Page 1 of 50 §f﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽§0
§f﷽﷽§0§lInto§fﯭ§0§lThe§fﯭ§0§lGrey§f﷽﷽§0
§f﷽﷽﷽﷽§0§lPart§fﷴ§0§l2§f﷽﷽﷽﷽§0
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§f﷽§0§n__________§f﷽§0
§f﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽§0
§f﷽﷽﷽§0Written§fﷴ§0By§f﷽﷽﷽§0
§f﷽﷽﷽﷽§0§lGTAIV§0
Page 2 of 50 §lThe Grey§0
§0
§0"Road closed due to§0
§0renovation". Lucas read§0
§0from the signs blocking§0
§0the snow-covered stone§0
§0slab highway.§0
§0"Renovation? What the..."§0
§0He had reached the pass§0
§0itself just as the faintest§0
§0hints of light had seeped§0
§0through the clouds,§0
§0casting a§0
Page 3 of 50 ghastly glow onto the§0
§0white valleys and§0
§0forests around him. His§0
§0feet touched the snowy§0
§0ground and began to ache§0
§0after so many hours in§0
§0the cart. Somewhere§0
§0behind the thick clouds the§0
§0sun was rising once more.§0
§0
§0He peered past the§0
§0barricades and§0
Page 4 of 50 through the flurry of§0
§0snow. Around a hundred§0
§0blocks ahead the road§0
§0indeed stopped, giving way§0
§0to a largely impassable§0
§0construction pit. He§0
§0fumbled with the§0
§0discordbox, leaning in.§0
§0"Hello, can anyone hear§0
§0me? Please advise§0
§0alternate routes for§0
§0Norvansgard.
Page 5 of 50 Is the pass closed?" There§0
§0was no response apart§0
§0from some slight static. As§0
§0he cursed under his breath§0
§0he noticed a small road§0
§0sign next to the wooden§0
§0barricades. "Detour - 400§0
§0blocks south".§0
§0
§0Lucas gently navigated§0
§0the loaded cart to turn§0
§0around on the§0
Page 6 of 50 snowy highway. He slowly§0
§0creeped back down the§0
§0road, looking for the§0
§0detour as flakes fell from§0
§0the sky. "This explains§0
§0why there wasn't a single§0
§0carriage coming in the§0
§0opposite direction", he§0
§0thought. The ambient light§0
§0was slowly growing,§0
§0turning what§0
Page 7 of 50 had once been pitch black§0
§0into a mix of grey and§0
§0white snow. He could see§0
§0the valley, hostile fields§0
§0meeting a dense taiga of§0
§0pine and coniferous trees§0
§0that stretched out for§0
§0miles. Suddenly it appeared,§0
§0a small opening on the side§0
§0of the road marked with
Page 8 of 50 an orange piece of wool§0
§0fluttering in the wind.§0
§0
§0The cart's wheels slipped§0
§0off the stone slab footing§0
§0of the highway shoulder§0
§0and onto the uneven§0
§0snow-covered dirt. Lucas§0
§0was jostled about inside§0
§0the cabin, the horses§0
§0complained for a minute§0
§0and started§0
Page 9 of 50 back up. Over here,§0
§0beneath the canopy of§0
§0dead branches, progress§0
§0was slow. The cart climbed§0
§0above rocks and twigs§0
§0covered by fresh powdery§0
§0snow as Lucas scanned the§0
§0horizon for any indication§0
§0of the detour. Behind him,§0
§0the opening to the§0
§0highway§0
Page 10 of 50 disappeared as the forest§0
§0closed in around him.§0
§0
§0A massive jolt hit the§0
§0cart as the right wheel§0
§0slipped off a rock. His§0
§0horses neighed loudly from§0
§0the pain. Behind him, he§0
§0felt the heavy§0
§0doublechests of compacted§0
§0material shift and creak.§0
§0He groaned,§0
Page 11 of 50 peering back and inspecting§0
§0the damage. He knew he§0
§0couldn't risk the load§0
§0much, and already now one§0
§0of the doublechests had§0
§0cracked slightly. As he§0
§0drove forward once more,§0
§0he felt the uneven pull of§0
§0a crooked wheel. His teeth§0
§0gritted, he hesitated. He§0
Page 12 of 50 wasn't sure he could still§0
§0turn around and make it§0
§0back to the highway if he§0
§0had to. Then he saw it.§0
§0
§0Just a couple dozen blocks§0
§0ahead, there seemed to be§0
§0a small path cleared of§0
§0snow leading out of the§0
§0forest. It looked to crest§0
