Raelyn lowered her shield, her breath coming in shallow gasps as she surveyed the scene. Rakz pressed against her legs, his body trembling slightly but unharmed. "Is everyone okay?" she called, her voice shaking.

"I'm fine," Benji said, his voice steady but laced with adrenaline. Hovan nodded, brushing dust from his shoulders. "Still in one piece."

Thomrik stood slowly, setting Zypher on his feet. The gremlin immediately pulled away, his antennae twitching furiously. "I told you not to touch me!" Zypher snapped, his voice sharp with anger.

Thomrik's expression hardened, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You're welcome," he said flatly.

"Why should I thank you?" Zypher shot back. "You nearly killed me!"

Danio, who had edged closer now that the danger had passed, scoffed. "Right. I'm sure the troll was just about to apologize and set you down nicely."

Raelyn stepped forward. "Zypher, Thomrik saved your life. We all saw it." She was aware of the animosity the gremlin harbored against the dwarf, but somewhere she hoped Zypher could see the selfless act for what it was.

The gremlin hesitated, his wide eyes flickering between Raelyn and Thomrik. It was clear he trusted Raelyn—her sincerity was a beacon he clung to—but his mistrust of Thomrik, born from years of bitter experience, held him back. Finally, he muttered, "He only did it because you need me. He said so himself."

Raelyn opened her mouth to protest, but Thomrik raised a hand, stopping her. "Don't bother, lass," he said quietly. "There's no arguing with years of hatred. I don't expect him to change his mind. I'm just glad we're all still standing."

Raelyn frowned, but before she could respond, Benji spoke up. "What was a mountain troll even doing that deep in the tunnels? The boulder was dropped all the way back in Dwendari." he asked, glancing at Thomrik.

Thomrik rubbed his beard thoughtfully. "If I had to guess, it's the blizzards. The beast likely sought shelter and wandered into the tunnels. Likely got lost in the maze."

Benji, still catching his breath, glanced toward the darkened tunnel where the troll had disappeared. "But how long has it been down there? How did it survive for so long without food?"

Thomrik's brows furrowed, his expression grim. "Trolls are hardy creatures," he said. "If it's been here a while, it's probably managed to scrape by on bats and whatever other small life calls these tunnels home. But it must've been starving." He looked toward the cavern's jagged ceiling, his voice lowering. "Otherwise, it never would've been desperate enough to attack us like that. Even a troll doesn't usually pick fights it knows it can't win."

Hovan scanned the cavern and the howling storm beyond. "Whatever brought it here doesn't matter now. We've survived, but that thing's still out there, and it's not the only danger we face."

"We need to go back into the tunnels," Thomrik said firmly. "The peaks are too dangerous. This storm will kill us before we make it far."

Hovan nodded in agreement. "Thomrik's right. There's no surviving out there without proper gear. We'd freeze long before we find the gremlins."

Danio spun around, his face a mask of defiance. "You want to go back? Into those tunnels? With that thing?" He gestured wildly toward the shadows where the troll had disappeared. "I'd rather take my chances with a bit of snow!"

"Snow?" Hovan's voice was low and edged with incredulity. "That storm will strip the skin from your bones."

"The markings brought us here for a reason." Zypher said through chattering teeth. "We just need to keep going. The gremlins wouldn't have left us without a path forward."

Benji, his usual calm demeanor cracked, hesitated before speaking. "The tunnels might not be safe, but I've heard stories about these peaks." He glanced nervously toward the cavern's opening, where the blizzard raged. "They say banshees roam Icevein Crest. I'd rather take my chances with the troll than end up cursed or... or worse."

Zypher let out a faint, humorless laugh. "Banshees? They're harmless unless you provoke them. They look terrifying, yes, but they're dead. They have no interest in the living."

Benji tilted his head, his brow furrowed. "What about the stories? All those tales about curses and the screams that drive people mad?"

Zypher's antennae twitched as he shrugged. "Just that—stories. They work in our favor, really. The fear of banshees keeps outsiders from venturing too far into the peaks. Most would-be explorers or treasure hunters turn back before they ever get close to Grythenwald." He paused, looking at the others. "It's one of the reasons my people have managed to remain hidden for so long."

Benji frowned, the tension in his jaw evident as he weighed Zypher's words. Finally, he turned to Raelyn, his expression one of reluctant trust. "What do you think we should do?

Raelyn took a deep breath, the cold air stinging her lungs as her mind raced. The decision before her weighed heavily. She was leading them—her friends—into the unknown, and the thought of causing them harm gnawed at her. What if she made the wrong choice? What if this gamble cost them everything? But as much as she feared for their safety, she knew there was no path without risk. On one hand, they could retreat into the tunnels, where the maze of passages might offer safety from the storm—but also the risk of another encounter with the troll. In such tight quarters, the sheer size and strength of the beast could easily overwhelm them. On the other hand, stepping into the blizzard was a gamble of its own. The howling wind and biting cold threatened to disorient and freeze them if they couldn't find their way quickly.

