Chapter Fifteen
With the arrival of morning came a quick meal and the breaking of camp. The men were bright-eyed and energetic, moving about their tasks with relative good cheer. The women were withdrawn, though in different ways. Elsa found herself yawning frequently, and had to think carefully about each thing she did. Feilan seemed almost sullen, refusing to meet anyone's eyes or do more than grunt answers to any questions.
The smaller mountaineer appeared to be especially determined to not acknowledge Elsa. The young Queen had to call Feilan's name several times just to get an answer for a simple query. Elsa wasn't sure if this was natural sleepless behavior for the guide, or if it was a kind of denial after being trapped by ice and questioned at spear-point. Either of those reasons, at least, she could understand. Other possibilities, too nebulous and strange to understand, troubled her more deeply.
They mounted and rode in relative silence. The only interruptions to the winter quiet were the crunch of the horses' hooves and Kristoff's cajoling of Sven.
"C'mon, buddy!" he said, his tone a little worried, "What're you so tired for? Did you stay up all night watching for wolves or something?"
Elsa glanced over her shoulder in time to see Sven let loose a massive yawn. Her own jaw ached in sympathy, but she clamped her teeth together. When she was sure she wouldn't share in the gesture, she said, "I think so. At least, he was awake and watchful when I couldn't sleep last night."
That snagged Captain Beorne's attention. "What troubled your sleep, Your Highness?" he inquired.
"Nothing of import," Elsa responded with a shrug. "Some ill dreams, but that's to be expected, these past few events."
Feilan glanced over her shoulder to glare briefly at Elsa, then turned her attention forward again.
He eyed her with concern. "You still need good sleep to stave off the last of the effects of the… fall."
Elsa waved her hand, part of her attention still on Feilan's back. "I'll sleep better once we are back at the castle," she stated. With a slight frown she added, "And I'll sleep well once our missing men are found and these mysteries resolved."
Captain Beorne blew out his mustache, but sat back in his saddle. Krokus jigged sideways a bit, then settled into an easy walk. Their string of four horses complained a little at the sudden movement before subsiding again. The winter quiet reestablished itself, laying a heavy blanket over them all. Only the massive yawns of an exhausted reindeer and the soft, encouraging words of his rider disturbed the weight of silence. Even skittish Snofonn seemed calmer, only performing a small jump sideways when snow fell from a nearby branch. The horse next in line threatened to bite Snofonn's haunch for the unexpected movement, but a small blast of cold air sufficiently distracted it.
Just when Elsa was gearing herself to force another conversation with their guide, she saw Feilan come to an abrupt halt. Looking ahead, she could see where a narrow pass was blocked by fallen trees. The rises to either side were small but coated in slick ice. Even if the ice could be cleared, the stones themselves were shaped so as to be treacherous to anything as large as a horse.
Elsa watched as Feilan's head switched back and forth. With a grunt, the guide turned to face them. Her brown gaze met Captain Beorne's and Kristoff's easily enough, but skipped lightly over Elsa's own. "Well," the smaller mountaineer stated, "Looks like m'usual trail's gave in." She jerked her head towards the fallen trees. "Knew was comin', jes' didn't think th'past snowfall were heavier 'nough t'do it." Feilan paused to look around. "'m gonna hafta find us 'nother way. Ye might as well settle here f'r a bit. I'll scout faster without ye."
"Sven and I could head one direction while you take the other," Kristoff offered.
Feilan shook her head once, decisively. "Nah. Ye best be stayin' here w'yer Queen." All three heads turned towards the guide, startled by her use of Elsa's title. The smaller woman didn't notice, however, as she was already eyeing distant woods. "I dinna think it'll take m'long t'find a spot… jes gotta get out that way an'look."
"Convenient," Captain Beorne muttered just loud enough to catch Elsa's ear… and apparently Feilan's, as the guide shot a glare at the mounted man.
The smaller mountaineer seemed to have no return comment, however, as she just hoisted her pack higher on her shoulders. "I'll be back afore long," she grunted even as she began shuffling her way through the snow. The horses all snorted and backed out of her way without any urging from their riders. Elsa half-wondered if it was because Feilan was being even more surly than usual.
She reminded herself she had held the woman at spear-point, and with trapped feet. Provided the guide was innocent of their darker suspicions, she certainly had a right to be surly.
