Chapter 45 Battling The Witch

• Rafa and Leon arrived at the valley of shadows just as dawn was breaking over it. The ground was soft, covered in a thin layer of snow. They hadn't been there for long before the first rays of sunlight lit up the dark horizon, bathing their path in bright light. They climbed the first hill to survey the situation before they continued with their search. It wasn't hard to spot the little cabin, perched high on the mountain. Their target. The cabin had clearly seen better days, as the structure was leaning badly to one side. Its front left wall hung open to the sky. The door was hanging by only one hinge. No window. It seemed like it had either been abandoned or blown out during a tornado. Even in the low light, the walls were blackened from fire damage.
• A thick layer of frost clung to the outside of the walls, leaving them almost translucent to the touch. It didn't look like anyone else had lived there in some time, but the cabin itself stood on its own like an old man on his porch. A cold breeze blew gently through the trees surrounding the tiny clearing, creating an almost ethereal atmosphere that made it all the more appealing. It could be beautiful here though if they weren't there for a fight that could result in both their deaths. Both Lion and Lycan proceeded to enter the empty cabin, scanning for potential threats. Not even shadows or movement inside the cabin. Just a few scattered books and papers littered across the floor. Nothing else of interest. The two turned to leave. "Looks clear," Rafa said in a deep voice. He spoke so quietly, he barely heard himself.
• Leon scanned the room one more time before stepping out onto the deck. There was a single chair positioned in front of the door. One leg was missing. "You think maybe they got the wrong place?" He asked, picking up the chair and tossing it halfway across the yard and out into the woods. A quick motion, like a child throwing a tantrum. "You think they got a step ahead of us? You know, got us fooled into believing it's where they lived?" He asked, again meeting Rafa's flaming red eyes.