The journey resumed in relative peace, the chaotic escape from Laiken becoming a distant memory as the days passed. The landscape gradually shifted as they travelled farther northeast, the rolling hills and dense forests giving way to rugged terrain and rocky outcrops. The air grew crisper, carrying with it a faint chill that hinted at the colder climates ahead.
As they climbed higher into the mountains, the once lush greenery faded, replaced by hardy shrubs and the occasional pine tree, their needles dusted with frost. The path beneath the carriage wheels turned rougher, the stones and gravel crunching underfoot, making the tigers work harder to pull their load. The sky, once a brilliant blue, was now often overcast, with clouds hanging low and threatening to spill snow at any moment.
