Duskfire Glacier baasharrok

the glacier stretched vast and endless before him, a frozen leviathan beneath the bruised sky. duskfire clung to the peaks, spilling long shadows across the icefields, turning the world into a tapestry of violet and pale gold. wind howled through the jagged cliffs, carrying the scent of cold stone and distant prey.
faust stood at the edge of a frozen ridge, breath misting in the evening air. his paws ached from the day's travel, but he did not stop, not yet. the land was cruel, unyielding, and he meant to claim it—piece by piece.
the others were scattered somewhere behind him. lousine, satori. the women who followed. they had chosen this place alongside him, whether they realized it or not. the thought sat heavy on his shoulders, a weight he wasn’t sure he wanted but carried all the same.
with a slow exhale, he prowled forward, testing the ice beneath his paws. beneath the glacier, there would be caves—shelter. prey lingered in the crags, moving with the rhythm of survival. he would hunt soon.

lousine followed. he didn't need to ask her to. she was almost always at his heel like a dog, watching quietly and unobtrusively. a little specter.

he seemed set on conquering the glacier today, and so she supported him in it despite the immense discomfort the hike caused her. artashat was mountainous, yes, but it was warm and sunny and the air smelled of sage and seasalt. at least it seemed warmer by comparison now, after so many days of such fierce cold.

but she was determined to stick it out.

she came up behind faust, stopping short of the ice he prodded at. please be careful, she made a clicking noise with her tongue. i don't want you to slip.