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Halo and the Frigid Range
Snow drifted down as curtains of white. Although Halo Windblade was wrapped in heavy furs, the bitter cold found ways to pierce through to his core. His fingers ached as he flexed them, trying to get blood flowing to each digit. He could not feel his toes, and he hoped they were not black with frostbite.
They had been traveling for over a span. The plan was to be in the mountains for ten months, then return home. Halo was at the tail-end of their rope team as they traversed the ridge of the mountain, searching for a good place to camp. The seventeen-year-old was the heaviest in their group of twenty-five; twenty-four students and a teacher. He took caution with every step; praying that he did not slip, fall, and take the rest of them down the mountain with him. The other group of twenty-five was probably breathing a sigh of relief that Halo wasn’t part of their tether.
The students of Windblade Academy were on their way to one of Marta’s favorite hunting locations. She was one of the two teachers at the school and had a love for the hunt and the mountains. Halo did not understand how anyone could love the Frigid Range. They had plenty of snow and cold near the capital city of Golovka. He could have done without this trip, but his sister Nina, the headmaster of the school and lead instructor, had insisted.
After walking the ridge for a full day, they finally descended into a flat section suitable for camping. They settled into a corner formed by two steep walls of grey stone cut into the mountain. Nina split her twenty-four students into four groups of six. They were tasked with setting up their own campsites and tending to their own fires. Marta followed suit with her own twenty-four.
Halo unshouldered his heavy pack and set it down with a grunt. He rolled his aching shoulders and wished for a hot bath. A bath was impossible, but at least they could finally get a fire started. He looked around at his fellow cadets. Many of the older teenagers would gain their ink in the next few years. The e’lan, their lifeforce, would manifest as spiraling patterns on their skin, and they would be recognized as full adults. Once they had it, they would be able to burn it for superhuman bursts of speed and strength, and all they needed to do to live forever was steal the lifeforce of other people by killing them. Halo was seventeen, which was young to develop the ink, but not unheard of, and he held out hope that’d he’d be among the first in his class.
The eight groups went to work with a fierce determination. Not because they wanted to make Nina and Marta proud, but because it was life or death. They needed warmth and shelter or they wouldn’t make it through the night.
Halo’s team was comprised of the lower performing members in Nina’s group. Not that they were incompetent; far from it. The group was among the most competent recruits in Golovka and likely the whole of Rimeland. Windblade Academy had earned its reputation as the most elite training academy in the country.
Every recruit knew their way around a blade and spear. Even without weapons, they were formidable. With their hands, fists, and feet they could kill a person in a hundred different ways. The rigorous training over the past seven years had transformed the children into fierce and deadly warriors. Now they needed to learn how to survive the wilderness; to prevent the elements, wildlife, hunger or thirst from defeating them.
For the length of the expedition, short of training from the instructors, each team of six needed function as if they were out on their own. They set watches that rotated throughout the evening. Halo checked over the supplies. They brought the bare minimum as part of their training and would have to find everything else they needed in the surrounding wilderness. He wondered how he would survive this. They had some basics, but basics were not enough to handle the Frigid Range. Their previous training was geared more to combat, not surviving the wilderness.
After his recent growth spurt, the boy was tall and lanky. A few inches shy of seven feet tall, Halo was still figuring out how to move properly without knocking anything, or anyone over. No matter the amount of training he had, he knew if he didn’t get any more furs, the cold would kill him.
While Halo and Nina inherited the Windblade family’s vast wealth, Nina didn’t want Halo to depend on money to survive. Because of that, he was left struggling through the training sessions like the rest of his classmates. In this venture, Halo had to stitch some old furs together to cover his skin to keep him warm.
Halo and the other five of his team huddled around the campfire; three boys and three girls. They knew each other well. The two other boys lived in Halo’s house on the Windblade estate, and the three girls lived next door.
