A frosty breath blew into the kingdom almost overnight.  I anticipated the change in the atmosphere as fall came to a close.  In response, my coat grew thicker, my goat hair more pronounced.  It kept me warm as I traversed the mountains of The Chamber.  The high peaks my vantage point to viewing the ongoings of the kingdom.

It wasn’t the sight of them though that made me aware of their presence within the land.  Over the past few seasons I have explored nearly all of my kingdom, familiarizing myself with each scent.  From the musky decay of the forest floor to the salty brine of the ocean breeze, each aroma put to memory.

So, when a new scent fills the air, I can’t help but notice.  It entices me to crawl down from my craggy ledge and investigate just who has found themselves amongst the pine forests.

—

There is a damp chill in the lowlands, the usual mists of the forests heavy with cold.  Some cling to the pine needles in delicate shards of frozen glass.  The transformation is quite striking, even to someone as callous as the illusionist.

My stride lengthens, cloven hooves giving to the hardened earth below.  As I weave through the tightly packed columnar trees I scent the air for the newcomer.  Adjusting my path accordingly, finding physical traces amongst the forest floor litter.  Minor disturbances that had not been there before.

Just as I reach the tree line, my silver eyes find a dark figure at the lakes edge.  I stop my pursuit and simply observe.  You could learn a lot by just watching within the shadows.

My crowned head tilts as the form races across the thin sheet of solid water.  It was an unusual sight, but no more unusual than what happens next.  A chill runs up my own spine as the dark form plunges within the open expanse of liquid at the very center, untouched yet by the winter's grasp.

I mull over the reasons for the action.  Perhaps the creature had a death wish and who was I to deny them what they wished.  I continue watching though, waiting to see if they resurface.

About to turn back into the mists, noting the time it has been was far too long for any horse to survive.  A gentle shrug of my shoulder is all I give to the demise of the being.  But as my heavy head turns, a flash of brown emerging from the icy waters catches my gaze.  It is small, much smaller than what had dove in.  For a moment I consider if the being was a shifter, or if this Mustelidae is simply a wild thing of the lake.

The pause of thought is all I needed to find yet another thing surfacing within the lake.  It is enough to draw me out from the trees and bring me to the southern edge of the frozen waters.

I look across the expanse and towards the north where the brown carnivore is ripping into a fish, and a form of a head rising out of the lake and moving towards it.  If nothing else, this would make for a nice morning show…

Kreed

During the time I spent away from this world I was shielded -physically- by the creatures unlike myself.  That didn't mean that I was naive to the many forms that inhabited Beqanna, I had simply not seen most of them in the flesh before.  The dreams were much different than reality.  Always forced from the deep recesses of your mind and twisted into concoctions of trauma and fear.  Your mind could show you many things, especially under the skillful hand of an illusionist.

---

As I stood unmoved, the heavy mists had started congregation along my bristled hairs, forming frosted spikes within my coat.

With silver eyes still cast across the expanse of water before me, I remain watching.  I watch as the otter scurries about.  I watch as the water creature follows it.  I watch as they converse.  Even though I cannot hear the words spoken, I am sure they are exchanged.

Again, I watch as the form that I had seen earlier plunge into the icy waters, shifts from the web-footed creature to an equine.  It was almost a foreign form to me now days and it piques my interest just slightly.

But then the figure, half out of the water, then not, draws my attention.  Most my dreams had been of land creatures.  Horrid monsters of the darkened forests and shadowed crevices.  Creatures of all shapes and sizes, but they never came from the waters.  Krampus didn't like the water much.

The interest is enough to draw me from my solitary position on the far side of the lake.  My steps are evenly paced as I walked the shoreline.  I was in no rush, and they seemed to be getting acquainted without discord.  My crown of bone tips slightly is disappointment.

Thick clouds began to linger overhead.  They were unlike that of the spring storms; less broody, more suffocating.  Only enough light filtered through to coat the land in muted tones.  It almost made me smile. Almost.

As I rounded the last bend in the shoreline my focus shifted back to the odd pair, my expression emotionless per usual.  Within hearing distance now, my ears twist forward should anyone direct words towards me as I approach.  No vocal answer would be given, but simply a nod of my head, before coming to a stand a few paces off.  My silver gaze lazily shifting from one to the next.

Kreed

As my gaze shifts from one to the next I consider what I have learned about them just by observation alone.  Clearly the one that has remained within the waters, revealing to them her finned tail versus hindlegs, is not adapted to the lands.  Something about the creature does not strike me as one who would be in this kingdom by choice.

The other being I am not quite sure their intention here.  A shifter by trade obviously, but as the thick furred creature skitters across the frozen water, dives into the water, returning with a hand full of fish that it proceeds to hurl at my head, I consider it potently a trickster of sorts.  Not that I was opposed to such antics, but I didn't have the personality to appreciate it.

When the hunks of fish fly at my head I angle my horns to take the impact.  Allowing them to reflect and bounce back onto the froze surface.

My silver eyes cast down, viewing the gore with slight pleasure, before looking back to the waterlogged pair.  The nereid had been speaking, when she was so rudely interrupted, and I do not allow the gesture to go unnoticed.

"Orieta.  Pleasure.  I am Kreed," I say plainly with a tip of my crown.  My bristled hair, laced with frost, glints almost delicately in the gloomy light of the day.  "It is most unfortunate you have found yourself trapped in The Chambers' loch."  My gaze shifts to where the other may be, expecting to find it up to no good.  "And you, Trickster," I call out loud enough that it would know I was speaking to it, "Do you have a name?"

Kreed