Chapter 1 First Contact

Ashe floated in a vast, endless darkness. It was not the comforting dark of sleep, nor the quiet solitude of night. This was a thick, suffocating blackness that pressed against her skin, cold and unyielding. She couldn’t see anything. No shapes, no outlines—nothing except a dim light flickering far behind her. It tugged at her, a pull she couldn’t escape.

Her muscles strained as she tried to fight, to resist the pull, but the shadowed void seemed to tighten, gripping her, dragging her closer to the light. It wasn’t a gentle tug; it was inexorable, patient, drawing her nearer with every second. Ashe felt her strength ebb away like water through clenched fingers, and the crushing weight of the dark was seeping into her bones.

Her vision blurred. Her thoughts began to scatter like leaves in a storm.

“Stop!” she tried to scream, her voice nothing more than a whisper swallowed by the void. But still, she fought, pushing back against the pull even as her limbs grew heavier, even as her heart pounded slower.

The light, once distant, now loomed before her—too bright, too near. She gasped one last time, reaching for something—anything—to hold onto.

And then the light swallowed her whole, as she slipped into the black embrace of unconsciousness.

Ashe stirred, the world slowly filtering back into her senses with the faint rustle of leaves, shivering under the touch of the wind. A dull throb pulsed behind her eyes, making her wince as she struggled to focus. It took a few breaths before her vision sharpened enough for her to make sense of her surroundings. She sat up, groaning softly as her limbs protested.

The first thing she noticed was the lack of trees. It was unsettling. Bushes and shrubs dotted the landscape, but not a single tree rose above them. It left the sky too open, too exposed. She blinked, trying to make sense of the alien scenery around her.

Then, her gaze was drawn upward. Two towering mountains framed the valley she found herself in, their jagged peaks stretching toward the sky, capped with a light dusting of snow. Autumn had painted the slopes below in rich hues of yellow, orange, and red, a tapestry of color that should’ve been beautiful—if not for the unsettling sense of wrongness that crawled beneath her skin.

Ashe’s heart beat a little faster. This place was stunning, yes, but the beauty felt like a trap, an illusion. She had no memory of coming here, no sense of how she’d gotten so far from... wherever she was supposed to be.

“What is this…?” Ashe muttered under her breath as she stood, brushing off the dust and leaves clinging to her clothes. Her eyes drifted up toward one of the mountains, tracing the line of its shallow slope. The ridge seemed attainable—if she could reach it, maybe she’d get her bearings.

“If I can get to the ridge, I can at least figure out where the hell I am,” she said, the words barely loud enough to hear over the wind. With a determined sigh, Ashe began her trek, boots crunching softly over the uneven ground.

She hadn’t made it far, barely past the first cluster of shrubs, when a sound stopped her dead in her tracks. Something large rustled through the underbrush ahead. She froze, eyes narrowing as she scanned the bushes. Whatever it was, it was coming straight toward her.

Her hand instinctively reached for her hip—for a weapon, a knife, anything. But her fingers closed on nothing but air. “Damn it.” Her pulse quickened as she raised her head.

The creature stepped into view, its hulking form moving with surprising grace through the brush. Brown fur covered a thick, muscular body, and a massive head swung from side to side, sniffing at the air. The creature looked like a bear but it was much larger than anything Ashe had ever seen.

Ashe’s breath froze in her chest as the creature’s head swiveled in her direction, its beady eyes locking onto her with an unsettling focus. Every muscle in her body tensed. The air seemed to thicken as the beast took a slow, deliberate step forward, nostrils flaring as it pawed the earth. It was testing her—measuring her.

Her heart pounded in her ears. She braced herself, her throat tightening as she prepared to shout, to make some kind of move—any move. But just as her mouth opened, the creature snorted, turned on its heel, and bolted.

It lumbered away, its massive body shaking the ground as it trundled off into the distance, disappearing into the brush. Ashe stood frozen, staring after it in disbelief.

A beat passed. Then another.

She exhaled, all at once, a shaky laugh escaping her lips. Her knees buckled, and she nearly crumpled to the ground. The tension drained from her body, leaving her weak, trembling with the aftershock of the encounter.

“What the hell was that…?” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

After a few moments, Ashe steadied herself, forcing her breathing to slow. She shook off the lingering tension and began her climb once more, the creature already fading from her mind. The bushes thinned out as she ascended, giving way to patches of wild grass that, in turn, surrendered to bare rock.

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The climb was punishing. Loose scree shifted beneath her feet, and the cold bite of the wind grew sharper as she climbed higher. Every step was a struggle, but she kept going, her eyes fixed on the ridge above. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she pulled herself up the last slope and stood on the ridge.

The mountain’s peak still loomed overhead, far out of reach, but from here, she could see beyond. Ashe caught her breath as the view unfolded before her. A sprawling, rugged landscape stretched into the distance, stark and barren, yet painted in vivid colors. It was as if autumn had spilled across the mountains, the slopes ablaze with shades of orange, red, and gold. The sky above was heavy with clouds, but occasional beams of sunlight pierced through, casting small pools of light that danced across the tundra below.

“Wow…” The word slipped from her lips unbidden. Ashe had never seen anything like this. The harsh beauty of the mountains, so alien and wild, left her speechless. She stood there, staring in awe, feeling a strange sense of wonder at the vast, untamed world that lay before her.

