He could barely here Havardr's gigantic frame behind him, but dared not risk a look back to see if the beast was really that far behind, or if the sounds of the driven snow and quaking mountain were the blame. Besides, he knew he was in the lead.

Successfully, he passed through the third waystone and knew only two remained. His breath was noticably more haggard, but his body was used to being pushed past the limits. This would prove to be no different. 

His sharp senses were virtually buffeted with each passing second, but still registered the intensity of the mountain. Kei'taro knew something was amiss. But what was it? 

In a moment, his answer started to descend from the mountain as though it were alive and had read his mind. 

Avalanche!

He had heard about these deadly displays of natural fury. How the crashing snow would bury any mountain climber beneath tons of snow, left for dead. Had Havardr known that the mountain was prone to such vicious acts? It was probable. Yet, Kei'taro couldn't think of that at the moment, instead feeling the insatible urge to survive. Boulders were scattered among the mountain side, none dislodged despite the constant lurching of the mountain.

One would have to do. 

He immediately headed towards one not far off, but the snow was right there! A deadly race within a race, one that he had to survive to win the one he started. 

He nearly made it.

Unscathed. 

As the first bit of the heavy falls reached him, he lurched into a jump but was thrown off balance by the quaking mountain and tumbled. Indeed he had made it, snow slew over him with a temper that was only matched by the feriousness of a mother protecting her young. Was that what the mountain was doing? It couldn't be, surely Havardr had to experience such things as well. 

Tough love.

In either event, he crashed into the ground and rolled; he felt way more than he heard the tell-tale sound of his arm being injured. Probably broken. 

An agonizing moan escaped his lips, but it was lost in the thundering roar of the avalanche. Nothing to it but to wait, and quite honestly, it was the longest twelve minutes of his life.