Field

At the end of the snow field, there is a small section of trees, followed by a steep rise. Your legs protest as you and Halpra lurch up it. At the top, your heart sinks. Before you looms yet another massive snowfield. Mossden in nowhere to be seen.

“The village is across that.” Halpra pants, then jerks herself into a walk. Overhead, dark storm clouds smother the stars, as dark and relentless as the mouth of a predator. The cold is like a vise, pressing in on all sides. You can no longer feel your ears, nose, tail, paws, or toes. You follow her mechanically, pain in every step.

The great storm pounces and unleashes, frigid winds driving the snow in heavy curtains. The horizon is gone. It’s just stinging snowflakes and hungry cold eating away at your body. You can barely make out the humped figure of Halpra plodding ahead of you, her labored breathing joining the hiss of the driving flakes.

Without warning, she falls. Alarmed, you lean over her, calling her name. Her eyelids flutter. With considerable effort, she focuses on you. “Can’t.” she whispers.

“You can!” you say. “Halpra, you have to get up! Please, Halpra, please!” She shakes her head, eyes closed. With a sudden rush of clarity, you remember her handing out those precious, life-restoring packets of food along the journey. Stocking up Tully and Roth to keep them alive. Urging you to eat to keep your strength up. But you don’t remember her ever eating anything herself. “You gave us all your food rations, didn’t you? To keep us strong? But you haven’t eaten, have you?”

“I have not.” she rasps. “You need to go.”

“I can’t. Halpra. I can’t leave you behind!” tears well up in your eyes, then burn in the cruel air. Halpra looks up at you with a fierceness that takes your breath away.

“You CAN. Now GO.” she whispers between gritted teeth. She gives you a shove before slumping over again.

Sobbing, you do what she commands and walk away. The driving snow closes around you. You are completely alone. You take a step and think of her crumpled in the snow behind you. You take another step and think of Tully and Roth patiently waiting for help. Another step. You hear Master Hollis calmly reciting the cure for red sickness. Another step. You recall the smell the herbs in a garden, gently nodding in the light spring rain. Another step. You see the summer sun kissing the leaves with its liquid gold light. Another step. You remember the face of your mother, smiling, as she sang you to sleep so long ago.

Tolo the mouse battling a blizzard determined to reach Mossden and save the village

Then the howling wind tears it all away. Another step. You are cold. Another step. So tired. Another step. You focus your strength on lifting your boot. Another step. You tell yourself this will not be your last one. Another step.

Suddenly, ahead in the dark, is the glimmer of a lantern. Then another.

A blaze of light emerges from the storm around you, illuminating mice pulling heavy sledges. It’s a perimeter patrol from Mossden! The magpie must have told them! Strong paws wrap you in blankets and lift you. A stinging liquid is poured between your lips. More lanterns and sledges fly past. There is much commotion. Your head spins.

“Where are the others?” a voice shouts. There are answering yells as a second patrol finds Halpra. More shouting, then your sledge is moving, flying, underneath you towards Mossden. Your last thought is to the knapsack still tightly strapped to your back, protecting the fragile, fragrant herbs of the cure.

You are safe.

CONTINUE