Havardr turned his head and could just barely keep the astonishment from his eyes. How in the world had his opponent survived the avalanche… and relatively unscathed? He had of course noticed he was in fact injured, but considering he should be buried and frozen, it was amazing. It also worried him, a little.

He pushed on, carrying his hefty weight up the mountain. The blizzard had been thinning out sporadically for their journey, but almost as if the avalanche was her last effort it seemed to be easing off now, the mountain was giving them a moment of respite. It was probably so that they could really show the other what they could do. He passed the fourth waystone at an impressive speed, bounding up the mountain in a fashion that looked almost impossible. How could an animal that had to remain on four legs effectively climb up a near vertical cliff? The answer was with a lot of skill, but even he had to move quite slowly at that point as he sought out spots where he could place his hoofs, and launch himself further up the rocky expanse.

He knew now that it was a short and difficult climb for him, a possible chance for his one armed opponent to catch up if he could bare the pain. After this short hurdle though the mountain wound up to the peak, a flat out sprint to the finish as it were. The fifth waystone was up there, awaiting the winner of this contest.

Havardr was no longer sure who that would be.