Cold Hunts

A long journey

-Ahri's POV-

It's cold. Why is it so cold? Did Kris leave the door open? I slowly opened my eyes only to be met by a steel box with a few small holes of light. What's going on? I thought I was with Kris. I slowly try to stand up but the box kept moving from side to side, forcing me to land hard on my a*s. As I fell I heard the jingle of a chain, and only now getting a full awareness of my surrounding. I lifted my hands to get a good look at the full metal handcuffs not only clamped to my wrist but also covered my hands in metal. Looking past the handcuffs, Hati came into view. She looked badly hurt with bloodstains all of her. I crawled my way to her to see if I can help. She slowly, and what looks to be painful, lifted her head looking straight at me. She has a muzzle covering her mouth that looks to be a bit too small for her. After she got a good look at me she dropped her head back down as if it is painful to move.

In a very weak voice, she asked "A-are you ok?"

I was panicked and hastily asked, "What's going on Hati? Where are we? Why do you look hurt? Where's Kris? Is he alright? How long have I been out?"

My fear and anxiety clearly showing through my fast but fearful questions. My eyes also tear up as I got one last question out, "Why is this happening?"

Hati just looked at me as if she was about to cry as well. She tried comforting me by wrapping me up close to her with her tail. My face rested on her side and I can feel her rhythmic breathing and her soft fur. It's all very soothing and I can feel myself relaxing.

"Ahri, if you want me to tell you what happened then you have to promise me you'll stay strong for whatever comes."

I nod my head still having one to two tears running down my face. "We have been kidn*pped by the men Kris met before we found you."

A cold shiver ran down my spine as I asked "Hati... w-where is Kris?"

Hati eyes saddened as my tears ran fast and in larger amounts. My gut felt like it was run over by a steam train and then torn apart by vultures.

"I-it c-c-can't b-be."

Hati started crying as well as she said. ".....the last I saw..... was Kris on the ground..... with a knife in his stomach."

Hati continued crying and I followed burying my face in her side, yelling in pain and anger.

-Random Town Person POV-

Today is just like any other day in town. Boring. Nothing happens and now it's the end of the day with a giant snowstorm outside. No one interesting comes by the shop anymore or it's just Dave who comes in only to annoy the s**t out of me. My shop is the only place facing the north. Don't ask me why it's how I bought it. Oh goddammit, it's Dave, and just when I was about to lock up.

"HEY RED!!!! Sell anything today?! You know I was wondering if I can borrow one of your... special items."

"No Dave, you can't take a g*n just to try and impress some lady. Why do you always do this? Just go home cause I'm tired of your bullshit and I'm locking up so I can go home."

Dave simply chuckled before saying, "Fine. A least let me walk you home through this storm we're having."

"For your information, I'm not a girl."

"hehe, but you act like one."

This is why no one likes him. I got my things and went outside into the cold snowstorm trying to lock the front door. Dave, still recovering from his joke stood next to me while I lock the door. He was looking out into the distance. "Boy, it sure cold. I'd hate to walk... in... this.

I caught a glimpse of Dave looking at something but turned my attention back to the lock which for some reason doesn't want to click in. Dave being quiet did concern so with a sigh I asked. "What is it, Dave?"

Mind you I am also a bit curious about what Dave is looking at but it's probably just another attempt at a joke. What he said next didn't help his case. "I-I think I see a person in the distance."

"Bullshit. No one in their right mind will walk in this blizzard."

Dave did have a bit of urgency in his voice. "I'm not lying this time, there's someone out there!"

At this point, he started to run away from me calling out. He is really trying to sell it, isn't he? Finally, the lock closed and now I can see what he's up to.

"Alright Dave, what do you think...is..."

I couldn't say any more as Dave came running back, carrying a man on his shoulder. He was screaming as he ran. "He's weak but still conscious!! We need to get him inside."

I was shocked at the sight of Dave carry this man, who came out of nowhere, that I couldn't move. The worst part is it's in a storm like this. As he approached, I slowly realized the severity of the situation and jumped into action by pulling out my phone and calling my wife. You would expect me to call an ambulance but our town doesn't have one. Just the local doctor who goes around checking up on people. As the phone rang and my wife picks up, I signaled Dave to follow me. "Honey there's no time to explain but you have to call the doc and make sure the fires going!"

"Sweetie wha..."

I hate hanging up on people it just feels wrong but this time I had to so I can help Dave.

-Kris POV-

I've been running for 8 days barely stopping for food or water. Today was the ninth day and my body finally started to give in to the exhaustion, the muscle fatigue weakening, and lack of sleep. Not to mention the stab wound in my stomach wasn't getting any better but the thought that I can't save Ahri or Hati is worse than the pain I'm enduring.

