Serpentine

01 luck

Luck would have brought them to Feather Pass, but luck was not on their side today as the four oddly placed human beings trudged through the deepening snow. It had been a full week since they had passed any sign of settled life in the mountains, and tempers were beginning to flair.

Darren led the pack, testing each snow drift with his walking stick to ensure the women wouldn't be swallowed by the white powder.

“I hope it's not much farther.” Lila joked. Darren shot her a discerning look over his shoulder but she only smiled back. Her brother had always been right even when he was wrong. His stubbornness didn't mean she couldn't have fun with him while he sulked.

“You know what sounds amazing right now?” She turned to Vika who shook her head.

“A nice big hot tub. And lots of hard liquor.” Lila's laugh bubbled out. It sounded foreign amid the trees.

“A hot tub and a nice warm bed with a real mattress.” Milo laughed, offering a hand to Vika as she stepped over a fallen tree trunk.

“What about you, Vika? What are you fantasizing about?” Lila smiled cheerfully. Vika wondered how someone could smile so much in cold weather.

“Um, a hot bath. With lots of bubbles.” She couldn't help but smile at the thought. Any warmth at all would be welcome in this snow globe.

“I bet you I know what Darren wants right now.” The corner of Lila's mouth quirked upward in a smirk only a sister could have.

“Shut up, Lila.” Darren retorted, stomping through the snow.

“Darren wants Melissa Gardner to warm his hands up.” She broke into a bought of laughter, slapping Milo on the back enthusiastically.

“Darren wants a muzzle for his sister.” Darren snarled, leaping out of the tree line and into the snow covered meadow. He stopped suddenly, standing straight as an arrow against the icy wind.

“What's going on? Why'd you stop?” Milo stepped forward, immediately stopping and taking an eager leap back.

Staring back with black eyes was a great dark beast. It's claws dug into the snow, sounding like sheers being drawn together as it shifted its weight.. The beast's mouth snarled in a jagged grin.

“C-C'mon Darren.” Milo stammered, his voice barely a whisper.

“Don't be ridiculous.” Darren scoffed, advancing with his walking stick in hand. “I'll handle this.”

The beast accepted Darren's challenge by retreating a small step, then pouncing forward with a power unseen by those who watched it.

“Darren, look out!” Vika cried, ducking behind the tree line.

Darren let out a started grunt as he fell backwards to the ground, swinging his walking stick at his opponent. The beast circled him once, a low growl rumbling from its chest. As it advanced towards him, Darren fought to upright himself, slipping and tripping over his own feet.

Lila and Vika watched from aside, terrified for their friend's safety. Just as the beast approached close enough to swipe at him, it turned it's massive snout upward, sniffing the air. The snowy meadow was suddenly eerily silent.

Just as quickly as it had come, the beast turned and ran north through the trees, bounding over fallen tree trunks and brush.

As soon as her legs would move, Lila rushed to Darren. She pushed him over, searching for any wounds he may have encountered. When she was satisfied he had sustained no life threatening injuries, she smacked him over the side of his head.

“Ow! What was that for?” He cried.

“You're an idiot. You could have been killed.” She seethed, her fear quickly being replaced by anger.

“Well I'm not dead. I'm not even hurt.” He stood slowly, trying to mask the wobble in his legs. He would never admit out loud just how frightened he had been in those slow passing moments, but each of them knew he wasn't brave enough to walk away unscathed.

“Which way did it go?” Milo pressed, peering around the clearing. All was silent except for their voices against the rising wind.

“I think it headed north.” Vika spoke softly.

“We should continue to head west towards the pass. Come on.” Darren shook his jacket free of the packed snow and began to stomp through the snow once more.

“Wait a minute.” Lila's voice cut through the air like a knife, stopping all three in their tracks.

“We don't know if there are more of those things out here. We need a better plan than just heading west.”

Darren sighed. Little Miss We-Need-A-Plan was going to stall them from the last daylight they had. He knew they were off their mark, but by how much was yet to be discovered. The only thing he did know what that they would not be posting camp with that thing lurking in the woods.

“Lila's right. We need a better plan, Darren.” Milo turned to face him. His eyes were weary, Darren thought. He looked tired.

“Listen.” He stepped closer to his friends. “The only choice we have is to keep going. Feather Pass is just west of here, I know it. We may have to hike half a day still, but I know none of us wants to camp here tonight. We're losing daylight discussing this.”

“We can head back east. There was a settlement somewhere back there, right?” Lila pushed. She began to babble incoherently against the cold, blubbering nearly. The shock had left her and she was about to break down. Darren hadn't figured she would lose her cool just yet.

“It's okay, Lila.” Vika murmured, pulling her friend close. “No one was hurt. We're okay.”

Milo knew their ties were slowly breaking apart now. Starving, freezing and losing their minds after this encounter, he knew they wouldn't last much longer. He quickly pulled Darren out of earshot from the girls as they consoled each other.

“Are you sure it's only another day's hike, Darren?”

Darren licked his lips before answering. “We passed Folly's Cave a week ago. Heading west, we should be nearly there. You just have to trust me Milo, that's all I'm asking.” Milo considered his friend for a moment and glanced back at the girls. Vika was staring at them with questioning eyes.

“I don't think they'll make it much farther than this.” He sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. Milo's voice was nearly uneven as he spoke in a low voice.

“I know.” Darren agreed. His stomach turned as Milo faced the girls. Folly's Cave should have been a four day hike to Feather Pass, but now that their supplies were dwindling, Darren was beginning to doubt where he had led them.

The snow storms in the mountains had shown them little mercy, hindering their progress from day one. Darren prayed that they were as close to the pass as he had said. If not, he feared the mutiny that would surely follow his failure.

“Alright, here's the plan.” Milo grabbed his gear. “We head west for another day. Feather Pass is just a day away, if we turn back now our supplies won't last us long enough to find a settlement. We have to keep going. Vika, you and Lila keep in the middle, I'll bring up the rear.” He gave Darren a half nod and let the girls pass him with wide eyes.

There was little conversation as they headed further west. Lila shivered and shook against Vika's arm. Of all the places she could have been right now, Vika thought, this was the last place she thought she would die. The cold burned her finger tips though the two layers of gloves she wore. She was thankful her feet had gone numb already, but knew the pain she would feel when they warmed would be just as painful as the cold.

Darren hadn't looked back at them once, and for that she was grateful. Vika hadn't realized just how much a person could think about on a journey such as this.