Shape and the other wolves came bounding from the rocks, their muzzles bloodied from the Orc they had killed. Shape clammouerd on top of a boulder, stood pointing his snout to the sky and howled in triumph. Soon the other three wolves joined him in their chorus. Shape then clammoured down and padded silently over to stand at Lac's side, as Lac knelt down down and petted the wolf.

It was a good thing Jin was kneeling next to Alrick for if she hadn’t been, she would have found herself on her knees unwillingly when she felt the icy cold presence of the Dark Lord. Fear was not an emotion she was used to feeling but that’s exactly what she felt when the wind turned colder than anything she’d ever felt before. For some reason, she didn’t even WANT to look in the direction it came from for fear she would never look upon anything again.

When the presence faded away, Jin found herself trembling like the last autumn leaf clinging to the bare branch of a tree in a stiff wind. At some point she had closed her eyes and now she blinked them open to see Alrick’s puzzled look gazing back at her. Without offering an explanation or apology, she slowly got to her feet and looked over at the Dwarf who now had a sturdy Ram for a mount. Why that surprised her, she didn’t know but it shouldn’t have.

It was high time they moved on for already the air was turning foul with the stench of Orc death. Not even the cold weather could stop their fetid bodies from reeking. As Jin walked over to Walnut, she placed her hand on the horses velvet like muzzle to calm him down some. Waiting to see if Alrick was going to need her assistance or not, she stood next to the gelding until word was given.

Lac knelt next to Shape and spoke softly to his long time companion and protector "Osnaycurayeth astrigulastraisanae wileld astrirayesta istinay yorothunestar artanardil yorothunerae celosmiralnarithonnelsir dilestabrintae mayya orlaedel farreninaethanaedil. lorevtil unesay lonethaarthuvireth tynhiliststar fayossaunelin panliranceleld. Halosmoretha istisor nelevaarthrin. (Translation:Once again we are in yours and your comanions debt my old friend. let us leave this foul place. Home is near.)

Lac rose and stood next to Lightning , as a chill, like a death grip on his heart caused Lightning and him to shudder slightly. He turned to the others and said "I think it would be wise for us not to delay any longer. We must cross many leagues before the sun sets." He then pulled himself into the saddle and began to cross the platue and closer to the snowy pass.

Grunting in agreement he takes his mount and looks to see if the rest are ready. "With a waves he shouts follow." He takes the lead and heads his ram up the slope and hopes to see the down slope before dark.

Alrick brushed off Jin’s offer to ride with him so she decided to leave him alone on Walnut and mounted on Lightning in front of Lac. Once more pulling the hood over her head, she settled on the horse before Lac and kept a wary eye out for any more Orcs or any other creatures that would be headed for them to slow them or try to kill them.

Looking over her shoulder at the others, she wondered how she got involved in all of this and the answer always came back to one word. Verin. Her murderous, betraying, blasphemous brother. He sold his soul for the promise of power and prestige. Something that is short lived in their world unless you fight for that right each and every day.

One day, she thought, one day Verin would get a dose of his own medicine and she hoped she would be there to see it come to fruition. He deserved nothing but pain and suffering for all he put her and her Mother through. Of course, her best wish was that she would be the one to give Verin that dose of self medication. But that remained to be seen. Right now, she had to survive this journey in order to be able to see that day come and with the way things are going, that might be difficult.

As Lac with Ssinjin, riding on Lightning followed by Alrick on Walnut and Tiphereth, followed the dwarf with the wolves spread out front and back. Lac whispered softly, so no other could hear, in Ssinjin's ear .... "Satsaeisanaejarlinnar renestmaeeldmirborestaren vinestanirglinethnelcalev istisir ar maeeldaarthalae branevsortar sataeldaraevinestada curorlisdel annirday wynhirethnay lorevansiltyn estaxavpernestcirutynevdil. Tirhiemarttae maeeldaarthalae wilistilislir boretha silethrelvaeethda tinhalisasat Ith sarwinevaartharin toros yaossauthae." (TRANSLATION: Ssinjin remember vengence is a meal best served cold and when least expected. That meal will be served this I swear to you. . They continued up the path as the snow fell heavier and wind grew stronger. Glancing back over his shoulder Lac could see the skies grow darker, as the black clouds of the Dark Lord marched forward towards them.