They boiled their dried and salted travel jerky into a soup with rice. It was hardly the most appetizing dinner, but it was better than cold rations. Lately, Halo could not get enough food. His stomach seemed to be a deep pit where a sea drake lived, and the beast demanded more and more tribute each day. His five friends were amazed at how much Halo could put away, and they were concerned they would not find enough food in the mountains to feed the giant.
Thom was a slight fellow, the smallest boy in the entire class. Although small in stature, he was quick with clever hands. His goal was to be a musician after his Decade of Trial; the ten-year term of service, training, and testing that occurred once a Rimelander reached adulthood. He was very skilled with a mandolin and would have brought it if Nina hadn’t forbidden it.
The other boy, Nik, was of average height and build. While he was normally last in the physical challenges at Windblade Academy, he was at the top of the class when it came to the bookish subjects. Reading and writing were his passion. After his DoT, he hoped to be a professional scribe and aide for King Redlock. He wanted to draft contracts and document the king’s laws and decrees.
Mila and Lydia were cousins. The only thing remarkable about the two was that they both were Keener fanatics. They loved everything about the card game that had managed to permeate every level of society. It was an obsession, an addiction to them. The first thing they wanted to know about someone was what commander the person used. They had spent every geldarian note in their name on cards to improve their decks. The other students would no longer gamble with the cousins because the chances of winning were slim.
Angela was the final person in Halo’s group of six. She was an athlete. During the long distance runs, she would often finish first. At short distances, she was a blur, and even Nina and Marta had to burn e’lan to beat Angela in a foot race. Halo couldn’t wait to see her speed when her e’lan took root.
Halo looked at the group. These were the people that helped pull him out of his shell; his friends. Through training, competition with Marta’s group, and the tournaments, they bonded in ways he hadn’t expected. Almost all of Halo’s family had been killed when he was young, but here he had found new brothers and sisters.
“We still have another day’s travel to our destination,” Halo said as he looked at a map. The feeling still hadn’t returned to his fingers so the parchment felt odd in his hands. “This is a good campsite to protect against the elements, but the land around is pretty barren… No food.”
The other heads nodded, faces grim and exhausted.
“Why does it have to be Marta’s favorite hunting ground? Why couldn’t we just go into the forest at the base of the mountains?” Thom asked.
“Because that forest is overhunted,” Angela said. “The bigger, more dangerous and abundant game is in her secret spot.”
“I still can’t believe she made us sign contracts to keep the location secret,” Nik said.
“We should be thankful she is willing to share her secrets with us,” Halo said. “Let’s get some rest. We have a big day ahead of us. Angela and Nik, first watch. Mila and Lydia, second. Thom, you’re with me for the third.”
Halo went to his tent and tried to sleep. It was fitful. The ground was hard, and the cold seeped in from every seam in his tent and furs.
He had dozed off at some point. Thom woke him with a kick to his boots.
“Our watch,” Thom said.
The snow thickened and the wind picked up. Visibility was poor, and Halo wondered if having a watch was worth the hassle.
“I can’t see a damned thing out there,” Halo said as he tightened his cloak around him. “Got any food?”
Thom tossed a hard stale bread roll toward Halo, and he bobbled it a few times with clumsy hands. It looked like he was juggling a single ball. The large boy frowned at the disgraceful attempt and hoped his hand-eye coordination would return soon.
“Did you hear that?” Thom asked.
Halo strained to hear through the wind. Voices? A curse? “I think it came from the tents.”
The pair crept silently around the campfire. The voices grew louder. Halo was sure it was the cousins. They were sharing a tent for this excursion. It sounded as if they were arguing. Halo called out before popping his head between the tent flaps.
“What is going on in here? Why aren’t you asleep?” Halo asked, but the answer was obvious. Cards were strewn about between the two girls, and Mila was jabbing a finger at one of them angrily. There was no stopping them when Keener was involved. Halo muttered something about a big day and getting some rest, then slowly backed away from the confrontation.
“Well?” Thom asked.
“Keener dispute.”
“Oh,” he said with an air of knowing, and they made their way back around the fire and put their backs to it. The pair gazed out in companionable silence as the darkness melted away and the sun came up.
