The day is long and arduous, with every step up the winding path feeling like a battle against the mountain itself. "Kazrod," the youngest one of your party keeps calling the healer in the group, so you guess that is his name, introductions seem so out of place as they all know you somehow and you don't know them. Anyway "Kazrod", attempts to lighten the mood by reciting the ancient riddles of the mountain, his voice weaving through the crisp, cold air. Yet, his persistent chatter and jovial interactions with the dock worker, who should be back at the river, start to grate on your nerves. You don't want to start using names as you are sure this will all just disappear in moments and you will wake.  You feel like the others in your party will notice your deliberate distancing and not using their names and think you odd but you don't care, this isn't real anyway. 

"For dark wings guard the snow and ice..." Kazrod ruminates, his tone thoughtful yet somehow irritating. The dock worker, though tall, and a strong figure seemed to me diminished somewhat with his pelts of glowrats, he nods solemnly and then, with a sense of foreboding, shows you a handful of pristine bluish snow.

"I collected this from one of the tracks," he says, his voice tinged with pride and an air of superiority. "It does not melt. I think whatever produced those tracks is your guardian of snow."

You glance at the peculiar pristine bluish snow, your mind racing. Could it be a sabremaw? The idea gnaws at you, but you keep it to yourself, still unsure of your senses and wary of the truth. The tracks, webbed and elongated, remind you of a bat's imprints—large and unmistakably predatory. Yet, you say nothing, your mistrust and confusion keeping you silent.

As night falls, the dock worker suggests bivouacking by a serene, glacial lake that reflects the twilight like a mirror of stars. The lake's surface is a flawless sheet of ice, bordered by snow-covered rocks and low, scrubby brush that clings to life in this harsh environment. The bluish snow around the camp glows faintly in the moonlight, casting an otherworldly hue over the scene.

The camp itself is a modest setup, with small, sturdy tents arranged in a semi-circle around a central fire. The warmth of the flames provides a stark contrast to the biting cold of the night air. Despite the cold, the area feels strangely alive, the sounds of distant wildlife echoing through the stillness.

The dock worker's presence continues to puzzle you. Why would someone tasked with such crucial duties at the dock leave for such an extended period to guide you through the mountains? Does this Galmon hold that much sway? The questions swirl in your mind, adding to your growing unease.

As you settle in for the night, you can't help but notice the healer and the human—a Voek, no less—engaging in animated conversation. Their knowledge of Morian's plants and their medicinal properties surprises you. If you mentioned Alster, would they know him? Is this some elaborate ruse, a test by Delrona in disguise? If you are dead then why do you feel the cold? Your paranoia grows, fueled by exhaustion and the surreal nature of your journey.

A cold wind whips around your heels, carrying with it the scent of pine and the distant promise of snow. The climb ahead promises to be even more challenging, with the summit of the mountain looming above, an imposing silhouette against the starry sky. As you tighten your coat with a leather strap, trying to hold back the chill, you can't shake the feeling that something watches from the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Kazrod's voice, still reciting riddles, fades into the background as you drift into an uneasy sleep. The night's sojourn is filled with strange dreams, where you hear Talik's voice and see glimpses of familiar faces. When you wake, the first light of dawn paints the landscape in soft hues, and you rise, ready to continue the ascent, still hoping for clarity in this bewildering journey.

There were several more challenging vocabulary used in this passage. Find 4 of them and enter them and their meaning in the Thy Quests to continue. 

Next: E8Q3 Guard Duty