Moonsong Glacier my fingers laced to crown,

The she-wolf blinked at the male’s mortification, all the while clambering to her paws and ruffling herself up against the cold; if there was one thing she’d welcomed, it was warmth. From any source. But she doubt they’d freeze to death in here. Of course...

And then she heard the skittish apology, genuinely confessed. And she... laughed.

When Aure was a bairn, her queen-mother once told her that her laughter was ”akin to moonlight on water.” As Kio’s child grew, the Lady still liked to tell the story of the heiress’ bafflement. Aure still didn’t know what it was meant to sound like, but it pealed from her frozen throat nonetheless—the merriment once so lost and unfamiliar as it billowed airily from her in girlish, tender-hearted gasps. Eyes furling into crescent moons as she keeled into the feeling of it; as if she’d forgotten what it felt like. Not too far from the truth, actually.

Grappling for air once again, she rose to face the bright male, the world’s light bringing notice to their surroundings in here. ”I-I know,” she tittered, trying to chide the rare smile from her lips, ”Are you hurt?” If he was, then she’d soon feel very guilty; having laughed at another’s pain. Regardless, she made her way over to him, limbs trembling from exertion.