The camp began to stir, and cook fires were prepped for coffee and breakfast; the boring boiled rations, again. Halo ate his portion with the enthusiasm of a starving bear. He also ate any excess food from his classmates’ bowls as a tribute for the beast in his belly.
After breakfast, the groups packed up and forged ahead toward their final destination. The wind seemed to be picking up, but luckily it was at their backs, propelling them forward.
The hours passed. The sun rose and fell. When it was a fiery ball on the horizon, the travelers finally reached their destination; Marta’s hunting lodge. A section in the Frigid Range leveled out for hundreds of square miles of forest. The tiny hut was situated in the center of this forest. It didn’t have a name so the students just called it Marta’s Hideaway.
Marta stopped the students from going near the cabin. “First, the place is booby-trapped to protect my tools and equipment from any thieves that stumble upon this place. So don’t go near it,” she said and smirked. “Second, we’ll be here a while so you’ll need to build your own shelters. Sorry, you can’t use my tools. That would be too easy.”
Halo expected as much. He looked around and saw plenty of good trees to build a solid shelter. It only needed to be large enough to sleep the six in his group. It was too dark to start the heavy lifting so they set up camps.
Each group was required to be a fair distance from another group, and the two teachers would stay in Marta’s hut in the center of the camp. The groups were spread out so one was directly north, south, east, west, and at the midpoint between each to account for all eight groups.
Halo could see the light from the other cookfires but could not hear any conversation or see any of the happenings at the other sites. Maybe after this meal, he thought, I’ll scout out the other sections to see if they had any extra food.
Mila and Lydia laid out a blanket, took out their Keener decks, and proceeded to play a match near the fire. Mila goaded Lydia into a rematch. It was getting pretty serious now that they were wagering rare cards.
Thom finished up sharpening his boot knives and was checking the fletchings on his arrows. Of the group, Thom was the quickest and most accurate with throwing knives and bows. His clever musician’s hands were swiftly securing feathers to an arrow when a strong wind gusted through their camp.
“Shit!” the cousins cursed as the gale lifted Keener cards off their blanket away from the circle of camps. The cards tumbled a few times then flew through the air. The girls frantically ran after their prized possessions deep into the wooded area.
Nik and Thom laughed at the spectacle and Angela frowned.
“We can’t just let them fumble around out there in the dark,” Halo said after a while and sighed. The sun was rapidly disappearing.
The remaining four lit torches and followed the trail. Several minutes into the search they heard a call for help. It spurred them into action and they sprinted.
Angela pulled away immediately. Her blond hair whipped around behind her in a neat braid as she sprinted ahead.
Halo saw the swift girl draw a knife and throw. It coaxed him to greater speeds. His friends were in danger. When he arrived, he saw Angela swing her torch at a grey wolf that had its jaws clamped around Mila’s ankle. The girl was on the ground trying to scramble away from the creature, but it held her fast.
Other wolves darted about, but Halo focused on the one that gripped Mila. The tall boy grabbed the wolf by the hind legs and lifted which caused the beast to forget about the ankle. Before it could turn to bite at Halo, he spun and swung the wolf around. The creature was heavy, but Halo’s strength was already well known. He released the animal and it yelped as it crashed against the trunk of a tree.
Halo looked around. There were at least a dozen wolves surrounding the four. They growled and showed vicious fangs. He saw Nik in the distance with sword drawn and torch in the opposite hand. Thom’s torch was on the ground near the wolves. He must have thrown it to free both hands. An arrow was nocked and fully drawn.
Everything was still for a moment. The wolves appeared to be sizing up the situation. Halo was, too. It seemed like an eternity, but it was only a few heartbeats. When Halo turned his head to face the nearest wolf, the one in his blind spot leaped toward the giant. The rest happened in a blur.
Thom released arrow after arrow at the creatures, many shafts flying true. Nik yelled and sprinted toward his clustered friends. When the wolves were momentarily distracted, Halo drew his own sword and slashed about in a flurry. It wasn’t the most graceful display, but it was fast, strong, and effective.
