Chapter 1: The Mysterious Storm

It’s been a harsh weekend. The snowstorm has been raging over the entire town for the last two days. Electricity has been gone since morning. The last news on the radio was that it will get back to normal. ‘Old Town’, like its name, was an old town situated in the northern part of Estonia, near Pohja-Korvemaa nature reserve, which is the habitat of many species like brown bear, grey wolf, Eurasian lynx, minks, etc.

Most of the animals avoid coming into this part of the forest due to the town’s human population, which often has a skirmish with some of these wild animals.

The snowstorms normally happen from November to February, so it was strange that a snowstorm came in April. Since it came so suddenly and this late in the year, reporters on television called it, ‘The Mysterious Storm’.

A young man was watching the storm through the window of his old family house, which was near the edge of the forest. He was Erik Goodman, tall, 6`5, with a broad chest and red hair. He never went to the gym, but like his grandfather, he also had the physique of a bodybuilder.

The barking sound brought him back to reality. This was the only house in this region, far from the rest of the town. He had been living in this house since he could remember. After his parent’s death, when he was 2-years-old, his grandfather brought him here and raised him.

They were close to each other, but six months ago he lost his battle with cancer. These few months had been heavy for the 19-year-old young man.

In weather like this, he couldn’t contact the rest of the town. That’s the reason why his friend Henry advised him to sell this old house and buy or rent an apartment in town, but he politely rejected that advice. It wasn’t just a house for him; it’s a home that holds the memory of his grandfather, his childhood.

The storm had arrived yesterday; the previous day and night had been constant wind and snowfall.

Again he heard the sound of barking. It was a stray dog, who had been living in the area between his house and the forest. He tried to shelter him, but after his stomach was full, the dog preferred the wilderness. He came randomly to visit him for some water and food. When he first saw the dog, the signs of abuse were clear. He knew that the dog had a trust issue with humans. He let him enjoy his life on his own terms instead of using a leash or calling any shelters.

He was worried about him when he couldn’t find him before the storm hit the town, and had even gone into the forest in search of the dog, but had no success. So, hearing its bark brought relief to his heart.

‘Maybe he is injured; I should go and try to find him again.’ With that thought, he decided to go out and help the dog.