He hadn’t been sure on where Ktulu might be resting, or even that she would be within the darkened timbers at all. It was simply a lucky guess and the limit to his flying radius. Icy winds kissed trails along his nerveless feathers, the muscles in his wings were tired; he would have to land soon. Gaze still searched below and saw white, green, white, green—each branch was full of snow, limiting his already pitiful advantage to flying. One would think being high in sky allowed him to see all—that was not necessarily so. Some things went past as a blur, while others simply couldn’t be measured through the thickness of cover below. Midas would find luck to be with him this day; he twisted sideways at an angle to make another loop.

Out of the corner of his right eye he beheld a curved unicorn emerging from the cover of trees, her body was graced with a deep ash color and a horn of the purest ivory; the tip dipped within a recognizing bloody flavor. His heart leapt forward, threatening to clog up labored breathing. Sliding down a notch he flew above and noticed that she followed his movements with similar recognition. The melody of her tones sampled his whistling ears, “Midas!” she called.

He couldn’t at this height tell if her tone was happy or not, either way; she had called, and he would respond. Leaning forward with forelimbs bent upon absorbing weight he landed swiftly in front of her at a distance and with his back to her. This landing was practiced perfection that he had just consciously aim for. It wouldn’t look very proper of him to collide headfirst into the snow. Seeing as how his muscles were already screaming their discomfort at such rude request he had forced them into. Folding feathers and turning, he walked the short distance between them and took the small lapse to steady his breathing, a smile ran across his face.

Gaze never left her frame, “Ktulu,” he called out, still breathless, “It lifts my heart to lay eyes on you again.” His attention momentarily left her and found the cub she had bonded with playing in the cold snow. It seemed they had some catching up to do. Eyes rose back to her, muzzle extended outward in greeting with hopes she would allow him a mere friendly touch in remembrance to their companionship. Without thinking he uttered fondly, “You’re as beautiful as ever.” Such a complement offered flattery, but he felt the tightening as the words exited lips. Would she think him to bold?