(Untitled)

[remindmeof_me]

The snow lay deep all around, heaped up in drifts against trees and stones, pockmarked with the skittering tracks of critters of both Earth and Xen. Shephard couldn't remember ever seeing it so deep, not even when he was a little kid and everything was bigger and tougher. Then again, he hadn't been traveling the better part of a month back then,

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[smelltheashes]

The valley is eerily silent and still. The only sound is the steady crunch-crunch-crunch of snow beneath their feet.

Eventually, they may realize that there's a third set of footsteps coming from somewhere nearby.

[remindmeof_me]

Freeman might. Shephard definitely does. He holds up one fist in the 'stop immediately' gesture, for Freeman's benefit, and then reaches for his sidearm. Just in case.

[smelltheashes]

A hunched, alien figure steps out into the open in front of them. A Vortigaunt.

A Vortigaunt wearing a bright yellow knit cap with earflaps and a matching scarf.

"Greetings to the Freeman and the Marine. Your arrival has been much anticipated."

[remindmeof_me]

There's gonna be some staring for a bit. Mostly because of the hat.

Eventually Shephard clears his throat and says, "Don't think I know you. You from White Forest'n we just never met?"

He'll ask about the hat in a bit. Because: hat. What.

[smelltheashes]

"This individual has never been to the White Forest," it replies. "Our kin have a safe haven of vital importance near the human settlement. If the Freeman and the Marine wish an escort to the human settlement, it will be provided."

[acts_of_gord]

"Please," says Gordon. "If you wouldn't mind."

Shephard makes absolutely no objection. He does, however, make a vaguely headward gesture and say, "You, uh... didn't know you folks could knit."

[smelltheashes]

"A woman of Rowlesburg forged these garments," says the Vortigaunt as it leads the way further down the slope. "We confess we do not understand the necessity. Also, it itches."

[remindmeof_me]

Shephard's mouth twitches. "Aw, she meant well," he says. "Likely she was just tryin' to keep you warm."

"Maybe it was your mother," comes Freeman's suggestion as he moves to follow.

"Fuck no. Momma don't knit." He pauses. "Less she picked it up while I was gone, anyways."

[smelltheashes]

The Vort says nothing, leading the way across the valley in silence.

The mouth of the cave is barely visible, a black mark against the white hillside. The guard standing just inside is hidden in shadow, invisible until the approaching party is a stone's throw away.

The guard, a lean, blond Caucasian man in his early thirties, lifts his gun and seems about to bark a question, but the words die in his throat when he sees who he's facing down.

[acts_of_gord]

It's a wonder either of them are recognizable by anyone at this point, really. It's been three weeks in the wilderness, maybe more- Gordon lost count- and there's been no washing up, no shaving, and very little food or sleep. They look, the both of them, like the sort of people who used to shout about the black helicopters coming.

But the HEV suit kind of speaks for itself, so Gordon just raises one hand in a wave. Shephard peers at the guard a moment, then says, "Don't think I know you either. Should I?"

[smelltheashes]

"Jesse Lundberg," says the guard. "Malcolm an' Monica's oldest... you're Adrian Shephard, aren't you?"

[remindmeof_me]

"Jesse- hunh. Name rings a bell but the face don't." Shephard starts to shake his head, then stops. "Yeah, that's me. The Vort says y'all were lookin' for us?"

[smelltheashes]

"We knew y'all were comin', just not when..." Jesse leans over to activate an intercom bolted to the cave wall. "Lundberg to base, come in. Freeman and Shephard have arrived. Repeat, Freeman and Shephard have arrived."

[acts_of_gord]

"We read you, Lundberg," drawls a voice that gets a startle of recognition from Shephard. "Go on and send 'em on down. I'll notify the mayor. Medina out."

[smelltheashes]

Jesse turns back to the newcomers with a broad grin. "Go right ahead, they're waitin' for ya. Oh, an' watch your step on the stairs."

He just might have that grin on his face all week. He got to be the one to greet Freeman and Corporal Shephard.

[acts_of_gord]

"Thank you," says Gordon. Shephard salutes, and turns to head down the unfamiliar path.

"Damn," he says after a while, "this ain't nowhere I ever set foot before. Caves ain't my thing."

"Looks like they might have to be," Gordon comments, glancing upward. "Seems like this one goes on a good long while."

"Yup."