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 Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 9:54 pm
Micajah, Sasha, Darren and Abraham have also wandered into the forest, though they are no where near the other students in the woods. You’ve come across a swamp!
Do you try your luck and try to wade through, or do you turn back and try to find another way around the wood?
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Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 10:45 pm
The storm that had cropped up suddenly had surprised the Athabascan, and he had been wholly unprepared to suddenly find himself in the midst of an unfamiliar forest, with three unfamiliar faces. With a small, quiet sigh, Abraham took a look around, taking in his surroundings. The woods were quiet and chilly from the storm that had just passed, though the swamp in front of them didn't appear to have wholly frozen over. There was always the possibility the ice was thick enough for them to safely walk across, but there was also the chance that it wasn't...
A small frown crossed the man's face, hidden by the scarf he had tied around his neck and raised to cover his nose and mouth, as he glanced at the three young men he was stuck with. How much winter survival experience did they have? Would they be headstrong and desire to plow through the swamp, without thinking of the possible consequences that could come from walking in the snow with wet clothing? His hazel eyes narrowed as he calculated the possibilities, eyes focused entirely on what appeared to be a thin sheen of ice that covered the swamp. Was it thick enough for them to cross, if they walked one at a time across it, with great care? If it wasn't, and they fell through, even if the murky water was only deep enough to come to their knees, that would leave them with wet boots, socks, and pants. This would open them to a much higher risk for frostbite and hypothermia - both of which could turn deadly, and with the suddenness with which the first storm had appeared, and a distance yet to walk, Abraham wasn't sure he wanted to do that with wet clothing on.
The part of him that had been raised in the village at Minto told him to go around the swamp, even if it meant taking a longer time to get there. The other part, the one that was more daring and wanted to get to the White Tower with speed told him to test the ice and try to go through the swamp. If it came down to it, perhaps they could just remove their boots and socks, rolls up their pants, and move quickly through - drying themselves off and replacing their boots and socks on their feet once through. That was, though, a very risky move, and it was one the man wasn't sure he wanted to suggest to the boys he was with. If he, a man raised in the Frozen North was willing to think it, what would boys that had, perhaps, not been raised to survive in the Arctic be willing to do?
His frown grew just a little as he turned his attention towards his new companions, his eyes clearly attempting to size them up as he gave a brief introduction, "My name is Abe, from Minto Village." With one hand, he gestured towards the swamp, his eyes clearly showing his misgivings about walking across it, "I think we should not walk across this swamp. If our gear or clothing gets wet, we could get hypothermia or frostbite. Limbs or life could be lost if this happens." The man moved his hand to gesture towards the woods, and the place where snow met ice at the swamp's edge, "We could walk around the swamp, it would take more time, but probably be safest."
Abe took a couple of steps back and his dark eyes turned to look through the woods as if they were following an invisible path as he attempted to gauge the distance around the swamp, and how long it might take them to go that path. It bothered him, but he was unsure how long their journey would take them, and the weather earlier had him concerned it might happen again. Both of his arms raised to cross his chest as he leaned back against a handy, but thin tree. Majority would rule, and he would wait to see what they thought. His time in the village would not let him walk off and take his own path while leaving these boys behind, and so even though they had just met, he would stay with them. After all, their chances of survival increased if they stayed together.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:45 am
He was hesitant, greatly so, to say his name to this stranger. While Micajah had no trouble sharing anything with the boys at school, at least things like his name, he was still weary of strangers. His father had taught him well about that, about how anyone could want something from you in any situation.
It was such a bad habit, something he needed to overcomes, and perhaps now would be a good time to not act so foolish. Lives were at stake should they not get to the tower, and Micajah was separated from those he cared most about. He couldn't stay here like this, stuck here in a swamp that would only sink them.
"My...my name is Micajah, and while I do agree the swamp would only make us colder and increase our chances of frostbite or other types of cold-related injury we need to get moving. We do not know how far this swamp extends, or even how deep it is. What is important is that we...make it to the tower. Be it in one piece of in many."
