When Jesus spent 40 long days in the desert, the Devil tempted him. On one day, when he brought the man to the top of a great mountain, where every kingdom of the world could be seen, he challenged Jesus. For if he was God, he could throw himself off this mountain and command the angels to save him. Jesus refused, for it was said to not test the Lord your God.

But that was a long time ago. Or maybe it's some distant future to be had. Either way, there was no Devil up here in the trees with Aine Soothsong. Just her and the wind at her back. There were no kingdoms to give, no God to test, no angels to save her if she slipped. She couldn't even see the whole world from her perch, just to the edges of the Regime's winterland. Maybe in the distance, she could see the twinkles of the Forest Clans, but her attention went elsewhere. Aine could see the faint outline in the distant sky, of migrating birds making their way back to the clans. It let her let out a sigh she hadn't realized she had been holding. Sure, they were far away, but maybe it was the sign of the turning of a new feather... new leaf. Well, not every tie in works.

And now she realized that the birds were somehow getting even farther away. And the wind had changed directions. A bit odd, but she ragdolled her way to adjust. Maybe if angels existed, or Gods and Devils, one would jump in to save her from plummeting into the snow. Or she'd fall her 10 feet or so until she dove into the snow. Her lower half sticking out, her back legs scrambling as she tried to free herself from her icy existential crisis.

(don't @ me on the fact i got the temptation wrong. i went to sunday school once)