It had only been some time since I’d visited the Steppe and for good reason too. My shoulders ached at the thought of the last time I’d seen the snow-slanted swells of the northern plains but I trudged on anyway. This was part of facing my demons and coming to terms with that haunting memory of not only my experience in the Steppe but the memory of my past transgressions. I’d done so much, used so many, and lost sight of the things I’d once aspired to be. But now, as I stood at the fine line between the Steppe and what felt like the rest of the world, I couldn’t find the strength to control the racing of my heart or the fear rising slowly up from my gut. I felt sick, perhaps too sick to go on any further… But against my will I was pulled into the frosted breeze sweeping over the sullen plains. This was my future.


My heavy footfall shifted the snow and ice from beneath me as I drifted along the borders of the cold land. It was almost as devoid of life as I imagined the Basin to be but there was truly no way of knowing just what lurked within the confines of the north. Everything seemed to stretch on into the vastness of eternity with no song to accompany the death of warmth and satisfaction. My wings, still clinging to the rotted flesh at their base, burned and shuddered with the ripping of the wind. It was quite ironic that the land still appeared to be reaching for them in the absence of the ghostly entity that had attacked me some weeks ago. The thought made my spine crawl…

Snow drifted up from the solid turf as the wind gusted and tugged more violently at my mane, tail, and consequently the failing carcass of my wingspan. I had managed to gain ground by crossing through the Steppe’s empty heart in spite of the tension coiling at my core. However, the soil did not sweep up to assault me as it had that day… the day I’d become infected. I would lose my wings to these plains and I still couldn’t figure out why. That rocked me mercilessly as I turned to glance back at the open landscape, my brown eyes shifting nervously from left to right. Nothing.

Upon veering back toward the borders, feeling more at ease with myself than just moments ago, I spotted a thick draft animal perched beneath a shallow overhang built from the rocky dunes at my left. I hesitated between the decision of approaching or moving on, but something tugged at my resolve and within a short time I was within speaking distance. A low rumble of greeting coursed past my dark lips before I paused just before the mare (as I’d gathered upon closer inspection). “Greetings friend…. I don’t suppose you could spare me a bit of room in there hm?” Without much hesitation, I moved in closer in order to escape the growing gales that roamed in from the west, unwilling to wait on her response. “I’m Thor of the World’s Edge- don’t suppose you have a name?” I attempted a smile in spite of the things I knew she’d be surmising about my appearance alone.

However, I guess we all had a way of depending on first impressions and I wouldn’t deny her that, nor would I feign disinterest myself. She stood nearly as tall as if even if I was a good hand higher than the silver girl. The ashy color of her lower half was vaguely pretty though, as well as those silver eyes the peered out beneath long lashes. We were an equal match in size and stature, but I was yet to know what kind of mare this stranger was to be.

The warmth of the inner ledge made my skin shudder beneath my thick winter coat. But with the chill still clinging to my soul, I was content to ignore the blubbering mare whose protests were evident not only in her body language but in the way she glared at me as well. I supposed not everyone in Helovia possessed the gentle heart I’d been named for. But I could forgive her for being evasive; after all I’d invaded her accommodations and since she was quite the animal, space between us was limited. However, her foul mood was entertaining enough and evoked a soft chuckle from behind my charred lips. “Calm down friend, I’m sure you’re no stranger to the cold of the plains. What’s what saying…? Two great minds think alike, is it? Consider this a compliment- I commend you for your choice of shelter.” I smiled widely to the draft girl before sighing heavily as creeping warmth sparked to life from within. Whether I’d upset her or not, I needed a break from the Steppe.

However, I was not left to treasure my comforts for long because the mare had another agenda entirely. Shuffling aside, I allowed this White December to lumber past me towards a nearby tree, that was still hanging on to dear life in spite of the death winter had brought in her bag of atrocities. “Well, it’s nice to meet you December –mind if I call you December?” I watched as the draft angrily drew away into the plains, once again exposed to the nasty torrent of wind and snow. “I’m Thor by the way!” I hoped she could hear me above the screaming gale but I was still hugely amused by her bad temper as I yelled at her retreating rear end. It had been a while since I’d dealt with anyone quite like her... I guess you could say I found it refreshing.

