Sometime between the first and second day of maintenance...
Sprouts thrived in the cold. The baby monta she'd bought during the Phore Everland event usually lay hidden somewhere in her long, green hair, but now that the ice tower protected her from the worst of the snow storm, he poked his head out and jumped to the ground. Strangely enough, he didn't get buried in the thick snow. Instead he walked on the surface as if it was solid, leaving but the faintest of footprints. At the sight of the surrounding area, he let out a cry of delight.
"Enjoying yourself, are you?" said Sapling.
"I suppose we've never been to a winter area before. Just stay close to me, please." The monta's fur was white, meaning she would have a hard time finding him if he wandered off.
She continued, keeping her hand on the wall as she traced the base of the tower. So far, all she could tell was that it was circular and probably very wide across. Eventually she spotted a set of stairs ahead, carved into the side of the mountain. Though it was hard to tell from this distance, it seemed like they led all the windy way up to the top.
She trudged onward, eventually making it to the base of the stairs. Here she paused, catching her breath. Suddenly, she spotted something in the corner of her eye. A figure was making its way around the tower same as she had, coming from the other direction. Whether it was an enemy or a player - maybe both - was impossible to tell at this distance. She reminded herself that she still didn't know what this area's level was, meaning a monster encounter could prove fatal.
Climbing the mountain would have to wait. There was nowhere to hide or set up an ambush, but she did all she could to prepare herself. Sapling equipped her spear and shield, then swept an area around the base of the stairs clear of snow. This meant that whoever was approaching would have to fight here standing knee-deep in snow, slowing them down. Sapling, however, would have free range of motion. She called back Sprouts, and secured him tightly underneath her scarf. The monta pets provided significant defensive bonuses to their owners and allies, as long as they remained nearby.