According to Araellor's expert opinion, we would've reached The Nexus within the hour, but the previous day's snow and strong winds had made passage much more difficult. He called out to the magi to be extra careful as we approached. Finding the gully that encircled the base of the fortress would be more treacherous he said.

My heart was in my mouth as I could occasionally feel the ground giving way. The compacted snow wasn't easy to navigate even when following our leaders closely. We were flanked on all sides by danger, from the unreliable paths to the patrolling watchers and smaller drakes above, the arcane serpents which cruised the main gully and the ground-based foes including the walking trees, all of which wandered the wastes seemingly aimlessly. No set pattern or routine that we could identify. We would have to take risks for sure and move whenever Garret and Aden thought it was safe to do so.

I simply hadn't bargained on our path being so precarious, so unpredictable. With three experts guiding and protecting us, I believed passage to the fortress would be straightforward. But already, we'd suffered a setback with the attack on Aden. And now, the heavy-going underfoot restrained our progress further.

Araellor enquired if I needed to rest. Truth be told, I did. My calves and thighs were screaming from the extra effort of battling through fresh snow, but both Felenn and I had made a pact that morning, that we'd be better suited pressing on; we could rest once we were inside the fortress. "No, thank you," I replied, trying to conceal my discomfort. "Besides, you said earlier you didn't need another burden to carry." I was quite proud of my little quip at him then.

"I wasn't offering to carry you, just giving you the opportunity to rest. You humans don't have the same stamina as we elves do. Isn't that correct, Felenn?"

I looked over at my fellow Adept. Why was he bringing her into our disputes? Felenn kept her eyes straight ahead. "Do not involve me in your differences of opinion, Araellor," she replied. I could have sworn I saw the hint of a smirk on her delicate mouth. "But I can assure you, Klara is tougher than you think."

There! Smirk or no, she defended me against the oaf.

"Well, her tongue is, certainly," the hunter countered, grinning.

I glared at him. "I am here you know!" I snarled.

"How could I possibly forget? Your heated glares are melting the snow under us."

"Why you...!" Fist clenched, I swiped at him. He dodged, laughing, infuriating me further. I lashed out once more, spinning full circle as he evaded my blow yet again. This time, I stumbled, and my feet slid from under me.

As did the ground. Suddenly, I was tumbling down a narrow crevice, bumping off its walls until I came to a sudden, brutal halt. The wind was knocked clean out of me, and I could feel every part of my body that had been battered on the way down.

I looked up only to be covered in more of the snow I'd disturbed in my fall. Once it settled, I looked again. The crevice was jagged, rough in places, sheer in others, and I couldn't see to the top. A small ledge protruded from one of the walls, blocking my view. How I'd survived that fall I'd no idea. The one good thing, as far as I could tell, I hadn't broken anything. But I was sore, there was no doubt about that.

"Klara! Can you hear me? Are you all right?" Felenn's delicate but concerned voice resounded off the walls. Its distant echo told me I'd fallen pretty far down. I couldn't speak; I was still trying to gather my breath.

"Klara!"

Unsure if my colleagues could see beyond the small gap afforded by the ledge, I tried to wave, although the effort cost me. My shoulder was dislocated. I yelped at the sudden pain.

Araellor then called down. "Hold on! I'm coming to get you."

I could hear the others' muffled voices but could only make out an occasional word. And my name, several times. Eventually, I managed to speak. "I'm okay," I said rather limply. "But I think I've dislocated my right shoulder."

Whether they heard me or not, I wasn't sure, but judging by the constant shower of snow, I knew they were trying to reach me.

It was dark down in the depths. I could hardly see anything apart from the sliver of light above, my only indication of where I'd fallen from and where my companions were busy planning how to reach me. To my left, the murk seemed to fade into a muffled purple. It had to lead somewhere. Perhaps to the Nexus? I tried to move, but my shoulder laid that idea to rest.

More snow sifted down and I saw a change in the light above. It flickered. I deduced that Araellor must've started his descent.

From the corner of my eye, the purple gap also flickered. As I watched, it became brighter, and then it faded and brightened again. This went on for what seemed to be several minutes.

"Klara! Can you hear me?"

I was mesmerised by what was happening at the gap.

"Klara!"

My heart started to race. Something was different about the purple light, the way it moved, shimmied and flowed.

And then I saw it. An Arcane Serpent. The purple hue ebbed and flowed, repeatedly. Dread crept under my skin; the beast was trying to worm its way into the gap. Trying to see what caused the collapse of the overhead snowbank.

"Klara! For the sake of Elune, answer me!"

A snout came into view. Its fine tendrils, like feelers or whiskers floated in the air, gauging the width of the gap.

I could hear feet scuffing the rock somewhere above me, but I was too preoccupied with the creature attempting to squeeze in between the rocks.

Araellor's voice called down again and I tried to answer this time, but my throat constricted. All I could manage was a pathetic wheeze.

