{"sf1_id":null,"sf2_id":"eq5OZ7ve","title":"New Submission","author":"Dragonfox_Liri","words":4946,"posted_at":"2026-06-15T10:20:38.000Z","tags":[],"url":"https://fse.anthro.fr/stories/eq5OZ7ve-new-submission","original_url":"https://sofurry.com/s/eq5OZ7ve","image_url":"https://www.sofurryfiles.com/std/thumb?page=\u0026ext=.jpg","description":"","content":"Chapter 4\n\nThe shuttle bucked hard enough to make Clawrence grip the armrests.\n\n\"Well, this was a terrible idea.\"\n\nAcross from him, Vae didn't even look up from the tablet in her lap.\n\n\"You say that every mission.\"\n\n\"Because every mission is a terrible idea.\"\n\nThe fox glanced toward the forward viewport and immediately regretted it.\n\nOutside, the world had disappeared into white.\n\nSnow slammed against the glass in thick sheets. The mountains below appeared only in brief glimpses between gusts, jagged black shapes clawing through the storm before vanishing again.\n\nClawrence pointed toward the viewport.\n\n\"See? Terrible idea.\"\n\nRain chuckled from the seat beside him.\n\n\"I thought you liked adventure.\"\n\n\"I like surviving adventure.\"\n\nThe shuttle lurched again.\n\nCharlie, seated near the cockpit, glanced back over his shoulder.\n\n\"Signal's still there.\"\n\n\"Wonderful,\" Clawrence muttered. \"The magical doom rock is still there.\"\n\nNiena stood behind the pilot station with her arms folded, studying the storm ahead.\n\nThe blue glow of the displays reflected faintly off her russet fur.\n\n\"How much farther?\" she asked.\n\nThe pilot checked the instruments.\n\n\"Three minutes.\"\n\nNobody looked particularly excited by that answer.\n\nThe shard signal had appeared less than a day ago.\n\nNormally that wouldn't be unusual.\n\nThe problem was where it had appeared.\n\nA frozen world cataloged simply as KX-771.\n\nThe locals had another name for it.\n\nMurder Mountain.\n\nAccording to the survey data, the mountain's official designation was Peak 14.\n\nNobody called it that.\n\nPeak 14 didn't sound particularly threatening.\n\nMurder Mountain sounded exactly as dangerous as it actually was.\n\nCharlie looked down at his scanner again.\n\nThe signal pulsed steadily from somewhere near the summit.\n\nA shard.\n\nAnother one.\n\nEver since the battle with Cronin, reports had been appearing across the rim.\n\nSome were harmless.\n\nSome were deadly.\n\nNobody had yet figured out which category a newly discovered shard belonged to until they arrived.\n\nWhich meant every mission began the same way.\n\nWith uncertainty.\n\nAnd usually bad weather.\n\nClawrence leaned back in his seat.\n\n\"I miss the Citadel.\"\n\nRain smiled.\n\n\"We left yesterday.\"\n\n\"Still.\"\n\nThe shuttle dropped lower through the storm.\n\nThe mountains finally emerged beneath them.\n\nClawrence stopped joking.\n\nEven he had to admit the place looked intimidating.\n\nTowering walls of black stone rose from endless fields of snow and ice. Wind howled through narrow canyons, kicking up plumes of powder that twisted like ghosts across the landscape.\n\nThe mountain itself dominated everything.\n\nIts summit vanished into thick storm clouds.\n\nCharlie looked at his scanner.\n\n\"The signal's definitely coming from up there.\"\n\nVae followed his gaze.\n\n\"Of course it is.\"\n\n\"Could've been worse.\"\n\nEveryone looked at Charlie.\n\nThe raccoon shrugged.\n\n\"It could've landed underwater.\"\n\nNobody argued with that.\n\nA moment later the shuttle touched down on a narrow shelf of rock carved into the mountainside.\n\nThe landing gear settled with a heavy thump.\n\nFor several seconds nobody moved.\n\nThen Gale's voice crackled through the cabin speakers.\n\n\"Good luck.\"\n\nA brief pause.\n\n\"Try not to die.\"\n\n\"Encouraging as always,\" Vae said.\n\n\"I aim to inspire.\"\n\nThe rear ramp began lowering.\n\nThe instant it opened, freezing wind blasted into the cabin.\n\nSnow swirled through the interior.\n\nClawrence stared at the opening.\n\n\"Nope.\"\n\nRain laughed.\n\n\"You were the one complaining about sitting down for two hours.\"\n\n\"I've changed my mind.\"\n\nNiena was already moving.\n\n\"Let's go.\"\n\nWith the enthusiasm of someone walking toward a firing squad, Clawrence unbuckled his harness and followed the others down the ramp.\n\nThe cold hit immediately.