After the numbers thinned, the remaining wolves scattered and dashed away. Seven carcasses littered the snowy ground around them. The white blanket was stained with splotches of red.
“Everyone okay?” Halo asked and sheathed his sword.
His friends nodded with pale faces. Until now, none of them had any real near-death experiences. These animals were bold and aggressive, and Halo was sure there was more of them out there and worse.
“Let’s take these back to camp,” Halo said. “We can use the furs… and the meat.”
His friends grimaced, but they understood their predicament. After checking to make sure the fallen wolves were dead, they each draped one across their shoulders to carry them back. Halo carried two.
*****
The next few spans were exhausting for Halo’s team. All sorts of creatures roamed the Frigid Range, and the faster they could build their shelter the better. They used ropes and vines to tie together pine logs into a primitive log cabin. They didn’t want to have an open fire inside their structure, so they opted to heat large stones and bring them inside to warm the shelter in the evenings.
Firewood and water needed gathering. The shelter needed maintenance and improvements. Sable and fox pelts needed to be tanned for use. All sorts of camp chores needed tending each day, and the six rotated tasks so every member practiced with each.
Marta taught the group how to properly skin the seven wolf carcasses and prepare the pelts. Though the students were clumsy at the new tasks, in the end, they were warmer and ate better than the other groups for a while. Halo was always hungry, however, and the hard work amplified his appetite. Each wolf they had killed in the skirmish was a hundred pounds or more, but the meat went quickly. Eventually, the group needed to exercise their hunting skills.
They set snares, fished in a nearby stream, and hunted for small game. Rimeland rabbit and mountain pheasant were plentiful in the area. Halo could see why it was a favorite hunting spot. There was plenty of food around for hunters; hunters which included large and dangerous predators.
On one of their hunting rotations, Thom and Halo carefully picked their way through the forest underbrush. They brought their bows and arrows, swords, and knives on their excursion deeper into the woods. They walked their normal circuit, hitting the various game trails that were successful on previous outings. Nothing.
Morning became noon. Noon started to melt away.
“What is going on? Where are they?” Thom asked.
“Not sure,” Halo said. “Let’s just head deeper in. We can’t go back empty-handed. Our food stores are nearly empty.”
They walked on. The crunch of snow under their boots filled the silence. It wasn’t as frigid or windy as it had been during the first span, but it was cold enough to be uncomfortable. Halo’s nose was numb and running, and he constantly sniffed back the fluid.
The pair stopped to rest at a massive rock formation. They set down their bows and sat at the base of the solid grey stone. The wall was comfortable to lean against as they ate their rations. Halo pressed the back of his head into the stone and was lost in thought. He wanted to be like that stone. Sturdy, dependable, strong, lasting; a pillar to lean against when one needed rest.
When the break was over, they stood up and dusted themselves off. He heard a grunt and looked up. There he saw a giant black Rimeland bear down on all fours. It snorted then let out a deep, threatening, throaty sound. The beast wrinkled its face into a snarl and bore its teeth.
“Shit,” Halo whispered. He knew. Thom knew. They had to fight it.
As fast as Halo was, there was no outrunning a bear, especially the aggressive Rimeland black. Along with the Rimeland tiger, this was one animal best avoided whenever possible. This bear wanted human meat.
Halo positioned himself in front of Thom and nocked an arrow. He wanted all the attention on him. The beast snorted again. In that instant, Halo brought the bow to a full draw and released. The shaft flew straight into the bear’s shoulder, but the animal barely moved. The bow wasn’t made for bear. The forty pound draw weight was enough for a small deer, but a heavier draw was needed for larger game.
The bear let out an angry roar and charged. Halo considered dodging last second, but Thom was still behind him. He side-stepped early so the beast had time to angle toward the giant boy. He fumbled with another arrow, but his clumsy hands bobbled it and sent it to the ground.
