Fire and Ice: Whiteout (Daisy)

[ForgottenExistance]

Scarlet Arrow

Far to the north, beyond even the Crystal Empire, the Windigo Alps penetrate the sky with the ferocity of a giant, stretching for as far as the eye can see and as high as the bravest of ponies would dare to climb. A cold, desolate, and unforgiving environment that was host to some of Equestria's most interesting species, and some of the most inhospitable locales.

Of course there were the occasional tourists, thrill seekers, adventurers, traders, and the brave ponies who lived in Tundra villages and junctions. And then, that meant that it was a challenge for wanderers. Though, any true wanderer wouldn't be deterred by such a thing as massive drops in temperature, sheer rock faces, avalanches and blizzards. As inhospitable as the landscape often proved to be, it was a beautiful place when the weather permitted, and there was never any shortage of adventures that could be had that far north. There was something about being in a land that often seemed so untouched by pony hooves, something that made being there special and worth the risk. The inhabitants had a reason to stay, and wanderers had a reason to go, and that's all that mattered.

That particular day, the wind that blew through the Alps was as bitter as it was painful, whipping flakes of snow and ice around through the valleys and fields of tundra that spanned for miles in every direction. The mountains got the worst of it as a blizzard front pushed its way through the mountains, slowly engulfing the beasts as if it were a wall of fog that consumed everything in its path. The blizzard was fierce and uncontrollable, making the Tundra ponies snuggle up inside their homes in front of their fires with their loved ones, huddling till dawn. Of course, that was only for the lucky ones who were in a village at the time that the storm front began to threaten the landscape. For the wanderers, the adventurers and the explorers, they would have no choice but to find somewhere they could ride out the storm in until it was safe to go out and make their way to wherever it was that they came from. The mountains were no place to find oneself during uncontrolled blizzards; even a pegasus could get swept up in the heavy winds and find themselves tossed around this way and that.

Roughly halfway up one of the mountains, on a long and winding path that lead from the southern side towards the northern side, a bulky figure trudged along through the knee-high snow that freshly covered the path. From a distance, the figure could have been confused for a Guard or something of similar silhouette.

Up close, however, one could clearly determine the bulky configuration of segmented plate armor over a heavy black cloth and chain weave, providing the wearing with height, bulk, protection, and heat most importantly of all. It was a cumbersome type of armor though, as clearly seen by the figure's deliberate and careful paces through the snow. With the blizzard whipping at their backs, the path was very quickly becoming perilous to the individual. No amount of armor would stop a fall from causing some serious and possibly lethal damage. As far as she could tell, she was still a fair distance away from any form of village or junction, and she was too high up to just slide down the rest of the mountain. Chances were high that she would just fall to her death if she tried that. Her only option was to continue trudging on for as long as she could and hope that she found somewhere to huddle down. A hollowed tree or a rock cropping would have been good enough for her, so she had no choice but to keep her eyes peeled out for anything out of the ordinary.

Minutes of trudging went by, the blizzard now well over her and engulfing everything she could see. There was nothing but white in her vision, and everything further than five meters was engulfed in thick fog and snow. Every step was a risk at that point, and she was forced to test every step to ensure she wasn't blindly walking off the edge of the mountain. With so little visibility, she had no idea where she was going, so it was no surprise when she felt her hoof find no purchase and send her off balance, causing her to flail in surprise and attempt to recoil. However, the fresh snow left little in the way of successful grip, and the unicorn soon found her world reeling as the weight of her armor pulled her over the edge and into the abyss.

She felt freefall for a full second before coming in contact with fresh snow, sending her rolling a few meters and coming to a stop against a boulder that sent echoes through the metal plates of her armor. The vibrations made her head spin more than the fall had, forcing her to put her head down against the boulder to regain her sense of direction. When her world stopped spinning, she felt herself lying on her back against the boulder, looking up at the raging white world above her. With a heavy groan, she rolled herself over to her hooves and stood up to take note of her new surroundings. As far as she could tell, the boulder she was on was settled securely on a rock face, but the hill continued downwards at an incline around the rock face, as opposed to giving a sheer drop. For the moment, it was still safe for the armored behemoth to continue her way downwards, considering that going back up wasn't an option.

Taking care of her hoofing, she eased her way down the side of the rock face, taking one step at a time until she was out in front of the rock face. Looking back up at where she had fallen from, the mare noticed that she the boulder had been located on top of what looked to be an inlet in the mountain; some form of cave formation that seemed relatively deep. Now standing in front of it, she gave a silent chuckle. Luck seemed to be on her side.

Stepping forward quickly, the mare entered the cave and navigated her way through, using her horn to cast a light spell as she did her best to escape the storm until she came to the back of the cave. The inlet lead into the mountain for several meters, twisting and turning at awkward angles and narrow passages. For somepony with claustrophobia, it would have been an absolute nightmare. Eventually, however, it lead into the cave body. It wasn't much, but the twisting of the inlet made sure that there was no snow inside the cave proper, and there was more than enough room for her to move around inside, even in her armor. The cave seemed circular and had a cavernous roof, with standing room and then some, as well as a few small boulders laying around the inside of the room. There was precipitation dripping from the cave wall far to the right of the entrance, filling the cavern with a steady beat of water slowly trickling from the roof to the floor and out through unseen cracks.

