The beginning of our trip isn’t too horrible, but the weather keeps getting worse, and my ankle is getting worse, too. The cold air stings against my exposed face, even though I’ve buried it in my lap. Snow pelts us in all directions, and I’m not sure how Rav is able to navigate in this weather. I’m not sure how my family did, either.
Ilya. Will you forgive me for abandoning you? A lump forms in my throat, and despite the cold, my face grows hot.
Mom and Dad may have treated him as if they were actually related, unlike me, but it still must have made him angry that I just up and left. I hope Mom and Dad don’t turn their hate towards Ilya. I don’t know if I could forgive myself, though I don’t think I do anyway, if they did.
I lift my head slightly from the cave I made and look into the white void in front of us. There, I see a black speck that’s growing bigger by the second.
“Er, Rav?” I say, tapping his shoulder.
“Yeah?” He calls back, his voice barely noticeable behind the wind.
“Is that the city up there? I thought we were farther?” I yell against the wind. He grabs his binoculars.
“Shit. Do you know how to keep the dogs under control?” He asks.
“Um, kinda. What’s the issue?” I ask, my voice full of concern.
“Those guys like to steal. And this sled is full of valuable materials. Here,” He says, handing me the reins. I grab them and scooch closer to the front.
“What are we going to do?” I ask as he climbs into the back.
“Protect ourselves. All you need to do, though, is hold onto the reins.”
“What makes you think I can’t protect us?”
“If you’re better than the person who’s beaten their own world record of shooting arrows, then go right ahead.” I laugh awkwardly.
“Fine. Just try not to die,” I say, wrapping the blanket tighter.
As we approach the thieves, Rav stands and readies his bow and arrows.
“Don’t try anything, or I will shoot!” He yells, pulling an arrow back.
The men sit back down and hold up their hands in surrender. Rav keeps his bow up.
“They put their things down. Shouldn’t you, too?” I ask. He glances toward me.
“A fundamental rule is to keep your guard up around these parts. These people don’t mess around,” he says.
The thief's sled gets smaller, and a few minutes later, Rav sets his bow down.
“Shouldn’t we wait longer? What if they come back?” I ask as he takes the reins back.
“You might be right. Here,” He says, handing the reins back. “I’ll sit here and keep an eye out.”
“So, earlier you said that you beat world records of arrow shooting or whatever. I thought the prince had set those records. Unless you set them in the last few months,” I say, confused.
“What?” He yells over the wind.
“I said I thought the prince set those arrow records!” I yell back.
“Sorry, I can’t hear you!”
“Never mind!” I say, rolling my eyes.
Now that I think about it, his name does sound similar to that of the prince’s. And from what I’ve heard around town, they look pretty similar. Though they might’ve exaggerated some of his features. Maybe it’s just a coincidence, though. I wouldn’t expect the prince to help some lowlife like me. Besides, he has an entire house in some random village. What would a prince need that for?
“Let’s stop up here!” He says almost half an hour later.
“What for?”
“It’s the dog’s feeding time!”
“Oh! Alright! There’s just one problem!”
“What?” He asks, confused.
“I don’t really know how to get them to stop!” He laughs and takes the reins from me. Our hands brush against each other, and if this were a K-drama, some dramatic music would play, but obviously it’s not. We are nowhere near Korea, and he’s not Korean. Plus, I feel absolutely no attraction to him, despite the fact that, yes, he does look nice.
Seconds later, we’re sitting in the middle of nowhere. Rav grabs a bag of food out of his backpack and jumps off the sled.
“Here you go,” He says in his baby voice. “Oh, aren’t you a good girl?” I look at him weirdly before remembering that not everyone has to like animals. It doesn’t help that I live in a country that very much depends on sleds. You’d think we would’ve found a different way of transportation by now, but nope. Still using the good ‘ol sleds.
Honestly, the only significant difference today is that there are no continents anymore, but rather a few countries that make up our civilization. Alaska has become its own country and has expanded to take up most of what used to be known as Canada. There’s no South and North America, but The Great Amerikonis, which consists of both Americas and the southern part of what used to be known as Canada. Hawaii is deserted due to over eruption from the volcanoes, though it’s a popular—and risky—tourist attraction.
Europa combines what used to be Europe, the North Pole, and any surrounding islands. Europa is infested with rats and other unpleasant creatures and diseases. Taxes and prices are incredibly high, and overall, the economic system is not doing too well.
Africa has expanded to the South Pole and the South-Western parts of what used to be known as Asia, and the economic system is doing significantly better. Nearly all families live in a small apartment at the least, and middle-class families usually live in very nice housing.
Ruasia consists mostly of what Asia used to be, Australia, and a few islands that were scattered everywhere.
That’s where my ancestors come from. Specifically, a place known as North Korea and Russia. It was a great challenge to escape from North Korea, but I’m glad my ancestors did; otherwise, I wouldn’t be here, with this amazing opportunity of seeing, no, living in the capital, Nelson, which is south of where the original border of Alaska was.
Suddenly, the sled starts moving, and I realize I’ve been spaced out for a while.
“How long do you think it will be until we get there?” I ask, my skin stinging with each harsh gust of wind.
“I’d say about an hour!” he yells back. “We should be far enough from the others that you can rest now!” I nod and lie down.
How much longer will I be away from you, Ilya? I miss you already.52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0uOeXPPAge
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*sorry for how long the chapters are!!!52Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBK2V97jH7m
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