After finally stocking up for their journey to the mountains, the group left the sanctuary of the town and stood outside the walls. From their vantage point, they were amazed to see snowy mountains just a breath away. How could a mountain, covered with snow, be so close? It was practically summer where they were standing.

Tall white mushrooms, or so it appeared, were spotted just below the ledge of the hill they stood on. Snow covered the ground just below, and giant, green lizards roamed freely. There were horns on their heads, and their claws were massive. When Inuyasha saw them, he jumped right into action.

"Inuyasha!"

Intrigued, Link watched as the man garbed in red fought against the giant lizard, known as a Dodongo. The young boy was impressed with the demon's speed and agility. The sword he held in his possession, bestowed upon Inuyasha from the Great Fairy, glowed brighter the moment it came within range of the monster.

It turned suddenly and opened its mouth. Just as it did, flames shot out toward the half demon, who quickly dodged the attack. While Inuyasha hurried around it, it turned again, repeating the same attack. Inuyasha continued to dodge. "This thing is so slow!"

Quickly tiring of watching Inuyasha, Link's thoughts ventured back to what the Great Fairy had said. She claimed that the land was destined for an end. Once again, Link had failed in saving another world from terror. Hyrule drowned after the defeat of Ganondorf, and even after he saved Termina from Majora, it too was still doomed. Why? Why did the Goddesses punish the land? If he was not destined to save Termina, then who was? Only with a pure heart could vanquish the evil.

His eyes fell on the group. Sango was a supposed demon slayer from the other world. Miroku was a monk, blessed with spiritual powers. Shippo was a demon, or so he said during dinner at the Inn; the same with Sango's cat. Kagome, well, he was uncertain of her status. She just seemed like an ordinary girl, with strange and revealing clothes. Of course, all of their clothes were strange to Link.

His gaze fell on Kagome's bow and arrow, and Sango's boomerang. These two were fighters, capable of battle. Usually women were supposed to stay away from danger, but no. These two were different. Perhaps it was normal in their home country, but here it was out of the ordinary. A woman was to be protected by a man. She would stay home and take care of her children and make dinner, not fight in battles and risk getting killed.

Link realized he was getting off topic. He would think about all that at a more appropriate time. These people knew nothing about this world, and it appeared like it was his responsibility, as well as Serena's, to watch out for them.

"You know… you could always walk around them?" Serena explained, though everyone ignored her. "They're not really worth the trouble."

"What kind of monster is that?" Sango asked from the sidelines.

Hearing her question, Link answered. "That's a Dodongo. It's a monster that breathes fire, but it's actually really slow."

Again, Inuyasha was flung back by the power in its tail, but that did not stop him. Bringing his sword down on the monster's head, Inuyasha was surprised that his sword did not penetrate the monster's skin. 'What the… it's like it's made of stone.'

"The tail! Hit the tail! That's its weak spot!" Serena shouted over the battle.

When he heard this, Inuyasha charged at the beast. "You don't have to tell me twice!" With its back left wide open, he slashed the creature's tail. The lizard gave a roar of pain. "So I just keep doing this? This is too easy!" Again and again, Inuyasha attacked it, dodging the flames that came with each slash of his sword.

"Look at him!" Shippo awed at the sight. "That sword is strong!"

Miroku agreed. "Seems like he has this under control."

Kagome stood a few feet from her friends, rooting for Inuyasha. As she stood watching, she suddenly felt the ground shake below her. "What?" She glanced over her shoulder, surprised that another giant Dodongo had crept up from behind. "Ah!" Barely having enough time to dodge, Kagome watched in horror as it opened its giant mouth. "Inuyasha!"

"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted from a distance. After giving the finishing blow to the lizard he'd originally been fighting, Inuyasha ran toward his companion. Just as he was close enough to save her, someone intervened.

An arrow zipped past the young woman, entering the mouth of the large reptile. Its entire body trembled before it began stomping in place with cries of anger. A burst of fire encircled its mouth before taking over its entire head as it thrashed about more and more.

"Oh no! Kagome!" Miroku shouted to the stunned priestess who stood watching the scene in stunned fascination.