"A word of advice, my Queen?" Captain Beorne spoke, his voice a low, deep murmur that startled Elsa out of her musings. When she tilted her head at him, he coughed and rubbed his mustache. After a moment, he said, "Perhaps you should not be quite so forthcoming with our guide?"
"Forthcoming? How so?" asked Elsa. She noticed Kristoff and Sven moving closer so they could join in the conversation, maneuvering around the strings of horses.
Another cough from the Captain resolved itself into words. "About… your, ah… well, about how you are still learning to control your powers?"
It took a moment of rummaging through memories for the connection to click. Raising an eyebrow at her Captain, Elsa commented, "I thought you said you couldn't hear our conversation yesterday." She heard Kristoff snicker and promptly gave him one of her sterner royal glares. He nearly choked as the snicker lodged in his throat. Returning her attention to Beorne, she prompted, "Well?"
Was the man actually blushing? He coughed again and rubbed the back of his neck. "I, well, that is, I still couldn't hear much… but, what I did hear… well, you admitted… about your coronation…."
Elsa was still staring at the unusual sight of her Captain completely flustered when Kristoff's voice broke in. "You thinkin' it's better that she thinks Elsa's all powerful or something?" he asked.
"Well, actually, yes," the Captain replied stiffly. "I'm still convinced Feilan has some connection to the storms. I'm just not certain what, yet, and until I do… it may be wiser to have her… properly intimidated… Your Highness."
Elsa straightened her seat, royalty settling over her shoulders like a cloak. "You were the ones to bid me speak with her."
"Well, yes, but… I did not think you would be exposing such… weaknesses," the Captain protested.
"Weaknesses!" Queen Elsa twisted in her saddle so she could properly glare at Captain Beorne. "Do you think me a fool, as well as weak?"
Captain Beorne jerked back as though slapped. "Wait, what, no!" he barked, then glared at Kristoff's low whistle. The mountaineer just sat back on Sven, though, and shook his head.
The barest glitter of ice sparkles appeared about Elsa and Snofonn, indicators of just how much temper she was holding in check. In a cool tone, she said, "Then allow me to explain my reasoning, Captain." She held up a single slender finger while Snofonn fidgeted beneath her. "One, is it not customary to speak more personally when one is trying to engage in a conversation that doesn't consist mostly of weather or politics? While, granted, I do not have much skill in casual conversation, I believe it's safe to assume that much?"
Kristoff snorted, but sobered quickly at her swift glance. Captain Beorne nodded once, slowly. "Aye, my Queen," he answered. "But..."
Elsa cut him off with a second raised finger. "Two. I wish the truth be known about that night, whether friend or foe. We've already heard the way the tales are changing, and those changes concern me. If the wrong kind of stories spread, we could have fear rampant among our own people, a fear our foes could use against us."
"But if those stories intimidate our foes," Captain Beorne interjected. The rest of his sentence was lost beneath Elsa's formidable glare.
"Then they will become more frightened, and seek to defeat that which frightens them," Elsa stated. Eyeing Beorne to ensure he understood, she held up a third slender finger. "Three," she continued, "do you honestly think I am so foolishly uncontrollable as I was more than a year ago?" Here she let a little more of the hurt that gave birth to the anger bleed forth. "Do you honestly think I have not been practicing, day and night, to gain control over these powers, so that I do not hurt my country like that again?"
Captain Beorne became very pale, at last beginning to comprehend where he may have erred.
Glancing at the stricken man, Kristoff dared to speak up, albeit quietly. "You did mention to Anna you were afraid the storms were caused by you… unconsciously, of course!" He waved his mittened hands to fend off any royal glares his words might incur.
Elsa closed her eyes a moment. Beorne underestimating her, and now realizing that much of what she confided in Anna may have found its way to Kristoff's ears… but then, Kristoff had never given any indication of knowing such confidences until now. She forced herself to breathe evenly. She had to trust in her sister, trust that what was told to Kristoff was told in good faith and with the best of intentions. She had to trust her sister's judgment, that Kristoff was a man worthy of telling secrets.
With the chime of her snowflakes still in her ears, she addressed his question. "Yes, I did fear that, despite all my practice. As disastrous as this trip has been, however, it has reassured me on that point. Think about it, Kristoff. If I were still so uncontrollable, what would have happened during the attack? And afterwards?"
