Jason carefully halted his as well,tail shivering behind him and Shade jr shivering as he clung to his chest with his claws in his hoodie fabric. Fatespeaker looked at the drop and her little eyes seemed to widen and only faintly hint her dislike of the drop and scenery. She shook her elegant snout and then ripped her little gaze away,taking hold of herself and acting as the mature one compared to her brother.

The wiremen fey flowed from the trees in a glittering swarm. Scuttling to the rise, they began to climb, digging their claws into the ice as they edged upward. Steel limbs flashing, they crawled up the icy slope like ants, barely slowing down. "What are these things?" Ash whispered. He raised his arm, and the air around him sparkled as a glittering ice spear formed overhead. With a flick of his hand, he hurled it down the slope, into the ranks of the oncoming fey

Jason shuttered,the sick green taking over most the white in his freckles and underwings. He seemed to use his body to keep Shade from the view of the things. "Can I burn them? I've got some fire left."

The spear hit one directly in the face, punching through the wires and tearing it from the hill. It clattered down the slope, arms and legs flailing, but the other fey leaped over the body or skittered aside, and kept coming. Ash whirled his steed around, his face grim. "We can't outrun them," he announced, and there was the faintest hint of fear in his voice. "They're faster than us, and will overtake the horses long before we reach a trod. We have to make a stand. So, yes," he sighed reluctantly

"Would a quick portal work?" He said as he clicked sparks to life and turned his own ride around. He flicked a hand and let it form quickly into a raging flame that whirled around like a whip carefully around him. The white markings where still glowing faintly on him,now a bit brighter.

"You can go through the portal, but I must stay and defend the Nevernever. From my brother. And we're not making our stand here." Ash shook his head and pointed down the other side of the slope. "Theres an abandoned fort on the edge of the wyldwood. Ian and I used it as a hunting lodge. If we can reach it, we might have a chance."

The other side of the slope fell away into the same break-neck drop. Far, far in the distance, the snow-covered treetops met the writhing gray mist of the wyldwood.

A raven circled them, giving a harsh cry as it passed overhead as the first of the wire-fey clawed its way to the top. Ash kicked his steed into motion, charging for the edge of the rise. His horse gathered its legs underneath it and leaped into empty space

He understood and wouldn't leave Ash. He carefully spun his own steed around and followed,wings in tight and head down to avoid the urge to fly as his own ride jumped. Little Shade squeaked and Fatespeaker seemed to enjoy the leap. Jason sent the whirling flame and it clung around the first Iron fey,strangling it and burning it at the same time then whipping around and forming a dragon like shape as Jason willed it to fight.

They fell for what seemed like an eternity. When they finally hit the ground, the horses landed with barely a jolt and immediately plunged into the forest. Behind them, the wiremen poured down the slope in a glittering flood. Finally, they burst through the trees into a snow-covered clearing. In the center of the grove, a crumbling tower rose skyward in a precarious upside-down L, as if it might collapse any moment

Jason's eyes widened,the two colors glittering faintly. He put little Shade into his hoodie pocket gently and glanced at Fatespeaker,who seemed to be ready to do anything that would be needed to be done.

"Come on!" Ash leaped off his mount, ignoring it as it raced away into the trees