The weight of Karn's pack hurt Hope's shoulders, sending a wave discomfort rippling through her tense muscles. The journey was far more difficult than what she could have imagined. It drained her both physically and mentally. What had initially appeared as a straightforward turned into an unrelenting series of trials.
After the first day, Bolgart, their leader, fell ill with a sudden and unexpected sickness. They had to pause momentarily to wait for his fever to subside. After his recovery, he lost his voice, but he continued to keep up, handing the reins as leader to Palin until his full recovery.
On the second day, as they ventured through the valley where Karn and Hope had initially set foot. Out of nowhere, a thunderous rumble shattered the peace as a frenzied herd of Mountain Bison stampeded through the valley. Although Hope was well aware of these colossal creatures, with their hulking forms and shaggy coats, they typically avoided humans.
The clash between the Felren party and the stampeding bison was horrible. Despite their natural agility, two members of the Earthen clan were instantly trampled by their sheer number during the initial charge, while three members of the snow clan were gored by the bison's thick horns. The memory etched itself into Hope’s mind like a repeating nightmare, leaving her struggling to comprehend the senselessness of it all.
Forced to divide their group, some members of the Earthen and Snow clans remained behind, their hearts burdened by grief as they honoured the fallen and tended to the wounded.
It had pained Hope to leave them behind. A silent camp of the dead and dying. But they had to move on.
The curse that had stolen her emotions crumbled in the book's presence, exposing her to a newfound empathy. In the blur of days, she noticed her hair changing. All her hair roots had turned brown, while a few strands had changed completely.
Amidst the trials, Palin proved to be precious help, maintaining control of the situation. Bolgart, a long-time friend of Palin's, was always by his side. If Bolgart’s voice wasn’t gone, Hope knew the two would stir each other up the whole time, like they did almost every day back in the village. Their friendly back and forth was so always so warming and brought a grin to almost everyone who heard it. Losing his voice was like an omen.
The resulting silence deafening.
A few days later, as they approached the turning point leading north between the towering cliffs known as the Broken Twins, another imminent disaster reared its ugly head. Palin, taking the lead, suddenly froze, with shock on his face as he clutched something against his chest. Within moments, one of the colossal mounds collapsed, threatening to bury him beneath a mountain of rubble. Bolgart acted swiftly, snatching his friend away just in time, saving them both from being totally engulfed.
The journey had taken its toll on everyone, leaving them bruised and scratched, as if primal forces conspired against them. Now, with their path blocked, they had to retrace Karn's original route backwards, manoeuvring through the shattered remnants of Husno, where the Dragon had awakened.
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The return trip proved to be almost three times as long as Karn's initial passage. Finally arriving at the spot where the dragon crumbled, they set up camp, the diminished numbers serving as a stark reminder of the challenges they’d faced.
That night, they made camp beneath the crumbling remains of Husno. Hope's dreams were plagued by haunting memories from her childhood, fuelled by the wreckage surrounding her. The faces of neighbours and family members mercilessly cut down for the sake of one man's madness flooded her mind as she turned in her sleep.
The night started off chilly, but as midnight approached, the camp seemed to be enveloped by a warm cocoon of energy. The Felren slumbered soundly, their hushed breaths filling the air. In the midst of Hope's hazy dreams, she tossed and turned, catching glimpses of a figure moving stealthily through the camp in the darkness. She paid little attention, confident that Bolgart was keeping watch over them all.
A heavy slumber gradually overpowered her as her dreams changed, this time revealing a warm, familiar face. A young man with dark hair and grey eyes gazed at her with a kind expression. Karn leaned in, brushing his nose against hers, as if they were about to embrace. As she slept, her nose itched, causing her to shift and scratch. However, something felt amiss. With her eyes closed, she reached out, searching for Karn's pack, only to find it missing, his familiar scent vanishing with it.
She grumbled in her sleep, peering around the camp. Bolgart remained still, facing the darkness beyond like a steadfast statue, while the other Felren lay motionless around her. The smoke from the fire carried an unusually thick scent, as if a strange herb had been used to smoulder the flames.
As she forced herself into a sitting position, her limbs felt heavy. She whispered Bolgart's name, hoping he would hear her amidst the slumbering forms. But he remained oblivious.
Panic surged within her, and she scanned the camp, her vision sharpening. "Where is it?" she muttered in disbelief. The bag was indeed gone.
She bolted upright, swaying as the blood rushed to her head. She struggled to comprehend her surroundings as she stumbled towards Bolgart. Her apprehension intensified, and she placed a trembling hand on his shoulder.
Her eyes widened, and her chest tightened with a horror as she saw him. Bolgart sat silently staring into the distance, his expression glazed over. A deep gash marked the line of his neck, blood cascading down his front. Despite the absence of life in his face, Bolgart clutched his weapon, dutifully guarding the camp with unwavering devotion.
Hope let out a piercing scream. She tore at her hair, feeling the sharp pain in her throat from the sheer intensity of her anguish. The grief overwhelmed her; Bolgart had been like a father to her, a constant presence throughout her life—a guiding light and a cherished friend.
She continued to scream, turning towards the camp, but no one stirred. Desperate, she ran to the nearest sleeping Felren, a tall, muscular man lying beside her. Falling to her knees beside him, she pleaded for help. Yet when she looked at her hands, she found them drenched in blood. The man remained motionless. Hope's frantic gaze darted from one sleeping form to another, each one marked by the tell-tale dark stains of blood.
Alone in the dark, she unleashed a series of screams that pierced the night sky. Then, her voice choked with desperation, she called out a name. "Palin! Where are you?"
But there was no sign of him. She darted from one Felren to another, searching desperately. Palin seemed to have vanished.
Not knowing if he was alive or dead, she ran through the camp, trembling with fear. In the darkness, she tripped, collapsing, and emptying the contents of her stomach onto the ground. Howling at the moonlit sky, she found that she had lost everything.