Whispers of the Mountain - Epilogue

A cloaked woman trudged through the snow-covered sidewalk. The remaining townsfolk began clearing up the knee-deep snow. Everyone took notice of her light attire against the blistering cold. She looked around, keeping her hood in place, awaiting the shopkeeper to greet her. Robert recognized her immediately as he shuffled out of the storage room. Her gray eyes gave her away. Her solemn smile met his pensiveness. She reached into her pockets and revealed the brilliant necklace.

His tears welled.

“But how?” he asked. Enne’s smile remained.

“That—Doesn’t matter anymore,” she replied. “Let’s just say you won’t have a problem with a wendigo.”

“And the wanderer? But, there’s no way… He couldn’t take out something like that.”

Enne chuckled while setting the necklace on the table. She said: “Ever the skeptic that one.”

Robert looked upon the necklace after holding it closer. This was the last momento of his nephew and brother. He never thought he’d see it again. Little did he know the significance of the mysterious stone. The shopkeeper looked at the cloaked woman. Her demeanor evoked a sense of peace.

“Enne, was it?” he asked. “Who are you?”

Her eyes wandered before giving a response.

“The windigo was the man you were looking for,” she answered. The old man narrowed his eyes.

“He changed… Into that thing?”

“The harsh conditions enabled his transformation. Psychosis is more than a state of mind. He clung the best he could against the evil that dwelled within.”

“How did you kill it?”

“A flaming spear to the heart.”

He couldn’t believe they killed the beast, not after it took so many lives of those who hunted it. As Robert was left to wonder, Enne cast her gaze upon the heirloom when he unclenched it. She continued: “But it begs the question. Where did that piece come from?”

Robert narrowed his eyes upon the heirloom.

“This?” he replied. “It belonged to my mother and her mother.”

“That doesn’t explain much.” She crossed her arms. “You don’t seem to know the significance of it… Perhaps your brother did.”

The shopkeeper recalled what happened between him and his brother. Their relationship was already on shaky ground before running off with the other piece. Robert couldn’t provide a satisfying answer, as he genuinely didn’t know. As though there was nothing he could add, he replied: “I have no idea. My brother just left.”

Enne nodded without utterance. The old shopkeeper nodded, tightening his lips before releasing a sigh of relief.

“Miss, thank you for bringing this back to me,” Robert broke the silence. “You don’t know how much it means to me. Ever since that day, I couldn’t rest knowing I was so hard on the boy.”

“Maybe you can seek closure now?” she suggested.

Robert seemed puzzled by her rebuke. Laced in those harsh words was something he needed to consider. He remembered what his nephew said in his final moments. The memories overwhelmed him as Enne observed the expression’s subtleties. Regret and sorrow struck him all at once. However, she wasn’t one to judge. The shopkeeper pocketed the necklace and said: “He asked me to forgive his father.”

She nodded along.

“But I haven’t seen him in years. He never came back.”

“Forgiveness,” she repeated. “Forgiveness is something you should always keep in your heart. When that day comes, you’ll be ready.”

Robert absorbed her words; His nephew uttered such words. It would be the best way to honor him, even if his heart wasn’t in it. Perhaps it would be for the best to carry on a different outlook. Part of him could finally rest until that day came. His eyes met hers again, finding a hopeful glint behind her lilac eye.

“You’re right,” he agreed. “Thank you so much… For everything.”

“Please, take care,” Enne said as she proceeded to the exit.

Enne felt relieved she could mend things. The decision rested on him should that day come. As she shut the door, the wanderer leaned against the ice-encrusted railing. He observed the townsfolk clearing their sidewalks. He absolutely hated the cold, especially after surviving the blizzard.

“Allie?” she spoke. “I thought you would’ve remained at the inn.”

“We’re leaving anyway,” he muttered. “Doesn’t make much sense to cozy up.”

“Yeah, but we can pat ourselves on the back. We did a good deed, although I’m sure you’re basking in your wrongness about everything?”