Despite the leak, the rest of the cavern was miraculously dry, and would provide enough room and ventilation for a small fire whenever the unicorn decided to try and set one. It wasn't luxurious, but for the night, it would work for all intents and purposes. And no matter what the cave was like, it was infinitely better than what awaited her outside the cave. It was a little safe haven within the blistering chaos that raged outside like a beast pounding on the walls of a stockade.

Trotting over to the far wall of the cave, the unicorn enveloped her saddlebags, strap of weapons, bedroll and travel pack from her back, setting them down against the wall as she took the moment to rest her weary legs and regain her strength. Continuing to use her magic, she sent a small pulse of energy outside of her body to disperse the snow that had stuck to her during the journey, and dried off the cloth bits that were exposed under the plates. Without having to worry about snow creeping under her armor, the mare enveloped her helmet and pulled sharply, removing the offending object and letting it drop to the cave floor with a resonating metallic clang that echoed through the cavern and out of the inlet. The unicorn let out a long, drawn out sigh as she breathed in unrestrained air for the first time in several hours, her eyes closed as she enjoyed the feeling of cold air filling her lungs.

Letting her sharp, crimson eyes open again, the mare turned around and sat down heavily against the cave wall, taking a few moments to observe her surroundings and enjoy the ability to breath normal air for the moment. Outside of the armor, the mare was very much alive. Her pure white coat matched the blizzard that raged outside perfectly, save for the numerous faded scars that were hidden behind it, giving her fur a pattern of growth and scar fuzz that could only be described as imperfect and rugged. They didn't mar her features, in fact, they suited the armored mare quite well.

Her crimson mane was damp with sweat, but still tied up in its proper braid that ended at the bottom of her neck, still slightly frizzy from having recently been freed from its metallic prison. It matched her eyes in color, and stayed out of the way when she moved; tied up in just the right way that she wouldn't have to worry about stray hair falling in her eye holes while she was wondering.

Letting her eyes close, she sighed again in fatigue. It was definitely going to be a long, cold and loud night.

[Oopsie Daisy]

❄ Shiver Glaze ❄

"Come on, Boots! It's only a matter of time before the storm hits, so you need to stay close to me!"

Her voice rang out through the increasingly heavier wind, and the sheer urgency of it was enough for her red-and-white husky companion to stop chasing a rabbit and rush after her master without hesitation. Shiver petted her head before turning to look at the mountain range that towered over them, gracing the heavens with impossibly high snow-covered caps. To think this was only a fraction of the unbelievable immensity known as the Windigo Alps would be enough to stun any normal pony -- but of course, she was anything but. Being a pony of the Tundra, Shiver was used to her practically inhospitable homeland, and knew all the tell-tale signs of a blizzard and how to stay safe when they hit. She'd spent most of the day hiking with Boots, seeking a new spot to rest for the next week or so, but of course Mother nature had other ideas - as she often did in this harsh wasteland.

Trudging through the powdery white snow, Shiver Glaze was becoming more and more aware of the constant temperature drop. The wind became heavier, sending the once gently falling snowflakes into a bitter flurry. The young mare had to occasionally close and shield her eyes whenever the windstorm decided to blow right in her general direction, and took a quick moment to lift her fluffy parka hood over her head, fastening it securely. The wind rushed through the valley, creating a bone-chilling howling sound. Visibility was decreasing at an alarming rate as the full force of the blizzard finally hit the travelling pair, almost knocking Shiver off her feet due to the insane amount of force. She stood up tall like a statue, rooting herself into the ground before bowing her head and continuing in the direction of the mountain. Boots swiftly moved in front of her, also pushing into the rapid wind and acting as a guide for her pony master. Shiver knew that her husky wouldn't get knocked over or pushed back easily, for withstanding snowstorms was what they'd been bred for. The two of them depended on each other, and the pony knew she was blessed to have such a loyal and reliable companion.

The power of the wind carried snow in every direction, making it appear to come hurling at the two from every direction. Every chance she could, Boots would lead Shiver behind a rocky outcrop or wall to shield the two from the harsh snowstorm. Shuddering and clenching her teeth, she carefully turned in order to to follow the dog through a split in the mountain, sticking close to the craggy wall. She'd been through harsher blizzards, but that didn't make this one any easier to traverse through. Every now and then, Boots would pause to quickly inhale the air before pushing onward. She seemed to know where she was going which comforted the exhausted pony. The surrounding whiteness was making it more and more difficult to see anything - she could only just make out the red and white figure in front. The wind whipped past her hooded ears, creating a blizzard inside her head.. she could barely hear her own thoughts. But the pony only smirked, for this was exactly the thrill she lived for. As long as she actually lived through it, of course.

