《Lost & Cold》


 Chapter 1

    There are many questions in human life that we ask ourselves.


    Each question varies depending on the subject. Sometimes, the questions are urgent, and others are more superficial. I have a question for myself, and the answer eludes me as time passes.


    The urgency of such a question was at its highest demand.


    Am¡­. Am I dying?


    I lay here on the cold floor. It wasn¡¯t the average floor of a standard home but the cold snow of a forest floor, and I felt as if I was close to taking my last breath.


    My head was throbbing; I could feel my body ache. A strange liquid flowed around me, covering the snow in its putrid red coloring. I raised my hand to my face to see what this liquid was.


    I realize here that my eyesight is blurry, yet I can still comprehend what my hand is dipped in. It was stained red with my blood. I can feel pain radiating from other places in my body. I ran my hand over them to assess what damage I had suffered.


    The back of my skull was most likely cracked. I could also feel throbbing from my side and placing a hand there¡­ I felt a wound. Was I attacked? My memories are foggy. I can¡¯t remember the entire day or why I was in this cold forest. I can¡¯t dwell on that; I needed to get off the snow and patch myself lest I bleed out.


    At this point, I could feel myself becoming woozy. The blood loss was surely getting to me as the hour went on. I applied pressure to the wound so that the bleeding would cease or hold for a moment.


    I remember faintly that I was with another person. Where, though, I am uncertain. The throbbing pain in the back of my head made it hard to focus on such memories. This could have been a trip of some kind. Possibly a vacation trip up north. It definitely couldn¡¯t be a camping or hunting trip. It was too cold to even think about the former, and this area was unknown to me to be the latter.


    The various sounds of the nightlife and the biting winter cold were too distracting to continue that train of thought. It could wait once I figured out how to escape my current predicament. At the least, there was no blood flooding my lungs¡ªa small victory, to be sure, but one I¡¯ll take as it stands.


    I needed to move; my legs felt oddly numb. How long have I been lying here? Unsure of the answer, I could feel my fingers and toes wiggling as I commanded them to move. The numbness left slowly, but I needed to get moving now!


    I don¡¯t trust myself to stand appropriately. Phantom pains were running through my entire being. My best bet is to crawl, so even if it pained me to move, I flipped myself to my stomach. I am very grateful to have all my winter clothes on. These gloves kept my hands warm and allowed me to grip this snow and ice-covered ground properly.


    Crawling to safety reminded me back to my days as a child. Back then, I crawled around pretending to be an army man like my father. Even though I never enlisted and decided to take a different path in my career, he never showed disappointment in my choices. I miss the old goat. I hope he is watching over me now and praying for my survival. There¡¯s a tree ahead of me that is as thick as it is tall¡ªa perfect place to get my bearings.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Was I climbing that mountain? With this winter fog, just trying to see the top was hard enough. Maybe I was already at the top and had been shoved off. That being attacked theory was starting to sound more likely.


    Focus!


    I always tended to be a scatterbrain. Turning my head, I noticed one of the trees in front of me was within proper reach. Using it as leverage, I managed to get into a sitting position.


    Dear lord! There was a sharp pain in my side. I didn¡¯t think moving like that would hurt. I held my side, feeling an increase in the blood flow.


    My rash decision to get up quickly was the wrong move.


    It¡¯s best to improvise then.


    Opening my coat, I grabbed the hem of my shirt with both hands before using my waning strength to rip a piece of it off. My attire contained several pockets and pouches. Looking through them, I tried my best to find anything useful.


    A hunter¡¯s knife was my first find. I kept that out in my lap just in case I needed it to defend myself¡ªa small bottle of water and a granola bar. At least I won¡¯t dehydrate or starve. It won¡¯t last me much.


    A compass! That¡¯s¡­ Well, in my current situation, it¡¯s not terrible. I placed it back in the pouch it came from so I could search my back pockets.


    It was here that I felt my hope rise. Rubbing my fingers over the item¡¯s texture, I verified my belief in what it was.


    Gauze.


    It was only when I pulled it out that my hopes were shattered, if only slightly. There was barely enough wrapping here to go over my body more than twice! Not enough to cover my whole wound.


    It would have to do, though. Lifting my shirt, I held the cloth I had torn and pressed firmly before wrapping what I could of the gauze around me.


    Surprised, I was to notice that I could wrap it around at least three and a half times. Luck was on my side, at least for the moment. At any rate, the wound is covered, and I could relax better.


    Moving my shirt back down and buttoning up my coat to keep warmth, I rested my head against the tree. Life always enjoyed throwing fastballs at me when I least expected it.


    I grabbed the water bottle and the granola bar. I needed to conserve these so I had enough to give my body energy. I sipped the water, enough to wet my mouth and clear my throat of dryness. I took a piece of the granola bar to have enough for later.


