Andrew had lost track of the days. It seemed both immediately after they left and a lifetime ago that their journey had been upended. The day had been whitewashed and barren like the ones before it, and at the end of a snow-logged hike ever northward, they had stopped for the night.

Andrew checked his pack for the fourth time, fighting the urge to bring anything else that would weigh him down. He knew there would be plenty of food and water between the six of them on the sled, and despite the hefty backpack and months of preparation, he couldn’t help but wonder if they had prepared enough.