Neither path was without peril.

Raelyn's stomach twisted at the thought of leading them into yet another danger. But wasn't that the nature of their journey? Every step forward had brought new trials, and every decision she'd made had carried the potential for harm. She hated it—the responsibility, the fear of failing them—but what choice did she have? Their trust in her had brought them this far, and she couldn't let it falter now.

Raelyn clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she forced herself to think beyond the fear. Their journey had been fraught with challenges, each one demanding faith, courage, and no small amount of luck. If they were to find the gremlins and uncover the secrets of the locket, she would have to trust in the abilities of herself and the others.

Raelyn scanned the faces of her companions, her gaze lingered on Zypher, who stood trembling in the cold but met her eyes with unwavering conviction.

"Are you certain we're close?" she asked softly.

Zypher straightened, his antennae twitching. "Yes," he said firmly, though his voice wavered with the cold. "I'm certain. If we keep following the markings, we'll find Grythenwald."

Raelyn studied him for a moment, seeing both fear and conviction in his wide eyes. Then she straightened, her decision made. "Then we'll follow the markings," she said decisively, her voice carrying a quiet authority. "But if we don't find another one soon, we'll turn back."

She felt the weight of her words as they echoed in the cavern. The choice was a gamble, but one she was willing to take. Raelyn glanced at her companions, her eyes meeting each of theirs in turn. "I trust Zypher to lead us," she added. "If we want to reach Grythenwald, we have to keep moving."

Hovan nodded reluctantly, his grip tightening on his torch. "We'll keep to the markings," he said gruffly. "But we'll be watching the storm carefully. If it gets worse, we'll need to reassess."

Benji nodded slowly, though his eyes lingered on the storm outside. "I just hope we don't regret this."

As they prepared to leave the cavern, Raelyn's eyes fell on Zypher. His small frame shook with the cold, and his breaths came in ragged puffs of mist. She stepped closer, pulling her spare cloak from her pack. "Here," she said gently, wrapping it around his shoulders. "This should help."

Zypher clutched the fabric tightly, his wide eyes darting up to meet hers. "Thank you," he murmured.

Raelyn hesitated, then crouched slightly to meet his gaze. "If you don't mind, I could carry you. It'll help keep you warm out there."

Zypher looked startled at first, but the sharp wind that swept through the cavern seemed to solidify his decision. He nodded reluctantly. "Alright," he said, his voice barely audible over the howl of the storm.

Raelyn knelt and took the small creature in her arms. His light frame was almost weightless, and she adjusted the cloak to cover him as best as she could. Rakz circled her legs briefly before trotting ahead toward the cavern's exit.

Danio, standing nearby and observing the trembling gremlin in Raelyn's arms, tilted his head. "Funny," he said, his tone light but thoughtful. "Gremlins living in such a frozen wasteland but not built for the cold. You'd think they'd be better adapted."

They inched toward the cavern's mouth, each step burdened by the anticipation of what lay beyond. The deafening roaring wind promised no mercy. Raelyn's boots crunched against the thin crust of snow that had crept into the cave, and the air grew colder with each breath, stinging her exposed cheeks like needles.

Hovan stopped just before the threshold, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the swirling snow beyond. He turned to face the others. "Listen up," he said firmly. "Stay close. Don't lose sight of one another. If anyone gets separated, it'll be nearly impossible to find each other in this storm."

"Keep your eyes peeled," Hovan continued. "Look for anything unusual—anything that can have a marker on it like those on the tunnels. If we don't find something soon, we're turning back. Understood?"

A chorus of agreement met his words.

"Alright," Hovan said, his voice cutting through the howl of the wind. He stepped forward into the blizzard. "Let's move."

Raelyn steeled herself as they followed Hovan out into the storm. The moment they stepped beyond the shelter of the cave, the world transformed into a swirling, chaotic expanse of white. Snow whipped around them, driven by the roaring wind, obscuring their vision and making the landscape seem endless.

Raelyn tightened her grip on Zypher, shielding him as much as she could from the biting cold. Rakz stuck close to Raelyn, his sleek body moving low to the ground.

Hovan's voice carried back to them through the storm, though it was muffled by the wind. "Stay close!" he shouted, glancing back to ensure the others were keeping pace. "If you see anything—anything at all—speak up!"

Thomrik, trudged just behind Raelyn, his warhammer slung securely across his back. Benji followed close by, his hand resting nervously on the hilt of his father's sword, his eyes squinting against the storm but wary of any banshees nearby. Danio brought up the rear, his hood pulled low.

The wind howled louder, carrying with it an eerie, almost mournful sound that set Raelyn's nerves on edge. Despite the fear clawing at her chest, Raelyn pressed on, her steps steady as they ventured deeper into the unknown, the raging blizzard swallowing them whole.