The Icy Sentinel

The night passed slowly, the flickering light of the campfire barely warming the cold air inside the cave. Daniel couldn't sleep; his mind raced with images of the frostshades and the endless climb that awaited them. Mira sat nearby, sharpening her blade with quiet determination.

"You're unusually quiet," Daniel said, breaking the silence.

She looked up, her expression thoughtful. "I'm trying to figure out what those things were after. They didn't seem like mindless predators. It was almost like they were testing us."

Daniel nodded, the heart's whispers stirring faintly in his mind. "They were more than shadows. They felt... ancient. Like they were part of this place."

Lirien joined the conversation, their exhaustion evident in their pale face. "The frostshades are remnants of old magic. They were created to guard these mountains, but over time, they've become corrupted by the isolation and cold. They attack anything that disturbs their domain."