The creature's dark mist vanished into the trees, leaving a trail of cold air and unease behind it. The group stood in tense silence, each person processing what had just occurred. The road ahead had grown darker, not just from the clouds above, but from the unknown dangers that now seemed to lurk at every turn.
"We should move," Kaden said abruptly, his voice low and steady, though the tension in the air seemed to cling to him like frost.
Astrid, still kneeling where she had tried to help the man, slowly stood. Her hands were trembling, but she clenched them into fists, fighting the shock of the moment. "Yeah, we can't stay here."
They continued walking, the weight of their encounter hanging over them, but the silence between them spoke volumes. Kaden kept his pace, distant as usual, but his eyes kept flicking to the shadows. Sierra was quiet too, but there was a subtle unease to her, her gaze constantly darting around.
The trees thinned as the companions moved further from Glacier's white-stone spires. Snow crunched beneath their boots, but it felt heavier now—each step more a burden than a stride. No one spoke much. The earlier encounter with the transforming stranger still hung over them like a phantom mist.
Astrid kept fiddling with the empty vial that had held the ice-flower salve. Kaden walked far ahead, silent as ever. Sierra drifted toward the back with Audric, who looked restless, scanning the horizon. Xavier kicked at the snow as they trudged along, muttering to himself.
"I just wasted this vial, We would have used it for something more important." Astrid said, her voice laced with regret.
Sierra placed her hand on Astrid's back, trying to comfort her.
" It's ok, you didn't know." Sierra replied.
"I miss the inn," Xavier finally said. "Warm food. People who didn't want to murder us."
"You were the one begging to leave," Kaelyn snapped.
"I was bored, not suicidal."
Suddenly, Kaelyn raised a hand. "Wait."
A strange clicking sound filled the air.
They turned slowly. The sound echoed like stones grinding against each other, faint but growing.
From the snowy mist ahead, movement slithered into sight. Tall, lithe figures draped in tattered cloaks. Their heads were veiled with strands of thick black hair. You couldn't see their faces only their glowing green eyes.
"What are those?" Sierra whispered.
One of the figures raised an arm.
A snow hare darted across the path directly into the creature's line of sight.
A second later, the hare froze mid-leap… and turned to stone.
Astrid stumbled backward. "No,no, that's not natural."
"They are gorgons," Audric muttered.
The creatures hissed.
Kaelyn drew her dagger. "They see our faces, we're next."
Kaden's voice was hard. "Don't look at them."
A fight broke out.
Kaelyn darted forward, slashing at one that lunged toward Astrid. It shrieked as her dagger made contact—icy blood splattered the snow.
Kaden threw one of his smoke bombs, giving them cover. "Close your eyes if you must. Fight blind."
Sierra yanked her bracelet—it glowed, warning of something behind. She turned and fired her bow, the arrow striking a creature through the eye. It burst into powder.
Astrid fumbled for the Glacier pendant and held it up like a shield—it glowed and pulsed. One of the creatures recoiled at the light.
"They're afraid of Glacier light!" she shouted.
Xavier held up his coin,useless.
"Do something helpful for fucks sake!" Kaelyn yelled, parrying another clawed swipe.
"I am! I'm not dead yet!" Xavier said.
The battle was chaotic. Kaden sliced through two more of them with Glacier's compass glowing in his palm. Kaelyn and Audric covered each other, back-to-back. Sierra's arrows cut down three more, never missing. Xavier finally grabbed a dropped torch and waved it at one that had gotten too close.
They were winning,but barely.
Then a final one rose from the snow, snarling, towering. It changed form, becoming a great wolf. It lunged for Kaelyn,
And turned to stone mid-leap.
Silence.
Everyone froze, panting, their bodies trembling.
They were surrounded by frozen creatures. The snow around them now littered with statues, like a twisted graveyard.
Astrid dropped to her knees, shaking.
Kaden turned away. "We should've stayed."
"We couldn't have known," Sierra said softly, trying to convince herself.
Kaelyn exhaled, staring at her dagger. "This... This is just the beginning, isn't it?"
Audric didn't answer. Neither did Xavier. No one joked. No one laughed.
The road ahead was no clearer.
They had escaped safety, only to find a world hunting them. But turning back wasn't an option anymore.
So they walked,silent, cold, and unsure,into the mist again.