The bear growled and a waft of foul air flew into her nose. The snake and its glowing white light hesitated. She shut her eyes, shut out the wicked yellow teeth and terrible light. Her leg felt completely numb. She didn’t know what her hand felt like. It was as if it wasn’t there to feel. Heat radiated from the weapon so close to her face. It  didn’t burn. Renni wondered whether she would feel it, wondered if it would be instant or would there be that singular moment of absolute horror and pain before nothingness.

“Get it over with,” she growled through gritted teeth. She turned her head away and opened her eyes again, not wanting to see blackness just yet. Her eyes rested upon the mountain she’d attempted to climb, upon the brilliant blanket of snow illuminated and shadowed. No trees marred the untouched beautiful silhouette of the mountain. It stood tall, as it had stood for ages, like a great white robed sentry standing guard over the pearl moon and diamond stars. Renni smiled as the heat increased.

The snow looked so beautiful against the deep blue of the night sky. She stared at the pristine zenith. But as she stared, something changed on the mountain. The heat moved away from her face. The bear sensed it too.

Renni watched the mountain with a new interest as sleep again threatened, the last remnants of the Harbinger device trying to take hold. She blinked and stared, not certain of what she saw. The very top of the mountain moved.

The bear shifted off her, its attention now completely fixed upon the mountain. Vibrations, at first faint, grew in intensity as the mountain top continued to change. Soon, the world shook violently.

She tore her eyes from the zenith long enough to stare at what flew over it. It soared like a great bird, leaving in its wake shifting snow and tumbling rocks. A ferocious roar, like the howls of an out of control freight train, rose up. She looked back to the mountain, now realizing why the peak seemed to move. The Harbinger ship had arrived and brought with it an avalanche.

The bear ran. It lumbered and whirred as metal and bone attempted to outrun the inevitable. She listened as it raced for the aspens below them.

A bark echoed through the sound of the approaching snow. George bounded towards her, half limping half running. He laid down next to her, injured but alive. She wrapped her good arm about him, holding him tightly. He licked her face and buried his muzzle against her neck. Renni hugged him fierce as the snow cascaded in a massive rushing wave down upon them.