Azura could feel the cold pierce through her fur coat. The trees were frozen, and their branches had ice crystals on them that formed their leaves. The wind was like a tempest as every gust threatened to knock Azura down. She stood behind Baphomet and helped him stay on his feet as he led them towards the Yukingawari, the unconquered tribe. Embry lagged as she dragged a chained Onyx on a sled.

  "It was a smart decision to leave the sky sailor behind. No way it would have made it through this much wind." Said Azura as she pushed Baphomet forward.

  "We should find some shelter first and wait for the storm to pass!" Yelled Embry.

  "That is a bad idea." Said Baphomet as he struggled to lift his foot from the snow. "Some nasty critters are lurking about out here. This storm is our best chance of making it through."

  Azura could barely see two feet in front of her. Whilst searching for temporary shelter was the smart choice, in a region that they knew nothing about, it was probably not the right one. They begrudgingly marched on as the cold seeped into their very bones. Had they not made the coats, they would have frozen to death almost immediately. Azura kept opening and closing her hands to keep the blood circulating and ensure that they did not go numb from the cold or succumb to frostbite. She quickly glanced at Onyx, who seemed undisturbed by the cold.

  After a while, the wind seemed to die down, and they were finally able to get a clearer view of their surroundings. Azura caught a glimpse of something sticking out from under the snow. She pulled on it and saw that she was holding a severed arm.

  "What the fuck!?" Gasped Azura as she immediately tossed the arm. "I thought you said no one comes here."

  "Well... Some people do. Some send expeditions here, like the Gaericists, to find relics related to the Sovereigns or Gaeric. I remember there was once a Spyran expedition sent here to find anything related to Maximillian the Conqueror." Explained Baphomet as he stumbled through the snow.

  "Maximillian the Conqueror made it all the way here?" Asked Azura.

  "Yep. Before he conquered the rest of the world for Spyre, Maximillian tried to conquer Ruh' Wani. He failed and moved on to the rest of the world. Although it's not surprising, considering even Gaeric, Corrax, and even the Sovereigns wanted nothing to do with this place." Explained Baphomet. "Now, how did that phrase go? Ah yes, 'And his tears froze before they could run down his cheeks, for he could never conquer the world.'"

  The group kept walking and came upon a camp that had been attacked. The bodies hung from trees with icicles stuck on them like nails, their chests and stomachs were ripped open, and their entrails were laid bare and frozen.

  "That's one way to make sure people stay out of your territory." Quipped Azura as they rummaged through the rest of the camp.

  Azura found a rifle, but the trigger was stuck in place. She threw it back as she looked for other weapons. Then she came upon a crossbow. The crossbow was a striker-class crossbow. Striker-class crossbows were clip-fed and fired in semiautomatic. All one had to do was load the bolts into the attached clip and push it to the opposite side. Unlike their automatic counterparts, these were built for penetration and force. They were most often preferred by hunters for their ability to tackle big game. Azura found the bolts and saw that their tips were modified.

  "How unusual." Thought Azura as she stored the bolts on her hip-pack.

  "Found some food... But it's frozen. Should we take it?" Asked Embry as she lifted the frozen meats.

  "Well, it's preserved if nothing else. Did you find anything, Baphomet?"

  "No. On the other hand, it must have been a raiding party that did this. If we're lucky, we might cross paths." Said Baphomet as he sat down.

  "How did you stop them from killing you in the first place? Why didn't they just kill you all when you came here all those years ago?" Asked Azura.

  "Kinship, I suppose. We are somewhat related after all. Besides, I have this little thing." Baphomet lifted a small box. "They gave me this."

  "You seriously think a small trinket is going to make all the difference?" Asked Azura.

  "Little trinkets make all the difference, at least according to my ex-wives."

  "What happened to them?" Asked Embry.

  "I outlived them all." Said Baphomet as he pulled out a blanket from the tent to cover himself. "Despite how thick the coats are, this cold is something else."

  Azura started a fire and loaded the bolts into the crossbow's clip. She looked around but saw nothing but the frozen trees and plants, and all she could hear was the wind. If the Yukingawari truly were around these parts, then maybe they were already spying on them. Suddenly, she heard a loud creaking noise. She lifted her crossbow in the direction of the noise, but did not see anything out of the ordinary.

  "Embry, pick up your crossbow. Baphomet, get behind us now!" Ordered Azura as she scanned the area for hostiles.

  Suddenly, the creaking noise came from behind them. Embry shifted her aim, but saw nothing.

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  "I don't see anything." Stated Embry as she kept her crossbow aimed. "Do you think it's more than one?"

  Suddenly, a large frozen tree started to move as its branches grabbed the man who was hanging. Azura and Embry were shocked as the tree seemed to eat the man's corpse.

  "Oh yeah, I forgot this place had carnivorous trees." Quipped Baphomet as more trees started to move around them.

  Azura glared at him.

  "I haven't been here in decades." Retorted Baphomet.

  Azura fired her crossbow at a tree that tried to impale her with its branches. The tree did not budge. Azura then grabbed a branch from the fire and hit the tree with it, but not even that seemed to affect it.

  "Fuck this." Said Azura as she helped Embry drag Onyx.

  Onyx thrashed about as the trees closed in around them. Suddenly, one of them managed to get its branches stuck on his chains and lifted him. Azura grabbed him as he was lifted and pulled. The tree was much stronger, and she was pulled with him.

  Suddenly, a roar followed by thunderous footsteps approached them. Azura saw a large beast hurling itself towards them. The beast had a thick red leather skin. It walked on six legs like stilts and had two arms. It had a large, gaping maw that spread wide, revealing rows of teeth.

