Rannah couldn’t sleep. She didn't know what to do. The shards pulsed faintly in her hand, their rhythm matching her heartbeat. It was both comforting and unsettling, as though they were alive and waiting for her to act.
Across the cave, Hannah stirred in her sleep, murmuring something unintelligible before settling back into silence. Rannah smiled faintly at her sister’s resilience, but the smile faded as her thoughts returned to the journey ahead.
The shards were pulling her deeper into the mountains, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that they weren’t alone out here. That dark mage back at the tower had been powerful, but he was only a piece of the puzzle. What other forces were searching for the shards? And why? Rannah's sadness can't be explained. She was thinking if these things will come to pass.
Rannah's thoughts were interrupted by a sound—soft and almost imperceptible over the wind. It wasn’t Hannah. It was coming from outside the cave. What was that? Or who was that? She didn't know!
Her body tensed as she listened, every muscle coiled like a spring. There it was again: a faint crunching, as though something—or someone—was moving through the snow.
Slowly, Rannah reached for her dagger, the shards still glowing faintly in her other hand. She moved to the cave entrance, careful not to disturb her sister. The wind bit at her face as she peered out into the swirling snow. At first, she saw nothing but the white expanse of the frozen north. Then, a shadow shifted.
Her heart skipped a beat. It was tall and humanoid, but its movements were unnatural, jerky, as though it were a puppet on strings. Its glowing red eyes pierced through the darkness, locking onto her.
Rannah inhaled sharply and stepped back into the cave. "Hannah," she whispered urgently, shaking her sister’s shoulder.
Hannah groaned, half-asleep. "What? Is it morning already?"
"No," Rannah said, her voice low and steady. "We’ve got company."
That woke Hannah up. She sat up quickly, reaching for her bow and quiver. "What kind of company?"
"Something... unnatural."
The two sisters crept to the mouth of the cave. The shadowy figure was closer now, its red eyes glowing brighter. As it stepped into view, they could see it more clearly. It was a creature made of ice and rock, its body bound together by dark, crackling energy.
"Is that a shard guardian?" Hannah whispered, her voice tinged with awe and fear.
"I don’t think so," Rannah replied, gripping her dagger tighter. "It feels... wrong. Like it’s been corrupted."
The creature let out a guttural growl, its glowing eyes narrowing as it spotted the shards in Rannah’s hand. Then, without warning, it lunged.
Rannah barely had time to react, throwing herself to the side as the creature’s massive claws scraped against the cave wall, sending shards of rock flying. Hannah loosed an arrow, her aim true, but the arrow shattered against the creature’s icy hide.
"Not good," Hannah muttered, scrambling for another arrow.
Rannah rolled to her feet, the shards clutched tightly in one hand. She could feel their energy surging, reacting to the creature’s presence. It was as though they were trying to protect her—or maybe protect themselves.
"Use the shards!" Hannah shouted, loosing another arrow. This one hit the creature’s glowing eye, causing it to stagger back with a roar.
Rannah hesitated. She wasn’t sure how to use the shards’ power, but she knew they were the key. She closed her eyes and focused, letting the shards’ energy flow through her. The pulsing grew stronger, and she could feel the magic building, a storm of power waiting to be unleashed.
The creature recovered quickly, charging toward her again. This time, Rannah didn’t dodge. She thrust the shards forward, and a blinding burst of light erupted from her hands. The creature let out a deafening shriek as the light engulfed it, its icy body cracking and shattering under the force.
When the light faded, the creature was gone, reduced to a pile of snow and broken rock. The dark energy that had held it together dissipated into the air, leaving only silence behind.
Hannah lowered her bow, her breathing heavy. "Well, that was new."
Rannah stared at the shards in her hands, their glow dimming as the magic settled. "I think... they’re waking up," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Hannah glanced at the shards, then at her sister. "Let’s hope they’re on our side. Because if there’s more of whatever that thing was..."
Rannah nodded grimly. "We’ll be ready."
The sisters returned to the cave, though sleep was far from their minds now. The shards had protected them this time, but the encounter raised more questions than answers. Who had corrupted that creature? And how far would their enemies go to claim the shards?
As the first light of dawn crept over the mountains, Rannah and Hannah prepared to continue their journey. The mountains loomed ahead, their jagged peaks promising more challenges—and more secrets.
Rannah tightened her grip on the shards, their power a steady hum against her side.