The eerie warning from the citadel lingered in their minds as the group pressed on. The air grew colder, and the snow fell thicker, each flake a silent reminder of the harshness ahead.
Kaede led the way, her steps steady despite the storm. Haruki followed close behind, his thoughts swirling as he stole glances at her. Even with her usual stoic expression, he could sense the weight she carried.
“Kaede,” he said, his voice cutting through the howl of the wind.
She didn’t stop walking. “What is it?”
“Are we going to talk about what happened back there?”
“No,” she replied flatly.
Haruki sighed. “Of course not.”
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THE ICE WOLVES
The storm thickened, and visibility dropped to nearly nothing. Just as Haruki was about to suggest stopping to regroup, a low, guttural growl cut through the air.
Kaede froze, her hand immediately going to her sword. Mira nocked an arrow, her sharp eyes scanning the shadows.
“Wolves,” Kaede said, her voice low.
Haruki swallowed hard. “How many?”
The answer came quickly—too quickly. From the swirling snow, a pack of massive, white-furred wolves emerged, their eyes glowing an unnatural blue.
“Great,” Haruki muttered. “Magic wolves. My favorite.”
Kaede shot him a look. “Focus.”
The wolves circled them, their growls growing louder. One lunged, and Kaede met it head-on, her sword flashing in the dim light.
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THE BATTLE UNFOLDS
Chaos erupted as the wolves attacked. Haruki found himself dodging and weaving, his dagger feeling pitifully small against the massive creatures.
“Haruki, left!” Kaede shouted, cutting down a wolf that had lunged at him.
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“Thanks!” he yelled, his heart pounding as he stabbed another.
Mira’s arrows flew true, each one finding its mark with deadly precision. But for every wolf they took down, it seemed two more appeared.
“We’re getting overwhelmed!” Haruki shouted, barely dodging a swipe from a wolf’s massive claws.
Kaede’s jaw clenched. “We need to get out of here. Now!”
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THE ESCAPE PLAN
Kaede scanned their surroundings, her mind racing. Then she spotted it—a narrow crevice in the rocky mountainside.
“There!” she shouted, pointing. “We can bottleneck them!”
The group sprinted toward the crevice, Haruki bringing up the rear as the wolves closed in.
“Keep moving!” Kaede yelled, slashing at a wolf that got too close.
They reached the crevice, and Kaede and Mira turned to hold off the wolves while Haruki scrambled to set up a barrier of rocks and debris.
“Hurry up!” Mira shouted, loosing another arrow.
“I’m trying!” Haruki shot back, his hands numb from the cold.
Finally, the makeshift barrier was in place, and the wolves were forced to retreat, their howls echoing in the storm.
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A MOMENT TO BREATHE
The group collapsed against the rocks, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.
“That was... way too close,” Haruki panted, his chest heaving.
Kaede wiped blood from her blade, her expression grim. “We need to move. The wolves won’t stay away for long.”
Mira glanced at Kaede, then at Haruki. “We can’t keep going like this. We need to rest, or we’ll collapse.”
Kaede hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. “Fine. But only for a few hours.”
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A FLICKER OF WARMTH
As the group set up camp in the shelter of the crevice, Haruki couldn’t help but notice how quiet Kaede had become.
He sat down beside her, offering her a small smile. “You okay?”
She glanced at him, her expression guarded. “I’m fine.”
“Liar,” he said lightly.
Kaede sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. “I’m just... tired. Of all of this. The fighting, the running, the constant danger.”
Haruki nodded. “Yeah, me too.”
She looked at him, her gaze softening. “You’re handling it better than I expected.”
He grinned. “What can I say? I’m full of surprises.”
Kaede actually chuckled, a rare sound that made Haruki’s heart skip a beat.
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THE STORM’S WARNING
As the storm raged outside, Mira sat by the fire, her bow resting beside her. “We’re not just fighting wolves and traitors out here,” she said, her voice thoughtful.
“What do you mean?” Haruki asked.
Mira’s gaze was distant. “This place... it feels wrong. Like it’s alive. Watching us.”
Kaede’s eyes narrowed. “The warning from the citadel.”
Haruki shivered, though not from the cold. “You think it was serious? About leading to despair?”
Kaede didn’t answer immediately. When she finally spoke, her voice was quiet. “We can’t afford to dismiss it. But we don’t have a choice. We have to keep going.”
Haruki nodded, his resolve hardening. “Then we’ll face whatever comes. Together.”
Kaede glanced at him, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. “Together,” she echoed.