A long, drawn-out hiss came from my left. I froze. The serpent's head was now in full view, and I could see every extraordinary, vicious detail; the teeth, small but razor-sharp, the forked tongue flicking the air, its flared nostrils. I tried to inch back, but I had nowhere to go, I was wedged in, helpless. Amber eyes burned into my soul. The beast had found its prey.

If it wasn't so terrifying, it would have been beautiful. Purple in colour, with magenta spines protruding from its jaw, all partially transparent. Although its body was still out of view, I'd seen one the day before when we were making our way to the East Checkpoint. More eel-like than dragon their bodies writhed and pulsed as they rode the cool air, strangely graceful, almost like a silken banner. Yet, as it tried to wriggle closer and I was staring into that deadly maw, its beauty was diminished by its ferocity.

"Klara!" Araellor's shout drew the serpent's attention. Fiery eyes flashed above my head, searching for the voice's source. Snow and ice gave way as the creature forged its way further into the gap. I had to do something.

Gritting my teeth, I prepared for pain. Raising my good arm, I searched for a handhold above my head. With just enough of a grip, I started to claw my way up. To my frustration, I made barely an inch. My coat had snagged on the jagged rockface, snaring me in position. Pain shot through my dislocated shoulder, but I had no option. I had to try again.

There was no way down, and moving forward would only lead me straight into the serpent's gaping maw. Up was the only way. My injured shoulder protested again as I grabbed onto another rock and pulled myself up. I fought the scream gathering in my throat. My coat tore where it had been caught and the sudden release managed to propel me a few inches more.

"Kla..."

"I hear you!" Finally, words tumbled out, I just prayed they were loud enough for Araellor to hear.

"Can you see the ledge?"

Relief! He'd heard me after all. "Yes, about five feet above me." A furious hiss shot up the crevice wall accompanied by a blood-curdling ululation.

"What...?"

"Arcane serpent," I explained hoarsely. "It's angry...and hungry!"

Snow and shale showered over me, catching me unaware and causing me to lose my grip. I screamed as I dropped. It was no more than a few inches, but it offered an advantage for the serpent. It lunged through the gap, lips curling, teeth snapping. Instinctively, I pulled my feet up as far as the constricted space would allow, just enough to avoid being bitten.

"Rope coming!" Araellor shouted. Sure enough, down it came hitting and coiling around my wounded shoulder. I winced but grabbed the safety line with my good hand. The rockface limited my movements, but with my adrenalin pumping through my veins, I managed to loop the rope around my waist and make a loose knot. Keeping a firm hold of the rope was imperative to my rescue.

"OK!" I yelled up.

The rope tugged and I moved. It tugged again. I continued to rise, slowly and surely, relief spilling through me. But all too prematurely.

Teeth sliced through my boot and pain shot up my leg. My scream echoed through the crevice, causing yet more snow to flutter down from the surface.

"Hold tight!"

Panic gripped me with the added fear that I may black out. The pain from the serpent bite intensified. As I chanced a glance down, the vapour from its breath rippled up my leg. The beast was persistent and tugged at my boot, its teeth tearing into my flesh. I released another scream. Even with my heavy mitts, I could still feel the rope burning into my skin, or perhaps that was the effect of the serpent bite, I wasn't sure. But I knew I was about to lose my grip on the rope and that would render me just a dangling morsel for the arcane beast. At that moment, I thought I heard my mother's voice. Was this a sign of the end? Would I be joining her in the great beyond, the Twisting Nether? Stay strong, Klara! Remember what I told you, my darling daughter. I started to cry. Her secret: the promise I made. I had to survive. Had to!

Something whistled past my ear, then another. An ungodly screech then filled the stone enclosure, reverberating around the walls. I looked down and saw two feathered bolts protruding from one of the serpent's eyes. Its teeth were still embedded in my boot and the weight of the beast was starting to drag me down with it.

Yet another bolt flew past, and that one gave me my freedom. The serpent fell to the bottom, its screech dying in the distance and its body coiling as it hit the base far below.

A hand gripped my wrist. Araellor. He'd managed to lie flat on the ledge above and pulled on the rope until he could reach me. I was actually very relieved to see him.

"You're safe now, Klara," he said.

Together, my other colleagues hauled us up to the surface without further injury. Felenn quickly removed my boot and prepared to administer whatever miracle potions she carried for the wound. My foot felt numb. I didn't know if that was from the bite, or exposure to the cold, or whatever Felenn was using, but I knew for sure I wasn't going to be able to walk.

Araellor knelt beside me, his hair falling like a curtain around his face. But I saw the smirk and the twinkle in his eyes. "Miss Elmsworth," he said, "that was taking things to the extreme just to get a ride on my sledge."

I think I lifted my hand to swat him, but I'm not entirely sure. The world suddenly became very blurry before everything shrivelled into nothing.

_________________________________________________________________________

It seems Klara just can't quite warm to Araellor and his comments, would you agree? Still, maybe her feistiness will be cooled after this incident. That was a close call.

Thank you for reading :)