Aaron tried to untie the ropes that bound him to the tree without success. William and Omari were also tied up as well right beside him. As the goblins ate their moas poor Daisy but all he could think was how Lord Falkner and Lady Nyssa tried to rescue them but it wasn't enough at least they tried and the gods will still be restored. At least our moas may buy us some time. I don't want to die. Aaron started softly crying

“I’m sorry” William whispered “I tried” William said sounded scared for the first time

“It’s not your fault” Aaron assured William, crying all the same. The goblins were fewer in number but there's still a troll. If I use skylight they will run me though I don’t even know if it will work there must be something I’m overlooking to escape maybe Omari will have an idea hopefully the night will cover our escape

“Omari, what should we do?”

“do? we die” Omari said just then a roar was heard his head shot up and looked to see what was the noise. As the goblins grew still except the troll who joined whatever was happening soon the only sound was branches breaking. than a roar louder than before and it was not a troll the goblins scattered in all directions. away from the roar

“Now's are chance” Aaron said to himself terrified at what could roar like that. throwing skylight which slowly melted the ropes when they melted Aaron and William were free. Aaron helped Omari free as William grabbed sacks of food and water skins. Once his ropes were melted he flapped his wings and slowly flew off as William threw him a spear and some supplies at him. as they took off towards the mountain, fortunately the sound of the beast was in the opposite direction as they ran into the night.

A day later Aaron stood with a foot on a tree root with William and Omari who was parched above them

“We're running out of food” William said as if he didn’t already know.

“we haven’t found anything to hunt” Aaron said

“what do we do now” William looked at Aaron with a grim expression

“We press on, it's all we can do, we can't go back only forward” they walked with a large sack each but wishing it was more supplies we have days and it could take weeks to reach the top of the mountain nothing to be done we can always hunt I guess. ducking under branches as they walked blindly into the night all he could see were trees and more trees the wind picked up making him hug himself to stay a little warmer after hours of walking William fell over and didn’t get up

“were staging here I can’t go on” William gasped breathing hard he set his pack down without compliment soon establishing camp or a campfire because that's all they had and one blanket each for their beds great I’ll have had to sleep on the ground with no tent they were too sore and tired to set a watch nothing could be done about that so they didn’t set one. sitting around the small fire

“we should sleep, it's a busy day tomorrow” with that Aaron went to bed hoping to wake up tomorrow.

Aaron awoke alone as Omari and William were still sleeping

“At least I’m alive,” Aaron muttered grimly, looking around the trees for danger, finding none. pulling the blanket around himself to stay warm. It should be almost spring. Why is it still this cold?. At least we found this blanket on the Bottom of our packs. We only have some food and our armor and spears one tonic for me and what we are wearing. that’s about it he woke up William and after breakfast of half rations they slung their water skins and both packs and walked towards the mountain leaving Omari to catch up I hope he will be alright the landscape was slightly

Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.

Uphill with uneven terrain made it difficult to walk in a straight line but there was no chance we won’t get lost at least. nothing but walking until William needed a rest they sat on a large rock

“were alive” William said with wonder

“yes but for how long we don’t have enough supplies to reach the mountain let alone scale it” Aaron said with despair

“we will find a way we will” William promised

“I hope so” with that they continued walking with nothing but what they could carry. The only sound was their footsteps as if the whole forest was waiting for a chance to strike. stopping under a pine tree as the sun set and made what camp they could, wiping the sweat from his brow sweating in winter. Now I’ve seen everything Omari could be seen flying ahead of them. They ate dinner and went to bed.

The next few days were a blur in Aaron’s mind of walking. as packs got lighter which filled him with dread as they now have enough for only two meals then they will starve and couldn't find anything to hunt.

They stopped for the night in a small clearing on a hill to look around, finding nothing but trees. didn't make a campfire but just rolled their one blanket which was William’s. Since he had to carry both their armor and dropped it and his spear and the only spare tonic he had, I need the armor incase of an attack we can’t run from a fight. Aaron thought with despair he laid on the dirt and snow with only the sacks as a pillow. William didn’t want to press their luck but he soon gave in as they shivered for an hour after the fire got started William looked around him with anxiety Aaron just watch the flames grow good thing I found two flintstones nearby

“you just lit a beacon for monsters to find” William said looking into the trees all around us

“it’s either that or freeze to death” Aaron said

“I’ll take the freezing, it's less painful”

“at least it’s less likely monsters will find us than the assured death by frost” Aaron said with no emotion piling more firewood by the fire. with that they slept as close to the fire as possible.

The next morning Aaron woke up groggy. The night's rest was shallow and filled with nightmares. When William got up they sat around an almost dead fire full of ash

“how you'd sleep” William just grunted in reply then William emptied their sacks of all their food and ate the last of the supplies things just got bleak.

“time to move on” William said. Rising up using his spear as a walking stick he was hugged over like someone twice his age and walked for hours in silence as they hoped to hear a rabbit or a deer something!. hungry no lunch nothing to eat at least they could melt the snow in their water

Skins. which were filled an hour ago. The day grew long with nothing to distract him from the hunger but it was manageable for now at least. walking all day meeting nothing to eat as the sun began to set William said in a loud voice

“I can’t take another step” with that he fell on his stomach and went to bed on the spot his feet hurt something fierce but the place was nice thick trees to hide their spot so he could build a fire and won’t be seen at least he hoped soon he was warming his hands by the fire he built near William so he can get warm as well then went to bed.

As the days wore on about five they all seemed to blend together. they walked at a slow pace. He still had to carry William’s armor since he couldn't. Aaron’s stomach felt like an empty sack five days since I’ve had a meal it’s not possible to reach it at this rate William stating to fall behind so he slowed his pace even more to a crawl Omari came flying back to them it's been days since either of them seen him

“Come quickly, you will want to see this,” Omari cried. They followed him as fast as they could, which was normal walking speed “hurry!” Omari cried

“We can't,” Aaron said once he pulled some branches away from his face. Then he saw a town in the distance.