Despite the oncoming eclipse, still the opening to the mountaintop shone as bright as day, in itself a portal to an icy hell. Eva waited until the last possible moment, when all of the squad were in the cave, before stepping forward.
“Strength, Eva.” Gila whispered in her ear. “For your child.”
Eva nodded and took the first fatal step towards a perceived oblivion. Keeping the dagger tucked up her sleeve, the hilt reversed and resting in her palm inside thick white fur, she crossed the threshold.
Outside, the morning was already dim. The wind howled about them, numbing what skin Eva had exposed in an instant. The sky was clear, yet the perceived eclipse had only just begun. Making room for the troops behind her, Eva just stared.
In the distance, the entire horizon had the pearlescent sh
