Mood Enhancement Through Diction

Read the following excerpt from a fictional narrative, then answer the question that follows:

In the dim light of the fading day, Eli stood at the precipice, the wind tugging at his coat like a restless child. The horizon, a palette of bruised purples and crimsoned oranges, promised a night rife with unspoken tales. He closed his eyes, inhaling the salt of the sea mixed with the damp earth, each breath a reminder of the choices left unmade.

The author’s use of descriptive diction and varied syntax contributes to the creation of a tense atmosphere in the passage. Which of the following phrases most significantly enhances the mood conveyed by the author?