trudge of large paws through snow drifts, dark shape striking against the snows the bound themselves to the pathways all around. green orbs the tone of jade remained barely open to account for ice-laden winds at their height. licking their lips, the beast would approach the grouping of bodies, head lowered to better hear the words spoken. standing just over six feet at the shoulder, the beast was a sight to behold, a deep navy blue cloak pinned together over their back by a crystalline set of small stone wings at their throat. blinking slowly, the sage would step forward, pinning thicket and brittle bush under paws large enough to crush a smaller animal with a careless step. nimble the five tails swinging in slow motions behind them, fuzz-covered ears standing to attention before twitching, drawing in the sounds from around the group, checking for danger.

nodding to star and to alexi, they looked down to savah, "hello, little one.", they would rumble, voice reminiscent of stone striking stone in the far off distance, deep and unsettling. looking to star, they nodded softly, "this is our home, the land of the frostblown. my name is baalal, the current sage of the group. may i ask what you are doing so far out here? the merchant's paths are mostly burdened by snow at this point of time.", they spoke in a gentle way, curious of the petite being before them. gaze taking in her state, they couldn't help but remember their own friends who had disappeared so many months ago, the zheng's gaze softening as their horn caught a shimmer of light, the thin veins of brighter green hues within it sparking to life as the growths upon their limbs took on their own faintly glowing hue. she must be scared, out here alone in the cold, "come, we will let you warm up before you question you, little one. if it's too cold, i can carry you back to our camp.", they would suggest, crouching to the ground, "we have a fair way to travel before we reach our home", they would murmur, half in vocal thought and half in stating the distance they would need to cover yet. turning their head back to star and alexi, they would give the two a lopsided grin of a sort, meant to put them at ease. they had no doubt that distrust was about to break out in the group, those who hadn't been forced by the former sage to do anything, would not be so willing to do anything now.

shelter was never something that they would deny another, not with the cruel nature of these mountains. countless were the bodies buried under the snow and ice, locked there by layers of years of melt and freeze. feeling the weight of her smaller body settling onto their broad back, would the sage climb to their paws once she had affirmed that she was settled, "welcome to the frostblown, savah.", they would rumble softly as they glanced to alexi and star, smiling as the other two greeted her. taking the lead back along the paths, they kept their pace and gait as steady as they could manage to avoid jostling her from her perch. humming softly as they went, "you're looking for somewhere to stay? if you're comfortable with telling me your backstory i wouldn't mind listening to you", they would eventually speak into the silence.

curious was the molly, even more so was her story as to why she was here. they couldn't blame her for her fear of those here, a majority of them were of great height and mass, more or less accustomed to the snows but it wouldn't take long for the smaller female to hopefully get settled in. "when we get to camp, we'll set you up with a home to call your own - though it may need some repairs but ah, i think that all of the hovels need repairs, including my own.", they would give a low chuckle, amused by alexi's reaction to her comment on their eyes.