The morning arrived in muted hues, the sun barely breaking through the dense, gray clouds. The fire had long since died, leaving only faint warmth in the embers. Brison stirred first, his senses sharper than ever. The night before lingered in his mind—the weight of Kate against him, the feel of her hand tangled in his hair. For a brief moment, he'd felt something close to peace.
But peace wasn't meant to last, not here in the Shadowed Peaks.
"Kate," he murmured, gently shaking her shoulder.
She opened her eyes groggily, the remnants of sleep clinging to her. When her gaze met his, a small, shy smile crossed her lips. "Morning," she said softly.
"Morning," he replied, standing and scanning their surroundings. His body tensed as he noticed faint footprints in the snow—too faint to belong to him or Kate.
"We're not alone," he said grimly.
Kate was on her feet in an instant, her senses sharpening as adrenaline coursed through her veins. She sniffed the air, catching a faint, acrid scent that made her stomach twist.
"They were here," she said, her voice low. "The shadows."
Brison nodded, his jaw tight. "We need to move. They're hunting us now."
Kate quickly gathered their supplies while Brison extinguished the remnants of their camp. Within minutes, they were back on the trail, moving swiftly through the canyon.
The narrow passage soon opened into a wide expanse, the cliffs on either side towering like ancient sentinels. The snow crunched beneath their boots as they moved, their breaths forming clouds in the frigid air.
"We're getting closer to the summit," Brison said, pointing toward the jagged peaks looming in the distance. "If we can make it to the Ridge of Whispers by nightfall, we'll have a clear path to the altar."
Kate nodded, gripping the Tear tightly. The shard they'd found in the ruins seemed to pulse faintly, as if sensing the looming danger.
As they climbed higher, the wind grew stronger, whipping snow into their faces. The terrain became more treacherous, the icy ground threatening to slip beneath their boots.
"Careful," Brison said, reaching out to steady Kate as she stumbled on a patch of ice.
"Thanks," she muttered, her cheeks flushing.
But as they pressed on, a strange sound reached their ears—a low, guttural growl that echoed through the canyon.
Brison froze, his hand instinctively going to his knife. "Did you hear that?"
Kate nodded, her heart racing. "It's not human."
Before they could react, a massive creature emerged from the shadows ahead. It was like nothing they'd ever seen before—a hulking, wolf-like beast with eyes that glowed an unnatural red. Its fur was matted and black as pitch, and its claws gleamed like obsidian.
"The shadows are evolving," Brison said, his voice tight.
The creature snarled, baring rows of jagged teeth. It didn't wait for them to make a move—instead, it lunged, faster than anything that size had a right to be.
Brison pushed Kate aside just as the beast's claws swiped through the air where she'd been standing. He rolled to his feet, his knife flashing as he slashed at the creature.
"Stay back!" he shouted.
Kate didn't listen. Gripping the Tear, she summoned its light, focusing its energy into a brilliant flash. The beast recoiled, howling in pain as the light seared its eyes.
"Now, Brison!" she cried.
He didn't hesitate, driving his blade into the beast's chest. The creature let out a guttural roar, its body convulsing before collapsing into a pool of black mist.
For a moment, neither of them spoke, their breaths coming in ragged gasps.
"Are you okay?" Brison asked, his voice laced with concern.
Kate nodded, though her hands trembled. "I'm fine. What… what was that thing?"
Brison shook his head, his expression grim. "I don't know. But if the shadows can create creatures like that, it means they're growing stronger."
Kate swallowed hard, her grip on the Tear tightening. "We have to stop them before it's too late."
As the day wore on, the encounter with the shadow beast left a heavy weight on their minds. They moved quickly, every sound and shadow putting them on edge.
By late afternoon, they reached a plateau overlooking the valley below. The view was breathtaking, the jagged peaks cutting into the sky like shards of glass. But neither Kate nor Brison could appreciate the beauty—they were too focused on the path ahead.
"We're close," Brison said, studying the map. "The Ridge of Whispers is just beyond that ridge."
Kate nodded, though her exhaustion was beginning to show. Her legs ached, her breath came in short bursts, and the Tear felt heavier with each step.
Brison noticed her faltering and placed a hand on her shoulder. "We'll rest soon," he promised.
But before they could take another step, a sudden wave of cold washed over them, far more intense than the mountain's natural chill. The air seemed to vibrate with an unnatural energy, and the shadows around them deepened.
"They're here," Kate whispered.
Dozens of shadowy figures emerged from the rocks and trees, their red eyes glowing like embers. They moved in eerie unison, their forms shifting and flickering like smoke.
Brison drew his knife, his stance protective as he positioned himself between Kate and the advancing shadows. "Stay behind me," he said.
"No," Kate replied, her voice steady despite her fear. She held up the Tear, its light flaring to life. "We fight together."
Brison glanced at her, a flicker of pride in his eyes. "Together, then."
The shadows surged toward them, their inhuman screams echoing across the plateau. Brison moved with deadly precision, his blade slicing through the creatures as they lunged at him. Kate focused the Tear's energy, its light cutting through the darkness like a beacon.
But for every shadow they defeated, more seemed to appear, their numbers endless.
"We can't keep this up," Brison said, his voice strained.
Kate gritted her teeth, the Tear's light beginning to falter. "We have to. There's no other choice."
As the shadows closed in, Kate and Brison stood side by side, their bond unbreakable as they fought against the encroaching darkness.