The Calm Before

— Beyond the Teeth in the Northern Wastes, Now —

"I know it's faster but, can we please stop jumping through water to get around? It's freezing and being soaked is bad for our health, more importantly, MY health," Vladimars complained with a shiver, desperately trying to warm himself by the fire they'd built to recover from this leg of their journey north. He rubbed his hands together with several blankets pulled tightly around him. 

Sintija and Iliana had gone off on their own to investigate something, leaving Caelyn, Vladimars, and Markos alone with one another for the first time in weeks. They had left the overbearing heat of the forge and plunged into the nearest sheltered pool to get closer to the Dragon's den without drawing more attention from their pursuers.