Descending from her little cave and into the snowy valley of her home, the ocean blue mare trots steadily forward, her slender legs lifting high in order to carry herself through the thick white powder that blankets the ground. Although the sky is flat and pale with the spread of her sister clouds, pregnant and lowering with the promise of another winter storm this night, at the moment the weather is favorable. The sun’s luminescent light filters through the cloudy boughs in soft rays, falling slowly to the earth below and leaving the Aurora Basin in a hazy, blushing light.

If there is a heaven, Tiamat is sure that it must look something like this. The mountain valley has been silenced by Frostfall’s cold breath, tucking Helovia into its snowy blanket and hushing its sounds until the quiet of day stretches over them like a mother hen to her chicks.

With the soft whiteness that surrounds her—the feathery ground, the sides of the mountains as they rise to the sky, their peaks piercing into the white of the firmament above and blending the line between the sky and the horizon until it is nothing but an impalpable blur—it as if the Gods have taken their Aurora Basin with them to the paradises of an otherworldly place.

The blue mare closes her eyes for a long moment, nostrils curling and chest expanding as she inhales, opening her eyes again before she exhales slowly in a sighing, wispy breath that billows around her pretty features and bright eyes. She is honored to call this place her home, her pride swelling within her breast as she gazes out at this beautiful wonderment—a winter wonderland of the mountains. She understands nothing else but its beauty and kindness, but perhaps that is all her gentle heart wishes to know.

A bright smile spreading across her lips, Tiamat tosses her head joyfully, the seaweed and seashells in her hair rustling and chiming against one another. Tucking her muzzle in towards her chest, the unicorn throws her weight forward, picking up an easy canter. Snow is tossed up by her cloven hooves, and she feels as though she is parting the very mists of heaven—and she, so pure and naïve in her innocence, not unlike an angel.

Her gaits skipping and buoyant, the ocean mare eventually slows to a gradual halt, the thin skin of her nostrils flaring with each heavy breath. Steamy vapor rises lazily from the heat of her body, but she hardly notices the aching pull of her muscles after plowing through the dense snow. White eyes glance blissfully about, her dainty ears rotating and her slender body erect, searching for no one in particular but always eager to make a new friend. When she sees no one within her proximity, she huffs a sigh to herself and walks forward. Lowering her muzzle to the snow, she pushes the icy flakes around, eventually gathering some into a little circle.

She might as well make the most of this beautiful day!

And at last I see the light.

The Aurora Basin will always be her home, she is sure of it. That simple fact seems to manifest itself more often, especially since her return to the mountainous valley—and she couldn’t be happier for it. Although her slender frame and satin skin are far from accustomed to this frigid season, Tiamat feels utterly comfortable as she plays in the snow, pushing the flakes together into some semblance of a circular pile. Her warm breath billows in white wisps that surge over the snowy ground, her long tail swishing gently behind her in her contentment.

“What are you doing?”

The unexpected voice that cuts through the quiet cold alarms the blue mare, and she startles a little bit—her slender body coiling as her back bows and her head lowers instinctively—but she is quick to relax when she turns around.

It is a stallion, a stranger to her (although she can struggle sometimes with names, she tends to not forget faces, and this one she knows she would have remembered). He is as black as the darkest night, all of him, except for his ashen gray eyes that stand out against his ebony complexion. Something reflects in the hazy mountain light, what Tiamat notices as some sort of metal copula that encircles one of his large horns—with an emerald stone embedded in the middle. How pretty!

To be perfectly honest, she won’t deny that this guy creeps her out just a little bit, but she chalks it up to her own ignorance and quickly disregards such assumptions. He is a stranger, and as far as she is concerned, potentially a new friend. Oblivious to the darkness that churns and simmers in his cold heart—such is her innocence of the world—Tiamat offers him a bright smile, the gesture natural and pleasant as it spreads across her lips. “Hello!” Her soprano voice chimes through the winter chill, not unlike the shells that tinkle in the thick locks of her dark hair.