In danger of being trampled, Kagome found herself in the arms of her usual savior. "Inuyasha!" She held onto him as he jumped away from the burning beast. With one last howl, it fell to the ground; the fire consuming its entire body. A foul odor swirled around the carcass, which was now only a pile of bones.

"Alright, Link!" Shippo cheered at the archer to his side. "That was amazing! It just suddenly burst into flames!"

Worriedly, Sango ran to her female friend as Inuyasha set her down. "Kagome! Are you okay?"

With a smile, the priestess nodded. "Yep!" Kagome was lucky enough to escape with no injuries. Her eyes turned to her other rescuer. At first she thought she was a goner, but Link had pierced the monster with one of his arrows. Who'd have thought he'd save her life? With a smile, she waved to Link, who stood near Miroku and Shippo a distance away. "Thanks, Link!"

Even Inuyasha had to take a second glance at the boy, who had proven to be useful. Perhaps there was more to him than met the eye. "That wasn't half bad!"

Link nodded, scratching the back of his neck. "It was nothing…" He said, his cheeks slightly reddening before he continued uphill ahead of the others. As he went, he evaded the monsters that still prowled the frosted plain.

They stood at the entrance of the mountain steps.

"So cold!" Kagome shivered as she held Shippo close to her.

Puzzled by the giant ice blocking the way, Inuyasha pulled out his sword. But this attack would not break the ice. This angered him to the point of cursing. "Why the hell won't it break?"

"It's crystalized ice; it can only be shattered by a piece of the same element," Link explained. "See the stalactite just above it? If you can knock it down with one of your arrows, it will destroy the block of ice."

Agreeing, Kagome aimed her arrow and released. She watched as it hit its target. "I did it!"

The block of ice fragmented the moment it was pierced by the falling chunk of ice. They could now proceed onward up the trail, the winds growing stronger. Inuyasha wasn't fazed by the gust, but the others were having a hard time keeping their footing. Never mind that Kagome was in a skirt! She clutched Shippo to her chest to keep both of them warm. If only they had prepared for the bitter cold.

Sango stopped, noticing her friend's constant shivering. "Maybe we should head back, I'm afraid the weather is too severe," she suggested as she feared for her female companion's condition. "Kagome, you're freezing. If we keep going like this, you're bound to catch a cold."

Agreeing with the demon slayer, Inuyasha urged the priestess to reconsider, but she would not listen. "Kagome…"

"No. I'm not staying behind. What if something happens?"

Serena, who had been resting on Link's shoulder, expressed her concern as well. "You're shaking from the cold. The weather only worsens the higher up we go."

Even as her teeth chattered and her legs trembled, Kagome still refused, which only worried her companions further. "No."

Knowing that arguing with the headstrong woman would not change her mind, Inuyasha stripped off his haori and wrapped it around Kagome's thin frame. "Then wear this then. It'll keep you warm for a while."

Kagome clung to his shirt tightly before staring at her shirtless friend. "Inuyasha? What about you?" she asked with worry, though her friend only shook his head.

"Please. A little cold like this won't kill me. Heck, I can hardly feel a thing!"

Satisfied that they could continue on, the group made their way up the steep slopes. As they rounded a corner, they came upon three giant snow balls blocking their way. Of course, Inuyasha could always leap over them with ease. He picked on Shippo.

"What?"

"I said to use your fox fire!" When he saw the bewildered look on the child's face, he continued. "Might as well try out your attacks. Besides, a few practices will come in handy later on."

Uncertain of why Inuyasha wanted him to use his fox fire, Shippo faced the snow balls and focused his energy in his palms. He felt the fire surging under his skin, and the moment it surrounded his form, he unleashed it. "Fox fire!"

The blue flames shot from his entire body rather than just his hands, engulfing frosty blockade that stood in their way and revealing a few stone steps that led up to a higher path.

"I did it!" Shippo exclaimed excitedly. The others were just as impressed. His fox fire was even stronger than ever. "That was nothing!"

Surprised, Inuyasha moved onward. "About time you're useful! Let's go so we can get this over with and go home!"