\n\nEven through insulated gear, it felt like being punched in the face.\n\nThe wind never seemed to come from one direction.\n\nIt attacked from all of them at once.\n\nRain pulled her hood tighter.\n\n\"Oh wow.\"\n\n\"Yeah,\" Charlie said.\n\n\"Wow.\"\n\nThe shuttle engines powered down behind them.\n\nThe sudden silence somehow made the storm seem louder.\n\nSnow hissed across the rocks.\n\nWind screamed through distant ridges.\n\nSomewhere far away, something cracked.\n\nA deep, thunderous sound.\n\nEveryone turned toward it instinctively.\n\nA section of glacier broke free from a nearby cliff face and vanished into a valley below.\n\nThe impact echoed several seconds later.\n\nClawrence watched it disappear.\n\n\"Yep.\"\n\nNobody asked what he meant.\n\nThey all knew.\n\nYep.\n\nNiena activated her wrist display.\n\nA small holographic map appeared above her forearm.\n\n\"The signal is roughly three kilometers above our current position.\"\n\nClawrence blinked.\n\n\"Above?\"\n\n\"Above.\"\n\nThe fox looked up.\n\nThe summit remained hidden inside swirling clouds.\n\n\"You know, when Charlie said the signal was near the top, I assumed he meant emotionally.\"\n\nCharlie snorted.\n\n\"Emotionally?\"\n\n\"Like the mountain felt it was near the top.\"\n\n\"Mountains don't have emotions.\"\n\n\"How do you know?\"\n\nBefore Charlie could answer, Vae started walking.\n\n\"Move.\"\n\nThe others quickly followed.\n\nThe climb began almost immediately.\n\nThere wasn't really a trail.\n\nOnly a route.\n\nA winding path through rocks, ice shelves, and snow-covered ledges.\n\nNiena led the way.\n\nVae followed close behind.\n\nCharlie frequently checked his scanner.\n\nRain remained near the center of the group.\n\nClawrence took up the rear.\n\nNot because he wanted to.\n\nMostly because everyone else walked faster.\n\nFor the first half hour, conversation gradually faded.\n\nThe mountain demanded attention.\n\nEvery step had to be placed carefully.\n\nEvery patch of ice had to be tested.\n\nThe wind constantly tried to shove them sideways.\n\nIt wasn't exciting.\n\nIt was exhausting.\n\nWhich, Clawrence suspected, was somehow worse.\n\nAfter another steep climb, the fox stopped and leaned against a boulder.\n\n\"I vote we move the shard down here.\"\n\nVae kept walking.\n\n\"Denied.\"\n\n\"Nobody ever listens to my ideas.\"\n\n\"Because your ideas are terrible.\"\n\nClawrence pointed dramatically.\n\n\"History will vindicate me.\"\n\nRain smiled.\n\n\"History probably won't remember this conversation.\"\n\nThe fox stared thoughtfully into the distance.\n\n\"That's fair.\"\n\nAbove them, thunder rumbled through the clouds.\n\nExcept it wasn't thunder.\n\nThe sound came from the mountain itself.\n\nA low groan echoed through the ice.\n\nEveryone paused.\n\nFor a moment, nobody spoke.\n\nThe mountain creaked again.\n\nThen the sound faded.\n\nCharlie glanced around uneasily.\n\n\"I don't like that.\"\n\n\"Me neither,\" Rain admitted.\n\nNiena adjusted the straps of her pack.\n\n\"Stay alert.\"\n\nThe group resumed climbing.\n\nFar above them, hidden somewhere beyond the storm, a faint blue light pulsed beneath layers of ice and snow.\n\nWaiting.\n\nThe wind had somehow gotten worse.\n\nClawrence wasn't entirely sure how that was possible.\n\nEvery time he thought the mountain had reached its maximum level of hostility, it found new ways to prove him wrong.\n\nSnow hissed across the rocks around them as the group rounded another bend.\n\nThen Niena stopped.\n\nThe others nearly walked into her.\n\n\"What is it?\" Rain asked.\n\nNiena pointed ahead.\n\nNobody looked particularly happy with what they saw.\n\nThe path simply...\n\nended.\n\nA deep crevasse split the mountainside in two.\n\nDarkness vanished into the storm below.\n\nSnow swirled through the gap, making it impossible to judge its true depth.\n\nCharlie pulled a small light from his belt and tossed it over the edge.\n\nThe group watched.\n\nAnd watched.\n\nAnd watched.\n\nNo impact ever came.\n\nClawrence folded his arms.\n\n\"Well that's horrifying.\"\n\nThe only way across was a natural bridge of ice.\n\nIt stretched between both sides of the crevasse like a frozen spine.\n\nWind and time had carved grooves into its surface.\n\nSeveral visible cracks ran through portions of it.\n\nNone of those cracks inspired confidence.