Gray and Selina slowed as they reached the edge of the clearing, snow crunching under their boots.
The fog thinned just enough for the shapes ahead to become clear, showing first the silhouette of a tiny structure, then the flicker of a small campfire, and finally…
A little house made entirely of snow, packed tightly and shaped surprisingly well, like a child's idea of a winter hideout brought to life.
And right in front of it, Lyra was practically bouncing.
"Brother! I told you we'd run into each other again!" she chirped, her hands waving animatedly as she talked with her brother, who had the expression of someone caught between relief and sheer exasperation.
Behind him, Maelis poked her head out of the snow-house entrance, her black hair glowing softly against the pale backdrop.
The moment her gaze landed on Gray, her entire face lit up, bright and warm like sunlight breaking through storm clouds.