    After putting both back in the pouch, I decided it was best to get up and move. I wish I could rest right here, but knowing what type of wildlife could be out there made me rethink that. I needed to find a better place to make camp.


    Grabbing the knife, I used the tree to help me stand. It was a complicated process, considering my legs still ached, but I managed it.


    Then¡­ I felt disturbed, and a foreboding feeling washed over me. The wind had all but stopped, and the howling of wolves could no longer be heard. These changes¡­


    Do not sit well with me.


    What was that?! A rustling from the bushes. My head swerved left. Right! Its movement sounded like it was coming from every direction! Then I heard another sound, one that made me shiver.


    Growling. That could only mean one thing.


    My eyes landed in front of me. Hiding within the bushes were amber eyes staring into my own. My breath hitched as the owner of those eyes stepped forward.


    The wolf was crouched low, stalking me. I spotted two others doing the same from the corner of my eye. Hunger filled their gaze. Their snouts set into a snarl as a way to intimidate me.


    Considering my current condition, it was working.


    My muscles were tense. The knife was clenched between my fingers. My fight-or-flight response was going crazy. The knife in my hand rose to my side, and the other hand clenched into a fist.


    I am too injured and weak to run, but I¡¯ll be damn if I become food to the wild beast. The beasts in question snapped their jaws and came forth.


    And I was ready.

 Chapter 2

    ¡°A cornered animal is just as dangerous as a wounded one.¡±


    You always hear someone say this, whether in real life or in some media or book. You never expect to be in the situation yourself. I am both cornered and wounded, and I refuse to die today!


    The first wolf came and jumped at me. I moved to the left to let it hit the tree before I kicked its side, knocking it away a bit.


    The second jumped and made me use my arm to protect my face. It was painful, but I had to hold on.


    I stabbed the beast in its side several times before using its body to knock back the one that had jumped at me before. The wolf had let go of my arm and struggled to stand.


    The third wolf had been overseeing me. It took its chance to jump and latch its jaws onto the same arm I had used to protect my face. Its teeth sank deep into my flesh and began pulling at my arm.


    I released a scream from the pain. The damn thing was trying to take my whole arm off! I repeatedly punched it in the snout before using the knife to stab it in the eye. It yelped in pain as I tore the blade out of the socket, causing the beast to let me go.


    It howled a whine before I kicked it in the face to knock it down. Blood flowed from the new wound it bore.


    Exhaustion was starting to get to me. Being weak already made this hard enough, but fending off these wolves was tiring. Seeing the two down on the ground struggling made me realize something.


    One was missing.


    I screamed. The missing wolf had managed to get behind me and latch onto my right leg; canines tore into my calf muscle.


    I went down, and the wolf tried to bite into my neck, but I turned my body enough to get my hands to hold its mouth away.


    The blasted thing was a lot stronger than I had hoped. I could feel it pushing back against me. My arms, especially the damaged ones, were tiring. I needed to end it quickly. I drove around with what strength I had left. I wasn¡¯t going to die today.


    I was struggling, the wolf¡¯s jaws getting closer, and my arms began to waver in strength. By the grace of God, I managed to get a grip on its throat before pushing it off of me to my left.


    Before it could get up, I was on it. Using my body weight to help keep it down while my good arm came around to wrap around its throat. It was thrashing, but I can¡¯t let it go. If I do, I know I will die.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Knowing the situation, I looked for my knife, feeling my resolve weaken, seeing as I had dropped the knife when this thing bit my leg. The blade was lying in the snow a foot away from me.


    I felt the wolf try to wiggle out of my hold, which brought my attention back to it. I tightened up my arm around its neck and began to squeeze. This was the only way to keep this thing off of me.


    Its struggles soon became frantic. They were suffocating under my grip on it. I didn¡¯t relent and decided to finish the wolf off. There was a snap as I yanked my arm around the wolf¡¯s neck back. The struggling stopped, and the body was limp.


    Sighing, I let the body go before lying there for a second to catch my breath. I needed to get up and get moving. It was a struggle, considering the wound on my leg. Once I was up, I held my bleeding arm. I am lucky it didn¡¯t dislocate. Things got me good. I wouldn¡¯t be moving very far, but I am optimistic I can still walk with a limp. What I¡¯m most worried about is if my previous wound had reopened during this brawl of beasts.


    Turning my head, I noticed that the one wolf, who was missing an eye, was on its feet and looking at me warily. The other was curled up on the ground, bleeding from all the stab wounds placed on it. It will most likely die from blood loss.


    The one-eyed wolf stared at me, and I decided to glare back at it. I roared at it, and the wolf stepped back with a whine. It then ran off to preserve its own life. I let out another sigh before limping over to grab my dropped knife.