\n\nVae stared at it.\n\n\"I hate this.\"\n\nClawrence pointed immediately.\n\n\"See? See? Even Vae hates it.\"\n\n\"Everyone hates it.\"\n\n\"Good. Just making sure we're all having the same experience.\"\n\nNiena stepped forward carefully.\n\nThe dragonfox crouched near the edge and examined the formation.\n\nThe ice groaned softly beneath the wind.\n\nAfter several seconds she stood.\n\n\"It should hold.\"\n\n\"Should?\"\n\nNiena looked back.\n\n\"It should.\"\n\nClawrence closed his eyes.\n\n\"Those are not comforting words.\"\n\nThe Guardian captain ignored him.\n\n\"We cross one at a time.\"\n\nNobody argued.\n\nNobody volunteered either.\n\nNaturally, Niena went first.\n\nA safety line was secured around her waist.\n\nThe rest of the team anchored themselves on solid ground.\n\nThen she stepped onto the bridge.\n\nThe wind immediately tugged at her cloak.\n\nThe ice creaked.\n\nClawrence decided he hated listening to ice.\n\nEvery sound felt personal.\n\nNiena moved carefully, testing each step.\n\nThe bridge held.\n\nA minute later she reached the far side.\n\nShe gave a thumbs up.\n\n\"See?\" Charlie said.\n\n\"It worked.\"\n\n\"Wonderful,\" Clawrence replied.\n\n\"Now only four more opportunities for disaster.\"\n\nVae crossed next.\n\nThen Charlie.\n\nThen Rain.\n\nEach crossing seemed to take forever.\n\nEach creak made Clawrence's stomach tighten.\n\nFinally Rain stepped onto solid ground beside the others.\n\nShe turned back toward him.\n\n\"You're up.\"\n\nThe fox looked at the bridge.\n\nThen at Rain.\n\nThen at the bridge again.\n\n\"I think I've made a terrible mistake somewhere in life.\"\n\nRain laughed.\n\n\"You'll be fine.\"\n\n\"People always say that right before something terrible happens.\"\n\n\"Claws.\"\n\n\"Fine.\"\n\nWith all the enthusiasm of a condemned prisoner approaching the gallows, Clawrence stepped onto the ice.\n\nThe bridge groaned.\n\n\"See?\"\n\nHe pointed accusingly at it.\n\n\"It doesn't like me.\"\n\nNobody answered.\n\nMostly because everyone was watching him.\n\nThe fox continued forward.\n\nOne careful step.\n\nThen another.\n\nThe wind shoved at him.\n\nHe leaned against it.\n\nHalfway.\n\nThree quarters.\n\nAlmost there.\n\nThe far side was only a few steps away now.\n\nSolid rock.\n\nSafety.\n\nA hot meal back on the shuttle.\n\nMaybe a nap.\n\nDefinitely a nap.\n\nRain smiled from the opposite side.\n\n\"Almost there.\"\n\nClawrence took another step.\n\nThen another.\n\nHis boot touched stone.\n\nFinally.\n\nSolid ground.\n\nHe let out a relieved breath.\n\n\"Ha!\"\n\nThe fox grinned.\n\n\"See? Nothing to—\"\n\nCRACK.\n\nThe sound exploded through the storm.\n\nEveryone froze.\n\nClawrence's smile vanished.\n\nThe ice bridge shattered behind him.\n\nNot beneath his feet.\n\nBehind them.\n\nAt the point where the bridge connected to the mountain.\n\nThe entire formation broke loose at once.\n\nFor one impossible second the bridge simply... dropped.\n\nClawrence stared.\n\nThe section beneath him tilted violently.\n\nHis footing disappeared.\n\n\"Oh shi—\"\n\nThe mountain took him.\n\nOne moment he was standing.\n\nThe next he was gone.\n\nVanishing into blowing snow.\n\n\"CLAWS!\"\n\nRain's voice echoed through the storm.\n\nThe fox tumbled downward, arms flailing helplessly as the broken bridge collapsed around him.\n\nNiena lunged for the edge.\n\nToo far.\n\nNowhere near close enough.\n\nClawrence disappeared below the lip of the crevasse.\n\nGone.\n\nFor a heartbeat, nobody moved.\n\nShock.\n\nDisbelief.\n\nThe sudden realization of what had just happened.\n\nThen Rain ran.\n\nFast.\n\n\"RAIN!\"\n\nNiena's warning came too late.\n\nThe doctor was already moving.\n\nBoots pounding across the snow.\n\nStraight toward the edge.\n\n\"RAIN!\"\n\nNiena's shout vanished beneath the howl of the storm.\n\nThe doctor never slowed.\n\nFor one terrifying instant Charlie thought she was trying to stop at the edge.\n\nThen he realized she wasn't stopping at all.\n\nRain jumped.\n\nThe world seemed to freeze.\n\nSnow swirled around her.\n\nWind tore at her cloak.\n\nThen she vanished over the side.\n\n\"Oh no,\" Charlie breathed.\n\nNiena reached the edge a second later and dropped to one knee.\n\nFar below, two figures were falling through the blizzard.\n\nClawrence spun helplessly through open air.