The mountains loomed ahead like jagged teeth biting into the darkened sky. Their peaks were shrouded in swirling storm clouds, and the air carried a weight that made each breath feel heavier. The bond between Kael and Elena pulsed steadily, an anchor amidst the chaos surrounding them.
“We’re close,” Kael said, his voice firm despite the unease that flickered in his eyes.
Elena adjusted the straps of her pack, her gaze fixed on the winding path that stretched before them. “Too close for comfort. Whatever’s waiting for us up there isn’t going to let us pass without a fight.”
Kael nodded. “We’ve come this far. We can’t turn back now.”
As they began their ascent, the terrain grew increasingly treacherous. Loose rocks shifted underfoot, and the wind howled with a ferocity that threatened to
