Creepy crept slowly up to the crater that the windigo had made on impact, Theodora at the ready in case the wraith should try anything. While she didn't understand what had just happened, she knew enough to be ready, just in case the windigo was just playing with her...

But instead of a windigo, what she saw took her breath away...

At the bottom of the crater was the single most beautiful mare that Creepy had ever seen. Her coat was a light blue, and her long, flowing mane and tail were both of the purest white. She was tall and slender, and her face one of such perfect beauty that she might have made Celestia and Luna envious. A long, needle sharp horn announced her to be a unicorn.

Without meaning to, Creepy gave a small gasp of awe, and immediately ducked down out of sight as the mare began to stir. After a few seconds, she risked taking a peek, to see what the mare was doing...

...And came face to face with a pair of eyes with all the beauty, and all the warmth, of a snowflake.

In a voice so musical that it made the heart ache, and yet so devoid of emotion that it chilled the blood, the unicorn asked, "What have you done to me?"

Startled, Creepy swung the bear with all of her might, striking the mare in the face. It was a solid blow, backed by all the strength her little body could muster. The bear hit with all the force of... a five year old pony swinging a teddy bear. The mare seemed totally unfazed this time. However, when Theodora exclaimed, 'I love you', the mare tensed, as if expecting something to happen. When it was clear that nothing would, she began feeling herself with her hooves, and after a moment, she whispered, "I'm... tangible." Looking at Creepy with emotionless eyes, the mare said, the slightest hint of surprise in her voice, the windigo said, "You... you've ponyfied me..."
--------------------------

"You are on a journey to find new parents?"

As she checked the compass to make certain of her bearings, Creepy said, "Yes. I've asked every... well, every pony that I can ask, and none of them are able to do so. Since that's the case, I decided to leave and find parents elsewhere." Certain that she was moving in the right direction, she put the compass away, thankful that the storm had died down...

The windigo, which Creepy had decided to dub 'Whinny', walked beside the young filly, her expression blank. After her initial surprise at finding herself solid, Whinny had seemed strangely... stoic about the entire thing. She'd taken the explanation of 'idunno' regarding her sudden change in state without argument or further questioning. However, when the filly began packing up and leaving, the windigo had stood by, watching, and when Creepy left, the windigo followed her, occasionally asking questions. Creepy had the feeling that, in all honesty, Whinny was still in shock, and had there been nopony to follow, might have just stood there at the bottom of that crater until she fully came to her senses... or until the end of time.

Creepy had thought about telling the windigo to get lost, but in all honesty, she couldn't bring herself to do so: The trip was going to be long, and it would not hurt to have somepony to talk to asides from Theodora. Besides, abandoning Whinny in the state she was in just left a bad taste in Creepy's mouth...

A thought coming to her mind, Creepy asked, "So, what were you doing way out here? I can't imagine that there is much hate to feed on in Equestria."

The windigo, her expression so blank that Creepy was beginning to wonder if the mare even knew what facial expressions were, responded with the same dull monotone as always, stating, "In a way, I am as you are: I had come to the Crystal Empire when the dark shadow had conquered your realm. I was an advanced scout for a larger herd that had sensed his power, and sought a taste of it. However, the dark king captured me, then erected a barrier to keep the rest of my kin out. When your city vanished, I did as well. When it returned, and the dark one was away, I was able to escape the prison which held me." After a moment, the windigo added, "Where my herd has gone, I do not know..." Was that a hint of worry in her voice, or was Creepy imagining things?

A little miffed, Creepy asked, "And you decided to pick on the first filly you saw?"

"Birds fly, fish swim, and windigos freeze things," Whinny said, her voice returning to the same dull monotone as before. "I could no more resist the urge to summon a storm than you could resist the urge to breathe."

"You seem to be resisting pretty well now," Creepy said, a little curious.

"I... do not feel that urge anymore," the windigo admitted, after a brief pause.

Before she could comment upon that, the filly noticed something up ahead. "Ah, there we are," she said, smiling. "The first resting place on our way." Gesturing towards a cave in the distance, she continued, "Merchant caravans on their way to and from the Crystal Empire would use caves like these to take shelter during the night. They're heated by magical hot springs created for that purpose. Even if there's been no trade in the last thousand years, the caves will still be here."

Whinny, looking at the cave in question, asked, "If nopony has been this way in a thousand years, then why is there a light coming from the cave?"