Shadow Mountain never pawned my watch and chain

@Rathbone possibly, paging @Garait for visibility. AW otherwise

the snow that fell the last few days had completely altered the landscape. the forests and fen were unrecognizable with their cast of alabaster -- trails, scents, and footpaths were gone -- simply swallowed by feet of driven snow.

the wind picked up as venextos crossed a shallow ridge and he turned his back to it as it rifled along his spine and raked down his thin legs. it was cold and his breath condensated by his muzzle and flecks of crystalline ice weighed his chin and whiskers. he blinked as the wind howled past him and made to scale down the snowpack, his legs working the slope carefully as he descended from the high steppes into the calmer, quieter lowlands that marked the end of shadow mountain's realm.