The mountaineer frowned in thought. "Huh. Yeh, I bet there would've been one heck of a storm. Never thought of that." He tilted his head. "Plus, you said you couldn't control the snow of that storm. Which would mean either your power is fading, somehow, or there really is another person out there with snow powers like we maybe thought."
Elsa stared at Kristoff a moment, taken off guard. She often suspected he played up the image of an uneducated mountaineer, when in reality he had the considerable teachings of his rock troll family cradled in his mind. Even so, Elsa often found herself underestimating their Royal Ice Deliverer. His practical and frequently insightful comments reminded her that her sister would not have fallen for a stupid man.
Even Hans had been clever, in a cruel way. At least Kristoff's caring nature was genuine, despite his gruff demeanor.
Suddenly she wasn't as angry at Captain Beorne for misjudging her, although the hurt still ached behind her ribs. Rubbing her head and listening to the fading chime of her snow, she acknowledged Kristoff's comment. "True enough. That is why I now believe that these storms at least are not caused by me. And yes, I told Feilan as much. Still, I think I have given her reason to believe that I am not to be underestimated. Especially after last night."
"Last night?" Captain Beorne repeated.
Oops. Covering her eyes briefly to brace herself, Elsa took a deep breath, dropped her hand, and looked Captain Beorne directly in the eye. "Yes. Last night. I couldn't sleep for… for the dreams, so I took a small walk."
"A walk!" the Captain sputtered. "Your Highness! Why? Why did you not wake me? Or even Kristoff," he added after a moment's pause. "It's not safe!"
Kristoff nodded, then frowned thoughtfully as Sven yawned again.
"I realize that," Elsa countered, "but no harm came of it. Feilan followed me, but I used my ice to hold her while I questioned her."
"She – what – followed!" Captain Beorne's faced was turning a definitive red. "Your Highness!"
Queen Elsa lifted her chin, true blue eyes easily meeting walnut brown ones. "I admit, it was foolish of me to go alone… but I think it worked for the best. Feilan followed me out of a curiosity of my magic. I proved to her I am not defenseless."
"Is that why she won't even look at you today?" Kristoff asked.
Elsa couldn't quite stop the wince that touched her shoulders. "I'm afraid so," she said.
"Smooth," commented the mountaineer.
Captain Beorne covered his face with one mittened hand. "You will be the death of me, woman," he muttered.
"What," Elsa started to ask for a repeat of that statement, but Kristoff's voice interrupted her.
"Just what did you do to her?" he asked.
Elsa winced again, sighed, and said, "I was afraid she had harmed the two of you, so I encased her feet in ice while I returned to camp… only to find the both of you snoring soundly. Sven was the only one awake, so I left him to watch over you while I returned to Feilan. I let go of her feet, but kept a weapon made of ice trained on her while we spoke."
Kristoff grunted, then roughly patted Sven's shaggy neck. "Huh, so that's why you're so tired, huh buddy? Well thanks for watching over us… though next time, wake us up, ok?" Sven snorted, but whether in agreement or to stave off another yawn it was difficult to say. The mountaineer smiled, then rocked back until he was almost laying on Sven's back. Turning his gaze back to Elsa, he commented, "Well, it sounds like friendly chats are done with, then."
Elsa sighed, allowing her shoulders to droop a little. "I'm afraid so. I thought it ended amicably enough, but judging from her behavior this morning… I didn't mean to be quite so… well, so… intimidating? It was just, the way she had followed me, I was… concerned..."
The mountaineer shrugged, a precarious motion considering how he lay on Sven's back. "Eh. You do what you can, when you can."
Captain Beorne dropped his hand from his face. "What you could have done, Your Highness, was stay put! I mean, jaunts around the castle at night are one thing, but this…!"
"So you were aware of those excursions," Elsa commented.
"Of course! It is my – our – job to keep you safe! Which you are making very difficult to do!" The Captain looked as though he wished he could take back that entire last sentence, yet he lifted his chin at a tilt to match Elsa's.
The Queen found herself relenting. "True, and I apologize for that, Captain Beorne," she said with a regal nod. She was very careful not to promise to never do it again. It was a promise she doubted she could keep.
The Captain seemed to read more into the apology than what she gave. "I thank you, Your Highness," he said, attention now wandering the surrounding landscape. "And for what it is worth, I apologize that I slept through all of it. That was… unbecoming of me."
"And me," Kristoff piped up. "Usually I don't sleep that heavily when I'm out and about. Guess we're all pretty tuckered out." Sven punctuated that with another jaw-cracking yawn.
