She continued this way for several more hours, glancing occasionally at the sky. It was no longer blue and the clouds were getting darker and more threatening in appearance. The wind also carried the smell of snow.
Flindra knew that she had to find shelter and had to find it quickly. She took out the crystal sphere and checked it for direction. It still showed that she should continue north - straight up the mountain.
"All right, we will keep following this trail, but if I see anything more promising I'll go that way," she muttered to herself. She still didn't trust the orb entirely.
The wind was growing stronger and there were now a few snowflakes being blown in from the north. The temperature was dropping precipitously.
Flindra knew she was in trouble. She looked at the orb again and saw that it was directing her in an easterly direction. Quickly reining Deru to the right, they started to the east. At least the wind was coming from the side and not straight into her face.
There was no trail here and Flindra had to guide Deru around fallen trees and boulders. Snow was starting to collect on the ground, hiding fallen branches and exposed roots. She had to go slowly to avoid a fall, which could injure Deru or herself. The only positive thing about the snow is that it would hide her passage from anyone who might be following.
She continued in this fashion for another hour. Deru's steps were lagging and his head was starting to hang. Ice was forming in the whiskers around his nostrils. Flindra was huddled in the saddle, staring at the crystal orb. Without warning, the crystal stopped glowing. She moved it from side to side without a change.
"There must some meaning to this," she muttered to herself.
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