Frostfall’s winter winds howl violently through the mountainous valley, whipping whirlwinds of snow around until you can’t quite tell if they’re coming from the sky or the ground. Vision is dangerously reduced to mere feet, but the ocean blue mare allows the earth beneath her hooves to guide her, trusting in nature’s natural course as she shuffles through the powdery ice that swathes her legs. Due to the blustering blizzard and biting cold, she had been unable to sleep this night. For hours she had laid awake in her cave, simply listening to the season’s bitter and woeful howl. It is both beautiful and haunting.

But having grown restless after a short while, she had ventured to the hot springs to thaw her chilled skin (the hot vapor of her brother’s embrace always a welcome reprieve at times like this). Now warmed to her core and her heart singing of contentment again, Tiamat travels back towards her little lonely cave—lonely, but warm. White eyes squint through the blustering gales as she pushes herself back from where she had come, her thick locks and long lashes soon frosted again by the flurries of snow that dance wildly about.

It is nearly by chance that she catches the informal gathering. As she arches her neck, tucking her pretty head in towards her chest to shield her eyes from the worst of the wind, Tiamat glances a light through the corners of her eyes. Peering through the whipping strands of her forelock, she sees something—someone?—moving, highlighted against the glow of what is certainly a low fire. Curious, and always eager to meet the new members that share her home, the blue mare shifts her direction towards this other cave.

Bowing her slender body against the strength of the wind, Tiamat soon finds herself stepping into the stony hollow alongside several others—and…a thing. She recognizes many of the faces from the recent herd meeting (although she regrettably knows none of their names), and identifies one golden stranger among them to be one of her Lords. Always respectful, she inclines her head to him in a dainty bow, and smiles brightly to the others. “Hello everyone! I’m Tiamat,” She beams, spirits unhampered by the blustering storm or the ungodly hour. She wishes to become acquainted with all of them, but her attentions are soon captured by a familiar face—or rather, by his new friend.

“Ashamin, how adorable he is!” The blue mare exclaims excitedly, her smile widening. She hasn’t seen the lanky stallion since their travels together came to an end, so she is elated to see he is doing well (quite well at the moment, she would happily assume). “Hello there little one,” she croons as she lowers her head, extending her nose gently towards the little deer, “what have you named him?” Tiamat asks of Ashamin, white eyes peering up at him while her head remains closer to the newborn, gaze alight with joy and wonder.

And at last I see the light.