The After End 11

Sisyphyra is on WebNovel

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The intricate patterns of snow flakes hovered weightlessly dancing in the air like a dry feather. Each white flake glittered in the red moonlight, it drifted down to his left cheek. He stood up and observed his surroundings. He noticed a thin blanket of snow on the trees and ground as clumps of wet flakes continued to drift down endlessly. The icicles on a tree dropped with a loud smash, like glass cracking and shattering raising his adrenaline level with the false alarm. He admitted that he was scared, jumpy probably because he just had a dream but when he started to feel too much cold around him he glanced down at his clothes. He realized otherwise when he noticed the cut patterns on his cloth at the front and the faint red scratches on his chest affirmed his fears. It wasn't a dream but I'm safe. He thought as he puffed out in relief. He felt faint at least.

Eventually, when he turned to his back to continue his search for his daughter, he spotted another strange-looking Mountain Wolf totem. It had a tower of large stone shaped with a black wolf at the center. The mouth of the wolf opened slowly and a red misty fume began to flow out. All of a sudden the clouds broke into a deluge of whirling snow, the mist began to take shape. After a while, he noticed the red fiery eyes formed from the mist. It looked like the snake giant he had just encountered but his mind drifted to his encounter with the shrouded figure that formed from the smoke mist at his parent's house. Making a fearful assumption on what was about to happen, he took off leaving his trail behind.

He hiked through a rough path that led to a steep hill. He climbed over several hills and jumped through perilous ditches filled with the frozen coat of thin ice rather than walk on them having learned his lesson. When he heard some movement behind him, he glanced back to see if he was being followed. He listened for any strange sound or foot steps yet he heard nothing abnormal. Convincing himself that he was being paranoid, he turned back to his front and collided abruptly with a strong low-hanging tree branch. Hearing his nose crack, made him dizzy. He dropped on the snow. His eyes grew heavy and a piercing pain beeped on his head, from the side of the hit. A blurred image of a small figure moving towards him loomed into his vision and it suddenly disappeared.

Papa!, Papa! Help me!

He opened his eyes slowly as it accommodated the gloominess in the sky. He was moving away from

every tall dry grasses and tree and he felt caged. He couldn't move his hands or feet though he could hardly feel them as he felt weak. He tried sitting up, he struggled but could not, he had been tied up. He felt the loosely tied cords against his weak body. He tried to recollect from his senses how he had gained this plight but he couldn't

remember any either. He assumed that he had been captured.But by whom? The binding ropes themselves were not as tight as they should be. But the more he moved the tighter it became. His voice came out in a hoarse whisper when his situation became intolerable.

The movement stopped and a little red-haired lad loomed over him. He could not see his face clearly but his pronounced red hair matched the moonlight giving it a darkened blood red hair. The lad wore an oversized garment and walked barefoot.

Groaning out loud, the boy helped him up began to untie the ropes. Leaning his head on the arm of the wooden ramp, He asked in a raspy voice.

"Where am I? Why did you tie me up?" He looked around.

It was a valley devoid of growth but there was no sign of life. Gone was the sleet not even a dampness was seen. The boy couldn't respond, he squatted on his knees and began to loosen the rest of the tied rope.

"Where am I? He asked again.

In response, the boy shrugged and pointed to his mouth afterward, he shook his head sideways and peeked at him sheepishly. Seeing the boy's action, he ignored him and began to remove the tight piece of worn cloth wrapped around his head. His jet-black hair fell on his face. He drew it back with his hands passing through it. He winced when his fingertips bumped with the swollen part. As his hand moved to the rest of his face, he felt his gathering beard and was irritated by it. Standing up he noticed his clothes had been changed, it was a replica of the boy's cloth. The boy showed a little excitement on his face when he saw him touch his injured nose cringing up as the pain stung him. The boy erupted in deep laughter holding his belly.

"You changed my clothes?" He asked and the boy nodded in response as his laughter slowly

disappeared into a giggle.

"Which way leads to the mountains?"

The boy pointed to the East.

Squatting to the boy's height, he said "I don't know why you don't talk but thank you for helping me"

The boy looked at him trying to process what he said, his face expressionless.He patted the boy's shoulder and moved away without glancing back.

After some time, he heard another footstep beside his. When he glanced back, he noticed the lad walking a few distances behind him.

I wish he wouldn't follow me. Doesn't he have a family, why is he following me?

"Go home lad, go home to your Mama" He shouted without stopping. The boy shrugged off his orders and still followed.

Realizing how stubborn the boy was, he stopped and turned back at him.

"Don't be like me, I lost everything. Go home. Now!" he yelled.

The boy stopped in his track, his brow raised in shock, pretty much scared and that was just for a second. Quickly, he folded his arm on his chest, staring at his back silently watching him leave.