There's at least 4 different ecological systems in the Southern Icefield according to the world map so I don't really know where I would begin; I do like the giant ice spikes in the Fortress of the Ends a lot, though I have minimal knowledge of what snow is like so please bear with me ^^
I thought it might be a more interesting read to make it more of a narrative tale than a description, hope anyone reading this enjoys!
The frigid air crackled in Lawrence's nose as the temperature, unbelievably, seemed to fall even further. With every inhale he could feel the bitter cold fill every part of his chest, and though he knew it wasn't quite cold enough yet, his imagination filled his mind with images of hoarfrost growing within his lungs like spiderwebs of death.
Next to him Akram panted as he fought his way through the snow, shorter legs - and walking on all four of them - meaning a tougher battle through the drifts. The front of his chest and neck were caked in snow and any feathers not weighed down by ice were standing nearly on end in an attempt to preserve any possible warmth.
An icy wind swept the plain, howling around the tops of the giant ice spikes. A shifting haze of fine ice crystals blew over the surface of the snow making the ground appear as though it was constantly shifting and Lawrence feel as though he was striding though an ankle deep mist. The blown snow stuck to the left side of his face where the wind threw it, if he wasn't so cold he would have chuckled at how ridiculous it made Akram look as he hopped unhappily through the snowdrifts.
"I have a hard time imagining that it's possible for living creatures to exist here, even the clans native to this forsaken place seemed to think we were crazy for doing this."
Akram paused where an ice spike had blocked some of the snow and wind, providing a temporary respite from the brutal weather, huffing as though even those few words had been a struggle.
Lawrence stopped as well, wiping the snow off his glasses and carefully readjusting them before responding.
"I don't imagine the Icewarden would permit whatever is following us to stay here if it wasn't working for him. Alive might be a further stretch, but he's known for his dislike of anything shade-touched."
Akram gave him a tired "hmmm" before leaning against the side of the spike. It was tall, standing about as high as a guardian with it's wings extended fully. Many similar spikes extended in all directions around them in a variety of sizes and shapes, the terrain bore an odd resemblance to a forest of ice, or perhaps a rough sea, waves frozen solid in their path. The ice of the spikes was tinted bluish and got darker - and bluer - near the center, deep fissures and bubbles made it impossible to look too far within.
Akram allowed himself to slide down the side of the spike, slumping over, his head against the ice and his body in the snow.
"I know you're the geologist but I'm pretty certain that we aren't going to find any rocks here, much less whatever kind you're looking for specifically. We should head back to camp."
Lawrence was silent, staring off towards the horizon. Akram flopped over onto his side and flailed his wings to get Lawrence's attention, crying out dramatically.
"Oh, to know warmth again! How I long to return to my tent and fuzzy sleeping bag!"
Lawrence remained silent and attentive on a distant point, though he couldn't feel his face well enough to keep his numb eyebrow from twitching. Despite being a skydancer, Akram always struck him as entirely incapable of reading a situation. He sighed before looking over at his companion.
"I think we're on sea ice. These spikes must be fragments that were deep under a large ice sheet. They likely get thrust up by the ocean moving underneath in the summer when the ice is thinnest. You're right though - that means no rocks. Now get out of the snow before you catch your death."
Akram grumbled under his breath before pushing himself up. He had just turned to face the spike when he shrieked, flailing backwards into Lawrence and pushing him into the snow as well.
Lawrence struggled, pinned under the panicking skydancer. When he managed to push him off and stand up the cause of Akram's fright was apparent.
A ghastly creature floated in the ice, seemingly stuck deep within the fragment. Though solid and unmoving it struck Lawrence as something goopy, tentacles lacing their way through the ice. More concerning yet was its sudden appearance. The ice should have been solid through to the fragment's core and yet whatever aberration now stared vacantly in their general direction had certainly not been there before.
"There's something definitely not natural. Do you want a sample of that, huh?"
Akram gave Lawrence a sideways glance. Lawrence returned his friend's snarky comment with a calm, though slightly reproachful, look.
"Come, let's head back to camp."
Akram enthusiastically shook the snow from his clothes, bounding over drifts to catch up to the wildclaw.
"I couldn't be more eager!"
About ten minutes after turning around, an odd impulse compelled Akram to look back towards where they had seen the frozen abomination. The glare of the low midnight sun on the ice made it hard to see; a dark, vaguely dragon-like shape circled low over the spire of ice, seemingly unaffected in it's flight by the rough gusts of wind. From the top of the spike a beam of yellow light rose like some type of beacon or signal.
Akram shuddered and decided not to tell Lawrence that he no longer sensed the presence of whatever had followed them earlier.
That ended up a lot longer than I expected but I had fun! I don't really write much and that took a while so it's not been thoroughly proofread, there might be mistakes