\n\nChunks of shattered ice tumbled around him.\n\nThe fox slammed against the cliff face, bounced away, and continued dropping.\n\nRain was above him.\n\nFalling fast.\n\nToo fast.\n\nThe mountain wall rushed past.\n\nRock.\n\nIce.\n\nDarkness.\n\nNothing but hundreds of meters of empty air below.\n\n\"Come on...\" Niena whispered.\n\nRain stretched downward.\n\nHer fingertips brushed Clawrence's jacket.\n\nMissed.\n\nThe fox continued falling.\n\nRain reached again.\n\nCloser.\n\nJust a little farther.\n\nWind suddenly caught both of them.\n\nThe gap widened.\n\n\"No!\" Charlie shouted.\n\nRain twisted in midair.\n\nFought the wind.\n\nReached one last time.\n\nHer hand closed around Clawrence's harness.\n\nGot him.\n\nThe sudden impact nearly ripped her arm from its socket.\n\nClawrence jerked violently.\n\nFor a moment she thought she was going to lose her grip.\n\nShe didn't.\n\n\"RAIN!\"\n\nThe fox looked up at her.\n\nHis eyes were huge.\n\nAbsolute panic.\n\n\"YOU JUMPED?!\"\n\nRain was breathing hard.\n\n\"OF COURSE I DID!\"\n\n\"THAT WAS A TERRIBLE PLAN!\"\n\n\"I KNOW!\"\n\nThe admission would have been funny under almost any other circumstances.\n\nThis was not one of them.\n\nBecause they were still falling.\n\nFast.\n\nVery fast.\n\nThe cliff wall blurred past beside them.\n\nRain's stomach lurched.\n\nThe ground was nowhere in sight.\n\nOnly endless white.\n\nOnly the storm.\n\nOnly the realization that catching Clawrence had solved exactly one problem.\n\nNow there were two people falling instead of one.\n\nThe grapple launcher.\n\nHer hand shot toward her belt.\n\nThe device snagged briefly on a strap.\n\nFor one horrible second it refused to come free.\n\n\"COME ON!\"\n\nAbove them, the cliff edge was rapidly disappearing.\n\nRain yanked harder.\n\nThe launcher came loose.\n\nShe brought it up.\n\nAimed.\n\nThe wind immediately shoved her sideways.\n\nThe sight picture vanished.\n\nRain cursed.\n\nShe adjusted.\n\nTried again.\n\nEverything was moving.\n\nHer.\n\nClawrence.\n\nThe cliff.\n\nThe storm.\n\nNothing held still long enough to aim.\n\n\"Rain—\"\n\nClawrence's voice sounded different now.\n\nSmaller.\n\nNot scared for himself.\n\nScared for her.\n\nRain ignored it.\n\nShe squeezed the trigger.\n\nThe launcher fired.\n\nThe hook vanished upward trailing cable.\n\nEveryone on the ridge watched.\n\nNobody breathed.\n\nThe hook struck the cliff.\n\nSparks flashed.\n\nThen it ricocheted away.\n\nMissed.\n\nRain felt her heart stop.\n\n\"No no no no—\"\n\nThe cable reeled uselessly back into the launcher.\n\nThey were running out of time.\n\nThe cliff edge was far above now.\n\nThe storm swallowed everything.\n\nRain's hands shook as she reset the launcher.\n\nOne shot left.\n\nMaybe.\n\nIf she missed again...\n\nShe didn't let herself finish the thought.\n\nClawrence looked at her.\n\nThe fox wasn't yelling anymore.\n\nWasn't joking.\n\nWasn't complaining.\n\nFor perhaps the first time since any of them had met him...\n\nhe looked genuinely afraid.\n\nRain tightened her grip on his harness.\n\n\"I'm not letting go.\"\n\nThe words came out between ragged breaths.\n\nClawrence stared at her.\n\nThen slowly nodded.\n\nRain raised the launcher again.\n\nThe wind screamed around them.\n\nThe mountain rushed past.\n\nShe picked a narrow outcropping above.\n\nSteadier this time.\n\nCalmer.\n\nFocus.\n\nIgnore the fear.\n\nIgnore the fall.\n\nIgnore everything except the target.\n\nShe fired.\n\nThe hook shot upward.\n\nIt struck rock.\n\nOnce.\n\nTwice.\n\nThen—\n\nCLANG.\n\nThe hook caught.\n\nFor half a second nothing happened.\n\nThen the cable snapped tight.\n\nThe force hit both of them like a hammer.\n\nClawrence yelled.\n\nRain nearly lost consciousness.\n\nEvery muscle in her body screamed.\n\nThe cable groaned.\n\nThe hook held.\n\nTheir fall became a swing.\n\nBoth of them arced violently across the cliff face.\n\nSnow exploded around them.\n\nClawrence slammed into the rock.\n\nRain barely missed it.\n\nThen they swung back again.\n\nAnd finally—\n\nStopped.\n\nThe two of them dangled beneath the cliff.\n\nHundreds of meters above the abyss.\n\nThe cable creaked softly overhead.\n\nThe storm howled.\n\nNeither moved.\n\nNeither spoke.\n\nNeither seemed quite capable of processing the fact that they were still alive.