The path back down the mountain was quieter than before, though not silent. The snow had stopped falling, but the wind still whispered through the pines, and every now and then, Riven could hear the crunch of their boots against the frosty ground.
Soren walked just ahead of him, the faint puff of his breath visible in the cold air. There was silence as they made their way towards the horse.
They hadn't gone far when Riven started asking questions. Not just small talk—actual questions. About the territory. About the way things worked here.
Soren didn't mind. In fact, he seemed… Relieved.
"Well," Soren said, glancing back at him with a slight smile, "our clan territory runs deeper into the mountains than the wolves'. We stay up in the colder regions, where the cliffs are higher, and the caves are better for sheltering during winter. This was before we built our cities."
