Suddenly, they all arrived.

It was as if the Basin had been waiting, listening from the wings and wondering just when this would happen. When would those ancient laws be cast off for good? When would this herd spread its wings?

Ashamin watched, pleased but visibly anxious, as the new apprentice played in the snow. Her thank you was met with nothing more than a simple nod, a brief gesture that worked better than words for a time. She was likely right, that this was nothing like she'd ever lived in before. The Basin did have its woods, but they were more open and tall, more bristled and bright than dark and oppressive. Having lived in and loved the pine forests in the north so long, Ashamin no longer found the deep forest's leaf mold to be particularly tolerable.

The first arrivals, Eldala and Johnny, were familiar and friendly faces. The haruspex stepped forward to nudge the candied weaver, and smiled in vaguely unfamiliar politeness to the mare. When she asked of Rein, though, his memory was jogged. Yes, that was right... she'd been present at his birth. Then again, who hadn't been? The haruspex smiled at the memory of the warm occasion, his tail winding softly.

"Rein fares well," Ashamin answered with glowing pride, "and not without the help of wonderful babysitters like Johnny, here," the haruspex added. Johnny's aid had certainly not gone unnoticed.

Just as Ashamin was about to explain and introduce Zahra to the pair, another arrived. It was the corporal, the giver of gifts and cold gazes all at once. How was he to deal with her, how was he to look in those eyes and act like... like...

Ashamin shivered imperceptibly as she drew closer, and his two companions drew back to his side and pressed against it, as if guarding him fiercely. It was only after a swift hip-check that they were sent back into the snow, to circle Zahra.

"Ki'irha," Ashamin said only. His voice wavered, conflicted with the uncertainty of affection and fear. And what of her tone, what was that coldness? "This," he said to all of them then, "is Zahra. She once saved my life, and I could think of no better way to thank her than invite her to stay with us. She'll be joining us as an apprentice; she's marvelously gifted with the art of weaving spider's silk, something not so readily available to the Aurora Basin," Ashamin said. The rationale felt like a spiel, but he wanted to make sure Zahra was supported. Besides, since he wasn't given much of an opportunity yo explain he figured he'd answer as many questions as he could at once and introduce her to the other weavers now that he could.

And as for the unequivocal statement, the fact of her joining them? Well, that simply had to be said. Ashamin feared the ice hanging off of Ki'irha's words, and needed to be firm against them. Zahra was welcome in the Basin, that much would not be up for debate.