Although she had rolled in like a hot breeze, this land still remained frozen. They still snowed.

She had not expected to be caught in a sudden storm of it, though. In a moment's notice it was like she had lost sight entirely. The world had become whipping winds in a white out. It had become worse here, on the fringe of the willows, where the trees could not shelter her.

She had been warned of these storms when she had left the south for the north. Older traders had told her all the warnings. Niamh would not feel fear, but she was smacked with a reality. That if the snow buried her, she very well may not be found until the thaw. Just like the mule deer she had found barely peaking out of the snow.

She refused to become like the deer.

She had the debt of @Hagar to both keep and pay. She had the Ridge to be a number for. She had too much left to do for a snowstorm to be the end.

Angrily she forged onward, blind and cold.

She could have stayed there forever, she thought. In a welcomed embrace. She leaned softly into the underside of his neck before he was gone with laughter. How good a sound! A thing that warmed her in this frostbite weather.

And soon enough she was herded in the right direction once more. Not that she could tell. Poor eyesight meet winter storm, the shapes of the willows had become lost to her.

The journey would not be quick, even guided. She would still be a tiny thing that battled against the snow that piled and whipped. Words could have filled the journey, but he always seemed better and brighter without them.

So she reached without warning to nip at a dark furred cheek and something would be set ablaze in her lapis eyes.

Something rolled in her gut to had become suddenly avoided. Politely so, but his jade did not meet lapis and her mind tumbled down familiar roads.

Just because he was not wedded did not mean he was not duty bound. He had already proved he was no liar either. Perhaps he would be called upon again this year as a woman had last year it seemed. Surely he would keep promises to women he already knew than be charmed by one like her.

A scrawny trader who spoke in riddles. Who held beliefs that seemed to not be common around here.

How funny that a soft ego blow had stumbled her into full blown insecurity! She had thought she was too old for that, better than that. She learned something new every day.

Yet she let the snow and ice cling to her form like a familiar cloak. Like she needed it to conceal herself suddenly.

She only looked to him silently and wondered if he would still stay, or if he considered himself done now that she had been herded back safely.

She had not meant to become babied. Yet she allowed it all the same. Welcomed the soft sweeps of his muzzle off her back where she could not reach. Dared to sway her tail for a moment or two more. Then began to work upon herself, combed ice and clumped snow from her legs and paws. The work would continue for some time, she imagined.

Conversation only allowed gentle breaks from all the work.

I did not know. Exploration is the state of my being. And this was truth she revealed with a soft smile. Why did you come save me?

She listened closely now as she leaned into him carefully.