The forest pressed close around us, tighter than before, as if the trees themselves leaned inward to listen. Snow swirled through the air in angry spirals. My breath fogged the air in front of me, sharp and white. Talon moved ahead of me, half shifted, his claws dragging furrows into the snow as he scanned every flickering shadow.
The girl trembled in my arms, her face tucked into my shoulder, her breath warm against my skin. Her small hand clutched the front of my coat as if she thought she would vanish the moment she let go.
“We keep moving.” Talon said, voice low. “Slow. Controlled. Watch the trees.”
Ryn gripped his spear tightly on my left. “They are following the storm. Or the storm follows them. I do not know which makes me want to turn inside out more.”
Soren checked his arrows
