• Walking On Thin Ice
    Chapter 1: The Challenge
    Jeremy peered through the snow drifting around him. He could faintly see the outline of The Great One. Instantly, he was filled with fright and regret. He was so close now, he could smell the victory, but he knew the worst was yet to come. FLASH


    “No thanks Dad, I think I’d rather stay home. You know I hate seeing death.” Jeremy said for the millionth time, feeling like a broken record.

    “Okay son, but remember that someday you’ll have the same job as me, and if you don’t work, your family will starve. I do the best I can, though we all know it’s hard to find any big seals in these times of famine. I’ll be home before sundown.” Jeremy’s dad gathered his spears and net, and then rushed out to go hunting.

    It seemed like a normal morning to Jeremy, his dad rushing out to hunt, him staying behind and watching the sunrise. As the sun shaded the sky into beautiful shades and hues of red and pink, he thought about the story his dad told him and his sister last night.

    The story was about his great, great grandfather. He had caught a polar bear cub, otherwise known as the Great One. He had been stranded on the southwest side of Antarctica and hadn’t eaten in months. As he was about to cut off his own leg for food, he saw the young cub, and it’s mother nowhere to be seen. He killed and ate the polar bear. But the thing that amazed Jeremy the most was the family legend that came from the story. His grandpa had to drink the blood of the bear so he wouldn’t die of thirst, and the legend that came from this said his great grandpa had never gotten sick again because the blood had the power of healing inside it. Jeremy had always thought of the legends as crazy superstitions, but this story contained a truthful air to it that caused him to wonder aloud into the silent night, “ Does the Great One’s blood really cure diseases?”

    Michelle, his sister, woke and silently sat beside him. She laid her shoulder on his chest. “What’s up, baby girl?” Jeremy asked casually, not really expecting an answer.

    “Jeremy?”

    “Yeah?”

    “Do you remember last week? When I got sick, and daddy stayed home to take care of me?

    “Yeah I remember, but that’s over and done with”

    “Not really,” she mumbled, half wishing he wouldn’t hear her, but being grateful he did.

    “Wh-what do you mean?!?”

    “I’m still sick.” Her eyes fill with tears as she gazed into the morning sky.

    They didn’t talk for the rest of the morning, concentrating on normal chores such as patching up the house and bringing chunks of ice in. Father didn’t come home until after the stars were up. His sweet children had eaten a measly meal (again), and were fast asleep. They had eaten the last seal and father had not caught a seal for himself to eat. Exhausted, he went to bed. He had no idea that when he woke up, his son would be gone. That a message would be carved on the wall saying, Gone to find and kill Great One. Hope to see you soon. FLASH.

    Jeremy snapped out of his flashback, relieved to see that the polar bear was still there. Again and again he wished he would have at least gone once hunting with his father, but he had always refused, and now he had no idea how to kill a polar bear. He suddenly was exhausted, so much that he fell asleep before he could blink another eye.

    He awoke tense to the extreme, and did not dare to move a muscle. He looked all around him for the dim outline of the polar bear. He began to think he was in part of a dream he’d had during his restless night of sleep, but then his eyes wandered over the very large outline of the bear that was no less than five feet away, shocking him from his dreamlike stance. Slowly, as not to startle the bear into attacking, he drew his arrow. One, two, three, and then the arrow glided like a bird. It struck the bear in the side. The bear turned, looked at him, and roared an earth-shaking, glass-shattering roar. Then he charged strait for Jeremy.


    Chapter 2: The Fever

    Back at Jeremy’s home, his dad stood, hovering over Michelle. She tossed and turned under her covers, and though she had the three thickest wool blankets that they owned covering her, she still shivered. In her raging fever and delusional hallucinations, she screamed only one thing, “Help me, Jeremy!!”


    Her dad could only say one thing, “He’ll be back soon,” and then, under his breath, “…I hope.”

    They spent all night like that, and for the next two days, the only thing the father could do was cry and hope Jeremy made it home alive.
    Chapter 3: The Kill

    This was Jeremy’s last chance. He grabbed for his last arrow, cursing himself for not bringing more, and steadied his arm while taking aim. The bear was four feet away, three, and he pulled back as hard as he could. Two and a half, two feet, and then he released. He couldn’t tell if he shot the arrow with such strength, or if the Great One had rammed into it, but the arrow speared into the bear’s heart, killing it instantly.

    The next two days he worked vigorously, without more than an hours sleep. He took as much fur and meat as his sack could handle. Then, on the last day, he emptied his water supply into his mouth. He then filled the container with blood. He took one last gaze at the decaying carcass, turned and left, a single tear freezing in his eye.
    Chapter 4: The Homecoming

    The crunch, crunch of his feet on the gravely ice made it obvious to his father that Jeremy was there, and Jeremy knew this. When his father and sister didn’t rush out to greet him, he instantly knew something was wrong. He rushed in. His father snatched the blood from him, and forced it down Michelle’s throat. It was very emotional for Jeremy to watch, pondering the outcome. Would it work, or would Michelle die, making his trip a trip in vain?

    The next two weeks the families feasted, and were now grateful just to be together. Now Jeremy never cried if they went a day without food.


    **Not completed or edited or revised yet**