Jin heard the soft words spoken by Lac and felt the warmth of his breath on her sensitive ear, even beneath her hood. The words he spoke were true, no doubt, but vengeance burned in her heart hotter than any flame she had ever felt before. Closing her eyes, she clenched her jaw and tried to swallow down the hatred she felt for the one person she wanted dead more than any other right now. Opening her eyes, she swallowed hard and spoke softly to Lac in her native tongue knowing he would understand most of what she was saying.

“Usstan zhaun, Elg'hasek. Lu'Usstan zhaun dos orn xun jal dos shlu'ta ulu morfeth zhaunus nindel kyarrin. Jhal nindel anika'vrine'winith nindol flamgra'in plithut Usstan satiir wund uns'aa ditronw nin. Nindel inthuul gotar d'nar'hethi dos telanth bauth orn tlu l'er'griff klez nindel orn extinguish nindol chath Usstan tlun tejmook'cinkjuu jhal ol shlubnaut doer qee z'lonzic whol uns'aa. Tangis'd'elezz Usstan zhaun patience z'klaen tlu practiced ditronw nin.”
(I know, Ranger. And I know you will do all you can to make sure that happens. But that does not stop this burning hatred I feel within me right now. That cold meal of vengeance you talk about will be the only thing that will extinguish this flame I am feeling but it cannot come fast enough for me. Even though I know patience must be practiced right now.)

Sighing softly Jin cast her eyes skyward to see the snow steady falling and being whipped about by the wind currents blowing over the mountains. Feeling the chill deep within her bones, she seemed to huddle closer to Lac as she spoke in common now.

“Perhaps then I shall be able to move on with this new, strange life I am forced to live now. Changes in weather is something I am not used to. I find this cold to be bone chilling and I long for the warmth of my underground home. Not to mention the fact I have no idea where I belong now. I am alone. It is as harsh a reality to me as this bitter cold wind and snow that whips across my skin like tiny needles piercing my skin.”

Now was not the time for her to feel sorry for herself, even though she really didn’t know what that meant. Sighing again, she pushed back that feeling of desolation and sat up a little straighter but still letting herself lean back against Lac for the added warmth.

“Nau selg'tarn. Usstan tlun Ssinjin Dalhar K'Nyan. Usstan tlun naut pi'rescho g'jahallus.” (No matter. I am Ssinjin Dalhar K’Nyan. I am not easily defeated.)

Lac listened, then spoke softly again, as he pulles Ssinjin closer and wraped his furlined cloak around her tighter "Yoroluthae artruneth narothtar athlorothnoresta Saysatithnirjaeinnel." ( TRANSLATION: You are not alone Ssinjin. )

In the past, Jin would have shirked off the offer of a warm cloak but not now. Things had changed, drastically. While she was a Drow, she was no longer a part of their world. And because of her heritage, proud as she was of it, she would never be fully accepted into the surface world. While she knew Lac was trying to offer her support in more than one way with both his actions and his words, she knew deep down his efforts would most likely be futile. It was just the fact of the way things were now.

Still, Jin wasn’t going to let the harsh reality of her situation make her just lie down and let fate shake her around like a rag doll. Oh no. She was determined to make her own fate as much as she could. Unfortunately, now there were others involved in this disgusting matter. If she could have somehow faced this darkness on her own, she would have, but, as much as it pained her to admit, she needed these peoples help. Even the stranger Tiphereth. He hailed from another world and yet, he knew of the fight that was to take place. How was it something could touch more than one plane of existence?

