Right before him was a vast field of white. The pine trees were dressed in snow and the wind growled with intensity, making it very hard to see in the distance.
Vigil hands trembled but not because of the cold, his voice was pure disbelief. "Just where the hell am I!"
His familiar stayed closed to him, tucked inside vigil's left pocket, there were some holes but at least he would be safer from the strong wind currents.
"what's wrong master?" said the bat while pocking his head out.
"This is not Valthera. My country never saw a drop of snow, much less have this type of trees." Vigil replied, his eyes looked like they were lost in thought.
"So… what's the plan master? Do we try to find shelter?"
Vigil set his eyes upon the horizon, scanning the environment for living beings. His blood sense allowed him to detect living beings, and this was the perfect time to test it. He focused his vision, and sure enough, after a short while, he managed to detect a few red forms hiding from the storm. They looked like forest animals; Vigil clutched his fist in disappointment.
"We need to find people first. That will help us figure out where we are and more." he added while taking his first few steps into the snow. The harsh cold didn't seem to affect him, he doubted how long he would last in the snow if he was human.
The bat tilted his head as he gazed through the vast field of snow, its tone was serious "We should be careful. We have no idea what kind of dangers might be out here. Humans might be the least of our worries."
With that, they decided to head north. Vigil's eyes scanned the vast lands of snow, his senses were sharp despite the storm. "The wind is coming from the south," he said, his voice firm. "If there's any civilization in this frozen place, it's more likely to be up north. And if nothing else the wind will make it harder for anything to track us".
They climbed down the hill, where the cavern was. Vigil looked back once, his mind still processing what he had been through. Could this be a new chance in life, or would it be a curse set upon him? Would he be able to adapt and survive with his "condition?". These questions weighed on his mind more than the snow fighting against his feet.
After a while they managed to reach the lower ground, the wind down below was more aggressive, bringing flocks of snow in its wake, making it harder to see anything a few feet ahead.
Using the pine trees as cover for the wind they pressed harder inside the forest. Vigil walked carefully while using blood sense to check for signs of life. It looked like he would be alone with the animals for a while. At least he wouldn't be having issues with prey to feed on.
Then the Forest grew denser, the wind struggled to breakthrough the strong pine trees that were coupled together. The duo was finally able to see better from afar, the serenity from the winds allowed them a chance to take a short break.
Placing his back against the tree, vigil removed his shoes and removed bits of snow that had found its way inside, when his companion alerted him. The bat had ventured a few meters ahead of him as the wind finally allowed him to spread its wings.
"Master look!" he said while flying in circles above an old fallen tree that rested in the snow.
With his shoes now cleaned, vigil rushed towards his companion. A few inches away from the tree was what looked like a small wooden device. It was a simple yet clever contraption—a snare trap, designed to catch small animals. The craftsmanship was rough but functional, the kind of thing a hunter might set and leave, returning later to check for a catch.
A small smile perked on Vigil lips; this was the sign he was looking for. The trap meant people were nearby or at least had been recently. Someone had set this, and where there were traps, there were hunters.
"This looks recent" Vigil said, his voice marked with satisfaction. "We might find however set it"
The bat landed on his master's left shoulder as it gave the trap one last look, Its voice preoccupied. "Whoever set this trap might not take kindly to strangers"
Vigil's confidence didn't falter. "Either way, this is our best lead. Let's move"
They continued their path further into the forest. With each step they took, life seemed to slowly return, like it was fighting back against the cold harsh snow. Birds chirped, tucked away inside the trees. They found a few more traps lying around, but no signs of life besides rabbits running between the bushes.
After what felt like an hour had passed, the trees finally began to thin down and the ground beneath them started to slope upwards. The weather had grown nicer, the wind died down and it was a bit warmer, though vigil paid no mind to it.
They reached to what looked like a small crest of a hill as they emerged from the tree lines. Down below was a settlement protected by a small perimeter of wooden spikes. Smoke escaped from the wooden chimneys. Vigil was able to detect more than a few human life forms using his blood sense. The settlement wasn't large, perhaps a village or an outpost, but it was unmistakably a sign of civilization.
"There" he said. His voice firm "That's where we will find our answers".
The bat flew towards the tip of the hill, his eyes carefully scanning the settlement. "Or more questions. We don't know what kind of people we are dealing with, besides we have another problem" said the bat while looking towards his master.
"Your right," said Vigil, perfectly understanding what was left unsaid. He was half naked, covered in snow and his eyes were dark red. Who wouldn't run away from such a sight?
Vigil focused inwards and closed his eyes. He remained quiet for a short while which left his companion a bit uneasy.
"I didn't… mean to offend you master" his voice seemed to tremble a little, but when his master finally opened his eyes and looked towards him, his expression beamed with surprise.
"Master, you've done it!" said the bat, his voice beamed with sheer proudness.
When Vigil opened his eyes, they were no longer crimson dark, instead, they wore the same familiar colour he once had when he was human. In its place was now a beautiful blue that resembled the sea.
"That's one issue solved." said Vigil while walking down the slope impulsively, " I deal with the clothing once I get there." his voice marked by determination.
Not wanting to fall behind, the bat followed his master, though it couldn't help but feel a bit preoccupied with what was coming next.