Chapter 16 Mountain's echo

The bright light was reflected through the snow, limiting their visions to a certain direction but it wasn't that bad.

" Yandal, I feel something terrible. My guts have been always correct."

Knud who was one of the warriors spoke with a grinning face but Yandal assured everything would be alight since they got the best scout.

" Roar*"

Suddenly they heard a roar from the below as Vør stopped with puzzlement. His eyebrows furrowed with sweat, hesitating whether to go forward or not.

" Is this a bear? But what is it doing up here?"

Bjorn recognized the roar of the creature, believing it came from bears because they were often sighted in the north and Vikings respected them.

" I don't know. We are above 2000 walks from the forest, yet a bear is here. It is impossible. No bear would be willing to go here."

Vør shook his head with confusion while connecting the dots with a roar. The extremely cold air and less air made this place less ideal to be a habitat for a bear.

" It must be an echo from the below. Be careful when you move."

Vør decided to ignore it for now, deciding to go forward once again before the sun went down. They couldn't spend a night here in a wild cold area without shelter and they would freeze to death since they couldn't burrow into the snow.

Crunch*

However, just before they started moving again, they heard a crunching noise of something heavy.

" By Odin's beard!"

Yandal let out a shocked voice, seeing a giant brown bear with heavy scars around its face. By the looks of it, it was presumed to be an extremely old bear that decided to end itself here in the ranges.

" A bear!"

Bjorn reached out for his back, pulling out his sword to confront it and so did his men. Even Vør took out his daggers, looking at him with vigilance.

" Roar!"

The boar turned his head around, facing them with a drooling mouth that was filled with old yellow teeth, yet sharp ones.

" Kill it!"

Bjorn's tone changed into a cold one as they spread out to kill the bear. They circled around his body, trying to confuse him but how could an aged alpha wouldn't understand their tactics?

He battled against all kinds of animals and hunters throughout his life, so despite his old age, he could sense what they were plotting.

" Roar!"

It charged toward Yandal and Knud whom he smelled first. He was old and too heavy to attack others, hence he chose the closest humans near him who were Yandal and Knud.

" You, vile beast!"

Knud didn't think twice before charging at him with his shield and sword. The body size was there, but Knud hunted wolves and bears many times. He wasn't afraid of this old blind bear just because he was big.

" No, Knud!"

Vør shouted with horror, looking in their direction with a pale face. The cracking sound of ice echoed through the ranges as they witnessed the snow crumble down.

Crack*

A giant chasm that was filled with ice welcomed their eyes as it crashed down with fury.

The silent mountains seemed to wake up from their slumbers as the snow around them began to crumble from the pressure.

" Everyone, run!"

Vør didn't hesitate to run down to the mountain belly in the hope of finding a rock or a cave to shelter inside.

" What are you doing? Follow him!"

Bjorn didn't think that much before chasing after Vør with his all might as others followed them from behind.

Crash, bang*

The snow roared with rage, crumbling down with unstoppable tides that swallowed everything on its way. The chasm in which bear and Knud had been dropped was instantly filled by the snow.

The Vikings ran with their all might, throwing away their cumbersome items like their shields and some additional clothes with some food and tools. They didn't care about whether it was possible to recover it afterward since their lives were in imminent danger.

" Bjorn, we have no choice but to burrow inside the snow. Quick, that snow looks soft."

Vør pointed to the area where they saw steep soft snow that could hide them from the avalanche.

" Get in!"

Bjorn didn't say anymore, jumping inside it immediately.