was over in just a few seconds. Alys was stunned on the floor, unsure of what had just happened.
"Are y-you alright?" Daven cried as he leapt from his saddle to check on her.
She brushed him off. "I'm fine, just a few bruises. That monster just killed my doe."
"What on the Island c-c-caused it to attack us? I thought those things w-were carrion feeders!"
"I think," Alys said, rubbing her arm, "that one is just different."
With her personal mount dead, Alys was forced to spend the rest of the journey riding on the back of Daven's buck. Fortunately, the megaloceros was large and strong enough to carry them both. Even still, the loss of Alysanne's saddlebags effectively cut their supplies in half. They would need to rely on whatever Daven had packed to sustain them for the rest of the journey, which would undoubtedly be cut short due to the attack. Alys spent the rest of the day in a brooding silence. What will we do now? Turn back? And how will I explain the missing doe to the stablemaster? Alys was even more troubled by the loss of her mount and all her supplies. That doe had served Alys faithfully for several months, always meeting her demands and carrying her wherever she wanted. She could barely comprehend the loss, but she knew it would sting later when she fully realized the doe was never coming back. What was even worse, all the supplies in her saddlebags were gone; her food, her spare clothing, her medical gear, and most importantly, her map. All the locations she had painstakingly marked down only existed in her memory now. What am I supposed to tell Otto? He'll only berate me for being careless again. Rash, reckless, impulsive. It wasn't even my fault this time! He would only believe me if he had been here to see it. . . wait that's it!
That night, as they were camping in a cave, Alys told Daven about her plan. As expected, he was completely bewildered. "You m-mean to tame it? Alys, you saw what th-thing d-did to your doe! There's clearly something wrong w-with it!"
"Exactly. It has a killer's instinct and it prefers live prey to rotting meat. That's respectable. It would make for a fine mount."
"Alys, you're talking about n-nonsense! How m-many carnivores have you s-seen being r-ridden as mounts? Think about it."
"None."
"And an argentavis no less! Wh-whats stopping that monster from d-dropping you to your d-death the moment you hop on its b-b-back?"
"I guess I'll be the first to find out. Daven, I don't want to do this without your help but you know I will. Now, are you going to help me tame it or not?"
"If it'll s-stop you from attacking it alone, then yes. I'll h-help."
"Good," Alys smiled.
"But the second it l-looks like you're in trouble, I'll j-jump in."
"That won't be needed, I have a plan. Now, help me out with these arrows."
They used a lonely windswept tree outside their cave to craft a bow. Alys took one of the sturdier limbs and bent it into shape, while Daven sharpened branches into makeshift arrows with his steel dagger. Fortunately, Daven had brought a length of climbing rope along for the journey. It was too thick for a bowstring, so Alys unwound it and salvaged one of the smaller strings that composed it. She tied her ramshackle bow together using the string and gave it a pluck. The bowstring thrummed, though slightly out of tune. It would have to work.
Daven also had the foresight to bring along a medical kit, which included two bowls of narcotic tonic. Just a pebble-sized dollop of the thick green paste was enough to knock a grown man out. There was more than enough narcotic for an argentavis, even an unusually large one at that. She dipped the arrow tips into the bowl and let them sit overnight. All together, they made around 20 arrows. Alys prayed it was enough as she settled down to sleep, covered in Daven's spare hide clothing. It was a poor substitute for her sleeping bag, but fortunately the cave sheltered them from the worst of the elements.
Alys woke up stiff and cramped the next morning, but she was hardly bothered. She checked on the narcotic arrows and smiled to see that the paste had worked its way into the wood. Alys and Daven ate a light meal in tense anticipation of the day to come. They geared up quickly and set out from the cave, with not a moment to lose.
First, they hiked down to the lower regions of the mountain, where the border of the forest started. It took a few hours of sweaty work, but they were finally at the treeline by the time the sun had reached its peak. Daven prepared a meal for them while Alys went around the forest springing her trap; she tied especially thick spruce branches to wooden stakes using lengths of string, and then hammered the stakes into the ground. Any of the strings could snap at any given moment, so Alys prayed they would hold. When she was finished, she rejoined Daven and ate a quick meal. Now was the most important part. She hoped the argentavis was still nearby. After instructing Daven to take his megaloceros and wait in a designated spot, Alys started hiking back up the gravelly mountain slope alone.
