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We took turns guarding each other as we stepped outside the snow fort to relieve ourselves, and then we spread out our cloaks and snuggled beneath theenerate as much warmth as we could We didn’t dare build a fire, but the snow packed around the sides sheltered us fro each other, armed by each other’s breath

Sleep did not co, so we dozed, listening to the howl of wolves in the distance Shortly afteron I slowly peeked over the edges of the fort, up the slope toward Hyto’s cave

Fire Fire was burning near the top of thefro up the sky near the cave Hyto had returned and discovered ere gone

I quickly woke Hanna and we scooted as far back in the shadow of the boulders as possible My stomach lurched as atched the pyrotechnics I tried to keep ht happen if he found us A low ru down the slope, but I searched, reaching out, and could feel that it wasn’t heading toward us, so we stayed put Hyto er

Another flare and the upper forests began to burn A loud roar filled the air--this ti snow It echoed all the way down theI had to keep fro on my face As my shoulders shook, Hanna drew ainst her shoulder

We clung to each other through the night, unable to sleep, as the show continued Toward , before dawn hit, she leaned close and whispered, "We should go Now, before first light We lacier in the mistsif ait till they clear, he’ll see us"

I nodded, staring out across the wide ice fields The erous, but we had no choice My stomach lurched as she pressed another piece of bread and some jerky intoit down my throat

"Do you think he can findleash around my neck

"I don’t know," Hanna said "I just know I don’t want to chance cutting it off you and having so"

When we finished, we packed up our rucksacks and headed out, cautiously creeping over the sides of our fort, trying to keep low to the ground We skirted through the fields, fro as ent

The rocks froerous, and ht hostly sentinels, and now and then I’d hear snuffles and , but we couldn’t stop, couldn’t chance finding out what they were We had to reach Howl’s cave before Hyto decided to fly lower

The upper tier of forest was burning brightly, even in the ne that had begun to fall, and I bita hollow sadness at the loss of the woodland Hyto didn’t give a fuck about the land, about the creatures whotheir hoe

Another hour and we paused for a quick rest Thedeeper With a ragged pant against the cold, I tried to gauge how long till ere near Howl’s cave It couldn’t be that far away And then I glanced up and saw the opening to Hel’s Gate Iris had confronted Vikkoood We were near

"Hurry," I whispered "We’re almost there We have to hurry"

We slid down the icy slope, crossing as fast as we dared And then a roar filled the air again, and I glanced back at theHurry!"

Hanna said nothing, just pushed ahead as we scralacier I fell once, but she yankedpain in nored it, biting back the pain My forehead had hit a sharp rock, but I’d only grazeddown my cheek

Hanna tripped next, and despite the pain inWe were allacial field when a noise in front of us took us by surprise

Out of thehere?"

I recognized the voice and--almost in tears--dropped to on after us and we can’t run any farther Please, give us shelter"

Within seconds, a lohistle went out and ere surrounded by wolves Howl, the Great Winter Wolf Spirit, stepped out of the mist, lean and muscled, in thick pelts of white, with a headdress of bone and silver adorning his head He was dark and his hair long against his back, and a wild feral gleam filled his eyes

"You are hurt" A statement, not a question "Come, ill take you to safety And then you can explain why you are out here at the ends of the world"

Several of the wolves transforathered both of us up into their ar back to Howl’s lair, and to safety

Chapter 14

Howl’s lair was pretty much as I reme, warthe corridors My stoer I felt weary, beyond any o on I’d used up all the stamina and endurance I’d ever possessed

I introduced Hanna to Hoho had shed his outer pelts With leather buckskin pants and a bare chest, he was pretty much dressed the same as last I’d seen hi dark hair, gathered back in a ponytail, with eyes just as dark