The Arctic sky loomed overhead, turning an ominous shade of violet. Wind gusts whipped ice crystals against Nolan’s cheeks, stinging like needles. Each step forward felt like a betrayal of his own survival instincts. Yet he couldn’t deny the strange compulsion to obey the creature’s silent plea.
As he moved farther from the wrecked sled, a crushing sense of isolation descended. The familiar outline of his cabin faded into the swirling gloom. Gone was the safety of his well-worn routines, replaced by an eerie hush that gripped his heart in an icy fist.