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:56 am
Abraham had noticed the younger man's hesitation to give his name, and had been tempted to tell him not to worry about it, but before he could say anything, the other person gave his own introduction. With a short nod as he memorized the name, Abraham lifted his back from the tree and strode closer to the boy so that conversation and decision making would be made easier.
The man's eyes narrowed as he glanced over the swamp, debating on if the ice would be frozen well enough to move on top of it, before shifting his head to gaze back along its coast. "If we're going to get anywhere, we'd better get moving, then." Once again the man shifted, glancing towards the ground to look for anything he could use to test the swamp and see if it was frozen well enough or not. Unfortunately, the older man found nothing, but had extra gear in his pack should anything happen to him, and he could always wrap his feet in clothing if it came down to it, so he made the boy an offer, even though he thought walking around would be best, "Would you like me to try crossing? If I can make it...surely you can." After all, Micajah seemed to be much lighter than he was, and he was fairly sure his pack weighed more. So if his weight could make it, then the younger boy could as well.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:02 pm
"No, you need to stay here with the other two. I don't think I could protect them or guide them to the tower if anything were to happen to you, as my sense of direction if probably the worst on the island we came from."
Micajah smiled sheepishly from beneath his own scarf, his cheeks a little red from both embarrassment at admitting a huge fault and from the stinging cold that kissed at them as a family relative would.
"Let me try crossing it, because if it can't even hold my weight then there most certainly would have never been any hope for you. I am also probably less likely to sink as quickly since I have fewer things to carry, and I will need someone strong to pull me out. After all, if you go down I doubt any of us could be strong enough to rescue you."
While he was panicking a little on the inside, Micajah was determined to stay calm and think this clearly. He had no idea what he would do if left alone with Sasha and this unknown boy who had gotten lost with them ( someone new, he surmised ), but perhaps if this man were to stay with them they would be safe.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:09 pm
With a sigh as Micajah spoke, Abraham gave his nod of permission. It concerned him, though, that the younger boy would be crossing the frozen swamp, and he immediately regretted having not brought any rope, or something to tie them together. It would be needed for this to be done the safest way possible, and he began to cast about for something to use, "Have you any rope? We need it to tie you to me, so I can pull you up easier if it becomes necessary..."
Unfortunately, they would need a long rope, and he knew he didn't have enough supplies packed to tie together to form one of a suitable length. That was one thing he should have brought, and he kicked himself mentally for forgetting it. Abe did not question the boy's willingness to cross the swamp first, and recognized the logic in it, so he did not offer up any disagreements or protests, instead preferring to look for a solution to help the student should it become vital, and to do so in a matter that would protect his life if the ice broke and he fell through. They would have less than a minute to pull him out before the chance of hypothermia would grow rapidly, and rope, or something tied about his waist would work best for this worst case scenario.
"Move slowly as you cross, take a stick with if you can, to tap at the ice before you step. Transfer your weight evenly and if you hear any cracks, stop and come back exactly as you went."
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:16 pm
"I don't have any rope but don't worry, I don't think we'll be needing it. It doesn't look like it's frozen that thinly from where I'm standing anyway, and if I fall in how deep can a swamp really be? It may be muddy and that could cause an issue."
Micajah moved slowly away from the group and shifted the weight of his bag against his shoulders and back, taking care that if something should happen he could drop his load and perhaps make it away in time.
His steps took him away from the bank and slowly towards the murky swamp that lay before, the sounds of frozen life crunching beneath the toe and heel of each boot, and when he finally reached where the land stopped and the swamp began he took a deep breathe and placed a foot down.
"So far so go-"
The ice cracked beneath the weight of the action and it splintered as it spread like a small fissure, but the teen had thankfully only put one foot down and he backed up quickly.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:23 pm
The older man shrugged as he watched the youth head towards the ice, he knew very little to nothing about swamps, just knew that water froze in winter. Ponds tended to freeze thinly on top and then most of the way through, but he also knew to never trust the sight of ice to make it a given it was solid enough to hold weight. There were many stories, both in the news, and around his village, that talked of men and women and children who had thought the ice was safe, only to fall through to their deaths.
