I could feel it too—the hairs on my arms standing on end, the pressure in my chest, like someone had turned the dial of the world up to eleven. The Ice People below prowled along the frozen surfaces, shadows slicing through the white, their movements precise and terrifyingly elegant. Eyes that shimmered faintly with mana scanned the area, and I swear one of them tilted its head, sensing us, though the ice boulders hid our presence for now.
Raya growled low, her pretend fur bristling, and Chubby's shadow shifted unnaturally, responding to the rift's pulsing energy. "Master," Chubby hissed under his breath, "this place… it's alive. And hungry."
I smirked despite the chill clawing at my lungs. "Good. Then let's feed it some chaos. But first…" I pulled a cookie from my pocket and tossed it to Chubby, who caught it mid-air with a snap. Raya barked, wagging her tail like she was saying, Focus, lady, focus.
