Owl of The Arctic

“So let me get this straight.. they sent just six of us out here with no itinerary, no supporting team and no game plan.. this is about the easiest job I’ve ever done.” a voice from the back sneered.

“Correction, they sent six of the most profound and inquisitive researchers, historians & scientists on an archaeology expedition. A little spontaneous sure, but pointless? No.” Genivere was having none of that with her fiery red hair and personality to match. The female Indiana jones they called her back at headquarters. Quick with wit, solutions and an eye for answers.

That’s why they made her lead.

“Yeah well whatever you guys want to call it add ‘youthful’ to that list. Guessing that’s a factor considering I haven’t felt my fingers since we’ve been out here!” with his shaken voice and relentless sense of humour was Amir.

“They’re not the explorers they used to be. By day two half of them would be joining these ice caps. Stiff as shit” the group laughed collectively as they trekked the snowy scenes in a sea of crystal blue and white glaciers.

Amir hardly spoke, but when he did it was always one for the books. He was more of an inner thinker, with the mind of a science encyclopaedia but specialised in naturalism, he only needed to read something once before he retained it in his everlasting memory.

“Regardless you know we never go back empty handed. Whatever they’ve got us out here to find it’ll be paying for my next vacation”

“This place will see sun before your mind is off the money Alec. Are you ever just for the venture?!”

“Time is money and money is time baby.”

Gen turned to roll her eyes in disapproval, one being called baby by such a pretentious ego head and the other; him merely being on this trip.

He had a motive, which was always his motive.

The group hadn’t a clue where to begin when employed for this odyssey, despite Alec’s confidence and their recognitions they were pretty much on a whim, and that was fairly clear.

“Although it is day 4 and we’re not really getting anywhere. They didn’t give us much to go off with this piece of.. I mean what even is it?”

Alec pushed to the front and snatched the preserved artefact from Gen’s backpack. Made up entirely of settled ice with a peculiar dialect carved round the sides; unrecognised by every linguistic that’s attempted studies.

“HEY! Be careful with that! It’s fragile and our only point of focus.”

“Relax. I wouldn’t jeopardise a potential find. Besides, I brought some notes of Dr. Zerbachi’s journal when he did this trail way back in 1776.” in a whispery tone. “Maybe it’ll lead us to something otherworldly”

Money driven as he was, Alec was also fuelled with imagination and creativity. He held his heart close to the conspiracies of Atlantis, the supernatural and untold species. Conflicting with almost everyone in his fact based work environment.

“Those notes were neither confirmed nor proven.”

“Neither was your virginity. How’s that going by the way?”

The dynamic between these two was like a coming-of-age series, except the popular kid the shared the same intellect level as the intronerd.

“Jesus can you quit it for 5 minutes I feel like I’m going insane!

And circles..”

*sighing*

“Man if anyone has any suggestions on where to try next feel free”

offering out the coordinates map for the taking.

“Well well well miss leader if you don’t mind I can take it from h-

“Shut up” Gen’s eyes panned to her surroundings

“Damn I was just joking”

“No, sssh..

do you hear that?”

“Hear what..”

The group glare at each other in anticipated confusion, before the vibrations from under their feet start to give Amir the answers Gen couldn’t. He leans over Alec’s shoulder locating themselves on the map.

“Guys” looking up

“This is Mount Erebus”

To the contrary of composure, the team flee with every ounce of adrenaline as far off the angled slope racing to flat land. Following them, a descending blanket of snow coming at a speed the fear of death can’t outrun

“I- IT’S NOT ERUPTING!!! IT’S AN AVALANCHE!”

She turned shouting instructions to her teammates scattered either side

“HEADS UP and ARMS RAISED! KEEP YOUR ARMS-

Gen could barely finish her sentence before she was swept from beneath and hit with a tidal wave, knocking her unconscious on impact.

Then, yanked from the arm she left elevated above surface to indicate she was buried she could feel herself being lifted but could not see who by..

She laid there for a moment, before coming to the realisation she was alive

by the overwhelming thump of her heart beating

then; in a state of utter shock,

her eyes burst open with a sharp breathless inhale.

There was no one stood above her. Nobody in immediate sight.

Who could’ve pulled her out? She was too disoriented to question. Over lumps of uneven snow, blurred vision and nausea from the impact she’s trying with every ounce of strength to locate herself and her team, panning over the perimeter

Rubbing her eyes she charges forward falling almost each step

“A-Amir”

“Amir is that you!”

She spots his glasses, laid crooked next to the chestnut brown hair,

peaking just enough above the snow she dug until his face was exposed

“Wake up! Amir! PLEASE. Please wake up!”

A faint cry was heard amongst the snow fog and out the mist came a red jacket stumbling toward,

Alec.

Relieved for the first time at his existence.

“Gen!” “Where are you?! Yell so I can follow your voice!”

“I’m here!! Alec!”

Fighting through the blistering battlefield he sees her knelt by Amir pleading for help to pull his lifeless body from its burial. Both shaking him furiously until a jitter of his eyes and lashes tweaked.