\n\nAbove them, Charlie finally exhaled.\n\n\"Oh thank God.\"\n\nNiena lowered her head for just a moment.\n\nRelief.\n\nPure relief.\n\nThen the captain's expression hardened.\n\n\"Get the rescue lines.\"\n\nVae was already moving.\n\nFar below, Clawrence looked up at Rain.\n\nSnowflakes drifted between them.\n\nFor several seconds he just stared.\n\nThen he shook his head.\n\n\"You know...\"\n\nRain looked at him.\n\n\"What?\"\n\nThe fox managed a weak grin.\n\n\"When I bought breakfast this morning...\"\n\nhe swallowed,\n\n\"...this wasn't how I thought my day was going to go.\"\n\nDespite everything—\n\nthe terror,\n\nthe exhaustion,\n\nthe adrenaline—\n\nRain laughed.\n\nThe sound echoed across Murder Mountain.\n\nAnd for the first time since the bridge broke,\n\nClawrence laughed too.\n\nThe laughter faded.\n\nNot because anything had changed.\n\nThey were still dangling over a bottomless abyss.\n\nThe cable was still the only thing keeping them alive.\n\nThe mountain was still trying very hard to kill them.\n\nBut for a few seconds, the panic loosened its grip.\n\nAbove them, distant voices echoed through the storm.\n\nVae.\n\nCharlie.\n\nNiena.\n\nPreparing rescue lines.\n\nMaking plans.\n\nDoing what Guardians did.\n\nRain let out a slow breath.\n\nOnly then did she realize how hard her heart was pounding.\n\nEvery beat felt like a hammer in her chest.\n\nThe adrenaline that had carried her over the edge was beginning to fade.\n\nAnd without it, reality started catching up.\n\nHer arm hurt.\n\nHer shoulder hurt.\n\nActually...\n\neverything hurt.\n\nShe became aware of how tightly she was gripping Clawrence's harness.\n\nThe fox looked up at her.\n\nNeither spoke for a moment.\n\nSnow drifted between them.\n\nThe wind howled around the cliff face.\n\nThen Clawrence shook his head.\n\n\"You jumped after me.\"\n\nRain blinked.\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"You jumped.\"\n\nThe fox stared at her like he still couldn't quite believe it.\n\nRain frowned.\n\n\"Well...\"\n\nShe looked away for a moment.\n\n\"...yeah.\"\n\n\"Why?\"\n\nThe question caught her off guard.\n\nRain opened her mouth.\n\nClosed it.\n\nWhy?\n\nBecause Clawrence had fallen.\n\nBecause somebody had to help.\n\nBecause—\n\nThe answer seemed so obvious she almost laughed.\n\n\"You were falling.\"\n\nClawrence continued staring.\n\nRain shrugged as much as her harness allowed.\n\n\"So I jumped.\"\n\nThe fox blinked.\n\n\"Rain, that's not an explanation.\"\n\n\"It is from where I'm standing.\"\n\n\"Hanging.\"\n\n\"What?\"\n\n\"We're hanging.\"\n\nRain rolled her eyes.\n\n\"Fine. From where I'm hanging.\"\n\nDespite everything, Clawrence managed a weak chuckle.\n\nThen his expression softened.\n\nThe joking faded.\n\n\"Rain...\"\n\nFor once, there wasn't a punchline waiting.\n\nNo sarcasm.\n\nNo complaint.\n\nJust genuine confusion.\n\n\"You could've died.\"\n\nThe words hung in the air.\n\nRain didn't answer immediately.\n\nBecause now that the adrenaline was wearing off...\n\nshe knew he was right.\n\nThe memory flashed through her mind.\n\nThe jump.\n\nThe fall.\n\nThe first missed grapple shot.\n\nThe empty space beneath them.\n\nThe terrifying realization that she might have just gotten herself killed too.\n\nHer stomach tightened.\n\nA shiver ran through her.\n\nNot from the cold.\n\nFrom understanding how close it had been.\n\nRain swallowed.\n\n\"...yeah.\"\n\nClawrence stared at her.\n\n\"You didn't even hesitate.\"\n\nShe thought about that.\n\nAbout the moment she'd seen him disappear.\n\nAbout the split second after the bridge collapsed.\n\nThe truth was...\n\nshe hadn't thought at all.\n\nThere hadn't been time.\n\nThere hadn't been a decision.\n\nNo weighing options.\n\nNo consideration of risk.\n\nNo heroic speech.\n\nJust—\n\nClawrence falling.\n\nRain looked down at him.\n\nA small smile touched her face.\n\n\"You're family, Claws.\"\n\nThe fox froze.\n\nRain shrugged again.\n\nAs though the answer should have been obvious from the beginning.\n\n\"You were in trouble.\"\n\nThe smile widened slightly.\n\n\"So I jumped.\"\n\nFor several seconds, Clawrence couldn't think of anything to say.\n\nThe storm continued to rage around them.\n\nThe cable creaked overhead.\n\nAbove, faint lights appeared as the others lowered rescue lines.