Arrow Lake and you thought it'd be the same

"yeah, I—" a final cough, "fell into that lake. I've been coughing since." there had been that day when she'd been half convinced she was going to burn through all the snow she'd touched, and had a headache so severe she'd wondered if it might be better to crack open her skull to alleviate the pressure, but that was in the past. 

"that's good," she offers, "we'll be a real pack soon." considering a moment, she elaborates, "I'm joining you, for certain." when they'd last met it'd been a vague promise to meet again, but with all the time she'd thought on it,  she'd come to the conclusion that it felt right. if not—well, there was nothing to stop her bailing.