he pushed on towards the smell
hoping they would be ok, they had to be ok
hour after hour seemed to pass, his legs, the pain pushing its way higher
higher, his arms so numb, wrapped tight around himself
he tripped, stumbled, but kept pushing, forward always forward
the moisture from his breath freezing around his nose and mouth
he could still smell the smoke though
then, lights, a flicker past the pines, lights
a cabin, smoke from the chimney
they were inside, warm, not safe but warm, atleast they had that
he rubbed his hands together, he had to be ready to fight
he moved closer, crouching, looking, the snow swirling around him
hiding from their view, the shadows kept him safe, he sat their watching
one sentinel passing back and forth on the porch
he would get cold, have to go inside, a switch or a break
he would wait and see, how many of them, how big
he moved closer, crouched lower, got comfortable, cold and numb