"The wretched thing will do. Now out of my way!"

"Silence, dimwit! Watch your tone and remember exatly who you are serving!" As Zukka scrambled up the saddle with difficulty, the beastmaster began to grumble under his breath.

"...damn slag-"

"What was that?!"

"Ain't said a word! 'ma'am'! If that's all, then-"

Before he could finish, Zukka gives his caragor a hard kick to the ribs, sending it flying forwards and snow shoveling behind it. He glanced back just in time to see the beastmaster be covered in it, a smirk crossing his lips as he snickered to himself.

'Good, just as he deserves...'

Snow was nearly up to the beast's belly as it trudged along a well traveled road. Evergreen trees dotted the landscape, collecting in a vast forest in the distance. He couldn't see the fortress in the distance, but knew it was there, off behind some mountains and cliffs, behind rocks and trees, a long path to travel, indeed.

The road to the fortress would be long, but it wasn't the dangers of the region that had Zukka worried. Boredom was more likely to prey upon him than some physical entity. The entirety of Keros knew his name, thanks to Father.

Only those with a **** wish would attempt to harm him, and even if they tried, Zukka is confident in his magical prowess and would destroy anyone that stood in his way.

...which is why when he was approching a ruined structure, just off to the side of the road and to his right, he felt a tingle in the back of his neck, he cautioned a glance in the structure's general direction.