The midnight girl made her rounds. She traced the edge of the Aurora Basin, legs sinking into the quickly accumulating snow. Frostfall was upon them in every sense of the word, and with it came the harsh weather and bitter cold. She was happy to find a positive in most circumstances, and in this situation, ploughing her way through the drifts helped tone her; the resistance added another layer to her daily exercise regimen. On she went, burying all of her woes in her snowy wake. She had allowed many things to weigh on her mind as of late, and only recently had she begun to shake off her burdens to make room for her next load of baggage. Everything would work out in time, of that she was sure. But she wasn't known for her patience.

In the distance, a stallion spun from gold stood before the gaping entry of the Basin. Silver eyes caught his hazy silhouette, unable to make out any minute details of the incoming visitor. She did not bother looking to the Sentinals. They were nothing more than decrepit relics. At least they appeared foreboding enough to hesitant newcomers. She diverted her rounds, approaching the stranger briskly. As she grew closer and the details of the stranger grew clearer, familiarity turned to shock turned to defensiveness as she realized she recognized the stag. It was a distant memory, but one burned into her memory. Fear and uneasiness are funny things, and have a way of imprinting certain things into one's memory. She had stood beside this particular stranger once, briefly, at the shores of the Riptide Isles. He was one of them.

Though the fae had few reservations or fears, the disease that had come with the rifts was enough to unsettle her. She had been comfortable so far to know none of the disease had settled into the Basin, but it only took one newcomer with a dormant disease to destroy the entire herd. Especially with the recent influx of foals, the corporal would not allow everything to be destroyed carelessly.

As she cantered towards him, she felt the warm fizzle of magic blossom in her breast, and allowed the current to escape her as her front hooves hit the ground. The earth rattled weakly, but she was sure it was enough to catch the stranger off guard and capture his attention. "Stranger, walk no further." Her voice was stiff, threatening, daring him to take another step. She stopped before him, ears twisted back, eyes narrow and cold. Unsure how to initiate her interrogation, she spoke the obvious. "I recognize you. You're from the new lands."

The rifts. Other than some new scenery, nothing good had come from the strange lands. Disease. Vicious gods. Death and destruction and unknown forces. "Why do you come here? You best not bring petulance in your wake."

His name escaped her, and perhaps once her guard was settled she would concern herself with learning it. But between her fear of the unknown, her worry on what he may have brought to their threshold, and her responsibility as corporal to protect the herd, she would spare no pleasantries on him until he proved he was not a foe. "State your business, newcomer, and be brief. You best be here with only good intentions, lest I return you to your makers, whomever they may be."

Talk
OOC// Excuse Ki'irha's bitchiness. She'll warm up! ;D I know their past thread died, but even in brief passing they met, so that's what I'm going with.
@Kalona ~

She stood stiffly before the stallion, but he responded coolly. It had been nearly a year since the arrival of the rifts, and spare the weeks directly following the summoning, it seemed as though all illness and threat had dwindled, and turned into a haunting memory, and nothing more. Besides, cures had been discovered, so what had been perceived as a threat previously had become more of a lesson on adaptability and discovery. Ki'irha herself had suffered, but was cured by a pegasus stallion who she had spat insults at and threatened to kill. Maybe she should learn to adapt with the times. The buck before her certainly was not responsible for the events that transpired, so why should he be held guilty?

Her stance relaxed as the stallion replied. Well, he did have a point. She still felt apprehensive, but knew she should allow him the right to be innocent. She did not want to allow fear to cloud her judgement. She was not an overly emotional girl, and therefore pushed her preconceived notions away and decided he deserved a chance. Though unimpressed by his snideness, she let some of the coldness escape her words. He thought he was clever, but his blatant disrespect wouldn't fly if he wished for access into her home. "I suppose you're right, though again I encourage you to watch your tongue." Her expression softened slightly, though she remained prepared to take action.  "You have arrived at the Aurora Basin. Feel free to take my apprehension any way you wish. I am Ki'irha, a corporal here, and it is my job to protect those who live here. I hope you understand my defensiveness, as the arrival of a your kind brought some less than desirable consequences. I simply want to be sure you are not a threat to my family, intentionally or otherwise."

