{{I apologize for the delay}}<br/><br/><br/>Four feet, eight lupine paws and one hundred insect legs kick snow into the air as they pick up the pace. At this speed, the trees pass by as a blur; Geno, Sen, Sashi and Fiona are at risk of being clothes-lined whenever Chrrou passes beneath a low branch. The riders conserve their energy, but the wind's chill bites harder for them as their muscles are producing less heat.<br/><br/>~*~*~*~<br/><br/>After a half of an hour, the group has put eight miles between themselves and Boryg. They ascend steadily; as they climb the hills start to give way to rocky cliffs and boulders and the forest grows thicker. The trees here have never known an axe; the lumberjacks do not venture this far north.<br/><br/>Chrrou discerns that the scent trail is stronger now, very recent. The quarry is close.<br/><br/>[anyone: make a spot check]