Warnings: None

~3rd P.O.V. (As seen from Preston and Rob)~

     "Why oh why did they say to meet at the mountain peak is my question." Preston huffs, his arms outstretched and in the snow to keep balanced.
     "I don't know but this isn't working out, I can hardly move." Rob points out, wincing as he tries to take another agonizing step by himself.

     Preston backtracks a couple steps, letting Rob lean on him but because he has to take his arms off the mountain it almost causes them to fall back down. So he lets go unwillingly to balance himself. That's the whole reason Rob's trying to walk on his in fact. The first part of the mountain wasn't too bad according to Preston's standards, considering he helped Rob up all the way, but now that he required to use his arms as balance helping Rob is starting to become a challenge.

     Rob tries to hop on one leg, using his arms to keep himself upright, but it only results in him almost sliding down the entire mountain. So his options are pretty torn right now. It's either Preston helps me and risks us both falling to our deaths, or, I struggle on my own. But every time I step my ankle just stings more... So what can we do? Rob stresses, taking yet another painful limp forward. Preston who has moved ahead a few meters glances over his shoulder at Rob's futile attempts at climbing himself. He sighs, skidding back down beside him.

      "Come here Rob."

     He slides himself under Rob's arm, standing up and brining Rob up with him. Looses snow falls away from their feet as Preston wavers a bit, not stable in the slightest on only two feet.

     "But Preston by helping me we could both very well end up human pancakes if we fall down the mountain! We need to use our hands to balance ourselves!" Rob protests, trying to pull away.
     "But..." Preston continues, yanking Rob back towards him, "If I don't help you we aren't gonna make it to the top before nightfall. And I don't really wanna be fighting a creeper on the side of a mountain."

     Rob opens his mouth to continue protesting but before he can a voice calls from above them.

    "Well hello down there! It looks like you two could use some help!"

     Preston and Rob whip their heads around to see Vikk and Lachlan standing on a ledge above them, watching their bickering in amusement. In fact, their bickering had caused them not to even notice the two coming to meet them.

     "Oh thank goodness I thought we'd never get up there! I'm so glad you guys are okay!" Preston exclaims, watching eagerly as Vikk and Lachlan lower themselves from the ledge.

     Vikk and Lachlan come up on either side or Rob, gently pushing Preston to the side.

     "We'll take him from here. I can imagine how hard it's been if you've been helping him every day since the wolves." Vikk sympathizes, taking Preston's place.
     "It's really okay guys, I'm fine, one of you can take a break. I mean Lachlan, I don't even wanna know what happened to you." Preston ushers.
     "Nah mate, I'm fine really. Just had a bad run in with a polar bear."
     "A POLAR BEAR?!" Preston and Rob shout.

     All Lachaln does is give a cheeky smile and start off with Vikk and Rob, Preston taking up the back.

     "We'll fill you in later." Vikk promises.

     Preston nods but once Vikk and Lachlan are turned he frowns. He feels responsible for Rob now, after everything that's happened. But I guess I can't complain... I mean they are right, and I'm really tired. So Preston simply follows them in silence.

     ~~~

     "And here we are." Vikk exclaims as the three climb up to the plateau, Preston following a second after.

     Vikk and Lachlan slide away from Rob, allowing Preston to resume his position at Rob's side.

     "It's been almost an hour and a half since we split up, yeah Vikk? We should probably start heading back to meet Mitch and Jerome."
     "You guys found them?" Rob questions, even though they literally just said they did.
     "Well it's more like they found us." Vikk corrects, "As a matter of fact, Mitch was the one who came up with meeting here and the whole arrow paper thingy... Assuming you found one."

     Preston and Rob nod, beginning to follow the two as they set off along the mountain side. Along the way Lachlan fills them in on all the details of their journey and discovering that Preston and Rob haven't found any good food proceeded to give them the rest of theirs. Preston and Rob however decided to leave their stories until they met up with the Merome duo. And once arriving they find that the two are already there, sitting on top of a boulder.

     "Hey look who we found!" Lachlan calls, stepping to the side to reveal Preston and Rob.

     Mitch and Jerome jump up, rushing towards the four. And once again they all embrace in a tight group hug, happy to finally be reunited. They all stay together for a good minute, not one of them wanting to let go ever again. Pulling back they all have happy tears collected in their eyes, Preston actually letting a few slip. After a few minutes of peaceful silence Mitch and Jerome fill in their part of the story, just leaving Preston's and Rob's blank.

"You wanna tell them Rob?"
"So long story short, Preston accidentally shot me in the ankle, The wolves found us again, we had to eat worms due to hunger, and hmm what else... Oh yeah and I got hit by an avalanche."
"Jeeze bro, that's rough." Vikk comments.
     "Oh that was you? Mitch and I saw the remains of an avalanche this morning."
     "Yeah that was us." Preston chuckles.
     "So where should we go next?" Lachlan inquires, receiving a shrug from everyone else.
     "Well I suppose we should head to the other side of the mountain. And see what's down there..." Jerome reasons, receiving a mix of 'okays'.

     The six start off again, content with the reuniting of each other. With the sun about to set the begin to circle around the top of the mountain, all of them speechless on what they see next.

     For there at the very base of the mountain, in a huge clearing with only a few lone trees, stands a beaten down village. It's about the same size as their old home, the layout similar too. And one thing it has in common is it seems to be in the same state, not many buildings still standing. One of the only differences is there doesn't seem to be any traces of bloodshed, no corpses or stained snow. Some of the buildings are surprisingly in good condition though. But one thing is for sure, it's abandoned.

"Are you guys thinking what I'm thinking...?" Rob breathes.
"This..." Mich continues.
"Could be our new home?" Vikk finishes.

The six stand there in tense silence, un sure of the village. But all of them decide for themselves that it will do. And without and exchanged words, only a nod at most, the six start to descend slowly down the mountain. This time Rob doesn't actually need help, he just sits down and scoots down the mountain along with everyone else.

~Time skip to bottom of mountain~

"Well it'll be a bit of a task to fix up but-"
     "SHHH, listen." Jerome hushes, cutting off Preston.

     The five listen carefully, trying to hear what Jerome heard.

     "I don't hear anything..." Lachlan whispers, straining his hearing.
     "I think it's cuz he's a bacca, he has good hearing." Mitch points out.
    "There it is again!" Jerome quietly exclaims, his head whipping towards the nearest building, most of it still standing.

     This time everyone else heard it too. Not wanting to chance getting separated again, the six all draw their weapons, Mitch handing Jerome his spare iron sword. Although Rob, who hasn't owned a weapon since their initial seperation, takes shelter behind Preston.

      Jerome takes the lead, everyone else following close behind him except for Rob, who stays back, and Mitch, who repositions himself to point his bow at the door. Jerome springs into the doorway, Mitch's iron sword wielded tightly in his hands. But he instantly drops the weapon, it clanging to the ground and Jerome gasps, taking a few steps back.

     "Jerome, what's wrong?!" Lachlan shouts, running with Preston to his side.

     That's when they see the reason Jerome dropped his sword.

    
~~~

Muahaha cliffhanger time >:D