King of the Wilderness

"In the afternoon, we take off again, arriving at dusk at the southernmost city of Alaska, Ketchikan, where we will spend the night at the best waterfront hotel."

"Then, the next day." His pen tip completed a breathtaking jump on the map.

"We will embark on the most thrilling sea-crossing expedition! Taking off from Ketchikan, filling up the fuel, directly crossing the Alaska Bay in the northeast Pacific Ocean, flying to Seattle, Washington State!"

"This is a continuous sea flight of nearly six hundred nautical miles, almost an impossible challenge for a regular jungle plane."

"But, for the turbo Beaver equipped with long-range auxiliary fuel tanks, this is entirely within its safe range."

"Upon arriving in Seattle, we’ll enter the mainland airspace of the United States. We will refuel and rest again, have lunch, and then proceed on the final segment of our journey."

"We will fly eastward, over the skies of Idaho, and finally land at our kingdom in Wyoming under the twilight glow."

He looked up at his family, already stunned by his meticulous and romantically imagined plan, and said with a smile, "This is not just a migration, ladies."

"This will be our family’s first unprecedented aerial adventure along North America’s most magnificent coastline and mountains."

"This will be the first unique gift I give to you and the children!"

The following morning.

The colorful turbo Beaver, like a giant bird about to spread its wings, stood quietly on the smooth ice surface.

Lin Yu’an was performing the final pre-flight check.

Meanwhile, Aliya and Emily shuttled back and forth between the cabin and the plane, moving the already packed luggage, the children’s diapers, bottles, changing clothes, and their own streamlined bags, one by one into the plane’s spacious cabin.

The two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Whiskey and Honey, seemed to sense the atmosphere of departure as well.

They didn’t chase and frolic excitedly as usual, but instead lay quietly on the snow, their brown eyes full of confusion and attachment, tightly following their owners’ silhouettes.

"Hey, come here, big guys." After finishing his check, Lin Yu’an squatted down, opening his arms to the two dogs.

Whiskey and Honey immediately whimpered, diving into his embrace, rubbing their large furry heads against his chest and cheeks, letting out a whimpering sound of reluctance from their throats.

"Okay, okay, it’s not that we’re abandoning you." Lin Yu’an said with a smile, vigorously rubbing their thick backs.

"We’re just going to a new place to build a bigger and more beautiful home for you and the babies. You need to stay here and be good, listen to Uncle Stan, okay?"

At that moment, their old friend Stan drove over on his snowmobile.

Stan jumped off the vehicle, looking at the scene before him, revealing a hint of reluctance in his eyes, "Don’t worry, Lin. I’ll take care of them as if they were my own children. Once you’ve settled in your new home, come back anytime to pick them up."

"Thanks, my friend." Lin Yu’an stood up and strongly embraced Stan.

There weren’t many words; the bond between men was settled in this solid embrace.

Lin Yu’an cautiously placed the two babies, already dressed like little astronauts, into the cabin, securing them firmly in the specially modified aviation safety seats.

"Ready, ladies?" He took one last look at the small town filled with memories where he had lived for so long, and then asked Aliya and Emily, who were already seated.

"Anytime, Captain." They replied in unison, eyes sparkling with excitement and anticipation for the unknown journey.

With Lin Yu’an boarding and closing the cabin door, the powerful Pratt & Whitney PT6A turbo engine made a unique hissing sound.

The five-blade propeller began to slowly turn, then gradually accelerated, finally becoming a barely distinguishable blur, creating a strong airflow as it slowly glided along the wide ice river, then lifted its nose, heading for the vast, clear blue sky.

The plane quickly ascended, soon surpassing the mountains surrounding Wiseman Town.

The two little ones, barely a year old, observed the world from a new perspective for the first time.

In their eyes, there was no adult’s sentiment of parting, only pure curiosity about this floating-up world.

The son inherited Aliya’s lively nature, waving his chubby little hands, trying to grasp the clouds swiftly retreating outside the window.

Meanwhile, the daughter remained quiet, like Emily, just staring with her big black grape-like eyes, watching the snowy white world rapidly shrinking below.

Aliya and Emily looked down through the cabin window at the land they knew so well but now seemed somewhat unfamiliar.

The winding Koyukuk River, like a silver ribbon, was embedded in the endless snowfield. The small cabin had become an almost invisible black dot.

"Goodbye, our first home," Aliya said softly, with a hint of wistfulness in her voice.

"No, dear." Emily held her hand, gently correcting, "We’re just starting a new journey. This place will always be our starting point."