A small grin formed beneath the mask of his scarf, and he shrugged, "I was thinking more about having to pull you out if you fell, for if you fell through, then surely I could not come across to pull you out myself and your body would not take to hypothermia well." Something told him the boy had, perhaps, not grown up near the Arctic, and there had been many times the elders at his village had had to inform families of youth that had died due to freezing temperatures and getting wet. "In the cold, just a little water can kill."
As the boy moved away slowly, the man's eyes darkened as they narrowed, watching him with bated breath and hoping they could take the easiest and quickest route through towards the Tower. When the sound of cracking ice reached his ears, he started forward quickly before realizing that his body had moved quicker than his brain, and the youth was still safe on their side of the swamp.
With a sigh, Abe shook his head, "I think, Micajah, this swamp will not let us cross it. If we could find out how deep it was...we could slosh through, but we would have to move quickly and would risk frostbite and hypothermia." He paused, before turning to look at the two boys who were, as yet, silent, "Should we risk it, or turn around and find a way through the forest?" Either way was risky, but if no one had enough spare supplies, then they could not attempt the danger of the swamp sloshing, and would have to go the longer route.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:32 pm
"No, we don't have time. We need to get to the Tower quickly, even if it means we make sacrifices. I don't care if I won't be able to walk again, but I need to get to where Ca-"
Micajah stopped himself mid sentence, feeling how stupid he was for talking like this. Emotions were clouding his judgment, making him act like a spoiled girl in front of a stranger and two classmates, and he frowned as his lower lip pursed.
"If we go around there's a chance of getting even more lost and perhaps freezing to death that way. While going the straight path may not be the wisest it will be the fastest, and we can lick our wounds when we are safely where we should be."
The teen turned his gaze back towards the swamp and the thin ice he'd cracked, watching the murky water ooze up through the fissures like grass coming up in spring. The thought of wading into that made his stomach and heart hurt, but there probably would be no choice from here on out.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:47 pm
It couldn't be helped, and Abe finally just stared at the boy who was so headstrong as to disregard the reality of the situation and the true possibility of frostbite and hypothermia. There was a question in the man's face when he caught the boy cutting off at the ending of someone's name, but it soon became a soft smile as he realized the boy was concerned about a loved one. That would explain his behavior, then, and Abraham concluded to make sure the boy reached his woman no matter what the possible consequences were. It would, after all, be a suitable cause, and he was right in part - not everyone was prepared for sub zero temperatures and freezing winds. Too long out and they could die anyway.
Still, though, as Abe looked on at the boys, he couldn't help but wonder if they all had the spare gear for this endeavor. His mukluks had seal fur on them, and would withstand the water to a much greater extent than most white man boots, but even his feet would get wet if they were in the water for too long. And to avoid falling in, they would have to move slowly...if the swamp wasn't too wide, it would almost work to remove their boots and socks, roll up their pants, and move quickly through the water in single file, with Abe breaking the ice ahead of them. This way, once they got to the other side, they could use his blanket to warm their feet and would have dry supplies on the other side.
It was certainly a much higher risk, and there was no telling what was in that swamp water, but if they had dry supplies on the other side...and they could build a small fire if they had to for heat, if they needed to...plenty of brush was in the area...
"Well, it would be risky, but if you need to hurry..."
The older man paused, not sure he wanted to mention this chance, as he shifted from one foot to the other, wishing he hadn't moved from the tree he'd used to lean on just moments ago.
"...We could remove our boots and socks, hold them in one hand and move quickly in single file across the swamp. On the other side we can dry our feet off, place our boots and socks back on, and build a small fire to warm up before moving onwards. The risk for hypothermia and frostbite would be greatly increased for that short duration...but if we warm our feet properly before putting our socks and boots on again...it would be better than stumbling about in cold, frozen boots for an undetermined amount of time..."
His idea was extraordinarily risky, and he certainly would never have suggested such a thought at his village because to them it would mean certain death or loss of limb, but these were headstrong youths and he figured they would not listen to reason to travel around. They would want the quickest possible solution, and all he could do as the eldest of the group, was hope for the best and help guide them in their decisions. For some reason, he felt...almost sensed...that pushing them to do things his way would only lead to problems for them later.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 1:07 pm
"That would be fine. Let's do that and get it over with."