\n\nBut Clawrence barely noticed.\n\nHis throat felt strangely tight.\n\nHe'd spent years joking.\n\nYears pretending nothing bothered him.\n\nYears acting like everything rolled off his back.\n\nBut hanging over a frozen abyss had a way of stripping things down to what mattered.\n\nWhen the bridge broke...\n\neveryone had been shocked.\n\nEveryone had been reacting.\n\nExcept Rain.\n\nShe had moved.\n\nImmediately.\n\nWithout hesitation.\n\nWithout thinking about herself.\n\nThe fox lowered his eyes for a moment.\n\nThen looked back up.\n\n\"Thank you.\"\n\nRain smiled.\n\nA warm, tired smile.\n\nThe kind that came from someone who genuinely didn't think she'd done anything extraordinary.\n\n\"You're welcome.\"\n\nAbove them, Niena's voice boomed through the storm.\n\n\"IF YOU TWO ARE DONE HAVING AN EMOTIONAL MOMENT—\"\n\nClawrence groaned.\n\nRain laughed.\n\n\"THAT'S MY CAPTAIN.\"\n\n\"WE CAN HEAR YOU.\"\n\n\"THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE YELLING.\"\n\n\"WE'RE IN A BLIZZARD!\"\n\nA pause.\n\nThen Charlie's voice drifted down.\n\n\"Honestly, that's a fair point.\"\n\nFor the first time since the bridge collapsed, Clawrence felt the knot in his chest begin to loosen.\n\nThey were still in danger.\n\nStill stranded.\n\nStill hanging over a very long drop.\n\nBut his family was here.\n\nAnd somehow...\n\nthat made the mountain feel a little less frightening.\n\nThe rescue took nearly twenty minutes.\n\nTwenty very long minutes.\n\nBy the time Rain and Clawrence were hauled back onto solid ground, everyone was exhausted.\n\nThe mountain wasn't finished with them, either.\n\nWind continued to howl across the ridge.\n\nSnow blasted sideways.\n\nThe crevasse seemed almost offended that its victims had escaped.\n\nThe moment Clawrence's boots touched rock, his legs gave out.\n\nHe sat down hard.\n\nNobody blamed him.\n\nRain wasn't in much better shape.\n\nHer shoulder screamed every time she moved it.\n\nThe strain from catching Clawrence and holding him during the fall had taken its toll.\n\nShe tried to hide the discomfort.\n\nNiena noticed immediately.\n\n\"Med kit.\"\n\nRain sighed.\n\n\"I'm fine.\"\n\n\"Med kit.\"\n\n\"I'm literally the doctor.\"\n\n\"Then you should know better.\"\n\nCharlie snorted.\n\nVae nodded.\n\n\"She's got you there.\"\n\nRain shot both of them a look.\n\nA few minutes later she found herself sitting on a pack while Charlie held a scanner over her shoulder.\n\nThe raccoon examined the results.\n\n\"No tears.\"\n\nRain smiled.\n\n\"See?\"\n\n\"Just strained.\"\n\nHer smile widened.\n\n\"See?\"\n\nCharlie pointed at the screen.\n\n\"And you're still injured.\"\n\nRain's smile vanished.\n\n\"Damn it.\"\n\nClawrence laughed.\n\nThen immediately regretted it when several bruised ribs protested.\n\n\"Ow.\"\n\nRain looked over.\n\n\"You okay?\"\n\nThe fox gave her a look.\n\n\"Seriously?\"\n\n\"Fair.\"\n\nFor a few moments the team simply rested.\n\nNobody spoke much.\n\nThe adrenaline was gone now.\n\nOnly exhaustion remained.\n\nEventually Niena stood.\n\nThe dragonfox glanced toward the summit.\n\nThe shard signal still pulsed steadily on Charlie's scanner.\n\nWaiting.\n\n\"We're close.\"\n\nNobody looked excited by that news.\n\nBut nobody complained either.\n\nNot even Clawrence.\n\nThe mountain had already reminded them how quickly things could go wrong.\n\nThe group resumed climbing.\n\nSlowly.\n\nCarefully.\n\nThe final ascent proved less treacherous than the bridge crossing.\n\nStill dangerous.\n\nStill exhausting.\n\nBut manageable.\n\nAn hour later the terrain began to level out.\n\nThe summit finally emerged from the storm.\n\nA broad shelf of black stone surrounded by wind-carved ice.\n\nAnd there—\n\nCharlie stopped.\n\nThe scanner chirped loudly.\n\nEveryone followed his gaze.\n\nAt first Clawrence didn't understand what he was looking at.\n\nAfter everything they'd been through...\n\nit seemed almost ridiculous.\n\nThe shard sat partially embedded in the snow.\n\nNo larger than his hand.\n\nA faint blue glow pulsed from within its crystalline depths.\n\nQuiet.\n\nStill.\n\nBeautiful.\n\nFor several moments nobody moved.\n\nThe wind swept across the summit.\n\nThe crystal continued glowing.\n\nThat's it?\n\nClawrence blinked.\n\n\"That's what almost killed us?\"\n\nCharlie approached carefully.