Soon enough the split got narrower and narrower, and the two were soon surrounded by sharp rocky walls on all sides. The wind seemed to get ever so slightly calmer as she realised the split had ended: revealing a cave deep within its centre where the mountains connected. Howling snow flurries travelled from the top of the cave, missing the tight area and pushing towards the open valley. Now able to move a bit more freely, pony and husky wasted no time in rushing towards the awaiting cavern, moving fairly swiftly despite the stiffness of their limbs.

It was dark inside the cave, but it instantly felt warmer than the storm billowing away outside. Shiver lowered her hood and shook the wetness from her soaked parka and pelt, and Boots of course did the same. "You're a good girl Boots; don't know what I'd do without you. Thanks for getting us out of the storm, as always, the pony said softly, patting the husky's head with affection. Boots licked the hoof and wagged her sickle tail in response. The two then began to walk further into the cave: the howling of the wind outside becoming duller and duller as they went deeper into the mountain. Luckily, Shiver still had her supplies satchel tied around her bodice, and she made a note to double check she still had everything whenever the two found somewhere to settle and build a campfire for the night. They both knew the storm would most likely rage on all night, so it was just lucky they found the cave. When you spend all your life on a desolate mountain range, you soon learn that there'll always be a cave or some kind of shelter to hunker down in.

Her breathing became more even, and the dampness that clung to her parka was slowly fading away. Boots' panting still echoed off the dry walls, but was also becoming softer. Just then, a loud metallic-sounding clank interrupted the calming quietness, and caused them both to jump slightly. Shiver frowned as her mouth dropped open, and she came to the realisation that they weren't alone in the cavern. Possibly some other Tundra pony had sought shelter from the bitter storm and had happened to venture into the same mountain cave she had? The thought made her grit her teeth in annoyance. The stubborn female didn't like the idea of sharing anything with anyone - especially other Tundra ponies. Boots was already off to investigate the source of the noise, so Shiver was quick to pursue her. Naturally, the two hadn't expected what was waiting for them within the depths of the tunnels.

They came to a small clearing, which seemed to lead to another exit. There a stranger sat against the wall: scarred pelt as white as the outside storm and hair as red as wildfire. But she wasn't a Tundra pony. Shiver noticed the sharp horn protruding from the mare's forehead, and immediately knew that she wasn't from around here. She'd heard of unicorns before, but this was her first time meeting one face-to-face. She also noticed the unusual armour and array of supplies littered around her, and couldn't help but wonder what exactly she was doing in these harsh lands. Only one way to find out.

Boots stayed by Shiver's side, but was clearly eager to investigate this strange fascinating pony. She knew to stay by her master's side unless instructed though, mostly due to her often asocial and untrustworthy nature. "Seems we're not as alone in here as we originally thought," she said in an unimpressed voice, blue eyes cold with distrust. Especially when she noticed the weapons. It was clear from her sleek anatomy and her rash voice that she was still a very young pony. "What's an outsider like you doing in a harsh place like this? Consider yourself lucky you found this cave. You don't belong here, stranger."

[ForgottenExistance]

With her eyes closed, the unicorn could contently drift off into her own thoughts. After the fall, she hadn't the fuzziest idea of where she was in relation to the mountain path. If she were a betting mare, she'd have to say that the best idea would be to wait until the storm passed and then try to make it down the mountain the rest of the way on hoof before finding the nearest town or junction. But, going down a mountain without any climbing gear was a relatively dangerous path to take, and would likely result in more tumbles.

However, with how steep of a roll she had taken, it was likely that she wouldn't be able to get back up to the path without the aforementioned climbing gear. And if she had that gear, she likely wouldn't be in the situation she found herself in in the first place. But, what happened was already done, and it had turned out for the better. At least the tumble had taken her to shelter, and that sounded a lot better than freezing to death outside in the blizzard that now raged in full force just outside the cavern she found.

Speaking of the storm and the sounds of it raging outside, the unicorn's ears twitched as they picked up the faint echo of panting and hooves, coming from the direction she had entered from. It seemed as if she had company. However, despite the revelation, she felt no desire to stand, and instead chose to stay in her seated position with her eyes closed. If it were a threat, she either wouldn't have heard them before they had already entered the cavern's main section, or she would have heard the telltale sound of armor scratching and clanking with each step.

No, she chose to stay sitting there and wait for her guest to see what her necessary response would be. The unicorn didn't have to wait long before the aforementioned guests arrived and spoke. From the sound of the mare's voice, she'd say that her guest wasn't all that old, and that the panting wasn't coming from her. Of course, the arrival of another pony meant that she'd have to engage in socialization with her, which was a small pain in her side. Living company so often lead to severe headaches and lengthy irritation as the social game was played.

Giving a soft exasperated sigh, the unicorn opened her eyes and looked across the room at her new companion. There she stood, almost her antithesis in nature; snow white pelt like her own, but with short blue hair and frozen blue eyes to compete with her own blazing red. It was almost poetic, for a Tundra pony and a unicorn of such opposites to be forced to meet under such circumstances. As poetic as it may have been, she saw no threat in the brash young mare. So she left her hooves where they were, and made no move for her weapons.

