The Trail To Paradise

The sun did its best to cast its rays through the clouds racing across the sky, creating a contrast that made it look like a vast darkness was enveloping the land. Seemingly ominous, but only to those with a flair for drama. The travelers hurried to shelter down before the storm. They would need to park the wagons and get the horses settled in. Lightning in the distance had been an early enough warning, but now thunder was rumbling closer. As the wagons got settled, the group started to prepare camp fires. A good blaze would keep the chill away, but not if the kindling was soaked before it could be lit. With everything set up, the parents would be bringing food to their children. Nobody would want a little one wandering around tonight. A child lost in this was a child that wouldn't make it back. Humans might shelter from the storm, but wolves weren't afraid to take down small prey when it presented itself so readily, though they mostly stayed away from the world of man. Thundering booms sounded as if a bard was beating a bass drum. The way everything looked like daytime when the storm flashed its fingers of electricity, made it feel like the end of days. It was the end of a singular day, but not of all. The camp fires seemed lively. Most of them were. A lone man, who had been part of the caravan for a month, sat by a fire which looked far away, though it was still part of the camp. He hadn't said two words to anyone except his horse in all that time. He was a handsome man, probably around his middle years. Dark hair, fair skinned, and eyes that looked like a frozen pond, ice blue, but with a depth of sadness that left those that made eye contact think him a tortured, ghastly spirit if not for talking to the horse. Early attempts to have a conversation with him had been met with haunted looks. He'd glance at the speaker, make eye contact, then he'd walk away. It was obvious that there was a story there, but that he was unable, or unwilling, to tell it. Tad, the caravan leader, went through to check on everyone. He always made sure the group was able to bed down and that there were no major obstacles that needed addressing. It kept everyone moving. A busted axle could be fixed overnight, so that everyone would be able to move at first light. It was extremely efficient. He was no stranger to this life. He had purchased a ranch and settled down, but it had been destroyed during the War of Shades. Five years had passed since then, the moment he had lost everyone dear to him, and he found his calling helping others avoid the same fate. It seemed a noble enough cause, though not a free ride. He only asked that he be taken care of in whatever fashion that was available. He'd do everything in his power to keep everyone safe as long as they fed him and kept him clothed. Occasionally, a woman on her own would seek passage. Tad tended to make arrangements with them as well. No one knew the actual terms, but those women would stay in his wagon. For safety reasons. After the stranger joined, Tad had asked everyone to just let him do as he wished. Nobody was sure if Tad and the man knew each other, but Tad didn't ask a lot. He'd tell everyone that the more fighting men they had, the safer they were. The night went by quickly and everyone was readying to move a couple hours after dawn. That gave the storm time to finish blowing through and let Tad scout the country ahead. They'd been lucky to find themselves nestled between two ridges for the night. It was a vast open plain ahead and none of them wanted to get caught without cover. They weren't soldiers, but the Hunters they could encounter were. As lands were taken over, the new lord liked to keep his people from leaving. If they were seen to have left, he'd have his Hunters bring them back. The orders were worded to sound like it was for their own good, but the lord couldn't collect taxes or fill the ranks of his army if everyone was allowed to leave. None of them wanted to return. There had been rumor of a free city far to the West. That's how people normally came across men like Tad. The free city was never named to anyone's knowledge, but was the ultimate destination. It took months to get there, or so it was said, and it was preferable to get there before winter. When winter descended, the entrance was impassable, and that would mean building a camp to weather the cold, with no guarantee how the group would fare. When Tad had everyone ready to move, he explained that they would need to stick close to the ridgeline. There were tracks that led onto the plains so they'd go around. It would add a day or two to the trip, but it would be made up on the other side of the plains. Speed would be for nothing if they were caught. Onward, the caravan moved. They weren’t on the main road and the terrain was considerably more treacherous. Without caution, they would break a lot of wagon wheels, though they had what they needed to repair them if they ran into that issue. It would just be a loss of a lot of time. Tad led on and when the sky started to show the iridescent colors of sundown, they hid in a copse close to a ridge. The terrain would offer some camouflage. Tad had to address everyone. "Ok everyone, listen up! We are not in safe territory. We will have one small campfire for cooking. I know it's a hassle, but we have to limit our exposure. This is the hardest part of the journey. I've made this run quite a few times. We will make it if you keep to the rules. I hope you can all understand." Although some of these folks felt inconvenienced, it was a small price to pay to escape this land, so was taken in stride. While Tad went to find the stranger, Frank sat at his own fire with his wife and 12 year old son; an age considered in farming families that a boy had become a man. He watched Tad closely. Frank was always a bit of a skeptic. If not for his family, he would have tried to make this journey on his own. His wife, Jolie gave him a light backhand. "What're you starin’ at, Frank? You're gonna give them a complex. Mr. Tad has done right by us this far. I don't reckon he's gonna just up and skedaddle." "I know honey, but it's hard to trust anyone these days. I want to know more about that stranger. Why is he here? I'd feel a helluva lot better if he'd just say somethin’." "That man ain't showed no interest in our comings and goings at all. He just seems like he's hurtin’. I'm not gonna get my girdle in a twist unless he looks at me with eyes that don't look so defeated. I'm gonna go get in line for the fire. Will you and Frank junior get our supper area ready?" Jolie didn't wait for an answer. She knew they would get to it. They'd been through this process enough. "Come on, Junior. Let's get the table out and set up. I have a mighty appetite tonight. " "Ok, Pa!" Junior started going for the plates. Everything was done well before Jolie could return. Frank decided to get some water from the spring that ran off the ridge. "I'll be right back, son. You guard the fort whilst me and your mom finish gathering supplies. " Junior was used to being left with the wagons. None of their group had misplaced a child yet and they were not in a hurry to do so. Junior watched the area like a real guard. He saw the other wagons doing the same. His eyes settled on the stranger. Nobody knew anything about the man. He was the only mystery Junior had to distract himself from the journey. The man wasn't looking in Junior's direction, so he took the time to see what he could put together. His belongings were simple. The odd stranger had never had a wagon, only a worn sleeping bag and a backpack of supplies. It was obvious he knew how to live rough and his camp had been ready before anyone else's. "Did you need something?" The unknown voice spoke without looking toward Junior. The boy was so shocked that he fell off the stump he'd found to sit on. Panicking and with a look of disbelief on his face, he went to hide in the wagon. That man only ever talked to his horse! Why say something now? It was another ten minutes before his Ma got back, barely arriving before his Pa. He tried to tell them of the encounter, but they did not believe a word. The man had already turned in for the night. After a simple, lukewarm dinner, because the fire line had been a mess, the family decided to settle in for the night. Everyone else seemed to be performing their nightly bedtime routines. Wolves could be heard having conversations in the night, but the camp was quiet again.