Captain Beorne's shoulders relaxed just a little. "Well, from here on out, we can start taking shifts in order to keep watch at night. I should have set that up from the start."
"We have all been careless in some form or other," Queen Elsa said. "All we may do is learn from it, and move for-"
A crunch of snow alerted all of them. Heads, whether human or not, swung to orient on the sound. Multiple sets of eyes watched as Feilan approached them.
"That was fast," Kristoff hailed her, swinging to sit upright on Sven again.
The smaller mountaineer jerked her head in an abrupt nod. "Aye, found a break sooner'n I thought I would. It'll get us t'th'other side of this rise, an'if I remember rightly, there'll be a good midday stoppin' place not far b'yond."
"Feilan," Queen Elsa spoke, using one of her more authoritative tones.
The guide hesitated, still not looking directly at Elsa.
With an inward sigh, Elsa added, "Thank you. And… for what it's worth, I apologize for last night. I did not mean to frighten you so." She heard Captain Beorne shift in his saddle, but he made no comment.
"Ye did," Feilan stated, risking a quick sideways glance. She shrugged her pack higher on her shouldered, then looked away. "S'kay, though. I get why. Ye don't know me, an'I snuck up on ye. Makes sense." With that, the guide began walking away. "C'mon, lets get ye t'yer castle."
Kristoff and Sven moved closer to Elsa. "Whatever else she may be," he commented, "she is definitely a mountaineer." He shrugged at the confused look Elsa gave him, then urged Sven to a trot that slung snow to either side of them. After a moment, Elsa urged Snofonn and their string of horses to follow the two mountaineers. Captain Beorne wordlessly took the rear position.
They crossed the small rise and found a gentler downslope on the other side, signs they were reaching the base of the mountain. Trees still grew thick enough to keep them from sighting the castle or any other landmarks. It took another hour or two to reach the spot Feilan recalled, a rocky outcropping that sheltered them and most of the horses readily. Lunch was cold, sparse in conversation, and quickly done. It wasn't long before they were on the move again.
Elsa spent much of the time deep in thought. It was slowly beginning to dawn on her that she had started to enjoy talking with Feilan. The reasoning she had given Captain Beorne was true enough, but it had also felt oddly good to speak with someone other than Anna about the more personal aspects of her abilities. There was also always the faint hope that she would meet someone with magic as well. The rock trolls had their own stone magic, but they were… well… trolls. Her mind flicked to a memory of Anna saying Elsa needed more friends. For the first time, Elsa began to understand why Anna was so insistent. Obviously Feilan was not a good candidate, considering the circumstances, but maybe if Elsa began opening up to more people at the castle itself….
Snofonn stumbled with a belly-deep grunt, snapping Elsa out of her thoughts and into the present. She adjusted her weight as he regained his footing, unconsciously reaching out with her magic to adjust the snow under his hooves.
The snow did not respond.
Or rather, the deeper snow responded, but the thin layer above reacted no more than it would to an ordinary person commanding it.
Elsa jerked her head up, taking note of falling flakes that were steadily increasing in numbers. She couldn't recall just how long they had been falling. Looking around, she noted her companions still held the same relative positions. Feilan had the lead, her head down as she trudged through the growing drifts. Kristoff and Sven came next, the reindeer steadily breaking a wider trail for the horses. Elsa and her own string held the middle, while Captain Beorne continued to act as rear guard. When she looked over her shoulder at him, though, he appeared to be in as deep of thought as she had been.
Turning her attention forward again, Elsa noticed the more distant trees were already beginning to fade into the growing white. Frowning, she tried to clear some of the falling snow in an attempt to increase visibility.
Nothing.
Yet the snow closer to the ground was responding to her. With a frown that was rapidly becoming a scowl, Elsa began to reach for the responsive snow, wondering if she could affect the rest through it…
Feilan's head jerked up at the same as Sven's and several of the horses. Heads and ears swiveled frantically before the small guide bellowed, "Snowbeast! 'Ware!" They barely had time to bunch together among the trees before a low growl seemed to surround them.
"Where-" Captain Beorne began to ask, but noted Feilan's pointing finger. Even as they all turned to look, a piece of the whiteness heaved itself towards them. The low growl became a snarling roar as a mouth opened in the white form, white teeth gleaming among black lips and red tongue. Just above the mouth and a dark nose, two eyes glowed a glacial blue-green color.