"My friend, this environment is as much home to me as the San Palomino Desert, and as unforgiving. Though I may not belong here, the same could be said of anywhere I've traveled. I find myself here through wanderlust and a desire for adventure," the unicorn spoke, her own voice was surprisingly soft and calm despite the conflict it had with her rugged exterior, "Though, I apologize for disappointing you, I was unaware that you had claims on this cave. As you said, it was fortunate for me to find it," she said, leaning forward to look at her guest.

Venturing a small smile, she continued, "However, if you wish to keep this cave to yourself, I am more than willing to leave," she concluded, shuffling into a proper sitting position without her back against the wall so she could treat the Tundra pony with a modicum of respect. As young as the other mare was, she would respect whatever the other had to say, and would leave if she were asked. She understood the desire to be alone, and if the other mare wanted her to leave so she could have her solitude, then she would do so.

Though, she had to admit, journeying back outside would be a little detrimental to her efforts of survival. As much as she was sure that she could find some other place to stay for the duration of the blizzard, the mere thought of walking back into the storm was enough to send a slight shiver down her spine. Her armor hadn't even had the chance to warm up yet, leaving it cold to the touch and forcing her to avoid touching the edges with her neck and her chin. She'd have preferred to have the chance to warm up.

Looking away from her guest, the unicorn looked towards her bags and lit up her horn, enveloping her equipment in a crimson aura. After a moment, a cord of wood and some sticks levitated out of her bag, hovering before her as she returned her gaze to the other. Gesturing with an idle hoof, she spoke, "Of course, if you allow me to stay, I would be more than happy to provide a fire for the duration of the storm," she said, leaving the wood hovering in the air before her as she awaited the decision of her newest companion.

While she wouldn't be wholly opposed to the idea of being asked to leave, she was prepared to at least attempt to be social, as much as it pained her to do so. Playing nice wasn't something that she was very versed in, so the best thing she could think of was offering something that everypony wanted in cold weather; some well deserved heat. In this case, a fire with a single cord could likely make the cave become as warm and cozy as any cottage in Vanhoover, minus comfortable sleeping arrangements of course. She couldn't exactly make acceptable beds out of stone.

[Oopsie Daisy]

There was a strong sense of lethargy an aloofness coming from the stranger still leaning against the cave wall. She'd barely bothered to open her eyes or look up at the Tundra mare who had disturbed her rest, and Shiver didn't know whether to relax or take offence. Mistrust and uncertainty still boiled in her blood, but the unicorn had made no rush in grabbing her weapons or even rising from her relaxed position. Shiver exchanged a look with her equally confused husky, who was now sitting on her haunches sniffing idly at all the unusual scents that came from the outsider and her foreign equipment.

It was clear she was somewhat older than Shiver, but more in experience than age. She listened as she spoke, intrigued by her incredibly gentle and calm voice that clashed with her rough exterior. Shiver listened as she spoke, wondering briefly what other places she had travelled to. The young pony felt a pang of envy, for she could relate to the stranger's strong sense of wanderlust and thirst for adventure. One could only imagine what wonders and discoveries the unicorn had witnessed in her travels. Shiver didn't really have anything to say in response to that, and instead continued to listen to her speak. She sounded as keen to socialise as the Tundra pony was, which felt odd to her. She wasn't afraid, she wasn't alarmed, she wasn't surprised, aggressive or defensive.. she was perfectly calm and aloof, and this threw Shiver off quite a bit.

She offered to leave after making an supposedly sarcastic comment about Shiver already having claims to the cavern, causing her icey blue eyes to widen in surprise. Was she really so willing to leave just because somepony else wants solitude? Was she really so willing to just go gallivanting back into the harshness of the storm raging just outside the cave walls? The blue-hared mare frowned, her ears lowering. What an unusual stranger. She watched as she rose into a proper sitting position, and gasped a little when her horn suddenly burned a deep shimmering red. She of course knew unicorns used magic, but she'd never witnessed it herself. When the bags she looked towards also started glowing, Shiver raised a forelimb in alarm, half expecting her to pull some kind of small weapon out of them. Why on earth would anyone be so willing to give up their own warm shelter for someone they'd only just met? It was awfully suspicious. But when she saw a cord of wood levitate from them, she felt a bit silly and continued to watch in awe as the unicorn suspended them in the air for her to see.

Breaking from her momentary trance, Shiver shook her head and stepped into the cave. "Don't be ridiculous. You'll die if you step back out there," she stated matter-of-factly in her rough youthful voice. Boots was immediately on her feet, trotting up to the stranger and eagerly sniffing at her equipment. "Outsiders rarely last long around here, and I don't mind sharing if you don't. You shouldn't ask someone to allow you to stay in the same place as them.. I think right now, staying alive is more important than being alone, don't ya think?" She asked with a raised brow. Being a true rebel from a young age, Shiver didn't believe in asking for permission or doing things to make life easier for others.

