Chapter 5: Chapter 5

We all sat around a campfire as the sky began to darken. I held Shiro in my arms as I sat across from Wolfric. He took a long drag from his pipe, and exhaled the smoke. Nobody had said anything for quite some time. I decided I would be the first to break the silence. “Right, so no one has told me who we are looking for.” The old Wolfric was the one who answered.

“Armeyas is her name, and she left with her two sisters Amaya and Renna.” I had plenty of questions, so I decided to ask the first that came to mind. “Why did they leave anyway?” The old wolf sighed before taking another drag. “Our village has been wanting food for a while now. It is hard to grow any crops due to the climate, and the prey in the area has grown scarcer and scarcer.” I tilted my head confused. That didn’t explain why they left. The old wolf sensed my confusion as he continued.

“To the south of our village the climate grows warmer, and food becomes more abundant.” This old wolf sure does beat around the bush, and there was another thing that confused me. “I thought they headed to the north?” 

“This is true, but that is because of an old story passed down by our kin. Actually, you probably know more about it than any of us.” I once again tilted my head in confusion. “Imeris” He only said one word. It was like that one word was supposed to clear all of my confusion. “What is that supposed to mean!?” He looked at me incredulously.

“You are a snow fox. How could you not know?” I glared at him. “I was raised in a cave.” He sighed even more exasperated. “If you truly don’t know then I will enlighten you. Imeris is… was the old capital of the snow foxes. It lies far to the north beyond the tundra atop a snowy mountain. The tale of the ruination has been passed down to our children for hundreds of years. No one knows what started the ruination, but everyone can see the result. Upon the queen’s death she cursed her own lands. A biting chill like no other now resides in Imeris, and the fox spirits consume anyone who would attempt to voyage there.”

“Okay, but that doesn’t explain why Armeyas would head north.” Yilk piped up at that. “That is because she is a damn fool! Everyone in the village told her that the journey would be pointless. Everyone had stopped her from heading north with her sisters, but she disappeared late one evening. All she left was a note saying she would go to Imeris and that she would make sure the village would prosper.” 

“This still doesn’t make any sense. Why would she head there? You said the south was abundant in resources. Shouldn’t someone just head there to bring back what they can?” The old wolf took another drag of his pipe. “The truth is that the journey to the south is arduous. It takes weeks to reach another settlement, and the merchants that used to come cannot any longer. We no longer have the coin to spare for their goods. They would not risk a journey to our village ending in a loss. Some of our people have left towards the south, but most of us will not abandon our home.”

“Surely the journey to the south would be safer than going towards certain death?” The old wolf nodded to my question. “This is the truth, but there is another tale about Imeris. It is said that because of the dangers no one has been able to claim the vast riches that lie in the vault beneath the castle. Armeyas held this belief, as many of us do, and she has sought to bring back what gold she can. If our village has the coin to spare, she believes the merchants will return.”

“Now you all head to certain death to save a fool?” Havel growled at me. “Armeyas is no fool! She and her sisters are some of the strongest in our village. If anyone could cross over the tundra it would be her.” Yilk snapped back at him. “Most likely she is buried beneath the snow on the other side of the frozen lake. You heard the fox! She said she didn’t see anyone on her way over, and she came from the north.”

Havel snarled before getting up and walking towards his tent. Yorick spoke next. “Don’t mind the boy. He is quite smitten with Armeyas. Anyone could see it. He was most restless upon her disappearance. To answer your question. We do not believe she would make it that far, so we have journeyed to find her. We are not so dumb to think that she could actually make it to Imeris.”

“I see, why do you need me to help?” I asked another question that had been on my mind. The old Wolfric took over again. “You are the only one who could possibly survive in that tundra. We will look around the area once more, but if we cannot find her, then I will have to ask you to go looking in the tundra. We cannot offer much, but if you happen upon her our village will compensate you in any way possible.”

Yilk, Yorick, and Artorias stood up at the same time. “It is time for us to turn in for the night. We have another long day ahead of us. Don’t stay up late Wolfric.” They headed to their own tents as I was left alone with Wolfric. I still had plenty of questions to ask, and this wolf seemed full of answers. “I mentioned this before, but on my way over here I stumbled upon 3 small wooden houses. Do you know anything about them?”

“Yes, I know of them. Old hermits lived there. They strayed away from our village some time ago. There was occasional contact with them, but a few years ago they simply vanished. Most of the gray wolves think that the fox spirits have claimed them. I think they were as foolish as Armeyas and ventured towards Imeris. I think some of the people in our village have been stricken with madness.”

“What is this madness?” I remember one of these wolves asking if I had madness as I broke down into laughter. “It is less than a disease, but more than a simple condition. The village doctor says that the ‘madness’ is no more than rabbit shit. I think it is a real condition. I watched as those hermits slowly became insane from the tales of Imeris. They left our village, and decided to build themselves some small houses closer to Imeris. What I don’t understand is where this madness comes from. Most of us are unaffected.”

He took another drag of his pipe before stowing it away in a small pouch at his side. “It is high time I turn in for the night. If you have further questions, it is best to ask them tomorrow.” He stood up and made his way to his own tent. 

I was left on my own with more questions than answers, but they would all have to wait until the next day. I laid down on the comforting snow with Shiro lying on my chest. “What do you think, Shiro?” He tilted his head as he looked at me, and then licked my face. “I suppose you wouldn’t know.” Even with all of the questions flooding my mind, I was starting to feel sleepy. “Goodnight Shiro.” Gazing at the night sky filled with stars that were unperturbed by light pollution of modern times, sleep eventually found me. 

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