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I had discovered the night before that it was al emotions Unanswered questions swirled around in ative emotions? If so, does that mean I’m now more a part of the Heavenly Realht came to a close?

Chapter 10

The afternoon slowly drifted into the evening As the clouds finally parted, the htly down on the snow that was hter than it normally would have been from the whiteness that surrounded us

Haniel arrived as ere ly, obviously getting a feel for hoas feeling about the situation I would soon be facing It amazed me hoell I could read him noould have called it an out-of-body experience, but truthfully, I had never felt more in control of myself than I did at that moment My heart still ached painfully for the love I had lost, but other things see that ache away My love for my friends and their safety do through me as the time of our departure loomed ahead

Haniel flashed hts

"The tiered a flurry of activity as the Protectors swiftly removed the tarp above our heads and wrapped it around the backpacks we had piled up near the campfire It was decided that the only cohts and pickaxes for protection The rest of the supplies would only weigh us down

Once the packs were securely covered, Robert and Lynn ca "Be careful okay Don’t go off on your own like you’ve been known to do"

Sam blinked back tears "I won’t, not like Shaould let hten the mood as she stepped back and turned to her brother

"Stay safe," she said, choking slightly on the words

Robert nodded and pulled her in for a gentle hug "We’ll see you soon," he pro his thuulped back a half sob, burying her head in Shawn’s shoulder

Lynn turned tostare "We need you," she said fiercely, givingher point abundantly clear

"I know, I promise this isn’t a suicide o it was, but all of that has changed now," I said, finally co look that softened when she could see the resolve on"Take care of led voice

"I will," he said sole her a quick peck on the cheek

Robert pulleda word I could feel his turbulent elanced at us one last tiroup Sam’s eyes stayed locked on theoodbyes Haniel and I had decided to split the Bands to help preserve the lineage of each group ascompletely decimated were slim, but the likely hood that all of us would survive was a pipe drea even a s

Haniel joined roup before we headed out "You have the power," he said, looking at me intensely

I nodded my head "I won’t let you down"

"Follow Krista’s lead She will not lead you astray," he told roup

We watched hih the deep snoay froht Their journey would take longer than ours since Haniel planned on taking them around the roup’s journey would be uess we should head out," I told everyone, stoet a little blood flowing to help the numbness

The Protector’s led us out of the campsite and the Guides and I fell in behind them Jaime and Sam flanked roup

Hiking through the thick snowdifficult and within a fewheavy "Sheesh, obviously super lungs isn’t part of asped as I tied my windbreaker jacket around my waist and pushed up the sleeves ofable to read el at your beck and call isn’t enough," Saot a point Krista, besides if you’re so bent on wishing for neers, I would wish for the ability to fly, that way you would already be there," she joked Her re

"Perhaps breathing would be easier without sohis voice of reason

Kieran h even harder It felt good to let go of the sadness we had all felt at the cah, so any further talk was put on hold as John led us up thepace Thirty minutes later, we entered a pass that was soivezombie for a drink of water," Sa

"Suck on so up a handful

"E that’s gross," Saust "Who knohat you irl," Paul joked "Believein Utah and have had to rehydrate with soood old-fashioned snow It’s no different than drinking rainwater Both co slightly disgusted at the snow in her cupped hand

"He’s right Sam, my dad and I used to eat snow all the time in Montana You just want to stay away fro," she said before finally popping her handful of snow into hera kick out of her expression Suddenly, so dark and evil close by It felt like I was being sub my senses into overdrive I scanned the peri yet, but I knew they were there

"Over there to the right," I pointed "They’re coether, forht circle around us My stomach twisted as I recalled a similar time we had circled up like this and had failed I quickly readjusted so that the guys formed a line in front of us instead "This way you have more room to maneuver," I reasoned

"Krista, are you sure they’re co up," Kieran asked