Ashe’s gaze swept across the colorful expanse of the landscape, her eyes narrowing as she spotted a small lake in the distance. A faint column of smoke rose from its shore, a tantalizing beacon of hope. Her heart leaped at the sight. She adjusted her course, heading down the ridge toward the lake.

From her vantage point, the lake had seemed relatively close. But as she descended, the soft, mushy tundra underfoot proved to be a treacherous obstacle. Each step was a struggle, the ground giving way slightly with every movement. The clouds overhead began to thicken, darkening ominously, and soon a light snow started to fall, dusting the valley in a delicate white layer.

The cold, which had been a mere background hum to her earlier, now pressed in on her with a harsh, biting intensity. Her steel and leather armor offered little solace against the icy wind. The adrenaline that had masked the chill was waning, leaving her shivering and keenly aware of the freezing temperatures.

Hours dragged on as she battled the snow and the ever-softening ground. By the time she reached the shore of the lake, dusk had settled. The sky was now a deep shade of gray, and a thin blanket of snow coated the ground around her. Exhausted, she collapsed onto the snowy ground, gasping for breath.

But the smoke column—her beacon—still drew her attention. With a renewed burst of energy, Ashe scanned the shoreline. Through the falling snow and fading light, she spotted a red glow at the far end of the lake. Shadows flickered, revealing two white canvas tents set a few feet from the shore. The sight was a small but promising sign of shelter and warmth amidst the encroaching cold.

“Hello?” Ashe called out, her voice tentative as she approached the tents, her breath misting in the cold air. “Is anyone here?”

From within the nearest tent, shadows began to stir. A man’s head poked out, eyes darting around before landing on Ashe. His expression shifted from confusion to shock, and his mouth dropped open as he shouted.

“What the hell!” he bellowed, his voice sharp with alarm.

A younger female voice from the other tent called out, tinged with concern. “What is it, Dad?”

“Stay in your tent, Sydney, and don’t come out unless I tell you!” The man’s command was firm, but there was an edge of fear in his tone. He turned quickly, grabbing something from inside the tent, and emerged with a peculiar metal tool clutched tightly in his hand.

“Who are you?” he demanded, his voice taut with tension, his grip on the tool unwavering.

“I mean you no harm, sir,” Ashe said, raising her arms in a gesture of surrender. “My name is Ashe Norlander, from the Kingdom of Himlasia. I am simply lost.”

“Himalsia…what? Never mind that,” the man said, his confusion apparent. “You say you’re lost?”

“Yes,” Ashe replied, trying to keep her voice steady. “I don’t know where this place is or how I ended up here.” Her gaze drifted to the fire, seeking its warmth. The man’s eyes softened as he noticed her shivering, and he relaxed slightly, though he still held the metal tool with a firm grip.

“Come, sit by the fire and explain more,” he said, his tone softening. “Sydney, can you cook up a meal pack?”

As Ashe moved toward the fire, she glanced at the other tent, catching a glimpse of a shadow stirring within.

“Thank you, sir. I really appreciate your help,” Ashe said, offering a relieved smile. “May I have your name?”

Thomas’s stern expression gradually softened as he looked at Ashe. The tension in his posture eased, though his eyes remained watchful. “I’m Thomas,” he introduced himself, his voice less sharp but still tinged with caution. “So, you don’t know where you are, or how you got here?”

“No,” Ashe replied, shaking her head. “I was having a strange dream, and then I woke up on the other side of that mountain.” She gestured toward the dark silhouette of the mountain looming in the distance.

“I see,” Thomas said, nodding slowly. “Well, I can’t help you with how you arrived here, but I can tell you where we are. We’re in the Yukon Territory, just north of Tombstone Park, if that name rings any bells.”

Ashe’s gaze drifted, her mind trying to place the unfamiliar names. Before she could respond, Thomas’s eyes lingered on her armor with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. “Also, what’s with the way you’re dressed? You look like some sort of medieval knight in that armor—only thing missing is the helmet,” he added, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Ashe blinked, momentarily stunned by Thomas’s comment. Her gaze fell to her armor, her confusion deepening. “All knights of Himlasia wear this armor. It’s quite normal there... Wait, what did you mean by ‘medieval’?”

“Medieval?” Thomas replied, furrowing his brow. “I mean you look like someone from a thousand years ago.”

The words hit Ashe like a blow. “A thousand years ago…” Her heart seemed to freeze in her chest. She looked at Thomas, trying to reconcile his ordinary appearance—a man with graying hair and a neatly trimmed beard. His clothes, though, were peculiar, with a green and brown pattern that looked completely foreign.

Her eyes darted to the metal tool in Thomas’s hand. It was silver with an ornate handle, unlike anything she’d seen before. Ashe’s breathing quickened, her chest tightening as panic set in.

At that moment, the flap of one of the tents rustled open. A young woman with purple and blonde hair stepped out, carrying a bag and a peculiar device that emitted a soft, steady light. The sight was overwhelming. Ashe’s vision swam, the edges of her world blurring as her heart raced uncontrollably.

Thomas noticed her distress, his face etched with concern. “Hey, are you okay? Hey…”

Before he could say more, Ashe’s vision darkened, and the world slipped away. She collapsed, her consciousness fading into blackness.