Blizzard Butterfly
Inexplicably, from the edges to the heart of the frozen wasteland of the Everice, a gorgeous blue and white butterfly flits from bearberries to poppies. It was thought to be a simple butterfly, perhaps with a knack for sensing the changing weather patterns, until none other than Mulos Truin noticed that they seem to be able to communicate with each other across great distances, calling one another to lead to places of haven or nutrition.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Growing up to palm-sized, the blizzard butterfly has mostly snow-coloured wings with the top of both shifting to a brilliant blue with dark spots.
Before going into its white cocoon to undergo metamorphosis, the Blizzard Butterfly lives as a tiny green caterpiller with white spots on the many bearberry bushes along the edges of the Everice.
Additional Information
Geographic Origin and Distribution
The Blizzard Butterflies are mostly found along the edges of the Everice, where they can cross between the freezing plains and the lush greenery, though they can also be observed with plants found even deeper in the wasteland in the rare oases from the wind, such as in ruins or along cliff-faces. Everice Wanderers know to understand sightings of butterflies as markers of places of safe rest and perhaps a ruin to explore.
Outside of the Everice, they also spread wide across the Frozen Fjords to the North of the lands of the Rhandi, who revere them as symbols of beauty and perseverance. It is probably these fjords that were the original habitat for the butterflies, and they only migrated to the Everice when the curse began.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Perhaps due to their innately magical environment, the Blizzard Butterflies living within the Everice seem to have a sense for when the strength of the blizzards will abate or strengthen, and in fact any daring explorers need surely heed the warning when butterflies all suddenly flee into shelter.
Geographic Distribution
A couple of years ago, a friend made a joke about snow crickets. This reminds me of that. But I love how you created something so delicate to live in such a harsh environment.