The winter puma finally managed to get back in Clark's sight line. But that was a greater worry than anything. This time it was closer. "It's starting to catch up, we need to pick up the pace!" Clark's warning was enough to replenish the mentality that they all had to move faster.
The winter puma had not given up at all. As far as it was concerned, the temptation of the winter witch's unique ice energy was too much. It wanted the energy and the strength that would come with it to continue to reign over its territory. Especially if it could take a large leap in getting stronger. That could mean more territory.
What stood even taller for Clark to worry about was the fact that he could sense that the group was getting slower. It wasn't that they were getting too tired too fast, but the fact that the trail had become harder to travel. The terrain was the same ice and snow carved trail that many merchants took, unfortunately, for almost a day, the trail had been ignored.