{"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks."}
TOR'S POV
We descended the last jagged slope of Blood Stone Mountain just as the first rays of sunlight caught the crimson-streaked stone. The air was lighter here, though still thick with the magic that had clung to our skins like smoke and sweat. Behind us, the mountain loomed a silent beast we had barely survived.
Rou stalked ahead in silence, his great form tense and alert, like he expected the rocks themselves to rise against us. Freyr trailed behind him, quiet for once, his silver hair dull with soot. Sierra walked beside me, her expression unreadable, but her eyes flickered with something deeper than exhaustion.
Dante muttered, "Feels wrong leaving it standing after what we saw in there."
I did not answer. He was right, but we were not strong enough to bring it down yet.
Then Sierra stopped. Her head tilted slightly, as if she were listening to something we could not hear.
"Do you feel that?" she asked softly.
