I clenched my fists, my nails biting into my palms as I pushed forward. The forest thickened around me, snow crunching underfoot as I followed the sound of a river. Kash’s instincts were sharper than mine, urging me onward.
The frozen river stretched ahead, glistening in the pale morning light. It twisted through the trees like a vein of ice, and I followed it, determined. But then, something shifted.
The snow began to fade, replaced by creeping ivy and scattered patches of green. Flowers peeked through the frost, vibrant and out of place—hibiscus, orchids, strange blooms that had no business growing in the dead of winter.
I froze, staring at the surreal transformation. The trees changed next, their towering pines and maples giving way to palms and banana trees. My breath hitched.
