Chapter- 10 Journey of A Thousand Miles

Chapter 10- Journey of a Thousand miles

 

 

The cold storm had frost bitten them. Shadow’s paws were nearly frozen. He looked back constantly to make sure Kanoue was alright. Despite nearly being frozen to death, Kanoue had used his power to warm himself. But it was not enough for the two of them. The storm had slightly giving them spare time to make a faster pace up into the north. Kanoue told Shadow that it was over hundreds of miles. This was going to be no simple trek. Even Donvu wouldn’t be able to make it this far out into the storm. “So this is a one way trip”? Shadow asked out to Kanoue who was now leading the way. “It appears so; you said you’d have help”? Shadow felt a bit crestfallen at this. “We’re on our own unless the others meet up with us”. Shadow slipped down a snowy hill behind Kanoue. He sat for a moment breathing heavily. “How did you survive all these years with Chanoue, why did you obey him”? Kanoue shivered. “I knew no one else; I only knew fear and pain. He was my only family. All the others were gone but Chanoue promised me a brighter future. I thought there was good in him. But I was wrong. There never was any good, only a cold soul fresh for molding”. Kanoue began walking again into the open field of snow. “And when he found that stone. It got worse. He began to become insane. I think it’s only causing him to get more powerful”. Shadow nodded in agreement. “That thing is way more powerful then you can imagine Kanoue”. Kanoue turned his head. “I know; it’s an instrument of power passed from Mother Nature’s family. Only those of the darkest hearts could unlock its potential”. Shadow’s ears propped up. “If that’s the case then the creator must have been the worst of the worst”. Kanoue looked ahead. “Mother Nature’s father”. They said in unison. “How do you know all this”? Shadow asked a bit bewildered. “I mean, Mother Nature said you were nature born meaning you have some of her memory”. Kanoue didn’t respond. “How could you keep all this memory”? Kanoue shook his head. “I have no idea. I’ve spent my whole life slaving for my family. What I was convinced was a noble cause”.

 

 

          Crystal climbed the wooden stairs up to Donvu’s room. She pushed the door open and stared inside. Donvu was leaning over his desk staring at the stone. He looked up at the sound of her footsteps. “So he left”. She nodded. “We know where Chanoue left to. He knows where the tomb is”. “I know”. Donvu turned around. “I’ve been tracking Chanoue’s progress. In a few days he will reach the tomb”. Crystal looked down. “Maybe Shadow was right to act as he did. But he won’t stand a chance”. Crystal looked up thinking about Kanoue. “But he has a nature born with him”. Donvu’s glasses slid forward. “You’re sure”? She nodded. “Yes, we know who it is; he’s in your family. Kanoue was his name. Chanoue’s brother”. Donvu nodded slowly. “Yes I knew Chanoue would have some connection to this Nature Born, but a brother... interesting. So Chanoue left the wolf alone”? Crystal nodded. “Alone to die, but he survived”. Donvu turned his chair back to the stone fragment. “But Shadow has a chance, a nature born”. Donvu repeated aghast. “What about the other wolves? What will they do”? Donvu looked at her. “We will mobilize in a few hours and head after Chanoue. If were lucky we might be able to catch up with Shadow and Kanoue by the time they reach them. I have a trusted friend helping me rally them”. Crystal’s ears perked. “Who’s that”? Donvu gestured to the door. “Here he is now”. Standing in the open doorway was a golden brown wolf with shaggy hair. “Jake”? Crystal sputtered in disbelief.

 

 

          Shadow woke from the wet ground. They hadn’t been able to find a cave but instead took shelter under a snow covered tree. The cold winter was brutal. Kanoue was shivering as he stood up. “I don’t know where were going”. Kanoue admitted collapsing into the snow. “We’ve been lost for days; I was hoping I’d catch a sign of them”. Shadow looked over at him. “Don’t you know where the tomb is”? Kanoue nodded. “But from where we are? It’s impossible to judge”. Shadow brushed the ice from his eyelids. It was so cold. The frost was coming back already. “If we don’t keep moving we’ll freeze to death, come on”. Shadow led the way put into the open tree’s. They walked for miles, battling the brutal cold. The trees slouched under the winter snow as though they were being ridden. Kanoue’s limbs became ridged from time to time forcing them to stop. It was becoming rather hopeless. With no sense of direction, they could have been walking in circles for days. Time was barely a concern anymore. Day turned to night and back again unnoticeably to the two wolves. On the verge of starvation and freezing, it became apparent they would need to eat and soon. “Kanoue, we can’t keep going like this”. Kanoue stopped dead in the snow. “I know, but there’s no elk, no rabbits. It’s nothing but a wasteland out here”. Shadow turned his head and his frozen ears perked against their icy inhibiters. “But what about that”. Kanoue looked in his direction. A brilliant wide frozen lake lay out in the open. “Are you sure- Kanoue started but Shadow was already sprinting out of the snow towards the lake. Kanoue followed after him. “Shadow, it’s frozen”! He yelled. Shadow paid no attention. He stopped over a patch of ice concealing an array of fish, locked in an icy prison. He scratched at the ice vainly. Kanoue slid up next to him watching the struggle. “It’s no use, their frozen”. Shadow growled and jumped up and down over the ice. “No, I have to eat. I’m so hungry; we’ll die if we don’t try”. He jumped again and again but to no result. Panting he licked his chops in anguish. The fish looked back at the starving wolf with almost insultingly amused faces. Shadow bit at the glass like ice angrily. He jumped up again on the ice snarling. Kanoue looked up and away. Something didn’t seem right. A small vibration was shifting in the distance. Kanoue could feel it. He turned to Shadow. “Shadow, you feel that”? Shadow stopped jumping. “What? I don’t feel any- wait what is that”? He looked around. Everything was now starting to shift slightly. The trees wagged like loose ribbons. “We better get out of here”. Kanoue said. As though he had triggered it, a large pack of snow like a waterfall washed down the mountain side engulfing all the trees and rocks in its path. “Run”! Shadow shouted and he sprinted heading down the lake away from the absorbing snow pact. The entire forest was swept away by the powerful flow but it did not stop. It flew down the small hill and over the lake, closing the distance on Shadow and Kanoue. “Keep going, keep going”! Shadow shouted clawing his away over the slippery ice. Kanoue was following behind. Shadow kept his eyes on him while spinning his head forward. There was land on the other side. But it was far and out of reach. Kanoue looked down at his feet. The ice was cracking and alarmingly fast. Shadow noticed too. “Don’t look down! Go”! Shadow slipped in the ice careening into the soft snow covering the lakes icy top. Kanoue slipped in behind him and gave him a shove. The ice gave way under him. “Go”! Kanoue yelled pushing him forward. Shadow stopped and turned. Kanoue was behind the newly formed hole in the ice which was cracking all around him “Get going”! Kanoue yelled. “Not without you! Jump”! Kanoue looked down then behind him; the engulfing snow was getting closer. “Jump”! Kanoue closed his eyes and leaped forward. He barely cleared the jump but slid next to Shadow. “Let’s go”! Shadow called to him. They both took off in a furious sprint heading for the land. It was so close now. Shadow jumped onto the snowy drift but just as he had, the snow rushed into him. He lost all sights as he plunged into darkness. His eyesight was obscured just as he lost consciousness.