Frozen adventures had turned the golden brute back in the direction of his chilled home. He had spent his morning exploring eastward. The Frostbreath Steppe; It was probably the coldest place he had ever been. Tilney was glad he had passed into Helovias roof equipped with his green cloak; It had made his small quest much more comfortable and the freezing mountain wind much more bearable.
Pacing west to his frostbitten home under a middays sun, his commute to the Basin took less then a couple of hours. Each time he passed through the arch its claustrophobic hold on his heart eased, and every time he passed the tall sentinels the less convinced became that they would suddenly animate and attack.

Quiet mumbles escaped his ashy maw as his cloven clefts fumbled down the snowy slope.This was usually the most challenging part of any journey; The treacherous slope to the basins doorstep. He slipped numerous times but his true pillars seemed to find their way to collect him with each quarrel his hooves had with the sleet.
Now passing the sentinals, Tilney found his pace shortening and his back arching. He slinked though their gaze and passed through the doorstep of his home. To him, they were very intimidating.

There was no better place to warm up then the hot springs, so that was where his cloven stones took him. It was the one place in his home that he was yet to properly visit. He had investigated the curious warm baths but never actually taken a soothing, warm dip before. The springs gave an odd, dense smell and his curiosity was spiked; He wondered how on earth these waters stayed so warm.
Standing over one of the deeper pools he let the warm steam tempt his cold skin momentarily, an excited smile crossing his blackened lips. Bending his neck enough to bite and pull at his coats straps was quite an effort, but he managed to reach. just. Pulling at each of the buckles he shed his warm green cloak, Pulling it to a nearby rock, and then beginning his descent into the warm pool.

A relieved, murmuring sigh escaped his maw as he paced into the depths, only stopping when the water reached the top of his neck. He held his head up, fearful of what could happen if he let his nose and mouth drift below the surface.
It took him a few moments, but finally he sensed that he was in fact not alone. It was that eerie, dark mare who had approached during his first steps into his new home and his first conversation with the basins Lord. Tilney remembered how she had softly nudged his side, welcomed him, and then left as quick as she came. This mare had a haunting effect on him he noted. She intimidated him even, but even so he was more curious then ever. He wished to know more about her. Quietly though he stood; He was a little afraid. Too afraid to speak to her.

Her gaze was on him, he could feel it. He thought of quickly stepping form the pool and slinking away; That was so rude and unfriendly though. He was about to speak, finding the courage to say hello when the dark fae spoke instead. "Hello Tilney" She had uttered.
A coal tainted maw turned her way, his verdant gaze eyeing her closely; trying hard to hide his unconfident interior. "Good evening" Was his reply. The stags voice was soft but strong; he smiled towards her and tilted his bony crown in her direction.
He felt as though the ice was chipped. The shyness began to drip away.

"You did not tell me your name when we met the other day?"
He kept a distance from her, almost unnable to slink closer. There was something about her, maybe it was eerie soul he saw in her eyes that told him to stay away. A benevolent soul such as his could only tremble under this coal mares electric gaze. In case she accused him of simply not asking, his viridescent, verdant gaze skimmed back over the waater to her once again and softly uttered "What is your name?"

Wondering if her answer would be as cold as she appeared, as icy as the wind outside he looked away. His eyes turned to the frostbitten landscape outside, still more then curious about this doe he shared the spring with. He wondered where she hailed from what brought her to the basin. what was her job? Did she have a family?
From what he could see she was a horned mare, and from memory her legs were marked with a sparky blue.
A unique, electric combination she was.