He'd been out for a stroll, as usual — seeing Mauja stride around the tundra outside of his home was no uncommon sight. In fact, now that summer had come, he often preferred to wander the Steppe with its cool winds and snow. The Basin was a haven, a place for life, and he suspected it lay upon underground hot springs as no permafrost held the earth in thrall. Lush tundra grasses grew in their vale, but unless a gale blew, funneled through the valley, the air was stagnant and the sun merciless. It did not burn, for the air was too moist, but it heated his sensitive skin up, warming his body to a point where it was outright uncomfortable. Bred for the harsh life in an arctic environment, Mauja easily lapped up heat, but he was reluctant to let it evaporate. Not by choice, but by design, and slave to his body he fled out on the Steppe where the wind soothed him and kept his temperature in check.

How deep the snow truly lay he had no idea, but only where the isthmus connected them to the rest of Helovia did the spare grasses reveal themselves in late summer. With Irma up in the sky, hunting for lemmings on the slopes of the south-facing mountains he was alone, just relaxing, in the cool moonlight. During the days, the sun melted the topmost layer of snow, but at night it froze again, forming a thick, hard crust. Normally Mauja returned home as darkness fell, but tonight he had remained out, alone with his thoughts. He didn't feel worried, though, or burdened. Perhaps it was just the light state of mind he was enjoying, wishing to stay in, and not have life catch up to him when he went home again?

Something silver fluttered out of the sky and brought him to a halt as it landed upon the snows, peering up at him. His 'brows went up as his heart skipped a beat, before thundering into motion — it was Tinek! Bringing his blue eyes up he cast about, looking for Ophelia, but the pale horizon was unbroken. Was she in danger? Was she hurt? Flicking his gaze down, he thought the dragon seemed eager, not hysterical, and when it had his attention it bounded along a few steps, clearly wanting him to follow. Glancing once over his shoulder, at the mountain fortress of the Basin, he then shrugged, and set out after the little silver dragon, wondering what Ophelia wanted with him.