The treasure of snow island

After a difficult navigation between different kinds of ice segments in the water, we finally reach the coast of the frozen island where the treasure is meant to be.
Almost the entire island is white. Snow lies everywhere. Occasionally, large ice peaks rise up from the ground.
Because of all the ice, it is difficult to dock on land. So it takes a little while until we can explore the island.

I get out immediately and look around. Playing herein the snow with Lena would really be amazing.
In the past, when we hardly knew each other, we liked to do that. We didn't really talk to each other back then, but it's still one of the best memories with her.
I really miss her.

But now I don't have time for that. I have to help my crew to find the treasure.
After a short meeting with them, we split up into little groups and explore the island.
I'm in a group of people I barely know.

Navigating here isn't easy. Steep snow mountains often obscure the view of the area behind them, so we never know what to expect.
The island also seems much larger now, which might be because of the bad view everywhere.

After wandering around aimlessly for a while, we agree that this isn't an effective method and head back to the ship.
In front of the ship, a bunch of people are already gathering.
They put up a small camp there. Some are already preparing some fire.

I decide to talk to some other people and most of them agree that there's no use in randomly walking around in this place.
But soon a few people come who think they have found something.
They have seen something shiny below the ice cover of a frozen lake.
It's a huge lake, which is in the middle of the island next to a huge hill.
They need help to get it out somehow.

So I and most other guys leave together and follow them to the lake. Some also enter the frozen lake and take a closer look.
I only watch them from a distance, since I don't trust the ice yet. I had a bad experience with frozen lakes when I was younger.

In the middle of the lake, there are already standing a bunch of guys. They must have found the treasure as well.
Some of them already have proper tools like hammers and pickaxes with them. They try to break the ice to get to the treasure.

It seems really difficult. They are still far from breaking it completely. The ice must really be thick. No need to worry when entering the lake.

So I go a few steps onto the ice, but then I already stop.
As I look around, I start to get a bad feeling.
Something is wrong here, but I'm not sure yet what it is.
Maybe it's just my imagination, but I need to be sure.

Suddenly I hear some creaking.
Is the ice breaking? It doesn't look like it.
Or are there some animals around? That would make sense since monsters are said to live in this place.
But no, nothing to see.

The ice floor begins to rumble. It's like an earthquake and it's really loud.
As I turn to the group of icebreakers, I hear a loud crash and all I see is a giant maw full of sharp teeth where some of our people have already been pierced by these teeth. Most of them are in pieces.

Some of the surrounding people do not immediately realize what has happened, but after some seconds, everybody begins to run away from the giant monster that easily breaks the thick layer of ice around it.
Being not far from the shore of the lake, I quickly make my way back to safety.
The monster crushes the ice and eats more of the other crew members running away.
After less than a minute, everybody is either safe or dead.

We are all standing at the shore of the frozen lake and just look at the monster while it disappears again.
Everything is silent now. We look at each other, nobody says a word. Most of them must be shocked, some of them look like they would cry any moment.
I'm not really sure what happened yet. They must feel the same.

It's difficult to process what just happened.
A noticeable amount of the crew members just died in an instant.
Nobody expected any immediately danger right now.

I'm glad Frederik wasn't on the ice as well. Or was he?
At least I haven't seen him. I hope he's fine.
Penina and Moldero are fine for sure. They didn't even leave the ship.

Soon people start to realize there's no use in staying here.
So they go back to the ship one by one.
And so I leave as well.

Back at the ship, people are already gathering in the camp again.
They still aren't able to process this unexpected tragedy.
I'm glad to see Frederik. He's already talking to other crew members.

Moldero is also outside already and people inform him about the incident.
After a while Moldero starts talking about the next plans. He doesn't want to suffer any more losses, but it would be a waste to return without any treasure after this long journey and all the losses.
He wants to see the creature with his own eyes. Maybe he will be able to fight it. Then he tells a story about the one time he killed a whale, twice as large as him, while swimming in the water, only using his saber.

People finally start talking to each other again.
Some have lost close friends.
Some wonder if they are really dead or if their dismembered bodies are still swimming on top of the water, suffering a painful death.
But everyone knows it would be too late, even if the monster wouldn't come back.

We spend the remaining day not doing much. I enter and leave the ship once in a while.
Moldero leaves for a while and explores the island on his own.
Frederik tells me later that the creature didn't appear again.
Everyone feels kind of lost now, even the ones who didn't lose their friends. The whole journey seems pointless now.

In the evening we make a cozy fire in the camp and think about the tragic losses together.
I sit down next to Frederik and Penina, who are sitting there together.
There's not much I have to say to them. I'm just happy to be close to them.

Suddenly an old man with gray hair appears behind a snow dune and greets us in a mischievous voice.

Hey, hey, hey!
Hello strangers.
You must have been looking for the treasure.
But this won't be as easy as you thought!

He laughs while holding a knife full of blood in his hand.
It's obvious that he isn't a sane person. He might be dangerous.

I'm the one who will get the treasure. Not any one of you!
I would advise you to leave this place as soon as possible.
Otherwise bad things will happen to all of you.
I saw you already made contact with my friend.
I have prevented the worst for now. But if you stay, I can't protect you anymore.

Of course the crew does not agree. The rumors are getting loud.

I can show you a different treasure. It's a huge treasure hidden on an inconspicious little island, enveloped by dangerous rain and thunder storms.
But the treasure contains one of the most valuable things in the world. It has been responsible for wars.
I'm talking about one of the magic amulets.

I'm not interested in listening anymore.
He's obviously talking bullshit, just to convince us to leave.
I won't fall for this. Nobody falls for this. It's too obvious.

But I'm tired now, so I enter the ship again and go to bed in my own room.
Maybe I'll wake up and this all was just a bad dream.
But no, I'm pretty sure this actually happened. What a day...