The horses moved through the snow in single file, their breath creating small clouds that dissipated quickly in the cold air. Xavier rode point on Smoke, his posture straight but alert, blue eyes constantly scanning the treeline ahead. Behind him, Naomi guided Ember with steady hands while Ashley sat in front of her, wrapped in their remaining blankets.
No one spoke.
The silence wasn't uncomfortable—it was practical. Sound carried far in the thin mountain air, and they'd learned the hard way that Frostfall's predators had excellent hearing. Xavier's hand rested on his dagger's hilt, not from nervousness but from habit. He'd developed a lot of new habits since the village.
"Ridge ahead," Xavier said quietly. "We'll check the route from there."
Naomi acknowledged with a slight nod. Ashley didn't respond, but in a passing shard of ice, Xavier caught the reflection of her eyes—awake and mirroring his own constant scan of the horizon.