"And yea, a fire sounds like a good idea," she added as she sat down against the wall - not too close and not too far from the stranger - and lifted her satchel from around her neck. Boots padded over to where she was, circled and sniffed the ground a few times before dropping to the ground, curling into a tight ball and burying her nose into her curled tail. Shiver stroked her bright red back with one hoof as she poked through her bag with another, making sure everything was still intact. Her supplies were a bit wet, but luckily there was no permanent damage due to the thickness of the satchel.

The awkwardness between them was fairly thick, for Shiver wasn't used to social situations with other ponies. Usually she avoided them. But if she was going to be trapped in here with a stranger, she may as well make the effort. "I'm Shiver Glaze, and this here is Boots," she said, referring to the snoozing ball of red and white leaning against her. "What brings you to the Windigo Alps, stranger?"

[ForgottenExistance]

Noting the almost silent gasp from the mare when her horn lit up, she couldn't help but give a near silent chuckle of her own. If she had to guess, she'd say that the Tundra pony had never seen a unicorn in her life, let alone the use of magic. With her eyes trained on the pony, she noted the raised arm of surprise, a small flash of alarm raising in her own mind. She hadn't considered that using her magic may have come off as threatening, though she supposed it made sense. The log found its way to the floor quickly in response to the little display of fear, setting down almost silently in the center of the room.

When her eyes wandered back to her guest, she couldn't help but take note of the canine that was now sniffing at her gear. Canines were good and faithful companions, she had to admit that she felt a little bit envious of the younger mare for having one for a friend. She was sure that the curious dog was the mare's best friend, something that she thought was quite amusing. At least it was a friend the mare could trust.

Turning her attention back to the mare, she gave a gentle bow of her head in response to being allowed to stay. Though, a small scoff came from her lips at the suggestion, "I'm sorry if I seem incapable, but I do believe it will take more than a mountain range to kill me," she said before trailing off into a thoughtful hum, "Though you do have a point. While it is a good idea to ask when you don't want to be intrusive, it may be best to avoid the blizzard, rather than your wrath," she replied, flashing a surprisingly cheeky grin at the younger mare. While she was sure the Tundra pony could be a little blizzard of her own, she had a point when it came to placing survival over niceties, "That being said, I don't have a problem with sharing," she said with a little nod.

After getting confirmation from her companion that she wanted a fire, she turned her gaze towards the cord in the center of the room. Her horn lit with the crimson aura again, surrounding her saddlebags and removing a few small sticks, which then floated over to the log and formed a small tepee over the chord. With her horn still lit, a few small rocks from around the cavern floated over and formed a small circle around the fire, effectively creating a nice little fire pit. Satisfied with her work, she poured a little more energy into her horn and sent a concentrated blast of fire at the pit, which hit the cord and sent a small shower of sparks in the fire pit. When the sparks cleared, the beginnings of a cozy fire were eating away at the wood, filling the cavern with flickering light and gentle comforting warmth.

The unicorn gave a content sigh at the wave of heat that settled over the cave, the aura around her horn dying off as she halted the energy's flow. Leaning back against the cave wall in her comfortable position again, she turned her head to the side to observe the mare with curiosity. A small chuckle escaped her lips and she nodded, "Shiver Glaze. Fitting, it's a very northern name," she said with an amount of acceptance. Despite being forced to socialize, she did find that Shiver seemed to be open towards their situation, at the very least not bitter.

A smile cracked across her muzzle, "And Boots seems to be a very capable companion. You're lucky," she said before reaching a hoof up to scratch the back of her head, a look of discomfort crossing her face when the cold metal touched the itchy spot. Recoiling from her own touch in mild surprise, she shook her head with a self-amused scoff before setting her hoof back down and returning her attention to Shiver, "My name is Scarlet Arrow. I am a mercenary and a wanderer, so I find myself all over Equestria. Some days I'll be in the south, other days I'll venture as far north as north will go," she replied, turning her head forward to face the flames.

"This time, I was struck by a desire to wander the north again. I'll admit, it has been a while," she said, trailing off as she pondered inside her own head. After a moment of silence, she continued, "And what of yourself, Shiver? Do you call these mountains your home?" she asked curiously, glancing out of the corner of her eye to look back at the mare before her crimson orbs were returned towards the fire ahead of them.

[Oopsie Daisy]

The female spoke her response with a scoff at Shiver's warning, and the young Tundra pony raised her eyebrows at her confident words. "Not so much the range itself.. more the snow, the ice, the blizzards, the cold, the occasional avalanche, the wolves.. doesn't matter how capable you are, this place isn't safe. Even we struggle, and Tundra ponies have been surviving on this range for years now," she said with a grunt. She hadn't been expecting her next set of rather cheeky words, and couldn't help but smirk in response. "Wise choice," she said almost playfully, removing her wet boots from her front legs and giving them a quick shake, before doing the same with her parka. The sooner she removed her wet clothes the better, and if there was to be a fire soon, she could warm both them and herself up separately. Her thick white fur was also fairly wet, so she shuddered a little in the cold cave air as she got herself settled against the wall and the unicorn began on the fire.

