Askara and Litani kept moving through the frost-bitten woods, their breath steaming in the air. The trees groaned under layers of ice, and the ground cracked with every step.
The temperature dropped further, unnaturally cold.
The siblings exchanged a look.
"…Kiara?" Litani asked, her voice clouding in white mist.
Askara shrugged. "You know anyone else who can freeze a forest like this? No? Then it's her"
"I was just asking"
"Don't ask something so obvious next time, Latina"
"It's Litani! Fuck! Are you even my brother?!"
"Everyone already called you that, just accept-"
"Fuck everyone!!"
"You sure you can handle-"
"STOP!!"
The voice snapped across the frozen stillness. Both siblings halted, eyes narrowing. A man stood ahead, half-hidden by the trees, sword raised, its tip trembling as it pointed at them. His breath came out in frantic puffs of steam.
"State your names!" he barked, "And declare your purpose in our territory!"