§0over the pass, and Lucas§0
Page 13 of 50 could see that it must lead§0
§0downhill, probably to§0
§0reconnect with the main§0
§0highway. A bittersweet§0
§0smile overcame him. What§0
§0half-assed road crew set§0
§0up a detour but didn't§0
§0clear a path through the§0
§0trees? The cart§0
§0accelerated, wooden wheels§0
§0pushing against§0
Page 14 of 50 the mix of dirt and snow.§0
§0He pulled back on the§0
§0reins, over the last bump§0
§0of clustered branches and§0
§0onto an unseen dip§0
§0straight onto the§0
§0snow-covered field.§0
§0
§0Lucas flinched as his§0
§0horses crashed onto the§0
§0field and white flakes flew§0
§0everywhere. They§0
Page 15 of 50 sank in, violently thrashing§0
§0about as the cart hit the§0
§0snow. The large wheels fell§0
§0in next, tilting the cart§0
§0somewhat to the side as it§0
§0came to a sudden stop.§0
§0One of the large§0
§0doublechests crashed§0
§0forward from the impact,§0
§0spilling compacted dark§0
§0spruce§0
Page 16 of 50 into the cabin. Stillness§0
§0momentarily returned as§0
§0the creaking stopped. He§0
§0swore, kicking open the§0
§0door and pulling himself§0
§0out of the cart. He stood§0
§0atop the snow and took§0
§0in the situation.§0
§0
§0In an attempt to escape§0
§0the forest he had followed§0
§0a clearing§0
Page 17 of 50 of exposed dirt right off§0
§0the treeline. Snowflakes§0
§0flew into his eyes and the§0
§0cold bit his skin as he§0
§0stood, staggering around§0
§0his sunken horses and back§0
§0to the cabin. He surmised§0
§0that he had probably§0
§0jumped the pass and was§0
§0on the other side of the§0
Page 18 of 50 range. Looking everywhere§0
§0into the grey around him§0
§0yielded white fields,§0
§0forests and some scraggly§0
§0rocks. The carved outline§0
§0of the freeway, however,§0
§0was nowhere to be seen.§0
§0Perhaps he had gone off§0
§0the eastern side, away§0
§0from the road?§0
§0
§0He crawled back§0
Page 19 of 50 into the cabin, pushing§0
§0aside compacted wood. He§0
§0found the discordbox, still§0
§0on, and started fumbling§0
§0with the dials again.§0
§0"Mayday, mayday", he§0
§0rasped loudly into the mic.§0
§0"My cart is stuck in a§0
§0field next to the pass.§0
§0Please, I§0
Page 20 of 50 need someone to help me§0
§0tie a winch and pull it§0
§0out". The sound of wind§0
§0mixed with light static. He§0
§0cursed yet again,§0
§0hopelessly, hunching his§0
§0head down in despair.§0
§0
§0The wind changed and§0
§0grew quiet. The falling§0
§0snow swirled in place for a§0
§0moment, the§0
Page 21 of 50 meadow unnaturally silent.§0
§0Out of the corner of his§0
§0eye he noticed something§0
§0moving around near the§0
§0treeline. Were those§0
§0footsteps? He rummaged§0
§0through loose items in the§0
§0cabin and found his bow.§0
§0A small Power II,§0
§0Napistan-made. He had§0
§0bought it from the§0
Page 22 of 50 the black market when civil§0
§0war in Miletos broke out§0
§0and security had§0
§0deteriorated along the§0
§0coastal highway. He never§0
§0once used it, but had§0
§0practiced shooting into§0
§0the lake behind his house§0
§0once. He counted six§0
§0arrows, of which two had§0
§0spilled out and§0
Page 23 of 50 broken during the accident.§0
§0
§0Lucas steadily emerged§0
§0from the cabin, holding his§0
§0bow, quiver slung over his§0
§0back. He crouched,§0
§0scanning the grey expanse§0
§0before him. He walked to§0
§0the back of his cart,§0
§0planning to hoist himself§0
§0up§0
Page 24 of 50 and get a better view. As§0
§0he turned the corner his§0
§0heart froze, stopping him§0
§0in his tracks.§0
§0
§0Emerging from the forest,§0
§0slowly, one by one. Their§0
§0red eyes pierced the§0
§0greyness of the falling§0
§0sleet. The dogs growled§0
§0menacingly, darting from§0
