10 Days Passed
Ten days went by, and I fell into a small routine: wake up, boil water, check the traps, and head to a nearby tree to strip a chunk of bark to make twine. After that, I'd fetch another bucket of water, soak my bandage, and wait for it to boil. Once it was sterilized, I'd dry it just enough to put it back on and repeat the process. Meat was my primary food source whenever I caught something in the traps, but lately, it seemed as though the animals were avoiding my house—or at least the traps nearby.
Around midday, as I worked on another length of twine, it hit me: even with my broken arm, I needed to explore. There could be something valuable or useful in the area that I hadn't discovered yet. Staying put wouldn't help me prepare for the Wendigo.
Before heading out, I decided to craft a makeshift coat from the wolf pelts I'd gathered. Using the twine I'd made over the past two days, I managed to stitch together a crude, functional coat in about three hours. Without the sharpness of the wolf's teeth to pierce the pelts, stitching them together might've been impossible. Ever since my injury, the cold seemed to bite deeper, so the coat was a much-needed improvement.
To my surprise, the wolf coat fit decently well despite its rough, uneven stitching. After gathering my essentials, I set out to explore. My plan was simple: walk an hour in one direction, mark my path, and then return to the house before heading out in another direction.
As I trudged through the forest—climbing hills, descending slopes, and sidestepping patches of slush—I spotted something in the distance. Climbing a small hill for a better view, I realized what it was: a mountain. Partially hidden by swirling snow, the peak revealed itself as the wind swept the snow aside. I wasn't just one mountain, I was a mountain range stretching northeast. I stood there taking the view.
I walked over to a nearby tree and continued to carve arrows into tree trunks with my knife to mark my way back home, ensuring I wouldn't lose my bearings. Along the way, I occasionally caught glimpses of life: a family of deer grazing in the distance, squirrels darting through the trees, and a few rabbits. Above me, birds soared far beyond my reach.
As the wind began to pick up, it stung my face and made progress difficult. I decided to look for temporary shelter to wait it out. That's when I saw it—off in the distance—what appeared to be the ruins of a structure. Whether it was an old church or a guard tower, I couldn't tell, but it was worth investigating.
I approached cautiously, my spear gripped tightly in my good hand. As I got closer, something flickered in my peripheral vision. I spun around quickly—nothing. Then, to my right, I caught movement again. I turned once more—still nothing. My eyes darted left, right, and forward—each time catching fleeting glimpses of motion just out of reach. It felt like something was watching me, stalking me.
I forced myself to breathe. It's probably an animal. Or maybe I'm just tired. I tried to ignore it, steeling my nerves, and continued walking toward the ruins. I found a spot with little snow that blocked the wind, and sat in the corner and wanted and waited for the wind to die down but it didn't.
I began to think, why am I here, and why don't I feel as cold now? I know when I first got here I was freezing and that continued for a while but now… "Why don't I feel cold" I wondered aloud.
The wind began to pick up even more and whistled through the trees. I watch the snow and pine dance around on the ground… I leaned back and rested my back on the wall and turned to my left and that's when I saw her.
There was what seemed to be a woman with blood-red hair waving in the wind, she wearing a green cloak and had iron armor beneath it. I hesitantly said "Hello there" I blinked and she was gone just like that. I think I should head back and get some sleep… once the wind dies down a bit.