Several argentavis were gliding around the mountain, but none of them had the distinctive crimson wings from earlier. Alys waited for an hour amidst the boulders before she saw it taking flight from a clearing, its claws bloody red from some recent kill. She lifted her bow, drew the string back to her cheek, aimed, and loosed an arrow at the bird. It missed by a few feet but did its job. The argentavis screeched in fury as it took notice of her, folding its wings to divebomb down the mountain. Alys began running for the trees immediately. She did not need to turn around to hear the argentavis hurtling toward her. She could imagine its sharp talons outstretched, aimed at her head. The gruesome image only made her run faster. She felt slightly safer the moment she entered the forest, though not by much. With hardly any time to lose, Alys unsheathed her sword and swung at a thin string.
The trap sprang with a deafening snap! A thick spruce branch took to the air and slammed into the argentavis, just as it was about to sink its talons into Alysanne's exposed back. The bird was startled by the sudden vegetation attack and flapped its wings, only to find them entangled in the branches. Alys quickly fired two narcotic arrows at the bird's chest before it managed to free itself, more enraged than ever. She continued running into the forest, the bird hot in pursuit. Damn it! Alys thought as she saw a snapped string up ahead. The next trap had gone off by itself. Improvising in the heat of the moment, Alys rolled to her left just as the massive bird of prey sailed by. The vicious monster quickly swivelled around and screeched, flapping toward her. Alys backpedalled between two trees, the gap too small for the bird to follow. She took that opportunity to shoot it in the leg with another tranq arrow.
Unfortunately, the argentavis quickly figured a way around the obstacle. Alys continued running deeper into the forest, sweat staining her vision. Her heart was drumming like a rainstorm, and her sides were beginning to sting from the exertion. Just a few moments longer, Alys promised herself. She doubted she could continue running for long. What if I die in this forest? That'll make Otto laugh. Rash, reckless, impulsive, those are the words he'll inscribe on my tombstone. The thought fueled Alys with a reserve of energy she did not know she had. She ran past the next trap and slashed the string with her sword. The branches flew into the argentavis, ensnaring the monster in their grasp. Alys fired three more arrows into the huge bird. It was beginning to get tired. She could see its wings beating more sluggishly with every passing moment. Just a few more arrows and it'll be down.
She turned and sprinted for the next trap as the argentavis freed itself. Alys slashed the string and whirled around, bow in hand, expecting to see the bird entangled in a cluster of branches. The monster was not there. Alys instinctively snapped her head to the sky, just in time to see the bird diving down at her. Bloody hell, the beast is starting to learn! Alys dived to the ground, just shy of getting impaled. She felt the monster rake its talons across her back and cried out in agony. The bird went flying forward, carried onward by its momentum. Alys hobbled upright, her back on fire. She could not even fit an arrow to the bowstring before the argentavis was flying at her, screeching in triumph. Alys closed her eyes and prepared to die.
She heard a loud thud followed by an ear-piercing screech of pain. Alys opened her eyes just in time to see Daven atop his megaloceros buck ramming the bird against a tree. The elk's antlers were coated in slimy green narcotic paste. They dug into the bird relentlessly, pinning it against bark and branches.
"Shoot it quickly!" Daven hollered.
Alys lifted her bow and started firing arrow after arrow into the bird. She could see it was beginning to get tired rapidly. The bird struggled desperately to free itself, trying to claw the megaloceros buck so it would release it from the tree. Fortunately, the buck's antlers were long enough to hold the argentavis against the tree while also keeping the elk away from its claws. The argentavis beat its wings and screeched one last time before going limp. Daven backed away from the tree and the huge bird slumped to the forest floor, covered in arrows and gashes. Alys only had six arrows left.
