The siblings traveled through the first storm of winter, their high spirits carrying them through days of miserable conditions. Finally, the clouds departed and the siblings beheld the Kucnika mountains. The wind seemed to cease its biting as the sunlight adorned the mountainsides and warmed the sibling's red cheeks. The cloudless sky as blue as the sea. The sight would have brought joy even without the knowledge that these mountains held salvation within. Urgent as their timetable was, the siblings wouldn't help but take time to admire the scene.

Invar noticed Sari wiping at her right eye after hearing a faint sniffle.
"If you think they're so beautiful this far out sister, what do you say we get a closer look?" Without turning her head, Sari nodded her head and let out a sigh.
"Best idea you've ever had, brother." The siblings made their way across the expanse between them like a ship cutting through the waves. The snow seemed to melt before them as they climbed the first of the foothills. They had almost failed to notice the sun's descent. Close as they were, the climb would have to wait until tomorrow. The siblings unloaded their kit and made quick work of the task of pitching their tents. The hardtack almost tasted good in light of the circumstances. Invar managed to track down enough dry wood to make a fire for the night. No need for a dried scat fire tonight. If anything they wanted to be visible. With luck, these Dark Weavers would come to them.

That morning, the siblings awoke to a gentle snowfall and a white-clouded sky. Invar reignited the fire and heated the last of their rabbit jerky as a celebratory breakfast.
"So how was your last night as a centaur, sister? Do you think you'll miss being able to sleep standing up?"
"Tent's not that big, and no, not one bit." Sari laughed.
"Didn't think so. Shall we get a move on? The mountain is still quite the challenge in and of itself."
"Race you up?" Invar let out a chuckle as he mounted his horse. The trek up the mountain was treacherous, even in the gentle snowfall and lack of wind. The winding paths upwards were frozen over and there were points simply too steep to climb without proper kit. The siblings had to turn back and seek alternate paths on several occasions. Yet through it all, they maintained their high spirits. After hours of climbing, backtracking, and a few close calls, the pair finally reached the top.

The celebratory mood was quickly dispelled as a lone voice pierced the calm.
"Dmetri. How pleasant to see you again."
Invar felt his heart sink and his breathing quicken. "Anya?"
"Who's Anya?" Sari asked, grabbing her sword hilt. Anya sat atop a small boulder, relaxed and collected as she fiddled with a small knife.
"I see you remembered our little chat in the city. Well done."
"Who are you? Why are you here?" Sari asked, unsheathing her weapon.
"Anya Notryv, at your service, beast. As for why I'm here? Well, your companion knows well enough."
"What's this about, Invar?" Sari asked, keeping her eyes glued to Anya.
"Ah, Invar. I was wondering what your real name was." Invar drew his own weapon as his breathing picked up once again.
"Put the weapon down, boy. It's not worth dying for an abomination." Anya said as she sheathed her knife and leaned forward.
"Nobody needs to die. We're here to correct a mistake, that's all."
"Funny, that's precisely why I'm here as well." Anya said as she stood up and drew her sword.

Anya leaped down from the boulder and charged. Sari met her charge and locked blades. The two clashed a half dozen times before Anya dropped and cut at Sari's right foreleg. Sari let out a cry of pain as she kicked Anya back. Anya quickly returned to her feet and retrieved her blade. Before Anya could wind up for another charge, Sari was upon her, striking at her in a fury. Sari's speed was only outmatched by Anya's. Parrying, blocking, and dodging every blow, Anya sidestepped and landed a hit across Sari's right foreleg. No sooner had Anya landed her strike than Invar had unleashed his own barrage on Anya. Anya's speed was hampered, she seemed almost shocked that Invar would dare to fight her. Moving with a speed he never thought possible, Invar managed to land a hit across Anya's left eye. Anya let out a scream as she backed away, dropping her weapon and grasping at her eye before falling to her knees. A smile shot across Invar's face as he raised his sword and rested it on Anya's neck.
"It's over. Submit."

The snow and wind picked up as Invar stood over his foe, blood pouring from her eye.
"Submit, Anya. We need to get that eye treated or you'll lose it."
"I underestimated you, Invar. I didn't want it to go this way."
"I imagine not. Now subm—" As Invar was talking, Anya slapped the sword away with her wrist, lodging the blade into her leather bracer. Before Invar could dislodge the blade, he felt a sharp pain in his chest. He let out a scream and looked down to see Anya's dagger embedded in his abdomen. Before he could retaliate, Anya swept his feet out from under him, landing him on the cold stone floor of the mountaintop.
"I was debating whether or not to kill you after I killed the centaur. Thank you for making my decision easier, Invar." Anya said as she picked up her sword and rose to her feet.

Invar's breathing became erratic. He could feel his warm blood leaking out of his side. He looked up at Anya, her figure becoming ever more obscured by both the snow and Invar's own fading vision. As she raised her sword, Invar heard a hard clomping rapidly approaching. Anya seemed to hear as well. She turned to face the source of the noise. With her good eye off Invar, he swept at her legs just as Sari's silhouette became visible. Anya may not have been knocked off her feet, but she stumbled and her defense was down. Sari charged Anya and trampled her beneath her hooves. Invar looked on as Anya struggled to her feet, only to collapse back to her hands and knees, coughing up blood.
"Get up, brother! We need to get you out of here!" Invar let out a cough.
"No blood. She didn't get anything important, I'll be fine."
"That won't matter if we don't get you somewhere warm to heal. This storm is only going to get worse."
"What about Anya? What do we do with her?"
"What about her? Look at her." Sari said as she gestured to Anya, laying face down in the snow. "If you want I'll run her through on our way past but right now we need to worry about you." Sari extended her hand.
"Can't take any more chances. Do it." Invar said, taking his sister's hand. Invar clenched his teeth as his sister helped him to his feet

Sari bandaged Invar's wound as best she could. They'd have to cauterize it soon, but this would help them last long enough to find a cave or some other shelter from the winds. They approached Anya, still breathing and wincing as she lay in the snow, unable to get to her feet.
"Wait here." Sari said as she picked up her sword. "And look away if you have to."
"No. I'll do it."
"You sure?"
"We're here to get your life back. If she has any last minute surprises, I don't want you to lose that chance. I'll take the risk. Besides, look at her. How hard could it be?" Sari nodded and handed Invar her sword. Invar made his way over to Anya's shivering and huffing body.
"You're care for this beast is sickening, Invar." Anya uttered through her grunts.
"Taho take you." As Invar raised his sword above Anya's neck for a quick stab, Anya hurled herself to the side with her last bit of strength, vanishing from sight as she was swallowed by the flowing river of snow.
"Ara's bones!"
"Death by sword or falling off a mountain makes little difference at the end of the day, brother. What matters now is getting that wound treated." Invar nodded in agreement as he felt his head go light.