Duskfire Glacier uppsaluk

continued of this for @Akavir and @Silvertongue : other members of darukaal welcome to make cameos.

faust moved with quiet certainty, his pace measured but unyielding as he led the two travelers back to darukaal’s camp. the wind still howled at their backs, but the worst of the storm had passed, leaving only the bitter cold and the long stretch of snow-packed land behind them.
the entrance to the caves loomed ahead, carved into the earth like the ribs of some ancient beast. inside, the air was thick with warmth, humid where the ice met the heat trapped within. the ground was packed with old stone and soft moss, and further in, nests had already been arranged, furs and dried grasses tucked into the hollows where wolves could rest.
on the way, faust veered toward one of the caches, his sharp eyes scanning the pile before he plucked two marmots from the frozen heap. he did not slow as he carried them back, only allowing the weight of the prey to hang loose in his jaws as he continued the trek.
once inside, he let them pass first, watching as they took in their surroundings. only then did he step forward, dropping the marmots with a dull thud against the cave floor.
what were you both doing so far north? his voice was level, steady, but edged with curiosity. there was always a reason wolves traveled this far. survival, exile, war. he wanted to know which it was.