§0the trees,§0
Page 25 of 50 flanking him and§0
§0surrounding the sunken§0
§0cart. He counted six. He§0
§0knew a pack of Big Dogs§0
§0was exceedingly rare; those§0
§0terrorizing the edges of§0
§0civilization were solitary§0
§0and usually no more than§0
§0two were ever spotted at§0
§0a time. Six predators,§0
§0walking§0
Page 26 of 50 nimbly on the snow, their§0
§0paws leaving footprints§0
§0quickly filled in by fresh§0
§0precipitation.§0
§0
§0They continued circling.§0
§0Lucas slowly brought an§0
§0arrow to the bow, loading§0
§0it and pulling back on the§0
§0string. The bow clicked and§0
§0the closest dog stopped,§0
§0saliva§0
Page 27 of 50 dripping from its open§0
§0mouth. Then, it snarled,§0
§0began loudly barking and§0
§0moved towards him. The§0
§0others followed suit. Lucas§0
§0raised the bow and§0
§0shouldered it, aiming down§0
§0his sights. The beast§0
§0jumped forward and§0
§0gnashed, now almost an§0
§0arm's length away. He
Page 28 of 50 pulled the lever and his§0
§0bow kicked back, shooting§0
§0an arrow right between§0
§0the its eyes. It let out a§0
§0strained whine, its body§0
§0jerked back and fell rigidly§0
§0onto the ground in front§0
§0of him.§0
§0
§0The hounds snarled and§0
§0attacked from all§0
§0directions.§0
Page 29 of 50 Lucas let out a long yell§0
§0and threw his closed fist§0
§0into the nearest gnashing§0
§0mouth. It recoiled for a§0
§0moment, giving him the§0
§0chance to jump over the§0
§0cart and reach into the§0
§0cabin. Using his torn hand,§0
§0he felt a crate and§0
§0decompacted it. Wood§0
§0exploded§0
Page 30 of 50 violently and filled the§0
§0cabin; bits of dark spruce§0
§0flung out at high speed,§0
§0shattering the wooden§0
§0paneling and scaring the§0
§0dogs back as it splintered§0
§0in their faces. Lucas§0
§0grabbed a broken beam§0
§0and left his cart,§0
§0staggering as fast as he§0
§0could towards§0
Page 31 of 50 the edge of the treeline,§0
§0blood from his hand§0
§0staining the thick snow.§0
§0Behind, he could hear the§0
§0leaping and bounding of§0
§0their paws. They were§0
§0closing in now, but he§0
§0needed only another§0
§0moment before he'd be at§0
§0the trees.§0
§0
§0He broke into the forest§0
Page 32 of 50 right as a ferociously large§0
§0beast leapt at him from§0
§0behind. He stumbled and§0
§0turned, coming face to§0
§0face with its frenzied jaw.§0
§0With all his might Lucas§0
§0was pushing back against§0
§0the wild dog and§0
§0hammering his bloody fist§0
§0on its snout. He saw its§0
§0teeth§0
Page 33 of 50 shimmer in the snowlight.§0
§0Gnashing, blood-crazed, it§0
§0locked its jaw on his§0
§0already wounded hand.§0
§0"You fucking mutt!" he§0
§0shouted, jabbing it with§0
§0the wooden beam. In that§0
§0moment, stumbling on the§0
§0root of a tree, he lost his§0
§0footing, both beast and§0
§0man§0
Page 34 of 50 intertwined, falling down§0
§0the slippery edges of a§0
§0ravine into the darkness§0
§0below.§0
§0
Page 35 of 50 §lSurvival Instinct§0
§0
§0Lucas stirred.§0
§0
§0He first felt the coldness§0
§0and sharpness of the§0
§0rocks on his back. His§0
§0hand was throbbing and§0
§0stinging. Through the§0
§0blackness he could feel a§0
§0cold wetness on his§0
§0frostbitten fingers. His§0
§0eyes slowly opened as§0
Page 36 of 50 his senses returned. His§0
§0whole body ached.§0
§0Occasional flakes of snow§0
§0fell down from above, far§0
§0above, where a cloudy sky§0
§0was visible from the§0
§0bottom of the ravine.§0
§0
§0He moved his arm and a§0
§0sharp pain passed through§0
§0his body. Fresh droplets of§0
§0blood§0
Page 37 of 50 dripped from his torn§0
§0knuckles and he grimaced.§0
§0Moving his hand, his§0
§0fingers brushed fur. He§0
§0scrambled back, his boots§0
§0scraping pebbles and§0