Micajah didn't even stop to think about what was being said, about how there was a chance to maybe lose some toes or full feeling from the ankle down, instead he liked the choice about going across the swamp quickly and not having to wait around for something. He looked over at the other two boys who hadn't said anything thus far, so he took their silence for agreement. He knew Sasha was probably excited about all this anyway and wouldn't refuse.
"If you take point I will follow at the rear to make sure we all are together. I sort of think it's my responsibility as the second oldest here."
He was older then Sasha, he didn't know about the new boy though, but he had to protect them in a way an older brother or a parent would. These were future saviors and he wanted to make sure they could do their job. In the future.
"Alright, let's get moving then. I'll take my socks and shoes off now."
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 1:13 pm
In an almost sullen matter, the older man nodded his acquiescence just a little surprised that the youth had so quickly accepted his suggestion and not entirely sure he should have suggested it in the first place. But he had, and he would follow through with it. After all, the boy had someone to get to, to make sure they were all right, and that thought superseded much of the man's knowledge on arctic survival. Besides, he had given this supposed woman a new life in his mind, having concluded that her name must be "Karen", and imagining her to be beautiful enough for this Micajah to want to risk life and limb to reach her.
With that conclusion, the tall man removed his own mukluks and layers of socks, rolling the socks up neatly before placing them within the mukluks, hoping to have them preserve some semblance of warmth, before placing them beneath his armpits. Perhaps that would help them stay warm enough during the crossing that he could, upon drying his feet properly, get them on without too much important loss of heat.
This done, the man turned back to the three boys he was with, "Are you boys ready, then?" If they were, the crossing would need to happen soon, and quickly, to preserve as much of their precious life heat as possible.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:05 pm
Into the swamp you go! You get all wet and smelly, but you finally make your way through the woods. Of course, what do you find but fog? Stumbling through, you finally make it to a lake. There at the lake is a boat, but there is a sled dog guarding the boat. He looks like someone's already bothered him, but maybe if you could just get that boat... Do you get past the dog, or do you walk around?
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:20 pm
Micajah's toes were numb, and he could hardly feel his legs from the knee down. The water had been cold, just like that Abe man said, but it had been bearable once all feeling disappeared. It was worth it all, in his opinion, if it meant that they could keep moving and they could get to the tower sooner. Everyone else seemed no worse for the wear until they got to the lake and saw the dog.
Micajah wasn't good with animals, as far as he could tell. He never grew up around any, only ever really seeing them on television, and this dog already looked....pissed. Great.
"Abe, what do you think we should do? Any ideas as well, Sasha? Sasha?"
Micajah's questions was to open air as he noticed that one of the four had gone missing - the little Russian who had been so excited about the snow. He was gone, and in this fog.
Great, just...great.
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:29 pm
It had bothered Abe just a bit that they had been unable to stop, sit, and rest for a bit after the swamp water in order for him to build a fire for them to warm their feet with, but once everyone's feet were dry and properly re-inserted back into their boots, the journey had begun once again. He would have to find time for them to rest by a fire if things got too late...or they got too cold...Survival was, after all, much more important than even reaching the Tower at this point in time.
Upon reaching what appeared to be a lake that had not frozen over, Abe found himself in awe. Was there some crazy magic at work, that there could be snow, but not frozen water? The man shook his head slightly, not quite comprehending the question asked him by the youth named Micajah. It took him a couple of moments before he realized that before him was a sled dog, one with wisdom and age from the looks of the white and gray near his nose. In his pack the native had some jars of smoked salmon, which could easily be used to lure the dog away and make friends with them, but then...he would have no more smoked salmon and it was a treat from back home he had wanted to take with him to the Tower. Perhaps to share with his fellow tourists, or the students that were going to the Tower.
And then he heard Micajah speak again, this time asking for a Sasha. Had they lost a woman? He had thought there were all men with them! Should they turn back to look for this woman, or should they press on ahead? Maybe if they waited...the fog would clear and the woman would find them?
"Did we lose someone, Micajah? Should we turn back for her...?"
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