Horses and reindeer bugled in panic. Many reared, striking blindly with fore-hooves while dancing backward on rear legs. The string horses struggled, heads jerking the tied reins every which way. Even Krokus found it difficult to keep balance, staggering sideways rather than obeying the charge Captain Beorne commanded. Elsa found much of her attention focused on Snofonn. The frightened steed seemed conflicted between galloping, bucking, or rearing on the slippery snow. The horses tied to him were equally confused, squealing and lashing out in various directions. Each kick caused a hard tug along the line that only drove Snofonn to a greater frenzy.
Acting more on instinct than thought, Elsa froze the reins close to the saddle. With a hard swing of her hand, she shattered the ice, setting the string free from Snofonn. Before she could wrestle her steed into a more controlled stance, however, the snowbeast bellowed again. She looked up just in time to see it leap among the trees towards Captain Beorne, who was struggling to untie his own panicked string from a trembling Krokus.
"Beorne!" she yelled, throwing up a hand. The man jerked upright just as an ice wall sprang between him and the monster. It collided against the ice with an outraged howl. A huge, clawed paw smacked and scraped against the smooth surface. It didn't waste time scrabbling at the wall, however, instead moving to duck around it. Elsa tried to freeze its feet, but it was moving too quickly.
A deep bellow sounded as Sven and Kristoff moved into the fray. The reindeer lowered his head as he charged, managing to strike the monster in its hindquarters with his antlers. The creature gave its own bellow, rearing up to a dizzying height. It has to be as tall as a bear on its hindlegs, if not taller. Spinning with feline speed, it swung a massive paw at Sven. He and Kristoff were already on the move, however, darting away from the monster and the ice wall. The creature dropped down to all fours again, causing snow to spray in every direction. Elsa saw its lanky body bunch, so she threw another ice wall before it.
Roaring in frustration, the monster spun again. A long, muscular tail smashed into the second ice wall, shattering it. Bunching itself again, it threw itself against the first ice wall. The wall cracked. With a snarl, it swung a massive foreleg at the ice. The wall shattered. It lunged once more for Beorne.
The Captain had managed to untie his string of horses, and was currently spanning a bolt into his crossbow. He looked up, legs flexing to kick Krokus into action.
Feilan was faster. She had darted behind the Captain's horse. She brought a raised hand firmly down on the steed's hindquarters. Startled, Krokus bolted forward, causing Captain Beorne to lurch and grab for saddle and reins with one hand while holding onto the crossbow with the other. The monster landed where they had been, but then nimbly spun with outstretched jaws. A giant snowball to the face caused it to miss its bite. Again Elsa tried to freeze its feet, but it danced out of the way, ice cracking where it snapped free. That powerful tail whipped around, smacking into the thin trunk of a young pine. The crack of broken wood echoed among the trees.
Sven and Kristoff charged in again, trying to distract it. It took a swipe at them, a glancing blow that sent Sven staggering sideways. Elsa cast a third ice wall, saving them from the monster's vicious bite. Sven recovered and bolted, carrying Kristoff with him. Feeling very near panic herself, Elsa threw an ice-ball at the monster's skull. It grunted and staggered sideways, shaking its head. The monster then raised its muzzle and gave a deep, barking howl. Somewhere in the thickly falling snow, a second snow creature answered.
"Retreat!" bellowed Captain Beorne. "I doubt we can fight two! Retreat!"
"To where?" yelled Kristoff even as he and Svenn skidded to the Captain's side.
"Back the way we came!" answered the Captain.
Elsa kneed Snofonn to follow them, but just as quickly sat back and pulled the reins to get the horse to stop. Ignoring the horse's frantic and confused whinnies, she peered into the surrounding whiteness. "Feilan!" she yelled.
The snow monster snorted and swung its head, orienting on her voice.
"Elsa! My Queen!" Captain Beorne yelled. He yanked his crossbow up, lining up the sights with the creature. Krokus did her best to hold still, but couldn't refrain from bouncing her head and pawing at the snow. Captain Beorne cursed and tried to hold the crossbow steady even as the snow creature lowered its body to pounce.
At that moment, Feilan stepped from behind a tree. She stood squarely between the snow monster and the rest of them.
"Feilan! Out of the way!" Captain Beorne bellowed.
Feilan barely even twitched her head in their direction, so focused was she on the creature.