“I’m building a snowman!” The ocean mare continues merrily, her smile broadening before she continues. “Or, trying to anyway—a snowman, a sculpture, a bunny, it doesn’t matter; just enjoying myself. Come! Join me, I could use your input,” Tiamat motions for him to move to her side, hardly giving him a chance to refuse as she lowers her dainty head again, pushing more snow into her misshapen pile. Drawing back slightly, she purses her lips, wondering what direction she should go. So many choices!

Tiamat can’t remember the last time that she had built a snowman or anything like it…the last few years have kept her pretty occupied with more important things. It’s nice to be able to enjoy the beautiful weather.

Flicking her long lion-like tail out behind her, the blue mare shifts her attention again to the black stallion, her white eyes resting gently on the coarse lines of his face. “What’s your name, friend?” She smiles again, softer this time, “mine is Tiamat.” She inclines her head in a gesture similar to a delicate curtsy, trying to never forget her manners. Fluted ears prick upwards, trained on the dark stallion as she waits for his reply.

And at last I see the light.

Tiamat smiles brilliantly when the black stallion moves forward to join her. His slow gait and drudging body language clearly say that he is anything but eager to join her—much like a child who is forced to do their chores by their mother—but the ocean mare doesn’t acknowledge it—he is helping, and that is all that matters to her. In her mind, she is making a new friend, nondiscriminatory between first impressions (which this guy doesn’t exactly put one off as happiness and friendliness) and open to the company of everyone. He has yet to give her a reason to assume otherwise.

When the black stranger speaks—his excitement for their task highlighted by the cynicism in his voice—Tiamat lifts her delicate head a few inches from the misshapen pile that she has gathered, her white eyes peering up at him through her long forelock. “Gumdrops?” She muses, mostly to herself, her voice a whisper of breath and likely not heard by her newfound companion, “they sound delicious!” She giggles, assuming that what he speaks of is some type of candy or sweet…it sure sounds that way at least…and there is never a wrong time for candy, is there?

She blushes beneath his compliment, her smile widening bashfully and her cheeks growing pleasantly warm. Tiamat is definitely not a superficial mare—what someone looks like surely can’t dictate the inner beauty that flowers in their heart—but still, it’s not wrong of her to enjoy the harmless praise, right? It does feel good to be noticed, for both physical and (more importantly) spiritual things.

“It’s a pleasure of mine as well, Nox,” the blue mare says kindly, rolling his name over in her mind and matching it to his face, trying to commit it to memory, “thank you for your help.” Her lighter laughter mingles with his rougher, deeper tones—he the coarse rock to her tinkling rain.

When Nox lowers his head and pushes the snowball she had made, it makes it bigger and the blue mare’s smile broadens over her lips. Already her contorted little pile is starting to take shape…into something. “What should we make it into?” Tiamat asks him, her white eyes twinkling as she raises her head, looking to the black stallion. She purses her lips, sticking her tongue out a little bit in her deliberation before she walks forward towards their pile, nosing it around to add to it. “What about a puppy?” She suddenly exclaims, whipping her head around and looking to Nox with delightful glee in her expression.

“Puppies are adorable,” the ocean mare continues, lowering her head to start another, smaller pile for the head—perhaps they could make it lying down on its stomach, which would be easier. Humming happily to herself, Tiamat finishes the head and noses it over to the body, pushing to attach the two together. Quite pleased with her work, she glances over again to the darker stallion. “How long have you been in the Basin, Nox?” She has never seen him before, but with her recent absence, that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t been around. She is eager to meet and catch up on what she had missed.

And at last I see the light.

It is true—Tiamat is a child at heart. Her heart, her mind, her very being is incredibly innocent, pure even, and childlike in her understanding of this often cruel and darkened world. It is this naivety that saves her, that makes her all that she is. It is with this same unfeigned, simple beauty that she grins at the black stallion, her white eyes sparkling and her grin widening at his compliment.

Tiamat does not believe in false, contemptuous praise, but certainly there is no harm in giving what approval has been earned—good deeds and pure hearts should be acknowledged and commended for their kindness, she believes. She gives such appreciation freely herself. Why, then, should she not accept it? “Aw, thank you Nox! I really appreciate that, I want to be friendly,” she tucks her head in towards her chest, somewhat bashful, her grin curling her lips more prominently before she continues. “You can be just as bright, you know. I can tell,” her grin crooks into something that is slightly playful, but there is still a seriousness to her expression.

