By morning, a thick layer of snow covered the ground around them, and it was as cold as it had been the night before. They could not make a fire though, and were quite happy when Silver had Johanna magic some food. Well, all except Chert, who refused to even touch the magical food, chewing on a cold ration instead.

Lei enjoyed the food, thankilg Johanna for it and was glad that the genie was here now.

Jing was a little more unsure about the food, but didn’t complain much since they did need it. Sitting beside Bast she looked at him, “Sleep well?”

Keelin sat beside Cade and Chert, smiling at the old Tonu. “You know the food won’t kill you…”

Johanna grinned sitting on the other side of Chert. “Or…will it?” She asked with a smirk.

Cade shot the genie a look as he ate his food, thankful to have it. He slept oddly well and was surprised to feel rested.

Lyuthi leaned on Lei while she ate, having nightmares of things she didn’t remember. “The food is good.” She said with a sigh, her thoughts drifting elsewhere.

Chert twitched, moving away from the genie. “I’d rather not take my chances. I’ll laugh at the lot of you as you writhe and die from the poison!”

Bast nodded, hungrily eating his share, having no qualms about magic food. “Yeah well enough considering where we slept.” He said, looking out the entrance at the snow-covered ground. “We’ll have to move quickly, if another storm breaks we’ll be snowed in in the mountains.”

Keelin looked at Chert and sighed softly, shaking her head but she said nothing else about it. best to just drop it and move on.

Jung sighed and nodded, “Your right… Lets hope our luck doesn’t turn rotten.”

Lei looked at them all before standing, “I’ll go on ahead a bit and start making a path through the snow.” She offered, since the cold didn’t bother her.

Lyuthi stood beside Lei. “I’ll help. I’m done eating..”And she wanted to get away from the camp for a bit. “I’m not that cold either.”

Cade shrugged at Chert then smiled to Iris and Keelin. “I doubt Johanna would poison a huge group of people, she’d be stuck with our dead bodies.” He said with a nod.

Johanna giggled, settling beside Silver, her tails surrounding him to keep him warm. “Master didn’t ask for poison food.” She said simply, which made Cade grimace.

“Of course not!” Piped Silver, smiling widely, “I just wanted us all to have warm food for breakfast before we have to head out into the cold.” He shivered, snuggling deeper in the tails.

Bast nodded to Lei, then glanced at Lythi. Veldahar had taken his food with him and gone out already to scout the trail ahead of them.

Lei looked at Lyuthi and smiled, “I’d be glad for the company.” She said before heading outside.

Keelin shook her head a little as she heard Johanna before smiling at Chert, “No one willo force you to eat the food she makes. So don’t worry about it.

“Just if you fall behind we’ll all just let you freeze to death~” Johanna said very sing-song, warming Silver up. “You are old anyway, its not like it’d be that big a deal.”

Cade’s tail twitched. “That’s enough Johanna.” He said sternly as he finished his food. “I am going to walk a circle around the camp.” He said looking to Keeling before standing.

Lyuthi hugged Lei’s arm for a moment then walked beside her. “Good, because I would have come either way.”

Chert finished his dry food, glaring at Johanna, and began packing up, wrapping his cloak and bedroll around him against the cold, he strapped his pack on. “We should get moving soon.” He said, looking outside. Iris nodded, as she finshed her own food, and packed her own bag, wrapping her furry cloak around her shoulders snugly. “The exercise will warm us some.” She smiled.

Lei chuckled a little and headed out with her. “Wouldn’t have expected anything less from you Miss Lyuthi.”

keelin looked at Cade and smiled a small bit, “Don’t go to far off. We don’t want to leave you behind.”

Jing sighed softly, packing up her bag before standing and streaching a bit.

Lyuthi laughed slightly. “Stop calling me that!” She said poking Lei’s side. “Or I will call you Mr. Lei.” She said with a grin.

Cade waved a hand. “Of course not.” He said with a smile before rolling the bedroll up and packing it up. Then he moved to the back of the group, a talisman in his hand.

Johanna winked at Chert and snugged Silver. “Are you cold master? Want me to carry you again?”

“Nah, not yet anyhow.” Silver shook his head as he and the others packed up, and began moving out of the protection of the cave, heading into the snow. Lei was a few paces ahead with Lyuthi, and Veldahar was nowhere to be seen. Bast brought in the rear with Chert, looking up at the sky. “It’ll keep snowing soon.” He murmured.

Lei laughed as she heard that, “Sorry, I’m just use to calling you that. But it would be weird for you to call me mister anything.”

Jing shivered a bit as they left the cave, her tail wrapping around herself a bit as she walked beside Bast.

“Well I was just joking. But if I called you Miss Lei it’d be weird right?” She asked with a grin as she got beside Lei. “Its not as cold as I expected.”

Once Cade had made sure things were okay he made his way to Keelin and Iris. “Everything seems fine.” He said with a smile.