Elsa slammed her heels against Snofonn's sides. Too startled to realize what they were doing, the horse charged towards Feilan and the creature. Leaning sideways in her saddle, she wrapped an arm about the guide's waist. With a muscle-straining grunt, she hauled herself and Feilan upright. With legs and weight, she commanded Snofonn to a hard halt. The steed fell back to his haunches, eyes growing wide as he saw the snow monster loom before them.
Before she could swing Snofonn into a tight circle, though, she felt Feilan twist in her grip. A sharp pain cramped her upper arm. Horse and woman screamed together, one in terror and the other in shock. Elsa's arm spasmed, releasing Feilann. The guide hit the snow in a crouch, glaring up at the Queen as she struggled to control her horse with legs and one arm. There was no torchlight or campfire to explain away the golden gleam of the mountaineer's eyes this time.
"Get out of here!" she snarled. Behind her, the snow monster crouched even lower, blue-green eyes shining as it watched the activity with some confusion. Feilan scooped up a fistful of snow and threw it into Snofonn's face.
"But-!" Elsa tried to protest, even as Snofonn screamed again and reared to his full height. Ignoring the pain in her arm, she used reins and weight to force him to all four legs again. He began ramping instead, repeatedly bouncing on his front legs in a panicked attempt to both rear and run simultaneously.
"Go! I can take care of myself! Just go! Get them to safety!" Feilan scooped another fistful of snow and hurled it again at Snofonn. The snow monster shifted its hindquarters, preparing to choose which of them to pounce.
It was too much for the horse. He squealed and reared, spinning in a terrified attempt to run. Elsa had to throw her weight hard to one side to break him out of it. Hauling him about in a tight circle, she looked up in time to see Feilan running towards the snow monster through the thickening snowfall. Confused by the un-prey-like approach, the beast reared up on its haunches. It let loose another of those peculiar barking howls.
The answering call could be heard, muffled by the snowfall yet noticeably closer than before.
Elsa drew breath to yell again, then choked on her own voice.
She could no longer see Feilan.
What she could see was another snowbeast where Feilan had been, charging the first one. It collided into the chest of the first, the two tumbling into a snarling, thrashing ball of white fur and teeth and tails. The first let out a deep baying sound.
The answer came, even closer now.
Before Elsa could process it all, Captain Beorne surged to her side. He made a grab for Snofonn's bridle, but missed due to the horse's panicked circling. Kristoff and Sven arrived on the other side, giving her horse little room to move. Elsa managed to wrestle him to a prancing standstill. Denied flight, he began tossing his head frantically. Even Krokus and Sven looked frightened, the whites of their eyes showing too plainly.
The two monsters continued their roaring battle, parting only to circle then crash together again.
Captain Beorne lifted his crossbow, bracing it on one arm to counteract Krokus's fidgeting.
"No!" Elsa called, her ice fouling his trigger. Feeling her stomach lurch, she yelled, "We need to flee! There's another on the way!"
"She's right!" Kristoff echoed even as he frantically looked around. "Where's Feilan?"
Elsa's gaze strayed to the fighting creatures. At this distance, with the ever-thickening snow, they appeared identical.
Would they look different in clear weather? Would she be able to tell which….
Jerking her gaze away, she met Kristoff's eyes. "She made me let her go!" Without thinking, she held up her hurt arm. Hearing both men hiss, she looked down and was startled to see blood darkening the leather over her bicep.
A third beast heaved itself through the snowfall. It paused to glare at them with the same blue-green gaze as the first, but then swung its head towards the other two. Snarling, it swung its head back to them. It lowered its body into a hunting crouch.
"We go, now!" Captain Beorne bellowed, wheeling Krokus about. Snofonn was only too eager to obey Elsa's command to follow the mare. Kristoff and Sven swung around as well, the reindeer prancing anxiously before joining the horses in their panicked flight.
Elsa dared a glance over her shoulder. The third monster lurched forward, the first steps of a predator's run. She saw the two battling creatures break apart. One of them twisted to the third, racing nimbly between the trees to tackle it broadside. The other leaped to follow.
Feeling ill, she turned her attention forward again. The snow that was falling still refused to obey her, but she began generating her own snow. Using that, and the snow that caught between ground and the new fall, she forced the other snow aside. Soon a clear way preceded them through the woods. The horses and reindeer were quite willing to follow the artificial path that led away from the snarling predators that still raged behind them.