#challenge 01

Chantai watched wide eyed as the two brothers started to get dressed for the chilly weather outside, “You two are nuts!” She motions out towards the window where the wind is howling and snow is falling heavily. “I know you said you were from Northern USA, but honey, this isn’t USA. This is Canada, we get snow and its a lot colder than the south, trust me. You will freeze to death!”

Frank looked up from tying his brother’s boots, “We’ll be fine. We’ve been in snow storms before in Russia! Right Joe?”

“Frank, it looks bad out there maybe we should wait?”

“Don’t tell me you are chickening out?” The elder of the two jokes standing back up. “Besides, we need to see where that Wolf went and its not waiting because of a snow storm is it?”

“No but it’s not human. It’s a wild animal with a heavy warm fur coat.”

“We’ll be back in 15 minutes maybe less, I promise Joe. Unless you want to stay here?” Frank sighed hating to do this but he began to play to Joe’s pride. “I mean you did get posioned by that food.”

Joe blushed bright red growling, “I’m fine, Frank! Let’s go! I’m alright, I’m not dizzy anymore.” He winked at Chantai who just rolled her eyes as the door flew open. He and Frank moved in front of her instinctfully as two figures entered the lodge snow blowing in behind them.

Frank let out a sigh of relief, “It’s just Ollie and Freddie…”

“You aren’t going out right, Frank? I won’t even stay out there!” The child exclaimed running over tracking snow behind her. “It’s so cold and windy!”

“Let them go. If they are idiotic enough to want to - let them.” Ollie huffed shaking snow out of his hair. “But I will warn you, you are going to get turned around there, that Wolf aint natural.”

“We’ll be fine, sir. Joe lets go!” Frank pulled his hood up putting on the snow goggles before bracing himself against the wind. He just hoped his gut was right and that Joe would be ok.

*~*

“Frank t-this is crazy!” Joe had to reach out to grab Frank’s jacket to even stay on his feet. Snow swirled around him, it was too bad out here to use the snow mobiles, Ollie wouldn’t allow them, he was afraid the engines would get clogged from all of the snow. “Lets go back! Even i-if there was a wolf out here we’ll never find it’s tracks!”

“Just a little further, Joe. I have a good feeling about this. If we’re having trouble navigating, I’m almost certain the wolf is too.”

“You have lost your mind! What are you going to do if we do find the wolf?! Offer it hot chocolate and play cards with it!?”

“Shh, I hear something.” Frank lifted his hand to make his brother be quiet. Over the howl of the wind swirling around them, a howl was heard echoing off the mountains. Above them on a ledge about 10 feet up the figure of an animal can be seen. It looks down at them eyes glowing.

Joe looked around as silence took over, nothing but the howling was heard. Then underneath their feet they felt a rumbling.

“F-Frank - d-do you feel that?”

Frank looks down and then back up the wolf is gone when he does. “Did you see the wolf?”

Joe turns around and  looks up the steep slope of the nearby mountains, one the side facing them rocks and snow were tumbling down at a quick rate. “Forget the wolf, RUN!”

Frank looks down and then back up the wolf is gone when he does. “Did you see the wolf?”

Joe turns around and  looks up the steep slope of the nearby mountains, one the side facing them rocks and snow were tumbling down at a quick rate. “Forget the wolf, RUN!”

Frank reaized quickly they werent going to make it. He reached out trying to grab Joe’s hand, but he was wrenched away from the power of the avlanche.

*~*

He didn’t know how long he had been out, all he did know was that it was cold and the snow was still falling hard.

Where was he?

Oh that’s right the avalanche...

He sat up looking around. Where was his brother? “JOE!? Can you hear me?!”

No response.

“Joe, come on answer! Let me know youa re alive!” He quickly dug himself out looking around the empty landscape.

He felt his heart start to beat quicker, he knew that a human body could only withstand so long in the snow and the cold before death. And he and Joe were pressing their luck with it.

Suddenly a white wolf appeared in the snow and the ice. It was the same wolf as before. It pawed over to Frank pulling on his gloved hand gently, as if telling Frnak to follow him. Relucantly the older Hardy got to his feet, “H-Hey, do you now where my brother is? W-We got separated in the Avalanche..” Then Frank stopped himself, there was no way the wolf could understand him.

The elegant creature only lifted it’s head and howled, the icy wind swirling around its snow white fur covered body. Then it dropped its head and continued to pull Frank away from his landing spot.  

The wolf didn’t stop until they were a few feet away, in the middle of the flat snow covered landscape, a green glove could be seen sticking out of the snow drift.

Frank felt his heart drop to his stomach as he fell to his knees and started to dig frantically. His brother had been wearing green gloves. “JOE?!”

He was relieved when he noticed that his brother’s body wasn’t stiff yet, that meant he still had a chance. “J-Joe it’s Frank! I’m here little brother! Hang in there!” As he threw the snow out of his way as fast as he could he looked up at the wolf. “P-PLEASE! Help me!” He asked frantically.

The white wolf looked down at him, eyes glowing before it began digging as well revealing Joe’s face. A deep bruise was appearing above his brother’s left eye. He must have hit it rolling around.

Frank reached into the hole he and the animal had made and gently lifted his brother into his arms. He felt a few tears roll down his cheeks out of relief, he could feel his brother’s heart beating.

“I-I’ve got you, Joe. Don’t worry. You’re safe. Your big brother is here.” As he said this he looked around hoping to see how to get back to the house. His eyes once again stopped at the wolf who was sitting on its hindlegs watching Frank’s every move.

“Frank, a-am I seeing things? Is that a wolf?” Joe asked groggily.

“Yes, it helped me fid you.” Frank stood up gathering Joe into his arms holding him close. “Just rest, Joe. I trust it.”

“B-But Frank, i-i-its a wolf…” The younger of the two tried to protest but he was still dazed and weak, barely awake.

“I know, Joe, I know. But we don’t have a choice.” He made note that his brother wasn’t really complaining about being carried. This worried Frank immensely. “Ok, hang on. We’re gong to follow that Wolf back home.”