The blue mare sincerely believes that anyone and everyone can have the light and innocence of a child, and she genuinely believes this of Nox as well. So what if he’s a little rough around the edges, or all scarred up? Scars don’t necessarily mean a life of mistakes and darkness, sometimes it’s a life of war and love, protection for family and honor, and that is respectable indeed. And besides, he has yet to give her a reason to believe in him otherwise—her faith, she would like to believe, is stalwart and difficult to shake.

With awe in her eyes, Tiamat watches as Nox bows his neck downward, angling his head so that one of his large, black horns etches details into their little lump of a snow puppy—creating for it a darling little face and what could be adorable floppy ears. The ocean mare’s features light up with joy at his performance. “Wow! That is amazing, you’re very talented,” she crows gleefully, flashing him a wide grin, “Where did you learn to be so coordinated? I’m sure you can put that to good use around here.” Tiamat thinks of the weavers and builders of Aurora Basin; all of their magnificent abilities amaze her.

She glances around when Nox mentions small things for the eyes and nose. “Good idea…” she murmurs, trying to find something that stands out against the whiteness of the snow, her voice growing louder with excited anticipation, “It’s going to look so cute!” She giggles merrily, shifting her weight as her gaze wanders around, although her attention is quickly drawn back to the stallion when he continues, explaining his history with the Basin. “And having fun, right?!” Tiamat snaps her head back to him, her crooked smile matching her head as it tilts playfully to the side in buoyant jest.

“You’re too kind, my dear friend. I’m glad to see you here—it’s nice to be with handsome company,” her words roll easily from her tongue, wanting him to feel as special and appreciated as she does—as everyone should to be. Flicking the length of her long leonine tail, and rustling the seaweed and shells as she does so, Tiamat shifts her weight back, standing comfortably as her expression sobers a little. “I haven’t been in the Basin long, either—technically, I suppose. I arrived many years ago, but had to leave. I’ve only just returned at the beginning of the season,” she nods happily to herself, her eyes roaming to the white-capped peaks and snowy mountainsides, “It’s a beautiful place, I’m glad to be back.”

As her eyes wander, Tiamat notices three small things—two little rocks and a nut. “There we go!” She exclaims heartily, moving to pick up the finishing touches in her lips and placing them in the snow between her and Nox. Picking up the stones, she sets them carefully for the snow puppy’s eyes, looking back and satisfied with the result (even if the stones aren’t the exact same size, he’s still pretty cute). “I think this little guy is coming along wonderfully! Here—do you want to finish it?” She nudges the nut closer to the black stallion with a cloven hoof, smiling.

And at last I see the light.

With a soft and silent smile, the ocean mare watches as the black stallion shuffles more snow to their disheveled but undeniably adorable little puppy. Now with his stubby little legs all completed, he just needs the final finishing touches to his face and they should be done. How exciting! Tiamat shifts her weight in her barely-contained enthusiasm, also keeping her slender body from becoming too numb in winter’s frigid chill, and her white eyes glance brightly to Nox.

He explains the expertise of his large horns, how he had gotten used to playing with them in his youth, and her smile broadens appreciatively. Tiamat doesn’t remember much of her childhood—she had woken up just outside the shores of Helovia, a child of the Sky and Ocean, birthed from nature and living through its miraculous connection. That day, swathed in the foamy fingers of her father and blinking against the beautiful light of her mother sky, had been her most wondrous and happy beginning. She can only assume the same for her newfound friend, albeit likely not by the same parentage, but surely extraordinary nonetheless.

However, talk of battle is unfamiliar to her, perhaps even a bit uncomfortable as she is largely against violence, but she realizes that not everyone feels the same. She can respect their opinions and certainly won’t judge them for it. Conversely, the stallion’s mention of art and pictures has Tiamat’s features lighting up excitedly. “Wow! Really?” She exclaims with joyous awe, her blue lips parted and curling into a shadowing smile at the corners. “I’m going to have see one of these elaborate pictures of yours sometime, they sound wonderful,” she nods once to both of them, the curve of her lips enriching into a blissful grin.

