"We're roughly two kilometers from nearest the village," Val said examining the map in her hands.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAqhLw7BZquS
It would be impossible for someone to tell that it was mid June on Mt. Nevado. The group trudged through the knee deep fresh snow. There were no other signs of life anywhere. A harsh wind blew through the frosty atmosphere, which made Cora shiver.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAThe1WLaPYj
Several snowflakes had landed in her hair, making it damp, which only made her colder. "What's our strategy?" Cora asked loud enough to be heard over the howling wind.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAa6U54RtZ4k
"I brought bones. Tibicenas are like big dogs, so they should like bones right?" Zyler asked.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAoER60Bn78f
"In my experience they eat the flesh and leave the bones behind," Ray corrected.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAoQBBpGlS78
Cora didn't know how Ray had convinced her to let him come with them, but if she was honest with herself, she was glad he came.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAjJk4HZoxMG
"Hey Cora, who is your friend and why does he know so much about Tibicenas?" Val asked.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAKj31dqIjms
"My name is Ray Castillo and I had one as a pet once. It had a tendency to bite people that owed me money," Ray responded.
224Please respect copyright.PENANA5wHCddo9kv
"I have so many questions about this guy," Zyler said anxiously.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAiCWjaOMoT4
"I'm surprised you came, Val," Cora said trying to change the subject.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAtAEDOrFjBT
"Well, things aren't great at home right now. Adriana hasn't acknowledged me since the Sorting,"
224Please respect copyright.PENANApeMtOZNqKN
"I'm sorry," Cora said, blaming herself for some reason.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAPawPZ4wqZl
"Don't be, I had been planning on standing up to her for a long time," Val reassured her.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAs0Ljo2b2GY
Zyler winced in pain as a vine with huge thorns grabbed onto his ankle causing blood to come rushing out. Cora quickly severed the vine forcing it to release its grasp.
224Please respect copyright.PENANA7K0nlfLFiI
"What was that?" Zyler asked.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAOjDakOV7Ic
"That was a Death Vine. It's carnivorous plant that only grows on Mt. Nevado. It's insides can be used to make potions, medicines and other things," Val explained.
224Please respect copyright.PENANA2Gpqy5CVd6
Cora was distracted by a tracks left in the snow. There were four sets of paw prints bigger than her hands. The Tibicenas were larger that she had previously thought. There were also two sets of human footprints. One of them looked like they had been there for a long time and the other looked more recent like they had been made only a few minutes ago.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAbg5u2fOGdI
The group continued long the frozen path.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAxzxO7WmOBb
Snow had gotten into Cora's boots making them very uncomfortable. She hated the cold. She pulled her coat closer to her chest.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAKtDhykg4vW
Ray removed his cape and draped it around her shoulders. "Don't worry we're almost there," he whispered into her ear.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAzpp60Enw87
Cora saw a flash of red in one of the trees but it quickly disappeared. Cora gripped her sword tightly. No one was going to catch her off guard again.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAvAzfFMV6Bj
Cora looked straight ahead. They were approaching the village. The only thing that was separating them was a bridge made completely out of ice. It stretched across and icy canyon. One wrong move and you would fall to your death.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAci7egMBwFj
The party was startled by the sound of growls from behind them. There was an entire pack of Tibicenas ready to attack.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAJwrjrsaPrJ
"Hey! Are you hungry?" Zyler called out offering them a bone. They refused to take their eyes off Ray.
224Please respect copyright.PENANA0VMcP1ADnC
One of the Tibicenas pounced at Ray. Cora kicked it sending it flying into a snow bank. She was going to try her hardest not to kill them, the shadow clearly had some sort of control over them, but she couldn't let any harm come to her friends.
224Please respect copyright.PENANArgp71UfqmI
The pack closed in on them. The group was forced to step onto ice bridge. Cora couldn't help but look down into the icy ravine she had no idea how they were going to make it out of this alive.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAOBVGBXQ5xE
The wolves weren't going to give up so easily. They charged towards Ray. One of them managed to rip of Val's bag and dropped it off the edge.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAMi9RLNwppO
The bridge wasn't strong enough to handle this much weight and it began to crack.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAOvbFkurOkl
"Zyler, do have any of the shock devices you had at the Sorting?" Val asked.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAOoztjrptaT
Zyler rummaged through his pockets. "I only have three."
224Please respect copyright.PENANA4doDKT9xZK
There were eight wolves on the bridge they'd have to improvise.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAnie8Vhs7mI
Cora quickly grabbed a device from Zyler's pocket and threw it at the largest one knocking it unconscious.
224Please respect copyright.PENANA77bXCNtjJn
Cora jumped in front of Ray. "Get out of here I'll hold them off!"
224Please respect copyright.PENANASVmxhuivlk
"I can't let you die for me," he said, his voice sounding broken.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAF26EK68DNe
"I can handle them. Everyone, get to the village!" Cora wasn't sure if she could handle them but she had to try.
224Please respect copyright.PENANApagOqkLA5l
Zyler threw the other two devices in her direction and she caught them effortlessly in her left hand. The rest of the group ran across the bridge leaving Cora alone against the pack. The pack charged towards her. Cora stood her ground. She wasn't going down without a fight.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAmgUYEDrqYa
The first one jumped in an attempt to bite Cora's face. She placed a device on its chest. There was only one device left and five Tibicenas. One clawed at her chest while another bit her leg. She tried her hardest to fight back but the pack piled on top of her.
224Please respect copyright.PENANA68SuDpK300
In the distance she could see a figure in a bright red hood walking towards her. It was much shorter than the shadow. The figure whistled loudly gaining the attention of the Tibicenas. They turned to the figure and began to attack.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAfYFusUTqVZ
Once they got close, the cloaked stranger started saying something Cora couldn't understand which seemed to slightly calm them down then injected something into their necks.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAXQzXqiBR8f
After the stranger injected all of the Tibicenas it carefully removed the shock devices and bandaged any injuries they had received.
224Please respect copyright.PENANANRWRIf91rs
Cora's wounds throbbed with pain and it only got worse and she stood up. The Tibicenas followed closely after the stranger. They no longer seemed vicious.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAzbFmgbVLWH
The figure spoke. "They will no longer hurt you, I suggest that you go home Cora you're way out of your league. You have no idea what you're up against."
224Please respect copyright.PENANA51WwuwWYmv
Cora recognized that voice. She couldn't control her impulses. She had to know if her suspicions were correct. She pulled off the strangers hood.
224Please respect copyright.PENANAYXJJsQDhCS
"Scarlet?"
ns 172.70.127.26da2