[color=gray]With the short hours of the long day fading behind them, and the arrival of the cold night enveloping them with its own peculiar style of blanket, the group trudged northwardly onwards through the wilderness.

The day had been a long one - awakening before dawn to finish their travel preparations, which were many, and to receive a travel blessing from bishop Innokenty before setting off on the long overland trail to the northern Don river fortress.

Under normal circumstances, the group would have simply taken the winding path
around the eastern river crescent, allowing the winter ice to ease their burden  and, thereby, more than make up for the longer distance. However, at present, with the scoundrel Zapadkov and his many bands of renegade factions loose in the east such an idea would be, as they say, not the brightest of ideas.  Although Dimitri and his closest group of Zaklucheks and their men did not cower from a fight, they also didn't foolishly plunge themselves into one, and, given the current political
situation, this meant taking the more difficult and lesser known overland route due north instead.

The singular aim of the day's activity was to march northwards through the fields as much as was tolerable, stopping to hurriedly prepare camp after dusk and consume a quick evening meal of dried fish and bread before turning in, as the lengthening of today's journey would only serve to shorten the duration of tomorrows, and thereby provide them with more time to rest in the relative warmth and safety of the northern Don Cossack outpost which was the ultimate destination of the first leg of their journey.

The critical factor for Dmitry, at least as concerned his present duty as head organizer of the expedition, was to properly gauge the strength of the company, and to balance this against time so that camp was set none too early and none too late in their journey, and given that the early sunset and late sunrise of the deep winter, he currently estimated this to imply one to two hours of hiking after the sun set over the horizon.

As the last sliver of cold grey indigo winter dusk departed from the edge of the horizon, Dmitri pulled the reigns on his dear Zakluchek and gave a subtle nod and gestured to Michael Michaelovich Sokolov, his chief Starshyna, indicating that it was time to break and prepare the oil taper from the supply wagon. "Ostanovit!," Misha called out lowly, his voice creaking slightly from the silence of the journey and the cold weather, and with a slow and almost imperceptible motion the group lazily lurched to a halt. Dmitri and Michael Michaelovich abruptly dismounted, followed by the rest of the group, those in the wagons climbing down
as well so as to take advantage of the brief respite afforded by the activities of the lamp lighting.

Zakluchek, also being familiar with the evening routine, lowered his long muscular neck to and began to lap gently at the snow, balancing his thirst against his instinctual and animalistic desire for self preservation against the freezing of his extremities. Dmitri observed his breath and manner, gauging his strength against the other horses - as the Equestrian Hetman of the group, it was important Zakluchek be in good strength lest the other beasts also grow tired in following his lead. Zaklucheck snorted slightly, tiring of his snow drink, and raised up his head, glancing slightly at Dmitry as if to reassure him of his suitability and fitness for leadership as he did so.

Reassured by Zakluchek's foalish display of stamina, Dmitry Ivanovich chuckled slightly to himself, and, taking a flask from underneath his overcoat, took a deep draw of water, at a glance surveying their surroundings to his satisfaction. He
looked over the rest of the unit, some of which were retreating slightly to a nearby clump of trees to tend to the sort of natural requirements necessary to a long journey in wilderness but not necessarily to the fitting narration of our present tale.

[color=silver]"Five Minutes!"[/color], Dmitry announced out to the group, as Misha finished filling the oil reservoir on the candle-lamp and began to measure a length of wick suitable for the correct estimation of their after-dark travel. Dmitry glanced over at their unexpected guest, Annyuska, who was the primary excuse for the present expedition. Annushka sat patiently with a far off look, expressing neither contentment, nor dissatisfaction. Seeing that Annushka Yuryevna was not so as distracted as miss his words, Dmitri Ivanovich called out [color=silver]"So that you are aware, Annitka, we are stopping to prepare an evening-taper to measure the travel at night, and will be stopping in some two hours to make camp. If you wish to tend to
any personal needs, this would be a good time, since we will not be stopping still to make camp for many vershts yet."[/color] Annyushka, deep in thought as concerned the various matters leading to her present circumstances, slowly rotated her well bundled and delicate face towards Dmitri Ivanovich and issued a subtle, almost imperceptibly slight nod accompanied by a nearly as subtle and imperceptibly slight smile of gratitude at the gesture of hospitality displayed by the Hetman to his Guest.

As the time for their departure drew near, Michael Michaelovich returned to the front of the group with the now-prepared oil taper and retrieved the perpetual fire-lamp from the supply wagon. Handing the taper to Dmitri Ivanovich, the two men turned to the east and began their usual prostrations. The rest of the group assembled behind them and began to do the same, preparing to begin the ritual of the lighting of the evening taper that would signify the beginning of the last phase of the days - or, as it were, nights - journey.

Taking a deep breath, and admiring the barely visible beauty of the rapidly darkening winter horizon, Dmitri began the familiar evening ritual. [color=silver]"Through the prayers of our Holy Fathers, lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us, Amen."[/color] The prayers, however shortened to suit the earthly necessity of the journey and the late hour, were always a solemn time to strengthen and unify the group before the evening, and it was times like this that he was proud to be Hetman, leading his people to unity under God in the struggle for the magnification of their Rus' Nation. The abbreviated service went quickly, first through the usual prayers, then the short recitation of the memorized psalms and the our father, the lighting of the lamps and finally the commemoration of the saints of the day. Finishing as he began, Dmitry Ivanovich Krepchenko uttered the last familiar phrase before he and the now fully gathered unit crossed themselves, said the final 'Amin', and climbed into place for the final stretch of the day's journey.

The time went quickly, with the reward of the evening meal and rest inspiring the group to a good pace, which was also accelerated despite their weariness by the requisite need to stay warm in the bitter winter cold and wind.. Seeing the oil line in the tapers window approaching the second line, Michael Michaelovich quietly notified his friend and superior that the time was near, and Dmitry began scanning the short length of the visible path for a suitable campground, which was found as the group entered a small clearing very shortly thereafter.

Much as before, Dmitry, with a loud voice commanded the group to stop, only this time with a bit more joy and relief in his voice. As the group compressed lurchingly to a halt behind him, the Hetman began the boisterous call of the old familiar dialog

[color=silver]"Though it is great to travel through the land as bretheren..."[/color]

pausing to await the response from the group, which after the long day
was not long in arriving..

[color=silver]"It is better still to sleep separately as Men!"[/color]

[color=silver]"And so"[/color], he continued slowly, pausing to take a breath for emphasis
and fortitude, [color=silver]"until we lie united with our women in our Fortress..."[/color]

The group, having left their prior solitary thoughts and now fully aware of the
present proceedings, paused to take a collective breath of relief, finished the
refrain with a shout and a cheer:

[color=silver]"Make Camp quickly, and let the Eating and the Drinking Begin!"[/color]
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