CHAPTER 1

The world was dyed white as far as the eye could see. Everything was covered in a blanket of snow, with each piece of snow glistening like a gem. It perfectly reflected the sun, blinding the eyes. Occasionally a fierce snowstorm would arise, picking up the snow and obscuring ones vision.

In a thick cedar forest, against the base of a cliff, was a large open cave. Inside were over a hundred apes huddled around a large campfire. They had hunched backs and were covered in a thick coat of hair. For clothes they wore the pelts of animals. On the cave walls were various paintings, and on the ground lay a few thin and feeble apes.

The howling of the wind could be heard from the entrance of the cave, along with the occasional stomach rumbling in hunger. The faces of the apes were full of expression. Looks of sadness and desperation, pain and loss.

An ape with a scar running along his chest stood in the back of the cave with a spear in his hand. Next to him was a smaller ape. The smaller ape looked up. “Father. Hungry.”

The ape with the scar grimaced. He pointed at the entrance of the cave with his spear. “Look. Snow. No hunt.”

“Me know…” The younger ape replied in low spirits.

Soon the sun passed over the horizon, dying the land pitch black. The moon was covered by clouds. Even at night, the snow didn’t let up. It continued to pour down, and by morning, it was several feet deep.

“Father! Father!” The young ape called out anxiously.

The scarred ape woke up with a start. His son tugged on his arm as he looked around. After seeing no danger, he frowned. “What wrong?”

“Bad thing happen! Grandpa is gone!” The young ape pointed towards his grandfather's bed.

The scarred ape jumped up and ran around the cave, trying to find his father. Seeing him nowhere, he ran towards the edge of the cave and looked down. Just barely visible were footprints leading into the forest. His son was at his side. “Father, why he leave? He weak! Sick!”

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“I not know.” The scarred ape grabbed his spear before following the footprints into the forest. He had to hurry before the footprints were covered by fresh snow. His son followed behind, calling out ‘grandpa’ repeatedly.

Soon, they came across a corpse. The young ape tugged on the corpse’s arm, tears in his eyes. “Grandpa! Wake up!”

The scarred ape shook his head. “I see now.”

“See what? Father, why did grandpa leave?” The young ape didn’t understand.

The scarred ape turned around to hide the tears in his eyes. “He sacrifice himself. He no want us to waste food on him.”

“Sacrifice?”

The scarred ape and his son traveled back towards the cave full of sorrow. The young ape complained. “Father! This snow, when it stop? It been long time now.”

“I not know, but I hope soon.”

It has already been three years since the snow started to fall. Their tribe numbered one hundred and forty three at the start, but now they lost their first member due to hunger. With the forest covered in thick snow, it was hard to scavenge for food.

When the duo returned to the cave, the other apes were filled with worry. After being informed of the old apes sacrifice, they fell silent and grieved.

As the snow continued to fall, a new tradition was born. Whenever an ape was starving and weak, they would leave the cave to die off. It was a sacrifice meant to increase the tribes chance of survival.

The years continued to pass, and as they did, they snow continued to fall. More and more members of the tribe sacrificed themselves for the sake of the tribe. As the tribe grew smaller, a new emotion was born. A wish. A wish for the snow to stop falling, and summer to come once again. This wish turned into hope.

A few years later, the young ape had grown up. He held a knife in his hand as he carved away at a block of wood. The block slowly transformed into a recognizable figure; it was an ape, except that it stood tall and was full of confidence. It wasn’t weak and feeble, but full of strength and vitality.

“What that?” Another ape walked over and asked.

The ape with the carving showed off his creation. “It is strong ape. Full of food. He never know hunger.”

“I wish we look like this ape. I like.” The carving was passed around the tribe and soon became something of worship.

Finally, after ten years of unending snow, warmth came. Animals of all kinds rejoiced and sung happily. The forest was once again filled with life, and therefore, food. The tribe of apes now only had forty-five members. When they woke up to see the snow gone, they cried tears of joy. Their wish, and hope, had become reality.