Frozen Mountain .3

As the moon faded into the horizon, the first light of dawn crept over the frozen landscape. The sun's rays barely brought warmth, but they glistened against the snow, casting a faint golden hue over the icy terrain. Dante, Stiles, and SteelArm awoke around the same time, each emerging from their tents within minutes of each other. They stretched out their stiff muscles, their breaths visible in the cold air, before walking through the snow toward the large tent at the back of their camp. Inside, a fire pit still crackled faintly, kept alive by a lingering trace of mana.

Stiles crouched near the flames, rubbing his hands together for warmth. "That was the coldest night I've ever slept in..." he muttered, his fingers trembling as he reached into his bag for some food.

"Tell me about it," Dante grumbled, extending his hands toward the fire, not even bothering to grab his rations yet.

SteelArm rolled his shoulders before cracking his neck. "It was... an experience," he admitted before pulling a pack of beef from his bag. "I'll cook this for everyone." Without waiting for a response, he placed the meat over the fire, letting the warmth soak into his fingers as he adjusted the placement.

Stiles gave a small nod and tucked his food back into his bag, deciding to save it for another day.

The scent of sizzling beef soon filled the tent, cutting through the crisp, morning air. After twenty minutes, the food was finally ready. Stiles, now sitting comfortably near the fire, took a deep breath. "I gotta say, this fire's something else. It's still burning strong in this weather."

Dante and SteelArm settled in beside him, the warmth of the flames offering a brief respite from the biting cold. The three of them ate in relative silence, allowing themselves a moment of calm before the day's journey.

Another thirty minutes passed before Aria finally stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, and she instinctively reached for her sheath before pushing herself up from her sleeping bag. Unlike the others, she felt well-rested, letting out a quiet yawn, she stretched her arms above her head, taking her time before stepping outside. The crisp air nipped at her skin, but the scent of cooked meat quickly caught her attention.

Following the aroma, she spotted the others gathered in the large tent. After a few minutes of stretching, she walked over and sat down beside them. "Morning," she greeted, her voice still a little groggy. "How was the sleep?"

SteelArm let out a short chuckle. "Not the worst, but definitely not good," he admitted, passing her a portion of the cooked beef.

Stiles and Dante both nodded in agreement, finishing off the last of their meals.

Aria accepted the food, taking a small bite before glancing at Dante. "And you?"

Dante took a sip from a water flask he had left near the fire to keep from freezing. "Could've been worse," he said before setting the flask down. "How about you?"

Aria shrugged. "Cramped, but it was nice."

With breakfast finished, Dante stood up, brushing the snow off his clothes before reaching into his bag. He pulled out a map, unrolling it onto the table.

"Our goal is to reach the summit within the next two weeks," he began, his fingers tracing over the marked pathways. "Once we're up there, we'll spend the remaining time training. But…" He tapped the map lightly. "After that bear attack, I think it's safe to assume this mountain isn't just some frozen wasteland. When I was last here, it wasn't like this. Something has changed."

Stiles leaned in, arms crossed. "Two weeks seems doable, but yeah… we need to be ready for whatever else is up here. That bear wasn't normal—at least not for an ice-based beast. If more creatures like that show up, this climb is going be rough on us all."

Dante nodded and pointed at a few marked locations. "These are our next checkpoints. If there's anything strange about this place, we'll find more signs as we go higher."

Stiles sighed, rolling his shoulders. "Great. More mystery bullshit. Let's just hope the next thing we run into isn't a damn yeti or something."

SteelArm smirked. "You know… now that you've said it, you probably just jinxed us."

Stiles groaned. "Fantastic."

Aria finished the last of her meal, brushing off her hands before standing up. The group followed suit, packing up their supplies and preparing for the next stretch of their climb.

With their gear packed and their bodies warmed from the fire, the group stepped out of the tent, bracing themselves against the biting wind. The mountain stretched endlessly above them, its icy slopes and jagged cliffs promising an arduous climb. Dante took one last glance at the map before rolling it up and securing it in his bag.

"Alright, let's move," he said, leading the way toward the next part of their ascent.

The snow beneath their boots crunched with every step, and the wind howled through the jagged rocks above. Though the sun had risen, it provided little warmth, and the cold air seeped through even their insulated clothing. They moved in a single file, carefully navigating the steep incline. The path ahead was uneven, with patches of ice hidden beneath the snow, making every step treacherous.

Aria stayed near the middle of the group, adjusting her pace to match the others. "How much further until we reach the second checkpoint?" she asked, while looking around her.

Dante, walking at the front, glanced over his shoulder. "Around four few hours, if we keep this pace."

As they climbed higher, the terrain grew harsher. The once manageable slopes turned into steep inclines, forcing them to use their hands to grip onto protruding rocks for stability. The wind intensified, whipping around them like an invisible force trying to push them back.

At one point, Stiles, slightly ahead of Aria, misstepped on an icy patch. His foot slipped, and in an instant, he lost his balance. "Shit—!" He reached out, but before he could fall, Aria reacted. Hard ice formed around her hand after she grabbed the back of his coat and pulled him toward her, steadying him before he could tumble backward.

"Careful," she warned, her grip firm before letting go.

Stiles let out a breath of relief and muttered, "Yeah, yeah… thanks." He steadied himself and continued climbing, now more mindful of his footing.

The higher they went, the more the air thinned. Breathing became slightly more difficult, but it wasn't yet severe enough to slow them down. However, the cold grew even more unforgiving. Ice coated the rocks, making it increasingly difficult to find solid footing.

Dante suddenly raised a hand, signaling for them to stop. He narrowed his eyes ahead. "Something's wrong…"

Aria followed his gaze. At first, she saw nothing but the endless stretch of white snow and jagged rocks. But then, she noticed it—subtle disturbances in the snow, like something had been moving through it recently.

"There's damn tracks," SteelArm murmured. He crouched down, brushing away some of the fresh snow to reveal deeper impressions beneath. They were large, and they had multiple sets of claws venturing different ways.

Stiles exhaled sharply. "Well… there goes my hope of not running into a yeti."

Dante's grip on his weapon tightened. "Stay alert. Whatever made these… it's not far."

A deep silence settled over the group. The wind howled, but beneath it, there was something else. A low, distant rumbling.