After one more day of walking, they finally came across the sign they had been looking for. It said Jokkmokk in giant letters, with no kilometers beside it. They had reached their destination. Under the Swedish name of the town, were the Sami names: Jåhkåmåhkke and Dálvvadis.

Esther smiled. "Just a little more and we're home!" She said excited.

"Finally." Answered Sven. "I was getting tired."

Esther laughed. "And you think that I am not, maybe?"

Sven giggled. "It's not fair, you do this every year."

Eventually, they walked into the town from the south side. As they passed more and more houses they knew it.

"We're in civilization again. how do you feel about that?" Asked Esther

He shrugged. "I don't know how to feel about it... It's been years since I visited a town. Ever since The Last War broke out I haven't wandered far from my home. I feel excited, but also a little afraid. I don't know if people here will accept me."

Esther smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, the people here are very diverse. The inhabitants here have always been welcoming since Jokkmokk used to be an important market place for the Sami and-"

Sven interrupted her. "Yeah, yeah, I get it... This place has an interesting history, probably. Just tell me what kinda people are here."

Esther sighed. "Well, shame that you don't want to know the history of this place. It's really interesting, you know? Anyways, there are all kinds of people here. Many are very welcoming though. People need help here, after all. It's also a pacifist commune, which means that they are okay with lemmings."

Sven looked confused. "Lemmings? Like the tiny animals?"

Esther shook her head. "No of course not. People who dodged the draft are called lemmings. Because lemmings hide underground from predators, you see?"

Sven sighed. "Ok so, I am a lemming... How funny. But you say that people who dodged the draft are accepted here. Are there places where that's not the case?"

"Sure, down south there are other communes where they aren't welcome. People don't always figure out that you're a lemming, though. No one has a list of people who dodged the draft. You're here in Jokkmokk however, so you don't have to worry about anything."

Sven sighed in relief. "I am thankful about that. Where are we heading, actually?"

Esther smiled. "To my mother of course. How rude would it be if we didn't say hi to her?"

They walked through the town center and greeted several people on the way. Most remembered Esther and were happy to see her. They were friendly to Sven as well and welcomed him into the town.

Eventually, they reached the house of Esther's mom. It was a wooden cottage, painted in green with 2 floors.

Esther looked at Sven and smiled. "Are you ready for this?" She asked. He nodded and smiled back.

Esther then knocked on the door. A few moments later, an old lady opened the door.

She looked at Esther and tightly hugged her. "I am so happy to see you again!" She said, as tears appeared in her eyes. "I've missed you so much again. How have your travels been?"

She then looked at Sven. "And who's this? Is it your boyfriend? I am so happy you finally found someone-"

Esther laughed uncomfortably at her mom's statement. "No mom, he's not my boyfriend. He's just a good friend. Saved my life, in fact."

Esther's mother smiled at him. "Any friend of Esther is a friend of mine. You two should come inside and tell me everything that happened!"

They took place at a large round table. The table where Esther ate dinner as a child and the table where she first found out that war broke out. Her mom's house was a place full of memories for her, that reminded her about better times. She was always happy to be there and her mother was always the first address she went to when she got back in Jokkmokk.

As they sat down, Esther and Sven told everything about their adventure. From their initial encounter, to the bear and how Sven managed to get food just in time. He kept silent about the fight, though. That remained his dark secret.

Esther's mother listened curiously to everything that had happened and when they were done talking, she smiled.

"You two have had quite an adventure together, I must say. But it sounds to me like you are gonna be great friends here."

Esther smiled, but also looked down, as if she was hiding something.

"What's wrong?" Asked Sven.

"Oh no, nothing." She said. Esther knew very well that she couldn't stay here forever. When the summer came she would have to go to Bodø and when she returned, she would have to scavenge again. But she didn't want that, she just wanted to be together with Sven.

She hated scavenging, in fact she just wanted to be here in Jokkmokk. That was no option for her, however. Esther tried to ignore all those thoughts though and tried to enjoy the moment.

Esther looked at the old piano that was in the back of the room. "Hey Sven, it's been a while since I touched that thing. Wanna hear me play it?"

He smiled. "Sure do. I didn't even know you could play piano?"

She winked. "I have many hidden talents Sven. From a pianist, to a boring history teacher."

She walked over and sat down at the piano. She carefully touched the keys to familiarize herself with them. She then readied herself and looked behind her at Sven.

"This one is for you!" She said enthusiastically.

She then calmly played the piano, with a bright smile on her face. She hadn't felt so good in a long time. After all, she adored that instrument like nothing else.

When she was done playing the tune, she stood up and returned to Sven. "What do you think about it?" She asked curiously.

"It was great!" He said enthusiastic. "I just don't know the song?"

Esther laughed. "Of course you don't, it's the national march of the Old Swedish Army: Under Blågul Fana."

Her mother smiled. "Esther loves classical music and especially marches, you know? This one is her favourite."

Sven seemed impressed. "I didn't know that was your kind of music. But yeah, I do like the song."

Esther giggled. "You could have heard it a lot more if you were in the army." She said jokingly.

"Anyways, mother: it was great to see you. But I should show Sven my house as well."

Sven seemed confused. "I didn't know you had a house on your own?"

She shrugged. "I originally rented it... But after the war the owner said I could have it for free, as he had sympathy for my condition."

They said goodbye to her mom and then went outside to Esther's home.

"It's not too far from here." She said. "Only a short walk."

There she finally stood. After a long week of hiking through snow, she was finally home. This time she wasn't alone, however. She finally had someone by her side.

She wasn't sure if he would be just a friend, or a lover though. Esther certainly liked him, after all, they went through so many things together. She just didn't know if the feeling was romantic. Fortunately for her, she still had time to figure that out.