Beltran could only imagine what was going through Maude's head as she stared at the ice. To her response, he could only shrug his shoulders ever so slightly as she looked his way. "It's better than the blizzard that came through Iromar," he said, taking a moment to survey the land. The snow was not nearly as deep, which was saying something. The storm had certainly been relatively isolated. Or at least, it had picked up speed and intensity upon reach Iromar and the Crags, which seemed to be hardest hit by the snows.

Her tone was not off-putting, not for him at least. Despoina, while ever the mother to his daughter, still was a bit gruff towards him at times. The distrust might have been less. No doubt it was attributed to the loss of her mate and the girl's other mother. He never held it against her. Nor would the dark coated wolf hold such against Maude. Whatever happened in her life to make her this way, so be it. Beltran would at least be polite and cordial, for he had no other reason to be anything else.

His green gaze watched her as she returned to the shore. The brute sucked in his breath when she slipped. Beltran dashed forward in an attempt to help as she splayed out on the ice. He didn't want to seem to forward or off-putting either. Damn him for having turned into the ever helpful wolf. Fatherhood had done this. It was certainly not a bad thing; he just never imagined being a family man or going out of his way for others. It was a change he had welcomed and accepted, but he did have to remind himself others were not so keen on accepting help. So, he was closer, but would only help her up if she wished it, or was struggling. "You alright? That was a bit of a nasty fall..." he said, tentatively easing forward, trying to avoid ice himself to potentially come to Maude's aide..