They shared quiet stories to ease the tension, Darius recounting a time he outran a rogue boar as a kid, Lyra speaking of her sister's dream to become a tamer, Kelvin recalling his father's tales of Xerion's ancient battles.
The End-Tyrant's amber eyes gleamed, a low hiss affirming their bond, his warmth a steady anchor against the cold.
As they settled for the night, the monitoring device hummed, its message clear: "Primary rift 1 mile north. Hidden path opens at dawn. Unity is your strength."
Kelvin's heart sank, the wyrm's attack a grim prelude to the rift's challenge, but their resolve burned brighter, a spark that would light their path through the fog.
The dawn brought a gray, turbulent sky, the Peaks looming darker now. They found the hidden path, which was a narrow ledge revealed by the fading fog, leading deeper into the rift's heart.
