Calder had forgotten how treacherous the path to the Basin had been the first time he’d come.  Then he’d been half-dead from exhaustion and had still managed better than his clumsy attempt today.  And to think he’d lived his entire life on the side of a mountain that put any peak in Helovia to shame.  His ancestors would be disappointed.
 
The grey unicorn had been hoping to find some remnants of his family here in Helovia.  He’d been so encouraged to find so many other unicorns – including those sporting antlers – that he’d been foolish enough to hope that perhaps some of his family or his herdmates had escaped the mother mountain.  Calder dreamed vividly of his sister, to the point where he had convinced himself that she was alive.  He wouldn’t put it past the stubborn lass.  It’d take just a hair past the apocalypse to rid the world of the hardheaded mare that was his wee sister.  Still, when he had reason to hope that perhaps they to had found sanctuary here, the borders of the Basin simply could not hold him.  The pain was too raw and the potential of a familiar face was far too tempting.  So he’d gone before he’d ever really established himself as one of them.  A mere ghost on their doorstep.
 
Only now seasons had come and gone with little more than a whisper on the wind, and none of those whispers spoke anything of the life he had left behind.  So he supposed that after all his wanderings, it was time to close the door on hoping his family had made it through the water and the mud as the mountain gave way to gravity.  It was time to begin a new chapter and to close the door on the hurtful memories that kept him tethered to his past.
 
The great brute made his way slowly back towards the snowy land that had once welcomed him when he had so needed sanctuary after he was rendered all but a refugee from his old home.  He wondered if he would still be welcome after his short residence, knowing that his personal excuses for leaving were likely nothing that any herd leader wanted to hear.  The antlered stallion shook his head in an attempt to clear away the thoughts. If he had to find residence elsewhere, so be it.  He had little left to lose in the world – nearly all he had was already gone.  He was wary, and felt that it would be rude to waltz right back to the center of the Basin as if he had never left, so he remained at a respectful distance.  He was content to wait for the time being for he knew someone would be along shortly. 

The grey brute’s gaze crept carefully across the frozen landscape.  To some, such a vista would be off-putting.  But to Calder, the snow and ice was a profound comfort.  When the cool wind blew from the north, he hardly felt the bitter wind. The biting cold reminded him of the warm embrace of the family he had lost.  It was backwards and confusing, but memories were all Calder had left of them.  He treasured every moment of sensory memory – every pinprick of cold against warm flesh that triggered some flash of a moment long past in his mind.  This place - these stark, frozen mountains – held within them more promise than the greenest, most fertile pastures in Helovia.
 
He’s stirred from his perusal of the scenery by movement.  The stallion had known that his presence wouldn’t have gone unnoticed for long.  Borders were not left unguarded, especially those that were protected by enormous metal beasts like these lands.  Helovian’s were not a complacent people.  Calder dipped his head in polite greeting as the little golden mare – Rexanna – drew near.  ”Hello, Rexanna. I hope today finds ye well,” the stallion offered, politely.  He couldn’t help but wonder why this mare’s mate had allowed her to wander off on her own in her condition.  But one thing he had learned about Helovia is that more mare were independent like his sister rather than hiding behind the strength of stallions like most had done home on the mountain.  He still had so much to learn about this place…

Better he keep his thoughts and observations to himself instead of making an utter arse of himself in front of the Basin’s women.  And speaking of, he seemed to have drawn the attention of more than one of the Basin’s residents.  Now Rexanna’s coloring was strange enough to the grey stallion, but Ming Yue’s was almost beyond his comprehension.  He had never encountered a unicorn in such a color before. Calder liked to imagine he handled the situation rather smoothly though, dipping his head to the mare, and offering her a greeting as well. “Yer not intruding at all lass, I’ve only just come back and Rexanna’s just come to see what the fuss is about,” he said in the rolling, rhythmic voice of his.
 
 
“Good to meet ye both.  I’m Calder.” His bright blue eyes danced between the two – filled with curiosity. However he assumed that they’d probably want to know why he’d gone and shown up at their door, so to speak.
 
“I came to the Basin seasons ago, but was unable to stay because there was a chance my sister was here in Helovia and I went off looking for her.  I’ve nae found any trace of the lass, so there’s no use in searchin’ til my bones ache. It was time to come back here and give it an honest go.  Do ye think they’d have me back?”  He let out a soft huff as he finished before raising his eyes and offering the two mares a soft smile.  He wasn’t particularly proud of himself for picking a home and having to abandon it just as quickly, but it was the honest truth.  That had to be worth something. 
 
Right?  

He was encouraged by the fact that he wasn’t immediately turned away after admitting that when he had come he had chosen his family of old over the heard that was supposed to become his new family.  Ties of old were hard to sever when coming to a new place such as this. “I appreciate that. Perhaps she’ll turn up here one day – I wouldn’t put it past her just to waltz in unannounced,” Calder smiled, truly appreciating Rexanna’s words of comfort and truly hoping his own were true. 
 
It seemed that his colorful companion was also a newcomer to the Basin.  He offered a sheepish smile to the vivid Ming Yue as his gaze flicked between her and Rexanna. “I’m afraid I remember little about ranks and such so please fill in where I miss the details.  Warriors, of course, though I’m not much of a warrior myself.  I can fight if I must, but I’ve not got much of a heart for war. I think I was told about healers and the craftin’ ranks as well,” he paused picking over his memories of a conversation many seasons past.  It was healing and crafting that stuck out to him most – moreso the latter than the former.  The idea of creating something out of nothing was very much in line with Calder’s own personal beliefs. He came from a place that was devout about finding the balance of things – between life and nature.
 
“And the thieves of course,” he said, with a smile towards Rexanna, “Though I doubt I’d be much help to ye, Miss Rexanna. I’m no very sneaky,” he said with a mischievous grin.  His knew well that he was likely leaving out important bits, and hoped Rexanna would fill his shortcomings.   Calder was eager to choose a rank and begin to immerse himself in herd life.  He was afraid if he allowed himself to linger, he would find himself ensnared in the past like he had been before. Amazing how the past was capable of such a thing, grabbing us by the ankles and takin’ folks prisoner. No. Calder had a mind to live in the present – to craft a new life for himself now taking only memories from the past with him into the future. He would not be a prisoner.
 
“I’d verra much like a look around and would like to hear of any changes, as I’m sure there have been many,” he said in the same rolling, rocky accent – looking between the two mares wondering if they’d both be interested.  He didn’t want to presume considering that Ming Yue was as new as he was, so it seemed, and Rexanna may not want to go wandering around the Basin as heavily pregnant as she was.