The rugged terrain stretched out in front of Zayzal and Sera as they ventured out of the village. The snow had settled into a thick blanket, covering any semblance of a pathway that may have been there.

Snow still continuously fell, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as it had been the last few days. Still, visibility was relatively low.

They both had black cloaks on with leather packs full of rations hanging off one shoulder. Sera had her axe and shield on her back, with a steel knife at her side. Zayzal was similar, but instead, he had a steel spear and a dungeon dagger at his waist. In his pack were the rest of the loot they plundered and more rations, along with a few necessary survival items like a first aid kit, flint and stone, and some kindling.

‘I’ve turned into the pack mule, haven’t I?’ Zayzal thought, silently chuckling.

“What’s wrong?” Sera asked while leading the way, marching through several feet of snow.

Zayzal shook his head, “Nothing. I’m just wondering how we’re going to find my car.” He still had the keys, somehow, but didn’t know if they’d even work.

“We’re not, idiot,” Sera replied, shaking her head in sarcastic disappointment. “Our goal is just to get off the mountain. I don’t know if the rest of the world is safer, but it’s better than being here. Your car can come later.”

“Wait! But I think I parked at the Gald… Galdhopiggen Ski Center! If we just head there-!” Zayzal exclaimed, only to be cut off by Sera.

“Galdhøpiggen Summer Ski Centre?! Are you crazy?! No! Absolutely not!”

“Why?”

“It’s too dangerous,” Sera replied, her tone more serious than before. “With all this snowfall, including the steep slopes, pits, and ridges we’ll have to walk over, going there is nothing more than a death sentence. This doesn’t even include the possibility of wild beasts or monster attacks. Instead, we’ll head east to the Visdalen Valley and travel north up the Visa River until we reach the highway or find a different source of transportation.”

Zayzal wanted to speak up but had no words. It was his fault for wanting to hike in the middle of nowhere. It wasn’t until now he realized just how secluded Jotunheimen National Park was.

He thought about asking if they could go west. They could probably hit the motorway sooner, but Sera had brought up a good point. With all this snowfall, there was a higher chance of avalanches and an easier time to get lost.

She must have a good reason for going east.

Hell, he still wasn’t quite sure where he was, anyway.

“Alright.” He sighed. “I’ll leave it up to the expert.”

Sera nodded with a smile, patting her chest. “That’s right! Follow me, and I’ll get us out of here safely!”

They both chuckled but continued on their way, leaving two long trails behind them, which were slowly being filled in with snow.

As they trudged through the snow-covered landscape, the world seemed to compress around them.

The heavy, muted atmosphere pressed down, making every step significant.

The snow beneath their feet was treacherous, hiding rocks, tree roots, and sudden depressions. Several times, Zayzal nearly lost his footing, saved only by a timely hand from Sera.

The falling snowflakes danced erratically, limiting visibility. Though the snowfall wasn’t as fierce as before, it was relentless, steadily blanketing everything in its path.

Occasionally, a gust of wind would pick up, forcing them to shield their eyes as the icy particles bit into their faces.

In the enveloping silence, each noise seemed magnified. The scrunch of their boots, the rhythmic breathing of their exertions, and the occasional rustle of a distant creature.

When a branch snapped somewhere to their left, both instantly dropped into a defensive stance, weapons drawn, scanning the obscured terrain for any sign of movement.

After several heartbeats, Sera whispered, “Could just be the weight of the snow on the trees. But we need to be on our guard.”

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Zayzal nodded, a tense grip on his spear. He wouldn’t allow himself to be ambushed like last time.

As they walked, the terrain started to slope downwards, bringing with it its own set of challenges. Going downhill in such conditions was like walking on a slide covered in marbles. Every step had to be planned, with Sera occasionally using her axe to carve out footholds in the icier patches.

Every now and then, they’d come across patches where the snow was disturbed, revealing evidence of animals or perhaps other travelers. Sera would examine them, determining if they were recent and if they should be concerned.

“Mountain goats,” she identified once, pointing to a set of cloven hoof marks. “They know the paths, even in this. We can use their trails.”

“Are you sure? The animals seemed pretty riled up after everything that happened.” Zayzal said, thinking back to the time when the village faced off against their ‘food’.

