`Hold” Cleatus held up his fist. Stopping the party in the snow covered mountainside. He narrowed his eyes down the cliffside and to the fort just below.

“What is it?” Odelia asked.

“Movement,” Cleatus said. “The doors of the fort are wide open, the whole courtyard is vibrating with movement.”

“Can you tell what it all is?” Odelia asked.

“Is it possible the stuff that was frozen became.. Un-frozen?” Shaynen asked slowly. “Would it even still be alive after that?” Haagut and Odelia both shrugged unsurely.

“Whatever it is, none of us are in any shape to take them on.” Cleatus turned. He looked across the snowy mountainside. “Let’s find a place to camp out for the night and we’ll scout it out tomorrow.” By the time the sun started to set the party created a packed snow shelter and a little fire to warm themselves with.

“I’ll take first watch,” Cleatus said.

“Last!” Shaynen and Haagut called at the same time. They looked at eachother.

“I’ll do third and forth?” Shaynen suggested.

“I mean if you want to th-that’d be fine.” Haagut agreed.

“Wait. Fuck!” Odelia swore as he snapped out of the trance he was in from playing with his lengthy beard. “Yeah, second I guess.” The party settled down for the night and Cleatus sat outside the shelter to keep watch. As the hours passed he became aware of a fleet of wyverns impatiently moving about the mountains. Not necessarily odd but he was fairly sure they hadn’t been there when they first climbed the mountain. When he woke up Odelia for his watch, Cleatus warned him about the wyverns. Odelia sat outside the shelter and after a few moments of staring into the snow he started playing with his beard. Brushing and braiding it peacefully.

Shaynen came out of a dreamless trance. He had been trying to reach out to whatever astral spirit had attuned to him but there was still nothing but silence. He got to his feet suddenly aware that he wasn’t cold anymore, even though he had been sitting in the snow for six hours. He hum’d in surprise and left the shelter to see Odelia playing with his beard. He looked up with wide happy eyes.

“Do you have any idea what this feels like?” Odelia grinned.

“Uh… no,” Shaynen said, shaking his head and briefly touching his hairless face. “I really don’t.” *** Shaynen sat beside Odelia and looked out at the night.

“All quiet?” Shaynen asked.

“M-hm” Odelia finished braiding his beard and stood up. “Hey Shaynen?”

“Yeah?”

“What’re you gonna do with your diamonds?”

“I dunno, leave them there I guess.” Shaynen shrugged. “I don’t have much need for precious stones. Maybe I’ll grab one just to say I have it but, what else would I do with them?”

“They’re worth some really good coin,” Odelia explained slowly. Shaynen glared at her.

“Yes Odelia, I know what precious gemstones are,” He said sarcastically. Odelia shrugged,

“Just saying, you could live exceptionally well,” She said. Shaynen laughed quietly.

“Would you believe that I consider myself to be already living exceptionally well?” He asked. “What good is material things when your soul isn’t at rest?”

“Maybe. But I’d rather be not at rest in a house I own and safe from my enemies than alone in the cold.” Odelia pointed out. Shaynen nodded thoughtfully.

“Yeah. Guess it’s good you aren’t alone then.” He smiled. “Good night Odelia.”

“Yeah…” Odelia trailed off, searching Shaynen’s face for something but not finding it. “Night,” Odelia walked into the shelter and to bed. Shaynen looked out over the mountainside. He stared without seeing, at least until movement broke him out of his sightless staring. Crawling around the snowy mountains were herds of wyverns. Shaynen stood and walked a few paces to try and see the figures better. But instead something else caught his eye. Within the courtyard of the fort was some strange chaotic flashing light. Shaynen watched the light until his watch had passed.

He ducked into the shelter and knelt beside Haagut. Waking him up.

“C’mon, I wanna show you something.” Shaynen whispered. Trying not to wake more than just one of the party members.

“Show me what?” Haagut yawned.

“What I assume is magic and movement.” Shaynen helped Haagut to his feet and out of the shelter.

--