While watching her snatch and chew a browned leaf or two, I shuffled in closer to the stone wall at the back of the overhang. If anything, I was going to guarantee my place here until I felt strong enough to return to the Edge later in the day. My body ached from illness and the cold but I’d be damned if I would let on to such weakness, at least not in the company of such a bitter creature. Good-naturedly I smiled at the mare from beneath the ledge while her large, iron-colored eyes gazed back at me with a viciousness that suggested a bit of resentment. “You’re welcome to come back when you’re ready!” Even though I dreaded her impending return, at least I’d gained something from my visit to the Steppe.

I’d discovered that I could face my fears.


As images of my attack came flooding back to the forefront of my mind, I nearly missed December’s attempts to unsettle me once again. However, she was testing what I considered to be a very steadfast sense of resolve that I’d acquired with age. But, I still took a moment to mull over the words I intended to share about my experience out there in the plains. I also didn’t intend to spare her any details; after all she’d been quite the ogress about everything until now. “If you really want to know… You see, it was out there on those very plains that I was assaulted by what appeared to be a ghostly entity. It blinded me with snow and ice and proceeded to physically punish me for reasons still unknown.” I looked at the mare with a look of severity that suggested that what I said was the truth. This was not some horror story meant to frighten young children… “After beating me relentlessly, a black smoke poured in from the mountains and infiltrated my entire body. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t speak, and couldn’t even move to escape the thing. But… it infected me and now it appears it will be taking the wings straight from my back.”

I smiled deviously to the mare hoping she would see that I could overcome her attempts to put me ill at ease. I’d seen my fair share of horrors and she was certainly not one of them.

What a foul mood to employ at all times; I did wonder if the mare ever smiled or laughed. I imagined she led a fairly casual life filled with anger and animosity… Obviously she was not a friendly creature, no matter her guest. I had attempted to thaw the thick layer of ice around her heart with humor and wild abandon, but nothing appeared to be working. Typical “mare” attitude if you asked me… “I’ll call you what you like December, White December, whatever… I’m not your enemy here.” My voice was unusually harsh in the wake of her continued dismissals and I had no intentions of sticking around for long if she intended to keep insulting me for trying to shelter myself not only from the cold but from the memory of my time out there on the plains.


When the mare’s shrubbery had finally been stripped clean of the browning leaves, she turned that cold stare back to me before lumbering back toward the overhang. I stepped aside to allow her inside but I did not remain. Instead, I shifted to the outer reaches of the ledge so that the snow began to fall softly along my back and rear. I considered myself to be a friendly brute, but if I had reason to behave otherwise, I would.

The dual-toned December shook herself free of the watery flakes that had accumulated across her hide in her time in the snow, but I had already steered clear of her attempts to upset me. She might’ve listened to my tales of woe and feigned alarm but everything she said lacked consideration or concern. Perhaps I would find Evangeline after returning to the Edge… her warmth and kindness would be much needed after spending a day with the cold...

However, a violent laughter erupted from my depths at the mare’s next question. She had no sense of manner or a decent personality to make up for it. My lips curled viciously upward in an attempt to hide the shivering scowl that longed to flatten my expression. She was rude. She was unperturbedly rude. “Tell me, if you went blind in one eye, would you cut it out?” I hissed venomously. My skin crawled for this girl and certainly not in a good way… No matter how good-humored my previous attempts at companionship had been, they were no longer such. My eyes would not find her anymore and when she tried to question me once more, I scoffed and evaded her as if the words had never been spoken.

Never in all my life had I thought someone to be so worthy of belonging to the Basin; whether it was as resident or slave, I didn’t care.