Shiver watched, impressed, as the armoured mare used her red-tinted magic to prepare a fire pit, and then blinked as she shot a quick stream of fire onto the sticks which lit them instantly. It took a lot to surprise her, and she found herself absent-mindedly staring at the newly-lit fire that was now filling the cavern with its pleasing heat. She was a little sceptical at first, but knew it was probably as normal as using your front hooves to this stranger. She moved her boots and parka closer to the surrounding stones in order to dry them quicker, also relaxing in the gentle warmth. Beside her, Boots groaned in pleasure as she awkwardly rolled herself onto her back, laying her head flat as she let out a heavy sigh as she settled even closer to her master. Shiver chuckled at the ridiculous animal, using her hoof to give the husky a good belly rub.

Things were still a little awkward, but since it was a forced companionship it could be going a lot worse. Soon introductions would be out of the way, and the two could get to talking.. which wasn't something Shiver had ever been eager to do before. Normally she hated talking with other ponies. But this stranger was so fascinating, and could probably tell some amazing stories. If there's one thing a Tundra pony loves, it's a good story.

"Haha, well.. we Northerners tend to have more Northern-sounding names," she said, also chuckling as she offered a crooked smile to the unicorn. She then looked down at the shamelessly sprawled husky at her side when she was mentioned. Normally the husky wouldn't get so comfortable around strangers considering how proud and finicky she could be, but right now she just didn't seem to care. "Aye, she's the best companion a pony could have. I couldn't ask for a more reliable friend." Her voice was soft as she continued to lightly stroke Boots' white-furred chest, looking down at her with sheer affection shining from her ice-blue eyes. She certainly preferred her company to a vast majority of ponies', that was for sure.

She turned back to the unicorn who was looking rather uncomfortable for a moment, before she composed herself and offered her own name. Shiver felt another pang of envy when she mentioned her travels, wishing she could also go wherever she pleased whenever she wanted. "That's pretty cool, Scarlet.. I bet you love being a wanderer." She said with a sigh. Her ears pricked at Scarlet's words.. what did she mean by "again"? "Oh? Have you been here before?" Shiver asked curiously, raising a brow. Of course, considering how massive the North actually was, "here" could be just about anywhere - she might not even mean the Alps themselves. Shiver just couldn't imagine why someone would come here willingly.. it wasn't exactly a gorgeous summer getaway. Then again, Scarlet seemed like the kind of pony who enjoyed adventure and danger.. much like she herself did. And she had experienced more than the young Northerner could ever begin to imagine.

When asked if she called the mountains her home, she turned to Scarlet with her playful half-smile, nodding her head. "I sure do. I was born here.. well, not here-here, but I've lived in the Windigo Alps all my life. Home is wherever me and Boots decide to stop for the night, really.. so it looks like this is home tonight." Her eyes wandered the cavern walls for a minute, the firelight dancing and flickering off their grey-blue texture, before looking back to the unicorn. "And you? Where do you hail from originally, then?"

[ForgottenExistance]

The unicorn let a beat of silence pass, considering the other's words as she tended the fire. After a moment, she couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. The Tundra pony was brash and sure that she was right, and Scarlet had no doubt that she was right about the mountain. But, the chance was raised, and she couldn't let it go. Fixing her gaze back on the other, she spoke, "A life without struggle is boring. The alps provide a constant struggle, so at least I shan't be bored while I'm here," she said, her awkward smile turning into an awkward single-sided grin.

Internally enjoying the dull humor that her companion shared with her about her name, she chose to watch the silly canine in silence for a few moments before returning her gaze to the fire. Scarlet had always admired the ponies who were able to find such loyal companions as Shiver appeared to have. She preferred to travel on her own for the most part, but when the path was at its loneliest, she had a tendency of creating an illusion of a raven with her magic to keep her company. Not quite as good as a real pet, but at least it was able to speak. The fact that it only spoke because her magic made it speak was beside the point entirely.

With the fire comfortably roaring and providing a nice amount of heat, Scarlet let her muscles relax for the first time in her travel day. It had been long and tiresome, but worthwhile in the end. She had covered most of the distance she had planned, despite falling off the path and winding up somewhere below where she had hoped to be. But, if her mental map was anything to go by, she had to assume that she was actually closer to her destination than her planned stop was, which meant she was shaving precious hours off of her trip.

Turning her attention back to her companion when she spoke, Scarlet gave a dual nod, "Being a wanderer means that no moment in my life is ever dull, it is always something new and exciting. And speaking of, I actually have been to the Alps before. In fact, just last year I spent several months wandering the mountains and scouring every cave I came across in order to find a pre-Harmony artifact that a collector wanted," she said, her voice taking its normal transition into a quietly enthusiastic exposition that she tended to speak in when she retold her stories to ponies who were curious enough to ask.

She paused after a moment, then added, "Though, I haven't been in this cave before. But I don't think that's what you were asking," she said, deciding to throw in her own dull humor to repay the favor. The only tell that she was joking was the slight grin pulling at the left side of her muzzle, which was made fairly easy to see in the flicker of the firelight in front of them.