Johanna nodded. “Yes Master.” She said walking beside him. “I don’t want you harmed, so please if you need me to warm you up, just say.”

Bast wrapped a hand around Jing as they walked along the trail, looking sideways at her. “You ok? We just started and it’s still pretty warm. Temperatures will drop even more soon.”

Silver nodded, walking through the snow behind the trail-breakers, his smaller stature and tiny feet making it harder for him to walk in the newly fallen snow. He seemed determined to do the most he could on his own though, and began telling Johanna about their last adventure in the mountains, when they’d gone to the underground city.

Iris smiled, “I’m glad. We probably threw off any pursuers with the snow. They won’t know where we left, or if we left at all.”

Lei groaned as she heard that, putting a hand on her face, “Yes calling me Miss would be even weirder… atleast to me. I’m still not use to… you know… everyone knowing I’m a girl.”

Jing looked at Bast and nodded, “I’ll be fine… I just don’t like the cold… I never did.”

Keelin looked at Cade and smiled, “Thats good to know~” She said before looking at Iris, “I really hope there isn’t anyone following us…”

Johanna listened intently, she loved stories, and she really enjoyed having SIlver as a master, he was fun! She would move her tail to catch him if he fell a bit and asked more than once if he wanted help.

Cade nodded. “Lets not dwell on negative thoughts. Evil spirits feed on them.” He said with a smile. “Instead maybe we could talk about our adventures before all of this mess?”

Lyuthi laughed hard at Lei’s face and reaction. “So there~ Don’t call me Miss! Its just as a weird as calling me Princess!..” She said then frowned the man in her nightmares called her Princess Lyuthi so lovingly, and it hurt her heart.

Iris was silent at this proposal, a shadow coming over her face, then smiled at Keelin. “i’d love to hear about your adventures.” She said.

Silver had quite good balance, though if he stepped into a snowdrift he sometimes disappeared almost entirely into the snow, squeaking when he did, and by the third time he’d fallen into one he was shivering from the cold making it hard to talk. He finally let Johanna grab him.

Keelin smiled a little but it was a forced smile. When she thought of her home she thought of the children under her care and what happened to them. “N…No how about… Cade talks?” She asked softly.

Lei chuckled, “Sorry, I’m jsut use to it… Lyuthi are you alright?” She asked, noticing something seemed to be bothering her.

Johanna didn’t ask, on the third fall she scooped him up, dusting the snow off of him. Wrapping her tails around him and herself she frowned. “Master…are you okay?” She asked worried.

Cade’s ear flicked as he heard Johanna’s worry but he flinched when he felt the negativity from Iris. What was that about? Then he had to stop as Keelin got negative and he rubbed his head. It was a lot of bad coming at him all at once. Rubbing the talisman in his hand he fell behind, letting the girls walk on.

Lyuthi seemed to have zoned out and she looked to Lei blank at first then smiled sweetly like always. “Yes, I’m fine. Why?” She asked with a smile she looked away for a moment then kept walking.

Silver nodded, shivering madly as he snuggled. “Y…yeah just c…cold.” He said, giving a small sneeze.

Iris looked at Keelin, then at Cade as he fell behind them, frowning. “I suppose thinking of the past wasn’t such a good idea.” She said softly, as she continued forward.

 Lei frowned and put a hand on Lyuthi’s sholder. “Please… I can tell something is bothering you. Please tell me or… do you not trust me?”

Keelin sighed softly and nodded, “Seems like it… we should just look forward to the future.”

Cade looked at the two females, he felt like a fool now, and he could sense the negativity spreading. Putting a hand to his chest another talisman shined and he smiled, walking up beside the girls. “So, I wonder how often the spirits will shower us in cookies. I mean, do they use an oven or magic???”

Johanna snuggled Silver. “You are so cold!!” She said wrapping his feet up. “…Please don’t push yourself”

Lyuthi shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about it Lei, so let’s just change the subject.” She said with a small smile.

Silver grinned, “I just wanted you to worry bout me, I’m fine!” He said, snuggling in her warmth. “Nothing even close to the time my toes got frot-bitten and I couldn’t even feel them!”

Iris looked at Cade, and smiled widely. “It would be very nice if it rained magical cookies instead of snow.” She laughed.

Lei looked at Lyuthi sadly and just nodded, “Okay um…” She tried to think of something to say but her mind had drawn a blank. Oh great! Why now of all times?!

Keelin smiled brightly as she heard that, “Oh that would be amazing. As long as they were all really yummy cookies!”

Lyuthi smiled to Lei. “I wonder how far our destination is.” She said filling the silence. “I hope everyone can stay warm.” She looked to her wrist, where the silver bracelette hung and sighed.