What ever the answer was, Jin would have to wait to discover it. She was, in a word, exhausted now. Keeping watch over the others as they rested and slept then facing off against the Orcs left her drained. And now, with Lac’s warmth surrounding her, she felt the tug of rest pull upon her as well. With a heavy sigh, Jin closed her eyes and allowed herself to relax and meditate in her reverie. While she didn’t sleep as others did, she did require the time to allow her body to regain some of the strength it had used over the past day or so. And since she was wrapped warmly in Lac’s fur lined cloak, she decided to take advantage of the opportunity she didn’t have to worry about being attacked. Or so she hoped.

Lac felt the increased pressure against his chest as Jin relaxed completely against his warm body and drifted off into her reverie.

Cursing the wind weather he rides on noting his mount is only slightly apprehensive of the wolves that seem to be keeping their distance. Pulling on his long dark bead he notes to mention to the group to ensure they wolves do not stray to close to the ram after all it would be a shame to lose one of them.

Watch closing the rims and for any sign of disturbance in the winds he plods on leaving talk for later when the surrounding are in their favor and the winds are not howling so.

His heart desire a long drink from the skin in his pack but one can not risk a dulling of the senses when crossing the peak of a mountain. Keeping a good lead he fells no need to soil his ears with the empty chatter of a mage.

He ponders just what this group has planned as they look so small Spackled on the mountain side.

Ssinjin’s rest was cut short. Way short. The voice that drifted over the wind pierced her mind like a needle that entered in one temple and was forced out the other. Instantly she sat up and screamed at the top of her lungs. The horrific scream that burst free from her lips caused the wolves to take notice and pause their forward movement. Shape even joined in with a mournful howl. Lac even wrapped his one arm around her waist to prevent her from falling off Lightning as her hands quickly snapped to her head and she tried to massage away the pain. Even the horses and the Dwarf’s ram pulled to a sudden halt as the Drowess’ vocal chords hit octaves no one knew she could, including herself.

When the scream was done and the creatures began to calm, the unmistakable sound of a deep rumbling could be heard over everything. Jin’s almond shaped eyes were wide with pain and fright as she looked around to find out what had happened. Even as her mind began to process what the voice had spoken.

Jin’s lips began to move silently as she repeated the words over and over to herself. As she translated the words spoken in her mind, she realized, with a sickening clarity, her disowned brother was still trying to kill the only remaining person who could prevent him from claiming that he wanted most of all.

Turning her fright filled gaze to Lac, Jin could barely choke out the words to him.

“He means to crush us under the heavy snow coming at us from the mountain slope over us. We have to find a place to hide! Please! Hurry!!!! We have precious few seconds before we’re buried under the snow!!!!”

The thunderous rumble of the fast descending snow and ice closed about the groups as sure as would the snow unless they were able to seek shelter in time. Quickly they sought a suitable place that might offer defense against the frozen wave but one among them remained calm and relaxed. Tiphereth, stood still, observing the others then raising his chin toward the approaching avalanche feeling the preceding spray of snow on his face.

The power to manipulate the falling snow fell into his realm of magic. If the need arose, the Deithir would stand against the avalanche but such an act was no small task so he would follow his companions wherever they could find shelter.

Hearing the roar almost without thought he looks feverishly for a spot the group may take shelter and he ponders if those who his likes so little can use their magics to shift the snow even a few inches. Not completed sure but he thinks he spots a small alcove on the far side of the pass.

Screaming death threats to the one who has caused this he points to the spot and hope lac sees and follows. Pushing his ram hard he heads and reaches for his dwarven hammer. After a few tries he gets the elvish words correct and the hammer takes on a glow. Holding it high he heads steadfastly to the spot he hopes is their salvation.

The avalanche nearly upon them, Tiphereth decided to trust in the Dwarf's knowledge of this unknown land to avoid the crushing snow. His glowing hammer a bright beacon, he rode toward an alcove in the side of the mountain.

Skipping atop the snow and striding over rocks, the Phaerie quickly caught and kept pace with the ram and nearing their destination could see that it was not only an inlet in the rock but a cavern. How deep it went he could not tell, but as the entire side of the mountain raged down upon them he hoped only that it was deep enough to save them from being buried alive.