\n\n\"Looks that way.\"\n\nThe fox stared.\n\n\"You're kidding.\"\n\n\"Nope.\"\n\nThe crystal looked harmless.\n\nLike something somebody might put on a shelf as decoration.\n\nRain found herself staring at it too.\n\nThe same thought crossed her mind.\n\nOne little crystal.\n\nOne climb.\n\nOne broken bridge.\n\nOne near-fatal fall.\n\nOne insane rescue.\n\nAll for this.\n\nNiena stepped forward.\n\nThe dragonfox knelt beside the shard.\n\nIts blue light reflected in her eyes.\n\nFor a moment she simply studied it.\n\nThen she carefully removed a containment case from her pack.\n\nClawrence folded his arms.\n\n\"We almost died for that.\"\n\nNiena glanced up.\n\nThe wind tugged at her cloak.\n\nSnow drifted across the summit.\n\n\"No.\"\n\nThe answer was calm.\n\nCertain.\n\nShe gently secured the shard inside the case.\n\nThe crystal's glow vanished behind reinforced shielding.\n\n\"We almost died for the people it might hurt.\"\n\nSilence followed.\n\nNobody argued.\n\nBecause they all understood.\n\nEvery shard was a question.\n\nSometimes the answer was harmless.\n\nSometimes entire worlds paid the price.\n\nThe case sealed with a soft click.\n\nMission complete.\n\nCharlie let out a breath.\n\n\"Can we go home now?\"\n\nFor perhaps the first time all day, Niena smiled.\n\n\"Yes.\"\n\nClawrence pointed toward the sky.\n\n\"I have never wanted to leave a planet more.\"\n\nRain laughed.\n\nVae nodded.\n\n\"Agreed.\"\n\nTogether, the crew turned away from the summit.\n\nBehind them, Murder Mountain vanished once more into the storm.\n\nAs though nothing had happened at all.\n\n---\n\nKheln\n\nThe settlement was settling down for the evening.\n\nLights glowed warmly behind frosted windows.\n\nWood smoke drifted from chimneys.\n\nThe sounds of conversation carried faintly through the cold air.\n\nFor most people, it was just another night.\n\nFor Sithra, it was another reminder that she didn't belong.\n\nThe silver-scaled Lizdrar walked slowly down the main street.\n\nHeads turned.\n\nConversations faltered.\n\nSeveral townsfolk quickly looked away when they noticed her watching.\n\nOthers didn't bother hiding their stares.\n\nSithra kept her eyes forward.\n\nShe was used to it.\n\nAt least, she told herself she was.\n\nThe staff clicked softly against the frozen ground as she walked.\n\nThe crystal mounted near its head glowed faintly.\n\nPurple light pulsed within its depths.\n\nWarm.\n\nComforting.\n\nSafe.\n\nSithra wrapped both hands around the staff.\n\nThe warmth spread through her fingers immediately.\n\nA small smile touched her muzzle.\n\nEver since attaching the crystal, she hadn't felt quite so alone.\n\nThe thought came unbidden.\n\nNot alone.\n\nThe whisper brushed gently through her mind.\n\nSoft.\n\nFamiliar.\n\nFriendly.\n\nSithra's smile widened slightly.\n\nNo.\n\nNot alone.\n\nAhead, a pair of children spotted her approaching.\n\nTheir conversation stopped immediately.\n\nOne grabbed the other's arm.\n\nBoth hurried away.\n\nThe smile vanished.\n\nThe whisper returned.\n\nThey fear what they do not understand.\n\nSithra lowered her gaze.\n\nMaybe.\n\nThey mocked you first.\n\nThe staff pulsed gently.\n\nWarmth flowed through her hands again.\n\nYou did nothing wrong.\n\nA knot formed briefly in her stomach.\n\nThen loosened.\n\nThe crystal seemed to hum softly beneath her touch.\n\nSithra continued walking.\n\nAs she entered the town square, she noticed a small crowd gathered near the well.\n\nPeople stood quietly.\n\nWatching.\n\nWhispering.\n\nSome looked angry.\n\nOthers looked frightened.\n\nSeveral looked heartbroken.\n\nSithra followed their gaze.\n\nAnd saw the horse.\n\nA brown gelding stood tethered near the center of the square.\n\nIts coat was brushed.\n\nIts hooves had been cleaned.\n\nSomeone had even draped a blanket across its back.\n\nThe animal shifted nervously.\n\nA sad, confused sound escaped it.\n\nSeveral people flinched.\n\nOne woman wiped tears from her eyes.\n\nBrenner's wife.\n\nSithra's steps slowed.\n\nThe knot returned.\n\nStronger this time.\n\nThe horse looked at her.\n\nTheir eyes met.\n\nFor just a moment, something twisted painfully inside her chest.\n\nThe whisper arrived immediately.\n\nHe deserved it.\n\nSithra looked away.\n\nHe hurt you.\n\nThe knot loosened.\n\nHe mocked you.\n\nThe purple crystal brightened.