Scarlet wasn't much of a storyteller, she didn't over-embellish things or add flair. All she ever did was tell the events exactly as they happened, and yet, ponies who listened often thought that her stories were entertaining. On some thought, she did think that her stories were more entertaining than stories about bakers or accountants. But, at the same time, every story had its merits. She was certain that Shiver had some stories of her own that she would find interesting, considering that it wasn't often she got to speak with a wanderer like herself. Even if the wanderer in question only wandered the Alps, that was far more than most ponies ever did.

Humming her assent quietly, Scarlet nodded, "I understand that perfectly," she mused, more to herself than to Shiver. Looking down at one of her armored gauntlets and the reflection of the firelight that danced against the matte surface, she thought it was amusing that a mare younger than herself who had never been beyond one region in Equestria actually knew more about the wanderer's life than most she had come across. To each their own, at least in Scarlet's eyes.

Noticing that she had been asked a question, her ears perked up in curiosity and she looked up at the other mare. Thinking for only a moment, she responded, "Vanhoover, originally. Though that was many years ago, I haven't been to my family home since I left. It certainly isn't quite as exciting as the Alps, and it was quaint. But it was a decent place to live as a filly," she explained. Deciding to continue with her own line of questioning, she made an idle gesture with a hoof towards Shiver, "And what of you? Do you enjoy wandering the Alps, or have you ever wanted to return to civilization?" she asked, genuinely curious as to why the younger mare chose a life of wandering as opposed to a life of civilization. All wanderers had their own reasons, as did Scarlet, she was just curious as to what her new companion's was.

[Oopsie Daisy]

It certainly felt good to relax after a long day of travel, especially sitting in front of an open fire. Already Shiver began to feel her thick snow-white coat start to dry out, and was pleased to see that her previously removed garments were also appearing to lose their wetness to the heat. The warmth was comforting, and she was just happy that she and Boots had gotten out of the blizzard quickly enough. Who knows how much worst it could've gotten? There was no doubt she'd had her fair share of life-threatening snowstorms before. Plus, she was just happy her four-legged companion was safe and happy, which was usually her first priority.

The unicorn's response to Shiver's previous brashness came as a surprise to the younger mare, who couldn't help but nod at her words with understanding. That was definitely something she could relate too. "Heh, tell me about it. What's the point in doing anything if you're not in danger while doing it?" she said with a cocky smirk, no longer able to debate with the red-haired traveller. Why argue with something you can easily understand? She wasn't the sort to warn others of the danger of the Alps for their own sake anyway, it was more to let them know that they were just being foolish. But by now she'd learnt that Scarlet was anything but, and was annoyingly starting to respect the wanderer. If anyone deserved respect in Shiver's book, it was someone who wasn't held down by rules or expectations, and who did as they pleased without thinking of the consequences. Someone just like her, really. Except this was someone who had done so much more than her, and someone who had travelled to so many places that Shiver couldn't help but feel envious. It was almost enough to warrant respect.

Outside of the cave structure, the howling wind could still be heard just beyond the walls they were safely hidden behind. There was just no telling how long it would go on for, but it didn't matter considering no one seemed to be in a hurry to leave. Shiver focused on Scarlet as she spoke, her face still expressionless for the most part save for the occasional smirk or brief nod at her words. Being a wanderer sounded like nothing short of Heaven to the Tundra pony, who was almost on the verge of resenting the other mare out of sheer envy on how lucky she'd been. Leaving the Windigo Alps sure was a lot harder than entering them, especially if you had the means of transport. Still she tried her hardest to remain level-headed, not letting herself feel irritated towards somepony else just because of their different and more fortunate lifestyle. If there was one thing she would never let herself do in front of another pony, it was pout.

"That sounds awesome," she said, staring at the ground thoughtfully for a moment. She had no idea what a "pre-Harmony artefact" was, but it must be important if she had to travel the dangerous range to search for it. "We don't see outsider ponies around very often, I think the cold air and lack of civilization for miles around puts them off a bit," she said with a chuckle, before looking to Scarlet with a smirk at her comment about the cave they were in. She always enjoyed a bit of sarcasm. "And no, that wasn't quite what I was asking."

She then looked down at her satchel, pulling it off her body and rummaging around in it as Scarlet spoke, still listening but also busying herself. She'd just remembered she'd packed food earlier, and now she was just hoping that it hadn't now become inedible after getting so wet. She reached in and pulled out a fastened plastic bag with a couple of sandwiches and biscuits inside from when she and Boots had stopped at a junction for food earlier in the day. The biscuits were now nothing but a wet crumbly mess, but the sandwiches still seemed decent enough at least. "Want one?" she asked when she had the opportunity, holding them up for the unicorn to see.

