Settling around a crackling fire, Xu Wei, Mio, Alexis and Marco huddled close for warmth. Their faces were bathed in an orange-yellow light, their eyes reflecting its warmth as they looked at each other.

The crackling of the fire filled the air, inviting and comforting in its embrace. The gentle hisses, pops and snaps of the smoldering embers lulled them into a sense of safety and security.

"Alright," Milo began, his voice steady despite the turmoil of emotions within him. "Who wants to go first?"

"Guess I'll start," Xu Wei said, his deep voice resonating with the calm wisdom he always seemed to possess. "We encountered a Snow Drifter almost immediately after the portal spat us out. It was like fighting a walking blizzard... but we managed to escape."

"Did you see any Frost Sirens?" Milo asked, recalling the guide's warning about the elusive creatures. He shuddered at the thought of his friends facing such monsters.

"Thankfully, no," Alexis replied, her dark eyes haunted by the memories of their ordeal. "But we did stumble upon a frozen lake that almost claimed Marco's life. The ice cracked beneath him, and he nearly drowned."

"Would've been a goner if it weren't for these two," Marco admitted, his expression a mix of gratitude and lingering fear. "They pulled me out in the nick of time."

Milo's stomach clenched at the thought of losing any of them to the unforgiving tundra. He shook his head, trying to dispel the images of their close calls.

"Enough about us," Xu Wei said, sensing Milo's discomfort. "What about you? How did you survive on your own?"

"Mostly luck," Milo admitted, recounting his own harrowing experiences. His friends listened intently, their gazes never wavering.

"Guess we all got lucky," Alexis mused, her voice softening as she stared into the fire. "We survived and found each other again."

"More than just luck," Milo argued. "It feels fated to be, we have destiny on our side trying to keep us together."

"Agreed," Marco nodded, his smile returning. "Together, we're unstoppable."

"Here's to us," Xu Wei raised an imaginary toast, his eyes twinkling in the firelight.

...

Milo felt the fire's comforting heat seeping deep into his bones, causing his shoulders to relax as he welcomed the solace it offered. The flames danced with an almost frantic energy, their playful flickers stretching out to cast sprawling shadows across the tired countenances of his companions. Observing their faces, he held onto the joy of being reunited after an extended period of separation.

"Alright," Alexis said, her voice determined despite her exhaustion. "We've got two weeks here at the beast range. We need a plan."

Marco nodded. "Well, the whole objective is to survive for two weeks, and with us being in the outpost I think we can easily do that," Marco said.

Milo shook his head. "We should find a way to repay Guide for taking us in. We could hunt for food and resources, help fortify the outpost. Just sitting idly by rubs me the wrong way."

"Sounds like a good idea," Xu Wei agreed, rubbing his hands together briskly. "But we need to be careful. We don't know these lands or its creatures."

"True," Marco chimed in, leaning forward with interest. "Milo, you mentioned how Guide explained about the Snow Drifters and Frost Sirens earlier. The three of us already experienced a Snow Drifter, how about we find a Frost Siren now that we're all together?"

"Are you brainless?" Alexis snapped. "I should have let you drown in the lake if I knew you'd try and take me to death's doors with you."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Marco shrugged. "Hey, it was just an idea."

"A bad one," Xu Wei chimed in. "A really bad one."

Milo chuckled. "I'm glad to have you all back."

"How about this," Xu Wei jumped in. "We'll go out and explore within the confines of the barrier, and see if there are any resources to gather."

"Agreed," Milo said firmly, his purple eyes darkening with resolve. "We'll gather information, prepare ourselves, and stick together. We won't take any unnecessary risks."

His friends nodded, their gazes meeting each other with renewed determination. They had survived thus far, and they would conquer whatever challenges the beast range held, together.

"Let's make some rules first," Alexis suggested, her eyes shining with conviction. "No one goes out alone. We have to always be together, else who knows what will happen."

"Deal," Marco said, extending his hand toward the fire. One by one, Milo, Xu Wei, and Alexis did the same, their palms hovering above the dancing flames.

