Ice and Blood

"There are many ways to die in the frozen waste a simple injure which can slow you just enough till you starve to death to a hoard of flightless birds that will attack with overwhelming ferocity."

Unknown

POV Atlas

The day started like any other with snow, Atlas exited his tent and felt the biting chill on his skin, but seemed to hardly be bothered by it. In such an inhospitable environment he and his people have only grown more resistant to staving off the frost. Even children after a certain age just accept the cold as an everyday part of life.

The last 18 years of his life had been hard but all that struggle had forged him into the man that he was today. While still being a bit impulsive he had always been diligent in learning his craft and was often praised by his teachers.

He raised his arms above his head releasing a yawn letting the cold wake him. While stretching he looks up to see clear blue sky. Which is a good omen when favorable weather conditions come they must be acted on. A tall man jogs past him and pats him on the shoulder and yelling " Lets get moving, this clan wont feed itself its time for you to prove yourself!" Atlas smiles to himself as his father goes to prepare and as he looks around many people are running around gathering supplies for the hunt to come. Today would be his coming of age ceremony.

His clan the Bruti are a group of nomads that follow the more tame animal herds across, what was once North and Central America or so he's been told. Compared to the maps left by his ancestors, this ages cartographers have found that there is now far more land mass, then what there once was. Europe, Africa and Asia status is unknown to his people as the trip across the sea is far to perilous. a The only known crossing being plagued with such fierce storms and winds no one has dared make the trip.

Food had been running low with the herds migrating back north this time of year. The clans last organized hunt which happened three days prior did not go according to plan. An unexpected blizzard reduced visibility to zero which makes doing most tasks nearly impossible. But, with weather conditions much improved his people were ready to restock their food stores. While collecting precious pelts and goods to trade with other tribes.

The Bruti's prey this day would be a heard of Razor-Horns what historians of the tribe seem to believe used to be rams. Unfortunately, these rams were not the harmless herbivores of the past but, omnivores, as most of the animals that existed in this part of the world had become. It was no simple means to hunt Razor-horns they were both fast and strong. The largest growing to become 9 feet tall from head to tail, while being built out of dense lean muscle. Their most imposing trait being spiked horns which have wounded a fair share of his clansmen. But, his tribe was stronger and more cunning then these beasts, time had tested them.

While his tribe was one of the smallest it hosted the strongest warriors and fiercest hunters. They acted as both mercenaries and hunters providing the food and protection for the surrounding tribes. Not to say these tribes were defenseless and couldn't provide for themselves, but in these times enemies were everywhere and having a 7 foot giant fighting with you could never hurt your odds in a fight.

The Bruti were the personification of strength to the other tribes. Even those on the short side were 6 foot tall with largest of their ilk being up to 8 feet tall. The extreme cold and whatever changed the animals in this part of the world.

Luckily it had also changed man when his clans ancestors first went out to explore this world they were of the more athletic and imposing builds but not to the extent of what they are today.

The first generation to be born in the AW grew much faster then what children grew at with most children surpassing their parents by the age of 15. This transformation continued for 3 generations with each progressing generation becoming stronger and more imposing then the last. Any child of the Bruti have the endurance to run for miles with only being mildly winded. Most healthy males easily being able to lift double their weight with the strongest being able to lift triple their own weight which was on average 300 lbs or 136 kgs. Whatever changed animals of the world into this new generation of what can only be called monsters by some had affected his people some how and it was only proven further as other tribes changed as well.

Atlas joins his father Orn in going to the clans store of weapons, which were kept in there clans largest tent along with other valuables. For this particular hunt 50 hunters would be making the trip and the last known sighting of the razor-horns was a 3 day trip. More would join but after a storm predators become active and it would not be wise to compromise the security of their camp. Javlins and heavy spears would be the hunters weapons of choice which had proven to be very deadly in his peoples hands as had most heavy weapons.

As they loaded their projectiles into quivers and then onto sleds to ease the transportation process. You could see some of the hunters throwing at targets up to 100 meters away with surprising accuracy. Targets set up behind those at 150 meters were more challenging to hit with most only hitting the targets 3 out of 10 times. As Atlas secured his provisions and 36 javelins to his sled he makes his way over to the target field.

While being a good throw he was not the best most accurate among his kinsmen but he was the most powerful. As, he readied his throw the other hunters stopped to watch waiting to see what was to come. Atlas stepped into his throw turning his hips and putting all his weight behind it, the javelin hits the center of the target like a lighting bolt and going straight through it.

The first time Atlas had ever thrown a javelin his father knew he had a talent for it while only the best of the tribe could throw a maximum distance of 150m to 200 meters Atlas best was around 300 meters. His monstrous strength was well know in the tribe as well as his endurance.

Basic training for fledgling hunters included running marathons around the camp until all but one passed out from exhaustion. With Atlas being able to run at a steady pace for hours on end leading to his consistent victory in his part of the training.

Another aspect of the tribes training is being able track prey and predators being able to see signs of both not only allows for quicker acquisition of food but also, increased safety for hunting parties. The camouflaged predators that preyed on the tribes hunting parties had claimed a few of his people so vigilance had been ingrained in him. These factors consistently gave him more food than his peers. Allowing him to grow to his massive size.

Now secured with furs and provisions for the hunt they make their way to the exit of the camp where an old woman has a bowl of white paint and coats the hunters faces as they exit. A tradition that started in hopes of better blending into the expanse of white. Pulling on their sleds Orn glanced at his compass and point to the west and the party of ten disappeared on the horizon.