The ocean mare has drawn many pictures in her lifetime, and has sung many songs, and has danced many dances—but all of these things are done for the purity of their enjoyment, the young unicorn is far from any artist or performer. She would love to know more about such beautiful talents, but isn’t terribly bothered by it—she enjoys herself, and that is what matters most.

“I’m not sure what I do to relieve stress…” Tiamat muses, mostly to herself, her voice low and likely not heard by Nox. In fact, she isn’t even sure if she knows what it feels like to be stressed—she’s been agitated, she’s sure of it, but somehow she always manages to brighten her mood when her spirits are dampened.

“And I you! You are delightful company to have around,” she assures the black unicorn with her genuine honesty, her heart warm with his compliments—it is very nice to be around other kindly souls, especially when they are delighting in one another’s companionship. “That makes me happy to hear, Nox—you deserve to enjoy yourself. Winter can be quite amazing, I’ve learned to appreciate it,” the blue mare exhales from her nostrils, her warm breath billowing into the cold air as her gaze roams around them, “It’s certainly beautiful.” She gazes at the whiteness, the immaculacy of their surroundings—indeed, this place must have been painted by the heavens themselves.

Her white eyes glancing down when Nox lowers his crowned head, Tiamat watches as he picks up the nut—admiring his care—and places it for the puppy’s nose. The mare smiles widely, the length of her leonine tail flicking enthusiastically across the snowy powder. “Hmmm,” she contemplates a name, knowing that it must be adorable, and winter-themed of course. “What about Frosty?” She muses, sticking her tongue out in thought. “Or Snowflake? No!—Boots!” Tiamat bursts breathlessly, her eyes widening eagerly, “I like Boots. What do you think?”

And at last I see the light.

The blue unicorn’s eyes light up with excitement when the black stallion agrees to teach her how to create artwork like his, her smile broadening across her lips and her head rising in anticipation. However, her demeanor sobers a little when he continues, explaining that he seems to have been largely isolated in the past, due to his rough outward appearance (which is less than sunshine and flowers, she’ll admit, but truly that means little when looking into the honest character of someone’s heart). Even if Tiamat were aware that he is only playing along with some of her bright antics, he is trying, and that is more than enough for her.

Flicking her dainty ears forward and exhaling a white breath that pools around her lips before slowly dissipating, she offers the horned stallion a softer, more earnest smile. “I’m sure they don’t mean anything by it…maybe they’re just intimidated. A body of scars doesn’t necessarily send the message of ‘peace’ after all, but it certainly doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It can be a very noble thing,” Tiamat gives a little, reassuring nod of her head, her voice sincerely honest and genuine in her want for him to feel accepted—surely, no one likes to feel like they’re an outcast.

“I enjoy your company, Nox, and I hope to see you again. I’m excited to learn how to make one of your pictures!” The young mare’s grin is wider now, growing in the confidence of her enthusiasm, and an airy chuckle chimes from her lips. She doesn’t intend to forget about his offer any time soon—certainly making art is fun in any form—and Nox is definitely pleasant to be around. Tiamat is nothing but honest in her claims of his companionship. In any case, what kind of friend would she be if she doesn’t seek him out again? They share the same home, so they are bound to cross paths again whether they wish to or not (and she has every intention of familiarizing herself with the many others who reside in the Basin).

Flicking out the length of her long, generously plumed tail, the ocean mare shifts her weight, settling more comfortably in the bitterness of the snow. “I’m confident others would say the same if they took the time to talk to you. It’s nice to just talk sometimes,” she gives him a lingering smile before allowing her white eyes to wander a little bit from the stallion’s face, her gaze trailing upwards and outwards through the large snowy valley. The bite of winter has silenced it with its white blanket, but she imagines that she can see everyone else, huddling in their caves or clustering together in the warmth of the hot springs. It is always a familial gathering in her mind, of course.

Her attentions focus again on the horned stallion when he agrees with the name Boots for their little snow creation, although her eyes are drawn away once more by movement. Movement? “Oh my goodness—look!” Tiamat exclaims incredulously, her eyes widening. Boots is moving. What? All she can do is watch, dumbfounded, as their snow puppy comes to life. It is not a quick process, but undoubtedly astonishing, and she only seems to find her breath again when the snow puppy tumbles backwards. “Aw, how adorable! Hello little guy,” the ocean mare croons with a smile when Boots pops back up again, barking his breathy yelp and running around their legs (she is careful not to step on him).