"United we stand," Milo declared, his voice strong and steady. "Divided we fall."

"United we stand," his friends repeated, and the words echoed through the small outpost like an unbreakable vow.

As they pulled their hands back, the fire seemed to burn brighter, its heat wrapping around them like a protective embrace. Their bodies still ached from the trials they had faced, but the knowledge that they were together again and ready to face whatever lay ahead fortified their spirits.

"Let's get some rest," Milo suggested, seeing the exhaustion etched onto his friends' faces. "Tomorrow, we'll start our new adventure."

"Sounds good to me," Marco yawned, already curling up beside the fire. The others followed suit, allowing the warmth of the flames and their camaraderie to lull them into a much-needed sleep.

As Milo closed his eyes, he felt a deep sense of gratitude for his friends and the trust they shared. They had been through so much, and yet, their bond only grew stronger. With them by his side, he felt as if they could overcome any challenge they faced. And together, they would survive for two weeks in the beast range.

As Milo awakened in the outpost, a profound sense of contentment washed over him. His gaze rest upon his slumbering friends with a heart full of relief, knowing they were truly safe from the perils of the treacherous beast range, and that it hadn't just been a dream that they'd arrived here.

"Morning, everyone," Guide's voice broke the morning silence, rousing Milo's companions from their slumber.

"Morning," they replied with sleepy voices.

Seated across from the group, Guide's weathered face was lit by the flickering flames of the fireplace. His eyes held a mysterious depth, hinting at untold stories and hidden truths.

As the group huddled together for warmth, their curiosity grew, the urge to uncover the secrets behind the enigmatic figure before them becoming stronger with every passing moment.

Milo. "So, Guide," he began, his voice a mix of politeness and eagerness, "we're grateful for your help and for taking us in. But we're all curious about you. Do you have a real name?"

Guide's lips curved into a faint smile, the firelight playing on the lines etched on his face. "Guide will have to do for now, and it's what you can call me."

Xu Wei exchanged a glance with Alexis, their skepticism barely concealed. "Everyone has a name," Alexis pointed out gently, "a name that has meaning and history."

Guide's gaze held a distant look, as if he was reminiscing about something long gone. "Names are a connection to the past, a tether to what was and what might have been. Sometimes, it's best to leave that tether behind."

Milo leaned forward, his curiosity growing stronger despite Guide's cryptic response. "And what about your reason for being here in the beast range? Why do you choose to live out here with all this danger?"

Guide's eyes flickered with a mixture of emotions—regret, sorrow, and something deeper that was difficult to decipher. "We all have our reasons. For me I find solace in these lands," he finally answered, his voice carrying a weight of memories. "This beast range is a place of reflection, a place where one can find answers to questions they never thought to ask. A place where nobody will interrupt your peace and solitude."

Xu Wei's brows furrowed. "But what brought you here in the first place? What are you seeking answers to?"

Guide's smile remained enigmatic, a veil that concealed the truth beneath. "Some questions are better left unanswered, my young friend. Life has a way of leading us down paths we never anticipated."

Milo's frustration grew. "You've helped us, saved us from the tundra's dangers. You must have a reason for it, a purpose. Can't you give us something more?"

The fire crackled in the silence that followed, the flames reflecting in Guide's eyes. "Sometimes, purpose is found in helping others," he replied, his voice soft yet resolute. "In guiding those who are lost, just as someone once guided me."

"Who guided you?" Alexis questioned, her curiosity piqued.

Guide's gaze seemed to drift, lost in the memories of a past he only hinted at. "Someone who believed in redemption, in second chances. Someone who showed me that even in the darkest of times, there's always a glimmer of hope."

Milo's frustration mingled with sympathy, realizing that Guide carried his own burdens and secrets. "We're grateful for your help," he said sincerely, "and if there's anything we can do in return, just let us know."

Guide's eyes met Milo's, a silent understanding passing between them. "Continue your journey, Milo," he said, his voice carrying a sense of reassurance.