She could almost taste the kiss of winter on her lips; the soft grey of the sky above promising the falling of snow. The breeze that flirted with each of her feathers and tossed her mane sending fingers of ice trailing down the curve of her spine. Standing outside, at the edge of the bustling market square, she shivered. Despite being a statue of shadowed marble and stars, the stormsinger was not equipped for the cold biting her in little nips. Her body uncovered and craving the warmth of the layered furs on her bed and a stomach filled to the brim with hot tea. Aislinn was a warrior born and bred, honed and trained. Surely, she could brave the chill settling into her bones for a few moments to relax, to wander, without prowling the streets. She was off duty, for once.

After a long shift that poured into the early morning, the streaks of rosy dawn mottled the grey sky far above her. The tell-tale gold of autumn fading away, wilting into the brown of yearly decay as winter soon rushed in to claim this world and the next. She was exhausted, but not nearly enough to drag herself to her tower room; instead, the soft beats of market goers and morning song called to her. The smell of warm bread lulling her, the clinking of trinkets and barters loud through the usual drums of street musicians. In the heart of the City of Starlight, even when Calligo was fast asleep, her Court was alive. Forever passionate, boisterous, and teeming with revelry. Merchants and bakers and travelers crowded the streets, braving the frost coating the paved stone and the promise of snow flurries in the air. Winter was nearly here, and yet, her kingdom still lived on like an eternal flame.

She melted into the crowd, a graceful shadow of smoke and stars, as she smiled at each patron and morning-goer that passed her. Her path was an aimless one, as she greeted and spoke with familiar faces, as well as new ones. Aislinn's wings were tucked at her sides, desperately holding onto whatever warmth the ebony dark of her skin could hold. The bright blue of her eyes molten embers, missing nothing as she scanned the warriors hiding in the shadows at the edge of the walls. Even now, she did not fail to do what came so naturally to her.. to protect and to defend the place she rightfully called her second home. But some days, she had to force herself to relax.. to take a step back, to trust fully those who she called comrades, to put faith in those who stood by her against all enemies.

One such comrades caught her gaze through the growing crowd; her smile warming as her orbs flickered with recognition. "Kaisar! G'morning," she greeted, pushing through the market square and coming to stand by a familiar face.