qanik

How many... days... has it been?

Can't remember... Five?

What... are you looking at...?

Over there... it's a nest of fowlbeasts...

You still... have the energy... to be fowlwatching...?

They're... jumping down...

Jumping... down...?

––Crack!

In the distance, a newly-hatched fowlbeast is finally blown dry by the frigid wind. It opens its eyes and sees that it is inside a nest atop a cliff.

Its mother built the nest here to avoid predators.

But now, it faces a problem: before it learns to fly, the only way to secure food is by jumping down the cliff.

It trembles as it steps out of the nest, spreads its fragile wings, tries to let the wind support it, and then takes the plunge–

Bang! The wind blows it over, and it slams against the side of the cliff.

Bang! It continues to roll downwards, the sharp ice slicing through its body.

Bang! It crashes into the snow beneath, the hard and icy snow offering barely any cushion from the impact. It sways its neck slowly, trying to stand up and return to its mother before it freezes to death.

It walks past the carcasses of its brothers and sisters, and behind it, another fowlbeast steps forward.

(In Sami) ...Return to the embrace of fertility and nature.

Now, you've also seen the divination showing the outcome of this rescue mission... As long as we try harder to find the path, we'll be able to get out.

Alright? The snowstorm has subsided... C'mon already, let's get going. If we stay here, we're definitely gonna freeze to death.

Actually, does anyone still have the strength to come with me to find the path? ...Everyone else can rest here, and we'll retrace our footsteps later using the markers.

Trust me, divination doesn't lie... C'mon, we're gonna be fine!

We can't stay here forever, guarding these broken down beacons... Please, believe me, if we stay we'll just freeze to death. We need to find a way out!

(In Sami) What are you doing?

(In Sami) Stop! Don't touch the prime tree! Stop this instant, or I'll stop you myself!

Whoa whoa, what are they saying?

No clue. All I got out of it was 'stop.' Are we not supposed to drink this water or something? Or are we not supposed to pluck the leaves?

Why do they look like they're about to attack us then?

Let's all calm down here, shall we––

(In Sami) Hands off the divination objects!

What do you mean? What are you talking about? Can we not place them on the ground either?

(In Sami) Begone from this place!

Sorry, I can't understand you–

(In Sami) Hold on! Don't get mad! They're not trying to do anything bad!

(In Sami) More and more outlanders are coming here. We should not be letting them through.

(In Sami) But they've also brought things that have helped us...

(In Sami) Barely. Sickness is a part of nature, and we have our own ways of dealing with it... But the outlanders do not respect that at all.

(In Sami) They just don't know that you're not supposed to move the divination objects. It's not that they're disrespecting the prime tree, we just haven't told them yet...

(In Sami) They always do whatever they want without asking permission. You must teach them to respect us before we can respect them, or no cooperation can be reached.

...You shouldn't be touching our divination objects, as they come from our sacred prime tree.

The prime tree is our home. Next time, please ask for permission first before doing anything.

...Did we do something really bad?

When an outlander tosses a leaf of the prime tree onto the ground, it's basically the same as if a stranger went and stepped on the head of one of your family members.

Is that something you'd stand by and let happen?

Huh? This tree is your home...?

Yes, it sustains our tribe. We have always lived here, and it has provided us with food and shelter.

We use its fallen branches for divination to receive its guidance. Our people will not allow outlanders to tamper with them.

(*whispers*) Is this guy serious? Divination is like those cheap fortune-telling scams, right...?

(*whispers*) Just keep your mouth shut. Haven't you learned anything? They clearly don't want us messing with their stuff, so let it be.

(*whispers*) Can't we at least ask about it? It'd help us out in our research! I want to see how this thing 'guides' them and if there's any scientific basis to it...

Thank you. Umm...

(In broken Sami) Qanipalaat?

We are only here to conduct research, not to look for trouble.

Thank you for letting us know. If there is anything else we should be aware of, please tell us as well.

Well... the divination objects are extremely important to our tribe, and can't be tampered with willy-nilly. Also, if you plan on doing any hunting, please only hunt as much as you need for food.

Beasts are also a part of nature. If you ask for something from nature, nature will sustain you. But if you ask for too much, nature will also take something back in turn.

Most importantly, you must not hunt any mothers.

Understood. Then... in order to prevent any misunderstandings, could you convey to your tribe our apologies for our conduct?

(In Sami) Leader, I've informed them of what they need to be aware of. They said that they're very sorry, and will make sure it doesn't happen again.

(In Sami) They will be leaving shortly, and I will tell them where to go.

(In Sami) If every outlander was as reasonable as them, maybe the tribespeople wouldn't object to them so fiercely.

(In Sami) ...As long as they keep their word, that is.

(In Sami) Give this to them. If they get lost in the snow, have them shoot this into the sky, and we will come to help.

(In Sami) Got it!

Don't be so down... The divination foresaw a good outcome, and I was able to find you because you shot that arrow.

Weren't you skeptical about whether or not we'd show up? Well, here I am. And the same will be true for the results of the divination, believe me.

The positioning beacon's broken, and your divination is just a bunch of words... It's no use...

No... The divinations are never wrong.

Then... Can it show us the way out?

No... But we can't just sit here waiting. I'm sure we'll receive a sign once we get moving.

I'm here to save you. But I need you to trust me and our divination. Trust that I can lead you out of here. So how about it? Will you take my hand?

What...?

In our tribe, the departed are buried beneath the ice so that they may return to nature... They have become a part of the icefield, and so nature will protect us.

Nature will protect us? What's the point of saying that now...?

Once you've heard it, then you'll believe it too...

Take my hand, then focus on a single snowflake. Direct your attention, close your eyes, and then you'll hear–

A low whisper makes its way into Qanipalaat's ear, which he interprets carefully.

...You can hear the whispers of those who've left us. They have returned to nature, and are with us again.

Drip, drop! A droplet of water suddenly falls from midair. Qanipalaat opens his eyes and looks at the people collapsed in front of him.

Take my hand, and give it a try?

...Do you hear anything?

...Even if we can, so what?

Give it a try. It'll make you feel better. Maybe it'll also help you trust me. Put those broken machines aside, and come find the path with me.

The survivor weakly raises his arm and takes hold of Qanipalaat's hand, skeptically looking at the snowflakes dancing in front of him.

Alright then... But, how do I know... which snowflake to look at?

Once you've found it, it will immediately start to melt.

Pay close attention. You'll only have a few seconds.

...I can't really see...

Calm down. You can do it.

Inhale... Exhale...

Look––!

<color=#000000>Shhh... *rustle*, *rustle*...</color>

<color=#000000>The prey... runs... the arrow... hums...</color>

<color=#000000>Shhh... the crystals... gather...</color>

<color=#000000>Take them back...</color>

<color=#000000>*crack!* ...this time, we... *crack!*... were very successful...</color>

...Did you hear it?

Hello? Hello? Did you hear it?

...'Gather'...

...'We were, very successful this time'...?

Why... That was Nick's voice! Did you also hear it?