The winds and ice rip him away from where he was moments ago, already in his full flighted form while helping to keep paths clear of the falling snow by sweeping it aside with his massive wings. Maybe the snow wanted revenge, maybe it just hates order, or maybe we shouldn't be attributing sapient thoughts to precipitation, but it swirls up around him and hurls him into the cliffs at the edge of the lake somewhere.
He's quick to right himself in midair and cling to the rocks before he can slip back down into the water, and thankfully due to quick action he's no worse off than bruised, cold, and very lost. The coastline is a helpful landmark, but is it safe to travel along it the whole way, knowing what lurks in the water as well as the air? Is a more direct route better?
With darkness all around, he can't tell what part of the cliffs he's on - whether northwest of town, or southeast of it, or somewhere in between. What he does know is that the forest ahead of him, as he hauls himself up onto more solid land, is dead silent other than the creak of trees in the wind, and the soft thump as a branch bends under the weight of the snow and dumps its burden onto the ground.
Wait, what is that where the snow landed, though? Stone creeps closer, sniffing cautiously. A small spring bubbles forth from the base of the tree, smelling of sulfur. Gentle heat radiates off it. A hot spring!
Well, if he doesn't find a way back any time soon, at least he can dip his feet in and feel comfortable for a while. It's not big enough for more than that, but it's a welcome surprise out here in the dark and cold.
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The winds and ice rip him away from where he was moments ago, already in his full flighted form while helping to keep paths clear of the falling snow by sweeping it aside with his massive wings. Maybe the snow wanted revenge, maybe it just hates order, or maybe we shouldn't be attributing sapient thoughts to precipitation, but it swirls up around him and hurls him into the cliffs at the edge of the lake somewhere.
He's quick to right himself in midair and cling to the rocks before he can slip back down into the water, and thankfully due to quick action he's no worse off than bruised, cold, and very lost. The coastline is a helpful landmark, but is it safe to travel along it the whole way, knowing what lurks in the water as well as the air? Is a more direct route better?
With darkness all around, he can't tell what part of the cliffs he's on - whether northwest of town, or southeast of it, or somewhere in between. What he does know is that the forest ahead of him, as he hauls himself up onto more solid land, is dead silent other than the creak of trees in the wind, and the soft thump as a branch bends under the weight of the snow and dumps its burden onto the ground.
Wait, what is that where the snow landed, though? Stone creeps closer, sniffing cautiously. A small spring bubbles forth from the base of the tree, smelling of sulfur. Gentle heat radiates off it. A hot spring!
Well, if he doesn't find a way back any time soon, at least he can dip his feet in and feel comfortable for a while. It's not big enough for more than that, but it's a welcome surprise out here in the dark and cold.