Ashamin walked with care, each step a cold burden burying him deeper in layers of ice. But to his pleasure and slight surprise, Demothi stayed beside him every step of the way. Here in the winterscape the white stallion was almost invisible, but Ashamin could still see the blue of those eyes and the bulk of that frame. The larger stallion's stance, meant to protect young and wobbly Lochan, did not go unnoticed. Ashamin smiled, the expression hidden by a sheet of falling snow, and filed away the kindness. 

Yes, this was a good sort to have brought home.

And in time, they were home. As they drew closer to the haruspex's cave and Demothi's question came to Ashamin faintly through the storm, he was thankful they had made such progress. Standing at the entrance, half in the threshold and tempted further by the firelight, Ashamin nodded. "Many of us take shelter in caves, they serve well to protect from the elements," he called back to answer, blinking as the snow threatened to blind him and the thin locks of his hair were tossed in front of his vision.

As a result, Ashamin heard Hotaru before he saw her. And with the storm and the winds so loud, her approach was as silent as her golden fellow, Thranduil. His own name came through the whistling blizzard and his ears perked forth. The voice was familiar, but it was not until he shook the snow from his features for a moment that he saw her: Hotaru, lady of the Basin.

He had not had the pleasure of speaking with or meeting Hotaru privately, and had seen her only at the head of the Basin meeting. Still, he treated her with the utmost kindness and respect, as if they had known each other for quite some time. He bowed his head, extending his cheek to her chest in greeting, before pulling away. His long tail, sparking, waved at his back. 

"Hotaru, a pleasure to see you again. This is Demothi, he is seeking asylum," the haruspex clarified before bending down to nudge Lochan closer to the cave. "Come, let us take shelter!"

He did not hesitate, too bogged down by the snow and cold himself to wait for his company, and hurriedly rushed inside the cave. Deep inside the fire flickered and sputtered, and the Haruspex made haste to feed it with the dry grasses and kick away the snow that had blown in. When the fire was leaping again, Lochan settled beside it contentedly, he turned back to greet his company properly. "I am sorry you had to be out in such weather, the both of you. But you may consider yourself home now, Demothi, and perhaps this Basin's lady and myself can help you find your place, here." 

Ashamin