“So its magic you think? No kitchen involved?” He asked smiling as they smiled. “You know, one time, I heard it rained cookies for a special boy…” He said with a grin. “I heard he was doing good things, and being silly when the spirits showered him with three types of cookies!”

Iris giggled, “What a lucky little boy.” She said, “What types of cookies did it rain?”

Lei looked at Lyuthi sadly and shook her head, “I’m not sure completly myself. And truth be told I’m not in a rush tog et to the desert.”

Lyuthi hugged Lei’s arm. “I will help you as we walk. I can make a bubble around you to maybe take some of the heat off.” She said with a smile.

“Oh his favorites, peanut butter, chocolate chip, and white chocolate and marshmallow.” He said with a grin. “He ate them all, not letting anyone have one!”

Iris grinned, “I wonder who this boy was…” She watched him, “Perhaps it was you?”

Lei smiled, “I’d be thankful for that… I really am worried I will slow everyone down once we get there…”

Keelin giggled as she heard that, “Yes who was this boy? I’m sure he had the time of his life.”

“Johanna might be able to help some too. And youu can’t help what effects you” She said hugging her slightly. “We’ll all be supportive.” she said with a nod.

Cade watched the two. “Oh..well, my son.” He said with a smile. “..He is a trouble maker now, running around, not eating spirit cookies.” He then waved his hands. “I have no wife, or mate, its complicated….Julian is actually about your age Iris.” He said with a smile, but the thought of Julian flirting with Iris made him sigh.

Iris blinked, then giggled slightly, “A boy my age eh? I wonder if he’s as attractive as his father.” She said it glibely enough, but went red as she realized what she’d said, hiding her face in her cloak as she looked away.

Keelin giggled as she heard Iris, “Oh now I bet she wants him to show up~” She teased.

Lei smiled at Lyuthi, “Thanks. I just wish heat didn’t effect me so bad.”

Cade laughed as Iris spoke and smiled at her. “I know what he’d say to that…but I guess you’d have to be the judge.” He said with a laugh as he watched Keelin and Iris. “he is a prankster…but I’d say handsome..but he is MY son so I am biased.”

Lyuthi hugged her more. “Can’t help what effects your body.” She said snuggling her for a moment.

Iris was not red when she looked back, and she smiled, “I bet he is, though it’s hard to think of a son of yours being a prankster with how you are.” She glanced forward to Johanna. Unless she was the mother.

Lei smiled at Lyuthi and moved to hug her, “I know. And thanks for the support.”

“Kids can turn out a lot different then their parents. But its not a bad thing.” keelin said with a nod.

Cade shrugged. “He didn’t really want to learn what I tried to teach him, and his mother was even harder on him, so he decided to be like any other teenager and rebel.” He said with a smile. “…So who knows what he is up to..but if he shows up,..I can see him causing everyone grief….but Johanna…” He shook his head. “He sure was cute, until he learned to talk.” He joked.

Lyuthi smiled hugging Lei back. “..Good thing you are a girl! Veldahar wouldn’t let me hug you all the time if you weren’t!”

The gold draik appeared ahead, flying down to join the two at the head of the column then. Veldahar smiled at the two. “Keeping warm?” He asked.

Bast looked up as he saw Veldahar, and let go of Jing, “I gotta go see what he found.” He said, moving up ahead, bounding up the side of the trail beside the others.

Lei looked at Veldahar and smiled a bit, “Welcome back. How did the scouting go?” She asked.

Jing frowned a small bit as Bast ran off ahead but just nodded and kept walking beside Chert.

Lyuthi let Lei go and smiled slightly at Veldahar but stayed quiet moving beside him.

Veldahar moved to hug Lyuthi, and she felt the cold of his hands and arms as he shivered slightly. “Well, the pass is still open, but there’s a storm brewing. If we don’t get to the other side before it hits, things will get very hard.” He glanced at Bast who had managed to hear this and the kankiru sighed, “We’ll have to push on then, and hurry our pace.”

Lyuthi let out a small surprised yelp and hugged him fiercely. “You are freezing!!!” She cried worry flooding over her. “Are you okay!?” Immediately a bubble formed around them. “Frost bite!?”

Lei looked at Veldahar and sighed a little, “You should have let me go scouting, if you get sick from the cold you will slow us down.” She pointed out then shook her head. “be careful, or you will worry Lyuthi.”

“I’m fine, I just flew a bit too high and hit some really cold cloud banks.” He said, hugging Lyuthi close. “No frost-bite, and hopefully the blasts of fire I used on the clouds will give us a few hours before the storm breaks.”

Lyuthi had tears in her eyes but she played it off by snuggling her face into his neck. “Don’t scare me like that.” She said as the bubble softly popped. “…Should we tell the others to pick up the pace?” She asked, not letting him go, obviously more clingy than usual.

Vel nodded, and Bast agreed, going back down the line, he told the others that a stormw as on it’s way and they had to hurry up. One by one they picked up speed, Veldahar gently moving Lyu so they could continue to break trail for the others.