Even though she of course had no idea where the heck "Vanhoover" was, she still nodded with understanding as Scarlet spoke. "Would you ever go back?" she asked, being able to somewhat relate to Scarlet's backstory. She'd never returned to her family either, not that she'd ever had any desire to do so now. Her ears pricked to attention when she was asked another question, and she shrugged casually in response. "It's my entire life, to be honest. I've never been out of the Alps, so the only "civilization" to return to would be my own, and that's not gonna happen." Her voice was bitter as she said this, but she didn't dwell on it to avoid any unwelcome questions. "If you meant proper civilization, I've never experienced it. It's a lot easier to enter the Alps than it is to leave them. And to be honest.. I wouldn't mind leaving. Maybe not forever, but there's so much world out there I've never seen. But me and Boots are happy with the life we have now, because it's a life we chose, and it works for us," she explained with a stubborn glint in her pale turquoise eyes. She had made her choices long ago, and she wouldn't change the life she had now for anything. That was a promise.

[ForgottenExistance]

Scarlet reveled in the warmth of the fire, enjoying the feeling of the cloth that clung to her under her armor warming up and defrosting. It had been far too long of a journey for her to be able to say that she was comfortable in the last dregs, but it was better than freezing to death. Having cloth underneath her armor was really a benefit more than anything, it made sure she never got chaffed from the rubbing of the armor against her back, and kept the heat inside whenever she was in cold environments. And if she were in the desert, she could always use her magic to ventilate the cloth so she wasn't overheating.

With her armor slowly warming up, she turned her attention to Shiver. She had to admit that she had a certain respect for the young mare already. She may have been inexperienced and had limited herself to the mountain range, but she had seen and done more than most of the mares her age. It was impressive, to say the least, and Scarlet found herself curious about the other mare. She always relished in the tales of others that drove them to adventuring.

After Shiver's comment, she couldn't help but give a light chuckle, the movement warping one of the faint scars around her muzzle, "I personally like the cold air and the lack of civilization. I'm not much for conversation and civil discussion, I much prefer action, and not a lot of ponies understand that. So, I prefer to stick to the wilderness and the places that have yet to be touched by civilization. The Alps happen to be perfect for that," she commented, looking off in the direction of the entrance of the cave as she thought about her own journeys.

She was snapped out of her thoughts by the sound of Shiver speaking, offering her some sandwiches. Looking at them for a moment, Scarlet gave a gentle smile and nodded, accepting one of them with her magic and levitating it close to herself. To repay the favor, Scarlet used her magic to shuffle around in her obscenely large saddlebags and removed a small silvery packet and a thermos, as well as two sealed bottles of water. With all of the items hovering in her grasp, she gently set one of the bottles of water down next to Shiver and spoke, "I don't think I need to tell you how important it is to stay hydrated. Give it a minute to warm up, then it's yours," she offered before turning to the rest of the equipment she had hovering before her.

With practiced applications of magic, she ripped open the packet and poured the powdery substance into the open thermos, then a quick blast of her magic incinerated the packet. Next, she cracked open the bottle of water and poured most of it into the thermos, leaving about a quarter of the bottle still full. Placing the cap on the thermos, she shook it in her magic while she levitated the water bottle over to her and drank from it in a hurried gulp, hydrating herself for the moment as the thermos shook and spun in her grasp. She stayed there for a moment, letting the thermos shake and spin, until she seemed content with it.

She set the water bottle down next to herself, then concentrated on the bottle. Her magic flared up for a moment, blazing as bright as the fire before them, then died off into a faint aura of levitation again. Popping the cap open, she brought it over to her muzzle and sniffed for a moment, humming to herself in thought before she poured the contents into the cap and levitated the cap over to Shiver, "And this is for the sandwich. Hot chocolate. I'm sorry it's powdered, it's the best I can do on the road," she said, flashing an apologetic smile towards her guest before taking a sip out of the now-steaming thermos herself.

As she munched at the sandwich, she considered Shiver's words for a moment. After only a brief consideration, she shook her head, "I do not think I could ever go back. My home was pleasant, but it is... far from accepting of me. I was expected to become a Guard, and as you can see, I am far from such," she replied, cracking a little grin as she ate the provided sandwich. She liked her home, that was for sure. But at the same time, it wasn't the same as when she had left years ago.

Mulling over the information provided, she nodded, "And, if you permit me, I have two questions. One; why would you not wish to be with your own civilization? And two; why don't you leave? There are plenty of caravans and adventurers, as well as pegasus transports that you could utilize to get out of the mountain range. Most are not expensive, and many allow free travel to ponies who claim to be stuck in the mountain side," she said, fixing Shiver with her curious gaze as she played with her sandwich. There were plenty of ways out of the mountain, if one was inclined to do so. It may have been a difficult journey, but Scarlet thought that it was quite worth it if it meant that there was world out there to discover.

"Pardon me for prying, but it wouldn't take that much to leave. Even if the suggestions I made were too much or impossible, you could always just find a guide to take you out. Or find a pony who's returning to the southern lands, then you could just go your own way once you've passed the southern peaks of the Alps," she suggested, her head tilting slightly to the side as she went about her suggestions. She couldn't possibly imagine what it was like to be stuck in such a small little world, no matter how exciting and dangerous it was.