As he floundered for another shaft, the bear closed the distance. The bow was useless at close range so he threw it at the animal and drew his sword. The bear didn’t slow and swiped a heavy paw at the boy.
It hit him square on the shoulder, tossing him like a ragdoll to the side. The wind was knocked completely out of him. Halo was lucky that he didn’t impale or slice himself on his own sword as he crashed to the ground and rolled away. He scrambled to his knees sucking for air.
The bear was almost on him again when it growled and turned sharply. Halo saw the shaft of an arrow in its arse. Thom was nocking another arrow when the bear focused on him. It closed and swiped at him, shattering the bow and knocking it out of his hands.
Halo wouldn’t allow the bear to have its way. Although he struggled to breathe, he drew his knife and threw it at the bear. The blade sunk in next to Thom’s shot. The bear howled, turned, and refocused on Halo. It squared up against the large boy, tensed its muscles, and let out a low, menacing growl. Thom and Halo stood, breathing heavily, their bows discarded or destroyed. They knew this dance couldn’t last forever.
In an instant, the bear sprang forward, faster than Halo expected its hulking mass to move. Adrenaline surged, and the boy’s sword training took over. After the initial shock and fear of the bear subsided, he transformed into the fighter that Nina had forged; the warrior that all Zem’Alam would one day know. Halo Windblade clenched his jaw, stepped back, and swung the razor-sharp dreadsteel blade at the incoming blow from the bear. He sheared the paw cleanly off.
It howled in pain. Halo took the opportunity to thrust his sword deep into the beast’s mouth, driving through with every ounce of strength he had. He released the grip of his sword, and bent and drew his other knife blade down. As the bear staggered around in misery, Halo hammered his fist down on the top of its head, driving the point of his knife through the skull and into the brain. The beast collapsed to the ground and was still.
After a few moments, Halo retrieved his blades and sheathed them. He circled the carcass then awkwardly tried to wrap his arms around it. He tried to lift it but only succeeded in looking like he wanted to cuddle it.
“What are you doing?” Thom asked.
“I’m taking this bear back to camp.”
“It has to be over four-hundred pounds,” he said. “And it’s a long way back.”
Halo frowned, stood, then paced around, but eventually agreed. They skinned the bear then took the pelt and the best cuts of meat. They would eat well for a while.
*****
After the incident with the bear, Halo’s confidence grew by leaps and bounds. Spans turned into months, and his ability to survive in the wild became second nature. All of the Windblade students were growing comfortable in the harsh environment.
It was time for them to actively hunt the big and dangerous game. Marta had shown various techniques that were successful for her in hunts. Previously, she hunted alone and with poisons. With numbers, different strategies could be applied. The one for hunting Rimeland tigers involved live bait; a person.
Halo immediately volunteered for the task. None of his team would be subjected to that risk when he was around to shoulder it. He was the pillar, the stone wall they could rely on.
And he began to look the part, too. Halo packed on thick muscle. He continued his combat training along with practicing the new skills he had learned from Marta. As time passed, his balance and coordination returned to him. The others used to think he was impressive, but now they began to look at him in awe. He was tall and thickly muscled, and yet for all his size he could move and strike with shocking quickness. Few could help but be startled by his mix of strength and speed, much like the Rimeland bear itself.
A few of his friends developed their e’lan during the expedition. This meant that the students had to return to Golovka before the Birth Moon so that the newly inked adults could be drafted into their Decade of Trial.
Part of Halo was disappointed that his ink hadn’t matured on the trip. Especially because if it materializes in the two years following, Warlord Klag, the arch-nemesis of his family, would have Halo as the first pick. Halo would have slipped that noose if his power showed on this trip, but since it did not, he would do all he could to support his friends in the upcoming selections. Being there for his friends filled him with more happiness than getting a favorable draft slot. That was his nature; brave and selfless to the core.
END
Thanks for reading!!
(Learn more about Halo in Glaive: Blade of a Flower! (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Google Play, Apple iBooks, BookBaby)