A plunging step upon the ice was the pale one's only hold to it, his gaze not daring to look below. Ahead was their goal, the throne of the north; he would not let as much as a storm throw these life-hungry mutts from the edge of the abyss who had already come so, so far.
With another crackle of lightning, the veins of the sky erupting with the spark, Nora's voice was captured upon the air. Turning his nose and pinned ears, Toulouse sought to hear the woman's voice again should she attempt to repeat herself, yet no such attempt was made. Continuing one foot after the other, the serpent struck his way up the hill, his mind trying to process the pieces of sound he had heard escape the doe's maw. Carelessly the thief continued on, deciding that the brute he lead might address any issues.
Perhaps he relied on Noah too much.

Growing to ignore the brontide and hissing strikes from the daring atmosphere above, Toulouse's ears were not failed by the grunt and hiss that came from below. Craning his head and cautiously turning upon a pinned front leg, Toulouse turned to see his companion skidding into the unforgiving, razor-like surface of the earth.
"Nora!" He bellowed, reaching out with his own teeth in a chance attempt to catch any part of her before she fell, like the angel she was, right down the side of the mountain. To his most fervent relief, the woman stayed in her place with her knees grating against the bedrock; his mind hardly even crossed to the potential injury she sustained, only to what catastrophic state they would have found her body in should she have fallen. Turning to continue, Toulouse was halted by the copper eagle's cry of warning and halt. Brows furrowing, Toulouse turned back to watch the pair as the gallant fool uttered to her and then strode off... as if into the senset.

"Noah!" Toulouse cried "What in... Why-" The gelding was speachless, momentarily pondering if the man had in fact just decided to leave them and head for the cover the pine might provide. "What in the name of the four are you DOING!"
His forelegs taking wide, licking steps along the ice, Toulouse skid his way down to Nora and attmepted to fasten himself underneath her right wing to support her. Perhaps if they attempted the final part of the ascent together, as a team, they might just make it. "Where in hell did he go" Toulouse cursed, throwing his nose over Noras neck should she allow it, searching for the man who had until recently been one of the three in their unlikely trio.

Without must searching the man was located, thundering back from wherever it was he had run off to, returning with a mouthful of something that to Toulouse only looked like mud. Toulouse, who by now was far past the point of protesting, gave an impatient stomp and began to lurch forward, beginning the final ascent.
Toulouse!
The  voice was one he had heard before, though it was also one he hardly recognised. Turning his hardened gaze in the direction of the voice and the thundering footfalls that accompanied it, the pale one caught sight of another phantom, comrade, and herd-brother. Roland. He would probably never be so glad to see the well-groomed unicorn ever again.
"Roland!" Toulouse cheered, lurching forward once again to reach him. There were questions, though still the palomino could only shake his head. All would be explained, just not now. "Help me get them past the arch!" The phantom boomed to his chestnut brother, pacing towards Noah and attempting ot gather himself under his free wing. Whether the stag liked it or not, he was getting their help. They both were, and they would see this through.