She gave a curt laugh at his next statement. "Well, I can promise you a fight is not what you want. You see, we have wolves in these mountains, and I don't mean the beasts with fur and fangs. Our wolves are well versed in battle, and even if you are able to spill my blood across the threshold to my home, I can promise that what waits within those walls is much, much worse than what you brought with you through the Rift." Her warning was sincere. Again pausing her threats, she continued on a lighter note. She had never seen the desert in Helovia, and was sure he was referencing the Throat. "The tundra is a desert in its own right, but it is beautiful here nonetheless. Though frozen and cold, it is a sanctuary to all who reside within the mountainous walls. Those who live here are encouraged to take a vocation and give back to the herd, so if there is a passion in you for something, I'm sure you will find your place right away." the rank newcomers took always described them. It was interesting to see what path this stallion would choose if he joined, if that was even his intention.

"Well, if you're looking to join, I'm sure we can find someone to accept you. If you're just looking for a tour, I'm more than willing to escort you through our scenic valley." She cast a quick glance over her shoulder, wondering if they were going to be lucky enough to have an accepting member wander by. Looking back at him, her silvers caught his blue gaze. "So tell me, golden boy, do you have a name? "

Talk
OOC// Working on getting a ranking member over here to officially accept, since Ki'irha can't. It's kinda crap, but I'm trying to move this thread along for you! :)
@Kalona ~

It was true that these mountains had eyes. Some keen and murderous, some soft and warm, but eyes nonetheless that always watched, and never missed a thing. So it was no surprise that another happened upon them, slinking from the cavernous valley like a hunting wildcat. Only, the pink fae that emerged from the shadows was much more than a predator. She arrived with purpose, making a dramatic entrance at the perfect time.

Descending from on high, the Queen of the North.

Silver eyes glanced over her lithe form quickly, and the star girl gave a slight dip of her head as a sign of respect, before her gaze returned to the stallion. The corporal meant no disrespect in her lack of a sweeping bow towards the Lady. She simply did not want to let her composure crumble or avert her eyes from the newcomer. She was sure Hotaru would understand, and if not, she would be sure to grovel and apologize should her lacking be taken as disregard. It was an honor to stand next to the monarch at the entryway to their home, protecting what lay behind them. The queen was like a blade draped in silk, grace and beauty shrouding the dangerous thief and obscuring what she really was - a wolf in sheep's clothing. But she was certainly a woman the star girl wanted to stand beside instead of against, and a fitting queen for the unicorns of the north. As Hotaru settled upon the interception and stood beside her, seeming to support her efforts as corporal, Ki's heart fluttered with pride, burned with validation.

He dipped his crowned dome for her, sharing with her the same respect he showed Hotaru. But the blue remained unwavering, eyes still cold, not returning the gesture. The golden stag had been nothing but snide, and his change in affect in the presence of royalty would not replace his past commentary. "I do not worry," she began, coolly dismissing him, "I protect. Here in the north, we find sanctuary in the ice and cold, a place where few can survive. But we adapted, we are unrelenting, we are exposed to harshness and bitterness and remain unaffected."

She tipped her head, ear flicking as she heard Alice growl as she bristled near Hotaru's hocks. A subtle smile tugged the corner of her lips. Despite her diplomatic front, she was a warrior at heart, and the mere thought that she stood beside one of the most powerful mares across this sweeping land was invigorating. Deep within she was a snarling hound, bound by the chains of her masters, eager to spring into action should Hotaru give the order. But despite the endorphins and adrenaline that flickered through her, the excitement making her heart rate increase ever so slightly, she retained her composure. Besides, it appeared as though the golden buck was not a foe nor a threat. She considered his announcement of intent, and figured she would not need to act as a warrior, so she retained her diplomatic demeanor. "Of the many choices you have had, be it the heat of the Throat, the lushness of the Falls, or the mystique of the Edge, it is remarkable the frozen north has piqued your interest." Her knowledge of the other lands was quaint. She had only accumulated details from those she had met in the Threshold. Her love for the Aurora Basin was unrivaled, though she had no doubt that the terrain and climate left much to be desired for many. "But that doesn't mean the Aurora Basin has any less to offer. Lady Hotaru has the final say, though if your interest is genuine, I am sure you will happily find your place among our ranks. Many who join us here chose a vocation, a way to pay back the sanctuary you will receive here. Is there something you can offer us, should you chose to reside within our valley?"

Talk
OOC// @Hotaru @Kalona ~
Sorry for the wait!