Miles to the far north covered in the huge mountains, the group walked slowly as the fierce freezing winds of the blizzard along with the sleet and snow pounded down upon them from the left.

"We can't keep going in this storm!" Ba'Von shouted ahead to the leader, several feet away.

They were joined by a thick rope, wrapped around each of their wrists with several feet between. At the front was a small lantern lit with magic. Vlalan was in the front, for he knew these mountains best out of the group. Following him was Ba'Von and then Azrael, and Rindou brought up the rear.

"There's a cave a yard away," Vlalan shouted back, pulling the rope to a sharp right, hugging to the side of the snowcapped mountain.

Moments later and they were almost five yards from the entrance of the cave, huddled around the lantern. Vlalan looked to Rindou. The prince had been pouting and refusing to speak to anyone since leaving the tower where Kura was imprisoned in the ruby. Azrael had tried to strike up conversation with him now and then, but every time Rindou just glared death at him. Ba'Von yawned, pulling her thick blanket closer around her and leaned against the wall.

"How much farther?" Azrael asked after a bit, the cold air biting them constantly.

"Three miles," Vlalan answered, looking to Azrael.

Silence clung over them for nearly an hour until Rindou just lay down and closed his eyes. Vlalan looked up, hearing Azrael moving. The boy carefully creeped next to and lay beside Rindou. Barely ten seconds, and Rindou was on the other side of the cave.

"Don't touch me."

Azrael frowned, "It's not my fault he--"

"Shut up."

Vlalan shook his head, "Man. I really hope I don't have to listen to you two bickering too much longer." Rindou just closed his eyes. Azrael looked over to Ba'Von as she sighed heavily.

"They're like lovers who just broke up." Ba'Von stated quietly. Vlalan nodded. The only expression coming from both Rindou and Azrael was a heavy glare at the two.

Time passed slower than frozen tar the rest of the night. Upon morning, Vlalan woke up first to find Ba'Von missing. Quietly, he got up and left the cave. The storm had stopped, leaving heavy blankets of new soft snow on the paths. Any sight of footprints that might have been made were wipped clean.

"She left during the storm." Vlalan concluded to himself in a whisper. He looked around a bit before heading back in. Almost an hour later for them to warm up, and the three boys left in silence.

Every now and then there'd be a "How much further?" or a "I'm hungry." No one replied to any of them. They were all pretty shocked that Ba'Von had just suddenly left without saying anything. It just didn't feel normal.