The air was sharp, biting, and thin—a constant reminder of how far the group had climbed. The snowy mountains stretched endlessly around them, their jagged peaks clawing at the pale gray sky like the teeth of some ancient predator. Each step sank deep into the snow, the crunch of boots muffled, as though the mountain itself was swallowing the sound. Breath fogged in the air, each exhale quickly consumed by the icy winds. The...