Unable to get past the red cliffs, she’d continued north, watching with mild curiosity as the woods changed around here. While the wall remained immovable on her right, the foggy forest to her left began to open up, allowing more light to reach the ground between the trees. Despite the thick layer of snow, it was clear that the underbrush here was rich and varied, naked bushes and young trees jutting out of the cover all over.

Flair wisely stuck to the edge, trotting alongside the russet rocks at a brisk pace, mostly unobstructed. Now and then she had to skirt a particularly determined bit of undergrowth, having to dip in between the trees, but she didn’t like it. The snow felt especially treacherous here, sinking and crunching much more than normal, as if the ground underneath was soft as well. It gave her the shivers, and she was always quick to duck back out onto the more solid path; Hopefully I can get past these mountains soon…!