A dark ear swiveled to one side, her brow furrowing and lips creasing as emerald pools gazed up into the sky. She heard it before seeing it, the dazzling array of colors that shimmer across the sky. The muddled mare was puzzled, her sloping head falling to one side, forelock cascading across her ebony features.

She looked to her bonded, dark fur sprinkled with snow, gaze as puzzled as her own. Their intrinsic thoughts bled the same words into each other's minds. 'What is that?' They debated for a time on whether or not to investigated the occurrence. The maiden was far less inclined to do so than Altair, suggesting they contemplate the meaning of life beneath the branches of a fir tree instead.

He was a willful soul, though.

'Hot springs,' Altair murmured through their bond, eyes fixated on the direction in which the strange lights had come from. She hesitated, flicking her ears back. The snow was especially cold, and it had been many days since she had last attempted to make conversation with one who wasn't Altair.

The cerndyr waited not for her affirmation of his plan, choosing to plow forward without her. She followed reluctantly, as she so often did, planets and stars wounding around her delicate, silken mane. Dark pillars moved slowly, tentatively behind the one they followed, leonine tail sweeping across the snow behind them.

The pair soon came upon a familiar face. The golden body of Rexanna was perhaps a bit slimmer than when she had last laid eyes upon her. The maiden thought little of this and slipped toward the mare anyway, coerced forward by Altair's ever vibrant presence in her mind.

She listened carefully to the golden's words, mentally groaning at the idea of others showing up. But she had already committed to the idea of soaking in the hot springs. Altair urged her on, slowing his pace to linger comfortingly on her flank. As she neared the water's edge, she smiled shyly at Rexanna, dipping her crowned head in greeting.

"Hello, Rexanna," She stated, lyrics cheerful and soft on the chilling breeze. "I hope you don't mind if I join you," The maiden continued, pausing awkwardly at the water's edge. Her bonded lingered outside of the water, choosing instead to lay by it's edge, enjoying the steam rather than the water. She hoped it was alright to be there, and took a tentative step into the water, immediately relaxing as the steam rejuvenated her body.

It certainly was worth any forced socialization.