Under solen som steg opp over den ødelagte byen, begynte Eirik og Astrid sin lange reise mot det ryktede trygge stedet.

Under the sun that rose over the ruined city, Eirik and Astrid began their long journey toward the rumored safe haven.

Det var sommer, men luften var kjølig, med en vind som bar duften av ruinene.

It was summer, but the air was cool, with a breeze carrying the scent of the ruins.

Gater som en gang var fulle av liv, lå nå stille, som om tiden hadde glemt dem. Evige minner fra verden før verden brøt sammen.

Streets that were once full of life now lay silent, as if time had forgotten them—enduring memories from the world before the world fell apart.

Eirik gikk foran, med sterke skritt og øyne som holdt vakt.

Eirik walked ahead, with strong strides and eyes that kept watch.

Han hadde overlevd på grunn av sin evne til å holde følelsene i sjakk.

He had survived due to his ability to keep his emotions in check.

For ham var håp en farlig ting.

For him, hope was a dangerous thing.

Astrid gikk ved hans side.

Astrid walked by his side.

Hun gikk ikke like fort, men hvert steg hun tok var fylt med noe Eirik manglet—troen på bedre dager.

She didn't walk as fast, but every step she took was filled with something Eirik lacked—the belief in better days.

"Vi må ta denne veien," sa Eirik og pekte mot en smal sti som ledet oppover mot fjellene.

"We must take this path," said Eirik, pointing toward a narrow trail leading up toward the mountains.

"Det er kortere, men farligere."

"It's shorter, but more dangerous."

Astrid så skeptisk på ham.

Astrid looked at him skeptically.

"Vi kan følge elven lenger ned, det er tryggere," foreslo hun.

"We can follow the river further down, it's safer," she suggested.

Hennes stemme var mild, men besluttsomheten var tydelig.

Her voice was gentle, but the determination was clear.

Eirik ristet på hodet.

Eirik shook his head.

"Vi har ikke tid. Vinteren kommer snart igjen, og vi kan ikke risikere å bli fanget her."

"We don't have time. Winter is coming soon again, and we can't risk getting trapped here."

Motvillig ga Astrid etter, og de satte kurs gjennom den farlige ruten.

Reluctantly, Astrid relented, and they set their course through the dangerous route.

Terrenget var vanskelig, med bratte skrenter og skarpe steiner som minnet dem om naturens kraft.

The terrain was difficult, with steep slopes and sharp rocks reminding them of nature's power.

Alt omkring dem syntes stille, men de visste at farene lurte i skyggene.

Everything around them seemed silent, but they knew dangers lurked in the shadows.

Da de nådde et trangere parti av stien, ble stillheten brutt.

When they reached a narrower part of the trail, the silence was broken.

En gruppe fremmede dukket opp foran dem.

A group of strangers appeared in front of them.

Eirik grep straks en stein som våpen, men Astrid strakte ut armen for å stagge ham.

Eirik immediately grabbed a rock as a weapon, but Astrid extended her arm to restrain him.

"Vent," sa hun og trådte fremover.

"Wait," she said, stepping forward.

"Vi vil ikke skade dere. Vi er bare på reise."

"We don't want to harm you. We are just travelers."

Med ord full av vennlighet, brukte Astrid sine forhandlingsferdigheter.

With words full of kindness, Astrid used her negotiation skills.

Hun snakket om håp og vilje til å overleve, om et felles ønske om trygghet.

She spoke of hope and the will to survive, of a shared desire for safety.

Gruppen, rørt av hennes ord, tillot dem å passere uten skade.

The group, moved by her words, allowed them to pass unharmed.

Da de endelig nådde høyden, glitret lyset fra en sol som begynte å gå ned over horisonten.

When they finally reached the summit, the light from a sun beginning to set glittered over the horizon.

Foran dem lå det ryktede tilfluktstedet.

Before them lay the rumored sanctuary.

Men hva som møtte øynene deres var en spøkelsesby.

But what met their eyes was a ghost town.

Tom.

Empty.

Forlatt.

Abandoned.

Astrid sank ned på en stein og så sorgtung bortover de tomme gatene.

Astrid sank down on a rock and looked sorrowfully across the empty streets.

Eiriks hjerte slo hardt av skuffelse.

Eirik's heart pounded hard with disappointment.

Men da han så på Astrid, innså han hvor langt håpet hadde brakt dem.

But when he looked at Astrid, he realized how far hope had brought them.

"Vi klarte det hit," sa han stille.

"We made it here," he said quietly.

"Og vi vil fortsette."

"And we will continue."

Astrid så opp, med et svakt smil.

Astrid looked up, with a faint smile.

"Vi vil finne et sted," sa hun.

"We will find a place," she said.

"Et sted som gir mening."

"A place that makes sense."

De satt der mens solen sakte forsvant bak fjellene.

They sat there as the sun slowly disappeared behind the mountains.

Naturen—selv i sin øde skjønnhet—begynte å omslutte dem på ny.

Nature—even in its desolate beauty—started to envelop them anew.

I denne tause enigheten, forstod de at reisen var langt fra over, men de hadde hverandre og styrken i både forsiktighet og håp.

In this silent agreement, they understood that the journey was far from over, but they had each other and the strength in both caution and hope.

Sammen ville de finne sitt hjem.

Together, they would find their home.