The rocking carriage creeks, the runes fizz, energy swells and fades as the barrier envelopes the land and then leaves it behind, rumbling and groaning along. Wrapped and armoured droogs walk unhurriedly, there tusks practically tapping the carts ahead of them.

Erika didn’t see any of this, inside her carriage, wrapped in layer after layer of wool and fur with Kara’s arms around her. To begin with Kara had kept a semi-professional distance even if she had been paying Erika more attention but with the cold she’d found the perfect excuse to declare herself the vitki’s guardian. Erika wasn't sure why she’d bothered with all this because she knew that at least Alvis and Sigurn knew they were together now. The veterans didn’t miss a thing obviously… and she was pretty sure Sigurn had winked at her.

A weakened casting of [heat blood] kept them both toasty even without the blankets but Erika was trying to save her odium…. And maybe she was enjoying snuggling but there wasn't anything wrong with that was there?

“You’re getting caught up again love.” Kara practically purred in her ear.

Erika felt herself flush down to her boots and snuggle closer, apparently, she got easily lost in thought, who knew?

Outside something made a rumbling clashing noise, like someone dropping a pallet of horseshoes down a well. A moment later one of the runes dimmed slightly but noticeably.

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Erika tried to ignore it, she’d worked out how long they’d last already, it should be enough… Alvis said so.

Turning around she pushed herself into the crook of Kara’s neck with her eyes closed. Feeling the warmth and the firm softness lulling her half to sleep.

“Do you think… I mean we… will we make it?”

Erika leant backwards and opened her eyes, she wasn't getting to sleep and the fear was crashing ice like through her veins again, not that she blamed Kara for bringing it up of course.

“Alvis says they’ll have ten minutes left when we arrive. The Fimbulwinter doesn’t have any monsters within it, even the lokispawn can’t survive in the hungry storm, it eats the flesh, the warmth of blood, the very soul…. The carts have a rune for the shield and a rune to keep out the storm, the shield rune will run out when we hit the storm proper… that’s what Alvis calculated…. And he’s the only one with a map…”

“Why does he have the only map again?” Kara said, unfolding just enough to catch Erika in her arms again.

Erika didn’t resist but giggled instead. “Apparently it’s a security thing… something about interception… with the whole Meridian thing I can’t even say it wasn't a good point.”

“Yeah… you’re gonna be able to do that one day though right?”

Erika giggled again. “…Maybe… but… most Vitki die around the fifth circle, that’s how far a normal vitki can climb in one mortal life span… those that make it past that… they… they’re special you know? The Meridian might have been a monster but she was in the seventh circle at least, she had… it… the spark of a saga.”

“So do you.”

Erika tried not to swoon at the belief in Karas voice, after a second she failed and curled back up. She was in the Wold, in a rickety cart under constant attack, reinforced by failing runes and heading towards a lost temple in the heart of a symbol of Ragnarök… and she was happy. Love makes fools of us all doesn’t it? She thought before drifting off to sleep.