Mogu pressed on beside Shal'falah, his feet sinking into the soft snow, carving furrows that the cold quickly filled. The feline, with its striped coat speckled with frozen crystals, glided with a savage elegance, its eyes scanning the vast, empty horizon.
Several days had passed since the group's separation, and the silence between them had become a burden.
Mogu paused, leaning against a gnarled trunk that sprouted from the snow like an outstretched arm. His gaze drifted to the white mantle of snow that enveloped Mount Shalan and, with it, most of his past.
The feeling of abandonment burned in his chest, more intensely than the surrounding frigid air.
— I led them as if they were my own flesh — Mogu said, his words broken by weariness and repressed hurt. — I showed the young ones how to hunt in the forests, how to defend themselves against nocturnal dangers, to use their minds beyond basic instincts. And in the end... they rejected me. As if I were to blame. Shal'falah, you witnessed everything: they looked at me like a stranger. — He threw out the words bitterly, his breath forming vapor in the frozen air. — I thought of them as blood brothers, but now... only disappointment remains. They chose this.
Shal'falah stopped beside him, his nostrils flared as he caught scents on the wind.
The feline did not reply immediately; instead, he let out a low growl, almost a sigh, before articulating his response:
— Betrayal is like winter, Bearer — Shal'falah countered, meeting his gaze. — It hardens the spirit, just as the perpetual frost consumes everything around it. But heed this: I am not merely a guardian; I am the one who commands them. The others... vanished in their search for you. Guardians like me, companions of fur and fire, roamed for centuries, guided by the legend of an ape who could control the flames. Most succumbed to the harshness you now face. I sought them, Mogu. I pursued tracks that the breeze erased; I faced illusions created by the ice. And now, here I am, the last of my lineage, bound to you by the pact to save the world. You do not suffer this rejection alone; I lost my clan on the journey to find you. And if your band doesn't survive, we will be the last ones.
Mogu stared at the feline, a sign of understanding in his eyes.
He extended his hand, touching Shal'falah's warm flank, feeling the latent heat of the fire the guardian housed. It was a partnership born of isolation, a guarantee that the flames would serve not only to annihilate but to build.
— So, what awaits us now? — Mogu inquired, withdrawing his hand and crossing his arms against his chest to shield himself from the cold. — You speak of prophecies and losses, but how can we transform this pain into something useful? The fire you revealed... can it truly save, or is it just an illusion to keep us alive?
Shal'falah tilted his head, reflective:
— The fire is ancient, Mogu. It pulses like a living heart in the depths of the Guardians. I have felt it since I was born, a calling that brought me to you. The fire demands mastery, not submission. If you fail, it will consume you. — He paused and continued: — Guardians lost their lives searching for you, Mogu. You cannot fail. One of them, my older sister, fell into a crevice during a storm. Another succumbed because of a powerful blizzard. I am the last because I persevered, but now, with you, I can honor their deaths and end the eternal ice.
Mogu nodded slowly, comprehending the words.
— I understand everything you tell me, but I believe I have already failed, especially with my brothers and sisters. If they look for me again, I don't know what I should do.
— Then, prepare yourself... — Shal'falah replied, with a grunt. — ...to defend them. Their betrayal is fleeting; the glacier is eternal.
---
Meanwhile, kilometers away, Kessa guided the group through the white immensity.
Her wounded leg still ached with every movement, a reminder of the battle against Shal, yet she concealed her weakness as if there were a mask over her expressions.
The band, reduced to about twenty apes, walked cautiously, alert to any disturbance in the snowy landscape.
The persistent winter had exterminated most of the fauna: wolves had vanished, birds were dropping dead, and even tiny rodents had become scarce. Still, unseen threats persisted — presences that hid behind the white snow-covered rocks, survivors desensitized by hunger, planning to attack with desperation.
It was then that they noticed the trees. They were not very tall, but their snow-laden crowns promised protection, with branches forming a superficial shelter against the biting wind.
Kessa raised her arm, signaling an abrupt halt. She inspected the surroundings: nothing obviously dangerous immediately, yet instinct warned her. The ice made everything unpredictable, hiding possible predators.
— Let's climb! — she commanded, resolute, roaring the firmness Bura had taught her. — All of us. Use the branches for support. If there are hunters lurking, they won't reach us up here.
The young ape, who had questioned Mogu on the mountain, led the ascent.
With youthful agility, he scaled the slope, his long limbs adjusting to the smooth trunks. The older female, with experience, climbed slowly.
The strong male boosted the others, his strength ensuring no one fell. Kessa came last, dragging herself with effort and ignoring the pain in her leg as she grasped the icy branches.
Above, clustered in the crowns, they pressed against each other, the shared warmth defying the cold. Kessa looked down at the endless snow. The group was safe, at least for that moment, but she felt the burden of leadership.
Without Mogu, they were fragile — disoriented, as he had ironically warned. What if predators emerged? She clenched her fists, resolved to prove her decision was right. But deep down, an uncertainty remained: Would the flame Mogu sought bring a solution for everyone or would it be just another remnant of discord?
The wind blew more intensely, carrying distant sounds — perhaps Shal'falah's roar, or just Kessa's fantasy. The snow descended without stopping, and the promises of the future hovered like shadows in the eternal snow.