They examined the unconscious body together. The argentavis was a fine specimen, with crimson red wings and a creamy gold-grey body. Waves of scarlet rippled through its breast feathers, but Alys saw that a lot of it was blood. Alys had only aimed at non-lethal body parts, yet even so, the bird was gravely injured from all her arrows. Its feathers were sticky with blood and narcotic paste, and there were gashes in its chest from where the megaloceros antlers had dug in. Even so, Alys had no doubt that the bird would live. It was a fighter, just like her.
"So. . . h-how are we supposed to bring this thing h-home?" Daven mused aloud.
"Good question," Alys said with a sigh. Rash, reckless, impulsive, she instinctively berated herself. Alys shook her head. No more of that. I'll figure it out myself. Just like I always do.
Author's Note: Happy New Years! I know it's been a while and I'm sorry that I haven't been able to update until now. I've been extremely busy preparing for university and trying to stay afloat in my final year of high school. It was only during winter break that I was able to work on this at all. Anyways, going forward I want to finish this story in the near future but I'd say we're still about halfway there. It's taken me 3 years to get to this point and I just don't think I can keep up to that plan with the slow rate everything has been going at. For me, the most straightforward solution is to take a slight cut in quality by making the chapters shorter and less detailed in order to get them out faster. Hopefully once a month. How would you, the reader, feel about this? Would you prefer that sacrifice in order to get the story going?
Girlbook, thanks for the review! We got a flyer in this chapter, though it still needs to be trained. And yes, sometimes Alys' reckless behavior is bad, but sometimes it's good, like we saw here.
Caleb R. Watson, thanks for your opinion about this matter. Hopefully you got to see Alys' side of the story in this chapter, but if not that's fine too. I tried to give merit to both their opinions but in the end it's your interpretation of the story. Also, I agree that introducing 20 characters in the last chapter wasn't a great idea. . . hopefully you'll get to know them more gradually over the next few chapters. Also I have some more suffering planned for Alexander so don't worry, it's coming.
Raimon, glad to hear from you again too. Although perhaps I didn't make it as clear as I hoped, Jeyne and her friends heard about Otto's tribe from a neighbouring one. I'll elaborate on her backstory soon enough. Also a few cave chapters are indeed planned for the future, though it'll be a while before we get there. Sigh, more typing to do.
Rocket man 099, glad you enjoyed last chapter and I hope you enjoy this one too!
jj goldfish, glad to hear that you've enjoyed this story so far. As I said, I'll try to keep more regular updates now. Hopefully the next chapter will be up next month.
Bladerunner24k, thanks for the review! We will indeed see the coastal forts. . . in about 10 chapters or so. It might take a while to get there unfortunately.
King Endercreeper, as always thanks for the kind review! It means a lot to know you're still with me all this way. Now I just hope I can hold up my end of the bargain and finish. And don't worry about me disappearing. Unless something horribly wrong happens, I plan to finish this story and will let everyone know if I can't. If you don't hear from me for months on end it just means I haven't had the chance to sit down and write. That being said, I hope to hear from you again soon!
The-Book-Goblin, I was happy to read your long chain of reviews! Hopefully you see this note as you're reading through one day. I'm glad you're familiar with A Song of Ice and Fire / Game of Thrones which was a huge inspiration for this. Once again, thanks for the reviews and I hope you keep on reading!
Alfonse08, glad to answer your questions! There are definitely going to be a few hundred, if not thousand castaways in the next few years. Also, there are going to be more survivors like Otto but the talent is pretty rare so only a few will show up.
Stealth Womble, glad to see you're enjoying it so far! Thanks for the kind review and I hope to continue updating regularly from now on.
enterelysium, haha thanks and I agree. Otto doesn't fit well indoors, he needs to be outside.
DinoNerd89, thanks for leaving this review! I'm glad to hear you've been enjoying this story and I hope to continue hearing from you as the story progresses.
Thanks for taking the time to check out my first fanfiction, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. I will try my best to upload as regularly as possible. Feel free to comment, ask question or criticize my story, review is always welcome. And if you like what you saw, make sure to check out the other ARK: Survival Evolved fanfictions out there. Have a great rest of your day or night.
-DaRumpyBurr