Once again, Link was astonished at the power of his new traveling companions. There was more to these people than he had originally thought. What else could they do? He left those thoughts alone, following the group and watching for any enemies that may lurk nearby.

After being ambushed by several giant spiders that lay hidden beneath the snow, the group made it to an open area. The air seemed chillier now, and snow began falling from the heavens. Not once during their travels up the mountain did the group see a bird or animal cross their path. After a while of constant walking, they were relieved to see a cottage up ahead.

"Finally! I was wondering if anyone lived up here!" Miroku muttered as he headed for the shelter. "Strange… The snow up here reaches to our knees!"

"I wonder who lives there," Shippo wondered.

Link also stopped to stare at the scenery in awe. Four years prior, when he saved the land, Spring had returned to the mountains. Now it was winter again. 'Is this because of the new threat?' He searched around, and even the lake a distance away was partially frozen over. With a sigh, he followed behind Sango and the others as they neared the cottage that was just a few feet away. 'What was the point, anyway?'

"There's a sign here!" Kagome muttered, as her friends came to stand near her in order to see. "Though it looks like someone broke it," she explained as she saw the remnants partially buried in the snow.

Unfazed by the sign, Inuyasha marched himself up the steps and to the door. The air chilled his companions, and he didn't know how long Kagome could take being in such weather. He unleashed his fists of fury on the door. "Open up!"

As if by some strange phenomenon, the door creaked open slowly, startling the travelers. From inside, darkness greeted them. Inuyasha was the first to enter, followed by the others.

The door suddenly shut behind them, and a few gasps rang in the air. When they realized it was only Link closing it, having been the last to enter, they relaxed and scanned the interior of the house.

'I wonder what happened here? Where are the Smithy brothers?' Link pondered as he searched through the familiar cottage. His eyes fell on broken furniture and splintered floorboards.

"Hello?" Kagome called through the dark room. Of course, there was no reply. "We just want to seek shelter for a while."

"Seems abandoned," said the monk as he touched the walls. "There's dust everywhere."

"Really?" Shippo asked. He pointed toward the raging fireplace. "Explain that."

Tables were covered with dust, and webs accumulated in the corners of the walls. There was something metal near the fireplace, but it was hard to make out. Some chairs in the room were broken, and pieces were scattered on the floor.

Inuyasha had already disappeared through a door to their left. During this time, both the demon slayer and the monk made themselves cozy by the fireplace with Kagome and Shippo.

"I'm sure that whoever lives here won't mind if we just rest for a while," Sango explained as she held Kirara in her lap.

Eventually, Inuyasha returned to the main room, frowning. "Well, no one's home," he explained as he took back his haori from Kagome. "This place stinks!" He complained as he settled against the wall; the same wall Link leaned against, with closed eyes.

A sudden muffled noise echoed in the room, startling the six individuals. As soon as it had come, it was gone, leaving the travelers perplexed.

"What was that?" Kagome asked, searching through the darkness.

Even Inuyasha was baffled, yet he could not detect any scents. "I don't know. Sounded like someone fell." Still not sure, Inuyasha moved away from the wall and began searching the other rooms. "I hear nothing in here," his voice called from the other side of the house.

"Then where? I'm sure it wasn't our imaginations." Sango searched through the darkness, but even Kirara could not detect any movements.

Suddenly, a shout was heard from the direction in which Inuyasha had gone, followed by the sounds of something crashing to the floor. Constant screaming resonated through the entire house, rousing the gang into action.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome called, only to hear sounds of pain from the other room. Worried, she and her friends ran to the half demon's aide, but the boards beneath her suddenly shook. Kagome had fallen back on her butt, watching with absolute horror as a figure shrouded in darkness rose from the floor with a moan.

The massive, dark silhouette reached out toward her. "Ugoh-ooooh!" The sound of its monstrous voice sent shivers down her spine. "Ugoh! Ugo-a-go-go!"

"What's that?" Shippo screamed as he clung to her shirt in terror.

Frightened, and with no way to escape, she backed against the wall, watching with fearful eyes as the form approached her. "Inu-Inuyasha!" She hugged Shippo to her and could only watch the giant hand as it reached for her.