AS SOON AS THE CHILL was gone, Sarah summoned a small whirlwind inside the branches that quickly forced the last of the moisture from their clothing and Hopper’s fur. The icy night air bit at their noses when they emerged from the trees. The snow crunched beneath their feet as they followed the shoreline toward the north. The night was still; no wind stirred the icy branches blanketed with snow. A thin layer of clouds hovered above them, allowing for a patchwork of stars to peek through. A sliver of moon shed a faint shadow across the dense snow-covered trees that lined the rocky shore.
Sarah scanned the lake as they walked. She frowned. “There’s a high flat area on the far side of the lake, but I don’t see the city.”
Nicole patted the small pouch at her waist and said, “Don’t worry, it’