“It’s fine.” Sera waved her hand. “Even if they weren’t in their right minds, they’d still take the most efficient and safest path instinctually.”

Zayzal just nodded, trusting her judgment.

The mountain goats, despite their seemingly clumsy appearance, were masters of their environment, adapting to the challenging mountainous terrains and traversing them with a grace that contrasted their size.

Taking their cue from these adept creatures, Sera and Zayzal began to follow the subtle tracks, taking advantage of the slightly compressed snow and the more stable paths.

At one point, Zayzal spotted a group of the animals in the distance, their sure-footed elegance mesmerizing against the vast white expanse. Watching them, he was reminded of the fragile balance of nature. Even in this hostile environment, life found a way.

"See that peak over there?" Sera pointed towards a distant outline, barely visible through the snow. "Once we're past that, we'll be closer to the valley. It'll be easier from there."

It gave Zayzal hope, and he found renewed energy to push forward.

As evening approached, the temperature dropped further. The wind howled, and the snowflakes transformed into sharp needles, stinging their exposed skin. Despite their weariness, they knew they had to find shelter for the night.

Sera's keen eyes spotted a small cave, almost concealed by an overhanging ledge and the accumulating snow. It was just big enough for the two of them to huddle inside, away from the biting cold. Using flint and stone, Zayzal managed to start a small fire with the kindling he had in his pack. The warmth and light were a blessing, and the two took a moment to relish the simple comfort.

“We need to be careful about the smoke," Sera warned, peeking outside to ensure it wasn’t too visible.

Over a meal of rations, they spoke of their journey, joked around a bit, then fell asleep.

The night passed without incident. The following morning, they set out again, the hope of reaching the valley driving them on.

However, they weren’t alone in their journey. A small flock of mountain goats, probably curious about the two intruders, decided to follow them.

“They seem a lot calmer than the animals a few days ago,” Zayzal whispered in Sera’s ear, who nodded in agreement.

“...Just stay on your guard.”

Zayzal nodded and walked back behind Sera, where he kept his spear in hand, ready to fend off any attackers.

The snow beneath them seemed to compact a little more as they progressed further, making each step slightly easier. The slight alleviation was a small but much-needed blessing. The closer they came to the valley, the more they could discern a faint outline of a water stream, a testament to the resilience of nature in such challenging conditions.

As they moved, Zayzal and Sera both felt a strange comfort in the presence of the mountain goats. The animals hopped gracefully from one spot to another, occasionally stopping to nibble at some hidden vegetation under the snow. Their white coats made them almost invisible against the snowy backdrop, if not for their occasional movements.

The landscape started to open up, offering glimpses of vast expanses and distant peaks shrouded in a haze of snow.

The omnipresent white blanket on the ground was occasionally punctuated by dark clusters, which Sera identified as shrubs and clusters of resilient trees that had managed to take root in the rugged terrain.

Suddenly, Sera halted, her hand motioning Zayzal to stop. She pointed ahead, where a thin silver line weaved its way through the white - the first signs of the Visa River.

“That's our landmark,” she whispered, a hint of relief evident in her voice.

However, their path was not completely clear. In front of them, a gorge cut into the landscape, the river’s origin. Its steep cliffs looked daunting, but there was a clear path down, probably used by the mountain goats, winding its way to the river below.

Cautiously, they began their descent, using their weapons as impromptu climbing aids. The snow here was deceptive, hiding icy patches that threatened to send them tumbling down. They relied heavily on the goat tracks, trusting that the animals’ habitual paths would offer the safest route.

As they approached the base of the gorge, the muted sounds of rushing water grew louder, providing a soothing counterpoint to the wind's howl.

Reaching the river, Sera bent down, filling her flask with the cold water. Zayzal did the same, relishing the refreshing taste. The water's flow indicated they were close to the valley, and this renewed their spirits.

Following the river’s course, the terrain began to level out. Trees, sturdier and more abundant, provided slight cover from the incessant snowfall. Their path was clear, and the shadow of danger seemed to have receded for the time being.

It wasn’t long before the tree line broke, revealing a vast valley, its floor covered in a seamless white carpet. Here and there, the remains of abandoned buildings and structures peeked out from the snow, relics of a time before the world had shifted on its axis.

“We’re here,” Sera whispered, her voice filled with a mix of relief and apprehension.