\n\nNobody helped you.\n\nThe warmth returned.\n\nComforting.\n\nProtective.\n\nSithra tightened her grip on the staff.\n\nAround the square, several townsfolk were staring at her now.\n\nNot suspicious.\n\nNot cautious.\n\nAfraid.\n\nThe realization should have bothered her.\n\nInstead...\n\nanother whisper drifted through her thoughts.\n\nPerhaps now they will learn.\n\nSithra turned away from the square.\n\nBehind her, the horse whinnied.\n\nFor a brief instant, she thought she heard something hidden inside the sound.\n\nA voice.\n\nA plea.\n\nA man's terror.\n\nThen the wind carried it away.\n\nSithra kept walking.\n\nThe purple crystal pulsed softly atop her staff.\n\nAnd this time...\n\nshe never looked back.\n\nSithra's cottage sat at the edge of the settlement.\n\nFar enough away that most people didn't have to look at it.\n\nFar enough away that most people preferred not to.\n\nThe silver-scaled Lizdrar pushed open the door and stepped inside.\n\nThe familiar scent of old wood and dried herbs greeted her.\n\nFor the first time all day, she relaxed.\n\nThe whispers faded to a distant murmur.\n\nThe silence felt comforting.\n\nSafe.\n\nShe closed the door behind her and set her pack beside the wall.\n\nThe staff remained in her hand.\n\nPurple light danced across the room.\n\nThe crystal mounted near its head pulsed softly.\n\nSithra found herself staring at it again.\n\nBeautiful.\n\nThe word appeared in her thoughts before she could stop it.\n\nBeautiful.\n\nThe crystal glowed.\n\nAs though pleased.\n\nA strange chill ran through her.\n\nFor a brief moment she considered placing the staff across the room.\n\nJust for a little while.\n\nJust to prove she didn't need it.\n\nThe thought lingered.\n\nThen she crossed the cottage and leaned the staff against the far wall.\n\nImmediately something felt wrong.\n\nThe warmth vanished.\n\nThe room seemed darker.\n\nColder.\n\nLonelier.\n\nSithra frowned.\n\nThat was ridiculous.\n\nIt was a stick with a crystal attached to it.\n\nNothing more.\n\nYet her eyes kept drifting toward it.\n\nThe whisper returned.\n\nSoft.\n\nGentle.\n\nYou are alone.\n\nSithra's ears lowered slightly.\n\nThe words struck harder than they should have.\n\nYou always have been.\n\nHer throat tightened.\n\nImages surfaced uninvited.\n\nChildren laughing when she passed.\n\nMerchants cutting conversations short.\n\nDoors closing.\n\nPeople pretending not to see her.\n\nYears of it.\n\nYears.\n\nThen another memory.\n\nNiena.\n\nRain.\n\nCharlie.\n\nClawrence.\n\nThe Guardians.\n\nThe only people who had spoken to her like a person.\n\nThe only people who had looked at her without fear.\n\nFor a moment the pressure eased.\n\nThe whisper hesitated.\n\nThen changed tactics.\n\nAnd they will leave.\n\nSithra's expression faltered.\n\nThe warmth from that memory dimmed.\n\nThe whisper wrapped around the thought.\n\nThe Guardians always leave.\n\nEveryone leaves.\n\nThe crystal pulsed.\n\nOnce.\n\nTwice.\n\nThree times.\n\nBut I am still here.\n\nSithra stared across the room.\n\nThe purple light reflected faintly off the cottage walls.\n\nWaiting.\n\nPatient.\n\nHer gaze lingered on it.\n\nThen she stood.\n\nCrossed the room.\n\nAnd picked up the staff again.\n\nWarmth immediately spread through her hands.\n\nThe knot in her chest loosened.\n\nComfort returned.\n\nThe whisper fell silent.\n\nSatisfied.\n\nOutside, the wind brushed softly against the cottage walls.\n\nSomewhere in the settlement, a horse cried into the night.\n\nThe sound carried clearly through the darkness.\n\nBrenner.\n\nSithra recognized it immediately.\n\nThe cry came again.\n\nFear.\n\nConfusion.\n\nDesperation.\n\nA week ago it would have haunted her.\n\nShe would have spent hours staring at the ceiling.\n\nWondering if she could undo what had happened.\n\nWondering if she should.\n\nThe sound came a third time.\n\nSithra listened.\n\nWaited.\n\nFelt...\n\nnothing.\n\nNo guilt.\n\nNo pity.\n\nNo sorrow.\n\nOnly annoyance that the noise had interrupted her thoughts.\n\nThe realization should have frightened her.\n\nInstead she simply tightened her grip on the staff.\n\nThe crystal glowed brighter.\n\nOutside, Brenner cried out once more.\n\nInside the cottage, Sithra turned away from the window.\n\nAnd for the first time...\n\nshe didn't care."}