Great Bear Wilderness DISCOVER · tor-cheney-nahana

Discovering a glacier on the northwestern edge of the forest... not sure how accurate that placement is (close to an ocean in the PNW), but it's near a mountain so I'mma run with it. <__<

With the forest protected by a larger number of wolves, and his protection ritual in place, Khotan felt more comfortable exploring the surrounding lands. He was determined to be Warden of Neverwinter, but even protectors needed time off—and he would be far more useful in the position if he knew something of the lands that lay nearby. He trekked to the northern edge of the forest, an area not often patrolled for the mountain protected their rear from unwanted visitors. Even so, there was a chance that particularly adventurous creatures might attempt to scale down the rocks and mount a surprise raid—not something that often happened in the tundra, but it was known to happen when times were desperate.

As he drew closer to the rocky face of the mountain's base, the large conifers grew more sparse and stunted in their growth—but to Khotan, not even that could mar the beauty of his home. If any were stupid enough to scale down the mountain on this edge, he was confident they would be more likely to simply fall to their deaths; a gruesome thought, but one that was comforting in its own way. He moved to prop his bearlike forepaws upon the rocky face, and dug his claws into the rock before dragging them down. It made an awful sound, but when he was done the mark of Neverwinter had been made. Even those that somehow entered from this remote part of the forest would be forewarned: there is pack here.

A sound like whispers reached him, then, and his ears danced in both irritation and curiosity towards the noise. With it came a blast of cold air, weaving itself through the long furs of his main. He rumbled absent-mindedly, turning towards the source to investigate. His hackles rose, then, for before him and through the trees there seemed to be something wrong with the sky. It seemed an unnatural color; a mix of white, bright blue, and ribbons of turquoise. But his view was interrupted by the toothy pines, and determined to keep Neverwinter safe from all manner of threats, Khotan slowly made his way to the forest's edge.