  The beast threw itself at the trees and started chomping their branches. The chains holding Onyx broke, and he picked up a sword from one of the dead members of the expedition and threw it at the beast’s mouth. The beast howled in pain as it gazes at Onyx sprinting towards him. The beast charges at him with its mouth open. Onyx charges towards the beast head on. He pulls the sword from the beast’s mouth, and jumps in its mouth. The beast swallowed him whole.

  “NO!” Yelled Azura as she fires her crossbow at the beast.

  Suddenly the beast starts to howl in pain as it moves from side to side. The beast falls as its limbs convulse in pain and shock. Its stomach bursts open with Onyx covered in the beast’s guts.

  “Onyx…” Azura began as she gazed upon a bloody Onyx.

  Onyx stared back at her with his crimson dragon eyes. He growled at her as he gripped his sword tightly.

  Azura aimed her crossbow at him. “Don’t even think about it.”

  Onyx snarled at her. He took one step forward only for Azura to shoot him a few inches away from his foot.

  “The next one will go for your leg.” Said Azura as she aimed her crossbow at his leg.

  Just as Onyx was about to take another step forward he dropped the sword and clutched his head. He started howling in pain as he fell to his knees.

  “Embry now! Restrain him now!” Said Azura as she jumped on top of him.

  Embry quickly grabbed some rope and tried to bind Onyx’s hands and feet. Onyx fought back as Azura held him down and restrained him.

  “Hurry up Embry he’s too damn strong.”

  “I’m trying but he keeps fidgeting.” Replied Embry as she tried to bind Onyx’s hands.

  Suddenly a spear landed near the trio. Embry and Azura saw Baphomet being held hostage by several canine looking people.

  “Baphomet are they…” Began Azura.

  “Yes.” Baphomet answered.

  “Oyu woh era?” Said one of the Yukingawari as they aimed their bows at them.

  “Ummm Baphomet can you translate?” Asked Azura.

  “They’re asking who we are. Unfortunately, I don’t speak their language. However…” Baphomet then pulled out an idol in front of them.

  The Yukingawari all looked at him and whispered to each other. The Yukingawari in charge yelled some orders and they proceeded to carve chunks of meat from the large beast and guide them to their home. Two Yukingwari hunters carried Onyx on a large branch whilst Embry and Azura carried cuts of meat.

  Azura and Embry saw the place the Yukingawari called home. It was located under a cliff that was exposed to the cold. The houses were put together with logs and ice bricks that were engraved with intricate designs. Azura and Embry were unsure if the ice bricks kept the house warmer. They saw several pools emitting steam where the clothes were washed and dried. The men, women, and children had no need to wear any type of winter clothing to keep them warm. They were unbothered by the cold. They were covered in head to toe with a pale blue fur, and looked more beast than man. They wore trousers, along with some leather head pieces that were decorated with icicles that had engravings on them. A couple of children gathered around them smiling and laughing as they touched them.

  They reached the center where they were met by an old Yukingawari woman wearing a Zulamarian flag as a cape. The cape was adorned with carved icicles and had some leather stitched onto it. She had a staff made of ice adorned with engravings depicting canine creatures. The woman extended her hand to Baphomet who gave her the idol. The woman groaned as she walked towards them. She inspected Onyx who snarled at her. The woman spat on his face as she looked at Embry and Azura.

  “Come and bring the Amgarrak with you.” Said the woman.

  They followed the woman inside her home. They sat down as the woman rummaged through her things.

  “I thought for sure my successor would be the ones to greet you, but here we are. Now where did I put it…” Said the woman as she searched for something.

  “How do you know our language?” Asked Embry.

  “Yiriv taught me. She raised me and taught me the Spyran tongue that you all speak. It’s a good thing Maximillian the Conqueror forced most of the world to speak like him. I dunno that I could learn more than one language.” Explained the woman.

  “We’re actually here to see her. We think she can cure him.” Explained Azura. “Can she?”

  “That’s not for me to say. Yiriv will answer all your questions. I noticed the Amgarrak has shed his human skin for the scales. Ah found it.” Said the woman as she pulled out a small pouch.

  “What’s that?” Asked Embry.

  “A little something to confirm my suspicion.” She emptied the pouch on her hand revealing red dust. She threw the dust at Onyx’s face. Onyx sneezed and emptied his nostrils of mucus. “Ah it does work.”

  “What are you doing?” Asked Azura who was slughtly bewildered.

  “Testing some medicine on him. What did you think that was gonna do? Cure him? Ease his suffering?” Scoffed the woman.

  “When can we go see Yiriv?” Asked Azura through gritting teeth.

  “Is it coincidence, fate, or..." The woman mused. "After tonight's festival. For now get some rest. You can call me... It doesn't really translate well..." The woman grumbled. "Well in my tongue it's ugh... Just call me Sid."

  "Thank you, Sid." Replied Embry.

  "Leave the Amgarrak here."

  "What does that word mean?" Asked Azura.

  "Amgarrak?" Sid looked at Onyx, who glared back. "It's his name." Sid approached Onyx and looked down at him. "You can sleep in my house in the meantime. It's just next door."

  "Thank you." Replied Azura as she and Embry walked out.

  Baphomet

  "Well, I held up my end of the bargain." Said Baphomet, rising from his seat and handing the idol to Sid.

  Sid looked at the idol and gripped it tightly as she looked at Onyx. "Such a small and scared child. A word of warning, you old goat. You shall die in these frozen lands. Those were the last words that Yiriv told me."

  "I figured as much." Said Baphomet. "It was a long life. As for Amgarrak here... Is he the same Amgarrak?"

  "The one and only." Sid loomed over Onyx with a hateful expression. "You look pitiful now. Like a leech barely clinging to life."

  "What will happen to the other two?" Asked Baphomet.

  "Their fates were sealed the moment they entered these lands... No. It was when they met him, and now all our futures rest upon the shoulders of a tiny legionnaire."