They soon came to the crossroads leading to Pine Rest. They saw the old signpost they'd passed on their journies towards Red Harvest and chuckled as to the argument that had occurred there.

The snow had begun falling again. Giving Tolan pause, giving the signal to halt, they both drew their sled teams together at the crossroads to converse.

"We should head for home first," Tolan said. Vir perked up at the sound of that.

"I thought we were heading towards Serpents Bend?"

Tolan surveyed the sky, The overcast had grown thicker and darker since they'd started.

"Serpents Bend is a week's journey, our home is only a day's trip. We can make it there, and continue afterward" he argued. Vir glanced at the sky as well, trying to gain a sense of what his brother was proposing.

"Fine, but what about-" he motioned to their passenger, who sat in Tolan's sleigh confused. Her face was placid but sparked with concern in those unnaturally blue eyes. He shifted away, but he could feel it bordering into the back of his head.

Tolan sighed and hung his head. turning fully to Vir "I guess we can make some room. Though the bed is barely large enough, we could through the bear rug over top. So we won't be cold." He pondered aloud.

Vir nodded "I guess that will work." He glanced at the sky again. It had dimmed greatly and the snowfall was picking up. "We'd better hurry then, building camp out here will be enough of a pain in the ass, let alone after the snowfall." Tolan picked up his reigns and they both cracked a signal for the animals to haul and strain once more.

They raced through the falling flakes of snow towards their mountain home, the distant figure of which now loomed over them, a dark shape against the gloomy skies.

They pulled hard and went far, but eventually, the road became thick with snow, and the sun had dimmed behind its curtain. They came upon a thick wood grove, much like they had the last time. Indeed it was similar to the same grove that barred their path before.

"We've made poor time, to only have come this far," Vir remarked, only slightly out of breath, but noting the goat's ragged condition. Tolan sighed and stood forcing his back to the proper position, he glanced to the sky and frowned.

"We didn't have a pair sleds and passenger then, we'll have to camp here for tonight. Then we'll have to pray that fire is naught but ashes when we cross it." Vir gave a solemn look into the trees and sniffed.

A faint smell of pine smoke drifted in on the wind, it had gotten closer than expected.

"It's a wonder it didn't take the whole mountain with it," he remarked, Tolan nodded. He surveyed the area they were in and decided on a place. He pointed to a large pine that stood not far from them.

"Clear out the snow from under there, get some branches, we'll make a shelter for tonight," he ordered

"I've got supplies for dinner in my sled, did you pack anything useful in yours? Vir quipped, Tolan scoffed

"The Snow isn't that thick, thought the deer will have stripped just about anything edible by now. So-" He approached the sled. His passenger looked for concern as he approached, reaching past her.

Leary, she moved away from his hand, moving to the edge of her seat in the sled. He smiled politely and grabbed the bag next to her and pulled it from the sled, he then stepped away and threw the parcel to Vir for his inspection.

"One of us will be feeding the Goats, but I also had the foresight, of which I am famous for, to bring these"

He reached back down into the sled and grabbed onto something beneath the seat, while still getting glares from the ever silent figure next to him.

"A few good tools and a length of rope." he presented a Copper ax to his brother, the handle bound in new twine and the head shining like a brilliant torch. He also revealed a coil of thick rope, thick as a finger, maybe two.

Vir took the ax and tested its weight, finding it agreeable, he went off to gather brushwood, Tolan watched him, they never went too far from each other, always keeping within sight as they worked. It's harder to be ambushed that way.

Tolan sighed, then began searching his pockets for something. He turned to the striking figure on the sled.

"You've seen my fire bag in there I hope?"

A blank stare echoed back.

"Hrm, Guess not, Oh!" he pulled a small pouch from his shirt's right pocket and chuckled. He opened it and found what he wanted, two smooth reddish stones and a heap of dry leaves.

"It's always where you don't expect. Well, I guess I'll start the fire while Vir finishes the sweeping." He said aloud and started to walk off. when he noticed that she wasn't moving.

"Welcome to join us." he inclined, she didn't move. He sighed

"Fine then, But it's mighty cold without company." Still no response.

He started to walk away when she spoke, it was still the same flute-like tones from last night at dinner, flowing over each other like a babbling brook. But there was also a more guttural undertone, like a grindstone. A slight rasp at the end of the sentence or a certain word. Tolan wished he had something to write on, maybe they could begin to understand each other if he could record the sounds and mark them out, much like he would mark signs and stars.

Then, once again, she surprised him, switching to something entirely different. Round earthy tones that mirrored the baying of the goats in places, yet still held a polished quality to it.

Tolan raised an eye to this, it sounded vaguely familiar. He thought a moment, putting a hand to his chin before he thought of trying something.

It was something he picked up from a man who came from the Sixth once, and it might just work again here. He cleared his throat and was about to say something when the brush behind them stirred and he turned to see.

Vir was hauling a large branch across the ground like a broom, he spotted the starring and shouted.

"You gonna start that fire, Or do I have to wait on the Birds Blessings First?!" he shouted. Tolan shouted back "Coming Brother, Just had to find my fire pouch."

"Try your right shirt pocket." Vir retorted, Tolan gave a mental twitch, as that had been exactly where he'd found it too. Vir's had an uncanny knowledge of other people's possessions.

He sighed and marched off to get the fire started, he looked over to the odd woman, who looked back to him as if expecting something. He shrugged it off and walked away grumbling to himself.