Snow swallowed the world.
Thick drifts fell from a sky the color of bruised iron, muffling every sound, softening every edge. The storm came fast, too fast to be natural. The moment we stepped deeper into the valley forest, visibility dropped to only a few meters. Shapes blurred into white ghosts. Trees hunched like frozen sentinels, burdened by heavy snow. Every breath stung the inside of my throat with cold so sharp it felt alive.
Talon moved beside me, already halfway shifted. His claws were extended, fur bristling through torn seams of his clothes. His eyes glowed bright gold in the dim storm light. The steady rumble in his chest was not fear. It was warning.
Ryn stayed close on my left, spear ready. Kael and Soren covered the rear with torches lifted high, though the swirling snow
