They didn't talk on the way back.
Not right away.
Lira moved like a rumor. Quiet, fast, and probably bad news. Her hand still rested on her blade like she was expecting round two. Or round three, depending on whether you counted yesterday's nightmare with legs.
Lindarion followed at a reasonable distance. Not because he needed to. He just liked having reaction time in case something else crawled out of the snow and tried to ruin their social lives.
Ashwing zigzagged ahead of them in unpredictable arcs, occasionally stopping to snort at suspicious rocks. Quality security work.
The trees thinned. Snow turned shallow. A faint trail of smoke hinted that the village hadn't caught fire while they were gone. Comforting.
'Three abominations in three days. If I get a fourth, I'm starting a scrapbook.'
He tugged at the rip in his coat again. Still there. Still annoying. He would definitely forget to mend it. Future him's problem.
Lira finally spoke. "That thing wasn't natural."
