Part 24
John awoke alone in the dark and cold. He had no idea how long he had been out. All he knew was that he was alive. He groaned as the mark… the Anchor started glowing. He slowly got to his feet and looked around. Ahead of him was a tunnel, it looked manmade. He slowly started walking in that direction. After a bit he felt warm enough to move into a light jog. He moved steadily and quietly down the tunnel. All he could hear was the wind… he could feel it as well. It must mean he was going in the right direction. His thoughts were confirmed as he rounded a corner and saw the light from outside at the end of the tunnel.
"There", he breathed in relief. He started running towards it, but had to stop short when he saw light in front of him. "Who's there?" he asked and then cursed. It was three Wraiths and two Despair Demons. He reached for his staff… only to realize it was gone… buried under the snow back at Haven. He cursed again and ducked as ice came soaring towards his head. Then something strange happened. The Anchor burst into life and John felt an almost overwhelming power from it. He raised his hand and aimed, like he did when he cast spells that affected areas like Mines. He focused the power and let it go. A small rift appeared in the air and it sucked the demons in. They were destroyed in seconds. John stared and then the little rift vanished. John panted in exhaustion. He noticed frost essence on the ground and quickly scooped it up and put it in his pocket. That could be useful later for crafting and enchanting. He then headed to the opening and stepped outside.
The wind was howling and the snow was falling. It was a blizzard. He shivered and wrapped his arms around himself. He looked around. He could barely see through the snow. He saw nothing… he had no idea where he was or where he should go. He shivered and closed his eyes. Was this how it would end? Was he going to freeze to death right here? Would someone come looking for him this time? Would his brothers come looking for him only to realize they were too late again? He had just… he had just gotten them back in his life… he could not lose them again!
Just as he was about to give into despair he felt it… a small tug in his mind… like… like a small nudge. He turned around. Something was urging him to go in that direction… something was calling him. No… not something… someone. But who? Was it the Hood? No… no the nudge did not feel malicious. He detected no lies. What did he have to lose? If he stayed here he would die, either from cold or starvation… or thirst. He heard wolves howling. Great as if his life wasn't complicated as it is! He felt that nudge again. Fine… he'd go that way. He stood tall and started moving.
He had no idea how long he walked for but his trek took him through a pine forest. He thought he'd found signs of life there, but the campfire was old… cold and abandoned. He could still hear the wolves but continued to trek through the forest. He would not give in so easily! That little nudge keep calling him, guiding him. He soon saw some mountains and realized he was led towards them. Could it be… it had to be. That was why the nudge felt so warm and familiar. He hurried on and soon he reached snow so deep he had to wade through it. He saw the remains of another campfire, but this time…
"Embers", he breathed. "Recent…" he didn't stop. He kept going. The calling was stronger now… closer. He rounded a rock and found a path between two huge cliffs and there… in the distance he saw them. Lit campfires! He would have cried… could have cried if he wasn't so tired.
"There!" he heard a familiar voice shout and realized that it was Casey. "It's him!"
"Thank the Maker!" another voice shouted and John recognized this one too. It was Scott. He collapsed onto his knees. "John!" Scott's hands were on his shoulders. "John, look at me!" John lifted his tired gaze. "John?"
"It is good to see your face…" John whispered and then fell unconscious.
"John!" Scott exclaimed. "Maker! You are freezing!" He looked over his shoulder. "We need to get him warm and get him to the healers!"
"Allow me", Virgil said softly and carefully lifted John into his arms, squeezing him close. "This time I won't just stand here and let him get taken." Scott nodded. Virgil was surprised that John was so light but ignored it in favor of carrying his brother to their camp as swiftly as possible. When that dragon appeared Virgil had thought it was over… he had believed John had died. He had dragged Gordon and Casper away, against their protests and he knew that if John had died… neither would ever forgive him. Virgil had not been able to forgive himself for it yet either. He had abandoned John… again. But never again. He would never fail him again. Never.
TBC Sorry for shortness