You look around on the ground for lockpicks. You realize this is pretty stupid, but you have to try. Wait! What’s that gleaming in the sun? You take a few steps forward and- Gasp! It is! It’s a lockpick! You’ve finally found one! You can’t believe it! Amy looks happy for you. Princess looks befuddled. “Where did this lockpick come from?” she askes. But you don’t care! You begin jumping around in circles clutching your new-found purpose in life when you accidentally step on something metal… Wonders beyond wonders! Another lockpick! You pick it up as Amy trots over and hoofs you three more! “Lets forget about this stupid quest and find us a lock to pick,” she says, winking to you. She… She understands you! She knows! You couldn’t be happier!

And that’s how you’d develop an unhealthy obsession with Amy. At least, in your imagination land.

You ask if the three of you could huddle together for warmth. Amy doesn’t seem to mind, but Princess refuses. She’s very temperamental. You let Amy know that it was just a hypothetical question to cover up your original intention. You shall hug that mare before it’s all said and done…

You sling your bow back over your shoulder, which you had been playing a mean tune on this whole time, and the three of you begin to head through the snow toward the semicircular building. Along the way you look for any signs of food, but find nothing amidst the blanket of snow. This place is a barren wasteland and you have no idea how anything could have ever lived here. You glance at the digital clock on your multitool to find that a full two hours have passed since around the time you first arrived. Oh, did you mention your multitool has a clock and a compass too? Told you it was pretty nifty. Anywho, it’s 2 PM at present and the three of you are heading south.

During the march, you ask if either of them can share anything else about the shadow that attacked them. Amy again describes it as a mythological wisp or shade. But this time she goes on to say it had a black core, and mists of transparent black ribbons that would come out, encircle the creature, and slowly thin out until they faded away. You think she means translucent, but you don’t correct her.

Princess describes it as a feral, four-legged creature with sharp teeth and claws. Thinner than a pony, almost like a wolf but with a mane. It had messy, clumped fur that would dance and roll off in chucks, rapidly dissipating in the air. It seemed almost like it was made of fire to her, but it gave off no heat that she could recognize.

After that the stories are just as ambiguous as before. It attacked them, stole something from them, and left. You ask once again what it was exactly that they stole, and once again neither will answer you.

The three of you arrive at your destination. The entrance is on the flat side, closest to the awning you left from. This building is also made of stone, but the roof is curved, with little ventilation holes jetting out and then sloping horizontally along the sides. It’s cold outside, but the three of you have not yet entered. You shiver a little but blame it on the temperature.