Tiamat looks to Nox with a bright smile and eyes sparkling with amazement when he speaks, voicing a question that sounds as astounded as she feels. “I don’t know…” she breathes excitedly, “this place has many wonders, doesn’t it?” The blue unicorn chuckles, reaching out to brush her muzzle against Nox’s when he reaches to her. Tiamat is not picky when it comes to personal space—she is very welcoming (perhaps naively so). Snapping her head up when Boots darts away, tinkling the shells in her mane as she does so, she looks eagerly to Nox. “I think Boots wants us to follow him—come on!” And with a soprano burst of laughter she leaps forward, bounding happily through the snow.

And at last I see the light.

Through the snow the blue mare bounds, lifting her knees high as her cloven hooves fling powdery flurries in her wake. She is inherently graceful in her movements, rushing like the ocean does to the sands of the shore, leaping with an electric energy and the light of dusk’s rays twinkling merrily in her eyes. It would be a safe assumption that she is nowhere near as collected and dignified in her bearing as the black stallion—she admires the strength and refinement of his strides—but she moves with her heart nonetheless. Hers is a joyous and carefree gait, perhaps stumbling here and there, her lion tail whisking happily behind her.
 
Following their little snow puppy, Boots leads them somewhere—she doesn’t care to concern herself with the details, only the fun of the chase—and they dash through the tall highland trees, and are soon shadowed again in the great rise of the mountains that cocoon their home valley from the rest of the world. Tiamat tosses her head in her delightful enthusiasm, skipping and prancing with her blue lips turned into a smile. The tinkling of her laughter echoes off the snowy stone walls at their side, broadening the sound until it eventually fades into the wintry, white firmaments of the Basin.
 
Before long, the trio suddenly breaks into the open again, the glittering expanse of the unfreezing lake opening before them. The ocean blue mare dips her flanks low to the ground as she forces herself to a skipping, half-hearted stop, eventually coming to rest at the black stallion’s shoulder. She laughs lightly at Boots’ similarly ungainly stop, her ears pricking forward when the puppy prances around before plopping himself at Nox’s hooves, rolling onto his back. Tiamat’s heart glows as she watches the stallion (so coarse and brutish in his appearance) reach down to softly nuzzle Boot’s belly—warm with the knowledge of the good and just in this world.
 
“He’s a cute little guy,” the blue unicorn croons to their adorable snow creation when she approaches them, her breast still blooming with happiness as she casts a sincere smile to her newfound friend. He compliments the land and herself—praising their beauty—and Tiamat feels herself blush as she lowers her muzzle to Boots, whuffling gently and nuzzling his belly. A breezy chuckle follows, slipping from her lips when the snow puppy slides off to play some more, and she turns her attention to Nox. “Yes, I think I will sleep well tonight,” her voice is mingled with her laughter, nodding her head in blissful contentment. She can feel the slow ache beginning in her bones—the peaceful call of weariness—beneath the steaming of her skin, warm with their run.
 
Her grin lingering on her lips, Tiamat shifts her eyes out to the horizon, her gaze sweeping over the landscape. “It is quite beautiful, isn’t it?” She murmurs mostly to herself, unsure if the stallion could even hear her. Each day, she finds her breath stolen by the magnificence of this place—her home—and she feels infinitely fortunate to claim it as such. Casting a glancing smile to Nox, the young mare steps forward, her cloven hooves cutting their way through the snow.
 
Within moments she makes her way to the lake’s snowy banks, flicking her long leonine tail before she stops at its edge, lowering her fine head. Blue lips hover over the glassy surface, her reflection clear beneath her. “It is good to see you again, brother,” her warm breath ripples out over the water, making her grin widen. Being near her family—connections to her parents—brings a flowering joy in her eyes, softening her gaze with jubilant delight as she turns to look back to the black stallion. “It’s a wonder the lake never freezes. That doesn’t mean the water’s not cold though, I can assure you that,” Tiamat laughs freely, shaking her head as she remembers its bitter, tickling bite.

And at last I see the light.