An enormous snow field yawns before you, stretching far into the horizon. In the distance, dark clouds are gathering again. The snow is incredibly deep, pressing against your body like paws. You try to stay in the path Halpra and Roth are creating in front of you, but every step twists your boots in painful directions. You can’t remember ever feeling this sore and tired.

Roth calls a halt. “I think we should walk closer to the tree line,” he says. “The trees will provide protection from the fox, and the snow might be more packed down. We’re too out in the open here.”

Halpra shakes her head “If we re-route to the trees, we’ll add hours onto the journey. With the storm coming, we can’t afford it. If we stay the course, we have a chance of getting to Mossden before the storm hits.”