The snow lashed at his hide with a passion only such a fierce element could have. The chill that the gales brought with them penetrated Naberius right to the bone. Abe loathed cold temperatures, yet he was oddly fond of the hollowness winter held. The absence of life, the desolation of the land, the silence. All of it coalescing into an almost ethereal mural. Naberius wasn’t the type of behemoth to really look into the grandeur of the world on a regular basis but even here, in this abominable and snow laden terrain, he could find a certain beauty. Hot air was expelled from his nostrils allowing steam to billow up and warm his face ever so slightly. Faelene had cautioned him that the journey would be an icy one, and admittedly he wasn’t quite prepared for how true her statement was going to be, but it was nothing he couldn’t handle. Abe had been through much worse and lived to tell the tale which allowed no doubts to deter his confidence that he would survive yet again.

The perspiration that formed on Abe’s pelt seemed to freeze almost as quickly as it was percolated from his pores. Icicles twisted around a few strands of hair amongst his mane and tail, pulling uncomfortably at his flesh. While Naberius’s daggers plowed through the snow he pulled his crania further back against his neck as the winds appeared to escalate in viciousness. Where the hell was this Aurora Basin? Naberius had lost sight of the vixen Faelene awhile back, perhaps he had offended the damsel and she had led him in the wrong direction? Perchance she was cleverer than Abe had given her credit for. This musing was beginning to become a reality to Naberius when unexpectedly the winds broke and he strode into a fissure in the mountain.

The swift change in conditions took Abe quite by surprise and he halted abruptly, his front pistons forming a wide V to steady himself. A few rapid gasps of air were taken by the stallion as his amber voids darted from side to side, observing the cliffs that fortified his twice hued frame from the horrid weather. Hastily modifying his stance so he didn’t look so ridiculous Naberius shook the arctic debris from his coat, tossing his dome and flicking his banner to rid himself of all unwanted passengers. Not being fully successful in his attempt to liberate himself of the icicles however Abe was satisfied for the time being and so he continued forward. Naberius did not expect what he found in the least. As he stepped into the valley he stopped once again, looking around with an intrigued awe. With his lack of expectations for what he would find he would wholly acknowledge that he was pleasantly shocked. Naberius’s honey chasms made their way to the sky above as he beheld the astonishing aurora borealis as it swam through the stygian firmament. It was suddenly clear to him for what the Basin was named.

Lowering his gaze back to the greenery below his eyes fell upon the lake in the middle of the haven and Abe became instantly aware of his intense thirst. Picking up a brisk trot his robust limbs carried his handsome physique towards the crystalline pool; his tongue licked his jaws as it eagerly awaited the cool numbness of the water upon it. In what felt like hours to Naberius was merely minutes when he finally reached the lagoon and sunk his maw into its depths, drinking greedily from its body. The sensation of the frigid liquid gliding down his gullet made the corners of Abe’s lips twist into a contented grin. He could get used to this place.