Sterling gives in to inky blacks and iron - blooms of darkness against silver-white, a sign of winter. She stands before the steep incline of the World's Edge, sedately listening to the sea as she whispers to those who choose to hear, of wisdom and warning, of ancient wars and peaceful futures to come. Mellow blue eyes drift like wood along the flat pane of her dark horizon, mesmerized by her infinity. Tell me your secrets, she pleas, turning her head to regard the pale, skulking pup beside her whose eyes were glassy with sadness. "Reprieve will come, Raindancer," roan says softly, like the last rains of autumn that give into winter frosts. She nudges his scruffy body gently, letting a rough pink tongue run over his sullen face. "It always does," she adds, a mere whisper, licking him again. He yelps, toddling clumsily between her forelegs.

Ears tip backwards to catch the ghosts of distant words; a summoning, presumably by the frost giant, Mauja. She picks the squirming pup up with care, placing him securely on her furry back and they slide beneath the silvery-pale moonlight into the shadowy embrace of a regrowing forest, mist grasping at her form with greedy wet fingers.

It is not long before she sees the king - magnificent and white and cold, against a blue-black sky studded with stars. She pauses before him suddenly, causing the squalling babe nestled against her back to yap indignantly. "The scar heals," she observes, watching the snow king placidly and aware of three other strangers - chestnut, bay and dark grey.

Kou had been doing nothing of particular importance when the King's call rang through the forest, demanding the attendance of everyone in the Edge. She sighed before leaving her patch of dried grass and disappearing into the forest. She slipped between trees, her ears flicking back and forth as she listened for the sounds of a meeting. Soon voices began to filter through the forest. She could hear d'Artagnan's voice and her heart did a little flip flop and she finally smiled.

The pale mare finally entered the scene, noting that several of her herdmates had already gathered. Some of them she'd never seen before, others she knew quite well. Kou slipped past several stallion and mares, not stopping until she was standing comfortably beside the doctor. She turned her head and gently nudged his neck before looking up at Mauja.

In and out between the trees a black shadow ran. He dodged branches, jumped over bushes and fallen logs and avoided sturdy trunks as he was chased by a much smaller and lighter shadow. A guttural laugh bubbled in his chest and was muffled by a black rope that he held in his mouth. It was the black beast, the Monster - who for the moment didn’t look very much like a monster. His nature had changed a lot, but he remained mute and primitive, always behaving like the pet he had become.

After the Monster the little princess came - chasing him in a game of tag they had been playing for the better part of the day. They had of course had breaks for grazing and drinking, but all together they’d spend hours chasing each other. The black beast had the upper hand when they played tag, but he was always bested when they played hide and seek.

When they heard the ice king’s call they’d been grazing, taking a break from their game and Snö had decided they should go and see what her father wanted. But on the way towards the clearing the Monster had nudged her and grunted “Your it” with his uncertain pronunciation. Then he had sped off.

The whole herd had assembled as they reached the clearing - monster first, girl closely perusing. The black beast looked back at Snö and laughed again. That resulted in him dropping his rope just as he reached the outer ring of Edge members. Of course the black stallion managed to step on it and stumbled into the crowd. He had too much momentum and kept tripping on rope and hooves all the way to Mauja, bumping several of his herd mates. Finally in front of the snow beast the Monster stumbled one last time, ending up with is front legs in a tangle and his rump up in the air.

The clouded duchess, heavily burdened with her child wandered to the calling of her King. A vexed feeling washed over her yet remained calm within her, if Seiren had had the choice she would not attend. The effort needed for a meeting was too great. The chill of Orangemoon was setting in but she did not faulter. With her poise one that was almost screaming "approach at peril", her crown arching her neck menacingly and her tail silks whisping. A meeting was all she needed.

Stalking across the lands, she heard the rest of the herd making their way to Mauja's side, and she politely obeyed by doing the same. The thoughts of having to explain to the alabaster steed why she had not attended was something that urged her to forward. Her obsidian pools scanned the clearing as she made her way out of the forest, the trees slightly snagging at her soft pelt, not caring. The amount of horned creatures that were there already surprised her. Oh dear, I'm one of the late-comers... Seiren thought with a dark sarcasm. It didn't bother her much. Just to get this out of the way. She stepped out into the clearing and investigated who was there. A few familiars, some she had never seen before and had no care of knowing.
Her brother, d'Art had already settled himself nicely in the fray. A wash of venom flowed through her as she laid orbs on him. One day. Blinking away the murderous nature that froze her on the spot, she began to pick her way through the majority of the members into a nice spot away from the rest of them. The weight of the unborn already made her feel fatigued, but she went about to greet Mauja nonetheless. Turning her back on that prat she had the unfortunate job of calling her brother, she spoke with a her soft voice to Mauja,
"Here, Mauja." This better be worth it...