Paths Beyond (Under Rewrite)

It did not take long for Grey to return with Brawl and his men, sleds in tow. Keen stood somberly, his gaze fixed on Bark's lifeless body. For a moment, the group paused, the weight of the situation heavy in the air. Brawl was the first to act.

"Thatch, Serene, take the Hooded Horn sled back to the village," he commanded sharply. "Catcher, go wake Elder—tell him it's urgent. The rest of you, we've got work to do. Shot, Grey, get Keen and Bark on the sled. Trek, help me with this wolf. Move fast; if it hits midnight, we'll all freeze, and these spoils will be lost."

There was no time to mourn their fallen comrade. Though Keen's squad and Brawl's men didn't always see eye to eye, there was no hatred between them. Each person understood the risks of their work. Now, time was against them, and they moved with purpose. The wolf and the Hooded Horn were tied down, and the sleds were strapped to their respective haulers. Together, they pulled with every ounce of strength they had, making for the village.

When Grey and Shot approached Keen, he looked as if a single gust of wind might knock him over.

Grey took him by the arm cautiously. "How are you holding up?"

Keen let out a low grunt. "I'm fine. Just help me onto the sled. We need to get back."

Shot carefully lifted Bark's heavy body and, with some effort, hauled it next to Keen on the sled. The coldness of Bark's lifeless form sank into her hands, extinguishing any lingering hope she'd held that he might still be alive.

The journey back was grueling, but eventually, a shout broke through the silence. "Open the gates!"

Though opening the gates after dark was strictly prohibited, the guard recognized the group and their burden. The heavy wooden doors groaned open, and the team stumbled through, the gate slamming shut behind them. Exhausted, they paused only briefly before continuing toward the village center.

In front of Elder's home, a large wooden structure draped in pelts, they slowed. Elder and Catcher were already waiting. As the group approached, Elder's eyes widened, grief spreading across his face.

"What happened?" Elder asked, his voice trembling as he dropped his ivory walking stick and stumbled toward the sled carrying Keen and Bark. Brawl steadied him.

"Elder, we need to get inside," Brawl said firmly. "We'll talk after. Open the warehouse—it's already getting too cold."

Elder glanced at the sled. Seeing Grey standing nearby and Keen's chest faintly rising, a flicker of relief crossed his face.

"Come on, old man," Keen grunted weakly. "Open it up. We're freezing out here."

Elder straightened, steeling himself. "Let's go."

Next to Elder's home stood a massive stone building, unnatural in its construction. It appeared to be carved from a single piece of stone, as though the earth itself had been shaped into its form. Elder approached the onyx-like door, its surface smooth and gleaming. He drew a thin blade and sliced his palm, letting the blood drip freely. Without hesitation, he used the blood to paint intricate patterns on the door. Then, with his uninjured hand, he lifted a necklace hidden beneath his pelts.

The necklace glowed faintly, and the blood on the door seeped into the stone, vanishing entirely. A grinding noise reverberated through the air as the door slid aside, revealing an entrance large enough for the sleds to pass through side by side.

"Did... did you see that?" Thatch stammered, his voice cracking. "The door just... swallowed his blood."

Serene, still gripping the Hooded Horn sled, nodded. "Swallowed it? It drank it. Like it was alive. What kind of magic is this?"