§0gravel. In front of him,§0
§0the motionless body of a§0
§0Big Dog sat draped upon a§0
§0rocky outcropping.§0
§0Mangled, badly§0
Page 38 of 50 torn, its blood pooled and§0
§0mixed with his. It appeared§0
§0lifeless. Lucas grabbed a§0
§0sharp rock and advanced§0
§0slowly, nudging it with his§0
§0feet. The corpse flopped§0
§0over, revealing the source§0
§0of the outpouring of§0
§0blood upon the rocks. Its§0
§0head was bashed in and§0
Page 39 of 50 opened up above the§0
§0snout; bits of bloody fur§0
§0and bone mixed with brain§0
§0matter. A direct impact§0
§0with the rocks jutting§0
§0out above had ended its§0
§0life in a matter of§0
§0seconds, its large body§0
§0cushioning him as he fell,§0
§0saving him from the same§0
§0fate.§0
§0
§0He peered
Page 40 of 50 around the ravine as he§0
§0collected his thoughts. He§0
§0still had his bow, but his§0
§0quiver had fallen off and§0
§0had come to rest on the§0
§0rough stone below him. He§0
§0picked it up, disheartened.§0
§0Only one arrow remained;§0
§0the others had been flung§0
§0free and lost§0
Page 41 of 50 somewhere around him.§0
§0
§0Gingerly sitting down with§0
§0his back to the wall, Lucas§0
§0looked at his bleeding§0
§0hand. It throbbed, the§0
§0dried blood cracking in the§0
§0cold. He brought his§0
§0fingers to his sleeve,§0
§0feeling the torn leather§0
§0coat he was wearing.§0
§0Using his§0
Page 42 of 50 good hand, he sheared off§0
§0a piece of leather and§0
§0wrapped it around his§0
§0knuckles, tying it tight like§0
§0a bandage. The feeling of§0
§0frostbite began to subside§0
§0as the leather darkened,§0
§0soaking in the blood§0
§0around his wound.§0
§0
§0From somewhere far above,§0
§0he heard a
Page 43 of 50 loud whine. A bark was§0
§0answered further away.§0
§0The wild dog pack barked§0
§0and scurried along the§0
§0edges of the ravine, at§0
§0times coming closer and at§0
§0times moving away. They§0
§0must be searching for him,§0
§0hunting the surface for§0
§0his scent. Perhaps given§0
§0enough§0
Page 44 of 50 time they would find an§0
§0opening to a cave, some§0
§0kind of passageway,§0
§0leading them straight to§0
§0the ravine floor. Down§0
§0here, he had nowhere to§0
§0run.§0
§0
§0He felt a piece of leather§0
§0still in his hands.§0
§0Scrunching it up in his§0
§0palm, his eyes trailed back§0
§0to the§0
Page 45 of 50 dead hound. Its hind leg§0
§0had broken quite§0
§0gruesomely and the glint§0
§0of bone was visible§0
§0through the torn skin.§0
§0
§0An idea dawned on him. He§0
§0crouched over the corpse§0
§0and clawed at the broken§0
§0leg. Dried hound's blood§0
§0covered the tough gristle.§0
§0He paced along§0
Page 46 of 50 the ravine wall until he§0
§0found what he was§0
§0looking for. Using his nails,§0
§0he scratched the gravel§0
§0until he felt the nub of a§0
§0small flint appear, which he§0
§0pulled on until all at once§0
§0it broke free.§0
§0
§0He returned to the opened§0
§0leg of the Big Dog,§0
§0stepping§0
Page 47 of 50 over its mangled head.§0
§0Hesitating a moment, he§0
§0dug the flint alongside the§0
§0exposed bone. Grimacing,§0
§0pushing harder, the flint§0
§0snapped through the§0
§0connective tissue with a§0
§0sickening crackle. He§0
§0steadily worked the bone§0
§0free, feeling it come loose.§0
§0At last,
Page 48 of 50 tugging and twisting, he§0
§0pulled it out and cleaned§0
§0the bits of blood and fur.§0
§0When it was somewhat§0
§0smooth, he grasped it firm,§0
§0brought it down over his§0
§0knee and snapped it in§0
§0half. He took both pieces§0
§0and placed them in his§0
§0quiver next to his last§0
§0arrow.§0
Page 50 of 50 §f﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽﷽§0
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