He chuckled. His eyes trailed toward hers. Enne leaned against the rail next to him. Her warm body pressed against his, nearly knocking his arm from its resting place.

“After that night,” he answered. “There’s a lot I’m yet to understand.”

“Just admit you were wrong already.”

“Eh, I lacked the mental fortitude to reach the conclusions you did. Hundreds of years, but I’ve only scratched the surface.”

“Oh, I see. Fancy wording for your skepticism? Good enough.”

“Maybe.”

Alejandro looked at Enne through the side of his eye. She fixated on the towering tree lines along the town’s edge. She felt at peace, knowing the threat of the wendigo was gone, and family matters were on track to be settled.

“It’s amazing,” he said. “Imagine all the other myths out there. There’s a chance they’re real after all.”

“Ah,” she replied. “You’ve finally come around! Nothing is impossible. Even now, mana is a mystery to humans, but we elves know much more.”

“How does this tie to your skin’s scales?”

“I think I’ve become stronger somehow. It’s… Much like my father’s. Iscah was a similar age to him but showed none of those markings. I wonder… Maybe there are things I don’t understand myself.”

The wanderer watched the wintry scene along with her. She wondered where the shopkeeper’s brother had taken the ring. The jewel-encrusted in its casing was more than a regular stone. It was much like her necklace, carrying similar properties. She couldn’t tell this to Robert, knowing the danger it posed. So as long as it was kept separate from the other like-stones, its threat would be insignificant.

“So, what now?” she asked.

“We can get our bike,” he answered. “That’s a few days’ walking.”

“Sounds like an adventure!”

She hopped ahead before turning to him. Her playful wink sent a tinge of uneasiness as he followed. They walked through the clear paths toward the edge of town. They walked past the clinic where the hunter stayed. Enne looked on curiously when she halted. The nurse looked at her with the same grimace from before.

“What’cha looking at?” she shouted.

“The hunter?” Enne asked. “Is he okay?”

“That fool done run off in the early morning.”

“What?” Alejandro gasped. “You just let him go?”

“With everything he was saying, I wasn’t about to mess with him.”

“What was he saying?” Enne questioned, but the nurse shrugged indifferently.

“He was an outsider. Not our concern.”

“Not your—” Enne felt Alejandro’s gentle grip. She looked over and saw him shake his head in protest.

With nothing else to say, they walked away. They saw the crusty snow-covered slope as they reached the edge of town. Enne still expressed her displeasure with the dialogue when she looked over. Alejandro didn’t want any trouble with the locals.

“What a fucking asshole,” Enne quipped.

“Were you expecting that one to be a saint?” the wanderer mused.

“I was expecting her to be at least slightly concerned.”

“Outliers like these don’t care about civility, not when they have mouths to feed. It’s kinda tribalistic out here.”

“Those outsiders tried to help.”

“Like we have?”

Enne crossed her arms. She saw a clearing down the slope. The travel would be dozens of miles and plenty of time to ponder. Robert was the first person who came to the wanderer’s mind when he realized he had sowed doubt in her mind. He walked over, standing by her side as they looked on.

“What mattered is what you did for Robert,” he said. “You guided him to another possibility. He doesn’t need to have regret.”

“So, you were listening?” she asked, her lips pursing slightly. “Of course, you would….”

“And—That’s more than enough.”

“We could do more….”

“Doing more requires taking a step at a time, Enne.”

Her eyes trailed toward him playfully after having been affirmed of her deed. Enne didn’t hesitate to slide down the hardened surface as he watched, surprised by her suddenness. Enne’s laughter echoed down the trail. He couldn’t help but smile before he followed.

“No more detours!” he shouted.

“Then that’s no adventure, is it?” she replied.

With you, there’s always something, Alejandro thought.

And there concludes this short story. Fret not, there's more to come in the coming months! Please follow. You can lso find me on IG: erii1776