It's late in the day and a massive storm is making things a lot more difficult, so much so I could not run anymore but slowed down to a walk. My legs feel like they are carrying the world. My lungs, like they are being shredded by the snow. I cannot feel my hands anymore as I use them to cover my eyes from the storm. My steps are starting to slow down as I begin to lose hope. Finally, I come to a stop and fell to my knees as I can't take another step. This is it. This is how I'm going to die. It's not the thought of death that scares me it's the thought of failing them.

"I-I-I'm... sorry..."

I fell forward only to be caught in someone's arms. I did not hear them coming. Where did they come from?

The person got underneath me and slung me over his shoulder running in the direction I was heading. He started shouting but even begin some close I can't make out what he's saying. It doesn't matter as slowly, I drifted out of consciousness.

Back in the void, I can't see anything but I hear a familiar voice. It was Lykos. Her voice is slowly becoming something I cannot forget. "It's alright you are safe but we have no time to talk. It's time you wake up."

I burst awake startling a woman who must have been watching me. She looked frightened and instantly turned as pale as the snow. She quickly ran into another room yelling to someone else. "COME QUICK!!! HE'S IS AWAKE!!!"

I heard chairs falling as soon as the woman yell and not long after running footsteps getting louder and louder, till a relatively old man stopped in front of me with a shocked expression. He crouched down meeting me at eye level and spoked as if he'd seen a miracle. "Are the man that left here to go north seven years ago."

As he said this, the others in the room instantly look at him. They all seem surprised to see that the doctor thinks I'm the one from seven years ago. When I arrived here back then, I met nearly everyone. I am surprised that the doctor recognizes me. I nod my head as an answer to his question. One of the men asked the Doctor, "Doc, you know this man?"

"Yes Dave, everyone knows him. Except for you because you were sleeping off a hangover when he arrived. Now tell me..."

"Kris."

"Yes... Kris...What are you doing here?"

"I n-need to keep f-following them," I said while trying to get up.

The Doctor gently pushed me back down, "Follow who?"

"Vans, metal vans."

The man called Dave spoke up, "Ohhhhhh you mean the vans that stopped by a week or so ago."

A sudden burst of adrenaline filled my body as I jumped out of my chair and pushed Dave against the wall. Lifting him off the ground. I can see pure fear in his eyes as I yelled. "WHICH WAY DID THEY GO?!"

Dave panic, "I don't know I don't know!"

He started crying and a sudden jolt of pain shot through my body causing the burst of strength I had to quickly subsided, coursing me to fall with Dave. The doctor and the other man helped me back up into the chair while the woman helped Dave. He managed to speak after my scare, "Red, please find out why he suddenly attacked me. I-I need to go home."

"Sure, I'll find out. Honey. After you helped Dave, can you go get this man something to eat and drink?"

I had to keep going. They have to know I need to keep going. "I-I have t-to keep g-going."

However, the doctor did not approve of what I said. He quickly told me the facts of my condition, "Kris, you are in no shape to do anything. I'm surprised you're still able to move. You've lost so much blood that one could consider you to be dead, not to mention you've also work body beyond the normal limits of any living being in this harsh environment. It's nothing short of a miracle that you are still alive."

"I can't stop."

The man Dave called Red spoke, "Why?! What's so important for you to put yourself through this misery?!"

"I can't let the only family I've ever known die!"

The room went silent at my statement. Both the men just looked at each other realizing the situation but neither spoke. "I know where they went."

The wife of Red walked into the room and set a tray of steak and potatoes with a glass of water down on my lap. Everyone, including myself, looks at her with surprised faces. A bit of hope in mine. She made a condition, "If I tell you, you have to promise that you'll stay the night."

With no other option, I agreed to her request with a nod. She seemed relieved that I'll be staying. "Good, cause I can't stand watching you hurt yourself more. Now I work at the town bar and those men with the vans kept saying, after one too many shots, that they were finally going home, 5 days south of here."

The last bit of what she said hit me like a bullet. They're probably already there if not close. Looking down at the floor I said. "I won't make it in time."

Red stepped in, to my rescue. "Not on foot but a car maybe."

I looked up at him confused as to what he was suggesting. His wife had the same reaction. "Sweetie, what are you thinking of doing?"

"I'm going to make sure he gets there as fast as possible."

"What! No! You can't leave."

Red simply hugs his wife, "Listen honey, I now remember this man when he first came here. Broken, alone, suffering from his past and left to die in the wild. But he didn't. He built a life for himself, a family, and all that is taken away from him and the very people who we took in, who we gave shelter to. We owe him."

The wife held her head low, nodding to show she understands. Red turned to me with a serious look and held out his hand. "I'll help you get your family back."

Not saying a word I shook his hand and spent the rest of the night in their house.