Lei kept at the head of the group to help break the trail, easly able to keep up the pace since the cold didn’t bother her. Part of her wished they could all fly, it would be faster…

Lyuthi moved to just hug his arm, unable to hide how worried and troubled she was. Veldahar never was good at calming her nerves when she needed it.

Cade nodded as he heard the news and smiled to Iris and Keelin. “Well guess we better pick up the pace.” He said with a smile.

Johanna floated to go faster, which made snuggling Silver easier, keeping him warmer. She floated beside Chert, mostly to annoy him, and make sure he stayed with the group.

Iris nodded, moving her skirts up slightly she tried to speed up as they climbed up the trail. It was getting steeper and she had stopped talking, needing her breath to keep up. Silver was lucky as not having to negotiate the snowy trail, but Chert said not a word of complaint, which for those who knew him would know was a bad sign, just concentrating on keeping up, clambering up the trail at a steady pace. Bast helped Jing along, looking up at the sky as it darkened slowly.

Veldahar kept just behind Lei, letting Lei break the worse of the snow, and working to make the trail larger for those behind him. He let Lyuthi stay by his side, but was more concentrated on the work at hand, soon getting over the shivers he’d had when he arrived with the workout.

 Lei looked back at the others often, worried about how they were handling the cold.

Jing shivered, keeping close to Bast and her long tail wrapping around them both. “I hate… t…the cold.” She said, teeth chattering.

Keelin kept quiet, just making sure to keep up. She shivered, arms wrapping around herself.

Cade watched Iris and Keelin, staying between them. Finally he removed his jacket and set it around Keelin’s shoulders then grabbed her arm and Iris’ to help them keep going.

Johanna stayed behind Chert and got ready to catch him if he fell. This was getting intense.

Lyuthi held Veldahar’s hand tight and tried to help the best she could with the snow. “Should I move to help the others in the back?” She asked looking behind them.

Veldahar glanced back, and then at her, nodding. “Go ahead, but be careful.” He smiled, then let her go, moving to break trail ahead with Lei. “Keep going, it’s just a bit farther.” He said.

Chert was at least going steadily, though his grumblings had faded as he sometimes went on all fours to grab onto the ledge to keep climbing. The last bit was very steep, and even the others had to begin using hands as well as feet to climb higher. Iris glanced at Cade as he took off his jacket. “C…cade… you’ll freeze!”

Keelin looked at Cade, shaking her head, “Keep your jacket,” She insisted, giving it back to him.

Lei looked at Veldahar and nodded, “Are you doing okay? What about Lyuthi?”

Cade shook his head and tied it gently around her. “My fur is really thick.” He said to reassure the two. ‘Plus I have talismen to help me a bit.’ He said as the path got steeper. “You need it more.”

Lyuthi nodded and let him go running backwards to help Iris and the others. “I am sure this is the worst of the trek and once we reach the top it will be easier.” She said trying to keep spirits up.

Johanna watched Chert. She moved behind him and helped him when she could, ignoring him if he protested.

Veldahar nodded, “Yeah, as long as we find a cave to warm up after, I’ll be fine.” He said. “She went back to help the others.” He glanced down at the others, then up. The top of the pass was close by, but the sky was getting darker. He jumped off the ledge, wings snapping open as he flew above the group, watching their progress and ready t help whoever faltered.

Lei watched Veldahar before moving forward again to make a path as fast as he could for the others, he knew time was running out.

Lyuthi looked up to watch Veldahar but stayed with Cade, Iris, and Keelin. She seemed fine, lost in her own head at times, but kept up.  She looked back at Jing and moved beside her.

Cade kept going, it wasn’t that hard for him, he was more focusing on Keelin and Iris.

Johanna stayed with Chert and held Silver close. (*Squishes him in her breasts*)

Iris was having a hard time, her long flowing dress not suited to climbing sides of mountains, her hands bruised and with small cuts that were beginning to bleed. She bit her lip though, and climbed onwards, trying not to stumble on her own dress.

keelin was shivering and she was starting to get tired but kept on going, knowing they needed to hurry.

Jing was shivering badly, and her feet felt numb by now as she continued to walk. “W…we better g…get to rest soon…” She said softly to Bast.

Cade moved beside Keelin to help her as Lyuthi moved to help Iris, a bubble forming around the four of them. “Its okay, just keep going everyone.” Lyuthi said, but even she was shivering badly now, her own feet and fingers numb.

The only complaint Cade had was that his nose had frosted over, which caused him to sneeze. But he wrapped an arm around Keelin to keep her warm and help her. “We’ll be resting in no time.” He told her trying to keep her going.

Johanna watched the others and she felt remorse at not helping more. She knew it wouldn’t last long but she formed a barrier of warmth around the group to help them keep going.