The cold air and the layer of glittering snow made her feel alive like no other season ever could. Perhaps it was the magic that coursed through her veins that made her so well adapted to this climate, or just a personal preference that would remain even should her body thaw and turn warm like everyone else's. It didn't really matter either way, because Erthë had never known anything else. She loved the winter winds and the dark nights just as much as her mother had relished the sun and sand of the south, and the snow-covered landscape brought a peace and calm to her that she very much needed.

The past season had been turbulent, and she had a feeling that they had yet to see the last of Kisamoa and his quest to purge the Dead Lands. The past events lingered in her thoughts but on the whole, the young mare preferred not to dwell too deeply on them. If there were decisions to be made she would make them whenever it proved necessary and leave the rest to her leaders. In the meantime, she enjoyed the peace and quiet of home and the chance to catch up with her friends and family.

She hummed a quiet tune as she strolled along the borders, cloven hooves treading easily along the path the warrior patrols had stamped down earlier in the day. The melody was hard to make out, frequently interrupted and restarted as she tried to recall how it had gone. Noe really was amazing, able to sing such a difficult song without faltering... Erthë had made it a point to have the mare teach her, but so far they hadn't had a chance to talk since the singer joined with the herd. In the meantime she did her best to practice, though whether or not the results were good... Birds had a tendency to take off when she tried the higher notes, and it would be a long time before she tried to get the opinion of someone else.

Again the pale seraph began to hum, but when she interrupted herself this time it wasn't for any flaw in the execution. Instead her eyes went to a figure that stood beyond the treeline, still and forlorn looking with snow capping shoulders and dock like a chilly cloak.

"Hello?" she said and stepped off the path, managing with some difficulty to shuffle through the deep snow towards the stranger. "Are you alright?"