Ampere doesn't get very far in the sky before it appears. It, because Ampere isn't really sure what else to call it, what else to know it as. It takes her by surprise, the strange otter girl that pops up from the snow (was she under the snow, or just well camouflaged?), calling out. Wings beat hard at Ampere's sides as she tries to halt abruptly, the effort intensified in the winter air currents - it's too much and she easily settles back on the ground, head tossing with a snort of distrust despite the friendly demeanor of the girl.

Between the blood and the signs and now this, it's all just a bit much on the strange scale to Ampere. It reminds her of the time she managed to get a companion egg, from that strange witch... she tried not to remember that event, having failed ultimately (damn you Oxy), but the odd sensation of this event dredged up that past. Helovia was certainly filled to the brim with magical strangeness, something Ampere hadn't quite decided if she liked or not.

The girl waves, her hands, paws (?), smeared red. The blue gaze of the Mother of Companions widens, then hardens. This was what she had been tracking down this whole time? No corpse left to freeze in the snow, no injured victim, no... anything but a demented child!? All of that frustration and wasted time to play? Ampere bit down on a rising fury, but her feathers flared along her backside all the same.

Abruptly a dark ball is thrown at her, sinking into her chest like a lead bullet. Ampere shies to her left, feet spraying snow and ice like a winter wave, her wings lifting from her sides in some instinctive attempt to intimidate. "What?" Ampere asks breathlessly, her heart hammering in her throat, limbs moving restlessly through the snow, afraid to be assaulted again by... well she wasn't sure what it was, and it hadn't hurt, but it wasn't normal (is anything?).

From the corner of her eye she caught the dance of blue light. Her mane snarled to life, squirming with electricity that danced and leapt tirelessly. She slowed and stopped, craning her neck around to stare at her mane. It mystified her, not having summoned her magic, although it would not be the first time her emotions took control for her, but she had never been able to make it do that before. Ampere flicked her tail thoughtfully, noticing it too boasted blue squiggles of energy.

So perplexed by it Ampere briefly forgot about the girl, a stupid thing which she instantly chastised herself for; her voice broke through Ampere's reverie, as sweet and strange as ever. Her gaze turned to watch as the thing became snow, blowing away with a farewell tinged with sorrow. All of it left Ampere feeling very disturbed and confused. Was this more of the dark magic that was perpetrating the land? It didn't feel ominous, but it definitely felt like something.

Snorting again, uneasy, Ampere hoisted back into the air and traveled back to her home. Maybe she just needed rest...

---

Thank you! These puzzles were really fun :D

Ampere