    I guess I¡¯ll have a more interesting story for my grandkids when I get home. Imagine me, a fifty-year-old bastard fighting off hungry wolves while injured, like a silly fairy tale.


    I could put those thoughts on hold; I needed to locate a safe, warm resting place. Additionally, I had to attend to my new injuries. There¡¯s never a dull moment for me.


    Limping as I began to walk, I pulled out the compass to determine the direction of the North. While it wouldn¡¯t aid me in knowing my location, it could at least help me monitor where I¡¯ve been.


    I continued my walk-through. The ambient noises of the forest were disturbing to me. My condition worsened the longer I stayed out here without tending to my injuries.


    My eyelids were growing heavy. My strength was fading. That fight took more out of me than I probably had. I can feel my right leg becoming numb. I don¡¯t think I can walk anymore.


    It was no surprise that I fell. My leg was bleeding, and the cold was not helping me. I¡¯m not sure how long I have been trekking through this area. How foolish to think I would have made it out of here.


    Huh, it¡¯s just my luck to die out here without anyone knowing what happened. I still don¡¯t know what happened to me before I ended up in this damn situation.


    The cold was biting. I needed to find somewhere to start a fire.


    Everything¡­ was beginning to feel hopeless.


    I find myself crawling, again, on the ground. There was something up ahead, but I can¡¯t tell what. My vision was blurry, and I knew I wouldn¡¯t stay conscious for long.


    As I lay here, a memory came to mind. If I¡¯m not mistaken, I saw myself driving in a Jeep Wrangler. As I went up the mountain, the road was cleared of snow and ice. But I wasn¡¯t alone. The person next to me was my niece.


    My niece. It was her birthday, and this was our annual trip. It was never to any specified place, somewhere I picked randomly.


    But where did we go? I still can¡¯t remember where we stayed or where we were before I fell.


    And I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll get that chance. I¡¯m sorry, Sonya. I can¡¯t hold on¡­

 Chapter 3

    Warmth.


    It was the first feeling that came to me when I awoke. A soft groan escaped my lips. The pain was still relevant to me; my arm and leg were numb. Opening my eyes revealed that I was not stranded in the forest or covered by its snow. No, I was surrounded by a comforter as I lay on a couch.


    I wanted to get up, move about, and figure out where I was. I cursed this pain that flowed throughout my entire being. Just trying to sit up is a hassle. I guess I pushed things too far, trying to fight wolves after falling off a cliff.


    Even though I am safe, I still have questions. Right now, I would like to know who saved me. As if summoned by my thoughts, I heard a door open. The sound of footsteps echoed.


    Granted, I¡¯d like to have some faith in my fellow man, but you never know how people act nowadays. The one who I assumed saved my life came around the couch corner. Not a word was spoken to me. I watched as the person took their long winter coat off before hanging it on a hanger beside the fireplace.


    From what I could tell, they were male as they stood there warming their hands. His physique was visible through the sweater he wore. His broad shoulders told me he did a lot of lifting. I¡¯m curious whether it was because he lived out here or just from working out.


    He had long black hair that flowed past his shoulders. I watched him straighten himself out before turning to face me. I can tell now that he was of indigenous descent, possibly Inuit. He was a seasoned fellow with a beard that was still full and covered by his jawline. I can see the white hairs growing on his head and face already. I assume he was close to my age but just shy of a year younger.


    His skin was a warm beige, and his face had few wrinkles. His charcoal eyes stared at me briefly until the man finally spoke up.


    ¡°I see you are awake. You were in rough shape when we found you.¡± It was then I heard a bark. Fear went through me as I was ready to protect myself from an attack as I¡¯d done before. But my fear was slightly misplaced as a giant Alaskan Malamute walked over and sat beside his master/owner. To my eyes, the beast was more wolf than a dog, but seeing the man pet the dog on the head alleviated my fears. I shall assume he has properly trained them, hopefully.


    ¡°Had gone back to investigate what almost did you in. Imagine my surprise to see two dead wolves lying in their blood. There were tracks of another, but it seems you scared it off. That¡¯s impressive for a man your age.¡±


    I was positive this man couldn¡¯t have been that much younger than me. His voice was gruff, and his accent came in and out as he spoke. I tried to talk, but my mouth was dry. I was running on fumes when fighting those wolves. The man held his hand as he saw me try to speak, seeming to know my situation.


