The tunnel leads outside and you follow it out into a tundra like area. Shivering, you trudge onward on the frost hardened ground, kicking bits of frozen moss and other small plants as you go. The steady crunch of something approaching makes you stop and look up. After a while, something the color of a bright grabe makes its way over the small rise in front of you and trots forward. As it gets closer you realize it is a kind of shaggy gryphon built to withstand the extreme cold.

   "Hello!" It hails you and bobs its head. "What's a creature with no fur like you doing out in this cold? You'll freeze!" It sidles up to you and presses against your side, the heat from it's body and fur warms you enough for speech. You tell it why and introduce yourself.

   "My name is Polaris, I'm a Whorling of the gryphon type from the Ever Realm. There's a hot spring a bit away from this area, just keep heading west. For now I must go, goodbye!"

   And without another word it takes a mighty leap and is gone. There's an icy cave over there or you could keep exploring the tundra.