The Brothers Don't

The endless expanse of churning white was all too familiar to Shining Armor.

"How far do you think it goes on, Captain?" asked Flash Sentry.

Shining peered through the glimmering shield around their small camp. "Many miles yet," he said. "Some say there's a mountain range between here and the Ice Dragon Craters. From there... who can say?" He frowned.

Spitfire sighed. "I'll fly ahead and scout it out on your orders, Captain."

"We've been over this, Spitfire." He glared at her. "Until we know what's out there, we stick together. No exceptions."

"What waits beyond, we may already know," Zecora mumbled, tightening a bandage around her own hind leg. "An evil most ancient that fell long ago."

"I think she's right, Captain," Flash said, adjusting his helmet. "What else could cause this much snow but the Wendigos?"

"Have you forgotten how far north we have traveled?" Shining snapped. "Of course it could be Wendigos, but we are farther north than any pony has ever traveled. Only the dragons speak of this place, and we passed their last settlement weeks ago." He sat on his haunches and looked each member of his team in the eyes. "My shield is enough to hold off the wolves. Once Macintosh is well enough, we will continue together and face what we find together."

"Of course," Spitfire said, bowing her head.

"We can't take any chances," said Shining. He gazed back into the howling void. "All of Equestria is counting on us. More importantly, they're counting on us."

"Shining..." Macintosh moaned from his cot by the fire.

Shining Armor hurried to his side. "Yes, I'm here. What it is, Mac?"

"If we..." He coughed, his great green eyes wincing. "If they... aren't alive when we find them," he wheezed, "what do we do?"

The small crew was silent. They looked at their leader.

Shining Armor took a deep breath through his snout. "You're delirious, Macintosh," he said. "Keep resting. There's no hurry. The sooner you can walk, the sooner we'll find our sisters."

Macintosh nodded weakly. His eyes fluttered shut.

Flash Sentry cleared his throat. "They're alive," he said, more to himself than to anyone else. "I'm sure of it."

Zecora stood. "Of nothing can we be so sure, but with great hope we shall endure."

Shining nodded. He walked to Flash and put a hoof on his armor. "As long as there's a chance they're out there... we'll keep searching."

"No matter what's out there," Spitfire said.

Her words were accompanied by a chilling howl from somewhere beyond the shield.