    ¡°Don¡¯t bother. You have noticeable signs of dehydration. Here.¡± He handed me a canteen. Taking it, I slowly sat up with a grimace. This pain that ailed me was being a bitch to deal with. However, I am a man worth my mettle and would not let such a thing keep me from surviving. Through a grimace, I managed to sit up enough to intake the precious liquid in the canteen. As if I suffered life in a drought, I drank all the water held within. As I finished, I couldn¡¯t stop the gasp that came out before wiping my mouth. I returned the canteen to the man while noticing the tiniest smirk on his face. I didn¡¯t realize watching a man drink as if his life depended on it was amusing.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± I said at last after getting my bearings. My voice was low and still a little hoarse, but it would have to do. ¡°I¡­ do not know how I can repay such gratitude. I would have most certainly died out there.¡±This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    ¡°Fret not. No one deserves to die alone during the coldest time of the year. Especially one who can fight off three predators alone.¡± He stated while moving past the couch to a table off the side. It didn¡¯t help my nerves that the¡­ dog sat still on its haunches, watching me. I heard the man, whose name I still did not know, call out to me again as he came back with a familiar item to me.


    ¡°I have no doubt people would miss you, Isaac T. Jameson. Proprietor of  Medical. One of the most successful independent medical and health care insurance companies, as well as running one of the most successful hospitals within Canada.¡± He held my wallet and passport in his hands. The nervous feeling I had before came back full throttle. This man knew me or knew of me. What exactly is it that he could want? One doesn¡¯t just state information like that unless they have a bone to pick with you or like your help.


    ¡°W-what do you want with me?¡± I curse the stutter that comes out of my mouth. Of all the times to show weakness, now wasn¡¯t one of them. I cannot let him control the situation around me.


    ¡°Nothing. At least, not right now.¡± I watched as he pulled a chair over and sat it in front of me before sitting down. He leaned forward with his eyes piercing into mine. ¡°You¡¯re a significant person to the right people. Right now, it benefits both of us to keep you alive and safe. Not that I wouldn¡¯t have done so if I hadn¡¯t found out who you were; it just makes it more complicated now.¡±


    ¡°What¡¯s complicated in helping an old man live to see his next sunrise?¡± I had to question this. While, yes, I am essential to my company and my family¡­


    Family¡ªthat is a thought-provoking word. I felt my head pound from phantom pain as a memory flashed within my mind¡¯s eye. There I stood with my niece, telling her something. Words flowed through my mouth, but it was too foggy to know what they were. I could see her face light up in surprise before she hugged me, tears flowing through her eyes, and a happy smile after we separated.


    Then shouting occurred. Multiple men in varying clothing approached us, but one stood out the most, yet I couldn¡¯t discern why. Then the pain came, and the sensation of falling and another scream.


    ¡°UNCLE!¡±


    A gasp escaped my mouth, and my hand went to the back of my head. Idly, I noticed there was some stitching there. It seems my savior did more for me than I realized.


    ¡°Is the stitching coming loose?¡± The man asked as he approached the other side to look at my head. Despite his unknown intentions for me, he doesn¡¯t seem to be a man who¡¯d cause harm to a wounded man.


    ¡°No, just a headache.¡± That seemed to ease his worry before I sat up, feeling better than I had earlier. Still, I have more issues now, with some of my memories returning to me as I recover. Something happened between my son and me that caused Sonya to be in the middle of the drama. I need to find out what happened, but I feel weakened still. It would not be reasonable to rush out there without knowing the land I am in.


    ¡°You should take this time to relax, Isaac. You can¡¯t heal your injuries after one night of rest.¡±


    ¡°You know my name, yet my savior hasn¡¯t introduced himself. Forgive my wariness if I don¡¯t jump at the chance of resting after what I¡¯ve been through.¡± The man nodded his head at my sound logic. Who wouldn¡¯t be wary of the person who saved them when they knew about you and you didn¡¯t know a thing about them?


    ¡°Fair point. My name is Hanta,¡± He stopped when he heard a bark before turning and pointing to the wolf-dog, ¡°and that¡¯s Atka. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Isaac. I do hope that we can work well together and that you come to trust me. My intentions are not malicious when I chose to help you. Once you¡¯ve recovered enough, we can discuss what I wish to discuss.¡± I nodded before watching his whistle to the hound, with the wolf-dog listening to the call and moving next to his master¡¯s side. He grabbed a rifle above the fireplace before putting his coat back on.


    ¡°Rest easy now. I¡¯m going to find us some dinner. If the fire gets low, there¡¯s firewood in that chest over there. I shouldn¡¯t be gone for long.¡± I nodded before sitting back down as the man and his canine companion left the cabin. Despite the good faith shown to me, I still cannot help but be wary of what he wishes to speak to me about. I do not have the time to sit around and wait, yet I can do nothing else but that.


    Sonya, I hope you are safe wherever you are and that nothing terrible has happened. Maybe you are out there searching for me? If so, I hope you find me soon. For now, I shall take the advice and continue to rest. My back is killing me.