The days that followed were a blur of exhaustion and relief. With the portal destroyed and the threat of the Frost Wraiths gone, Jack, Sigurd, and the surviving members of their group focused on rebuilding their lives. The underground facility had collapsed entirely, burying any remnants of the technology that had dragged them through time. There was no going back now—only forward.
Jack stood atop a ridge, watching the vast expanse of ice and snow stretch before him. The horizon, once a haunting reminder of his isolation, now felt like an open path. He wasn't alone anymore. He had allies. He had a purpose.
Sigurd approached, standing beside him. "You seem lost in thought."
Jack sighed. "Just trying to figure out what's next. My entire life has been about getting back home. Now… I don't know."
Sigurd smiled. "Home is not always where we come from. Sometimes, it is where we choose to stay."
Jack considered his words. The Ice Age world was harsh, unforgiving, and dangerous. But he had survived. More than that—he had changed. The man who had once only dreamed of escaping was now someone who could carve out a future, even in the cold embrace of time.
They returned to the settlement where the people had begun fortifying their homes. The knowledge Jack had brought from the future, combined with Sigurd's leadership, was transforming the way they lived. Shelter designs had improved, hunting strategies had evolved, and even rudimentary tools were being refined.
Caldwell and Mercer had decided to remain as well. "Might as well make the most of this," Caldwell had said, sharpening a spear. "We've already rewritten history just by existing here. Let's do it right."
One evening, as the fire crackled and the tribe gathered, Jack stood to speak. "We came here as strangers," he said, looking at each face. "But we stand together as survivors. The past may have taken us, but the future is ours to shape. We will build. We will thrive. And one day, generations from now, they will tell the story of how we conquered time itself."
A roar of approval echoed across the icy plains. Jack felt something stir deep inside—pride, hope, and the realization that, for the first time in his life, he was exactly where he was meant to be.
The Ice Age was no longer his prison.
It was his home.