The Barbarian’s Journey

(A/N: The are used to indicate that someone is talking in their head.)

”Im telling ya Clay, ya shouldn be walking out there in this type of weather. Its gonna get ya killed! ” Earl spoke in a hefty southern twang, ”Just let me give ya a ride home today, ya don have to worry about gas money, think of it as a favor. ” He looked at the sickly thin man that was putting on a coat that was more patches than the original fabric.

Sighing, Clay looked back at the portly man with a thin smile. ”Come on Earl, you should know that I have gone out in worse weather. ” Closing his locker Clay started walking towards the front of the small store they worked in, but he had stopped before he left the employee area. ”Besides, you have Bell and little Hudson at home waiting for you. Don keep them waiting just because you want to help me out, think about your family first. ” Clay continued walking, he could hear Earl trying to say something, but Clay was already at the entrance of the store.

As he passed through the front doors a skin-numbing wind had hit. While standing still for just a moment to gather his wits after it was blown away by the wind, he heard Earl huffing behind him. ”Hot damn! Feels like hell has frozen over! ” Clay turned around to see Earl wrapping a scarf around his neck and putting on thick wool gloves. Looking at Clay, Earl spoke again through chattering teeth. ”Is there nothing I can do for ya Clay? ” Clay shook his head and started his trek home.

It was a long walk home for Clay, it usually only took about an hour or two to walk back home from work. However, today it had taken three. With all the ice and slush on the roads, Clay had to walk slower than usual to prevent himself from slipping. While he was walking a snowstorm started to pick up making the walk even more difficult. Eventually, he made it to the trail that led to his small home. Just a little more, come on me, I can do this. Clay thought to himself as he started walking up the icy slope.

It was a steep trail too, making it risky to walk up and down in the winter. This was due to a cliffside that the trail had, one wrong step, and you could land yourself in an early, and icy, grave. As Clay was almost to the top the wind had changed directions blowing towards him. Clay lifted his hand, trying to shield his face from the blistering wind and freezing snow. Clay tried to walk forward but the snow blurred his vision. Clay found himself slipping on a large ice patch. Trying to grab something as he fell off the cliffside, he could only grab the snow as he reached o