[ It's a good thing he normally wears substantial boots in the Horizon more often than not, but: the rest of what he's wearing is decidedly not meant for anything resembling winter. One wind gust bringing in a chill to match the snow - or possibly just his own dramatics over it being cold - is enough for that first shiver to be one too many. A blink later and he's wrapped in a substantial coat with a scarf and gloves to match.

Possibly an overreaction to a temperature he can admit isn't that bad, but it feels a bit more so after spending warmer days in the desert since its night chill hasn't hit winter levels yet. In either case, the layers give him a reason to take his time wandering down the path and with a curious glance or two at what might be beneath the snow, if anything, before he looks out to the frozen lake. A rather peaceful scene completed with the cabin he approaches.

But who opens the door isn't who he expect, and that's enough for Claude to stop in his tracks. Maybe this doesn't belong to who he'd thought and that was wishful thinking, but then the creature speaks. ]

Uh, [ is the very eloquent response he manages in his uncertainty since that certainly sounds like he's recognized even if the reverse isn't true, but a familiar voice speaks up soon after. His confusion is lessened, sort of, or at least enough to look away to who he does know. ]

Well, you know how the saying goes. I was in the mind neighborhood, or however that works, and saw something new. Curiosity practically demanded I come check it out. [ An answer that probably won't surprise Hilda, though he casts a glance back over one shoulder at the landscape behind him. ] Especially when it looks as familiar as this does compared to everything else in here that's not.