CHAPTER TWO
The snow was falling long and thick creating a new white coat over the land. For the first time in over a decade, Great Kirill had been wrong and winter had arrived a fortnight early. The ground was frozen, unable to sustain life against the unforgiving cold that was brought forth by the giant mountain. It wouldn't be long before some animals migrated to warmer climes and the black bears would vanish into their dens to hibernate.
One morning Great Kirill called a special meeting after it was learnt that three calves were abducted and a cow was mauled by a pack of wolves that left a trail of blood that started from the cow shed and vanished into the the eerie birch forest.
''We must act now,'' Great Kirill said over the small gathering of hunters and farmers and the blacksmith. ''These wolves have lived in these parts for countless generations. This is their home too. However, they have shown they are not scared to come to our village. To steal from us. We must show them that they must fear humans or else we will be their last targets when they have eaten our last calf!''
The small crowd rallied together, encouraging Great Kirill to press on, ''I want to see the head of their Alpha mounted on the wall of this room!'' The crowd grew fierce. ''We must follow their trail before it goes cold. Sanzher, I want you to lead your group towards western part of the forest. The trees are younger there and you can use the high ground as a vantage point,''
''Yes, father,'' Sanzher said.
''Diaz is an excellent tracker and will lead a team to follow behind, tracking them. They can't be too far - the blood is yet to freeze. Let's get moving!''
Sanzher and his team, which consisted of his best friend, Aleksandr and his cousin, Artem who was feeling odd about their new mission. ''I knew we were going hunting today but I didn't think for a second we'd be hunting wolves?!''
''I know?!'' said Aleksandr equally confounded.
''No one has ever seen their den. These are smart wolves, we must find their den'' said Sanzher.
''Well, we have to keep on going, the peak of this ridge is a few miles that way. We'll be there in no time.'' said Aleksandr with a new burst of energy.
The three friends marched against the gusts of wind that blew from the mountain range, cooling the foothills they grew up in even more. The birch trees began to scatter as they reached the apex of the ridge. Suddenly with the snap of a twig, the men were alarmed by a terrible threat that seemed to have been stalking them. Two large black wolves emerged from behind a mound of snow. The wolves, like two onyx beasts aboard a powdery white soil snarled their teeth at the boys.
''Remain calm, boys,'' said Sanzher softly.
''I think I'm going to soil myself,'' declared Artem who clutched onto Aleksandr's cape in fear.
Aleksandr was fearless to say the least as he quickly fed an arrow to his bow and prepared to fire. This seemed to agitate the wolves even more till one of them decided to move in to attack. Aleksandr released his grip and saw the arrow graze the rump of one wolf which let out a loud yelp before launching itself into the air gnashing its teeth towards Aleksandr and Artem whom due to Artem's bumbling, collapsed into the snow.
''I told you to remain calm!'' Shrieked Sanzher as one wolf bit at Artem's shoe and the other went for Aleksandr's face which he fought off by offering his own hand as a substitute. Sanzher peeled out his knife from its sheath, ready to slice at the wolves when he saw something else approaching him. There was a sudden mist in the air as the mysterious being wafted ever closer toward the battle between the beasts and the young men.
Arms unfolded to which the wolves began wimpering as if someone had been playing a high pitch noise only they could hear and fled into the heart of the forest with their tails between their legs. The haze cleared only for Sanzher to see her draped in a silvery flowing gown for the first time in his life - The intoxicatingly beautiful and mysterious Snow Queen.
Catch the continuation next Thursday for the next installment
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